"Huo Jin, I want you to do something for me. It is an important job. From the Fourth Brother, I found out that you are in good spying that's why I want you to do something for me," Jian Guozhi asked for help from him.
"What does His Highness want me to do?" Huo Jin asked him.
Jian Guozhi opened the door from his desk and took out a folded paper. He put it on the table and unfolded it. Showing it to Huo Jin, he said, "Princess Xue is being blackmailed by someone. She has handed the Palace Map to the bodyguard of her late father, who used to be the Prime Minister. But they were both punished to death. Now, the question is who sent this message to my wife?"
Huo Jin picked the paper and read the message. "So, does His Highness want me to find out about this blackmailer?" Huo Jin asked him.
"Yes," Jian Guozhi nodded his head.
"I work for the Emperor. Why did the First Prince not ask about this to the Emperor? If he permits, then I surely do this. Without His Majesty's permission, I cannot do anything," Huo Jin affirmed.
"I cannot tell about this to His Majesty," stated Jian Guozhi. "Huo Jin, I cannot tell Brother Sheng about this. He might punish Princess Xue, before knowing the truth. Brother Sheng does not like Princess Xue a bit and he would not either listen to me. That's why I cannot inform him about it unless I get proof that it's not her," Jian Guozhi asserted.
Huo Jin chuckled. "It is strange that the First Prince is trusting his wife. Please do not get offended, but Princess Xue will get punished for sharing the Palace map. Though, I am not in a position to come to any sort of conclusion," he stated.
Jian Guozhi was sad to hear that. He could feel the anger of Huo Jin towards them.
"I will do it. I am a loyal person to the Princes. The First Prince let me live that day despite finding the truth about my feelings for his first wife, so I will return his favor," Huo Jin agreed to help him.
Jian Guozhi was delighted to hear that. "Thank you, Huo Ji," he said.
"I will keep this letter with me," Huo Jin said as he folded the paper. Jian Guozhi nodded his head. "The First Prince has to pass me the map of the Residence of the Former Prime Minister. Also, I would like to have some intricate details," Huo Jin asserted.
"I will give you the map," Jian Guozhi replied. "What kind of intricate details do you want to know?" He queried him.
"I want to know about the Loyal servants of the Former Prime Minister. Also, I want to know whether Princess Xue shared this with anyone other than the bodyguard. Please confirm it with me by this noon. I will be in the Palace, for a while," Huo Jin proclaimed.
Jian Guozhi assured him that he would tell him about those things by noon. "Come here to meet me in the noon," He urged him.
"Yes, Your Highness," Huo Jin said and stood up. He turned to leave but stopped. Jian Guozhi asked him if he wanted to say something more.
Huo Jin turned to him and bowed before him. "Your Highness, please forgive me for my yesterday's behavior. I should not have stepped over my boundaries. Also, I am happy that His Highness has moved ahead in his life. May he will get the happiness and joy that he always deserved." Huo Jin lifted his head and dashed out of the waiting room.
Jian Guozhi was shocked to hear Huo Jin's apology. He had not expected that Huo Jin would apologize to him.
~~~~~
Lei Wanxi wrapped his arm around Huo Jin's neck and hit his chest with the fan in his hand. "Huo Jin, you came to the Palace and is leaving without seeing me," Lei Wanxi complained and locked his neck between his arms.
Huo Jin laughed and asked for forgiveness. He urged him to leave him. Lei Wanxi let his arm off his shoulder and stepped back. He opened the fan with a flapping sound and started to fan himself.
"Why did you come here? Don't hide anything from him," Lei Wanxi warned him.
"I came to apologize to the First Prince." Lei Wanxi arched his brow up. "I always blamed him for not saving Xinyue. I realized my mistake," Huo Jin stated. However, he did not tell him about the work for which Jian Guozhi had summoned him.
"Oh. You did right," Lei Wanxi replied.
"You still love her? Just forget her and move on," Lei Wanxi advised him.
Huo Jin did not say anything about this.
"When will the Sixth Prince marry?" Huo Jin diverted the topic.
"When you will get married," Lei Wanxi replied. Huo Jin was flustered to hear him. "Let me enjoy my life for a few days. Brother Sheng told me that after he will find a suitable groom for Sister Bai, I will marry Princess Zhu Lin. Moreover, my fiancée is not in Luoyang. She has gone on an adventure without me," Lei Wanxi said as he pouted.
Huo Jin smiled. "Adventure?" Huo Jin asked curiously.
"She has gone to meet her cousins from the neighboring city," Lei Wanxi told him. "I have thought that today I would celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with her, but she's not here," he then sighed.
"Are you free in the evening? We both can have fun in the market," Lei Wanxi asked him. "Brother Nianzu is a married man while Brother Yu is not allowed to go out in the late evening," Lei Wanxi affirmed.
"Yes, I am free, Your Highness," Huo Jin replied. He forgot about his promise to Yin Na.
"That's great. Let's go to the market in the evening. I was craving for the mooncakes and dumplings from that stall," Lei Wanxi said while recalling the famous dumpling seller.
Huo Jin smiled and agreed to him.. "Come, let's practice archery for some time," Lei Wanxi said and dragged Huo Jin with him to the Practice Grounds.
