Love Lock

Chapter 304 The Lock of Heaven and Earth

Hearing this, Han Lei raised an eyebrow at him, still chewing popcorn, and replied vaguely but decisively, "Yeah!"

Her eyes were bright, and her expression seemed harmless: "I just came to tell my husband that I'm not throwing up anymore, but I didn't expect to encounter something so fun. Can't I participate in solving the problem?"

Han Lei emphasized the word "spit," which Gertai found somewhat rude, and he couldn't help but frown.

“Uh…no, no.” Gertai paused, looked the thin girl up and down, and nodded, “Of course. Anyone from Dajing can participate.”

"Hmm! That's more like it." Han Lei nodded matter-of-factly, turned her head and opened her mouth. Zi Tan understood and immediately stuffed a peeled crayfish into her mouth.

"Ahem!" Zhao Zun coughed lightly, his fist pressed to his lips, to cover the upturned corners of his lips.

He knew that since Han Lei was so calm and composed, she must have a plan to handle the situation.

He didn't care about any envoys or anything like that, he just put them aside and lowered his head to get closer to Han Lei.

Zhao Zun asked softly, "Little girl, what is a husband?"

Han Lei looked at the face magnified in front of her and smiled sweetly. "Husband is you! It means my husband. I call you husband, and you have to call me wife."

"Wife?" Zhao Zun murmured.

“Husband!” Han Lei replied.

"Wife!" Zhao Zun smiled.

"Hehehe..." Han Lei chuckled sweetly and wiped her greasy lips on his robe.

The officials of Cangzhou, including Luo Hai, all turned to look at the sky, seemingly already used to their prince and princess showing affection. But the envoys from Ala and Meng Kingdom stared wide-eyed at the two of them.

This is supposed to be a discussion about exchanges between the two countries, right? If we lose, Da Jing will have to cede Ling An City. How can this King of Cangzhou be so frivolous? Does he think they don't exist?
The Meng Kingdom envoy, Hasa, immediately felt slighted and gave a heavy "humph," drawing the attention of the two lovers back to the main topic.

Kassa's face was full of anger: "Young lady, the problem you just solved..."

“Your Excellency’s question is quite interesting.” Han Lei immediately turned to interrupt him. “The first floor has six windows, the second floor doubles to twelve, the third floor doubles again to twenty-four, and so on up to the ninth floor, which should be three hundred and eighty-four windows. The sum is a geometric sequence with a common ratio of two, a first term of six, and nine terms. Applying the summation formula, the total should be six multiplied by (two to the power of nine minus one), then divided by (two minus one). Two to the power of nine is five hundred and twelve, minus one gives five hundred and eleven, then multiply by six, giving three thousand and sixty-six.”

She spoke at a steady but extremely fast pace, clearly and accurately explaining the calculation process and results, even omitting the spire window that the other party had maliciously added.

Because that's simply a trap designed to mislead and deceive.

“Wrong!” Hassa revealed a sinister smile.

"You mean the window at the top of the tower, right?" Han Lei's gaze swept over the faces of Hassa and the other members of the delegation, whose expressions had suddenly changed.

She raised an eyebrow slightly: "As for the window at the top of the tower... I heard you very clearly just now. Your Excellency said 'up to the ninth floor.' The top of the tower is separate from the nine-story tower, and the question did not require it to be included. Even if it were to be included, I would appreciate it if Your Excellency would state the conditions in advance next time you set a question, so as not to... cause people to misunderstand your country's sincerity."

She gently raised her hand, covered her mouth, and coughed lightly, appearing even more delicate, but every word she uttered was like a steel needle, precisely piercing through all of the other party's tricks.

The room fell silent.

Hassa's face flushed red and then paled, unsure how to respond, when he suddenly noticed the last bit of ash from the incense stick, which had fallen to the ground sometime earlier.

A triumphant smile immediately appeared on his face.

