Love Lock

Chapter 237 Weren't you very bold last night?
Han Lei took out a red gauze dress embroidered with gold patterns from her space, paired with loose trousers of the same color. The style was neither men's nor women's clothing, but it was inexplicably harmonious and beautiful.

Seeing that Zhao Zun was still standing there in a daze, Han Lei urged again, "Turn around first! Don't look."

She pushed Zhao Zun's shoulder, forcing him to turn his back to her.

Although Zhao Zun was full of questions, he still obediently turned around.

He heard rustling sounds of changing clothes behind him, and he couldn't help but imagine Han Lei taking off her heavy wedding dress, and his throat tightened again.

After a while, Han Lei's voice came from behind. "Okay, you can turn around now."

When Zhao Zun turned around, the sight before him made him gasp for breath.

Han Lei had already changed into that red gauze dress. The thin fabric subtly revealed her exquisite curves, and her fair arms were exposed, making him unable to look away.

To his surprise, she had somehow loosened her elaborate hair bun, and her long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, adorned only with a few small gold ornaments on her forehead.

"How is it?" Han Lei twirled around, her gauze dress fluttering in the wind, like a blooming red lotus.

Zhao Zun opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

He had never seen a woman dressed like this before; she was neither as dignified as a lady from a respectable family nor as vulgar as a courtesan, but possessed a unique charm that was somewhere in between, making his heart race.

Before he could answer, Han Lei took out a karaoke speaker from her spatial storage and placed it on the table next to her.

"What are you going to do?" Zhao Zun swallowed hard, finally finding his voice, but it trembled slightly because of what was about to happen.

Han Lei smiled gently and pressed a few buttons on the speaker with her slender fingers.

Suddenly, a melody he had never heard before filled the bridal chamber—a light rhythm accompanied by a melodious female voice singing, "Hawthorns and pears, they are all flowers of spring..."

Zhao Zun stared wide-eyed as Han Lei began to sway her body to the music; every movement was so unfamiliar yet so alluring.

"What...what is this piece of music?" he asked loudly, trying to drown out the music.

Han Lei laughed as she danced, “‘Hawthorn and Pear’ is perfect for dancing to the Dunhuang Bodhisattva dance.”

hawthorn?

梨？
Zhao Zun's lips twitched violently. He knew that these two were fruits, but how did they turn into a dance when put together?
He slowly retreated to the edge of the bed and sat down, watching Han Lei's dance gradually become more graceful, her arms swaying as softly as willow branches, her waist twisting lightly, and her steps lightly spinning on the cement floor.

Zhao Zun was completely absorbed in watching.

This dance was unlike any he had ever seen before; it was neither as solemn as court dance nor as joyful as folk dance, but rather a vibrant expression that blended multiple elements.

Han Lei sometimes moves with the ethereal grace of a flying apsara in the Dunhuang murals, and at other times with the directness and passion of modern dance. Sometimes she seems elusive, and at other times her fingertips draw circles on the chest.

As the music reached its climax, Han Lei suddenly spun around and sat directly on Zhao Zun's lap.

Zhao Zun instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling her body heat through the thin gauze.

"Hehe, do you like it?" Han Lei leaned close to his ear, her warm breath brushing against his earlobe. "This is a surprise I prepared for you on our wedding night."

"I like it, but in the future..." Zhao Zun felt the warmth on his legs, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. The alcohol and the beautiful scenery in front of him made him feel short of breath, and something was stirring within him.

After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out the rest of his words: "From now on, you can only dance for me alone. Where...where did you learn all this?"

“My world,” Han Lei chuckled, her fingers tracing his cheek, “where there are many ways to celebrate your wedding night.”

As she spoke, Han Lei stood up again and continued to dance to the rhythm of the music.

The candlelight cast her silhouette on the wall, magnifying every graceful movement. Zhao Zun watched intently, completely oblivious to the passage of time.

Han Lei thought about it seriously. According to her understanding, Zhao Zun was a self-disciplined person. He had been staying at the border with the old Duke Zhenguo since he was twelve years old, and probably had never been to places like brothels.

But Zhao Zun was, after all, at the prime of his life, and after getting married, he tasted the forbidden fruit. It remains to be seen whether Zhao Zun will develop a taste for it again.

Therefore, she wanted to give Zhao Zun a daring wedding night. She wanted him to know that his wife was capable of everything, so he wouldn't go out and pursue other women later.

When the music ended, Han Lei was drenched in sweat. She turned off the stereo, and the room suddenly fell silent, with only the sound of their rapid breathing remaining.

"This..." Zhao Zun was about to say something when Han Lei pressed a finger to his lips.

“Don’t speak,” she whispered. “Tonight, let’s create some memories that are just for us.”

Zhao Zun could no longer restrain himself, pulled Han Lei into his arms, and kissed her lips.

