Chapter 388 - Run Away With Me
After dinner, Zhilao Mi went to the Western Palace to go out to meet Huo Jin, making sure no one would see her. From the Western Palace, she sneaked out of the palace by negotiating a wall. Her face was covered with a veiled hat. Hastening her steps, she reached the house where Huo Jin was living for a year. She knocked at the door and looked around.
When no response came from inside, she knocked once more. 'Did they catch him?' she frowned but then she heard the creak. Huo Jin had opened the door for her. She quickly stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
"Why are you here?" Huo Jin went towards the table and sat on the chair. Zhilao Mi removed the hat from her head and glared at him.
"Do you even know what has happened in the Palace?" Zhilao Mi queried him.
"Su Feng and a few spies are caught," replied Huo Jin. "Take a seat. I will explain to you," affirmed Huo Jin, gesturing to the chair beside her. Zhilao Mi sat on it and told him to continue.
"Sheng Li suddenly left the Capital, so it raised doubt in Su Feng's mind. I told him to let it get clear first. However, he did not pay heed to me. Instead, he blackmailed Ying Lili through the name of your husband's second wife," Huo Jin proclaimed.
"How could he be so naïve? Jian Ge's name got dragged into all this," Zhilao Mi stated. Huo Jin scowled at her. His facial expressions suddenly turned grim. "You did not develop feelings for your husband, right?" His intimidating gaze was focused on her.
"Why?"
"Because you cannot grow feelings for him. You also know our goal. As soon as he comes to power, you will kill him," Huo Jin stated.
Zhilao Mi chuckled. "You are daydreaming these days. " She folded her arms and looked at the table. "He found out that I was planning to harm Ying Lili. He loves her crazily. I think every man in the palace loves her madly," Zhilao Mi remarked.
Huo Jin snickered. "You also acted like a fool, then. It is the end for us." Zhilao Mi widened her eyes upon hearing his statement.
"How can you say this?" Zhilao Mi questioned him. She was slightly anxious after hearing his statement.
"Su Feng might have confessed everything in the Court. Did your husband tell you what happened in the Court?" He waited for her reply, but she shook her head.
"Your father is gathering the army to attack Luoyang. After Weng Wei's death, he took this decision. You were told to kill Ying Lili at all costs, but you failed in that. You told Su Feng that Ying Lili is the weakness of Sheng Li. However, it seemed otherwise to me," affirmed Huo Jin.
"But he rushed his plan. Just take this letter to my father. Inform him that Su Feng destroyed everything." She pulled out the letter from her pocket and handed it to Huo Jin.
"I am afraid, but I cannot do this. My life is also in danger. Can't you see I am preparing to leave this place? I would suggest you run away with me. Your father could not do anything all these years, so nothing will change overnight," Huo Jin pronounced.
Zhilao Mi furrowed her brows. She looked around and found that Huo Jin indeed had packed his stuff. So, he wanted to leave her father's side? "Are you not loyal to my father?" She peered into his eyes.
"I am loyal to you, not your father," asserted Huo Jin, and put the letter on the table. "Your father is a power-hungry man," he scoffed. "He even sacrificed the life of his daughter for his ambition. I joined him three years ago because of you. You are his puppet. Nothing more."
Zhilao Mi slapped him and told him not to say anything against her father. Huo Jin passed a tiny smile to her. "You always do this when I tell the truth. Sheng Li is far more powerful than your father. And after his marriage, he got such a brave wife, who is no less than him. They both will defeat us easily. This I have observed in these few months," Huo Jin stated.
"I do not care about that. You have to save my father. I beg you," Zhilao Mi lowered her eyes.
Huo Jin clenched his fist. "Look at me," he demanded. His tone was fierce, unlike the earlier time.
Zhilao Mi lifted her eyes to meet his gaze. "I cannot save him. His end was decided the day Weng Wei's truth came in front of the world," Huo Jin explained to her. "If your husband knows about you, then chances are high that he will not spare you," he deduced.
"He forgave me. I assured him that no such thing would happen in the future," replied Zhilao Mi. "I do not have much time. Just give this letter to my father," she requested him again.
"Your husband did not spare his mother, then how do you expect he would spare you? I have a hunch that he is checking on you and soon he will expose you as well," Huo Jin told her. "You are well aware of my deductions. How accurate they are!"
"He needs me, and I saw in his eyes the love for me. He loves Ying Lili too...I mean it's different towards her. Now, let's not waste any more time on the arguments." She picked the letter from the table and put it in his hands, who threw it on the floor, shocking Zhilao Mi.
"He doesn't love you. You fool! How could you fall for his trick?" Huo Jin's anger suddenly burst out. "Did you develop feelings for him? How could you do that?" His ears turned red because of the anger that developed inside him.
"Yes, I fell for him. Your father was a mere servant of my father, so you shall also fulfill the same duties as him," Zhilao Mi reminded him. Huo Jin chuckled and told her to leave.
"If you love me, then you will do this," Zhilao Mi stated, gazing into his eyes.