Love Lock

Chapter 273 A Joke

The sudden burst of teasing laughter startled Han Lei, causing her ears to turn red.

Zhao Zun pursed his lips and awkwardly withdrew his hand. Turning his head, he saw Liu Yan, the King of Jingzhou, standing under the corridor. His indigo brocade robe made him look spirited, and there was a mischievous smile in his eyes.

After Zhao Zun spoke a few words to Xiao Zhengfei beside him, Xiao Zhengfei bowed to the King of Jingzhou and then turned to carry out Zhao Zun's orders.

"Brother Liu, you flatter me." Zhao Zun coughed lightly, the touch of Han Lei's hair still lingering on his fingertips. "Having breakfast so early?"

Liu Yan strode over, his boots crunching on the snow.

"Not yet. I was thinking of setting off back to Jingzhou today, so I came to say goodbye to the old lady."

Han Lei pulled her cloak tighter and curtsied, saying, "Then we can have a meal together. The old lady has been saying these past few days that Brother Liu's chess skills are superb, but no one is playing chess with her."

The three of them walked through the winding corridors, talking as a gentle breeze rustled the newly blossoming plum blossoms in the courtyard, carrying their subtle fragrance.

Inside the dining hall, the old lady was already seated at the carved mahogany table. Seeing them enter, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out, and she quickly rose to greet them. "Your Highness has come at the perfect time. Please try these newly made steamed buns."

During the meal, because the old lady was present, Zhao Zun deliberately avoided talking about serious matters and only chatted with Liu Yan about other things.

Han Lei frequently served food to the elderly lady, suggesting a harmonious relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

After the meal, the maid cleared away the bowls and chopsticks. Zhao Zun bid farewell to the old lady, saying, "Mother, please enjoy your meal. I will accompany the Prince for a walk in the garden to help him digest his food."

"Go on, go on," the old lady waved her hand with a smile. "I need to chant sutras and pray now. You young people, go about your business!"

The three of them arrived at the plum grove in the front yard, where a few flower buds were already on the branches.

Han Lei's breath wafted in the sunlight, and Zhao Zun naturally adjusted the collar of her cloak for her.

“Actually…” Liu Yan suddenly stopped, his boots grinding over a pebble, “I’ve come here not only to say goodbye, but also to ask you for a favor.”

Zhao Zun raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Brother Liu, please speak freely."

Liu Yan took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with excitement: "I've really seen a lot during my time in Cangzhou. Especially these cement roads, they're not muddy in the rain and they don't get dusty in the sun."

He rubbed his boots against the smooth ground beneath his feet. "I want to bring cement to Jingzhou, so that the roads and houses there will be as sturdy and orderly as those in Cangzhou. I wonder if Brother Zhao..."

Zhao Zun and Han Lei exchanged a glance, and a slight smile appeared on their lips.

It seems that the model roads and model houses in Cangzhou have had a good effect, attracting another big business since Song Yuanqing.

This was mainly because Emperor Qianlong was suspicious, and Zhao Zun, the Prince of Cangzhou, was a key target of the court's vigilance. Therefore, they could only develop their power secretly behind closed doors, daring not to publicize it openly.

Now, the imperial army is terrified, and the new emperor has no time to care about the King of Jingzhou. If the King of Jingzhou brings the development model of Cangzhou back to Jingzhou, he can roll up his sleeves and get to work, and promote it however he wants.

At that time, the sale of cement from Cangzhou will generate cash flow, and the technicians and craftsmen in Cangzhou will have a steady stream of work, allowing Jingzhou to officially enter the industrial era.

Thinking of this, Zhao Zun said to the King of Jingzhou, "This matter is easy. Brother Liu, place an order to purchase materials, and I will send your most elite construction team back to Jingzhou with you. They can assist you in forming a new construction team and pass on their skills."

He broke off a plum branch and drew a diagram on the cement ground. “With the old people guiding the new, your team will be able to operate independently in a month or two. At that time, more construction teams will be created. In less than half a year, Jingzhou will be completely transformed.”

Liu Yan's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands excitedly: "Excellent! Brother Zhao is so generous!" He hesitated for a moment, then rubbed his hands together, shamelessly continuing to ask, "Then... could you also... corrugated steel sheets..."

"Pfft! Brother Liu, are you planning to empty out my Cangzhou?" Han Lei chuckled, her eyes sparkling.

Liu Yan was determined: "And those three-wheeled vehicles are really convenient for transporting goods. Oh, and I also want the chickens, ducks, and pigs you raise..."

"Hahaha..." Zhao Zun laughed, patting Liu Yan on the shoulder: "The development model of Cangzhou will eventually become the development model of Dajing. Cangzhou is just a pilot project. Now that it has achieved initial results, it should be promoted. Since Brother Liu is so willing, it is no problem to give you these things."

Zhao Zun suppressed his smile and said seriously, "However... even brothers should keep clear accounts. All materials must be purchased with real money by Brother Liu."

“Of course!” Liu Yan nodded repeatedly, his brocade robe sleeves fluttering with the movement. “You set the price, I will not haggle.”

