Love Lock

Chapter 203 Blocking the Last Path to Survival

Zhao Ling'er was startled by his sudden excitement, then smiled and said, "Lord Cheng, you've come at the right time. My brother and sister-in-law are planning a new factory over there, and I can take you there right away."

“Very good! Thank you for your trouble, young lady.” Cheng Jingze quickly bowed and greeted her.

Zhao Ling'er led him through a cornfield, where Cheng Jingze saw a man and a woman squatting on the ground gesturing at something.

The man looked to be in his late twenties, dressed in coarse cloth shorts with his trousers rolled up to his knees, looking just like a farmer.

The woman was wearing strange light blue clothes and her hair was simply tied in a ponytail.

The two were gesturing and pointing at a blueprint, completely oblivious to the mud getting on their clothes.

“Brother, sister-in-law. This is Magistrate Cheng of Ganluo County across the river. He said he wants to ask about the cement road.” Zhao Ling’er stepped forward to report.

The man looked up, revealing a face tanned dark by the sun, but his eyes gleamed with wisdom.

Cheng Jingze was stunned—this was the legendary Prince Zhao Zun of Cangzhou? A prince as dignified as him was so…approachable?
"Greetings, Lord Cheng." Zhao Zun patted the dirt off his hands, stood up, and gave a simple cupped-hand salute. "I apologize for my disheveled appearance."

Cheng Jingze hurriedly bowed deeply: "This humble official was unaware that Your Highness was here. I apologize for my rudeness..."

"Oh, no need for formalities." Zhao Zun helped him up. "There are no princes here, only Zhao Zun who wants to do something practical for the people."

He pointed to the woman beside him, "This is my wife, Han Lei. She arranged everything here."

Han Lei smiled and bowed: "Lord Cheng is interested in cement?"

Looking at this extraordinary prince and his wife, Cheng Jingze felt a surge of respect.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, I am truly impressed by the tremendous changes that have taken place in Cangzhou, and the peaceful and prosperous lives of its people. I wonder if you could teach me the method of using cement to build roads? The roads in Ganluo County are muddy, hindering trade and travel, and the people have suffered for a long time!"

Zhao Zun and Han Lei exchanged a glance, their faces showing delight.

Since Magistrate Cheng intends to use the cement to pave the roads in Ganluo County, wouldn't their business come in? Moreover, this can be considered a municipal project.

Han Lei took out a roll of blueprints from her cloth bag and spread it on the ground: "Lord Cheng, please take a look. This is our process for building cement roads. It contains detailed records of everything from raw material ratios to construction methods."

Cheng Jingze squatted down, greedily gazing at the unprecedented blueprints.

The diagram shows the proportions of various raw materials, and even detailed construction steps.

His fingers trembled slightly: "These...these were all created by the Princess?"

Zhao Zun shook his head: "No. This knowledge comes from ancient texts; we have simply improved and applied it."

He pointed to a spot on the drawing, "For example, this cement is actually based on the same principle as mortar and cement, but we have improved the formula and firing process."

"Oh! Your Highness is too modest." Cheng Jingze seemed to understand, and said sincerely, "This humble official is willing to use the county treasury's silver to purchase this cement and build a similar road in Ganluo County. I wonder if Your Highness would be so kind as to..."

“Of course!” Han Lei answered eagerly, her eyes lighting up. “We are planning to sell cement to surrounding counties and prefectures. This will not only help the people but also bring income to Cangzhou, killing two birds with one stone.”

Zhao Zun added, "We can also send an engineering team to assist with the construction; they have extensive experience. As for the cost..."

He pondered for a moment, "How about adding 30% profit to the cost price? After all, the laborers need to eat too."

Cheng Jingze's voice trembled with excitement: "Your Highness is so considerate of me, I am deeply grateful! Although Ganluo County is not wealthy, we can still raise the funds to repair the road."

"That's wonderful!" Zhao Zun patted Cheng Jingze on the shoulder. "Lord Cheng is indeed a good official who cares about the people. How about this, you come with us to visit the cement plant and the breeding farm first, and learn about how they operate in detail, so that you can explain it to the people of the county when you get back."