At this moment, all etiquette and rules were thrown to the winds, leaving only two passionate hearts beating intensely in the darkness.

Meanwhile, outside the bridal chamber, several dark figures were huddled together under the window.

"Good heavens! What was that sound? What happened inside?" Big Fatty exclaimed in a low voice, covering his mouth, his eyes sparkling.

Hua Tianyou also looked on with a gossipy expression. "I've lived for over twenty years, how come I've never seen such a benefit? This wedding night is just too... too..." He racked his brains but couldn't find a suitable adjective.

"Your Highness is so lucky! Hehe..." Xiao Zhengfei chuckled foolishly, his eyes full of envy and longing.

Zitan and Jinju also gathered around, their faces a mixture of shyness and curiosity. "Is the Princess dancing for the Prince? The music is like celestial music."

"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Hua Tianyou gestured for silence. "If the prince finds out we're eavesdropping, he'll skin us alive!"

Hua Tianyou's words were full of threat, but no one was willing to leave. Laughter and whispers came from inside the room, occasionally mixed with Han Lei's soft and coquettish complaints and Zhao Zun's deep responses.

The osmanthus trees in the courtyard seemed to bloom even more passionately because of this unusual wedding night, their fragrance so rich it was almost intoxicating.

Big Fat Head scratched his head, his round face full of envy. "Zhao Zun's wedding night...tsk tsk tsk, Zhao Zun must be so beautiful."

Hua Tianyou nodded in deep agreement, "Yes! I have to go back and tell Ling'er that we have to play like this when I get married. That's all, that's all."

As night deepened, the eavesdropping crowd finally dispersed with reluctance.

But everything that happened that night was destined to become the most talked-about topic among the servants of the Prince's mansion.

Inside the bridal chamber, the red candles had burned more than halfway down. In the flickering light, two figures intertwined, together composing a love story that transcends time and space.

Zhao Zun knew that from this night onward, his life would be completely changed because of this woman from another world.

This change was exactly what he had been dreaming of.

The next day, as dawn broke and the morning dew had not yet dried, Zhao Zun slowly opened his eyes to the chirping of birds outside the window. A ray of morning sun slanted through the carved window lattice and shone obliquely onto the brocade quilt, making the dark pattern of mandarin ducks playing in the water appear lifelike.

He subconsciously tightened his arms around Han Lei's waist, the skin his palms touched as warm and smooth as jade. The memory of Han Lei's bold dance and the tender moments in the red candlelight bed last night flooded his mind, bringing a satisfied smile to his eyes.

The person beside me was breathing evenly and deeply, their feather-like eyelashes casting soft shadows beneath their eyes.

Zhao Zun propped himself up and examined her closely. He noticed that Han Lei still had traces of rouge on her cheeks, and a few red plum blossoms were faintly visible on her snow-white neck amidst her disheveled black hair. This sight made his Adam's apple bob slightly.

He was about to lean down and kiss her slightly parted cherry lips, but fearing he would disturb her peaceful dream, he could only sigh softly and pull her closer into his arms.

"Um……"

With a soft moan, the person in his arms unconsciously nuzzled against his chest. Zhao Zun quickly stopped what he was doing, only to see Han Lei groggily open her eyes. Her misty eyes widened suddenly when they met his gaze.

"Did I wake you up?" He flicked her nose with his finger, his voice still hoarse from the morning.

Han Lei was then startled to realize their intertwined position. She blinked, and memories of the previous night surged through her mind, her face flushing from her ears to her collarbone, like a boiled shrimp.

"Heh!" Zhao Zun chuckled softly, his fingertips twirling a strand of her loose hair. "Now you know how to be shy? Weren't you quite bold last night?"

"Don't say it!" Han Lei hurriedly tried to cover his mouth, but he grabbed her wrist and pressed her down on the pillow.

The brocade quilt slipped down with the movement, revealing half of her smooth, alabaster-like shoulder.

Zhao Zun's eyes darkened, and he leaned down to lightly bite her collarbone, startling her into a gasp.

Seeing that his wife was truly embarrassed and angry, he smiled and loosened his grip. However, Han Lei pulled the blanket over herself and burrowed into the bed like an ostrich, hiding even her hair completely.

"You...you get out of here!" came Han Lei's muffled protest from under the quilt. Yesterday, she had thought it over and over before mustering the courage to be so bold, okay?
"Alright, I won't say anymore. Come out quickly, or you'll get suffocated." Zhao Zun chuckled.

He scooped her and the blanket into his arms, and even through the brocade quilt he could feel Han Lei's shyness.

"Oh! Right. Today I have to serve tea to Mother, and there are also many military matters to discuss." Han Lei suddenly poked her head out, her eyes filled with a touching light of panic and shyness.