Zhao Zun glanced back at Han Lei, who understood and immediately took out a calculator from her spatial storage, her slender, fair fingers flying across the keys.

"Cement is five coins per pound, corrugated steel sheets are priced according to size, and a three-wheeled vehicle costs fifty taels..."

Han Lei suddenly stopped, looked up and smiled, "These can all be given to Brother Liu as an exclusive agent. As long as a contract is signed, Brother Liu will have exclusive rights to operate all these goods in Jingzhou."

"really?"

The King of Jingzhou was incredulous.

He thought that Zhao Zun was already being generous by selling him such unusual items as corrugated steel sheets and three-wheeled motorcycles, but he never expected that he would also agree to give him the agency rights. This was completely beyond his expectations.

Having previously acted as an agent for Zuixian wine and side dishes, he knew all too well the benefits an agency could bring him.

"Of course!" Han Lei smiled sweetly. "This isn't the first time we've worked together. These prices are my wholesale prices for you. How you price them after you take them back is your business. I can also send someone over to help you set up a three-wheeled vehicle driving school, so you can collect money from both ends."

Upon hearing this, the King of Jingzhou's mouth gaped open in a circle.

Han Lei's image gradually magnified in his eyes, and he seemed to see Han Lei bringing him countless mountains of gold and silver, each one glittering with gold.

The sunlight gradually intensified, shining on the three of them.

Liu Yan was flattered and respectfully bowed, saying, "In that case, I will postpone my departure for two days. After the contract is finalized and the first batch of materials is loaded onto the truck, I will then set off for Jingzhou."

“Perfect.” Zhao Zun stamped his foot on the cement ground. “The cement that was delivered to Qingshui County these past two days, let’s send it to Brother Liu in Jingzhou first.”

A sparrow landed on a branch, shaking off a few snowflakes.

Seeing the sparrows perched on the branches, Han Lei suddenly remembered something: "By the way, Brother Liu, Jingzhou is rich in bamboo and wood. If we use cement as the base and bamboo fibers as the frame, we might be able to build a lighter and more elegant pavilion. I'll have the craftsmen discuss this with you in detail another day."

Liu Yan's eyes gleamed, as if he could already see the new look of Jingzhou City.

The three strolled slowly along the plum grove path, their footsteps startling a flock of sparrows that were foraging for food, which fluttered and flew into the azure sky...

When the King of Jingzhou left the palace, Xiao Zhengfei had already transmitted Zhao Zun's orders to the Jingzhou communications station via walkie-talkie.

Then, the communication station used carrier pigeons to send the message to "Youjia Inn" in the capital.

Capital City, Imperial Palace.

When Emperor Jing awoke again, it was already evening of the following day.

Inside the sleeping quarters, the ambergris in the gilded incense burner had long since burned out, leaving only a wisp of faint grayish-white smoke that drifted gently in the twilight.

Emperor Jing, his eyelids heavy, felt as if the whole sky was spinning.

He slowly turned his head to focus and saw the imperial physicians kneeling on the ground outside the brocade curtain. The head physician, Cui, was holding a box of silver needles, his forehead pressed against the brocade carpet, trembling.

"Your Majesty!" Seeing Emperor Jing regain consciousness, Imperial Physician Cui hurriedly crawled forward on his knees. "Your pulse is weak and your liver fire is stagnant. You must not get angry again..." Emperor Jing seemed not to hear him, his hand, adorned with a jade thumb ring, gripping the brocade quilt tightly. The gold-embroidered dragon pattern on the quilt twisted and deformed between his fingers, just like the turbulent thoughts churning within him.

Last night, Lu Heming's altered pronunciation of "Aim Sixteen" still lingered in his ears.

Memories came flooding back.

Yesterday, just after the third watch of the night, Lu Heming was summoned to the palace.

The brute entered the hall reeking of alcohol, and swayed as he knelt, nearly falling over.

As I picked up the Xuan paper from the desk and unfolded it before him, my hands trembling—

“This…this is…” Lu Heming’s eyes, which were like copper bells, suddenly widened, and his rough fingers trembled as they hovered above the paper.

He covered his head and shrank back, his eyes looking as if he had seen a ghost.

"Love, love, Aimu Sixteen!" The roar seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of his throat, carrying a kind of beastly fear.

In his fright, Lu Heming accidentally knocked over a gilded candlestick, unaware that scalding wax had splashed onto his face.

Emperor Jing still remembers the rustling sound of the paper in his hands and Lu Heming's look of utter disbelief.

The dignified military general of the Great Jing Dynasty was so terrified by that Aimu Sixteen that he lost his soul. Even now, Emperor Jing still feels humiliated when he thinks about it.

After Lu Heming calmed down a bit, Emperor Jing unfolded the slightly wrinkled sheet of Xuan paper and asked Lu Heming a question.

"Minister Lu, you say this is Aimu Sixteen? Are you sure you're not mistaken?" Emperor Jing's voice was deep and dangerous, like a sword yet to be drawn.