The group walked along the cement road toward the factory on the hillside.

Cheng Jingze, like a student eager for knowledge, kept asking all sorts of questions.

As they stood in front of the towering vertical kiln of the cement plant, watching the workers feed the ground raw materials into the kiln, Cheng Jingze exclaimed, "With such a marvelous tool, how can we not have a prosperous people!"

By the time the visit was over, the sun was already setting.

Cheng Jingze was also unpretentious. He sat down on the edge of the field with Zhao Zun and Han Lei, eating the simple meals provided by the laborers, and finalized the details of the cooperation.

"The first batch of cement will be transported to Ganluo County in ten days," Han Lei calculated. "We'll send a hundred skilled workers to assist with the construction, and we can also send a three-wheeled transport team to speed things up."

Cheng Jingze nodded repeatedly: "Excellent! I will immediately gather laborers to cooperate upon my return from visiting my friend."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, I have another request... Could you please purchase a few of those new breeds of pigs and some corn seeds?"

Zhao Zun laughed loudly: "Lord Cheng is indeed insightful! How about this, the piglets and seeds will be our gift to Ganluo County. We only hope that you will treat the people well and let more people live a good life."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jingze immediately stood up and solemnly bowed deeply: "Your Highness's great kindness will be forever etched in my heart. If Ganluo County achieves anything in the future, it will all depend on Your Highness's guidance today!"

As dusk deepened, Cheng Jingze boarded the carriage and happily continued his journey to visit his friend.

Having secured such a large deal, the tens of thousands of laborers would no longer need to be supported by their own money, but could instead become self-sufficient. Zhao Zun and Han Lei were also very happy; this was their first step outside of Cangzhou.

They told the laborers the news, and the laborers cheered with joy.

Zhao Zun and Han Lei then began to arrange personnel and production, working until midnight before they were able to rest.

At dawn, shortly after the night watchman's clapper had sounded, the night in Jizhou City was so thick it was almost impenetrable. This was precisely when people were soundly asleep.

The waning moon on the horizon was obscured by thick, dark clouds, leaving only a few dim stars barely illuminating the towering walls of the Prince's Palace.

The night wind swirled fallen leaves across the bluestone slabs, making a rustling sound that perfectly masked the subtle rustling of dozens of boots stepping over the tiles.

The palace was quiet, with only a few squads of guards patrolling the corridors with torches.

Suddenly, several dark figures leaped over the high wall like ghosts and landed silently in the courtyard.

The leader, a masked man in black, made a gesture, and more than ten men in black immediately dispersed, some dealing with the patrolling guards, and others heading straight for the inner courtyard.

With a flash of light, the two guards fell to the ground before they could utter a sound, their blood slowly flowing through the cracks in the bluestone slabs.

"Keep your movements quiet." The leader of the men in black squatted by the artificial hill, his voice extremely low.

Above his mask, a pair of hawk-like eyes gleamed coldly in the darkness.

"Remember, the King of Jizhou's bedroom is in the 'Yangxin Residence' in the backyard. Send a signal immediately after you find it."

The crowd below the wall nodded silently and slipped into the backyard of the Prince's mansion like ghosts.

They were so well-trained that they walked without disturbing a single fallen leaf.

But no one expected that the King of Jizhou had just expanded his mansion two months ago, and several new courtyards had been added to the original layout.

"Boss, this isn't right." A thin man in black approached the leader, his voice trembling with anxiety. "The map clearly says that Yangxin Residence is just past the lotus pond, so why is there another three courtyards?"

It seems their intelligence was wrong.

The leader of the men in black squinted, surveying his surroundings. Under the moonlight, pavilions and towers stretched endlessly, their upturned eaves outlining complex silhouettes in the night.

Just as he was about to speak, the sound of armor clashing suddenly came from afar.

"Who goes there!" A patrol of night guards turned around the artificial hill, and the light of their torches suddenly tore through the darkness.

