Love Lock

Chapter 202 If God doesn’t take what he wants, he will suffer the consequences.

As dusk settled, the last rays of the setting sun shone through the carved window lattices into the hall, casting a warm glow on the mahogany tables and chairs in the courtyard.

As Zhao Zun and Han Lei stepped into the mansion side by side, the aroma of food wafting from the kitchen filled the entire front yard.

That day, because they brought the disaster victims into the city, they did not go home, but took them directly to the cement factory to settle them down. They only sent a guard back to report that they were safe.

I only had time to go home today to visit my mother.

The butler bowed to greet them, a smile crinkling at the corners of his eyes. "Your Highness, Your Highness. The Old Madam has been waiting for you for a long time and even had the chef prepare Your Highness's favorite dishes."

Upon hearing this, Han Lei's fatigue from the past few days seemed to vanish, and a smile appeared in her almond-shaped eyes.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Mother." She naturally took Zhao Zun's arm and gently brushed the cement dust off his sleeve with her fingertips.

In the main hall, the old lady was talking to Zhao Ling'er. Upon seeing them enter, the old lady immediately stood up, the jade hairpin in her silver hair swaying slightly with her movement.

"Oh! You're finally back!" She grabbed Han Lei's hand and looked her up and down. "Was your trip to Beijing smooth? Did you run into any trouble?"

Just as Han Lei was about to answer, the old lady suddenly lowered her voice and glanced at Zhao Zun, who was turning around to wash his hands.

"That matter at the Marquis of Champion's mansion..." Her aged fingers tightened slightly in her palm.

"Don't worry, Mother." Han Lei leaned close to the old lady's ear, her voice as sweet as a spring breeze rustling through the willows.

She didn't mention the details of the explosion at the Marquis of Champion's mansion, but only comforted the old lady.

"The Marquis's mansion will never cause trouble for Zun-ge again." She paused, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. "With me here, I will never let anyone harm him in the slightest."

"Good child." The old lady breathed a sigh of relief, patted the back of her hand, and as she turned around with Han Lei, the embroidered pine and crane pattern on her clothes carried a scent of sandalwood.

Dinner was served in the dining hall. On the octagonal table, blue and white porcelain plates held seasonal fresh vegetables, and in the center, a purple clay stew pot emitted wisps of steam.

Hua Tianyou was already waiting at the table. When he saw them come in, he hurriedly stuffed the jade pendant he was playing with into his clothes.

"Why is Brother Tianyou so restless today?" Zhao Ling'er covered her mouth and chuckled. Her light purple dress made her skin look as white as snow.

Hua Tianyou's ears turned bright red instantly, and he almost dropped his chopsticks. Zhao Zun raised an eyebrow at the sight and exchanged a knowing glance with Han Lei.

"Zun'er." The old lady placed a piece of fish in Han Lei's bowl and suddenly said, "It's time to set a date for your marriage with Lei'er. Don't just keep busy with other things all day long and forget about your own marriage."

Zhao Zun put down the spoon, and the porcelain spoon made a crisp sound as it hit the rim of the bowl.

“Mother, the Prince’s Mansion is about to be completed, and your son is thinking…” He looked at Han Lei and saw her smiling with her eyes lowered, so he continued, “September is the perfect time for this golden autumn season.”

"September?" The old lady frowned, thinking that it would take two more months. "Wouldn't that be too late?"

Just as Han Lei was about to speak, Hua Tianyou suddenly slammed his teacup down. The amber tea splashed onto the pearwood table, reflecting his tense face.

"Auntie!" He stood up abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor with a screeching sound.

"I...I..." He wanted to take advantage of Zhao Zun and Han Lei's presence to bolster his courage, but he stammered as the words reached his lips, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Zhao Zun chuckled and put his hand on Zhao Ling'er's shoulder. "Mother, Tianyou has something to ask of you." He gestured towards Zhao Ling'er with his chin. "Look at Ling'er's face, it's almost buried in the bowl."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ling'er blushed, biting her red lips and quickly lowering her eyes, not daring to look at the people at the table.

