Jian Guozhi was riding the horse to go back to the palace when he saw Huo Jin, who was going to the market. He pulled the reins on the horse, and it stopped. Getting down, he quickly turned and called out Huo Jin's name.

  Huo Jin turned back and bowed before him. Jian Guozhi walked to him while he lifted his head. "How have you been?" Jian Guozhi asked him.

  "I have been good, Your Highness," Huo Jin replied.

  "I need help," Jian Guozhi stated. Huo Jin confusedly glanced at him. "Meet me in the Palace tomorrow," he told him.

  "Yes, Your Highness," Huo Jin agreed to him.

  Jian Guozhi found his cold gaze towards him, which only showed one thing– Huo Jin's anger for him. "If His Highness has nothing more to say, then I shall take my leave," Huo Jin said humbly.

  "That was necessary," Jian Guozhi asserted.

  Huo Jin peered into his eyes and furrowed his brows together. "What does His Highness want to say?" Huo Jin asked him to clarify.

  "Let's have a few drinks together in the Palace. I always had something to say to you," Jian Guozhi offered him and looked at his horse.

  Huo Jin could not refuse the request of the First Prince and left with him for the Palace. Upon reaching outside the chamber of Jian Guozhi, he ordered Eunuch Long to send the special wine that was delivered from the Northern Province. Eunuch Long bowed while the two walked in.

  Jian Guozhi gestured to Huo Jin to sit in front of him on the floor chair. After sitting comfortably, Jian Guozhi waited for the wine to come. Eunuch Long came in with a maidservant, who placed the wine jar and glasses on the table. She stepped back with the tray in her hands and left the chamber.

  "Don't let anyone in. Send a message to Princess Xue that I will see her after some time," Jian Guozhi commanded Eunuch Long, who bowed, acknowledging the order of his master.

  Once he left, Jian Guozhi shifted his gaze towards Huo Jin. He picked the jar and poured the wines into their respective glasses. He forwarded one glass towards Huo Jin, who accepted it with both hands.

  Jian Guozhi picked the glass and sipped the wine. After him, Huo Jin drank from the glass in his hand.

  "I loved Zhilao Mi. At least, this was the name with which I had known her. I started to love her. However, she wanted to kill the current Empress. She had turned bitter towards her just like my late mother," Jian Guozhi pronounced and chuckled.

  "As the First Prince of the Han Family, I was told to be first in everything by my mother. It took me a long time to leave that path. After my marriage with her, we could not become immediately close to each other because she was out for a long time. But now I think she was planning something at that time," Jian Guozhi said and sighed. He looked at the glass and again sipped the wine.

  Huo Jin, on the other hand, remained silent.

  "Why could you not forgive her? Your Highness, I might sound rude and if you want to punish me for the thing I am going to say, then you can. I won't complain," Huo Jin broke the silence after some time.

  "Pardon me, but the First Prince and his current wife also wanted to kill the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess that time. However, the Crown Princess, who is now the Empress, did not let them get punished. Why? Because they were both brainwashed.

  If His Highness had started to love her, he would not have turned his face away," Huo Jin stated. The anger in his tone was clear.

  "Because she did something evil, which was unforgivable. She was the first woman I got open with. Throughout my life, I was told one thing: to become the Emperor. However, she told me she would like me even without a throne. She betrayed me and everyone around me," Jian Guozhi reasoned.

  "Did the First Prince ever have a conversation with her? Regarding her life, her desires. I believe that it never happened. She wanted a husband, who would adore her the same way she would. Also, she did not want you to share with anyone. She was ordered to kill you, but she did not do that. Because she loved you more than anything. His Highness loved the Crown Princess that time, that's why when he found out Xinyue did all this, he did not protect her and let her die," Huo Jin said menacingly. His agonizing gaze made Jian Guozhi once again guilty.

  "You loved her, then why did you not try to save her? You had planned to run away with her. You are a good spy. I believe that you would not have been caught ever. Why did you——"

  "Xinyue never loved me," Huo Jin interrupted Jian Guozhi and lowered his head. His grip on the glass tightened.

  "For her, I was a mere slave, who had to follow the orders of the master. Your Highness, her orders were always supreme to me. She told me that she loved you. She wanted to be with you. That's why I did not stop her. I knew she would die if she would return, but then in her eyes, there was love and trust for you. I knew that the First Prince would never save her, but in front of her faith towards her love for you, I ignored my feelings," Huo Jin pronounced and again lifted his head. His eyes and ears had turned red. He clenched his fist and brought it on his knee.

  "I shall take my leave. I will see His Highness tomorrow," Huo Jin stated and stood up.

  "This was the last time we talked about Xinyue…… You should have killed me and let her live," Huo Jin told the First Prince and dashed out of the chamber.