Love Lock

Chapter 123 The idiot left.

Zhao Zun felt as if a huge boulder was pressing on his heart, so heavy that he could hardly breathe.

On the cart, the bodies of fifteen guards were neatly arranged. Every face was once familiar to him, but now only cold, pale remains.

Their eyes were closed on their pale faces, as if they were just asleep, but Zhao Zun knew they would never wake up again.

Whose sons are they?
Whose husband is he?
And whose father is he?

One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand. Fifteen families were torn apart because of him, and all those people saw was that Zhao Zun had once again performed a great service.

And who could have known that he would rather not have such credit?

Zhao Zun slowly stood up, walked to each corpse, bent down, wrung out a towel, and gently wiped their faces.

He moved slowly, as if afraid of hurting them. His fingers trembled slightly, and a sharp pain welled up in his heart when his fingertips touched their cold cheeks.

These guards, who once fought alongside him and shielded him from countless swords, have now lost their lives because of his suspicion and suppression.

He owes them.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry."

Zhao Zun murmured softly, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible.

His eyes burned, and tears welled up, but he forced them back.

He knew he couldn't fall here, nor could he show weakness. He was their pillar of strength, the one they protected with their lives; he had to be strong.

Han Lei stood not far away, holding a boxed lunch and a bowl of steaming soup in her hands, looking at Zhao Zun with a complicated expression.

Her face was still covered with face paint, obscuring her originally delicate and sweet features, but her eyes remained as bright as stars.

As she watched Zhao Zun's retreating figure, a wave of sorrow and heartache washed over her.

She understood how heavy Zhao Zun's mood was at that moment, but she also knew that Zhao Zun was on the verge of exploding.

She walked to Zhao Zun's side and gently handed him the soup, her soft and gentle voice extremely tender.

"Eat something first; you haven't eaten all day."

Zhao Zun didn't answer, but just shook his head blankly, his gaze still fixed on Ma Cheng's corpse.

His voice was low and hoarse: "I'm not hungry."

Han Lei frowned, her tone slightly probing.

"What are you thinking?"

Zhao Zun finally raised his head and looked at Han Lei.

His eyes were empty and weary, as if he had lost all vitality.

Then, he gave a self-deprecating twitch at the corner of his mouth.

"My heart is dead, you know what I'm thinking."

My heart is dead?

Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Han Lei's eyes. She squatted down to be at Zhao Zun's eye level, her voice soft yet powerful.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go take him down now!"

Zhao Zun was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting Han Lei to say that so directly.

His gaze lingered on Han Lei's face for a long time, as if he were pondering and weighing something.

Han Lei gazed at him, her eyes bright as stars, as if she could see through his deepest thoughts.

Finally, Zhao Zun slowly nodded, his voice low and resolute.

"Okay, let's go back and take him down."

Han Lei's lips curled up slightly, revealing a satisfied smile.

She knew that the deaths of Ma Cheng and his guards were the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Because of them, Zhao Zun finally snapped.

This also shows that Zhao Zun has come to understand what she said: loyalty also depends on whether the other party is worth it.

And they both knew who that "he" referred to—those who manipulated power in the court, suspected the loyal and virtuous, and were the ones who discarded their good bows after the birds were all gone, causing them to lose countless brothers.

Now that Han Lei had said those words, Zhao Zun stood up, his gaze sweeping over the guards lying on the ground, and the anger and hatred in his heart grew even stronger.

He could no longer hesitate, no longer back down. He had to avenge these guards and Ma Cheng himself.

"I'm hungry."

Zhao Zun's voice was deep and powerful, as if he had regained his usual calmness and decisiveness.

"Ok!"

Han Lei smiled and nodded, then handed the boxed lunch in her hand to him again.

After he took the lunchbox, Han Lei gently smoothed his furrowed brows, her eyes filled with heartache.

“Brother Zun, eat first if you’re hungry. After you take a nap, it will be a brand new day when you wake up. No matter what you want to do, I will always be with you.”

"Ok!"

Zhao Zun nodded, rubbed his cheek against Han Lei's soft little hand, and then buried his head in his food, eating heartily.

Han Lei's understanding nature and her soft, gentle voice always soothed his heart.

He has many shortcomings, and perhaps Han Lei's appearance is his salvation!
Everyone changed out of their military uniforms and slept soundly until evening.

At the end of the third month of the lunar calendar, it is already April in the solar calendar, and the weather has gradually changed from warm to hot.

Because they were carrying the bodies of Ma Cheng and his guards, Zhao Zun didn't dare to linger for too long. After eating something quickly, they continued on their way.

Zhao Zun planned to take them all back to Fufeng County and find a place to bury them.

In her letter to him, Han Lei mentioned the development blueprint for Cangzhou.

Now, he is the king of Cangzhou. He wants his fallen brothers to watch the development of Cangzhou from Fufeng County and witness the people of Cangzhou living a good life.

Two days later, in the early morning, Zhao Zun and his group finally returned to Fufeng County.

Instead of rushing home, they chose a scenic spot near the cement factory to bury their fallen comrades first.