The old lady glanced at the three of them, then suddenly sighed, "How could I not see Tianyou's thoughts these past few days?"

She put down her bamboo chopsticks, the embroidered "Fu" character on her sleeve brushing against the edge of the table. "But..."

"aunt!"

Seeing the old lady hesitate, Hua Tianyou's heart raced with anxiety. "I truly love Ling'er! I've spent time training in the army and at the cement factory; I'm no longer the spoiled brat I used to be!"

As he spoke, he strained his eyes to give Zhao Zun a pleading look, which made Han Lei want to laugh.

Zhao Zun coughed lightly and said seriously, "Mother, although Tianyou is a bit reckless, he is still of good character. These days he has been supervising the cement factory, and even others praise him for being reliable."

He paused, then suddenly clenched his fist and brandished it in front of Hua Tianyou, his knuckles making a terrifying cracking sound. "If he ever dares to betray Ling'er in the future, I will beat him so badly that even the Duke will not dare to recognize him."

"I swear!" Hua Tianyou knelt down with a thud, ignoring the pain in his knees from hitting the bluestone pavement. "I, Hua Tianyou, swear here and now that if I betray Ling'er, may I be struck by lightning!"

Zhao Ling'er exclaimed in surprise and quickly got up to help him. When their fingers touched, Hua Tianyou's palm was frighteningly hot.

The old lady looked at her two young children, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes gradually smoothing out: "Sigh! Never mind. Don't you know what kind of person you are? Since Zun'er is the guarantor, and Ling'er is also willing..."

At this point, the old lady stopped again, making Hua Tianyou's heart leap into his throat.

"aunt?"

He looked at the old lady cautiously, afraid that she might make some kind of sudden change.

The old lady gently tapped his forehead with the tip of her chopsticks, then said sternly, "Then you must follow the rules and perform the six rites without omitting a single one!"

"Auntie, you...you agree? Hehe." Hua Tianyou was overjoyed, his grin almost reaching his ears.

"Tianyou, remember, you must treat Ling'er well." The old lady still had a stern face, but she felt a little reluctant in her heart.

"Don't worry, Auntie, that's for sure." Hua Tianyou kowtowed twice to the old lady, then jumped up and rushed out the door, almost knocking over the screen. "I'll go write a letter to my father right now!"

"Hey! Eat your food first!" Zhao Zun called out.

Hua Tianyou's excited voice drifted from under the corridor: "I'm not eating! I'm going to the post station to find a fast horse right now!"

"This child!" The old lady shook her head with a smile.

Seeing how eagerly he ran out, everyone couldn't help but laugh. Zhao Ling'er's ears turned even redder, and her eyes seemed to sparkle with stars.

Just then, Pingchuan arrived in a hurry with Scarface and a few others. They were covered in dust, and their boots were still smeared with mud from the outskirts of the city.

“Your Highness,” Pingchuan’s voice was hoarse, “beggars and poor people from various states have been gathering in Cangzhou. As you instructed, we have set up soup kitchens along the way to guide them.”

Zhao Zun nodded: "You've worked hard. Have your meal first, then go and get some rest!"

"Your Highness, there is one more thing." Pingchuan stepped forward, and Tantou and the others unconsciously formed a semicircle behind him, blocking the hall door.

"Ling'er, let's go back inside to eat!"

Seeing this, the old lady knew they had something important to say, so she pulled Zhao Ling'er back into the house, and the servants quietly withdrew.

Only Han Lei and Zhao Zun remained in the canteen, and it became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Pingchuan's Adam's apple bobbed as he whispered, "Your Highness, the King of Liangzhou... is dead. He died on the official road back to Liangzhou, along with over a hundred followers..."

"what?"

The teacup in Han Lei's hand tilted, and tea seeped into her light blue sweatpants, leaving a stain.

Charcoal Head added, "There are bandit corpses at the scene, but..." He ran his rough fingers across his neck, "The Liangzhou King's men all die with a single stab to the throat. What bandit family has such skill?"

Zhao Zun and Han Lei exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting each other's solemn expressions.