Lu Heming knelt before the imperial desk, large drops of sweat dripping from his forehead onto the gold-brick floor, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably, reeking of alcohol.

The scent of ambergris in the imperial study was suppressed by an invisible tension, and even the candlelight seemed to flicker fearfully.

"Your Majesty... this humble general would never dare to speak recklessly." Lu Heming's drawing on the Xuan paper was not very realistic, and his eyes were still filled with fear. "That day at Tuomugou, this humble general witnessed it with his own eyes..."

Emperor Jing's gaze grew even more sinister. He slammed the Xuan paper onto the table with a sharp "smack." The meticulously drawn M16 diagram on the paper appeared particularly glaring in the candlelight.

"Tell me what happened that day again," Emperor Jing said, almost gritting his teeth as he uttered the words.

Lu Heming, panting, steadied himself: "Flames flickered on the city walls, but there was no sound of arrows piercing the air. Our soldiers... fell in droves, without even a chance to scream..."

"Continue!" Emperor Jing suddenly stood up, the wind from the sleeves of his dragon robe causing the candlelight on his desk to flicker violently.

"This humble general encountered Prince Zhao again..." Lu Heming swallowed hard. "I saw with my own eyes that Prince Zhao was holding this...this murder weapon. The tip was indeed as depicted in the painting, it...it could spit out flames..."

Emperor Jing's expression grew increasingly grim. He grabbed the Xuan paper, strode over to Lu Heming, and practically shoved the drawing against his face: "Look closely! Is this it?"

Lu Heming looked up, his head trembling, his slightly tipsy eyes focusing on the blueprint. "It...it's it!"

Emperor Jing's chest heaved violently, and with a "whoosh," the Xuan paper in his hand was crumpled into a tangled mess.

"Your Majesty, these are merely sewing tools I brought back from afar." Emperor Jing, recalling Wei Chengchao's fawning face before him, gestured casually with his finger, "Look at the small hole at the front; it's for threading the needle..."

"Wei, Cheng, Chao!"

Emperor Jing spoke slowly and deliberately, his furious voice causing the eunuchs waiting outside the palace to kneel down in fright.

The air in the imperial study seemed to freeze.

Both the chief eunuch Li Zhongxin and Lu Heming watched in horror as the emperor's face turned from red to white, and then from white to green.

"Very good...very good!" Emperor Jing's eyes were bloodshot, and he grabbed the inkstone from his desk and smashed it hard against the dragon pillar in front of him.

"Snapped!"

"My cousin... dares to make a fool of me!" Before Emperor Jing could finish speaking, the priceless inkstone, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, slammed into the dragon-carved golden pillar.

As the ink splattered, the finest pine soot ink left grotesque marks on the vermilion pillar, resembling a shocking bloodstain.

He whirled around and swept all the memorials on his desk to the floor. The sound of shattering porcelain echoed in the hall, much like the collapse of Emperor Jing's trust at that moment.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Take care of your health!" Li Zhongxin kowtowed repeatedly.

Emperor Jing ignored him and went on a rampage in his study.

The image of Zhao Zun's always upright face flashed before his eyes. And there was his cousin, the one he'd grown up with, the person he'd once trusted most…

“Divine weapons…heh…sewing tools…” Emperor Jing suddenly let out a chilling laugh. “I, the emperor…am I just a joke in their eyes, right? Hahaha…”

Emperor Jing laughed loudly, and the maniacal laughter sounded particularly eerie in the silent imperial study.

He wasn't laughing at how powerful the weapon was, but rather at the betrayal of his own relatives. He was laughing at how the Wei family, on the surface, supported his ascension to the throne, but behind his back, they were engaging in all sorts of underhanded tactics.

He was nothing more than a clown indulging in self-satisfaction.

Although he was already somewhat prepared when he sent someone to summon Lu Heming to the palace to identify the blueprints.

But when he finally confirmed that the object in the picture was indeed the divine weapon that could take lives from a distance, he still couldn't accept the fact.

Emperor Jing was laughing when suddenly his face froze, his right hand gripped the dragon robe at his chest, he swayed and fell forward.

"Your Majesty!" Lu Heming rushed forward in alarm, but only managed to catch Emperor Jing's stiff body as he fell to the ground.

"Your Majesty! Someone! Quickly summon the imperial physician!" Li Zhongxin's cries were heart-wrenching.

The palace doors were flung open, and a group of eunuchs scrambled in. Upon seeing the unconscious emperor, they turned ashen-faced with fright: "Heavens! Quick! Go and fetch the imperial physician!"

Chaos erupted immediately inside the imperial study.

No one noticed that the sheet of rice paper with the M16 design was silently falling to the ground, where it was trampled by hurried footsteps, leaving a clear shoe print...

Emperor Jing gradually regained consciousness and looked up at Li Zhongxin, who was standing beside the dragon bed.

"Announce the time!" Emperor Jing said weakly.

Li Zhongxin stepped forward, his tone extremely cautious. "Your Majesty, it is three-quarters past dusk."

Emperor Jing's lips moved slightly: "Send...send an imperial edict..."

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