"Do it!"

The leader roared, and his long sword was already drawn. A flash of cold light, and the first soldier's throat opened with a line of blood. He collapsed to the ground before he could even scream.

"Assassins! Protect the prince!" The remaining guards immediately erupted in chaos.

The sound of gongs and shouts instantly shattered the silence of the night.

A dozen or so soldiers, armed with spears, surged in from all directions, only to be met by dozens of men in black, their figures ghostly and ethereal, their swords flashing in a web of death.

Blood splattered on the white marble railing, its surface glowing an eerie dark red under the moonlight.

The leader of the men in black noticed that five or six guards were retreating instead of fighting, desperately running towards the courtyard on the west side.

"Over there!" A cold smile crept across his lips as he pointed his sword westward. "Leave no one alive!"

Inside the Yangxin Residence, the King of Jizhou was fast asleep, embracing his newly acquired concubine.

He was in his early thirties, heavily pregnant, snoring loudly, with unfinished deer antler cakes scattered around his bedside.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, wake up!" The concubine was awakened by the shouts of battle outside, her slender fingers desperately pushing against the mountain of flesh beside her.

"Hmm... My beloved concubine, stop fooling around..." The King of Jizhou waved his hand in a daze, with glistening drool still hanging from the corner of his mouth.

"Your Highness, get up quickly! There are shouts outside that there are assassins! And the sound of swords." The concubine's voice had changed.

"boom!"

Just then, the door was kicked open, the night wind rushed in, and the candlelight on the desk flickered violently.

"what!"

A woman's scream pierced the night sky, then abruptly ceased.

The King of Jizhou finally awoke with a start. He opened his eyes abruptly, let out a scream, and sat up like a stranded fish.

"Who...who are you people?!"

He frantically grabbed the jeweled longsword from beside his pillow, its tip trembling like a reed in the wind.

The young and beautiful concubine huddled behind him, the brocade quilt slipping down to reveal a large expanse of snow-white skin.

Three men in black burst in, wielding knives. The leader's knife was dripping with blood, its blade gleaming with a chilling light, and his mask was stained with someone else's blood.

The leader of the men in black sneered and slowly approached: "Who does Your Highness think would go to such lengths to kill you?"

The King of Jizhou's pupils contracted sharply. He leaned against the bedpost, veins bulging on his forehead, as a terrifying thought flashed through his mind.

"Could it be... a new... No, impossible! It can't be." He didn't want to believe it, and he couldn't believe it was true.

Although he and the new emperor were not born of the same mother, they were, after all, half-brothers!

Moreover, on that day, when the King of Jingzhou was in the palace, they all promised that whoever succeeded to the throne must treat his brothers well.

Didn't the new emperor already send them back to their fiefdoms? Why are they settling scores again now?
"No, no... My brother promised us..." the King of Jizhou murmured to himself.

"Hmph!" The leader of the men in black sneered, "So naive, yet dares to vie for the position. Truly..."

Before he could finish speaking, the King of Jizhou, realizing what was happening, suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "Guards! Guards! There's an assassin!"

The leader of the men in black sneered, "Your Highness, you should save your energy. Most of the guards in your residence are already dead."

He waved his hand, and the other two men in black immediately pounced on the bed.

"stop!"

The King of Jizhou roared and swung his sword to block one of them. The blades clashed, sparks flying.

Although he had practiced martial arts since childhood, he had been pampered for many years and was no match for these well-trained assassins.

After just one round, his arm was already slashed open, and bright red blood dripped down his wrist to the ground.

"what--"

The concubine let out a piercing scream, her face turning deathly pale. A man in black flashed forward, grabbed her hair, and dragged her off the bed.

She was only wearing a thin nightgown, which came undone during the struggle, revealing large expanses of her snow-white skin.

"Let her go! I have money, I can give you lots and lots of money." The King of Jizhou's eyes were bloodshot, and he tried to rush over but was stopped by the chief.

"Your Highness should take care of yourself first."