"Mountain bandits? The King of Xuzhou has now ascended the throne as emperor." Zhao Zun shook his head thoughtfully.

The King of Xuzhou had just ascended the throne. His brother, the King of Liangzhou, died on the road back to Liangzhou, and he did not believe that it was the work of bandits.

"You mean... the King of Xuzhou has become the new ruler?"

Pingchuan, Scarface, and the others all exclaimed in unison in astonishment. They had traveled from Yunzhou to Liangzhou and hadn't even heard the news. "Yes! It was the carrier pigeon that Uncle Liu sent the other day." Zhao Zun nodded and said, "The King of Xuzhou is ruthless. Now that he's the new ruler, he will never tolerate his brothers coveting his throne."

“Yes. Perhaps… the King of Liangzhou is just the beginning.” Pingchuan frowned.

Han Lei suddenly remembered her business cooperation with the King of Jingzhou and couldn't help but feel worried.

"Brother Zun, didn't you say that the King of Jingzhou didn't participate in the struggle for the throne last time?"

Zhao Zun nodded: "He can only be an outsider because his mother came from a humble background."

"The King of Jingzhou is quite a nice man. We were fortunate enough to receive his help a few days ago in Jingzhou, which allowed us to stay at his residence. Perhaps..."

Han Lei didn't say anything more, but Zhao Zun already understood what she meant.

Zhao Zun pondered for a moment, the solar-powered lamp casting varying shades of shadow on his sharply defined face.

He looked at Pingchuan and said in a deep voice, "You all get a good rest tonight. Tomorrow you will set off for Jingzhou to secretly protect him and help him get through this ordeal."

"Yes! I obey my orders."

After Pingchuan and the others accepted the order and left, Han Lei turned her head and suddenly noticed that Zhao Zun had a smile on his lips that was hard to decipher.

"why are you laughing?"

"Heh. The new emperor is busy eliminating his brothers, and Song Yuanqing, the garrison commander in Xuzhou, is someone I admire and have some connection with..."

Zhao Zun played with the jade pendant at his waist, the jade tassels tracing smooth arcs on his fingertips.

Han Lei's eyes lit up: "You mean..."

"If you don't take what Heaven has given you, you will suffer the consequences," Zhao Zun said softly.

A sudden gust of night wind swept past the window, causing the stray hairs at his temples to dance and casting flickering light and shadow in his eyes…

It had been drizzling all night, and the air was filled with the fragrance of earth and grass.

A thin mist swirls over the Qulin River, resembling a silver ribbon winding among the verdant mountains.

A simple blue cloth carriage came from the direction of Xuzhou and slowly traveled on the stone arch bridge over Qulinjiang.

Cheng Jingze sat inside the blue cloth carriage, his fingers gently tapping on the window frame, his gaze gazing into the distance through the thin curtain of rain.

The fifty-something-year-old magistrate of Ganluo County was dressed in a plain cotton long gown with only an ordinary cloth belt around his waist, making him look nothing like the magistrate of a county.

As the carriage descended the stone bridge, the driver suddenly exclaimed in surprise and tightened the reins.

"Oh! Sir, look at this road!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jingze lifted the carriage curtain, and the sight before him caused his pupils to contract sharply.

Every year around this time, he would visit friends in Fufeng County and spend a few days playing chess and having fun with his old friends.

I never imagined that things would change so much in just one year since I last visited.

The rugged, muddy road that I remembered, which became incredibly slippery on rainy days, is gone. In its place is a smooth, wide, bluish-gray avenue, large enough for three horse-drawn carriages to travel side by side.

The road surface was smooth and flat, gleaming faintly in the morning light, which contrasted sharply with the lush green crops on the side of the road.

"Stop the carriage! Stop the carriage!" Cheng Jingze shouted hurriedly, jumping down before the carriage had come to a complete stop.

He crouched down, his fingers gently tracing the strange surface—hard and smooth, yet unlike the pieced-together cobblestones of a traditional Chinese road. The entire road was seamless, without a single seam in sight.

"What kind of craftsmanship is this?"

Cheng Jingze muttered to himself, his fingers tracing the surface of the road, feeling the unprecedented texture.