Hassa pointed his finger directly at the incense stick on the altar, which had long since burned out and was now just a wisp of ash. His voice carried a deliberate mix of regret and arrogance: "Girl, even if there is controversy over the answer to this question, and you answered it correctly—time has passed, and according to the rules, you can only be judged to have lost."

The officials of Cangzhou looked at each other, their faces full of dissatisfaction.

Luo Hai stepped forward and said loudly, "The answer was given the moment the Princess Consort stepped into the palace. The incense has not yet burned out, and we can all bear witness to that!"

Hassa burst into loud, shrill laughter: "The outcome was uncertain just now, and by the time she finished speaking, the incense had already burned out! How can matters of time be disputed afterward?"

Several Cangzhou officials whispered among themselves: "Barbarians are barbarians after all, they have no sense of reason..."

Their voices, though soft, pierced the silent air like needles, causing the faces of the delegation members to turn pale and red in turns.

Han Lei simply smiled indifferently.

The other party was clearly trying to cheat, and arguing would be pointless. She raised her hand and gently waved it, stopping Luo Hai, who was about to argue with the envoy.

Han Lei said calmly, "Didn't your esteemed envoy bring three questions with him? Even if we consider this one a loss for my Great Jing—aren't there two more questions to come? Why not bring them out and settle them all at once?"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Zun turned his head to look at her, his gaze as calm as still water. "Girl, do you still want to play?"

Han Lei met his gaze and nodded without hesitation: "Let's play!"

The word "play" was spoken crisply and clearly, yet it made the atmosphere in the entire hall freeze.

Kassa was so angry he almost fell backward, his face turning bright red.

The officials of Cangzhou couldn't help but secretly facepalm—

In Cangzhou, everyone knows that the prince dotes on his princess, but this is a gamble with the entire city of Ling'an!
Both sides had their own thoughts, but Zhao Zun's lips curled up slightly, a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm hidden in his smile.

He looked up at the delegation, his tone indifferent yet authoritative: "Since the girl wants to play, Your Excellency, please quickly give us the second question!"

Hassa glared angrily at his mastermind, Gertai, as if waiting for his decision.

Gertai stepped forward, his sharp gaze fixed on Han Lei, his tone grave: "Miss, even if you answered correctly just now, are you confident about the next two questions? If you cannot win them all, Ling'an City will still belong to our two countries."

Han Lei chuckled softly, her laughter like shattered jade and a clear spring, breaking the heavy atmosphere in the room: "Whether I can answer or not, we'll only know after we try. Even if I can't, is there really no one else in Dajing? Does your esteemed envoy intend to take the question back with you after bringing it here?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of confidence.

Gertai and Hasa exchanged a glance—this Princess of Cangzhou was no ordinary woman.

She did answer that question beautifully; they were merely using the excuse of the incense burning out to cheat. Originally, they intended to easily defeat Ling'an City with a three-question literary contest, without shedding a drop of blood.

Now it seems that the Great Jing has capable people, and this seemingly harmless princess is not to be underestimated.

However, they also have a backup plan!

Even if they lose all three challenges, the Eastern Ming Empire is currently holding back the main force of the Great Jing in the east. At that time, the iron cavalry of Ala and Mengguo can still seize Ling'an City. The Great Jing will be unable to attend to both ends and will inevitably be defeated.

Gertai finally nodded slowly. Hassa then took out another old sheepskin from his bosom and slowly unfurled it.

The first line of the couplet is revealed, its strokes powerful and its ink vibrant:

"Clouds shroud the high mountains; which peak dares to emerge?"

The handwriting was like dragons and snakes coiled together, exuding a solemn aura.

This first line of the couplet, though simple, is profound in meaning. It seems to depict the majestic mountains and the clouds covering the sky, but it also subtly implies the oppressive power of authority and the fact that everyone must bow their heads in this world.

With just nine characters, it contains elements of nature, the human world, pressure, and rhetoric, making it a truly difficult couplet to match.

