13. You're Back!

"My prince, you should eat something, please," Zhu Lei begged Meng Huo, who was standing in front of the window for a day.

"He said two days, yet he is not here," Meng Huo said with a hoarse voice as his throat was too dry.

"I am sure the prince will come back today, the day is long, you know," Zhu Lei tried to reassure him, but he seemed not to listen to her.

"Something bad happened, I know, I always bring bad luck," he murmured more to himself. As he was happy for the last couple of days, the universe had to punish him. It was his fault, he should have stayed away from Han Xin.

"He is a prince, so he should be fine," she tried again, "on the other hand, he will chop my head when he sees your sickly complexion."

"I am fine," Meng Huo said but his hollow words lacked plausibility.

Sighing, she left him alone to bring something for him to eat, maybe he could just take a few bites in a daze.

Unfortunately, her plan didn't work and Meng Huo finished the day, standing in front of the window with an empty stomach.

On the third day, Meng Huo's tired eyes selected some silhouettes approaching the palace, but he thought he was just hallucinating.

"The prince is back!" Zhu Lei barged into the room, too happy that Meng Huo would finally leave the window.

Being exhausted both physically and mentally, Meng Huo had difficulty processing her words, but when he did, he sprinted towards the door, not caring about the manners. He passed the halls and pushed the huge door open before the servants, then with his remainder of strength, he ran to the group.

In front of the extraordinary sight, Han Xin almost had a heart attack. He stopped his men with a shaky hand gesture and dismounted his horse.

"You said two days!" Meng Huo closed the remaining distance and hit Han Xin on the chest with his clenched fists. Uncontrollable tears were rolling down his cheeks, he was both relieved and angry at the same time.

"I-I am so sorry," Han Xin uttered in a daze and circled his arms around the trembling figure. He had no idea what was going on inside Meng Huo's head, but he could see it was something bad. Too bad, if the small man in his arms wasn't that agitated, he could enjoy the rare display of affection. Tsk. Too bad.

"You said two days!" Meng Huo repeated in his madness and fidgeted to save himself from the prince's hug. He was still angry so he wanted to hit him a bit more.

"Hsshh, calm down," Han Xin tightened his hug and pressed Meng Huo's head on his chest, "everything is okay, I am here," he repeated soothingly.

Eventually the agitated man's breathing stabilized, but as he was calmed, the fatigue caught up with him. The sudden dizziness hit him hard and he fainted in between Han Xin's strong arms.

"Meng Huo!" Han Xin exclaimed in shock, but at least he managed to keep him secure in his arms. Ignoring his men's help offer, he lifted the unconscious man in bridal style and ran to the palace with his heart in his mouth.

The healer was called immediately and only after hearing it was only starving and fatigue, nothing serious, Han Xin could breathe again.

Not wanting to disturb the sleeping man, he grabbed Zhu Lei's arm and pulled her out of the room. "What happened to him? I was only away for three days!" he said, annoyed.

The poor maid flinched, but managed to say "t-the prince thought something bad happened to your highness... he waited in front of the window for two days without eating or sleeping."

With the revelation, Han Xin's eyes almost popped out of his eye sockets. Did Meng Huo care about him that much? Really? A warm feeling spread in his heart and he even forgot the man was his enemy.

"Tell the cook to prepare a light but nutritious meal," the prince ordered in a daze and walked into the room again with silent steps.

He sat by the mattress and adjusted the quilt on the sleeping man. Meng Huo indeed looked very tired with purplish spots under his eyes and colorless lips, yet he was still wearing the wooden hair slide he carved. Brimming with pity, Han Xin's hand found its way to Meng Huo's silky black hair and started to caress it gently.

Although he was the one who planned to gain Meng Huo's trust, somehow the latter managed to carve his way into his heart. There was something about him that stirred complicated emotions in Han Xin. He wanted to protect the small man at any cost, to keep him close to himself. He wanted him to smile, to talk only to him and keep all the bad things away from him.

Han Xin wasn't a stupid man, he was already aware of the signs, but he couldn't listen to his heart, not yet. Not when Meng Huo was obviously hiding many things from him. Not before he could reveal the ugly mystery behind his brother's unjust death...

"You are here..."

The feeble voice snapped Han Xin out of his reverie. Smiling softly, he said "I made you worried, I am sorry."

Meng Huo shook his head, relief apparent in his eyes. Propping himself on his elbow, he replied "as long as the prince is okay, it is okay."

Han Xin let out a sigh, how could he keep in mind that the man in front of him was kind of his enemy when he looked so relieved to know he was okay and sound so sincere?

I have to hurry up before I lose my sanity, the prince thought as he averted his gaze off Meng Huo reluctantly.