The leader of the men in black swung his knife like a venomous snake. The King of Jizhou barely managed to parry, but was forced back several steps and crashed into the dressing table.

The bronze mirror fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

"Protect the prince!"

"Don't even think about running away."

"Quickly, kill them all."

At this moment, chaotic footsteps and shouts of battle came from outside. Amid the clanging of weapons, the surviving guards of the Prince's Palace finally arrived.

The leader of the men in black frowned and said sternly, "Let's finish this quickly!"

In the chaos, the concubine broke free of her restraints and rushed towards the Prince of Ji: "Your Highness, be careful!"

An arrow flew through the air, and she used her body to shield the King of Jizhou.

An arrow pierced her chest, and blood instantly stained her snow-white nightgown.

"Mu'er!"

The King of Ji Province cried out in pain as he faced the enemy.

Tears blurred his vision. The concubine opened her mouth, but only spat out a mouthful of blood. The light in her eyes quickly faded.

"I'll fight you!"

The King of Jizhou brandished his longsword and charged madly at the man in black. His moves were completely chaotic, sustained only by a surge of grief and indignation.

A man in black was stabbed in the shoulder, but then three more knives were plunged into his body at the same time.

The King of Ji Province knelt on the ground, blood gushing from the corner of his mouth.

He looked up at the leader of the men in black, his eyes filled with resentment: "Tell...tell me...was it...my royal brother..."

The leader crouched down and whispered in his ear, "Your Highness was wise all your life, how could you become so confused on your deathbed? Besides His Majesty, who else can mobilize the secret guards?"

He stood up and looked down at the dying King of Jizhou. "Don't worry, the King of Qizhou and the King of Jingzhou will soon come to join you. You will not be alone on the road to the underworld."

A flicker of realization crossed the King of Ji's eyes, followed by deep despair.

He finally understood that the new emperor had never intended to let his brothers go.

Sending them back to their fiefdoms was merely a show for the world, intended to earn them a reputation for brotherly love, respect, and benevolent rule.

He tried to laugh, but only coughed up a mouthful of blood and finally collapsed in a pool of blood, his eyes still open in despair.

"Clean it up, make it look like the work of bandits." The leader in black coldly ordered, "Take all the valuables, and the corpses of the women..."

He looked down at the disheveled concubine with disgust, "She's dressed as if she's been violated."

"Yes!"

The men in black sprang into action; some deliberately left rough knife marks on the wall, while others left several machetes commonly found in civilian homes next to the corpse.

A man in black pulled a cloth bag from his robes, containing a few strands of horsehair and several rusty arrowheads, and deliberately scattered it in the courtyard…

"Commander, we've discovered a secret chamber; it contains a lot of gold and silver," a man in black reported.

The leader in black nodded: "Take them all; they'll be perfect as loot for the bandits."

He looked around to make sure there were no flaws left, then waved his hand and said, "Retreat!"

Before leaving, he kicked the corpse of the King of Jizhou, his tone extremely cold.

"Let's go, the next two are Qizhou and Jingzhou. We must hurry. We've wasted two more days here."

The remaining men in black disappeared into the night as silently as they had come, leaving behind only corpses and the stench of blood in the courtyard.

A night breeze blew by, swirling up a few fallen leaves that landed on the face of the King of Jizhou, who died with his eyes wide open in disbelief.

In the darkest hour before dawn, the people of Jizhou City were still fast asleep, unaware of the tragedy that had occurred in this luxurious royal palace.

By daybreak, all that will remain is an unsolved case of "bandits robbing the royal palace," a topic of conversation in the streets and alleys.

Meanwhile, in the capital city, thousands of miles away, the lights in the Imperial Study were still burning brightly.

Emperor Xin Jing stood by the window, gazing at the dark night outside, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

He toyed with a white jade chess piece in his hand, then gently placed it on the chessboard, perfectly blocking the last escape route for the black pieces...

Friends, I'll be taking two days off on May 10th and 11th to work on the manuscript. Updates will resume as scheduled on the 12th. Hope you understand!