In the Northern Province, the plan to attack Tan Gengxin was delayed because of the heavy rain. But with this, a good thing happened– Tan Gengxin sent a reply to the message of the Crown Prince.
Sheng Li read the message. He snickered and looked at Ying Lili. "Tan Gengxin has challenged us as well. He does not want to end this peacefully," Sheng Li pronounced.
"Because he thinks we will fall into his trap," Ying Lili reasoned.
"Hmm. He does not know that Huo Jin betrayed him," Sheng Li stated. "He might attack us any time so, stay on alert," Sheng Li commanded Xiao Zhan.
"The hill will be difficult to climb on after today's heavy rain. We have to deploy a few of our soldiers there to trap Tan Gengxin and his army," Ying Lili affirmed while looking at the map in her hand. "There is a good thing about this Palace structure. He has fortified it, unlike the Imperial Han Palace." Sheng Li glanced at her when he heard her speaking.
"Luoyang's boundaries are fortified instead of the Palace," Ying Lili asserted. Sheng Li agreed with her. "But in terms of secrets, Luoyang has better," stated Ying Lili.
"Your highness, after some time the first piece of the army will be sent to the hills. As per the plan, we will set the bait. When the sun's first ray falls, we will attack the Southern Part where only limited security is deployed," Xiao Zhan proclaimed.
"Do that. Prepare the army. I am coming," Sheng Li told Xiao Zhan, who bowed and walked out of the tent.
"Sheng Li, did you see this point on the map?" Ying Lili observed something strange on the map. Sheng Li stood up from the tall chair and went to her. He looked at the map where Ying Lili had pointed her finger. "Because of the prolonged use of this map, it is not clear," Ying Lili muttered.
Sheng Li leaned down and hummed. He took the map from her and studied it again. "Isn't this like another secret path?" Sheng Li mumbled while Ying Lili stood up from her seat. "Call General Wang. He knows maps better," Ying Lili suggested to him. Sheng Li called a soldier in and ordered him to inform Wang Hao to come to him. The soldier bowed and left.
"Let's study this map well. I wish Huo Jin would be here," Sheng Li sighed.
"Your highness, the Second and the Sixth Prince are here with Huo Jin," Commander Yang came to the tent house to inform him. Sheng Li and Ying Lili were delighted to hear that, but they wondered how they both reached the Northern Province in a day.
"Where are they?" Sheng Li asked and folded the map in his hand.
"They had just arrived, your highness," Commander Yang answered. Both Ying Lili and Sheng Li then went with Commander Yang to meet them.
Lei Wanxi was amazed to see how the Han Army had made tent houses in the resting grounds, near the residence of the village headman. "So, this is how Brother Sheng and other soldiers stayed during battles," Lei Wanxi mumbled. He saw the figures of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.
He walked to them and bowed. "Brother Sheng, Sister Lili, how is the surprise?" Lei Wanxi queried and blinked at Sheng Li.
"It was great," Sheng Li replied and patted his shoulder. He looked at Prince Yongzheng who was standing with Xiao Zhan and Huo Jin. Sheng Li bowed and greeted him. "Let's greet each other later, Crown Prince. Meet Huo Jin, who was the servant of Tan Gengxin but now accepted to work for us," Yongzheng affirmed.
Sheng Li and Ying Lili turned their gazes towards Huo Jin who had lowered his eyes. He deeply bowed in front of them. "The ground is muddy. You do not need to get on your knees," Ying Lili stated.
Huo Jin was stunned to find that the Crown Princess was polite. "Xiao, take Brother Yongzheng and Wanxi to the residence of Feng Yao. We will meet you in a while," Sheng told both of his brothers.
"No worries, Brother Sheng. You shall take your time. Is Hu Jingguo here? I have to surprise him too!" Lei Wanxi delightedly said. Earlier, the plan was to send the Second and the Fourth Prince to the Northern Province but at the last moment, Lei Wanxi volunteered to go just because he was missing Hu Jingguo and Sheng Li both.
The smile from everyone's faces disappeared. Sheng Li again recalled how Hu Jingguo died in front of him. Yongzheng found something was wrong. "Where's General Wang? He usually is around the Crown Prince," Yongzheng looked around.
"Second Prince, General Wang is resting," Xiao Zhan replied when Wang Hao came there. Oppositely, Lei Wanxi again asked about Hu Jingguo.
"He is no more," with a heavy heart and quivered voice Sheng Li told Lei Wanxi. His eyes were lowered. Ying Lili went closer to Sheng Li and placed her hand on his arm.
"Pardon?" Lei Wanxi was shocked to hear that. "A-are you playing a joke with me? He promised me that…" Lei Wanxi paused and stepped closer to Sheng Li. "What happened to him?" Lei Wanxi questioned. His eyes tuned misty.
"Prince Wanxi, I will tell you. Please come with me," Xiao Zhan stepped forward and took Lei Wanxi and Yongzheng away. Sheng Li clenched his fist. For the first time, he found himself guilty in front of Lei Wanxi. Never once he felt this way.
"It's fine," Ying Lili told Sheng Li, who hummed and then looked at Huo Jin. "Follow us," Sheng Li stated. "Wang Hao, you too," he said and walked inside the tent house with Ying Lili. Commander Yang also followed Huo Jin.
Sheng Li and Ying Lili stood around a table. Wang Hao too went to them while Huo Jin stood a few meters away from them, behind whom Commander Yang had stood.
"Begin.. Don't leave anything," Sheng Li sternly ordered Huo Jin, who nodded and began narrating everything about him.