23. Back In The Game

After Meng Huo left the dining hall, Han Xin remained seated with a blank expression, his eyes on the ominous cup Meng Huo emptied. He knew that he made the other pretty upset and he needed to explain to him that he didn't mean it, but he couldn't find the strength to rise to his feet. He was seized by a dangerous inertia, and he felt lost.

When Meng Huo filled his cup, the illusion of his brother's last moments filled his brain. He could visualize clearly as Lu Ban's never-failing smile fading slowly with the poison spread around his body, and the fear Meng Huo felt as his brother was lying dead. No, he didn't blame Meng Huo because he knew he was innocent, yet the uncanny similarity of the scene made him melancholic all of a sudden.

Maybe it was too early to discuss his next move with Meng Huo... then he wouldn't make him that much upset...

"Tomorrow, I will fix everything tomorrow..." he mumbled to himself and granted himself only one night to grieve for his brother.

The next morning Meng Hua arrived with Han Xin's spy, so Han Xin went to Meng Huo's room to inform him. He also hoped to exchange a few positive words so that Meng Huo wouldn't get wrong ideas.

Well, apparently he had already done it.

"What are you doing?" Han Xin asked with slight irritation as he saw Meng Huo was collecting his stuff into chests.

Placing the robe in his hand neatly, Meng Huo turned around, "tidying the room, I hope the prince will decide my punishment soon so that I can leave with my sister," he said nonchalantly, contrasting to his swollen eyes.

"Leave?" Han Xin gritted his teeth, "do you want to leave m- here that much?"

"Yes," Meng Huo said coldly, "I don't want to make you more uncomfortable," he paused for a second, then continued "I saw how you looked at me yesterday."

Han Xin gave himself a mental slap for not clearing the misunderstanding on time. With a heavy heart, he walked towards Meng Huo and stopped right in front of him. "I admit I felt a bit weird yesterday, but it wasn't because I blamed you. I know you wouldn't kill Lu Ban intentionally or hurt me. I just-"

The knock on the door interrupted Han Xin.

"My prince, this letter was sent from the main palace and marked as urgent," the servant handed the letter to Han Xin and left the room. Impatiently, Han Xin opened the letter.

We are ready.

A smile formed on the prince's lips. He put the letter inside his robe and looked Meng Huo in the eye. Although he couldn't manage to solve the problems between them yet, there was something more urgent to be dealt with.

"I will take my revenge on the king of the East, both for Lu Ban and you. Although I don't want to involve you in my plan, I need your help. So, will you help me?"

Meng Huo was taken aback, hearing Han Xin's words, but he came around rather quickly. Nodding, he said "I am forever indebted to your family, so I will do anything you ask."

"Thank you," Han Xin said with a satisfied smile and took out a jade with a wolf carving from his sleeve. Tying it on Meng Huo's sash, he explained "this is a royalty heirloom for marriage. Now we will pretend as if we already got married and I will invite the king the East to celebrate our marriage."

Horror stroke Meng Huo. Shaking his head vigorously, he cried out "it is too dangerous, you don't know the king! He always gets what he wants! What if he wants to kill you? He tried to kill your father once already!"

"Hssshh," Han Xin grabbed his trembling shoulders in an attempt to calm him down. Although it was irrelevant, he felt super happy to hear Meng Huo's concern for his safety, even ignoring his own. With a reassuring smile, he said "I can handle him, don't worry. Thanks to you, I know everything though he doesn't know that I know. I will use this advantage well to expose his crimes."

"But..."

"No buts," Han Xin looked at him intently, "do you trust me?"

Meng Huo nodded with tears in his eyes. It was amazing how much tears he had; he was crying for almost two days, but he still had more to shed.

"Good," the prince dried the tears with his fingers, "now wash your face and let me take you to your sister."

That made Meng Huo regain a bit of vitality. He rushed to the bathroom and reappeared shortly after with a clean face and neat hair. Then Han Xin directed him out of the room, holding his arm, but Meng Huo saved himself from his grip. He believed Han Xin would never forgive him fully and he was only tolerating him for the sake of his revenge. Therefore, he didn't want to repulse him more than necessary.

On the other hand, Han Xin was unaware of Meng Huo's thoughts, so he presumed that Meng Huo was still upset about his previous behavior. He wanted to finish his earlier explanation to reassure the sad man, but they already arrived at the main hall. Therefore, all Han Xin could do at the moment was to hold his arm back and whisper "we are married and happy, remember?"

Thinking Han Xin was doing it only for the plan, Meng Huo nodded and entered the hall with his bleeding heart.