Love Lock

Chapter 298 What does being in court mean?
The New Year's bells echoed over the capital, accompanied by the crackling of firecrackers, as if the entire imperial city was celebrating.

Outside the Dali Temple prison, fireworks exploded in the night sky, their brilliant colors casting fleeting shadows on the damp walls through the narrow iron windows.

"Injustice! I'm innocent!" Princess Chang Le, Su Yuyao, cried out for the 108th time, her voice hoarse like that of a hen being strangled.

She slumped against the wall, rubbing her empty stomach. Her once exquisite light red dress was now wrinkled and clung to her body, looking like a used rag.

All the maids and servants who were with Princess Chang Le that day were arrested and brought in. Princess Chang Le's situation was special; because she was associated with rebels, she was a heavily convicted prisoner and therefore visitors were not allowed.

She couldn't get used to the prison food, and no prison guard dared to accept money as bribes. So, their lives were particularly miserable.

Zhao Qiao'er knelt on a moldy haystack, gripping the wooden railing with both hands, gazing longingly at the fireworks that flashed by outside the small window.

Her stomach rumbled with hunger, startling the rats in the next cell who squeaked and scurried back into their holes.

"Princess, save your energy," Zhao Qiao'er said weakly. "You've been shouting for days, your throat is hoarse, and you haven't even managed to attract a mouse."

"Insolence!" Su Yuyao sat up abruptly, her hairpin askew. "I am the Princess of Chang Le, bestowed by the late Emperor, the legitimate daughter of the Su family. How can I suffer such an injustice!"

As she got more excited, her stomach started growling again, and her momentum immediately diminished.

Zhao Qiao'er rolled her eyes. Of course, she had her back to Su Yuyao, so the latter couldn't see her eye roll.

This princess still can't see reality. Ever since she was locked in this cell half a month ago, Su Yuyao has refused to eat any prison food, saying things like, "This kind of pig swill is not fit for this princess's mouth."

As a result, she went hungry for three days straight, until her eyes turned green, but she still picked up a moldy steamed bun and ate it in big mouthfuls.

But she can't stand eating her fill. Once she's full, she starts acting up again, putting on airs like a princess and cursing that it's pig feed.

Now things are really messed up; the jailers can't even deliver the moldy steamed buns on time.

“Princess, why don’t you eat something?” Zhao Qiao’er pointed to the bowl of thin porridge in the corner that had formed a film on it. “If you don’t eat it soon, the porridge will stand up and leave on its own.”

Su Yuyao glanced at it with disgust: "This princess would rather starve to death than eat this kind of... this kind of..." Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by an even louder rumbling in her intestines.

Zhao Qiao'er sighed.

She's the one who's truly innocent, okay?

Overnight, Zhao Zun, the Prince of Cangzhou, became a rebel. She only wanted to get rid of her brother-sister relationship with Zhao Zun, so she sought help from this seemingly glamorous princess and served her faithfully.

But she never dreamed that this Princess Chang Le had not only lost her status as a princess and was just an empty shell, but had also secretly loved her rebellious brother!
Even more outrageous, according to Wei Chengchao's confession, Princess Changle actually disregarded a woman's dignity and secretly went to Cangzhou to find Zhao Zun, insisting on marrying him.

Now look what's happened. Princess Chang Le has been arrested as an accomplice to the rebels, and she's been dragged into this mess as well.

“Princess, why did you leave the capital and go to Cangzhou? What’s so great about my brother?” Zhao Qiao’er couldn’t help but complain. “Look at us now, it’s the New Year and we can’t even get a hot meal.”

A blush suddenly appeared on Su Yuyao's pale face: "Why don't you talk about your brother? Why did he suddenly plot a rebellion? When I went to Cangzhou, I was going to... to observe the people's conditions!"

Zhao Qiao'er pouted.

Understanding the people's plight? What a load of rubbish!

Everyone knows the princess's feelings for Zhao Zun.

I heard that Su Yuyao kept a portrait of Zhao Zun in her boudoir, and she would sigh and lament over it every day, just like a lovesick young girl. Now, instead of getting pregnant, she's in jail.

"Gurgle—" Another loud rumble came from Zhao Qiao'er's stomach.

She clutched her stomach in pain, feeling as if her stomach was almost touching her back.

Just then, an enticing aroma of food wafted into the cell.

The rich aroma of the Drunken Immortal Wine, the freshness of the steamed fish, and the fragrance of freshly cooked dumplings... Zhao Qiao'er's nose twitched like a hunting dog's, and her mouth almost watered.

"This...this is the smell of New Year's Eve dinner!" She rushed to the railing and desperately peered outside.

At the end of the corridor, several prison guards were enjoying a sumptuous meal around a table.

The fat, big-eared jailer picked up a piece of shiny steamed meat, deliberately waved it towards the cell, and then swallowed it in one gulp, making an exaggerated "smack" sound.

