Chapter 88
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Han Jiao turned and peeked through the gap in the door. “Just help me tie Ferrari to the ring gate knocker, Your Highness. Please go back to the palace soon.”
“Help you with what?” Xie Duo laughed, folding his arms and looking around in fake confusion. “Where am I? Who am I? The new gatekeeper of the Han family?”
Han Jiao immediately yielded. “Then, you don’t need to worry about Ferrari. Just return to the palace!”
However, Xie Duo not only didn’t mount the horse obediently but strolled to the front of the gate. “You’re really audacious, Han Xiaobai. May I assume you’re dismissing me?”
Han Jiao quickly fanned his face, but it was still scorching. Unsure of how to face the big boss, he daringly replied, “Because Your Highness mentioned my proficiency in witchcraft, I was heartbroken and felt unfit to entertain guests.”
“In that case, please let your father come out. I’d like to ask him if he finds it inconvenient to entertain guests.”
“My father isn’t at home!”
Xie Duo lowered his head and warned the little child prodigy blocking the door gap. “If I find him, what punishment will you face?”
Han Jiao immediately turned around, using his back to press firmly against the door, preventing the big boss from breaking in.
However, suddenly, a figure in a sky-blue robe descended from above, landing gracefully!
“We need to raise the courtyard wall by two more feet to make it a bit challenging.” Xie Duo turned around leisurely, cocked his head to look at the little child prodigy still futilely resisting the door, a mischievous smile on his lips. “Go ask your father if he’s hidden well. I’m about to start looking for him.”
However, the little child prodigy, as if struck dumb, remained motionless staring at him. After a long while, he suddenly raised his hand to cover his face.
Xie Duo paused and whispered, “Are you about to cry?”
Han Jiao, suspecting that his face was quite red now, firmly avoided letting the big boss see his face. “No!”
His voice, muffled by his hands, sounded somewhat nasal, as if carrying a sense of grievance.
Xie Duo thought he had frightened the little child prodigy. He took a step back, hesitated for a moment, and softly said, “I’m returning to the palace.”
Han Jiao stood still for a moment, lowered his hands, and the big boss had disappeared from his sight. He heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance. Han Jiao quickly turned to look outside the door gap, only to find Ferrari all alone, tied to the ring gate knocker.
Han Jiao felt angry with himself.
Xie Duo enjoyed playing around with him and had no ill intentions. Why was his usually thick skin acting so uncooperative in front of the big boss?
Especially today, for some inexplicable reason, when Xie Duo looked at him, there was a familiar feeling in his smile that gave him a sudden premonition of a heart attack. It felt like he would lose control if he didn’t run away.
What was out of control?
He didn’t know. He barely touched his dinner, retired to his room early, and surprisingly couldn’t fall asleep.
“Every time I see you, my mood brightens.”
“What if I really become dependent on you?”
“Then, I’d have to make sure you never leave.”
“It seems like I’ve been bewitched.”
Han Jiao covered his ears in an attempt to stop the “broken CD” in his mind!
The big boss was probably the one with witchcraft skills!
Han Jiao, for the first time ever, went to the backyard and brought a jar of wine, planning to drink himself into a good night’s sleep, to avoid overthinking.
His tolerance for alcohol was truly pitiful. After three drinks, his feet started feeling wobbly. He clumsily lay down on the bed to rest.
•••
A clear morning after the rain.
The wind was strong as Han Jiao stood by the turbulent river. He bowed respectfully and said, “I have said all that I have to say here. Please, Your Highness, think it over.”
The tall figure in military attire, still facing away, spoke in a calm voice, “To travel this far to the battlefield, Master Han must have a clever plan. I’d like to take a shortcut. Please, enlighten me.”
“In my humble opinion,” Han Jiao spoke seriously, “General Xu’s deployment has been intercepted. If we proceed with the original plan to encircle the enemy, it will be a costly endeavor. Now that the city’s residents have evacuated, and the enemy has pillaged for three days, Your Highness only needs to firmly block the pass and hold on for seven more days. The enemy will retreat without a fight.”
“That’s not what I want to hear.”
Han Jiao was puzzled. “Then…”
The man turned around leisurely, his handsome face quite contrasting to the title “War God.” His calm, amber eyes focused on Han Jiao. “What I’d like to know is: Why has Master Han, as a strategist for Prince Yan, come here specifically to deliver this message to me?”
“Your Highness is the foundation of Great Chu, while I may not have any notable achievements, I am still a subject of Great Chu…”
“If I wanted to hear flattery, I wouldn’t have rushed here early in the morning, exposing myself to the northwestern winds,” Xie Duo’s sharp gaze pierced the delicate scholar before him. “I already knew about General Xu’s situation. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have waited for your message. The army would have moved already.”
