Love Lock

Chapter 249 The Prince Draws Eyebrows
Cangzhou, Qingshui County.

Birds chirped in the palace, and the morning sunlight streamed through the carved windows into the sleeping quarters, casting dappled shadows on the brocade quilt.

Han Lei's eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly opened her eyes, only to find that her hand was still being held tightly by Zhao Zun.

She carefully withdrew her hand and put the small contraceptive bottle under her pillow into her storage space.

"Awake?" A lazy voice came from behind, hoarse with the sound of early morning.

Zhao Zun stretched out his long arm and pulled her back into his embrace, gently stroking her hair with his chin.

Han Lei stiffened slightly, then relaxed: "Did I wake you up?"

Zhao Zun didn't answer, but his gaze fell on the fingertips where she had hidden something: "What was that?"

His voice remained gentle, but his fingers unconsciously tightened around her waist.

"Uh...it's nothing..." Han Lei subconsciously avoided his gaze, a slightly guilty smile on her lips.

In the morning light, her fair neck was tinged with a faint pink, and there were a few ambiguous hickeys near her shoulder blades.

Zhao Zun suddenly flipped over and pinned her down, his deep eyes dark and inky.

"Girl, tell me honestly. Are you afraid of childbirth, or do you not want my child?"

His long, slender fingers gently traced her lips, his expression helpless. "You...are you still thinking about going back to your world?"

Upon hearing this, Han Lei's pupils contracted slightly, and she asked in surprise, "You... you actually know what this is?"

The small medicine bottle had words printed on it, but Zhao Zun didn't recognize those simplified Chinese characters. How did he know them?
"Guess!"

Seeing that he had guessed correctly, Zhao Zun felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart. His fingers left her lips and instinctively reached for the love lock hanging around her neck.

They're married now. His tenderness, his doting affection, and even the love lock—couldn't they still keep her?
“I’ve seen you secretly taking it every night for the past two days. Although I don’t recognize the substance, I guess it’s for preventing pregnancy.”

Zhao Zun's voice was low and hoarse, tinged with suppressed pain, "If you really don't want to..."

"What are you thinking? I was just afraid you'd overthink it, so I didn't tell you." Han Lei suddenly chuckled, her fingertips lightly stroking his furrowed brows.

"Our current situation is uncertain, and I don't think it's the best time to get pregnant during such a turbulent time."

Han Lei is, after all, a modern person and a former military doctor, so her thinking and way of handling things are naturally more comprehensive than those of women in ancient times.

In modern society, couples carefully plan when to have children. But if we were living in ancient times, women would all hope to have children as soon as possible after marrying into their husband's family.

Moreover, Zhao Zun is already quite old, and the old lady has long hoped to hold her grandson. If she were to openly say she wanted to use contraception, one wonders what these conservative people of ancient times would think…

Han Lei gently pinched his handsome cheek and looked into his deep and sorrowful eyes. "I just want to wait... until things settle down before we talk about it."

"Really?" Zhao Zun asked uncertainly, "Is it really that simple?"

Han Lei pursed her lips speechlessly: "Really? More real than pearls."

"Hehe!" Zhao Zun chuckled, his eyes sparkling as if igniting countless stars in the night sky.

He lowered his head and kissed her lips, a kiss more tender and lingering than any he had ever given, filled with the preciousness of something lost and then regained. They only parted reluctantly when footsteps sounded outside the door.

Zhao Zun rolled out of bed with swift, effortless movements, as if he had been injected with adrenaline.

He opened the door and let Jinju and Zitan, who were guarding the door, come in to serve him.

In front of the dressing table, Han Lei stared intently at the man combing her hair in the mirror, her face unusually infatuated.

From the time she met Zhao Zun until now, even though they are married, she has never dared to scrutinize his appearance so openly. Only in the mirror does she dare to gaze so boldly.

The man in the mirror had a handsome face and a robust build. His thin lips, slightly pursed, exuded an air of quiet authority. His bronze skin, combined with the faintly visible, bulging muscles beneath his nightgown, gave him a distinctly masculine appearance.

His long, slender fingers ran through her dark hair, his movements incredibly gentle.

"What are you looking at?" Zhao Zun suddenly looked up and met her gaze in the mirror.

Han Lei hurriedly looked away, her pretty face instantly turning red. As she stole a glance, she saw his slightly upturned lips reflected in the mirror.

As Zhao Zun leaned down, his warm breath brushed against her ear: "If you haven't seen enough, little girl, how about we go back to bed and I take my clothes off so you can see them properly?"

"You're so annoying!" Han Lei scolded, her face flushed. It turned out he had seen through her sneaky glances all along.

"Hehehe..."

Han Lei's shyness amused Zhao Zun, who laughed heartily, seemingly unaffected by the imperial court's military campaign against Cangzhou.

