Love Lock

Chapter 224 Aren't you afraid?
The night wind suddenly picked up, causing the osmanthus blossoms to flutter down. Princess Shen covered her mouth and gasped, her slender body swaying slightly.

Han Lei quickly caught her and felt the trembling in her palm.

"They searched the entire Prince's mansion, even the cellars..." Yuan Dequan's voice was hoarse from rushing so fast, "Unable to find the Prince's family, they left angrily, saying they had to go back and report to His Majesty..."

"Your Majesty," the King of Jingzhou murmured, his face turning from white to pale.

He closed his eyes in pain, staggered back a step, knocked over the chair behind him, and felt as if all his energy had been drained away in an instant.

Under the moonlight, the fine beads of sweat on his forehead glistened like pearls.

Zhao Zun rushed forward to support him, his steady voice breaking the surrounding silence: "Brother Liu, calm down."

Yuan Dequan was still shaken. He swallowed hard to moisten his throat and continued to report.

"Upon hearing the sound of someone breaking in, the boy immediately disheveled his hair, tore his clothes, rolled on the ground, and pretended to be a beggar."

"And then?" Princess Shen asked nervously.

Seeing that Yuan Dequan's speech was hoarse, Luo Hai picked up the teacup on the table, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to him.

He took the tea and gulped it down, nodded to Luo Hai to express his gratitude, and then continued speaking.

"When they found me, they asked who I was. I lied and said that I had seen that the house had been empty for several days, and that I had nowhere to hide from the rain last night, so I took shelter in the Prince's mansion for the time being. Then they pushed me down and turned to leave. I dared not stay long, and once they were far away, I rode a fast horse to come and tell them the news that very night."

As he spoke, his eyes filled with terror, he looked up at the King and Queen of Jingzhou: "Your Highness, Your Highness, please don't go back! You mustn't go back!"

Upon hearing this, the King of Jingzhou's eyes were filled with despair and fear. He suddenly grabbed Zhao Zun's arm with astonishing force.

His eyes shone frighteningly bright in the moonlight: "Brother Zhao, he's here again! He won't let me go; he'll surely wipe me out!"

"Brother Liu, calm down." Zhao Zun patted his back gently, his tone reassuring. "Don't be afraid, your family is safe here."

The King of Jingzhou turned to look at Zhao Zun, his voice low but filled with anguish, "What... what should I do? I have nowhere to retreat."

The courtyard was deathly silent, with only the low chirping of autumn insects in the grass.

Luo Hai quietly waved for his servants to leave, while he cautiously looked around.

Zhao Zun didn't say anything, but just patted his back gently to give him a sense of security.

The King of Jingzhou remained silent for a long time, his fear of Emperor Jing's second pursuit having reached its peak.

He had nowhere left to retreat. Just moments ago, he was torn between joining Zhao Zun's camp to fight against Emperor Jing, or continuing his escape with his family. At this moment, he made up his mind completely.

He took a deep breath and suddenly leaned close to Zhao Zun's ear.

“Brother Zhao, I know what you’re planning.” His voice was as low as a mosquito’s buzz, yet every word reached Zhao Zun’s ears clearly. “Count me in, okay? I need to fight for my life and my family’s.”

Zhao Zun's pupils contracted slightly, and his gaze swept across the face of the King of Jingzhou like lightning.

Under the moonlight, the shadows of the two men stretched long on the ground, almost merging into one.

Seeing that Zhao Zun did not answer, the King of Jingzhou looked at Zhao Zun with pleading eyes: "Brother Zhao, what do you say? You must help me."

“Your Highness,” Zhao Zun bit his lip, his voice equally low, “this is not the place to talk.”

The King of Jingzhou nodded heavily, his loose hair sticking to his face with sweat.

Zhao Zun turned to Han Lei, and the two exchanged a knowing glance.

Han Lei understood and gently took Princess Shen's arm: "Your Highness, let the children finish the story. The little princess just heard about Chang'e stealing the elixir of immortality..."

Princess Shen watched Zhao Zun and the King of Jingzhou leave, her expression complex, before finally nodding slightly.

Only after Zhao Zun and the King of Jingzhou disappeared around the corner of the corridor did Han Lei turn her gaze away.

She noticed that Yuan Dequan was still kneeling on the ground, so she said gently, "Steward Yuan, you must be tired from your journey. Go and change into some clean clothes."

As Han Lei spoke, she gave Luo Hai a wink.

Luo Hai understood and personally helped Yuan Dequan up: "Steward Yuan, please come with me!"

Luo Hai led Steward Yuan to make the arrangements, while Han Lei sat down again with Princess Shen and continued telling the story.

In Luo Hai's study, the candlelight flickered.

Zhao Zun personally closed the carved wooden window and checked the door latch.

As he turned around, he saw the King of Jingzhou pacing back and forth nervously, the hem of his brocade robe sweeping across the blue brick floor with a rustling sound.

"Brother Liu, please have a seat." Zhao Zun poured a cup of hot tea and pushed it towards him.