Han Jiao’s face paled, and he nodded, softly responding, “I apologize for disturbing Your Highness’ rest.”
Xie Duo stepped forward, lowered his eyes, and stared directly at the scholar in white. “Why did you come to deliver this message to me?”
Han Jiao’s expression remained calm, like still water. “To repay Your Highness for saving my life.”
Xie Duo raised an eyebrow. “I don’t believe you.”
“Then, I’ll accept whatever military punishment is due.”
“Why did Sixth Brother send you?”
“I came here for Your Highness, of my own volition, with no one instructing me, and no premeditation.”
Xie Duo looked puzzled. “Is it really just to repay a debt?”
Han Jiao lowered his gaze and said quietly, “Yes.”
“Then why not pledge your loyalty to me wholeheartedly?”
“I won’t betray Prince Yan.”
Xie Duo sneered, “So what do you call your current actions, then?”
Han Jiao remained indifferent. “To ensure your safety is to repay the debt of saving my life. To remain loyal to Prince Yan is to repay the debt of saving my father.”
Xie Duo chuckled lightly. “That doesn’t sound like a situation where you can have both.”
Han Jiao’s expression remained firm. “I can only do my best.”
After a brief silence, Xie Duo whispered, “On the day I led the night raid, it wasn’t to rescue captives. If our attack hadn’t been swift enough, you would have died in the enemy camp. I had no intention of saving you.”
Han Jiao lowered his gaze. “I understand.”
“Do you really think I haven’t inquired about your background? It’s rumored that Master Han’s ‘silver tongue is mightier than a million soldiers,’ such a skilled speaker shouldn’t be swayed by notions of friendship.”
“Repaying a debt is only about settling what’s owed, it has nothing to do with friendship.”
Xie Duo laughed. “This isn’t the first time you’ve helped in secret. I saved your life unexpectedly, and you want to repay the debt for a lifetime, don’t you?”
Han Jiao still kept his head down in silence.
“Look at me when you reply.”
Han Jiao still didn’t respond.
Xie Duo took a quick step forward, and in the blink of an eye, he lifted Han Jiao’s chin to make him face him. But to his surprise, the scholar in white was suddenly flustered, blushing, and hastily stepped back.
“Please, Your Highness, maintain your dignity!” Han Jiao deeply bowed, his hands trembling slightly.
“What’s wrong?” Xie Duo’s gaze flashed, suddenly realizing something. He approached once again. “Why can’t you look at me?”
Han Jiao kept stepping back. Suddenly, he heard Xie Duo’s low admonition, “Be careful.” Before he could react, his left foot slipped, and he plunged into the swift river.
The scholar in the water thrashed around with no coordination, clearly unfamiliar with swimming.
Xie Duo immediately ordered a rescue, but as he looked around, he remembered that he had come out of the camp for a secret meeting with Han Jiao and hadn’t brought any guards.
He watched as the scholar struggled in the water and was carried away by the current like a piece of driftwood.
After much hesitation, Xie Duo, wearing an expression of resentment, briskly followed along the bank, and as he went, he removed his armor and sword, diving into the water.
Han Jiao was pulled onto the shore, coughing a few times, and quickly turned over.
The Crown Prince, who had just been imposing and intimidating, was now perched on the bank, glowering at him.
Han Jiao hurriedly reached out a hand towards him to help pull him up.
The Crown Prince abruptly seized Han Jiao’s hand, pulling him closer.
Han Jiao nearly tumbled into the river once again, but he was held securely by the waist.
“Han Jiao, now you owe me two lives,” the Crown Prince, partially submerged in the water, looked up at Han Jiao with a strangely twisted smile in his eyes. “Either ditch Sixth Brother and join me, or repay me for two lifetimes.”
Han Jiao pushed him away and scrambled to escape, but the person behind him swiftly reached the riverbank, catching up and grabbing his arm.
“Please, Your Highness, have some restraint!” Han Jiao abruptly turned around, but to his surprise, he was met with the face of Prince Yan.
Han Jiao was suddenly confused. “Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Prince Yan’s eyes briefly showed pity. His voice was hoarse as he said, “A’Duo is already gone. Master Han, please find your composure. It’s time to move on.”
“Left? Gone where…” In his confusion, Han Jiao felt as if his heart had been squeezed tightly, a feeling of unbearable despair washing over him.
•••
The following day, he woke up with a faint headache.
Han Jiao, in a daze, felt an itch on his cheek and, as he reached to scratch it, he found it wet.
Han Jiao suddenly became wide awake, sitting up, and he touched his face, then his pillow.
Did he cry again?
He only had three drinks last night…
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