Chapter 296 - Pointless

"Are you really sure they won't turn us in?" Bao Zhun quietly asked Chun Hua. They had been locked in this room for quite a long time now. They had no idea how Chun Hai was doing either and the more time passed the more restless the pair felt. 

Chun Hua knit her brows and just frowned at the door. She was trying to be calm as she honestly did not believe that Prince Houyi would turn them in, but all this felt weird.

Why would Prince Houyi exclude her from the meeting? And more importantly, why would he keep her locked up here? Like she was a prisoner who was going to run away - Chun Hua's frown deepened and she shook her head, her brother's words were getting to her.

{...Houyi would never do that!...}

Suddenly, they heard sounds coming from behind the door. The two immediately tensed up and Bao Zhun rose to his feet, ready to fight their way out with his bare hands if necessary. 

The door opened to reveal Prince Houyi and his men on the other side. Prince Houyi sent Bao Zhun a fleeting glance before focusing his eyes on Chun Hua with a smile "Huayan, come with me..."

Chun Hua inwardly sighed in relief. See, she had worried for nothing, she thought as she promptly stood up to leave. But Bao Zhun put an arm in front of her, stopping her and went, "Where is Chun Hai? I thought you were their friend? Why are keeping us captive? Let us go!"

Chun Hua frowned and brushed Bao Zhun's arm away and whispered, "Relax..."

"You are Bao Zhun? I expected something better...Your father is right to be disappointed." Prince Houyi offhandedly said with a frown, "I did promise to return you, as to your specific condition, I made no promises. You'd best not tempt me...Chun Hua, follow me." Prince Houyi ordered and left before anyone could say anything.

Bao Zhun frowned, angry about the insult and threat, he wanted to go after him but Chun Hua swiftly grabbed his arm, "Relax, he doesn't actually mean that...We're safe. I'll be right back." She said with a smile and then quickly ran out of the room to catch up with Prince Houyi.

"Wait -" Bao Zhun said running after her, but the men promptly blocked his way, pushed him back in the room, and shut the door before he could get his bearing. Bao Zhun banged on the door, but no one cared for his angst. 

As Chun Hua caught up to Prince Houyi, he suddenly stopped and she almost ran into his back. She quickly composed herself and was about to speak, when Prince Houyi glanced at her with a suspicious glint in his eyes, "...Bao Zhun seems to care you for quite a bit, recklessly so even-"

"He's just like that - he's like that with everyone." Chun Hua blurted out without thinking, knitting her brows angry at the stupid response she gave. It was just that she definitely did not want Prince Houyi to get the wrong idea, especially not after all her hard work to gain his favor.

"He would run into danger for everyone?" Prince Houyi asked with a skeptical eyebrow.

"En, mostly... He's like that." She said with a nod and a half-smile.

Prince Houyi lightly snorted and shook his head, "He's a much bigger fool than I thought...It's almost sad..."

Chun Hua lowered her head, still maintaining her half-smile, not sure if Prince Houyi was being sarcastic or not, or if he even believed the stupid lie she gave.

She was also not exactly pleased about him insulting Bao Zhun either. After all, Bao Zhun had been of great help to her and by extension, to him... At the very least, she considered him a friend, one not deserving to be insulted. She was not that ungrateful, but she was also not about to pick a fight with Prince Houyi because of Bao Zhun either. 

"You're not much better yourself..." Prince Houyi quietly said. 

Chun Hua frowned in confusion and immediately looked up at him, Prince Houyi frowned and then continued to scold, "If it was an easy task to assassinate the Long Emperor, then I would have already long accomplished it? Who asked you to be an assassin?" 

"Well, I -... I was trying to be helpful and-...I wasn't trying to get myself killed either." She mumbled with irritation. She already knew the reason he was scolding her like this was because her stupid brother had gone and dug up this dead matter again, highlighting her failure, "I'm sorry I caused you trouble..." She added lowering her head with a scowl. 

Prince Houyi sighed, "What's done is done... Let's go, you must be hungry..." He dismissively said and then resumed walking.

Chun Hua let out a breath and quietly followed with a pout.

{...You wouldn't be scolding me if I had succeeded in killing him...If not for that stupid Chen You, by now, I would have gotten a chance!...}

They arrived back at Prince Houyi's room and quietly sat down at the table. As the servants arranged the food on the table, Chun Hua glanced around and then asked, "Where is Haiyan?"

Without missing a beat, Prince Houyi informed, "He said he has some things to take care of you before you two leave... He will be back in a few days." He finished, picking his cup of wine.

Chun Hua nodded, it was better for her that he was not here while she talked things out with Prince Houyi. The servants finished placing the plates and then moved to the side.

Chun Hua glanced at them and then looked back to Prince Houyi, "Can we talk alone?" She was itching to tell him all about the new plan she returned with, to show she was not a total failure whose only good deed was causing him trouble. Even though she caused a mess, she was still able to return with something. 

Prince Houyi obliged and waved away the servants and then leaned back in his seat and asked, "What is it?"

Chun Hua pursed her lips, she had rehearsed this so many times in her mind but now that she was before him she was feeling tongue-tied for some irritating reason, "Umm...about the Long Emperor...I actually...have a plan...You know the plan the Long Emperor's brother had with Prince Rui?"

Prince Houyi knit his brows, "The plan to initiate a war to help him to the throne he foolishly lost to his younger brother...that one?" He irritatedly said, just thinking about Prince Rui annoyed him. One of his people had overheard Prince Rui telling their father all about how he had managed his return from captivity...and this Prince Houyi had sent down the gr.a.p.evine to Chun Hai, in the event that they needed any help while they were in Long country.

Prince Houyi's reasoning was that if Prince Yi was desperate enough to strike that sort of deal with his brother, he would definitely be open to pursuing other routes...and he knew Chun Hai was smart enough to use his name to get Prince Yi's cooperation. Of course, Chun Hai had no clue that Prince Houyi had directed that message to him...It was pointless for him to know.

Chun Hua nodded, "With that plan, the Long Emperor would still die and then the other kings would have the courage to join forces with us just as you wanted and then we would -"

"And if he fails?" Prince Houyi cut in and Chun Hua froze, Prince Houyi sighed and then said, "Huayan, I appreciate you trying to think for my sake, but I don't need it... As for the Long Prince, if he is of no use to himself, how can he be of use to me?"

Chun Hua knit her brows, she opened her mouth to argue her case but Prince Houyi put a hand up and said, "I don't plan on fighting anyone's battle for them. I would be a fool to trust him and I am no one's fool...Eat." He ordered, picking up his chopsticks and going about eating his meal.

Chun Hua frowned, this was not the response she was expecting. She was not asking him to become Prince Yi's pawn, it was actually the other way around. She was asking him to use Prince Yi as his own pawn. 

Their ally nations were hesitant to join forces mainly because of fear fueled by the Long Emperor's overexaggerated reputation on the battlefield.

Prince Houyi had said it himself, the Long Emperor was the main problem. Therefore, if the Long Emperor died, then the allies would naturally be more easily persuaded, and together they could take down Long country and the irrelevant Prince Yi in one fell swoop. 

All problems solved. Chun Hua frowned and begrudgingly picked up her chopsticks and irritatedly picked at her food.

{...Why isn't he understanding this?... Why is everyone missing the point of all my effort?... What was the point of all this work?...Not even a thank you...}