Hassa's gaze swept past the crowd, landing directly on Han Lei, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He announced loudly, "The second question is this first line of a couplet. I wonder if Your Highness can come up with the second line?"

A moment of silence fell over the hall. All the officials, scholars, and strategists of the Great Jing Dynasty stared intently, then frowned and pondered, some even unconsciously tracing lines on their knees with their fingers.

Even Luo Hai, the prefect who was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), stroked his beard and lowered his eyes, several matching couplets flashing through his mind, but he immediately rejected them: "Inadequate...inappropriate...the artistic conception is far from perfect!"

Luo Hai felt that his second line lacked artistic conception, so he didn't dare to say it aloud.

Zhao Zun's gaze also turned to Han Lei beside him, filled with inquiry and expectation.

Han Lei's heart skipped a beat when she saw the first line of the couplet.

This couplet is indeed tricky. Its ingenuity lies not in the literal meaning of the words, but in the hidden yet domineering aura it exudes. To perfectly match it in a short time is no easy task.

Besides, she couldn't match it at all.

She gave Zhao Zun an awkward smile, then looked up at Hasa and casually changed the subject: "This couplet is indeed unique. What about the third question? How about we discuss it together first, and allow me to think about this couplet carefully?"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was taken aback.

Could it be that we can't find the answer?
Zhao Zun's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

He had just been full of confidence in Han Lei, thinking she would once again amaze everyone, but he didn't expect her to say that she needed time, which was almost a sign of weakness.

Han Lei's slightly embarrassed yet forced composure smile did not escape the notice of Hasa and Gertai.

The two exchanged a glance, a surge of smugness rising within them simultaneously.

Gertai let out a very soft sneer, inwardly mocking: Just as expected! He only managed to guess the first question by luck, and he showed his weakness when faced with the real challenge!
Hassa, feeling confident of victory, couldn't help but show a magnanimous expression, as if he no longer cared about the pros and cons of this short-term outcome: "Since the Princess of Cangzhou needs time to think, it is perfectly acceptable for her to solve the next problem first."

This time, he did not display the parchment scroll, but instead turned around and gestured to a follower behind him.

The attendant immediately knelt down, untied a heavy bag, and carefully took out an object made of wood, which he presented to Hassa with both hands.

Hassa took the object, walked to the center of the hall, and held it high so that everyone could see it clearly.

The object had a complex and unique structure, consisting of multiple wooden strips joined together by mortise and tenon joints, forming a seamless whole. It appeared loose, yet it was tightly connected, with no gaps to be found.

"This item..." Hasa exclaimed, his tone filled with undisguised pride, "is the masterpiece of a reclusive craftsman from my Meng Kingdom. It is called the 'Heaven and Earth Pivot Lock.' In my Meng Kingdom, from the royal family and wise men to the most skilled craftsmen, no one has been able to open it. I have long heard that the Great Jing is a vast and abundant land, full of talented people, so I brought this item here, hoping that it will not disappoint our small country."

Everyone in the hall craned their necks to look, their faces showing surprise and confusion, and no one recognized what it was.

Seeing this, Gertai became even more smug and ordered his men to take the "Heaven and Earth Pivot Lock" and pass it around from one of the Cangzhou officials' seats to examine it.

The officials of Cangzhou tried to measure, stare at, or twist the handle, but none of them could get the hang of it. They shook their heads and sighed as they passed it on.

Han Lei glanced at it once, and her eyes lit up.

This so-called "Heaven and Earth Pivot Lock" is nothing more than the Luban Lock, whose principle is so ingenious that it is extremely difficult for anyone who is not familiar with its structure to unlock it.

She had solved a six-piece Luban lock when she was in school, but the Luban lock that Hassa brought out should have nine or twelve pieces, which he had never played with before.

However, she knew the underlying principle and instantly thought of someone.

Han Lei immediately turned to Zhao Zun and beckoned, whispering to him, "Quickly send someone to fetch Big Fatty! I'm afraid only he can solve this problem!"

