Huo Jin took the orange from her and started to peel it. "I could do that," Yin Na said.

"I know, but I love to peel oranges," Huo Jin replied. "It is my favorite fruit," he answered and passed a smile to her.

"Did you see General Wang? I wanted to know how his meeting went with the Prime Minister's daughter," Huo Jin said.

"I am also waiting for Brother Wang. It is late noon. What kind of work did he get suddenly, that he had to go to the palace?" Yin Na said.

Huo Jin forwarded a peeled orange slice to her. "Eat it," he said. Yin Na thanked him as she took the slice. Huo Jin put the slices on the plate and told Yin Na to keep eating. He peeled the second orange and ate from that.

"So, why were you crying? Did you recall something?" Yin Na asked him. Huo Jin gazed at her and ate the orange slice that was in his hand. She then looked at the notebook. "What's that? I have seen you carrying it around. What do you write in that?" She queried.

"Nothing much," Huo Jin replied.

Yin Na brought an orange slice near her lips. "Fine. I understand that you do not want to tell me," she said.

"What do you want to know? I believe that General Wang might have told you," Huo Jin stated.

"I told you earlier too that I did not ask much about you from Brother Wang. Also, Brother Wang refrains from talking to me about the things that happen in the Palace," Yin Na asserted and said further, "I just know that you used to work for the enemy of Han."

"I was a slave of Tan Gengxin. My father was his slave and servant, so eventually, I, also became one. He wanted to rule over the Han Empire, and for that, he brainwashed his own daughter, whom I adored," Huo Jin answered.

"How could he do that? When did all this happen?" She asked him.

"Four months ago," Huo Jin replied. "She married the First Prince because her father taught her about only one thing– to get Power. I knew she would die in this strange mission, but I did not try hard. I let her get married. I had told her that the First Prince would never spare her if she got caught. She then died. I still remember how much she wanted to be loved by a Prince, but everything shattered," Huo Jin briefed her a little.

"It was not your fault. I believe that you were bound by your master," Yin Na stated.

"It was my fault. I gave up on my love after she married the First Prince. I was angry at her. I was sad, disheartened, and probably jealous that she did not look at me," Huo Jin stated and his voice choked.

"Because I was a slave, I could not stand a chance to become her husband. I hated it unless she came to meet me. I wanted to run away from her but her love for the First Prince stopped me. In the end, she got caught. I know that she saved me even when she was going to be hanged. However, I could not save her. She wanted to live like other women. Her father never let her go out. I still remember, after the marriage with the First Prince, she went out with him. She was happy. I never saw her that happy," Huo Jin's voice turned heavier. He looked at his palm.

"I should have saved her at any cost. That's my biggest regret. I could not return the kindness to her that she offered to me," Huo Jin asserted and rubbed his eyes.

Unbeknownst to Yin Na, tears poured down her eyes. She wiped them quickly.

"She might have regretted too for not returning your feelings. She might have imprecated herself for walking on the path which her father showed her. But was there any other way to stay away from those teachings?" She questioned as she gazed into the eyes of Huo Jin.

"She could never run away from her father," Huo Jin stated. "She does not know that she left me behind in pain and agony. She could have told Prince Nianzu to kill me too. But again she showed her kindness towards me. Her memories hurt badly," Huo Jin was veracious about his feelings. Yin Na could feel his emotions. How hurt he was!

"She was the only person, who cared for me. Yet, when the time came, I silently watched her death. When people talk rubbish about her, I feel to kill them. But I cannot even do that," Huo Jin said and sighed.

Yin Na stayed silent and after a while, left him alone. She had the bowl with leftover peels in her hand which was covered with a plate.

'He had a life tougher than me. Why did Heaven turn cruel to such a nice person?' she thought. She reached the kitchen house and put the bowl on the table. The Chief chef there looked at her and asked her if she wanted anything. However, she silently walked out of the kitchen.

After a certain distance, she encountered Wang Hao's father. Because she was lost in her thoughts, she did not see him.

"Yin Na, where are you heading to?" Wang Fuxing asked her. She stopped upon hearing his loud voice.

Immediately she turned to him and bowed before him. "Forgive me, Father," she said in a polite manner.

"Where were you lost?" Wang Fuxing asked her.

"Nothing, Father," Yin Na lied to him and gulped.

Wang Fuxing, though found out that something was wrong, but he did not ask. "Did you see your elder brother?" Wang Fuxing asked her.

"No, Father. Even, I am waiting for him. Did Brother Wang not return home till now?" Yin Na asked her father and lifted her head to look at him.

"No. He had gone to the Palace. It has been long. Did something happen there?" Wang Fuxing muttered.

~~~~~~

Hello Dear Readers, 

Finally, the WSA 2021 result is announced. I am so glad that my book made into the nomination awards. This story is the only Historical Novel that made into the finals. Writing this novel was not easy since I need to search and read a lot of Han Dynasty's History for the novel.

It is possible because of all the lovely and supporting readers I have. I will give 5 chapter Mass Release tomorrow night, till the morning of Monday, dedicated to all the readers.

THANK YOU 

HAPPY READING 

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