Zhao Zun gently rubbed the back of her neck: "Mother is eager to hold her grandson soon and won't care about these formalities."

As he spoke, he leaned close to Han Lei's ear and whispered, "You should get some more sleep. You must be exhausted from last night!"

"But..." Han Lei wanted to say something, but Zhao Zun's warm breath made her earlobes turn bright red.

"You just rest. I'll handle the affairs of the Turks and the court. Even if the sky falls, your husband will hold it up." He emphasized the word "husband" very heavily.

Having said that, he shoved the person back into bed without giving him a chance to refuse, and then quickly put on his clothes and got up.

As he walked to the door, he suddenly turned around with a smile and saw Han Lei peeking out from under the covers. When their eyes met, he hurriedly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

The smile in his eyes deepened.

After leaving, he closed the door behind him. But then he deliberately raised his voice to give instructions to Jinju, who was guarding the door.

"Take good care of her. The princess worked hard last night. Do not disturb her before 11 p.m.

"Yes, Your Highness. This servant obeys." Jinju answered crisply from outside the door.

Zhao Zun's words were suggestive, and Han Lei, embarrassed, grabbed the pillow next to her.

"Zhao, Zun!" The embroidered pillow flew in with a sharp, teeth-gritting shout. Zhao Zun laughed and closed the door, but a muffled "thump" could still be heard coming from inside the room.

Zhao Zun stood outside the carved wooden door, looking up at the magnificent morning scenery, and suddenly burst into laughter.

He stretched out his arms, his wide sleeves fluttering in the morning breeze, as if he wanted to embrace the rosy dawn.

He took a deep breath of the air, which was fresh with the scent of dew, and thought the sunrise was especially beautiful today.

As he walked, he took out the walkie-talkie from his waist and pressed the switch with his thumb: "Zhengfei, take the brothers to the military council hall. Yes, now."

Inside the new house, after all that playful commotion, Han Lei was no longer sleepy.

She sat up, supporting her aching back, and the quilt slipped down, revealing several ambiguous red marks on her snow-white skin.

Recalling the tender moments spent under the bright red candlelight last night, she bit her lip and chuckled softly, yet couldn't help but chide him reproachfully: "What a brute..."

Hearing the movement inside, Jinju's clear voice came with the sound of the door opening. "Your Highness, you're awake?"

The maidservant brought in a copper basin. When she saw Han Lei leaning against the bedpost, her eyes curved into crescents, and there was a hint of amusement in her eyes.

"When the prince left, he specifically instructed us not to disturb you... cough, he said you were tired last night."

She deliberately dragged out the word "tired," making Han Lei blush with embarrassment, and she wished she could grab Zhao Zun and kick him a couple of times.

Han Lei gathered her loose hair and forced herself to remain calm, saying, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Quickly help me with my makeup; it wouldn't be good if we missed the time to serve tea to the old lady."

She pointed to the sandalwood wardrobe, "Let's choose that bright red jacket with embroidered cloud patterns, it's more festive."

"Yes! The princess is such a good daughter-in-law." Jinju smiled as she picked up her clothes. "The old lady just sent Sister Emerald to say that it's alright for the newlyweds to sleep a little longer."

Han Lei paused in front of the mirror as she applied her eyebrows. The bronze mirror reflected her barely suppressed smile. "It's alright. We're already up anyway, so let's just follow the proper etiquette."

It is often said that the mother-in-law comes first, then the daughter-in-law.

Han Lei felt that the old lady was a gentle and polite person. Ever since she met Zhao Zun and came to the Zhao family, the old lady had always treated her very well, so she naturally had to treat her with the same courtesy.

Since it was customary in this era for a new bride to serve tea to her mother-in-law, she had to follow the local custom. Otherwise, people would say that she, as a daughter-in-law, was spoiled and arrogant and didn't know the proper etiquette.

After washing up, Jinju accompanied Han Lei through the corridor garden to the front hall. From afar, they could hear the sound of a wooden fish drum, and the old lady was kneeling in front of the hall chanting scriptures.

Sunlight streamed through the crackled window lattice, casting dappled shadows on her dark blue silk jacket.

"Mother," Han Lei called softly from the threshold, about to bow, when the old lady turned around and exclaimed, "Oh my child, why are you up so soon?"

She hurriedly got up to greet her, but her gaze darted behind Han Lei, raising an eyebrow as she asked, "Where's Zun'er? Could it be... she can't get out of bed?"

Even though Han Lei was a modern person, she couldn't help but twitch her lips. Why were all the people in this mansion fixated on that little thing that happened in her room today?

Han Lei was about to respond when the old lady seemed to have thought of something, her face lit up with joy, and she directly instructed the head maid, Emerald, who was serving beside her—

"Jade, go quickly and tell the kitchen to make some chicken soup for Zun'er."