The two boys followed behind Master Lin looking like convicts on death row awaiting their final judgent. They followed in silence afraid to make a single sound just in case it tipped Master Lin over the edge possibly intensifying the sentence. Master Lin didn't say anything the whole way and only spoke when he sat down in his chair looking down at the two boys.
Only then did he clearly see Qie Ranzhe's face and the closer he looked the more suffocated he felt. This child looked familiar but Master Lin couldn't figure out who he looked like. Being stared at like that by Master Lin made Qie Ranzhe feel uncomfortable, feeling as though he had thoroughly been seen through. All he knew was that he had to keep his viable presence at minimum so he wouldn't get Lin Jingxie in trouble.
Master Lin suddenly felt a twisting heart-wrenching pain in his chest when he soon realised who this boy looked like. The boy was an exact replica of the emperor himself which reminded him of the conversation he had with Prince Anzhie a week ago. The prince had been looking for a concubine to the emperor who had suddenly disappeared from the palace almost two decades ago. It would safe to assu that this boy was that concubine's child.
Master Lin wasn't stupid figuring out Prince An's plan. Why would a prince soon-to-be appointed crown prince, leave the comfort of the palace in search of so concubine he didn't even recall her na? Prince Anzhie was definitely making sure he eliminated the enemy before the competition made his debut. "What is your na?" asked Master Lin trying to look as natural as possible.
"My na is Qie Ranzhe and I apologize for the intrusion, it was all my idea and Lin Jingxie had nothing to do with it, I forced him," said Qie Ranzhe kowtowing before Master Lin taking Wen Qinxi by surprise. He didn't expect Qie Ranzhe to suddenly take all the bla sacrificing himself or maybe this was a ploy to pry sothing out of him. 'What the fuck does he want? More als or more sleepovers, which one is it?' thought Wen Qinxi giving him the side-eye.
"Mm, I understand but where is your family, I am certain I haven't heard your family na around here," asked Master Lin. He genuinely didn't know any relatives of the Qie family residing in town or anywhere near town. Of course, he recognized the family na Qie from the Royal family but no one would piece it together as they wouldn't associate a ruffian with the emperor.
"I have no family Master Lin, I was rescued by a kind elderly woman when l was a newborn with only a na in my possession," replied Qie Ranzhe hoping to end this discussion as soon as possible as it pained him to think no one in this world wanted him. He was dumped in the garbage like trash without even a pacifier to console him. Qie Ranzhe was so imrsed in his pain unconsciously clenching his fist with his nails digging deep into his palm to the point of drawing blood.
"Rise," said Master Lin thinking, 'What the hell! I should be kneeling to you not the other way around!' He could already see the emperor lashing out at him for allowing his son to kowtow before him. Concealing his panic, Master Lin inquired further, "How many tis?"
"Huh?" asked Wen Qinxi unable to comprehend the question.
"You two obviously have done this nurous tis so how many tis have you done this behind my back?" asked Master Lin in a calm and collect manner but he didn't expect Lin Jingxie to keep his mouth shut unwilling to divulge the details. 'What a stubborn child,' he thought and was about to frighten him by slamming the table with his fist when Lin Mingxu showed up now properly dressed.
"Father h-,"said Lin Mingxu trying to save his brother from the manure punishnt. The last ti he got that punishnt, the sll took several baths to get rid off but Lin Mingxu abruptly fell silent when Lin Jingxie glared at him with a 'watch your mouth' expression.
"Was it twice? Three tis? Talk or I will donate you as a laborer for the entire town next spring!" he threatened Lin Jingxie slamming the table with a loud bang causing the three of them to flinch. Master Lin was as a terrifying as solders in combat. 'Fuck you don't have to get all worked up. I will tell you,' thought a cringing Wen Qinxi nervously raising one finger.
"Oncccee.....Twiiiii, no once it was definitely a one ti thi-," said Wen Qinxi dragging his words while judging Master Lin's reaction but was startled when the man threw a scroll at him which he ducked falling right into Qie Ranzhe's arms like a girl running away from her livid father seeking protection from her boyfriend.
"What are you hiding behind him for? I am angry because you aren't telling the truth, spill it!" said Master Lin completely losing his patience. He hated lies more than the cri thus his anger towards Lin Jingxie.
Wen Qinxi returned to where he was standing before and cleared his throat loudly freighting bravery. "Its um, ah I think," he said before counting in a loud whisper, "one, two, three...eight.....twelve. Give or take fifteen tis," with the last part said hesitantly because even he wasn't sure how many tis Qie Ranzhe snuck into his room.
"Is that why you want to build a shelter? Are you dressing up like a woman embarrassing all over town to help him?" asked Master Lin pointing at Qie Ranzhe who was in the dark about all of this. He gazed in Lin Jingxie's direction but the man didn't spare him a single glance as he explained himself to his father.
A warm feeling lted Qie Ranzhe's tangled icy heart with his eyes fixed on the second person who had ever shown him any kind of care. He couldn't help but wander why Lin Jingxie was doing this, what did he want? He didn't have any money nor status so what did this guy he almost murdered in cold blood do all this for?
"Give all the money you made," said Master Lin massaging in between his brows in frustration. The whole town was talking about how elegant and graceful Lin Jingxie is and how he could easily pass as a girl. Such a troubleso issue was all those old farts could talk about when he attended a eting at the governor's office.
"I only made half of what we need," said Wen Qinxi placing the bag in front of Master Lin.
"From now on you don't have to perform anymore. I will make do with what you have. You really are sothing else. Do you know Master Sun has been following around asking if I can compromise and have you and Sun Haoran married? Don't you dare wear a dress ever again, do you hear ?!"
'Aish.....n are so annoying, they will get horny over anything wearing a skirt disregarding what lies beneath.' thought Wen Qinxi holding his grumbling stomach secretly hoping Master Lin didn't plan on starving them to death.
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