This is halfway up the mountain, and you can see the entire Fufeng County from here.

Sixteen small graves were neatly arranged, and since there were no tombstones, they were temporarily covered with strips of cloth tied with tree branches.

On the cloth strip, Zhao Zun personally wrote each person's name.

The sky was overcast, dark clouds were gathering, and the air was heavy, threatening rain. Standing halfway up the mountain, a mountain breeze swept by, carrying a hint of coolness, as if whispering the sorrow of the departed.

Gazing at the newly erected, simple tombstones before him, Zhao Zun felt a heavy weight in his heart. He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping firmly over each name.

"Brothers, go in peace. I, Zhao Zun, swear here that one day, I will ensure that this land is free from war and that the people of Cangzhou will live a peaceful life."

Dark clouds hung low, as if a somber gloom had enveloped the world.

Zhao Zun took Alpi's head from Xiao Zhengfei and walked to Ma Cheng's grave. His eyes were cold and icy, yet a hint of sorrow and determination flickered between his brows.

Zhao Zun slowly knelt down, gently placed Alpi's head in front of the grave, and whispered, "Brother Ma Cheng, you have avenged yourself. Alpi's head is here; may you rest in peace in the afterlife."

His voice was low and hoarse, as if he was trying to suppress endless grief and anger.

The wind swirled up the withered leaves on the ground, making a rustling sound, as if Ma Cheng's spirit was responding to his call.

He stood up, took a jug of strong liquor from Han Lei, and slowly poured it in front of the grave.

The aroma of strong liquor mingled with the earthy scent of the surrounding soil, creating a unique and peculiar atmosphere.

Zhao Zun tilted his head back and drank the rest of the wine in the pot, then smashed the pot heavily on the ground, shards flying everywhere.

Pingchuan rushed over from the cement plant at the foot of the mountain, followed by Yang Qiquan, the foreman of the bricklayers.

Yang Qiquan was already over fifty years old with dark skin. Perhaps it was because the money arrived on time and he was in a good mood, but the three months of high-intensity work did not make him look old; on the contrary, he looked more energetic.

He walked up to Zhao Zun and respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your Highness, you were looking for me?" Zhao Zun nodded and pointed to the dozen or so newly erected graves in front of him.

“Master Yang, these brothers died in battle to defeat the Turks. I want to build a mausoleum for them here so that they can rest in peace and watch Cangzhou prosper step by step.”

Yang Qiquan had been busy at the cement factory these days, unaware that the Turks had launched a large-scale invasion and that Zhao Zun and the others had already returned from the battlefield.

Hearing Zhao Zun say this, he looked in the direction Zhao Zun gestured, a hint of respect flashing in his eyes.

"Your Highness, rest assured, leave this to me. I will make sure the mausoleum is solemn and dignified, so that my brothers can have a respectable resting place."

Han Lei stepped forward, took out several photos of modern martyrs' cemeteries from her sleeve, and handed them to Yang Qiquan.

"Master Yang, this is a cemetery I've seen. Do you think it's possible to build something like this?"

Yang Qiquan had seen the photo before when he was building a pig farm in Qingshui County, so he didn't find it particularly interesting now.

He took the photo, examined it carefully for a while, and nodded.

"Miss Han, this drawing is very detailed. I understand. We can do this job."

“Alright!” Zhao Zun nodded. “Recruit some more craftsmen. You take them to fence off this land first, and then build it according to the pattern on the map.”

"Alright, I'll make the arrangements today."

Zhao Zun patted Yang Qiquan on the shoulder again, his tone solemn: "Master Yang, our brothers are all heroes, this cemetery must be built with utmost care."

Yang Qiquan nodded solemnly: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will do my best and never let my brothers down."

Han Lei glanced at the sky and softly reminded him, "It looks like it's going to rain soon. Let's go back. Leave the cemetery matters to Master Yang; you don't need to worry about it too much."

Zhao Zun nodded, took one last look at the neat mound of graves, and then turned and waved to the crowd.

"Come on, go home."

The group slowly descended the mountain along the path.

The clouds hung low, thick dark clouds gathered from all directions, and the wind began to whirl through the mountains, carrying a damp scent, swirling up the withered leaves and dust on the ground, making a rustling sound.

The trees swayed in the wind, their branches and leaves moving restlessly, as if whispering about the approaching storm, or as if the spirits of Ma Cheng and his guards were bidding farewell to Zhao Zun and the others...

...I am a lazy dividing line...

At this time, in the Imperial Palace of the capital.

In the Imperial Garden, the cherry blossoms at the end of March are like clouds and rosy clouds, with pink and white petals swaying gently in the breeze, like light wings dancing in the wind.

The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, a truly delightful experience. The entire Imperial Garden seemed to be shrouded in a light pink veil, creating an exceptionally dreamlike atmosphere.

Today, Emperor Jing specially summoned his concubines to come and admire the flowers. After court, Emperor Jing went straight to the Imperial Garden.

