Chapter 295 - Reciprocity is Key

Chun Hai frowned, as expected the news of his disappearance could not be sealed. he knew he should not have done that in public, but what else could he have done then.

Prince Houyi watched Chun Hai hesitating to respond and then he sighed, "If I were you, I would have killed Bao Zhun and his men, that way you could have delayed the news getting here. It's one thing to hear it down the rumor vines and another to hear first-hand accounts...You're lucky that I was the one who found them first, those men were quite talkative..." 

Chun Hai glared at him and Prince Houyi smiled back and continued, "If you were worried about being overpowered, Huayan was with you, she could have easily come up with a poison and taken care of it for you... But no matter, I have already taken care of them for you. All that's left is t-"

"Don't touch him." Chun Hai immediately interjected. Bao Zhun had been good to them and his sister especially. He would not have his blood on his hands, he was not so ungrateful to kill those who had helped him...this was why he let Bao Zhun's men go.

Prince Houyi shrugged, "I don't plan to. After all, his father did come to plead on his behalf, and being such an affluent general I should naturally give way for a request or two. His son would be delivered safely...so long as you cooperate, I'm sure no accidents will come to him." Prince Houyi finished with a reassuring nod and then circled back to the main topic and simply asked, "...It's that monk, isn't it?"

Chun Hai froze and then sighed, "Yes..." There was no point lying. Prince Houyi had long since known about this mysterious Taohua monk in their lives. Moreover, it was not as if Prince Houyi could actually do anything to Monk Du - he would need to find him first, which was probably an even more impossible task. 

"As I thought.." Prince Houyi calmly said, "How did you do it? Show me..." Prince Houyi said with a hint of excitement. When Bao Zhun's men had talked about how Chun Hai saved them with this disappearing act, the other men found it unbelievable but Prince Houyi believed them.

He knew the Chun siblings were not ordinary and it all stemmed from that monk. The only thing he had really felt in that moment was some anger towards Chun Hai for not disclosing this new finding. It made him wonder what more these siblings could possibly be withholding from him. 

After leaving the meeting with An Hao's group, Prince Houyi did not return to the Zou army camp rather he camped somewhere in between the two armies waiting to intercept his brother's correspondence to his father.

He honestly did not think his brother would actually follow to him that day. His coming there was actually just a ruse to delay Prince Rui's departure from Long country until his plan to properly end him was properly set in motion. 

Since the Chun siblings were linked to Prince Houyi, he naturally could not escape all blame for this mess. Their father believed that he had arranged all this in an attempt to assassinate the Long Emperor, ruining his plans for a marriage alliance. After all, Prince Houyi has made his dislike for this "peace" arrangement with Long country very clear. So others in court who were against him had ample ammo to easily fan the flames. 

Before the Zou king could have Prince Houyi dragged to the court to answer for all this, his grandfather arranged for him to exit the capital. Then his grandfather announced to his father and the court that Prince Houyi was so angered when he discovered the traitorous act of the Chun siblings that he raced ahead to find them to bring the traitors before the king to answer for this great crime. 

His grandfather persuaded everyone that since Prince Houyi grew up with the Chun siblings, he understood them the best and was in the best position to find them. And in the end, his father let him be giving him the chance to bring the Chun siblings to fix the mess he began. 

Prince Houyi was ordered to bring the Chun siblings back for punishment, but he was honestly not too keen on the idea.

But as it stood, he could not return without bringing them. His claim to the throne was also on very shaky ground. His father was already leaning too much towards Prince Rui and this failure would completely tip the scales in his younger brother's favor and he could not live and let that happen. 

Right now, Prince Rui's life was his main issue. If there was no Prince Rui then his father would not look at him the way he did, with disappointment. It was not his fault that Prince Rui was the coward his father wanted for a son and an heir. But he, Houyi would never have a coward for a king. 

Prince Rui needed to die and his death needed to be at the hands of "Long" country. That way it will prove his point that Long country could not be trusted. Like father like son, the Long Emperor only wants to gain their trust and then cut down when their guards were lowered - At least, this is what his younger brother's death would prove.

Honestly, if not for Prince Rui's sudden return with his absurd proposal for peace back then, Prince Houyi would have gotten the support of their royal brother-in-laws. With the three countries combined they would have been able to confront and claim victory over Long country and divide up the vast empire, which was obviously bursting at the seams, ready to fall apart....and he, Houyi will be the one to claim it. 

But since Prince Rui went and did something foolish and unnecessary, his death would be used to set things back in motion.

