Huo Jin narrated everything to them. The things he told were unbelievable for Sheng Li, but those were the truth. "How did you find the secret underground routes of the Imperial Palace? Weng Wei could not find them, then how come you find out? And why did you not tell Tan Gengxin about that?" Sheng Li put forward a few questions.
"As I said, I never intended bloodshed. The First Wife of the First Prince was in the Palace. I wanted her safe departure first, but my master was not ready for that. He wanted to use her as bait," Huo Jin stated. "I happened to find out about secret routes, your highness," Huo Jin did not tell the way through which he found them.
"How?" Sheng Li demanded the answer.
"I sneaked into the barracks and from there found a few maps," Huo Jin replied. Sheng Li scowled at Wang Hao and Commander Yang, who lowered their eyes.
"You proved that our security is weak," Sheng Li affirmed and looked at Ying Lili. "What do you have to say in this?" He wanted to know her opinion. In such situations, he felt Ying Lili could make better decisions.
"Huo Jin has good cognizance. Surprisingly, he did not tell his master about all this. However, there is something suspicious," Ying Lili pronounced. Huo Jin lifted his eyes and looked at her. "What if it's all the plan of Tan Gengxin? What if he wants to send Huo Jin as bait to us? If Huo Jin can easily go through our maps, then he is capable of many things," Ying Lili asserted.
"I know that her highness will not believe me easily. That's why I will give another proof," Huo Jin stated.
"I do not want any proof," Ying Lili stated. The stern expression did not leave her face. "Let's do this. You will become our bait and will go to Tan Gengxin. Will you do this?" Ying Lili questioned him. Sheng Li agreed with what Ying Lili was doing. He glanced at Huo Jin and waited for his response.
"Yes," without any hesitation, Huo Jin answered. "I will go there," Huo Jin accepted Ying Lili's offer. "If you want to put a sword on his neck, I will do that as well, your highness," Huo Jin pronounced. Sheng Li was astonished upon seeing that.
"So even servants can turn disloyal? Interesting!" Sheng Li was amused.
"Your highness, I would not have turned disloyal if Tan Gengxin had not used his daughter in all this. She did not deserve all this," Huo Jin's anger towards Tan Gengxin was visible. Ying Lili understood that it was the case of one's heart for the other.
"What's the real name of Tan Gengxin's daughter?" Ying Lili asked him.
"Her name is Xinyue," Huo Jin replied. There was a tiny smile on his lips which could be noticed if one would focus on him.
"Why did you not stop her when all this began?" Ying Lili was curious to know.
"Because I am a mere servant. My views do not matter," Huo Jin replied.
"Even to the one whom you love?" Ying Lili raised her brow while Sheng Li, Wang Hao, and Commander Yang looked at her. "Love?!" Sheng Li was confused.
"Yes, your highness. But to prevent her, I tried many times to stop all this. When I first entered the barracks a year ago, the first realization hit me that Tan Gengxin would surely be defeated. Though he has a good spying network, his system has loopholes too. I told him to step back from all this, but I have no one to advise him. I pleaded with him to not involve his daughter in all this. He did not agree with me and asked for secret routes. Then, I lied to him," Huo Jin proclaimed.
"In short, you did all this for your love, not because you had remorse to work with him!" Ying Lili deduced.
"It can be one answer but not the whole, your highness." Huo Jin's answer bewildered Ying Lili. "I never wanted bloodshed. Also, I never wanted to have a tyrant ruler. I served him because my late father was loyal to him. I could not escape from the fate which was already decided from my birth that was to work for Tan Gengxin," Huo Jin explained to Ying Lili.
Sheng Li recalled Hu Jingguo and Wan Ju, who were slaves by birth. Huo Jin's state was the same as theirs. However, Huo Jin suffered more than them as he was tied to Tan Gengxin. "We believe you," Sheng Li stated, astonishing everyone. Even Huo Jin could not believe that the Crown Prince would believe him before the Crown Princess. He got on his knees and deeply bowed.
"Thank you, your highness." Huo Jin expressed his gratitude.
Wang Hao noticed the frowns on Sheng Li's forehead. The Crown Prince never turned lenient like this for anyone. He believed him without giving any warnings to him. Generally, if a spy or a servant of the enemy is destined to die, then why did the Crown Prince not announce such a decision towards Huo Jin? Wang Hao decided to talk to the Crown Prince regarding that.
"What if you will be given a death sentence later, as you are from the enemy side? Will you still help us?" Ying Lili wanted to know his answer to this. She keenly observed him because his body expressions somewhere would show hesitance towards this.
But the opposite happened. Huo Jin's face was calm like an ocean and he answered, "I will accept that then. However, the Emperor had pardoned me, so I do not think I can get a death sentence. But, if the Crown Princess asked him then I might get it. Your highness, I could have escaped when I brought the Second and the Sixth Prince here. I could have even killed them, but I did not. This also proves my loyalty to the Han Emperor. The shortest path which Tan Gengxin used for travel, I brought them here from that route," Huo Jin lifted his head, but his gaze was still lowered.
Ying Lili and Sheng Li were impressed by him. "Welcome to our team, Huo Jin. We are glad that you have turned good. I would have helped Xinyue, but I am afraid that is not possible since she did wrong," Ying Lili asserted.
Huo Jin nodded. "Thank you, your highness. Thank you for being understanding to me." Huo Jin found the Crown Princess during such incidents had not forgotten to keep her kindness together. He deplored that he once was thinking of killing her and the Crown Prince. He had also regretted that he did not stop Xinyue earlier. But now, since he was given a second chance, he wanted to prove himself by turning loyal to them.
"One who is a part of us never lowers his head. It shall always be high with humbleness," Ying Lili pronounced. Huo Jin lifted his gaze and smiled. He never once was treated this way.
"Her highness is a kind woman. I am privileged to get that kindness. I will indeed prove myself. No bloodshed will occur, and this war will be stopped. I will help you capture Tan Gengxin," Huo Jin affirmed. Sheng Li and Ying Lili smiled, as did General Wang and Commander Yang.
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Please add my new story to your library.
"Love Under the Blood Moon"
Thank you😊