Love Lock

Chapter 236 Dew-Stained Pink Peach

"General Song... General Song went to the Prince of Cangzhou's mansion yesterday to... to attend the wedding banquet..."

The moment those words were spoken, the air around them seemed to freeze.

The messenger's face turned deathly pale instantly, and his right hand unconsciously pressed on the hilt of his sword at his waist.

"General Gu, this is no small matter, don't joke about it!" The messenger's voice suddenly rose, attracting the attention of several nearby soldiers.

Gu Haixing felt a wave of dizziness. He knew, of course, that this was no joke.

If the King of Cangzhou has indeed rebelled as the military order states, then General Song, who is currently in the King's residence... his superior... wouldn't that mean...

"This...this is absolutely true!"

Gu Haixing spoke with difficulty, her voice dry as if someone were choking her.

"General Song set off at dawn yesterday, accompanied by four personal guards, saying he was going to attend the wedding banquet of the King of Cangzhou."

The messenger's eyes sharpened as he looked Gu Haixing up and down, seemingly trying to determine the veracity of the deputy general's words.

Gu Haixing could sense the suspicion in the other person's eyes. After all, the King of Cangzhou had rebelled, yet his superior was drinking wedding wine at the rebel's mansion; anyone would be suspicious if they heard that.

"General Gu," the messenger lowered his voice, his tone laced with warning, "do you know what the crime of harboring traitors is?"

Gu Haixing felt a chill run down her spine, and cold sweat instantly soaked through her inner clothes.

He knew this, of course; it was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. But now he was even more confused and terrified than the messenger. How could General Song, who had always been utterly loyal, be involved in treason?
“Brother,” Gu Haixing said, forcing himself to remain calm, though his voice still trembled slightly, “I swear on my life that General Song only said he was going to a wedding banquet before he left, and he had absolutely no intention of rebelling. If I had known that the King of Cangzhou had disloyal intentions, I would have risked my life to stop the general!”

The messenger frowned, his gaze sweeping over Gu Haixing's face.

The atmosphere in the military camp became heavy, and the soldiers training in the distance seemed to sense the abnormality, stopping their movements and looking in this direction.

The messenger turned to look at the soldiers who were drilling, and found himself in a predicament.

The military situation was urgent and could not be delayed. He had originally intended to have Deputy General Gu directly muster the troops in place of Song Yuanqing to join Marshal Qinghe's army. However, he was now unsure whether Deputy General Gu and the soldiers before him had any connection with the rebels.

He thought about it and decided not to take the risk.

“This matter is suspicious.” The messenger finally released his grip on the knife. “I need to return immediately to report to Marshal Qinghe and ask him to make a decision. Until then, General Gu must keep his men in check and prevent them from acting rashly.”

Gu Haixing nodded repeatedly: "Of course, of course. Brother, please go and return quickly, I will send someone to find General Song right away..."

"No!" the messenger interrupted sharply. "If the King of Cangzhou has already rebelled, sending someone there will only alert him. You should wait patiently for the Marshal's decision."

After saying this, the messenger had already mounted his horse, his movements swift and efficient.

He gave Gu Haixing one last deep look, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions—doubt, wariness, and perhaps even a hint of sympathy.

"drive!"

With a shout, the messenger quickly disappeared into the dust raised outside the camp gate.

Gu Haixing stood there, the military order document in his hand soaked with sweat.

The sunlight overhead cast his shadow on the cement ground, a small, stout, and lonely figure.

“General…” one of Song Yuanqing’s personal guards walked over and called out cautiously.

Gu Haixing seemed to wake from a dream, and turned around abruptly: "Pass on my order, the entire army is on high alert, but no rash actions are permitted. All officers of the rank of centurion and above must immediately come to my tent for a meeting!"

"Yes!"

The guards obeyed and left.

Gu Haixing strode towards the central command tent, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

Does General Song know about such a momentous matter? If the King of Cangzhou has indeed rebelled, what is your current situation, General?

And what would happen to his unsuspecting subordinates? Every question hung over his mind like a sharp blade.

Inside the tent, Gu Haixing laid the crumpled military orders flat on the table and read them repeatedly by the candlelight.

Every word on it burned his eyes like a branding iron.

The imperial court has determined that the Prince of Cangzhou is plotting a rebellion and has ordered Marshal Qinghe to mobilize troops to suppress him... But his superior, Song Yuanqing, happens to be in the rebel's residence at this very moment. What should be done?

"Report!" came a soldier's voice from outside the tent. "All the centurions and platoon leaders have arrived!"

Gu Haixing took a deep breath, trying to appear calm and composed. "Come in!"

As the centurions and corpsmen filed in, they saw the upright back of Vice General Gu Haixing.

He stood in front of the military map, his finger unconsciously circling the location of Cangzhou.