Zhao Zun's slender fingers continued to run through her cascading black hair, his movements clumsy yet extremely patient.

Jinju held the dressing case, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating, before Zitan pulled her out with a smile.

"Zhao Zun, when did you learn to comb your hair?" Han Lei looked at him in the mirror.

Zhao Zun picked up the jade comb, his expression as focused as if he were reviewing military reports: "I went to ask Granny Chen for advice yesterday. My father said that arranging one's wife's hair is a joy that never ends."

He suddenly leaned down, his thin lips brushing against her earlobe. "Are you satisfied, little girl?"

Han Lei's ears burned as she caught a glimpse of his clumsy, crookedly tied-up hair in the mirror and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Zhao Zun wasn't annoyed. He took out an eyebrow pencil from his vanity case and began to draw her eyebrows. His slightly furrowed brows and focused expression reminded Han Lei of his demeanor when he was reviewing troops on the drill ground.

But with his slow and deliberate movements, it's hard to imagine how long it would take him to finish getting ready.

Han Lei turned her head and held out her hand, saying, "I'll do it myself!"

"Hey! Don't move. Your husband wants to draw your eyebrows himself." Zhao Zun touched her sleeve and hid slightly behind her, her delicate and affected manner resembling Zhang Sheng from The Romance of the Western Chamber.

Han Lei raised an eyebrow speechlessly. Seeing his keen interest, she had no choice but to sit back down and let him do as he pleased.

Zhao Zun stepped forward and gently pinched her chin, his warm breath brushing against her cheek.

By the third time, the eyebrows were finally thick and dark, though not as skillful as the maid's, they had a unique charm.

To respect his hard work, Han Lei turned around, wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her face in his chest, and spoke with a tone full of happiness.

"Husband, the Zhang Fei eyebrows you drew are so imposing, I love them!" Han Lei shrugged, trying hard to hold back her laughter, but finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Zhao Zun stroked the loose bun at the back of her head and suddenly whispered, "When the world is at peace, shall we have a child?"

The morning breeze stirred the gauze curtains, carrying her reply between her suppressed laughter. Outside the window, the chirping of birds could already be heard.

Inside the main hall, the old lady and Zhao Ling'er were waiting for Zhao Zun and Han Lei to have breakfast. Breakfast had been set on the table, and the old lady sat in the main seat, fiddling with a string of sandalwood prayer beads, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the door.

Zhao Ling'er, standing beside her, was idly tapping the rim of her bowl with her chopsticks, making a crisp sound.

"Ling'er, stop making a fuss." The old lady scolded softly, but couldn't hide the love in her eyes. "Your brother and sister-in-law are newlyweds, let them sleep a little longer. Your brother went to the military council hall on the second day of his wedding, leaving your sister-in-law alone in the room."

Zhao Ling'er pouted and put down her chopsticks: "Mother, I'm so hungry my stomach is practically sticking to my back. Brother is so... so inconsiderate of a woman."

The old lady sighed, her prayer beads twirling between her fingers: "These past two days have finally seen them have some peace and quiet. Ever since Zun'er became the King of Cangzhou, I haven't seen him have a single day of peace."

She looked at her daughter, then suddenly lowered her voice, "Ling'er, do you know what your brother has been busy with? I always feel that he is hiding something from me."

Zhao Ling'er's heart skipped a beat, and she unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

Having spent so much time at the cement factory in Fufeng County, she certainly knew what her brother was plotting—a matter so serious it could lead to the extermination of nine generations of his family.

The imperial army was already on its way to punish the invaders, and troops in Cangzhou were being secretly mobilized. But she couldn't say a word about any of this.

"Mother, you're overthinking it," Zhao Ling'er forced a smile. "Brother has just taken over various affairs, so naturally he's quite busy. Look, that's why I came with my sister-in-law."

Just as the old lady was about to ask another question, footsteps sounded outside the door. Zhao Zun arrived late, holding Han Lei's hand.

Han Lei wore a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) today, and her hair was still adorned with only a white magnolia hairpin, which made her skin look as smooth as jade.

Zhao Zun was dressed in an indigo brocade robe, and the jade belt at his waist gleamed warmly in the morning light.

"Mother, please forgive me! Your son is late and has kept you waiting."

Zhao Zun stepped forward and bowed respectfully. His voice, which had just been filled with affection and love talk with Han Lei inside the house, naturally carried a hint of joy.

The old lady wasn't annoyed at all; instead, she smiled and said, "Please sit down and eat. The chicken soup won't taste good if it gets cold."

She pointed to the white porcelain soup bowls placed in front of them, saying, "This was specially made for you. It has ginseng and goji berries added, making it very nourishing."

Han Lei glanced at the simple porridge, side dishes, and steamed buns in front of the old lady and Zhao Ling'er, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she softly thanked them, "Thank you for your concern, Mother."