Once Prine Rui was dead, no one would care about the Chun siblings anymore. They could even end up being hailed as heroes who saw the Long emperor for the traitorous enemy that he was. It definitely could be spun that way...two birds with one stone, he wins. 

"I can't..." Chun Hai said, bursting through Prince Houyi's thoughts of victory.

Prince Houyi immediately frowned, "Why do you mean you can't?"

"It means I can't do it anymore..." Chun Hai said, frowning back at him.

"Why not?"

"Because it's done..."

"Done?" Prince Houyi coldly went, unconvinced.

Chun hai let out a breath, "Do you think if I could still do it, I would be standing here before you having to plead our way to safety?" 

Prince Houyi knit his brows and scrutinized Chun Hai for a bit, "Fine then...Call for the monk and get him to teach me?"

"As you know, we can't... He finds us on his own, in his own time." Chun Hai irritatedly responded. Prince Houyi frowned, debating whether to believe him or not. He knew about the monk coming on his own and believed that, but he was not sold on the idea that Chun Hai no longer could "disappear" anymore.

Perhaps he was just biding his time and looking for the best opportunity to go unnoticed, learning from his past mistake. Prince Houyi could not be sure. 

"You've asked your questions, let us go..." Chun Hai said, ending the silent stare down. 

Prince Houyi sighed and then said, "Unfortunately, this has caused issues for me as well...My father is unhappy and my grandfather has ordered that I must return with you, both of you. I am not allowed to return empty-handed, so I can't just let you go, unfortunately... but I have a way forward for all of us..." He added, smiling again. 

Chun Hai frowned, Prince Houyi's tone was not reassuring at all but he went on to ask, "What is it?"

"I have delayed my brother's departure from Long country, intercepted his messages, and communicated with my father on his behalf. As far as my father and the Zou army is concerned, Prince Rui is still en route in Long country, due to some unexpected blockages in the path, his arrival will be delayed by another two weeks... two weeks you need to make use of a-"

"Houyi..." Chun Hai wearily said as he understood where he was going with all this again, "Y-"

"Relax..." Prince Houyi said putting a hand up to stop him, "...I have already arranged everything for you. I have a few contacts in the Long army that will arrange you a uniform and all you need to succeed. I would use them for the job but we can't risk their exposure as I have greater use for them in the future. So you just need to go there and do it -"

"I've told you I have no interest in all this. Why not send someone else? You have many men under you, send one of them..." Chun Hai tried to persuade. 

"My contacts in the Long army cannot be used as they are important for my future plans, I cannot risk their exposure right now....You, on the other hand, are already a fugitive. and more importantly, I am doubting your loyalty" Prince Houyi said narrowing his eyes at Chun Hai, still unconvinced of his past failure to end his brother. 

"I am trying to judge whether you're someone who I can put all I have on the line for or not. Your sister has proven herself, but what have you done?" Prince Houyi asked with a frown, "Why should I save you?"

"Save me? This is all your fault!" Chun Hao angrily responded, "If you hadn't sent my sister to-"

"No, it is not!" Prince Houyi said, banging his hands on the table and rising to his feet in ager, "Huayan caught me on a bad day and I said a few words. Then she got it into her mind to go do this leaving a stupid letter behind informing of her own grand intentions. What did you expect me to do when I returned a few days after to find this? Run after her? I have my own problems that are way greater than you obviously care to imagine!"

Chun Hai knit his brows and fell silent. He knew since the war with Long country started Prince Houyi had been in an increasingly irritated mood as his relationship with his father worsened. He could honestly see this possibility.

But regardless, Chun Hai still felt that Prince Houyi should have done something more to stop his sister from risking her life like that. If it had been Princess Nalan who had run off to do something like this would he have simply sat back and folded his arms? No, he would not. He was not blameless in all this.

Prince Houyi sat back down with a sigh, "My father has thoughts of making Rui the crown prince. He has not announced it yet but there are rumors...I can't risk it anymore. He needs to go. You failed me once but I know it was because you did not feel the need to stretch yourself, as per usual behavior. I had thought you would understand my need but it's alright, all that is in the past... Huayan will remain here to ensure you have that need this time...But don't worry, even if you can't return alive, I will ensure she remains safe. You have my word."

"You also failed me once...How can I trust you with her?" Chun Hai said narrowing his eyes at him.

Prince Houyi blinked and smiled, "I guess that is the way it seems... I will not force you. As things stand, you have two options, do what I want to save us all or I will get someone else and ALL of US can begin our journey back to the capital tonight... It'll be out of my hands then."