Love Lock

Chapter 174 Asking for blessings
Wei Dabao's face immediately darkened. He snatched the letter and laboriously tore off the sealing wax with his short, stubby fingers.

He squinted his small eyes, which were squeezed into slits by his fat, and read word by word.

As his gaze moved downwards, his oily face gradually turned deathly pale, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

"Master, what has happened?" the butler asked cautiously.

"Snapped!"

Wei Dabao slammed the letter on the table, making the teacup jump.

"What kind of bastard did this! How dare he murder the entire Marquis of Champion's family! This... this... how could my Wei family have such a heartless and insane person?"

Wei Fu trembled in fright: "Plotting to murder the Marquis of Champion? Master, what exactly is going on..."

Wei Dabao grabbed the butler by the collar, spitting as he did so.

"My uncle said that the entire Marquis of Champion's mansion was wiped out overnight! Now all the clues point to our Wei family! The Emperor is furious and has ordered the entire Wei family to come to the capital for questioning! Not a single one can be missing! Damn it, they're really going to ruin me."

The courtyard fell silent instantly, and the maids who were fanning the room trembled with fear.

Murder is a grave crime, but plotting against members of the royal family is a crime for which even hundreds of deaths would not be enough to atone for it!

Would His Majesty really execute the entire family, even nine generations? If so, these servants of the Wei family would probably not escape death either.

"Master, what should we do? What should we do?" The butler clenched his fists and stamped his feet anxiously.

Wei Dabao released the butler and paced around the yard like a trapped beast, cursing incessantly.

"You son of a bitch! Don't drag your whole family down with you when you're asking for it! If I find out who did this, I'll skin him alive!"

The butler, mustering his courage, asked again, "Master, what should we do now...?"

"What else can we do?" Wei Dabao kicked over a flowerpot next to him. "Pack your bags and head to Beijing immediately! Uncle said no one can be left behind, which means we have to bring even the baby in swaddling clothes!"

He suddenly stopped, and the anger on his face was gradually replaced by a strange expression.

The butler was very familiar with this expression; whenever the master thought of a way to make money, he would show this ambiguous smile.

"master?"

Wei Dabao stroked his chin, his small eyes gleaming.

"Going to the capital is fine... It's a good opportunity to personally ask Han Lei about the million-dollar deal. I can also visit my uncle while I'm at it; maybe I can even get some benefits from him..."

The butler shook his head inwardly. Even at a time like this, the master was still thinking about that fictitious business deal.

"What are you still doing?"

Wei Dabao suddenly raised his voice.

"Hurry up and prepare! Bring all your gold, silver, and valuables, and even my sable cloak. It's much cooler in the capital than here! Also, prepare a few jars of thirty-year-old wine to take to my uncle!"

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll take care of it right away." The butler quickly replied and turned to make the arrangements.

"Wait!" Wei Dabao called out to him again, "Go to the accounting office and get a thousand taels of silver... no, five thousand taels! It's never a bad thing to bring more silver. Also, have the kitchen prepare some snacks for the road; I can't stand the coarse food outside."

Just as the steward was about to leave, he was stopped again: "And one more thing! Send someone to the county office to tell Luo Hai that I've gone to the capital, and that if he has any news about Han Lei, he should immediately send a message by carrier pigeon to the Prime Minister's residence!"

"Master, is this...appropriate?" the steward hesitated. "Although the Prime Minister said he was going to confront them, it's essentially making you the one to be interrogated..."

"fart!"

Wei Dabao's eyes were bulging with fury.

"I didn't kill anyone, what am I afraid of? What is the Marquis of Champion's mansion? My uncle is the current prime minister! Besides, if they really want to interrogate, they'll interrogate those bastard relatives who committed crimes, what does it have to do with me!"

The butler dared not say anything more, and hurriedly went to make arrangements while bowing and scraping.

Wei Dabao sat back in his rocking chair, took out the letter and read it again, muttering to himself.

"A confrontation before the Emperor, not a single one can be missing, or they will bear the consequences... Hmph, who are you trying to scare?"

Suddenly remembering something, he shouted, "Chuntao! Go and call Third Aunt here!"

A moment later, a young woman in a peach-colored gauze dress swayed into the courtyard: "Master, are you in such a hurry to find someone, is it...?"

"Stop talking nonsense!" Wei Dabao interrupted her impatiently. "Pack your things and come to Beijing with me tomorrow."

Third Aunt's eyes widened in surprise: "Going to the capital? Why all of a sudden..."

"Why ask so many questions? Just come with me!" Wei Dabao waved his hand impatiently. "By the way, bring my pair of jade bracelets with you. They might come in handy."

Third Aunt pursed her lips and left reluctantly. Wei Dabao then summoned several trusted servants and instructed them one by one on what to be careful about on the road.

Just as he was extremely busy, the steward rushed over again: "Master, Magistrate Luo Hai has come to visit, saying he has important matters to discuss."

Wei Dabao frowned: "What's he doing here? Let him in."

A moment later, Luo Hai, dressed in official robes, hurriedly walked into the courtyard, his face unusually serious.

