Love Lock

Chapter 208 The person who wants your life

"Oh dear! Tsk tsk tsk!" Luo Hai interrupted him, spreading his hands in feigned grievance, "Master Wei, you've wronged me. I was just following orders, I had no choice."

"On orders? On whose orders?" Wei Dabao stepped forward, almost touching Luo Hai's face.

Luo Hai calmly took a half step back and dusted off non-existent dust from his sleeves.

"Naturally, it is on the orders of the King of Cangzhou. The King said that Master Wei's family business is vast, and it is just right to temporarily borrow it to accommodate the soldiers."

"The King of Cangzhou?"

Wei Dabao looked as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, his contempt evident in his expression.

"Hmph! How dare he! Does he know that someone from my Wei family has already ascended the throne and become the new emperor? With just one word from me, that so-called prince of his will lose his head!"

The yamen runners all changed their expressions upon hearing this, but Luo Hai remained smiling.

He pursed his lips, seemingly suppressing a laugh: "Oh, right, I forgot to tell Master Wei. The King of Cangzhou specifically instructed that you have made significant contributions to the development of Cangzhou, and that he must express his gratitude properly upon seeing you. I have already made all the necessary preparations."

After saying that, Luo Hai clapped his hands.

A dozen or so yamen runners filed out of the yamen, some carrying large drums and others carrying gongs, and lined up in front of the yamen.

With a gesture from Luo Hai, deafening drumbeats instantly resounded throughout the entire street.

Two constables unfurled a three-zhang-long red banner with large characters written in gold powder on it: "Thank you, local gentry Wei Dabao, for making significant contributions to the development of Cangzhou."

The yamen runners beat drums and gongs, shouting in unison, "Thank you, Master Wei! Thank you, Master Wei!"

"Fellow villagers passing by, come quickly and thank Master Wei!"

Luo Hai summoned passersby and soldiers from the street, and they all joined in, gathering in front of the magistrate's mansion and shouting in unison, "Thank you, Lord Wei! Thank you, Lord Wei!"

Wei Dabao stood there, feeling dizzy and his blood rushing to his head.

His face turned from pale to purple, and his lips trembled incessantly. His empty, wide robes billowed without wind as he trembled, making him look like a withered leaf in the autumn wind.

"Luo Hai...you...you're too much..."

He pointed at Luo Hai with trembling hands, only to see the man standing on the steps, smiling and bowing to the onlookers.

Several soldiers even walked up to Wei Dabao, bowed respectfully, and muttered things like, "Thank you for your generosity, Master Wei, for giving us a place to stay."

The sound of gongs and drums filled the air, and shouts echoed everywhere.

Wei Dabao felt a buzzing in his ears and his vision went black in waves.

He opened his mouth, then suddenly forced a "Holy shit!" from deep within his throat.

This heart-wrenching shout temporarily drowned out the sound of gongs and drums.

Luo Hai and the constables were taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

Wei Dabao could no longer stand.

He staggered back a few steps and, with the help of the servants, barely managed to climb onto the carriage.

As he was leaving, he turned back and glared fiercely at Luo Hai, then forcefully flicked his wide sleeves, nearly hitting the servant who was helping him.

"Back to the inn!" He practically squeezed those three words out through gritted teeth.

The carriage slowly drove away from the county government office, while the sounds of gongs, drums, and cheers behind it grew louder and louder.

Wei Dabao slumped in the carriage, feeling a tightness in his chest.

With his family's wealth, built up over generations, confiscated and his house seized, and Luo Hai so arrogant, how could he possibly stay in Cangzhou any longer?

As a member of the Wei family, the head of the four great families, he had always been able to get whatever he wanted in Cangzhou since he was a child, and he had always acted arrogantly and domineeringly.

In Cangzhou, who dared to say a word against Master Wei? Now he is like a stray dog, how should he face himself?

Thinking of this, a terrible thought suddenly flashed through his mind—

On his way back to Cangzhou, he saw a large number of refugees and heard that many deserters from Jingzhou were seeking refuge in Cangzhou. But now it seems that all those refugees and deserters have been absorbed by the King of Cangzhou.

According to the imperial court's regulations, a prince's personal guard could not exceed five hundred men, and harboring deserters was a capital offense. Yet the Prince of Cangzhou did just that.

What is he planning to do? Could it be...?

The moment this thought crossed Wei Dabao's mind, he was horrified.

No!

Since there was nowhere left for Wei Dabao to stay in Cangzhou, he would rest for the night and then take his family back to the capital to seek refuge with his uncle tomorrow.

The King of Cangzhou harbored treacherous intentions. He wanted to tell his uncle, Prime Minister Wei, everything that had happened here, and while the King of Cangzhou was still weak, he wanted the new emperor to quickly send troops to attack him.

