Chapter 44 (1/2)
“Sister Fei!” Lin Xiao called out once he reached the plaza. Lin Xiao was quick on his feet to escape. In no time, he found Fei YuXing and her group.
“Brother Lin. You’re back,” Fei YuXing greets him with a smile. “How was it? Did you find anything for Master Long?” she asked though, her eyes already found the silk-wrapped box on Lin Xiao’s hand.
“I did. Here, please give this to Shizun and also, don’t tell him that it is from me!” Lin Xiao handed the box to Fei YuXing while also reminding her about their promise from earlier.
“Of course. You don’t have to worry,” Fei YuXing assured Lin Xiao as she took hold of the box.
Just then, the falcon who had been quietly stayed with Fei YuXing’s group suddenly let out a cry. Lin Xiao turned to look at it, only to see the falcon flew up, heading toward the western part of the market. Lin Xiao saw a familiar man with a cloak appears from the crowd and he let out a groan.
“How persistent,” Lin Xiao muttered under his breath. “Sister Fei, I will go first! If anyone tries to find me, just tell him you don’t know me,” Lin Xiao said before he turned around and once again, made his escape.
When he left, more cloaked men appeared, led by none other than Qin YiJun. He raised up his arm and not long after, the falcon that was with Lin Xiao’s company earlier perched down on his arm. “You’re here? Why didn’t you return straight to the palace?” Qin YiJun asked as he raised his other hand and lightly touched the falcon under its beak.
“Your Majesty, there is a lot of people here. He might hide here somewhere… please allow Meng Chen to search,” Meng Chen said respectfully.
“En. Bring the others with you. Zhen will go and wait at the center of the plaza,” Qin YiJun replied.
“Alone?!” Meng Chen suddenly feels worried.
“Zhen is not that weak for you to worry all the time. In addition, the shadow guards will accompany Zhen from the dark,” Qin YiJun replied before he walked away.
Qin YiJun walked all the way to the center of the plaza, with the falcon flying above his head. Once Qin YiJun stops, the falcon then went down and rests on the Emperor’s shoulder.
Fei YuXing, who was still resting nearby saw the falcon and was surprised that it is acting friendly to another person other than Lin Xiao and Long YinLian. She can’t help but approach the man out of curiosity.
“Excuse me, sir. That falcon on your shoulder…” Fei YuXing tried to strike up a conversation while gauging the man’s reaction.
Qin YiJun actually noticed Fei YuXing approaching, and he had already put his guard up. When she speaks up, he neither gave her a friendly look nor show her any hostility. In fact, he just acts naturally. “This falcon is Zh-… mine. I raised him from when he was young… along with a dear friend,” Qin YiJun replied.
“Oh? Really?” when Fei YuXing heard Qin YiJun’s words, she showed a look of surprise. “This falcon used to follow my friend around too. It actually accompanied us during our travel from Senlin village all the way to the capital. I’ve always tried to touch it, but it won’t let me. The falcon only lets brother Lin and Master Long touch and feed it,” Fei YuXing said as her eyes went to the falcon on Qin YiJun’s shoulder.
“Brother Lin? Master Long?” Qin YiJun took note of the name before he glanced over at the falcon on his shoulder from the corner of his eyes. “As far as I know, this falcon only let those who are close to me touch it…” Qin YiJun said before he turned to Fei YuXing once more. Qin YiJun was just about to speak once more when the maidservant accompanying Fei YuXing spoke up.
“Young miss, we should go back soon. It is already close to You Shi,” she informed Fei YuXing. “It is not good for a young lady to wander around when it is dark.”