"Brother Wei, I just received a report from the imperial court. The case of the Marquis of Champion's residence has been ordered to be investigated by all prefectures and counties..."

“I know,” Wei Dabao interrupted him. “My uncle wrote to say so. What, is Lord Luo here to laugh at us?”

Luo Hai shook his head: "Brother Wei, you misunderstand. We have known each other for many years, how could I be that kind of person? It's just that this matter is of utmost importance. The Marquis of Champion is a relative of the emperor, and this case has already shaken the court and the public. Brother Wei, you must be careful on your way to the capital."

Wei Dabao snorted: "I've done nothing wrong, what's there to be afraid of?"

Luo Hai hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed: "Anyway... take care, Brother Wei. If you need any help, please feel free to write."

Wei Dabao's expression softened slightly: "That makes more sense. By the way, any news about Han Lei?"

Luo Hai smiled wryly: "There's still no news. However, Brother Wei, you can personally visit Jinxiufang when you go to the capital to search for him."

"Of course." Wei Dabao patted his belly. "I'm going to get both of these things done on this trip to Beijing!"

After seeing Luo Hai off, the Wei family mansion became extremely busy. Servants bustled about, packing luggage and preparing carriages.

Wei Dabao sat on the grand chair in the main hall, drinking ginseng tea while supervising everyone's work.

"Watch out for my blue and white porcelain vase! If I break it, I'll skin you alive!"

"Place that box of silver at the very back and cover it with silk!"

"Idiot! Who told you to bring your winter fur coat? It's June now!"

All preparations were completed as night fell.

Five carriages, more than twenty fine horses, and a dozen guards dressed in short clothes were parked at the gate of the Wei family's residence.

Wei Dabao surveyed the area with satisfaction and said to the steward, "We'll set off at dawn tomorrow, taking the official road and traveling day and night, aiming to reach the capital within seven days."

"Sir, isn't this a bit too much of a rush...?"

"What do you know?" Wei Dabao glared. "The sooner we get here, the sooner we can build connections. Besides, I'm in a hurry to find out about that million-dollar deal!"

Back in the bedroom, Third Aunt was already asleep. Wei Dabao sat alone by the window, gazing at the bright moon in the sky. The arrogance on his face gradually faded, replaced by a trace of unease.

"The Marquis of Champion's mansion...who exactly did this?" he muttered to himself. "I hope it's not really related to the Wei family..."

But soon, he straightened his chest and comforted himself, "What's there to be afraid of? With your uncle here, the sky won't fall! As for that million-dollar deal... I hope that girl Han Lei won't disappoint me..." A night breeze swept by, bringing a touch of coolness.

Wei Dabao closed the window and dragged his obese body toward the bed.

Tomorrow, he will embark on his journey to the capital, and whether fortune or misfortune awaits him is anyone's guess.

The next morning, the thin mist in the air had not yet dissipated.

Wei Dabao and his entourage had already set off for the capital. As their carriage rumbled out of the city gate, it just so happened to brush past a group of galloping horses.

The lead knight in black cracked his whip, startling Wei Dabao's coachman who hurriedly gave way.

"Looking for death!"

The coachman had barely uttered a curse when Wei Dabao grabbed his shoulder.

Through the fluttering carriage curtain, Wei Dabao glanced at the departing figures of the group and urged, "Don't cause any more trouble, let's go!"

At this moment, in the backyard of the Qingshui County Government Office, Luo Hai was pacing back and forth anxiously.

He had worn two shiny marks on the bluestone slab, and the tea on the table had long since gone cold, but he had no interest in taking a single sip.

A few days ago, Xiao Zhengfei, accompanied by several guards, passed through Qingshui County. He said that the Marquis of Champion had sent twelve assassins to ambush Zhao Zun, and five of them had already been captured.

Seven assassins have disappeared. Han Lei went to the capital to check on her business, and Zhao Zun is worried that the remaining seven assassins are after Han Lei.

Therefore, Zhao Zun sent Xiao Zhengfei with several personal guards to the capital to rescue and protect Han Lei.

But just as Han Lei went to the capital to check on her business, something happened to the Marquis of Champion's family in the capital.

Although there are no specific suspects yet in the tragedy at the Marquis of Champion's mansion, and the imperial gazette only says that all prefectures and counties should be on the lookout for suspicious persons, this is tantamount to the imperial court issuing a warrant for a nationwide manhunt.

If anyone suspects your behavior, the officials in any prefecture or county have the right to arrest you first.

For some reason, he felt that this case was related to Han Lei's trip to Beijing.

But could such a shocking case as the massacre of the entire family have been committed by that girl Han Lei? And how did she manage to do it?

Where is that girl now? What if she's caught outside as a suspicious person?
Just as Luo Hai was feeling extremely anxious, the courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open, and one of his trusted yamen runners stumbled in.

"My lord! Commander Xiao, who serves the King of Cangzhou, has arrived outside!"

Luo Hai's pupils contracted, and he rushed out to greet them. He saw Xiao Zhengfei and the others covered in dust, with mud stains on the hems of their black outfits.