"Gentlemen, please sit down and discuss this matter." Gu Haixing turned around abruptly, his voice low and urgent, "There is urgent military intelligence..."

...This is a dividing line for asking for votes...

Perhaps it was the overwhelming enthusiasm for the Prince of Cangzhou's wedding, or perhaps it was the exquisite cuisine at Tongfulou Restaurant, but in any case, the wedding banquet at the Prince's residence continued until sunset before the guests gradually dispersed.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the Cangzhou Prince's Mansion in a golden-red halo, and the hustle and bustle inside and outside the mansion gradually subsided.

The aroma of Tongfulou's special braised pork with potatoes still lingered in the courtyard, mingling with the scents of wine and flowers, making the end of the wedding banquet particularly enchanting.

"Brother Song, have another drink!" The fat man swayed his round body, his hand holding the wine glass was already a little unsteady, and his face was shiny with oil. "After today, who knows when we will be able to get together again."

Song Yuanqing was already dazed with drunkenness, his jade crown hanging askew behind his head. Hearing this, he barely managed to lift his heavy eyelids: "No... I can't... Fatty..."

Before he could finish speaking, he slumped onto the table, knocking over several empty wine jugs with a clattering sound.

Hua Tianyou, who had been drinking water instead of alcohol, was not drunk at all.

Seeing this, he quickly stepped forward, supporting the swaying, fat man while shouting towards the door, "Someone come here! General Song is drunk!"

Two servants in blue robes came over in response. Hua Tianyou whispered, "As Your Highness instructed, escort General Song to the main room in the east wing for a good rest. Make sure someone stays to look after him tonight."

As he spoke, he glanced out of the corner of his eye at the servants in the courtyard who were cleaning up the leftover food.

Outside the Prince's Mansion, the banquet on the long street was coming to an end.

Several people dressed in coarse cloth were still holding their bowls with lingering relish: "Tongfulou's braised pork is truly amazing!"

Another farmer, who hadn't eaten meat in a long time, had tears in his eyes. "That's right, I heard these dishes are all made with pork, pork is so delicious!"

"Fellow villagers, there will be a banquet tomorrow." Steward Mo of the Wang Mansion stood on the steps, bowing respectfully. "It's getting late, please..."

Upon hearing this, the people rose to express their gratitude. An elderly man with white hair bowed tremblingly. "Please convey our congratulations to His Highness. Such favor is unprecedented in my life..."

Inside the courtyard, the maids were quietly cleaning up the leftovers.

As night deepened, lanterns began to light up throughout the Prince's mansion. In the east wing, Song Yuanqing snored loudly as two servants gently removed his official boots. One of them couldn't help but cover his nose: "The smell of alcohol..."

"Less talk, more action." The older woman glared at him, placing the hangover soup on the bedside table. "Remember to feed him again at midnight."

Hua Tianyou stood in the center of the courtyard, watching the gradually quieting Prince's mansion, and let out a long sigh. Big Fatty, who had somehow appeared beside him again, hiccuped and said, "Brother Hua...shouldn't we...?"

“You…” Hua Tianyou shook his head helplessly, supporting his swaying body. “I’ll take you back.” Under the moonlight, their shadows stretched long, gradually disappearing at the end of the corridor.

There are too many guests attending the wedding banquet today, and too many people are trying to get Zhao Zun, the Prince of Cangzhou, to drink with them.

But Zhao Zun's mind was still on Han Lei, who was waiting for him in the room. Even though he was so drunk that he couldn't walk straight, he still managed to stay clear-headed until the guests gradually left.

Red candles burn brightly, and the character for "happiness" is pasted all over the window frames.

Only the fragrance of osmanthus and the lingering smell of wine remained in the night breeze along the corridor of the Cangzhou Prince's Mansion's backyard.

Zhao Zun leaned against the door frame, the double image in front of him forcing him to stop.

He took a deep breath, trying to clear his muddled mind.

"Your Highness, please slow down."

Xiao Zhengfei and Ping Chuan supported him on either side, afraid that the drunken groom would fall.

Zhao Zun waved his hand and barely straightened up. "It's alright, I'm perfectly sober."

As he spoke, his tongue involuntarily tied itself in a knot, causing Xiao Zhengfei and Pingchuan to purse their lips, afraid to laugh out loud.

Fortunately, they secretly replaced the wine with hangover soup, otherwise the prince would have had to miss out on the beautiful time he had been looking forward to tonight.

Pushing open the carved door to the bridal chamber, you are greeted by the rich fragrance of mimosa flowers.

Zhao Zun squinted and saw the figure in a bright red wedding dress sitting on the edge of the bed, her delicate jawline faintly visible under the red veil.

In an instant, his drunkenness seemed to dissipate somewhat.

"Your Highness." The night breeze carried the scent of alcohol, and Han Lei's voice came from beneath her veil, tinged with an undisguised smile, "How much have you had?"

