"That was an implausible reason you gave me," Huo Jin stated.
Zhilao Mi skeptically peered at him. "Implausible reason?! You stopped loving me?"
"No. I still do. However, I cannot go to the Northern Province. It's his order," Huo Jin pronounced. "Your father told me to stay in Luoyang and since I am the son of a mere servant, I shall follow his orders," Huo Jin replied to her.
"You said a few minutes ago that you will run away." Zhilao Mi was confused, thinking about what could have been running inside Huo Jin's mind.
"I decided to run away after today's incident. Su Feng is caught and also a few other spies; your husband knows about you and we do not know what the Crown Princess is planning?" Huo Jin explained to Zhilao Mi.
"Because he acted foolishly. Jian Ge was angry at me because he trusted me, who could embrace him not only in happy times but also in tough times. I broke his trust by plotting against her. He has forgiven me. And the Crown Princess is not planning any more," Zhilao Mi answered to his queries to clear his confusions. She picked the letter from the floor and again put it in Huo Jin's hands.
Huo Jin smiled at her response. He picked the paper and tore it into pieces shocking Zhilao Mi. "Huo Jin," she murmured as her eyes filled with tears.
"I would have run away in the day, but I waited for you because I thought you would also come with me. You love your father this much that you cannot see what is ahead of us." He gazed into her eyes. They were misty, which irked him more.
"I will drop you at the Palace. This is the last thing I can do for you," Huo Jin affirmed.
"I will go by myself. Do not come in front of my sight. I hate you," Zhilao Mi stood up from the chair. Huo Jin caught her wrist. "You can hate me. But this is for your best. The Han army cannot be underestimated. If I leave for the Northern Province, I will definitely get caught. That's why stop being stubborn and foolish," Huo Jin had calmed down.
Zhilao Mi turned to him. "Your capabilities are the same as those of the Generals. You shall not doubt your abilities," she tried to get across to him.
Huo Jin heard the strange voices, so he quickly blew off the candle that was on the candle stand and pressed his palm on Zhilao Mi's lips. In the darkroom, they couldn't see each other.
"Someone is here," she heard his whisper in her ear. "Be quiet. Do not move from your place." He put down his palm. The sound of horse galloping was heard. "The First Prince passed the order to check every house, even the abandoned ones," they both heard the voice.
After a few minutes, the voices died. Huo Jin opened the back window of the house a little. He quickly picked up the cloth bag and put it around his shoulder. He then made Zhilao Mi wear the veiled hat. "Let's go," he grasped her hand and the two walked out of the hut. Huo Jin brought Zhilao Mi to the Palace.
"Go inside," Huo Jin told her as he left his hand. He looked around to make sure no one chased them. Looking back at her, he asked her why she did not go in till now. "Take care," the last words she told Huo Jin, who smiled at her.
"I will," he answered. Zhilao Mi went towards the wall when she heard the voice of Jian Guozhi. "Stay there, Zhilao Mi." She gulped, and a shiver ran through her entire body.
"R-run," she said in a loud enough voice, audible to Huo Jin only. The soldiers surrounded them. Huo Jin stood in front of her and looked at Jian Guozhi and another Prince with him.
Jian Guozhi went towards Zhilao Mi and removed the veiled hat from over her head. "Get on your knees," Jian Guozhi tilted his head to look at Huo Jin, who lowered his eyes and bent on his knees.
"Jian Ge-"
"Shut up!" Jian Guozhi shouted at her. "Do not force me to raise my hand on you," He warned her.
"Take him to prison and start investigating him. He might tell us about Tan Gengxin's spy network." Jian Guozhi passed the order.
"Your highness, you do not need to take me to the prison. I will tell you here but on one condition," Huo Jin affirmed and lifted his eyes.
"How dare you talk about the condition?" Jian Guozhi was furious to hear him. He would torture Huo Jin to the extent that he had to reveal the truth to him. Zhilao Mi wondered what Huo Jin was thinking to do.
"I need it to be put in front of his highness because it will save his time as well," Huo Jin stated.
"Take him to the prison house. I will be there in a while," Jian Guozhi commanded the soldiers when Nianzu intervened. "Brother Jian, let's hear him instead of applying torture to him."
Jian Guozhi turned to Nianzu and agreed to his suggestion.
"What's your condition?" Nianzu asked Huo Jin.
"Please do not punish Lady Zhilao. She did what she was told to do!" Huo Jin asserted. Zhilao Mi was out of words. Huo Jin indeed was saving her. He did not need to! She never loved him. He should have run away the moment she told him.
"She is Tan Gengxin's daughter and you are telling me to not punish her. You cannot decide for her," Jian Guozhi gritted his teeth and glanced at Zhilao Mi, who was shocked to hear her truth from her husband. So, it was all a trap for her! Jian Guozhi lied to her.
"Take him to the prison. Rest things will be decided there," Jian Guozhi ordered. The soldiers came forward and took Huo Jin with them. Nianzu followed them while Jian Guozhi and Zhilao Mi stayed there.
"I warned you, didn't I?" Jian Guozhi grabbed her arm, and she winced in pain.
"F-forgive me," she lowered her eyes in fear.
Jian Guozhi dragged her to the prison house and threw her inside a cell.. "Be ready to die," Jian Guozhi told her and left the prison.