32. Home

"Are you really sure about it? I am just a worthless slave, you know," Meng Huo said nervously when he was alone with Han Xin in his study. Earlier, the prince wrote a letter to the queen and invited her and Wu Xin so that they could continue with marriage preparation. Although it was an act of reassurance of the prince's love, Meng Huo was anxious about the reaction of the royal family.

A gentle hit on the arm brought Meng Huo's wandering soul back and he saw Han Xin was looking at him with a stern expression.

"How many times did I tell you not to call yourself like that? You are not a slave anymore and you are worth the whole world to me."

Hearing his lovely words, Meng Huo teared a bit, but managed to swallow his potential sob. Holding his love's hands, he said "I love you, my prince, more than you think so."

As it was a very rare display of affection, Han Xin felt himself melting with happiness. Seriously though, this man would be the end of him one day! After stealing a quick peck from his addictive lips, the prince replied, "I love you too, Meng Meng, so do my parents. Therefore, don't worry about anything and just focus on me."

Meng Huo nodded with a flustered face and they waited for the carriage to arrive with happy hearts.

***

"Han Xin, I can't believe you did such a dangerous thing, but at least you got rid of that despicable man for good," the queen said when she heard about the happenings in her absence.

As her tone was in between scolding and complimenting, Han Xin couldn't decide to say sorry or thank her. Opting for neither, he drank his liquor slowly.

In order to dismiss the tension in the air, the king took the word, "let's not dwell on this tasteless topic, we have more important things to discuss, right?"

Han Xin and Meng Hua nodded whole-heartedly while Meng Huo was motionless despite his raging heart.

"So..." the queen turned her head towards Meng Huo with a smile, "I heard you really fell for my stupid son and want to marry him of your volition, is that right?"

Meng Huo didn't know how to answer, so he just lowered his head and mumbled "I am so sorry, my queen."

"Oh my! Why are you apologizing?!" the queen gestured to him to raise his head, "you are a fine young man who saved both my husband and son. The moment I saw you, I knew you were a kind soul and I accepted you as a family member immediately. Burry the past now and focus on the future."

Happy tears trickled down from Meng Huo's eyes, "thank you so much, my queen," he said in between his sobs.

Even though they were happy tears, Han Xin couldn't take it anymore. He reached and wiped Meng Huo's tears with his long sleeve. "Enough of crying, shouldn't we be celebrating?" he asked teasingly and everyone hummed in agreement.

"Then let's call Wu Xin too," the king said and one of the maids rushed out to find the little prince, hoping he was not messing around the laundry wing.

"I know I am being too much, but can I ask one more favour?" Meng Huo asked shyly, earning a glare from Han Xin.

"Silly child, of course you can," the queen scolded him gently.

"Can Zhu Lei also join the dinner? I regard her as a younger sister and she did a lot for us."

"Oh, that's true," Han Xin agreed while Meng Hua nodded vigorously.

The king and the queen exchanged a knowing glance before the king said "that is a wonderful idea, we also should thank her for saving you two."

"Really?!" Meng Huo exclaimed happily, then covered his mouth abruptly, but it was too late; the queen and the king already chuckled at his cute behavior.

"Don't tease my husband-to-be!" Han Xin immediately intervened, but his love-filled behaviour caused more laughter.

Without remedy, Han Xin just dragged Meng Huo's embarrassed self out of the dining hall to find Zhu Lei. Luckily, she was with Wu Xin, so the couple hit two birds with one stone.

"What?! Really?" Zhu Lei beamed when she learnt they wanted her on the table.

"Of course, you are Meng Meng's little sister," Han Xin replied with a smile and Meng Huo barely managed to hold himself not to kiss that cute smile. Meng Huo felt so lucky to have him.

"What? Second ge has a sister?!" Wu Xin exclaimed with wide open eyes.

"He has two," Han Xin showed two fingers to his brother and the latter gaped as well as Zhu Lei who was told Meng Hua was Meng Huo's cousin. Still, she kept her silence, believing they had a complicated situation.

"Not only one but two?!" Wu Xin exclaimed again and hit Meng Huo's leg, "ge, how come you don't tell me this?!"

Meng Huo kneeled down so that he could look the little prince in the eye, "I am so sorry, Wu Xin, can you forgive me?"

Seeing the sad expression on his ge's face, Wu Xin softened. Patting his shoulder, he said "no worries, but you and your sisters have to play with me sometimes."

"Sure," Meng Huo nodded immediately and they all went to the dining hall.

Being the most lovely people on the earth, the king and the queen were super nice both to Meng Hua and Zhu Lei. Therefore, the awkward atmosphere disappeared rather quickly and left its place to laughter and Wu Xin's forced dizi flute performance.

Finally Meng Huo had a place where he could call home and he was happy...