Zhao Ling'er pouted deliberately and teased, "Mother is so biased, I want to drink chicken soup too."

The old lady laughed and scolded, "You silly girl, you're always so lively and energetic, why are you drinking tonic soup?"

She then turned to Han Lei, her tone softening immediately, "Lei'er! You're married now, when will your mother be able to hold her grandson?"

Sure enough, although the old lady was a well-educated and reasonable person, she was just like all mothers-in-law, and she started urging people to have children as soon as they got married!

Han Lei paused, nearly spilling the soup.

Seeing this, Zhao Zun gently patted her leg under the table to reassure her. Then, without batting an eye, he continued, "Mother, I've only recently been enfeoffed as a prince, and I'm overwhelmed with affairs, truly having no time..."

"No time for what?" the old lady interrupted him, her brows furrowed. "You go about your business; it won't interfere with Lei'er's pregnancy. With so many servants in the manor, are you worried about not being able to take good care of Lei'er?"

Zhao Zun put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "My son is already exhausted when he gets back to his room every day. He falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. How can he have the energy to think about anything else?"

"Nonsense!" The old lady was displeased, her Buddhist prayer beads dangling from her wrist. "Other princes live a life of luxury, but why are you so busy with state affairs every day? Even your wife suffers because of you!"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

These words struck a nerve with Zhao Zun, who had always felt guilty about making Han Lei suffer as a result.

Although Han Lei is independent and self-reliant, unlike other young ladies from wealthy families who never leave their homes and only know how to embroider and admire the moon.

But Han Lei is also the woman he loves most. He wants to cherish her and give her the happiest and most comfortable life with all his might, so that she will not suffer any grievances.

However, the situation forced him to do it, and he had no other choice.

Han Lei noticed his self-blame and quietly tugged at Zhao Zun's sleeve under the table, signaling him to stop speaking up for her.

She took a deep breath and smiled, "Mother, don't be angry. Zhao Zun is just working hard for the people of Cangzhou. Don't worry, we will definitely do our best... and we will definitely let you hold your grandson as soon as possible."

"That's more like it! Lei'er is so sensible." The old lady smiled with satisfaction and personally served Han Lei a bowl of chicken soup. "Don't overwork yourselves, drink more and take care of yourselves."

Zhao Zun and Han Lei exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and quickly finished their breakfast before getting up to leave.

Watching the two figures depart, the old lady suddenly sighed to Zhao Ling'er, "Your brother has been in a hurry lately, and I have a feeling that something is going to happen."

Zhao Ling'er's heart tightened, but she forced a smile and said, "Mother is overthinking it. Brother is just busy with military affairs."

Outside the door, Zhao Zun pulled Han Lei quickly through the corridor. After confirming that no one was around, he pulled her into his arms and said softly, "Girl, I'm sorry to have troubled you. I don't want Mother to know what we're doing yet."

Han Lei chuckled, her smile still sweet: "That's what I was thinking too, so as not to worry Mother."

“Girl, thank you. With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?” Zhao Zun released her, then held her shoulders, his resolute gaze filled with tenderness. “Our fate hinges on this. If we succeed, Mother will naturally understand my good intentions; if we fail…”

Han Lei's fair and smooth little hand suddenly covered his lips, and she gently shook her head.

"The arrow is on the bowstring. We've done so much, and now even Tianyou and Pangtou have abandoned their families to support you. You can't give up easily."

Zhao Zun took a deep breath and said nothing more, but simply held his wife's hand tightly.

Inside the main hall, the old lady suddenly shivered, the string of her Buddhist prayer beads broke, and the sandalwood beads rolled to the ground.

Zhao Ling'er's eyes flickered slightly, and she quickly stepped forward to help the old lady pick up the Buddhist beads that had rolled around.

After Hua Tianyou and Da Pangtou expressed their stance, they each returned to their posts in Fufeng County.

To avoid worrying the old lady, Zhao Zun assigned Zhao Ling'er the task of staying with her in the palace. He advised them not to leave the palace unless absolutely necessary, lest he overhear gossip.

"Mother, what's wrong with you?"

Zhao Ling'er placed the Buddhist beads she had picked up in the empty space on the table, then walked behind the old lady and began to massage her shoulders.

The old lady placed her aged hand on Zhao Ling'er's hand, her words filled with worry.

"Ling'er, you used to always be running around. But these past two days, you've been staying by your mother's side every day. Tell me honestly, are you two hiding something from your mother?"

"No way!" Zhao Ling'er smiled and squatted down to lie on the old woman's lap. "Brother and sister-in-law are the ones who are always running around, while Ling'er should stay by Mother's side. Besides, Ling'er has gotten tanned from being out here these days."

"You!" The old lady gently poked her forehead with her finger. "A girl like you should be staying at home."

The old lady smiled, her words full of affection, but deep in her eyes lay an unyielding worry...

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