Several concubines were already waiting in the garden. Dressed in gorgeous palace attire, they sat in the pavilion, enjoying tea and admiring the flowers, laughing and chatting. Their elegant and charming appearance seemed to blend perfectly with the beautiful scenery of the garden.

On the stone table in the middle of the pavilion, there was an exquisite birdcage containing the myna bird that Zhao Zun had given him.

Since entering the palace, this myna bird has become the "joyful companion" of the concubines.

It can not only mimic human speech, but also often utters unexpected remarks, eliciting constant laughter from the concubines who have long lived deep within the palace.

When Emperor Jing entered the pavilion, the myna bird was hopping happily in its cage, seemingly excited by the beautiful scenery of the cherry blossoms in full bloom around it.

Emperor Jing strode over to the stone table and sat down, taking the opportunity to tease the child with great interest.

He gently tapped the birdcage and asked with a smile, "What are you doing today, you little rascal?"

The myna tilted its head, blinked its beady black eyes, and answered in its hoarse voice:

"I'm waiting for an idiot."

Emperor Jing was taken aback, his brows furrowing slightly, clearly not understanding the meaning of this modern term.

Several concubines looked at him strangely. Some quickly turned their faces away, pretending to admire the flowers, while others pursed their lips, seemingly trying their best to suppress a laugh.

Emperor Jing, oblivious to their expressions, asked curiously, "What is an idiot?"

The myna bird answered quickly: "You're the idiot!"

Upon hearing this, the concubines immediately bit their lips and closed their eyes, feeling even more stifled.

They had been "scolded" by this myna bird countless times over the past three months, but unexpectedly, it was His Majesty's turn today.

"Oh? I'm an idiot?"

Emperor Jing remained bewildered, still believing that the myna bird had given him this name.

"This name is quite unique, but the word 'stupid' is inelegant. Could you change it to another word?"

The myna bird immediately replied, "Of course, then call it 'idiot'."

"puff--"

A concubine had just picked up her teacup to drink when she heard the word "idiot," and she couldn't help but spit out her tea.

"Ah! I am guilty."

Disrespecting the emperor was a crime, and the concubine was so frightened that she quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, left her seat, and knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

She kept saying she was guilty, her face flushed red, but her shoulders were still shaking uncontrollably.

The other concubines quickly lowered their heads, biting their lips tightly, afraid that even a single laugh would escape their lips.

They weren't in the imperial court; it was just a few of them enjoying the flowers and having fun. Emperor Jing had no intention of blaming the concubine.

He turned and glared at the concubine, his face flushing red and then turning pale. He finally understood what was going on.

This isn't a name, it's clearly an insult!

He, the ruler of a nation, was humiliated in public by a bird, and felt both embarrassed and angry.

However, faced with this sharp-tongued myna bird, he was momentarily at a loss for how to react.

Actually, he wanted to strangle the foul-mouthed myna bird, but as the ruler of a country, he couldn't very well be accused of arguing with a bird.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps broke the awkward atmosphere in the garden.

The chief eunuch, Li Zhongxin, was seen hurrying towards them with a whisk in his hand and his head down, followed by two messengers with small black flags on their backs.

Black Flag?

Emperor Jing's heart sank, and the awkwardness on his face was quickly replaced by solemnity.

In Dajing, a yellow flag signifies good fortune, a blue flag signifies ordinary political news, while a black flag signifies an urgent distress call—specifically, a military report.

Two messengers, travel-worn and carrying urgent documents in their hands, approached Emperor Jing and knelt before him, presenting their urgent reports.

"Your Majesty, this has been delivered to Yong'an City via express courier service, which travels 800

"Your Majesty, this has been delivered to Ling'an City via express courier."

Emperor Jing stood up, took the document, and quickly opened it to examine it.

As his gaze swept across the document, his brow furrowed into a deep frown.

It turned out that Zhao Zun and his men had already returned from their raid on the Turkic army because of the long journey. The emperor had just received the report from Cao Xiong and Li Gang.

Upon seeing this, the concubines all suppressed their smiles and dared not utter a sound, instantly turning the atmosphere in the garden solemn.

A moment later, Emperor Jing snapped the document shut, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice, "Quickly, issue my decree to immediately summon all officials to discuss the military situation at the Northern Pass!"

The concubines exchanged glances, a sense of unease creeping into their hearts. The urgent dispatch from the northern pass clearly indicated that something serious had happened on the border.

The myna bird seemed to sense the change in atmosphere and stopped speaking. It just stood quietly in its cage, its black bean-like eyes darting around as if observing everything around it.

As Emperor Jing spoke, he turned and left in haste. The concubines dared not linger and rose to bow respectfully to see the emperor off.

In the Imperial Garden, the cherry blossoms are still in full bloom, and the fragrance of flowers still fills the air, but the relaxed and joyful atmosphere has completely disappeared.

That myna bird from modern times was indeed a genius, knowing how to assess the situation. Only after Emperor Jing had gone far away did it gently shake its black feathers and mutter to itself.

"The idiot's gone, finally some peace and quiet."

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