The King of Jingzhou suddenly turned around, placed his hands on the table, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Brother Zhao, believe me, I'm not crazy. I know you're training troops, building fortresses, clearing land for farming and stockpiling grain in Cangzhou." His voice was hoarse. "You're planning a rebellion, aren't you?"

The candle flame popped and burst into sparks.

Zhao Zun remained expressionless and slowly sipped his tea: "Why did Liu He say that?"

“Brother Zhao, you don’t need to hide it from me.” The King of Jingzhou wiped his face. “I saw it with my own eyes! The structure of those fortresses was not designed to defend against bandits at all! And the way those soldiers were trained…”

Zhao Zun put down his teacup, his eyes sharp: "Brother Liu, you are truly insightful."

“Brother Zhao, you flatter me. I had no choice.” The King of Jingzhou smiled bitterly. “My second brother is very suspicious. When he was in power, I walked on thin ice, but at least my life was not in danger. Now that my eldest brother has ascended the throne, you have seen it yourself. He cannot tolerate us brothers.” He slumped down. “If it doesn’t work this once, he will pursue us to the very end.”

A dark cloud outside the window obscured the moon, instantly darkening the study.

Zhao Zun's fingers tapped lightly on the table, the rhythm as steady as a war drum.

"Brother Liu," he finally spoke, "but... rebellion is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. Aren't you afraid?"

"Afraid? Ha!" The King of Jingzhou chuckled as if he had heard a funny joke, then suddenly looked up, his eyes blazing with a resolute fire.

"Not rebelling means certain death! You think he'll only kill us brothers? No, he's ruthless. He'll kill everyone who might threaten his throne! Brother Zhao, you'll be a thorn in his side sooner or later!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of appreciation flashed in Zhao Zun's eyes.

In Luo Hai's study in Qingshui County, Zhao Zun and the King of Jingzhou were having a private conversation by candlelight.

Meanwhile, at the same time, in the imperial palace in the capital.

The full moon of Mid-Autumn Festival hangs high in the night sky. The moonlight, like water, pours over the lush flowers and plants in the Imperial Garden, bathing the entire palace in a silvery glow.

Emperor Xin Jing leaned against the carved railing of the pavilion, toying with a luminous cup in his hand. The amber-colored wine inside gleamed alluringly in the moonlight. "Your Majesty, look how round the moon is!" a concubine giggled, leaning closer and pointing her slender finger to the vast sky. "Doesn't Your Majesty think it resembles the Hetian jade plate I presented to you the other day?"

Emperor Jing gave a casual "hmm," but his gaze drifted into the distance.

His thumb unconsciously rubbed the rim of the cup, the name that haunted him and kept him up at night still lingering in his mind—the King of Jingzhou.

"His Majesty seems distracted," another observer said, gently refilling Emperor Jing's wine cup. "Is he too weary from court affairs?"

Emperor Jing then came to his senses and forced a smile: "My dear consort, you are overthinking it."

He reached out and put his arm around the woman's shoulder, pretending to be relaxed, and said, "Come, drink this cup with me."

Just then, hurried footsteps came from the pebble path in the Imperial Garden.

The commander of the Imperial Guards was dressed in military uniform, his face solemn, and his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

He hurriedly knelt on one knee outside the pavilion and said, "Your subject Yu Sheng has important matters to report."

Emperor Jing's hand stiffened slightly, and a few drops of wine spilled from the cup, landing on his dragon robe.

He slowly put down his wine glass, his voice suddenly turning cold: "Speak."

Yu Sheng lowered his head, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly: "Your Majesty, when our men arrived in Jingzhou, they found... found that the Jingzhou Prince's Mansion was deserted."

"What?" Emperor Jing suddenly stood up, smashing the luminous cup to the ground.

The concubines gasped in fright and quickly took two steps back.

"Continue!" Emperor Jing frowned, his voice as cold as ice.

Yu Sheng pressed his forehead to the ground: "Your Majesty, we searched the entire Prince's mansion, even turning up the cellars, and found it completely empty. Moreover... the previous batch of secret guards we sent out have all... all disappeared without a trace. I'm afraid..."

"waste!"

Emperor Jing flew into a rage and overturned the stone table. Delicacies scattered all over the floor, and the sound of shattering porcelain plates startled the nightingales in the trees.

The concubines were so frightened that they knelt on the ground, trembling.

Yu Sheng's armor made a slight clanging sound, but he gritted his teeth and continued his report.

"Your Majesty, I dare to speculate that the King of Jingzhou's ability to escape twice is not simple. Either he has a powerful figure helping him behind the scenes, or he has been biding his time all these years..."

Emperor Jing's pupils suddenly contracted, and he grabbed Yu Sheng by the collar: "You mean, my seventh brother, who is unambitious, cowardly, and incompetent, has been putting on an act all along?"

“I dare not make a hasty judgment,” Yu Sheng said, his breathing rapid. “But according to the local people, the Prince’s mansion has been empty for several days. An old beggar said that he had nowhere to hide on a rainy night and found that the Prince’s mansion’s gates were wide open and no one was inside, so he went in to take shelter from the rain and stay there temporarily.”