He stood up and looked into the distance, where he saw the magical road stretching straight to the horizon and disappearing into the morning mist.

A series of neat chants came from afar. Cheng Jingze looked in the direction of the sound and saw hundreds of laborers working on the hillside.

They were shirtless, working enthusiastically and chatting and laughing, but strangely, there was no sign of the overseer wielding a whip.

Further away, a huge chimney stands on the hillside, billowing thick smoke straight into the sky, leaving a gray-white trail in the blue sky.

"Master, what's that running?" the coachman exclaimed, pointing to a rapidly moving red dot on the mountain road.

Cheng Jingze squinted and saw that the thing was running very fast, with a person sitting on it. He guessed it was a carriage, but there were no horses pulling it.

"Could it be... mechanical arts?" He recalled the mechanical arts of the Mohist school recorded in ancient books, and his heart was filled with shock.

Curious, he walked along the cement road and discovered a newly built wide canal on one side of the road, with the water of the Qulin River flowing continuously into the distance.

No wonder this once barren land is now lush and green; it turns out that it has been infused with fresh water.

After walking for a while, his gaze was drawn to a low, bluish-gray wall by the roadside. Upon closer inspection, he discovered it was a pigsty unlike any he had ever seen before.

A dozen or so farm women, chatting and laughing, were working inside. The ground was clean and tidy, and hundreds of fat pigs were leisurely eating their feed in their troughs. There was none of the stench of a typical pigsty.

"Sir, are you interested in our farm?"

A clear female voice came from behind him. Cheng Jingze turned around and saw a girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old standing not far away, holding an account book.

She wore a plain-colored short-sleeved shirt and trousers, her hair simply tied back. Although she wore no makeup, she exuded a capable and efficient aura.

Cheng Jingze bowed and said, "I was just passing through this place and was amazed to see such a dramatic change in just one year. May I ask, young lady, why are these pigsties so...clean?"

The woman smiled slightly: "This is a new breeding method promoted by the King of Cangzhou. My name is Zhao Ling'er, I am the King of Cangzhou's sister, and I am also the manager here."

She pointed to the pigsty and explained, "The ground is smoothed with cement, and the pig manure can be collected in the septic tank over there after daily rinsing. It will then ferment and be used as fertilizer. So, it looks hygienic and can increase production."

"Cement?" Cheng Jingze looked at the low, bluish-gray wall of the pigsty and keenly caught the unfamiliar word. "It looks the same color as the road surface, but it's the material used to repair roads?"

Zhao Ling'er nodded, her eyes shining with pride.

"That's right. Half a year ago, this place was still a wasteland. Since my brother came here, he has implemented the policy of 'working instead of labor,' recruiting nearby refugees to build roads and factories. Now, not only has the famine been solved, but we will also have surplus grain to sell next year."

"Oh I got it."

Cheng Jingze was shocked. As the local official, he knew all too well the suffering caused by famine.

Last year, Ganluo County suffered a severe drought, and the sight of people starving to death still pains him deeply.

"May I ask, young lady, where did this 'cement' come from? And what is that smoking tower?"

“That’s a cement factory,” Zhao Ling’er pointed to the chimney in the distance. “Cement is made by calcining and grinding materials such as limestone. It’s used for building roads and houses, making them sturdy and durable. My sister-in-law calls this industrial development.”

As they were talking, a red three-wheeled vehicle sputtered past them, startling Cheng Jingze so much that he took a half-step back.

That iron contraption, though unpowered by horses, ran incredibly fast, its trailer piled high with fermented pig manure.

Seeing this, Zhao Ling'er laughed and said, "This is a three-wheeled vehicle, used for transporting goods. It runs faster than a horse-drawn carriage."

"What an ingenious idea!" Cheng Jingze was extremely shocked. Overwhelmed with excitement, he suddenly grabbed Zhao Ling'er's wrist.

"Young lady, may I be introduced to this King of Cangzhou? I am Cheng Jingze, the magistrate of Ganluo County in Xuzhou, and I wish to follow this method to benefit the people of this region!"

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