The moment their eyes met, Xiao Zhengfei nodded almost imperceptibly with a serious expression. Luo Hai immediately understood and his heart skipped a beat.

"Go back!"

Luo Hai dismissed everyone and then led Xiao Zhengfei and the others quickly toward the study.

As the study door latch clicked shut, Xiao Zhengfei and the others exchanged glances, their faces all showing relieved smiles.

"Rest assured, Your Highness, the Princess is unharmed," Xiao Zhengfei said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting.

"How to say?"

Luo Hai unconsciously leaned forward, staring intently at Xiao Zhengfei.

"When we arrived in the capital, the princess had already disguised herself and entered the city. Not to mention those missing assassins, even we ourselves didn't recognize her at first glance. So, the princess is safe."

"Yes, the princess has disguised herself as a chubby, wealthy young man. Hehe!" another guard added.

"Makeup? Rich young master?" Luo Hai's lips twitched violently.

"Then...then the matter of the Marquis of Champion's mansion has nothing to do with the Princess Consort, right?" Luo Hai asked tentatively.

He stared intently at Xiao Zhengfei, his heart pounding in his chest, hoping that Xiao Zhengfei's answer wouldn't be what he feared.

But what he feared most came to pass. Xiao Zhengfei nodded solemnly, his tone full of pride.

"The things that happened at the Marquis of Champion's residence were done by the Princess Consort leading us."

"Huh? Uh!"

Luo Hai was so frightened that he hiccuped, his eyes widening like saucers.

He looked at the other guards incredulously, and they nodded vigorously, looking very proud.

"Do you know that the imperial court has already issued arrest warrants to all prefectures and counties?" Luo Hai asked anxiously.

Xiao Zhengfei laughed and said, "Don't worry, sir, the imperial court won't be able to find anything on us."

"Why?"

Seeing that they didn't seem scared at all, but rather relaxed and natural, Luo Hai was at a loss.

Xiao Zhengfei suddenly fell silent, opened the study door, checked outside, and only closed the door when he saw no one was there, lowering his voice.

"Because they drank the wine given to them by the princess, which exploded as soon as it was opened, they were all killed in the explosion. By the time the people from the Marquis's mansion died, we had already left."

Luo Hai gasped: "But the Marquis's residence has strict security..."

"Taking advantage of the grand birthday banquet held by the Marquis's mansion for Princess Chang Le, I easily entered the Marquis's mansion using the Wei family's jade pendant."

Luo Hai wiped away a cold sweat, only to see Xiao Zhengfei reveal a strange smile: "Does Your Excellency know that when the Princess Consort is disguised as a fat young man, her whole body jiggles when she walks?"

Xiao Zhengfei gestured with an exaggerated arc, "No one would have imagined that the wine sent by the princess would be a deadly weapon capable of leveling the Marquis's mansion."

"That's right, they still want to find the murderer, but it's going to be tough! The princess is currently swaggering around in Jingzhou, hahaha..." another guard said smugly.

They recounted in detail everything that happened at the Marquis of Champion's residence that day, leaving Luo Hai terrified and sweating bullets as he listened.

He finally understood why Han Lei had tricked Wei Dabao out of the jade pendant. That guy was still hoping Han Lei would take him on a business partnership!

Wei Dabao and his family arrived in Beijing today. I hope he can have good fortune in the capital!
Hearing them say this, and knowing that the imperial court would have difficulty finding out, Luo Hai gradually felt relieved.

Han Lei is a girl who is not only bold and meticulous, but also thinks three steps ahead before acting.

Therefore, it seems that with her by Zhao Zun's side, Zhao Zun's great cause can be accomplished.

As far as he knew, Zhao Zun had now completely taken control of the Beiguan garrison, and both Fufeng County and Beiguan were developing rapidly according to plan.

Zhao Zun said that the next step will be to build fortifications at various passes in Cangzhou.

Even if the imperial court now knows that Zhao Zun harbors rebellious intentions and wants to send troops to attack Cangzhou, it will no longer be afraid of the mysterious weapons currently equipped by the garrison at Beiguan.

However, if they can delay for just one more day, Cangzhou can make further progress.

Luo Hai asked Xiao Zhengfei and his group to rest at the county government office for a day before leaving, but Xiao Zhengfei and his group were busy reporting to Zhao Zun. Luo Hai tried to persuade them to stay, but Xiao Zhengfei and his party insisted on setting off.

After lunch, without even savoring a cup of tea, they hastily bid farewell to Luo Hai. Horseshoes clattered across the cobblestone path, raising a light dust as Xiao Zhengfei and his companions galloped towards Beiguan.

Banners fluttered in the wind at the North Gate Camp. Zhao Zun stood with his hands behind his back on the newly built watchtower, gazing at the outline of the now-formed bastion.

A jade pendant, its surface a warm, emerald green, hung on his chest, faintly emitting a soft glow.

Friends, I'm so sorry, I'm out of drafts. To ensure quality, I'll be taking a day off tomorrow to work on the drafts. I hope you understand!