Love Lock

Chapter 20 has absolutely no romance.

"Part-time job?" Zhao Zun frowned as he looked at her forced smile. "What do you mean?"

"Hehe!" Han Lei laughed even more slyly. "Your Highness, five taels of silver a month isn't enough for me as a military doctor! So, I'd like to be your strategist in addition to being a military doctor. I'm quite clever and have a lot of ideas. Would Your Highness like to consider it?"

Upon hearing Han Lei's words, the man dressed as a soldier next to her almost burst out laughing. He glanced at Zhao Zun and saw that Zhao Zun was also looking at him. He quickly raised his hand to cover his mouth and pursed his lips, trying his best to suppress his laughter.

Zhao Zun's gaze swept over the man and then landed on Han Lei. After a moment's thought, he uttered a sentence that was enough to stun everyone—

"Why...be my strategist? Wouldn't it be better if you were my queen?"

what?
when!when!when!
Three shocked gazes simultaneously fell upon Zhao Zun.

Pingchuan was alright. After a brief moment of shock, he gave an understanding "oh" and returned to calm.

Especially the man dressed as a soldier, he stared at Zhao Zun, then raised his sleeve to rub his eyes, and looked again!
Is this still his best friend he's known since childhood? Is this 26-year-old iron tree about to bloom?

How many noble ladies of the capital once admired this young hero! Is he going to make those noble ladies weep until dawn?

After a brief moment of shock, Han Lei's pretty face flushed red. She felt that Zhao Zun was making a suggestive remark about her, and she was immediately filled with shame and indignation.

"Hey! Your Highness! I'm serious. I treat you like a brother, and you're trying to take advantage of me?"

"I'm serious!" Zhao Zun stared into Han Lei's eyes and said slowly, his expression extremely earnest.

"Whoosh... Hehehehe..."

The man dressed as a soldier let out a loud whistle in a nonchalant manner, and finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

It seems his best friend has really fallen for her! But this is too direct and too intense. He might scare this beauty away.

"Hmph! Disgusting!"

Han Lei's face fell, she twisted her waist and stomped her foot, letting out a coquettish cry that made Zhao Zun feel as if a feather had brushed against his heart, tickling him.

Wow! This is so addictive!
Han Lei glared at the man dressed as a soldier and complained to Zhao Zun.

"Your Highness, isn't this soldier of yours extremely impolite?"

Who is this guy? He actually dared to whistle in front of her; he's acting like a little thug.

"Hehe, girl, don't pay any attention to him."

Zhao Zun automatically took Han Lei's coquettishness as her flirting with him, and a doting smile appeared on his face. "His name is Hua Tianyou, and he is the son of the Duke of Heng. He came here only to try to gain some military merit from me."

"Oh, so you're here to get your resume polished." Han Lei said knowingly, completely oblivious to the change in Zhao Zun's address. She shook her fist at Hua Tianyou in a cute but fierce way, "You better behave yourself. Otherwise, don't blame me for beating you to a pulp."

Don't underestimate her; she works in a combat unit and participates in training every day. Although she's from the South, with the sweet looks and voice of a woman from Jiangnan, her personality is lively and outgoing, with the style of a Northeastern woman. If you anger her, she'll definitely bare her teeth.

"Oh! Looks so delicate, but turns out she's a little firecracker! Hahaha..." Hua Tianyou was unimpressed by Han Lei's outburst.

"puff……"

Zhao Zun was amused and covered his mouth with a soft laugh, his eyes overflowing with doting affection.

Han Lei rolled her eyes at Tianyou and ignored him, instead turning to Zhao Zun with a stern face.

Since flattery and ingratiation weren't working, she decided to apply for a job formally and submit her resume.

"Your Highness." Han Lei snapped to attention and saluted. "I, Han Lei, female, 22 years old, a top student who skipped grades at the military medical university, have studied and participated in modern warfare. I have various famous historical war cases in my mind. With my abilities, I am fully capable of serving as a military advisor. Therefore, I am now applying to you very, very seriously. I want to become your military advisor."

Han Lei stood at attention and saluted, her demeanor suddenly changing. Zhao Zun and Hua Tianyou exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes. Zhao Zun stared at the ramrod straight Han Lei, pondered for a moment, and then a smile appeared on his lips, a hint of nonchalance, like Hua Tianyou, appearing on his usually aloof face.

"As I said, I don't need a strategist. I want you to be my queen."

Han Lei instantly deflated.

"Your Highness, I'm serious. You're making jokes like this. No wonder there are rumors outside that I'm seducing you. If you keep this up, I'll never be able to clear my name."

"Who said that? Tianyou, go and bring that person to me." Zhao Zun said angrily, his face hardening.

"Those are the soldiers outside!"

Han Lei thought he was angry and would severely punish the soldiers who were gossiping in the camp. But Zhao Zun's next words made her collapse on the spot.

"He's right! I'd love for you to seduce me! Tianyou, quickly bring him here, I want to reward him handsomely."

Han Lei stared at Zhao Zun, who had suddenly changed, and froze on the spot, as if she had never known him before.

Is the man in front of her really the aloof prince she knows?

What exactly does he want to do?
"Hahaha……"

Hua Tianyou couldn't help but burst into laughter at their witty banter. He turned around and actually went out to arrest them.

He simply couldn't stand it anymore. His buddy was just too intense, there wasn't a single romantic build-up. Even if he was a warrior who'd fought on the battlefield, there was no need to be so direct, was there? Look how scared that girl was!
"Hahaha……"

Hua Tianyou's exaggerated laughter gradually faded away, and Han Lei finally came to her senses.

"Your Highness, please don't joke with me. You know perfectly well where I came from, and I'm going back home."

Han Lei felt that Zhao Zun was just joking with her.

These days, she and Zhao Zun have gotten along fairly well, and Zhao Zun has indeed taken good care of her, but she doesn't think that Zhao Zun has fallen in love with her.

Moreover, she never even considered having anything happen with an ancient person. At least, she hadn't thought about it until today.

"You can't go back!"

"Huh?" How did he know?

"You said it yourself that day." Zhao Zun stood up, walked around the desk, and slowly approached Han Lei.

Seeing Zhao Zun walk towards Han Lei, Pingchuan blinked and consciously turned his back.

Zhao Zun moved closer to Han Lei, gazing at her with deep affection, and Han Lei's heart pounded faster and faster.

"It is precisely because I know you can't go back that I am so happy. Today, I dare to boldly express my love for you."

"But...but..."

Han Lei, who had always been busy with her studies and work, had never experienced a relationship. At this moment, her heart was completely in turmoil, and her pretty face was flushed.

To be honest, after spending more than ten days together, she didn't dislike Zhao Zun. It's just that Zhao Zun was usually rather aloof, and his high position and military authority meant that, apart from work-related interactions, she hadn't gotten too close to him. Looking back now, she realized that Zhao Zun was actually a pretty good person.

"But... I'm neither from a prominent family nor do I have a powerful family background. We're not a good match, how can I be your queen?"

Caught off guard by such a direct confession from an ancient prince, Han Lei, who was usually so outstanding, inexplicably felt a sense of inferiority.

Thank you for being there; your support gives me so much motivation.
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(End of this chapter)