A week later, everything turned normal in the Imperial Palace. Though everyone missed the presence of Nianzu, they understood his priority and his wishes. Sheng Li's relationship with his brothers had turned good, and they all tried to meet each other in the evening. 

Jian Guozhi had demanded the status of chief wife for Xue Yu-Yan, and the Emperor had willingly provided her that title. Jian Guozhi had decided to develop a cordial relationship with Xue and was working on that. 

Amidst all this, Sheng Li used to visit the tomb of Hu Jingguo daily in the mountains. Today he also went there. He got on his knees and put the white chrysanthemums over Hu Jingguo's grave. He stood up and bowed. 

Sometime later, he lifted his head and looked around. The place was surrounded by Red Pine trees. Because of the rainy season, the hill had a picturesque view.. "You were right. The weather is pleasant on this hill. It has the power to rejuvenate one. It was a good place for a picnic- You, me, and Lili. We could have enjoyed it here. You would have definitely annoyed me," Sheng Li murmured. 

He closed his eyes and listened to the natural voices coming from the forest and its surroundings. 

Sheng Li heard the sound of a sword slashing in the empty air. He opened his eyes and searched for the voice. Once he got the source, he followed it. He kept walking until he saw a man practicing sword fighting in the open field in the hill forest. 

"Who are you?" Sheng Li questioned, and the man stopped. As he turned, Sheng Li got bewildered. 

"Huo Jin," the Crown Prince pronounced his name. 

Huo Jin gave a sincere palm and fist salute to the Crown Prince and bowed. "Your Highness, forgive me if I disturbed you. General Wang told me about this place, so I thought to practice here." He lifted his head and put his hands down. 

"Other than me, no one is allowed here," Sheng Li stated. 

"Forgive me, your highness." Sheng Li took out the handkerchief as he saw the beads of sweat on Huo Jin's face. "Here, wipe your face," Sheng Li forwarded the handkerchief to him. 

"How can this lowly subject take the handkerchief from his highness?" "Apologies, but I cannot accept it," Huo Jin humbly refused. 

"Lowly subject?!" Sheng Li chuckled. "I do not like this word. Take it. It's a normal handkerchief," Sheng Li affirmed. Huo Jin forwarded both of his hands and took it from the Crown Prince. He wiped off the sweat from his face and thanked the Crown Prince. 

"I could not thank you properly that day. Without your help it would be impossible to catch Tan Gengxin alive without any bloodshed," Sheng Li asserted. 

"I did what I should have done a long time ago. Please do not make me feel embarrassed by expressing your gratitude, your highness," Huo Jin politely answered. Sheng Li passed him a smile. 

"There is something I want to tell the Crown Prince," Huo Jin gathered his courage to speak. 

"Say," Sheng Li permitted him. 

"Your highness, I was wrong about you," Huo Jin affirmed. Sheng Li chuckled. "Most of the people are wrong about me. There is nothing new in that," the Crown Prince stated. 

"The Crown Prince is a kind person," Huo Jin stated, keeping a smile on his lips. 

"You shall thank the Crown Princess for this then. She changed me," Sheng Li gave the credit behind the change in his attitude to Ying Lili. 

"I think his highness had buried his kindness somewhere deep inside his heart. The other day when Tan Gengxin revealed about the First Empress, I found out this. No one is born cruel, but circumstances turn him into one," Huo Jin proclaimed. 

Sheng Li did not respond to him and looked up at the sky. "Let's head back to the Palace, and you are not allowed here," Sheng Li affirmed. 

"If I take his highness permission then will he permit me to come here?" Huo Jin queried. "His highness cannot refuse as he promised to fulfill one wish of mine," Huo Jin said while smiling. 

Sheng Li snickered and turned to go. Huo Jin ran after him and walked by his side. "Is it a Yes or a No, your highness?" Huo Jin was desperate to know. 

"You can come here," Sheng Li permitted him. Huo Jin thanked the Crown Prince, and the two descended the hill. 

"Love is a powerful weapon," Sheng Li suddenly said, bringing the attention of Huo Jin to it. "I never believed in this earlier until the Crown Princess proved me, Hu Jingguo and Wan Ju proved me, and also you proved me," Sheng Li asserted. 

"It is, your highness," Huo Jin acknowledged the words of Sheng Li. "It can either turn you into a good person or a bad person," Huo Jin stated. 

"Hmm." Sheng Li nodded his head and jumped down from a certain height. Huo Jin did so and kept following the Crown Prince. 

"This forest has animals too. So, be careful of them." Sheng Li warned Huo Jin. 

"Then, why does his highness not carry any weapon with him?" Huo Jin curiously asked. 

Sheng Li found that Huo Jin was a good observant, and he hardly fell into the words of the person in front of him. "Will you spy for me?" Sheng Li halted and looked at him. Huo Jin also stopped and gazed at Sheng Li with bewilderment.

"You know almost everything about the Imperial Palace. You also are well aware of Luoyang's every location. So, I would like to give you a mission," Sheng Li put the offer in front of Huo Jin. "Do you want to work on this mission? There is no compulsion," Sheng Li stated. 

"I would like to work for you, Your Highness," Huo Jin willingly accepted the offer of the Crown Prince. 

"Find out the evil scheming of Minister Gu Zhenya," Sheng Li pronounced. Huo Jin nodded and assured Sheng Li that he would find out about his plans. 

"Could his highness brief me about Minister Gu Zhenya?" Huo Jin humbly requested. 

"He is the Minister of State Affairs but he has some evil intentions hidden. You need to find out those intentions of his," Sheng Li affirmed and resumed walking. Huo Jin followed him up. 

"Ministers usually are power-hungry," Huo Jin deduced. 

"Yes. He used to support the Fourth Prince but since he left the Palace, there is none whom he could support, or maybe there is someone about whom I do not know," Sheng Li asserted. Huo Jin carefully listened to whatever the Crown Prince told him. 

"Your highness, the position you have such a big responsibility. I wonder, sometimes, how is his highness able to manage? You not only check the Affairs of the Kingdom but also keep a check on the Palace affairs and then also your personal life," Huo Jin proclaimed. "General Wang told me how tough his highness life was! Despite all those odds his highness grew up into such a person," Hui Jin complimented Sheng Li. 

"You are interested to know about me!" Sheng Li amusingly said. 

"I got curious after that day," Huo Jin stated. 

"You should not be," Sheng Li replied. 

"Why, your highness?" Sheng Li tilted his head to look at Huo Jin. 

"I am in a good mood today. You shall feel lucky," Sheng Li stated. Huo Jin puckered his lips and did not question Sheng Li further. 

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