11. Wood Carving

Han Xin could hear Meng Huo and Zhu Lei having a lively chat behind the closed door of Meng Huo's room. His feet froze on the spot as the contradictory emotions beset him full power; he was happy that Meng Huo was opening up bit by bit as it was desirable for their plan, but the fact that he prefered to open up to a maid rather than him made Han Xin dissatisfied for an unknown reason.

Why her, am I not very nice to you?

The tasteless question haunted his mind and he clicked his tongue with annoyance. Although he knew it was highly impudent, his feet took him close to the door so that he could hear their conversation.

Wait. Did he just hear Meng Huo mentioning snowdrops? As Han Xin was the one who first showed him the flower in the winter garden, he felt childish pride. In a way the conversation was about him, right?

Unfortunately, his simper was wiped off before long as he heard Zhu Lei offering to pick up some snowdrops to put in his room. She was trying to gain his favor! Brimming with anger, he was ready to barge into the room, but luckily before he did that, he heard Meng Huo declining the offer politely as he didn't want to kill the lovely flowers.

Finally! Someone is concerned about the well-being of the flowers!

Han Xin, the avid snowdrop protector, lied to himself blatantly and decided to leave the area before he did something he would regret later.

Later the same day, Han Xin asked Meng Huo to sit with him in his study with a wonderful plan in his mind.

"Do you know what these are?" the prince asked as soon as the maid who served the tea left the room.

Meng Huo didn't even hear the question as his only focus was merely on the sharp tools with wooden handles on the table. He learnt who I am... he will torture me... his silent words were screaming inside his head and he felt the corners of his vision darkened.

"Are you okay? You look so pale all of a sudden," Han Xin said with apparent concern and brought the tea cup near Meng Huo's lips, "drink some."

The panicked man looked at the prince blankly, but did what he said.

"Better?"

Meng Huo could only nod. Based on Han Xin's reaction, he presumed it wasn't his last day. Yet.

"We should call the healer, your health is not very good," Han Xin said as he slipped the cup into Meng Huo's cold hand.

"No need!" the slave exclaimed as usual, "w-what are these for?" he pointed at the tools, trying to change the subject.

Han Xin gave him a meaningful look, thinking he was just afraid of sharp tools and was too embarrassed to confess it. As he pitied him, he complied with Meng Huo's wish and dropped the previous topic. Randomly grabbing one tool, he said "these are tools for wood carving."

"W-Wood carving?" Meng Huo repeated to be sure that he said 'wood' not 'you'.

The prince nodded proudly, "it is my hobby, do you want to see how I make it?"

The relieved slave nodded fervently and got closer to the table to see it better.

Satisfied with his curiosity, Han Xin took out a small basswood and started to carve it with his skilled hands. Although the process of creating something out of wood was highly slow and required repetitive moves, Meng Huo's eyes never lost their curious spark. On the contrary, when Han Xin called it a day, he was sad as he couldn't see the final product.

"Don't look at me like this, we can continue tomorrow," Han Xin said blithely as he was over the moon that he managed to keep Meng Huo beside him almost the whole day.

"R-Really?"

Han Xin chuckled, "of course! Now let's eat something."

The very next day, Han Xin kept his promise and invited Meng Huo to his study again, who in turn almost ran to the room with excitement. He took his usual seat and focused his eyes on Han Xin's beautiful hands which were carving the wood elegantly.

"W-What will it be?" he asked shyly as he resembled it to the shape of flowers.

As it was the first time Meng Huo initiated a conversation, Han Xin was quite happy as well as proud. First the winter garden and now the wood carving... Han Xin was having the inside track.

Soon you will tell me everything about this mystery, he said inwardly while outwardly saying "I am carving a hair slide."

Meng Huo nodded with a faint smile, showing he liked the idea. After that, the duo sat silent for a while, and Han Xin worked on the carving.

"Do you have any hobbies?"

Hearing the sudden question, Meng Huo stiffened for a second before shaking his head; a hobby was undreamable for a mere slave like him. He used to do drudgery from morning to midnight, so he didn't even have time to sleep.

"Interesting," Han Xin murmured as he paused carving, "how about your talents? Sword-fighting? Archery? Calligraphy? Flute-playing?"

The poor slave felt his breathing hitched. Of course he had no special talent at all, but confessing it was out of the question, so was lying. Without a remedy, he bit his lips and waited for the prince's reaction.

"You don't want to tell? It is okay," Han Xin decided to let him off the hook as he looked like he was about to burst into tears. Putting the tools aside, he added, "let's stop for today, I have some work to do."

Brimming with gratitude, Meng Huo jumped on to his feet and left the study with his heavily beating heart. He must have used all his luck in life when he met Han Xin. There was no bound of his kindness; whenever he thought it was the end, Han Xin always let him off the hook mercifully, and as if it wasn't enough, he was also pampering him fully although he didn't deserve any of it. He believed he was the devil itself; therefore, he was disgusted with himself as if he wasn't forced to be a pawn in that dirty plot.

Being crushed under the weight of the guilt, Meng Huo slumped on the cushion in his room.

I am so sorry... I wish we could meet in a different life...