The carriage moved slowly. He lifted the curtain and took one last look outside. He saw Luo Hai waving goodbye to him with his constables. His smile was particularly dazzling in the sunlight.

As soon as Wei Dabao's carriage turned the corner, Luo Hai finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He patted the clerk beside him on the shoulder, "See that? They say you shouldn't hit someone in the face when you're insulting them, but Your Highness's move is like hitting Wei Dabao in the face from both sides!"

The constables were all laughing heartily, some even clutching their chests and shouting "Holy crap!" like Wei Dabao.

A cheerful atmosphere filled the area in front of the county government office, but this joy was built on Wei Dabao's heartache.

Wei Dabao, suppressing his anger, returned to the woodshed of the inn where he was temporarily staying.

That very night, the Jingzhou Prince's Palace in Jingzhou City experienced an extremely turbulent night.

At midnight, the vermilion gates of the Prince's Mansion were tightly closed, and the bronze rings reflected the moonlight, giving off a faint, cold hue.

In the winding corridor, several silk palace lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze, and the lotus patterns painted on the lampshades seemed to come alive, casting trembling light and shadow on the blue brick floor.

The wide, swaying shadows cast by the flowers, plants, and trees in the moonlight, and the occasional chirping of crickets from behind the Taihu stone rockery, all contributed to the eerily quiet atmosphere of this secluded courtyard.

The night wind blew the snores of the night watchwomen intermittently. In the guardhouse at the west corner gate, the wick of an oil lamp was about to go out, and the bursting of the flame startled the dozing servant.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked up to see patrolling soldiers walking past the window.

King Liu Yan of Jingzhou sat alone at a mahogany desk in his study, the flickering candlelight illuminating his face, flushed with excitement.

He moistened his long, slender fingers with saliva and counted the stack of silver notes with a rustling sound. With each note he counted, the smile on his lips deepened.

“Three hundred and fifty taels…four hundred taels…” he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing into slits. “That old bastard Tao Qing really knows how to get things done.”

Although Jingzhou had suffered from floods a few days ago, leaving its people homeless, when he returned from the capital, the Drunken Immortal Winery had become an instant hit, a new favorite among Jingzhou's wealthy and influential.

The side dishes served with the drinks also gained fame along with the popularity of Zuixian Winery, and demand exceeded supply.

He successfully secured the distribution rights for the appetizers, and the merchants who had previously purchased Drunken Immortal Brew from him flocked back, bringing in considerable daily profits. Just as he had imagined, he wouldn't trade such days of counting silver notes for even an emperor.

The sound of the watchman striking the clapper at the third watch came from outside the window, but the King of Jingzhou, who had counted his silver notes for who knows how many times tonight, was still wide awake.

His thoughts were still lingering on the scene of those richly dressed merchants vying to order snacks to accompany their drinks, which made him laugh out loud again.

"Your Highness, are you still busy so late?" A gentle female voice came from the doorway.

The King of Jingzhou looked up and saw his queen, Shen Yanru, gracefully entering with a celadon bowl in her hand.

She wore a blue nightgown with a thin gauze cloak over it, and her long, black hair was loosely tied back, with a few strands falling around her ears, adding to her gentle beauty.

Princess Jingzhou was twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. She was exceptionally beautiful, and the refined manners and knowledge of a well-bred lady were fully displayed in her.

Her father was Shen Daohong, the former Minister of Revenue. Later, he was replaced by the Qianlong Emperor, who was killed in an explosion, and he remained idle at home in the capital.

"Why isn't my beloved concubine resting yet?" The King of Jingzhou quickly got up, took the bowl from her hand, which contained steaming bird's nest soup.

Shen Yanru smiled faintly, a gentle smile appearing in the corners of her eyes.

"Seeing that the light in Your Highness's study was still on, I specially asked the kitchen to stew some bird's nest. You've been working hard on the tavern these past few days; you should take care of your health."

The King of Jingzhou put down the silver notes, pulled his wife into his arms around her slender waist, and gave her a loud kiss on the cheek: "With such a considerate concubine, it would be worth it even if I died from exhaustion!"

"Your Highness!" Shen Yanru blushed and gently pushed him. "How old are you? You're still so frivolous."

"Haha, I've made another four hundred taels of silver today!" The King of Jingzhou proudly waved the silver notes in his hand. "Tell me, is being an emperor any better than this carefree and happy life?"

Shen Yanru's expression changed slightly, and she lowered her voice, saying, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. If this gets out..."

"What's there to be afraid of?" The King of Jingzhou waved his hand dismissively. "That suspicious elder brother of mine has already passed away, and I know my place, having long since withdrawn from the struggle for the throne. They promised that whoever ascends the throne will treat me well. Who would dare to spy on me?"

When he mentioned that "his suspicious elder brother has passed away," the King of Jingzhou sounded somewhat excited, as if the shackles that had bound him for many years had been removed.

