Chapter 647 - A Wise Decision
The next morning, Huo Jin reached the uphill where Sheng Li had told him to meet him. He went to the grave of Hu Jingguo and ended up seeing Sheng Li there. He had some chrysanthemum flowers in his hand. Sheng Li put them over the grave and stroked his hand over the soil beneath which Hu Jingguo was lying.
"Lili is pregnant with twins. I will bring the twins when they grow up. I will tell them how their uncle used to annoy me. I will tell them how brave you were!" Sheng Li said with a smile.
Sheng Li stood up and bowed before the grave. As he turned, he saw Huo Jin, who was staring at him. To his surprise, even Huo Jin had a chrysanthemum flower in his hand. "Greetings to Your Majesty," Huo Jin said and bowed.
He lifted his head when Sheng Li told him to pay his respects to Hu Jingguo. Huo Jin hummed and did so. "His Majesty has a special place for you in his heart. You must be a great person," Huo Jin said and tilted his head to look at Sheng Li.
"Indeed," he replied and started to walk away. Huo Jin followed the Emperor, and they came towards the ground. Sheng Li, however, did not stop there. Instead, he kept walking without saying a word while Huo Jin silently followed him.
They both halted as they reached the end of a cliff. Huo Jin looked down and found a deep forest that was starting from the bottom of the cliff. He took a few steps back and stood by the side of Sheng Li.
The winds were strong at the cliff. Seeing Sheng Li silent, Huo Jin broke the ice.
"Why did His Majesty call me?" He asked politely. "Do I have to go somewhere?" He was curious to know.
"No. Can't I call you?" Sheng Li asked him.
"His Majesty can call me anytime. I thought I needed to do spying," Huo Jin said.
"No. Everything has turned stable. Finally, after so many years, I am able to have a peaceful life. Though the journey was not an easy one," Sheng Li stated. "Huo Jin, I embraced you as my friend the day you decided to work for me and be loyal to me. Somewhere, your qualities resemble my late friend Hu Jingguo. That's why I was able to make a bond with you quite easily," he asserted.
"I am glad that His Majesty considered no one like me could be his friend," Huo Jin expressed his gratitude towards him.
"Huo Jin, are you still living in your past?" Sheng Li's question flustered Huo Jin. "I heard from someone that you still long for Xinyue. Is it true?" He asked for confirmation.
"Did the Fourth Prince tell His Majesty?" Huo Jin asked him.
Sheng Li got confused and refused. "It doesn't matter who told me about this, but I want to hear from you," He stated.
"I cannot hide anything from His Majesty. I still love her," Huo Jin accepted. "I request His Majesty to not tell me to forget her," he immediately urged and bowed.
"What if I tell you?" Sheng Li asked him. "Will you do that? No, right?" He arched his brow.
"Then, why did His Majesty ask me?" Huo Jin queried him.
"Huo Jin, do you think she deserved you?" Sheng Li questioned him.
"Destiny could not bring us together," Huo Jin answered.
"Huo Jin, let me tell you my story. About this, I have not told anyone. Neither I ever shared with Lili. I wanted to marry Xue for my benefit. I wanted to punish everyone around me, who did wrong to me, and then I wanted to kill Xue too." Huo Jin was shocked to hear that.
"However, destiny brought me to Lili, and thanks to her, I am the Emperor today. My sole purpose to become the Crown Prince was to kill everyone around me. Today, I think the Han family would have fallen apart, but Lili changed me into a different person. A person like me never even thought about the people who never benefitted me. If I wanted I could stop my marriage, but I did not. Because the first time I saw her, I fell for her. She did not get scared, unlike everyone around me. Those are some of the earliest and precious memories of us.
Now, I told you this because you are ruining your life over something which was meant to be yours. Give yourself a chance just like I did," affirmed Sheng Li. He told Huo Jin that part of his life that was hidden from everyone.
"Does His Majesty think that a person like me can find love?" Huo Jin asked Sheng Li.
"What do you mean by a person like you?" Sheng Li inquired from him. "If you think a woman will ask for your status, then you are wrong. I am a harsh person, and my words might prick you. Xinyue wanted power, and through you, that power was impossible. I have been told how she put the entire blame on you. If she cared for you, she would have told you to run away. Understand the difference!" Sheng Li proclaimed.
"If you want to stay like a fool, then you can do that too. I did my duty as a friend. It's your life and so make a wise decision. If she had loved you back, then I would have never talked about this with you. Also, destiny did not bring you together for a reason, not because you were a slave," Sheng Li patted his shoulder and then put his hand behind his back.
Huo Jin nodded his head. "I understand, Your Majesty. Thank you for conversing with me regarding my life. I am indeed lucky that the Emperor called me as his friend," stated Huo Jin.
"Then listen to my advice and follow it," Sheng Li told him and smiled.
"Let's go back. Lili must be looking for me," Sheng Li said and turned to leave.
"I will be here for some time, Your Majesty, if you permit me," Huo Jin requested him.
"Sure," Sheng Li said and left for the Palace.