26. The Plan

"A'Huo, I still can't believe you married a prince!" Meng Hua cried delightedly, unaware of her brother's problems.

"Hm-mm," Meng Huo mumbled as he poked the chicken piece in his bowl. Indeed, he was very happy to have his sister by his side, but her cheerfulness was a bit too much for his aching heart at the moment.

"What's wrong?!"

"Ha?" The sad man didn't understand what happened until his sister sat by his side and dried his tears.

"I know you are not a talkative kind, but I can see that something hurts you. Do you really want to keep everything in?"

The sympathy in her voice made him teared even more. Throwing his arms around her small figure, Meng Huo started to sob loudly.

"I don't belong here... I can't have what I want..."

Meng Hua kept her silence while rubbing his back. It was the first time she saw her brother crying this vehemently; therefore, she didn't know how to comfort him, rather than offering him her shoulder.

Meng Huo cried for a good while until he calmed down. Drying his tears with his sleeve, he pulled himself back, "I am sorry sister."

"Why are you saying sorry?! I am your sister, it is my duty to be by your side. Now tell me if it is the prince who makes you sad, I will scold him deservedly."

Meng Huo let out a soft chuckle. It felt nice to have two sisters who were ready to do anything for him, ignoring their statues. Grabbing his sister's hands, he said "no, it has nothing to do with the prince, he is too good to me... it is me... I only bring trouble to him."

"Oh, I know the prince doesn't think like you," she declared blithely, "he values you very much."

Wasn't it too much of a coincidence that both his sisters said almost the same thing? He wanted to ask further, but Zhu Lei's hasty entrance stopped him.

"My prince!"

"What happened?" Meng Huo asked as he helped her onto the cushion.

"Haven't you heard about the news?" Zhu Lei asked, clenching his arm, "they say the king is really sick!"

"What?!" Meng Huo felt like struck by lightning. The last time when he saw the king, he seemed pretty healthy. Could it be because he learnt about Meng Huo's identity? Fear seized his mind, so his feet took up the work. Leaving the girls shocked, he ran out of the room to find Han Xin.

When he reached Han Xin's study, he pushed the door open and slammed it behind him. In the face of the weird action, Han Xin could only gape.

"Is it true?" Meng Huo asked, out of breath.

"What?" Han Xin asked as he approached the agitated man.

"The king... is he sick?"

"Oh no," Han Xin shook his head and glanced at the door to be sure it was close. Then he grabbed Meng Huo's arms and directed him onto the cushion in front of his study table. Sitting across from him, he explained "it is a part of our plan."

"What?" Meng Huo was confused, "so he is not sick?"

Han Xin smiled reassuringly, "no, he is not."

"Then what is your plan?" the slave asked, but remembering his position, he said "I am so sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

The prince frowned as he realised that Meng Huo still thought Han Xin was suspicious of him. In order to prove him wrong, he grabbed his chin and raised his head so that he could look him in the eye.

"I will invite the king of the East here to celebrate our unannounced wedding. I bel-"

"NO WAY!" Meng Huo didn't let him finish, "ARE YOU CRAZY? DIDN'T I TELL YOU HOW CRUEL THE KING IS? DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DIE?!"

"Hssh, calm down," Han Xin tried to soothe him, but to no avail.

"Do you think it is a game? That man killed your brother using me! He also tried to kill your father! What if he wants to kill you this time?! How can you think of confronting him alone without your father?" Meng Huo continued with fire in his eyes.

"You are right, but this time we won't be taken by surprise, he will! We have control over the situation, so we will win this time."

Meng Huo's shoulders stooped, "you won't listen to reason, right?" he asked with a defeated manner.

"I am sorry, but I can't let him have his way," Han Xin replied firmly.

"So what is the plan? How can I help you not to make yourself killed?"

Han Xin smiled softly, being touched by the care he received. "I will tell that bastard that my father has been sick, so we married hastily before he died. After this hook, I will invite him here to celebrate our marriage."

Seeing the fearful look on Meng Huo's face, Han Xin paused a second before continuing, "don't worry, I have no intention to make you two sit on the same table. I will ask him for a private dinner on the day he arrives, excusing to ask him some questions about your traditions."

"Then? Will you kill him?"

"No, well not immediately," Han Xin rubbed his chin, "first I have to get some evidence about his sins so that I won't cause a war."

"And how do you plan to get the evidence?" Meng Huo pressed as the plan sounded very sloppy.

"I am not sure yet," Han Xin lied as there was no way he could share what was on his mind.

I am so sorry, but it is better if you don't know...