"You can't just spout nonsense! Be careful what you say, or you'll get into trouble." Shen Yanru said earnestly.

"Yes, yes, my beloved consort is right. Hehe!" The King of Jingzhou grinned. "Now that my beloved consort is here, let's rest early."

As he spoke, he playfully hooked Shen Yanru's chin with his finger, like a lecherous man, which earned him another glare from the princess.

The two chatted and laughed as they walked out of the study and through the corridor toward the bedroom.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the glazed tiles of the Prince's mansion. The Prince of Jingzhou was in high spirits, seemingly aroused by something, and waved as he walked to the outside of his bedroom.

"You may all leave. There's no need for you to keep watch tonight."

The guard captain hesitated, "Your Highness, things haven't been peaceful in the city lately. Perhaps I should..."

"What? Do you expect me and my queen to be listening in on our bedtime routine?" The King of Jingzhou's face darkened. "Get out!"

The guards all wore strange expressions, but they dared not disobey lest they spoil the prince's mood, so they bowed and withdrew from the inner courtyard.

Inside the bedroom, Shen Yanru had already lit several red candles, their warm glow enveloping the carved bed.

The King of Jingzhou couldn't wait to close the door and pull the beautiful body into his arms.

"Your Highness..." Shen Yanru cried out, but her husband had already picked her up in his arms.

The candlelight was extinguished by the King of Jingzhou with a wave of his hand, leaving only the faint moonlight filtering in from the window.

The bed curtains swayed gently, and clothes rustled to the ground. The couple's whispers and soft laughter were exceptionally clear in the darkness.

"What perfume is my beloved consort wearing today? It smells so wonderful..." The King of Jingzhou leaned close to his consort's earlobe.

"Your Highness, please... um... it's roses..." The hot breath made the princess's ear tips tickle, and she instinctively wanted to dodge.

Just as the King of Jingzhou was lost in his passion, several dark figures silently swept past the courtyard wall.

The guards and servants in the inner courtyard had been dismissed, and a dozen assassins in black evaded the patrols in the outer courtyard before dispersing.

They left a few men to keep watch at the entrance of the inner courtyard, while the rest of the assassins entered the inner courtyard as if it were empty.

The leader of the men in black gave a hand gesture, and the three men in black, following the location provided by the intelligence, crouched low and tiptoed toward the bedroom of the King of Jingzhou.

"The intelligence is correct, this is indeed the You Ran Pavilion. But why are there no guards in the inner courtyard?" one of the assassins asked in a low voice.

The leader of the men in black sneered, "This is heaven's help. Remember, a swift and decisive battle, leave no survivors. And whatever you do, don't attract the guards."

The window was gently pried open with a thin blade without making a sound.

Several dark figures climbed in through the window. By the moonlight streaming in, one could vaguely see the gauze curtains on the large bed swaying rhythmically, accompanied by blush-inducing panting sounds.

A cold glint flashed in the leader assassin's eyes as he slowly drew his goose-feather knife from his waist.

He made a gesture, and three assassins moved in a fan shape to surround the bed, their blades gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

"what!"

The gauze curtain was suddenly pulled open, and the King of Jingzhou felt a flash of light. He instinctively dodged the light, sat up in shock with his bare upper body, and as his arm swept across, it accidentally lifted a corner of the quilt, covering the disheveled queen.

The King of Jingzhou stared wide-eyed, and when he saw the man in black standing in front of him, his face turned deathly pale.

Princess Shen Yanru let out a terrified scream and huddled in the corner of the bed, clutching the blanket.

The man in black swung his knife again, but the King of Jingzhou quickly dodged and hurriedly reached under his pillow, where he pulled out a jeweled dagger.

"Stop! Who...who are you people?"

His voice trembled with sudden fear, but he still tried to remain calm. "Do you know where this place is?"

One of the assassins sneered, his blade pointed directly at the King of Jingzhou's throat: "The one who will take your life."

Before the words were even finished, the goose-feather blade had already slashed down with a sharp whistling sound.

The King of Jingzhou instinctively raised his dagger to parry, but his strength was no match for the assassin's. With a clang, the jewel-encrusted dagger was cleaved in two.

The sharp blade continued its relentless advance, aiming straight for his face!

"Your Highness! Someone, quick..."

Shen Yanru grabbed the blanket, screamed, and lunged forward, trying to block her husband with her body.

The King of Jingzhou's pupils contracted sharply as the fear of death overwhelmed him like a tidal wave, and he watched helplessly as the blade hurtled straight toward his face.

In that instant, countless images flashed through his mind—the agency rights he had just acquired, the silver notes that had fallen from the sky, the princess's smiling face...

However, the expected excruciating pain did not occur.

A bizarre scene unfolded—