"The Prince's mansion has become a den of beggars? Did someone leak the news, causing him to flee?"

Emperor Jing released his grip and paced back and forth in the pavilion, the hem of his dragon robe sweeping across the broken wine cups on the ground.

The moonlight shone on his ever-changing face, outlining a sharp profile.

"Find him! Find him for me." He suddenly stopped, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Mobilize all the secret guards, offer a reward of ten thousand taels of gold, even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find my 'good brother'!"

Yu Sheng hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty, such a grand display might alert the enemy..."

"I don't care!" Emperor Jing interrupted sharply. "As long as such a cunning King of Jingzhou lives, I will never have peace!"

As the saying goes, if the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die. But this damned King of Jingzhou not only survived but also escaped time and again. Was the King of Jingzhou too cunning, or were his subordinates too incompetent?
Emperor Jing was so angry that his chest heaved violently; he disliked the feeling of being out of his control.

The pavilion was deathly silent; even breathing could be heard clearly.

The Empress mustered her courage and said softly, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Your health is of utmost importance..."

Emperor Jing seemed not to hear and continued to order Yu Sheng: "Also, send people to keep a close eye on those old ministers in the court, especially those who have private connections with the Prince of Jingzhou. If there is any unusual activity, arrest them immediately!"

"Yes! Your subject... obeys the decree."

Yu Sheng kowtowed deeply, his armor striking the ground with a piercing sound.

Emperor Jing looked up at the bright moon, its light reflecting a chilling coldness in his eyes.

“My brother,” he murmured to himself, “do you think you can escape? This world will ultimately belong to me.”

A night breeze suddenly rose, dispersing the aroma of wine in the pavilion. A dark cloud slowly obscured the moon, plunging the Imperial Garden into a brief darkness.

Just as Yu Sheng, the commander of the Imperial Guards, was about to turn and leave, hurried footsteps echoed in the quiet night.

A guard in silver armor knelt on one knee outside the pavilion and announced loudly, "Your Majesty, a message has arrived from the Northern Pass via urgent carrier pigeon!"

Chief eunuch Li Zhongxin quickly stepped forward and took the letter, still damp with dew, with both hands.

He caught a glimpse of the Beiguan Army seal stamped on the corner of the letter out of the corner of his eye, and his fingers trembled involuntarily.

"Your Majesty, this is a military report from Marshal Cao." Li Zhongxin bowed and held the letter high above his head.

Emperor Jing snorted coldly, and as he tore off the sealing wax, his fingernails scraped a sharp sound on the bamboo tube.

As his gaze moved across the letter, his furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and a slight smile even appeared on his lips.

"Well done, Cao Xiong! He's incredibly efficient." Emperor Jing nodded in satisfaction. "In Cao Xiong's letter, he said that the King of Cangzhou did indeed take in many deserters, but... Cangzhou is a poor and remote place that can't support them, so Zhao Zun punished the deserters by making them serfs, and five hundred soldiers whipped and forced them to clear wasteland day and night."

Li Zhongxin glanced at the tiger-shaped military seal at the end of the letter and quickly said with a smile, "General Cao is always meticulous. Since he has used the seal of the Northern Pass as a guarantee, I suppose..."

"Hahaha." Emperor Jing suddenly laughed, raised his voice, and tapped the letter with his finger as he read: "Listen to this: 'Deserters are like beggars, unarmed, and wear heavy shackles even when working in the fields. They are not a threat. With 100,000 troops stationed at the northern pass, even if the King of Cangzhou has disloyal thoughts, he will not dare to act rashly.'"

Yu Sheng, the commander of the Imperial Guard, laughed disdainfully: "Taking deserters to reclaim wasteland and farm, the King of Cangzhou really knows how to use people."

Emperor Jing curled his lip in disdain: "Cao Xiong also said that the Prince of Cangzhou is young and impetuous, fond of grand achievements, and during the harvest season he conscripted laborers to build roads, delaying the autumn harvest, wasting resources and causing widespread resentment among the people. Hahaha..."

Emperor Jing's hearty laughter echoed through the night sky. Li Zhongxin was about to echo him when he suddenly saw Emperor Jing's smile vanish and a cold glint flash in his eyes.

"However..." Emperor Jing slammed the letter heavily on the stone table, his gaze icy. "That fat bastard Wei Dabao dares to use such baseless accusations to sow discord between the vassal kings and the imperial family. It's utterly outrageous!"

Seeing Emperor Jing's anger, Li Zhongxin, being a clever man, immediately lowered his head and dared not utter a word.

Yu Sheng, however, wanted to give Prime Minister Wei face and say a good word for Wei Dabao.

He stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Perhaps Wei Dabao..."

"Perhaps what?" Emperor Jing turned and glared at him. "Issue an edict! Bring Wei Dabao into the palace immediately! I want to know what his intentions are! How dare he spread rumors in front of me!"

"Uh..." Yu Sheng didn't dare to say anything more, so he could only swallow his words awkwardly, lower his eyes and clasp his hands, saying, "Yes! Your subject will go right away."