"Ah!" Zhao Qiao'er let out a wail, her forehead pressed against the railing as she slid to the ground. "Kill me..."

Su Yuyao's situation was even worse. She was so hungry she was hallucinating, staring at the moldy bowl of porridge in the corner, and saw it beckoning to her: "Come on, Princess, eat up!"

"No...this princess will absolutely not eat it..."

Su Yuyao shook her head weakly, but her body moved uncontrollably toward the bowl of porridge, revealing the marks on her back from being whipped.

Just as her fingers were about to touch the rim of the bowl, footsteps suddenly came from outside the cell.

A figure in a black cloak stopped in front of their cell door, a pair of sharp eyes peeking out from the shadows.

"Princess Chang Le?" the visitor asked in a low voice.

Su Yuyao abruptly withdrew her hand, forcing herself to straighten her disheveled clothes with the last vestiges of dignity: "I...I am this princess. Who are you?"

The man in black did not answer, but instead took out an oil paper package from his pocket and slipped it through the gap in the railing: "Someone asked me to bring this to you."

Zhao Qiao'er quickly snatched the oil paper package, opened it, and found two steaming hot chicken legs inside! The golden crispy skin glistened with oil, and the aroma instantly filled the entire cell.

"Chicken leg!" Zhao Qiao'er's voice trembled with excitement, and she almost burst into tears on the spot.

Su Yuyao stared warily at the man in black: "Who sent you to deliver this?"

The man in black raised his head slightly. In the firelight, Zhao Qiao'er suddenly felt that the face looked familiar, but before she could think about it, the man in black turned around and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor.

"Who cares who sent it, let's eat it first!" Zhao Qiao'er grabbed a chicken leg and was about to take a bite.

"Wait!" Su Yuyao snatched the chicken leg away. "What if it's poisoned?"

Zhao Qiao'er rolled her eyes: "Princess, in our current state, do we really need anyone to poison us? We're starving to death."

Su Yuyao hesitated for a moment, then her stomach began to protest again.

In the end, hunger overcame reason, and she cautiously took a small bite. The delicious juices burst in her mouth, and she almost cried with emotion.

"How is it? Is it poisonous?" Zhao Qiao'er asked eagerly.

Su Yuyao did not answer, but instead devoured the whole chicken leg in just a few bites at a speed that was extremely disproportionate to her weak body.

Seeing this, Zhao Qiao'er immediately wolfed down the other one.

The two men leaned against the wall contentedly; this was the most satisfying meal they had had since entering prison. The sound of firecrackers outside gradually subsided, and the first rays of the New Year's dawn shone through the iron bars into the cell.

"Qiao'er," Su Yuyao suddenly spoke, her voice more serious than ever before, "If we can get out, would you be willing to continue following this princess?"

Zhao Qiao'er paused, looking at the down-on-her-luck princess—Su Yuyao's hair was a mess like a bird's nest, and her face was smeared with chicken leg grease, but her eyes gleamed with a stubborn light. Ever since she learned that Princess Chang Le was just a figurehead, the two of them were now on equal footing, and Zhao Qiao'er's tone when speaking to Princess Chang Le was no longer as obsequious as before.

"Well..." Zhao Qiao'er deliberately dragged out her words, "It depends on whether you'll go to Cangzhou again in the future."

Su Yuyao's face flushed red: "This princess was...that was..."

"Alright, alright," Zhao Qiao'er waved her hand. "Following you is better than eating in jail here. But next time we have to agree that if you go to see Zhao Zun again, you have to tell me in advance so I can pack my bags and run away."

As the two were imagining what would happen after they got out, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the cell. This was followed by the hurried footsteps of the jailers and the clanging of metal.

"W-what's going on?" Zhao Qiao'er sat up straight alertly.

Before they could react, a cold voice rang out at the end of the corridor: "By order of the magistrate, Su Yuyao and Zhao Qiao'er are to be brought before the court."

Zhao Qiao'er and Su Yuyao's faces turned deathly pale instantly.

Court appearance! What does that mean? After so many days in jail, the two of them have gained a wealth of experience…

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

As the moon set and the sun rose, Princess Han Lei of Cangzhou slept soundly until the end. When she woke up, she felt as if her bones were completely limp.

Han Lei blinked her sleepy eyes. Sunlight streamed through the window paper and onto the brocade quilt, casting a warm golden glow.

She stretched out a big yawn, looking just like a little bear that had just woken up from hibernation.

"Goo-"

Her stomach let out a long protest, and Han Lei rubbed her flat stomach, only then realizing that she was starving.

She turned her head and saw that Zhao Zun was still fast asleep beside her, his handsome nose casting a faint shadow in the morning light.

"Hmm?" Han Lei raised an eyebrow in surprise.