Zhao Zun nodded, beckoned his personal guard Lao Meng, and whispered instructions to him. Lao Meng accepted the order and left.

Big Fatty was busy with the work of bringing water into the house in the backyard of the prefectural government, sweating profusely as he adjusted the PVC pipe joints, when he suddenly saw Old Meng rushing over, saying that the prince had summoned him urgently.

He didn't dare to delay, so he wiped the sweat from his forehead and followed Old Meng, jogging through the corridor.

Upon entering the lobby, still catching his breath, he looked at Zhao Zun and asked in a gruff voice, "Why are you in such a hurry to find me? Is there something wrong with the water pipes?"

Zhao Zun did not answer, but instead handed the intricately crafted Luban lock in his hand to him and asked, "Can you take this apart?"

The officials in the hall had all looked solemn when they passed the item around, but now all eyes were on the fat man.

Big Fat Head was honest and simple. He didn't ask why, and he just did whatever Zhao Zun asked him to do.

He took the Luban lock and glanced at it, and was immediately attracted by the crisscrossing mortise and tenon structure.

His stubby fingers traced the smooth wooden strips, his eyes gleaming with the focused intensity characteristic of a craftsman.

No matter how much he turned it around or pushed and pulled it repeatedly, the lock remained firmly in place, fitting perfectly as if it were made of a single piece of wood.

Seeing this, Han Lei leaned lazily against the beanbag chair and said with a smile, "Fatty, come here."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the silent hall.

Big Fatty hurried over to her side, and Han Lei gently covered her ear with her slender fingers, whispering a few words in his ear.

The chubby guy first frowned in thought, then grinned as if he had just realized something, revealing two big white teeth: "Alright, watch this!"

He immediately sat cross-legged on the bluestone floor in the center of the hall, holding the Luban lock in his palm and examining it closely.

Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, dancing on the tip of his nose, which was glistening with sweat.

Everyone's attention was on the fat man, but Zhao Zun squatted down next to Han Lei and asked in a low voice, "Don't you want to think about that couplet?"

Han Lei rested her chin on her hands and gently shook her head. "I wanted to win just now, but now that the opportunity is right in front of me, I just want Big Fatty to win."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zun instantly understood Han Lei's meaning. A smile spread across his eyes, like the surface of a lake where spring ice has just broken.

Looking at the fat man's obese body, the Meng Kingdom envoy Hasa couldn't help but sneer: "Is he any good? If he can't solve it, he should just admit defeat!"

Although Gertai beside him remained silent, the light tapping of his fingertips on the table betrayed his smugness.

After a while, seeing that the fat man was still fiddling with the "Heaven and Earth Cardinal Lock" without taking any steps to disassemble it, Hasa became even more arrogant and even muttered a sarcastic remark: "It seems that the people of Dajing are as stupid as the sheep on the grassland!"

Han Lei rolled her eyes, treating it as if it were just the buzzing of mosquitoes and flies. Then, she focused all her attention on the trembling fingers of the fat man.

Zhao Zun was also very anxious, but his face remained calm and composed.

He understood what Han Lei meant—as long as Big Fatty won the battle against the envoys from both countries and regained face for the Great Jing, the old-fashioned Grand Secretary Zhang would understand that so-called "promising" was not necessarily found in the court or among books.

If Big Fatty wins, it will be much easier for him to persuade Grand Secretary Zhang and his family to come to Cangzhou.

The incense stick in the incense burner had burned more than halfway, and ashes were falling in a soft rustling sound.

The lobby was quiet, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, the atmosphere extremely tense, and everyone's eyes were focused on the big, fat man's short, muscular hands.

Despite the early spring weather, sweat gradually soaked through Da Pang's collar.

He kept adjusting his observation angle, repeating Han Lei's tip to himself: "The lock must be hidden between movement and stillness."

I'm fully recovered and shamelessly asking for all sorts of rewards again.