27. Hidden Agenda

"The king of the East is coming here," Meng Huo said with apparent anxiety and Meng Hua gasped.

"W-why?" she asked, her hand pressed on her mouth.

"To celebrate our wedding, it was him who sent me here as Han Xin's bride," he explained briefly as he sat in front of her sister.

Obviously, Meng Hua was confused, but she was sensible enough not to ask further. Rubbing her brother's arm, she rather said "I can go somewhere if you want."

"No need," Meng Huo patted her hand, "Han Xin said it is enough if you just stay in your room for a day. You won't be alone though, I will ask Zhu Lei to be with you."

"What about you? Will you be okay?"

Meng Huo smiled, but it lacked plausibility, "I trust Han Xin," he said, yet he was afraid for the prince. When Han Xin sent the invitation to the East, Meng Huo hoped that the king would decline it or the pigeon would get lost... but unfortunately, the positive reply came very quickly.

"Everything will be okay, I also trust my brother-in-law," she said with a fake smile and Meng Huo nodded with an equally fake one before he left the room.

After he left, Meng Hua called Zhu Lei as she knew how fond she was of her brother.

"My princess," Zhu Lei bowed politely, but Meng Hua grabbed her shoulders in a friendly manner.

"Call me jie, like you call A'Huo as ge," she said with a smile and Zhu Lei beamed. Then Meng Hua pointed at the cushions and the girls sat around the small table.

"Although I don't know you personally, I saw how much you are taking care of A'Huo. I want to say thank you for that."

Zhu Lei shook her hands in negative, "no need no need, he is my ge, so it is what I must do."

The smile on Meng Hua's lips widened. Finally luck decided to visit her brother after all he had to endure in the East. Both Han Xin and Zhu Lei were doting on Meng Huo and that situation made Meng Hua feel at ease.

"Can I ask for a favor then?" she asked as she grabbed Zhu Lei's hands.

"Sure, jie," the younger one nodded whole-heartedly.

"Because of a complicated situation, I can't meet with the king of the East, but I am worried about A'Huo meeting with the king as well. Therefore, I wanted to ask you to help me keep an eye on A'Huo."

Zhu Lei frowned for a second, but then she nodded slowly. She had no idea why Meng Huo had a problem with his father, but she didn't care. If her brother was in danger, she could even attack a king to save him.

"Don't worry, I will have my guard up and will never leave ge alone with him," Zhu Lei promised, squeezing the warm hands holding hers.

"Thank you... thank you so much."

While the girls were getting close, Han Xin called Meng Huo to discuss the upcoming event.

"Tomorrow at night, the king will be here. You should just welcome him, then I will invite him for a private dinner as we discussed before. This way, you don't need to see him much."

Meng Huo nodded slightly, "how about the evidence? Did the prince come up with something?"

"I will improvise," Han Xin distorted the truth a bit, "don't worry, my father will be here as well. If something goes wrong, we will go with plan B."

"And what is plan B?"

"It is..." Han Xin rubbed his nape, "it is better if you don't know for now."

Meng Huo's eyes widened. From Han Xin's tone, he knew the reason for the prince's secrecy wasn't related to trust issues. Then there was only one reason left.

"It is something dangerous, right?" he asked through his gritted teeth.

"Well... let's say it is not," Han Xin let out a nervous chuckle, but was rewarded by a deadly glare.