In her impression, Zhao Zun was always someone who got up at the crack of dawn and never slept in. Today the sun was already high in the sky, why was he still lying in bed?
She leaned closer to Zhao Zun's face, her nose almost touching his lips, and then took a careful sniff.

"There's no smell of alcohol..." Han Lei muttered softly, her brows furrowed, her warm breath brushing against Zhao Zun's cheek.

Zhao Zun's eyelashes trembled slightly, but he remained fast asleep.

Did Zhao Zun stay up all night to celebrate the New Year?

Let him sleep a little longer!
Han Lei tugged at Zhao Zun's cup, then quietly rolled out of bed, careful not to disturb his sweet dreams.

In front of the bronze mirror, Han Lei casually tied her hair into a loose bun, and the person in the mirror still had faint dark circles under her eyes.

She wrapped herself in a cloak trimmed with fox fur and tiptoed into the room.

The cool fragrance of winter plum blossoms wafted towards her; she took a deep breath and was about to take a step—

"Your Highness, you're awake?" Jinju suddenly appeared carrying a copper basin, startling Han Lei.

"Shh!" Han Lei put her index finger to her lips, her eyes wide open. "Keep your voice down. The prince is still asleep; he must be exhausted from staying up all night to welcome the new year."

Jinju's expression immediately became quite interesting. She placed the copper basin on the flower stand, her lips twitching as she lowered her voice: "Your Highness, staying up late on New Year's Eve was the night before last. Today is already the second day of the Lunar New Year."

"Huh? Second year of junior high?" Han Lei looked bewildered, but she walked towards the front hall, muttering, "How did I end up sleeping until the second year of junior high?"

Jinju trotted after her and blurted out, "Your Highness, you've been sleeping ever since you fainted on New Year's Eve. The Prince personally watched over you for two days and two nights without closing his eyes, and he just couldn't hold on any longer..."

Han Lei paused, then belatedly touched her forehead.

No wonder she felt this sleep was exceptionally long; she had fainted? She suddenly remembered that she had indeed experienced a blackout while dancing on New Year's Eve... But there were more important things to do right now—

"Who cares about the first or second year of junior high," Han Lei said, clutching her rumbling stomach and quickening her pace. "I'm hungry now, I need to go find something to eat up ahead."

Jinju hurriedly followed behind, saying, "What would Your Highness like to eat? This servant will have the kitchen prepare it right away."

"Whatever!" Han Lei waved her hand generously. "As long as I can fill my stomach, it's fine."

"How can we just do that!" Jinju exclaimed anxiously. "The doctor said you're pregnant and need to eat well to nourish your body."

Han Lei stopped in her tracks, looking completely bewildered. "What did you say? I'm pregnant?"

She was pregnant but didn't know it herself; someone else found out first?

Jinju blinked and nodded vigorously: "Yes, the doctor said you are more than a month pregnant. The old lady and the prince were so happy that they gave the whole household three months' wages!"

Han Lei's expression froze instantly.

She slowly looked down at her flat stomach, then looked up at the kumquat, then looked down at her belly again, looking just like a confused owl.

"That's impossible!" she murmured. "My period came last month..."

But she suddenly stopped halfway through her sentence, and started counting the days on her fingers, her expression becoming increasingly interesting.

Just then, a loud bang came from the direction of the sleeping quarters, followed by Zhao Zun's panicked cry: "Girl, girl?!"

Han Lei turned her head and saw that her prince, who always paid attention to his manners, rushed out of the room with one bare foot, his hair ornament askew, his inner robe collar wide open, looking flustered.

"Zhao... Zhao Zun?" Han Lei stood there, stunned.

The moment Zhao Zun's gaze locked onto her, his entire body visibly relaxed.

He stayed up for two days and two nights straight, and finally couldn't hold on any longer in the early morning, so he climbed into bed for a short nap. But when he woke up, Han Lei was gone.

He was startled, thinking that Han Lei had gone out to work again. He was relieved to see Han Lei in the yard.

He rushed over in a few strides, but stopped abruptly two steps away from her, standing there helplessly, looking just like a naive young man meeting his sweetheart for the first time.

Sunlight streamed onto the concrete path between them. Looking at her husband's reddened eyes and disheveled clothes, Han Lei suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then heard her stomach make a loud "gurgle" sound.

Zhao Zun paused for a second, then suddenly burst out laughing. His smile was brighter than the midday sun. He strode forward and carefully pulled Han Lei into his arms, his voice filled with undisguised joy.

“Come on, let’s have dinner with my child’s mother. But…” He suddenly lowered his voice and said meaningfully in her ear, “I’ve already ordered the kitchen to prepare some pickled cucumbers for you, I’m sure you’ll like them.”

"What?!" Han Lei's eyes widened, and her scream startled the sparrows under the eaves.

Zhao Zun is clearly doing this on purpose!

She hates sour foods the most, okay?!
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