Love Lock

Chapter 27 Venting Emotions
"Yuanyuan, you mustn't be rude," Madam Luo quickly reprimanded, then apologized to Han Lei. "My daughter was unruly, please don't take offense."

"It's alright." Han Lei smiled sweetly and extended her hand to Luo Yuanyuan. "Hello, my name is Han Lei, nice to meet you."

Luo Yuanyuan didn't answer, but looked curiously at Han Lei's outstretched hand, wondering what she was going to do.

Seeing that Luo Yuanyuan didn't understand, Han Lei quickly took her hand and held it together with her own, shaking it up and down.

"This is called a handshake, which means that we are friendly."

Han Lei smiled sweetly, and Luo Yuanyuan instantly fell in love with this sweet-looking and gentle woman.

"Oh, so that's how you show friendliness! How interesting! Hehehe! Sister Han, your hair is so beautiful. Don't you need to style it into a bun?" Luo Yuanyuan stared at Han Lei's hairstyle, looking on with envy.

When Han Lei was in the army, she had a bob haircut that reached her ears. Now it has grown to her collarbone. She doesn't know how to style her hair in the traditional Chinese women's hairstyle, so she just lets it fall loosely over her shoulders.

A woman dresses up for the one she loves. Luo Yuanyuan didn't find her unusual at all; on the contrary, she thought her hairstyle was beautiful. This made Han Lei very happy and gave her even more favor towards Luo Yuanyuan.

Seeing that the two girls were very friendly, Zhao Zun and Luo Hai smiled at them.

"Yuanyuan, Sister Han is the princess that Brother Zun has chosen. From now on, you should call her sister-in-law."

Luo Hai emphasized Han Lei's identity, as Zhao Zun had already sent him a message by carrier pigeon, telling him about the situation at the border and specifically mentioning Han Lei.

The designated princess?
Han Lei blushed deeply, suddenly feeling as if Zhao Zun had brought her to meet his parents.

She glared at Zhao Zun reproachfully, and Zhao Zun quickly touched his nose and looked up at the sky, which made Luo Hai and his wife laugh.

After exchanging pleasantries at the entrance, everyone entered the magistrate's residence. Actually, the magistrate's residence was located behind the yamen (government office); the front was the office space, and the back was used for living quarters.

Perhaps Zhao Zun had already informed them of their impending arrival. Therefore, a meal had been prepared at the manor, and everyone simply washed their faces before sitting down to eat. Zhao Zun and Luo Hai's family sat at one table, while Pingchuan led two squads of wounded soldiers in a side hall.

Han Lei was rather reserved since she was new to the place, but Madam Luo was very hospitable and kept urging Han Lei to eat at the dinner table. Zhao Zun and Luo Yuanyuan also frequently served Han Lei food.

After the meal, the women left the table. Madam Luo and Luo Yuanyuan accompanied Han Lei on a stroll around the magistrate's mansion to digest their food and take a look around, leaving only Luo Hai and Zhao Zun to drink and chat.

This was Han Lei's first time visiting an ancient official's residence, and she was quite interested. She didn't return to her room to rest until very late, as arranged by Madam Luo.

In the middle of the night, Han Lei, who had been traveling all day, was sound asleep in bed when she was awakened by a knock on the door.

She raised her wrist to look at her spatial watch; it was already past 3 a.m.

"Who is it?"

A knock at the door in the middle of the night probably means something's wrong. Although Han Lei was very sleepy, she still mumbled as she got up, put on her cloak, and opened the door.

Standing outside the door was Pingchuan, his face anxious. As soon as the door opened, he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Han Lei.

"Miss Han, you should go and see him quickly. The prince is very drunk and keeps vomiting; he's in a terrible state."

"Is Your Highness drunk?"

Han Lei was surprised. In her memory, Zhao Zun was a rather self-disciplined person. Apart from the night before they returned to Beijing, when he drank all night with Ma Cheng and the others, she had never seen Zhao Zun drink before, but he didn't get drunk that night either!

“The prince rarely drinks, and his alcohol tolerance isn’t very high. Today, he was drinking with the county magistrate, and somehow he drank too much. Miss Han, you should come with me to see him quickly.” Seeing that Han Lei was standing still, Pingchuan urged her anxiously again. “Miss Han, you should come with me to see him quickly.”

"Okay, wait for me."

Han Lei closed the door, quickly changed into thick sportswear, grabbed a first-aid kit, and followed Pingchuan out the door.

Han Lei and Ping Chuan hurried to Zhao Zun's room, just as they reached the door, a loud "crack!" rang out, followed by Zhao Zun's aggrieved, muffled murmur.

"You...you're all ungrateful bastards! What right do you have...I endured hardships...on the frontier, braving wind and rain, charging into battle...ha...you...you slander me, ugh, ugh!"

Han Lei stopped in her tracks and raised her hand to stop Pingchuan from going in.

She understood. Zhao Zun had seemed calm these past few days, but he hadn't gotten over the hurdle in his heart. After leaving the military camp and arriving at Magistrate Luo's house, Zhao Zun, who regarded Magistrate Luo's family as relatives, and fueled by alcohol, finally let out all the anger and grievances he had suppressed for days.

"He's fine, let's stay here and not go in. Let him vent!"

Han Lei's eyes reddened, and she felt inexplicably sorry for Zhao Zun. How could Emperor Jing treat a hero guarding the frontier like this? Who wouldn't feel heartbroken, and who could bear it?
“Yes!” Hirakawa nodded vigorously.

Inside, Zhao Zun was still vomiting intermittently, and after vomiting, he would continue cursing. Han Lei and Ping Chuan, wrapped tightly in their clothes, stood guard in the corridor.

Han Lei knew that if Zhao Zun didn't vent his anger and release his pent-up resentment, he might never get over this hurdle. At this moment, Zhao Zun didn't need any comforting or reassurance; all they could do was quietly stay by his side.

Only when the cursing and vomiting sounds ceased did Han Lei push open the door and quietly walk in with Pingchuan.

A strong stench of alcohol hit her, making Han Lei frown. She raised her hand to fan her nose, while Pingchuan quickly went to the window and opened it.

The room was a mess of vomit. Zhao Zun was half-fallen off the bed, and the blanket had been kicked aside. Han Lei walked around the broken pieces of porcelain on the floor, carefully went to the bedside, helped Zhao Zun back onto the bed, and covered him with the blanket.

Zhao Zun was 1.8 meters tall and quite heavy, making it difficult for Han Lei, with her petite frame, to lift him. Pingchuan went out to fetch tools, preparing to clean up the filth on the ground, but Han Lei turned back and waved to him.

"Guard Ping, it's almost dawn. You should go back and rest. I'll take care of things here."

“This…” Hirakawa hesitated.

Serving his master was his duty. Besides, if he left, the sight of a lone man and woman together would likely damage Miss Han's reputation.

"It's alright, go back and rest! Don't forget I'm a doctor, I'll take better care of you than you do."

Han Lei knew what Pingchuan was worried about. So what if they were alone together? Zhao Zun was so drunk, what could he do? Besides, he was a doctor, and Zhao Zun needed care right now. Even if word got out, what difference would it make?

"Well... alright! Then I'll trouble you, Miss Han. I live next door, so just call me if you need anything."

"Ok!"

Han Lei nodded and took out two vials of glucose from her spatial storage. She gently pried open Zhao Zun's mouth and fed them to him.

After Pingchuan left, she took out the large item from her spatial storage.

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(End of this chapter)