Zhao Zun staggered to her side, reaching out to lift the veil, but almost missed.

Han Lei reached out to support him in time, and her laughter under the veil became even louder. "It seems I'll have to feed you the nuptial wine tonight."

"Kumquat, Zitan, you may both step back!" Zhao Zun waved his hand, trying to make his voice sound authoritative, but his drunken slurred speech betrayed him.

The two maids and two guards exchanged a glance, suppressed their laughter, and retreated, gently closing the door behind them.

With a creak, the door opened, and only the faint sound of burning red candles and the couple's intermittent breathing filled the bridal chamber.

Zhao Zun finally regained his balance and gently lifted Han Lei's veil.

In the candlelight, his bride was breathtakingly beautiful—beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows were a pair of almond-shaped eyes that held a sly smile, and her lips were slightly parted, revealing a hint of white teeth.

Her makeup today was more exquisite than usual, and the floral decoration between her eyebrows added a touch of charm.

"Girl." Zhao Zun's voice was hoarse, as if soaked with warm wine, as he lifted the veil with his fingertips.

Han Lei suddenly felt a warmth on her chin as his palm cupped her face, forcing her to look up. The dragon and phoenix candles burst open, their flickering light making Zhao Zun's eyes sparkle with golden light, even more intoxicating than the most exquisite wine.

"Hehe! I originally thought you were a thorny rose." Zhao Zun's thumb rubbed the lipstick on her lips, and he noticed her tremble slightly. A low laugh escaped from Zhao Zun's throat. "How come you've become a dewy pink peach after the veil is lifted?"

Han Lei pouted, about to scold him, when suddenly she was lifted into the air.

Han Lei's wedding dress trailed across the peanuts and red dates scattered on the bed, and he held her in his arms like a child. The gold hairpin in her hair jingled against the gilded buttons on his chest.

"No..." Han Lei hurriedly grabbed his shoulders, only to see him bend down and bite open the pearl clasp around her neck, his hot breath and smell of alcohol seeping into her collar.

"Hehe!" Zhao Zun chuckled, his drunken eyes filled with doting affection: "My darling, how come the hands that can wield a gun and kill enemies on the battlefield are now so weak that they can't even hold onto my neck?"

The brocade quilt on the wedding bed suddenly sank, and he shielded her head as they fell backward into a sea of ​​"May you have a son soon" messages.

Han Lei's golden phoenix hairpin hooked onto his jade belt, making a crisp, tinkling sound.

Zhao Zun flicked the trembling phoenix hairpin with his finger, his laughter mingling with a kiss on her earlobe.

"What's the rush? This wedding night..." Zhao Zun suddenly took her earlobe in his mouth and gently bit it, "is enough for us to spend the whole night in."

"Have you seen enough?" Han Lei tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with a light that Zhao Zun both knew and found unfamiliar—a light that came from another world, a light and agility that seemed to come from another world.

Zhao Zun's Adam's apple bobbed as he reached out and stroked her cheek. "I can't get enough of looking at her, I can never get enough of looking at her in my whole life."

Han Lei chuckled softly and took the prepared nuptial wine from the low table beside the bed.

Two exquisite silver glasses rest on a small silver tray, their legs connected by a red cord. The amber liquid inside gleamed alluringly in the candlelight.

Drinking the nuptial wine was an important ceremony in ancient weddings, symbolizing the union of husband and wife, sharing joys and sorrows, and being forever of one heart.

The shared drinking ceremony embodies a solemn commitment to marriage and emphasizes the symbolic meaning of "union".

"On our wedding night, according to custom, we should first drink the nuptial wine."

Han Lei handed one of the cups to Zhao Zun, picked up the other cup for herself, and crossed her arms with his, forming an intimate connection.

The liquor went down his throat, sweet with a slight spiciness. Zhao Zun drank it all in one gulp, but noticed that Han Lei only took a small sip, her eyes gleaming with a sly light.

"Why didn't you finish it?" he asked, puzzled.

Han Lei winked mysteriously, "If you're drunk, how will you play the rest?"

As she spoke, she suddenly snatched the wine glass from Zhao Zun's hand and casually placed it aside.

Before Zhao Zun could react, he felt his arms suddenly empty as Han Lei nimbly escaped from his embrace.

"Girl, why are you running away?" Zhao Zun stared wide-eyed at Han Lei as she fled, got up to grab her, and even his drunkenness instantly dissipated.

Han Lei smiled like a cat that had just stolen some cream, turned around, and raised her hand to stop him. "Don't come any closer, turn around. I prepared a surprise especially for you."

"surprise?"

Zhao Zun paused in his tracks as he uttered those two words.

On their wedding night, after drinking the nuptial wine, shouldn't they get straight to the main event? Why is there an extra segment called "surprise"?