Love Lock

Chapter 310 His "Performance" These Days

Spring has arrived, flowers are in bloom, and the night breeze still carries a hint of warmth, gently caressing the grasslands at the foot of the Yin Mountains. The lights of the trade market flicker in the distance, and the bustling voices of people and the neighing of horses intertwine to create a unique frontier symphony.

On a gentle slope behind the market, two figures sat side by side on a silver carpet bathed in moonlight.

Princess Yujia gazed at the bright moon on the horizon and said softly, "Look, this moon shines on both the grasslands of the Turks and the mountains and rivers of the Great Jing. Just like us now, although we come from different places, we can see the same moonlight."

Tang Xiaotong followed her gaze and saw the moonlight shining on his slightly reserved face.

“The princess is right. But the moon hangs high in the sky, while you and I are both in the mortal world.”

His voice gradually lowered, and his fingers unconsciously tugged at the grass stems beside him.

Yu Jia turned her head, and the moonlight outlined her delicate profile.

"Do you remember the days in Jinxiufang in the capital? You took me to try the local snacks and see all kinds of handicrafts. You always managed to find the newest and most interesting things to make me happy." She chuckled mischievously. "I also remember the nervous look on your face when you used brocade to cover the old woman's face..."

Her eyes shone with nostalgia. "I was so happy during those days."

Tang Xiaotong's heart skipped a beat.

Of course he remembered; every detail was etched into his memory.

The look of surprise on Yu Jia's face when she first tasted candied hawthorn; her gestures in front of the colorful silk, saying that the Turks lacked such beautiful fabrics; and her focused profile as she listened to storytelling in the teahouse…

“Those are all minor matters.” Tang Xiaotong lowered his head. “I am just a merchant, and there is only so much I can do for Your Highness.”

Yu Jia gently shook her head. "No, you did much more than that. If it weren't for your tireless efforts in persuading officials from both countries, this trade market could not have been established in such a short time."

She paused for a moment, her voice softening considerably, "I know how much effort you've put in."

Tang Xiaotong felt a surge of heat in her chest.

He truly devoted himself to this, shuttling between Cangzhou and the capital for months, explaining the pros and cons, and even helping the prince draft the terms.

Whenever he was exhausted, he would find strength again when he thought of Yu Jia's expectant eyes as he fought for trade opportunities for his people, and when he thought of his family members who died in the chaos of war.

"I only did what I was supposed to do," he said softly, not daring to look Princess Yujia in the eye.

Aside from that one sentence, Tang Xiaotong didn't know what else to say.

A silence fell between them, broken only by the rustling of the evening breeze through the grass.

Tang Xiaotong's heart was pounding. He wanted to tell the princess his feelings, but he felt that he was just a commoner and not worthy of her noble status.

This inner turmoil caused his fingers to unconsciously twist together.

Yu Jia watched his awkward expression and suddenly chuckled softly.

"Are all men from the Central Plains so reserved?" she said, suddenly reaching out and gently covering Tang Xiaotong's hand, which was slightly cold from nervousness.

Tang Xiaotong shuddered, as if an electric current had surged through his body from their touching skin. He looked up in surprise and met Yu Jia's smiling eyes.

“Since returning to the Turkic Khaganate, I have often thought of you.” Yu Jia’s voice was as gentle as moonlight. “I remember the earnest look on your face when you explained the customs of the capital to me, the way you shielded me from the crowd, and the anxious look on your face when you found my earring, covered in sweat.”

Tang Xiaotong felt her throat tighten, countless words stuck in her chest, but she didn't know where to begin.

After a long while, he finally mustered up his courage and gently took the princess's hand in his own.

“Princess, I…” Tang Xiaotong’s heart was beating even faster. “Last year, when I heard that you were going to marry into the palace as a concubine, my heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. Later, when I learned that the marriage was canceled, I… I was so happy that I couldn’t sleep all night.”

His voice trembled slightly, "Only then did I realize that, without my knowledge, you had already occupied such an important place in my heart."

Yu Jia's fingers moved slightly in his palm: "Then why do you never show it?"

“Because I am just an ordinary citizen, while you are a princess of the Turks…” Tang Xiaotong’s voice was bitter, “I dare not have any improper thoughts.”

“Today, under this moonlight, there are no princesses or commoners, only Yu Jia and Tang Xiaotong.” She squeezed his hand. “Do you know? When I saw you follow me from the capital to Cangzhou to promote trade, when I saw you always put others before yourself, when I saw you never give up even in the face of difficulties… these are the things I value.”

Tang Xiaotong felt her eyes welling up with tears: "When I saw you so worried about the livelihood of your people that day, I just wanted to do everything I could to help you. Because I wanted to see your smile, which is more precious than any wealth."

Yu Jia leaned slightly forward and rested her head on Tang Xiaotong's shoulder: "So you're not the only one struggling with this in your heart. I've also been thinking about this relationship. Until today, seeing the smooth operation of the trade market and the smiles on the faces of the people of both ethnic groups as they exchange goods, I realized that some boundaries should never have existed in the first place."

Tang Xiaotong glanced at Princess Yujia's bright face, then boldly reached out and embraced her.

He pictured Han Lei looking at him with a knowing look in his eyes and said, "We have to thank our Queen for this. She suggested that we adopt a 'Belt and Road' policy in our dealings with neighboring countries. She has seen this policy implemented and it was very successful. We hope that the prosperity of Dajing will drive the prosperity of the surrounding areas."

"Your Queen is truly an extraordinary person," Princess Yujia exclaimed sincerely. She thought to herself, a man as exceptional as Zhao Zun could only be matched with a woman as remarkable as her Queen!
With this thought in mind, Princess Yujia felt relieved.

Faint singing drifted from the market, illuminated by lights. It was unclear whether it was a Turkic pastoral song or a folk tune from the Central Plains; the melodies intertwined and blended in the spring breeze.

The moon rose higher, its clear light spilling across the hillside and bathing the two of them in a silvery glow.

“I dare not promise anything,” Tang Xiaotong finally spoke, her voice much firmer than before, “but I can promise that as long as you need me, I will always be by your side, supporting and protecting you with all my might.”

Yu Jia nodded gently: "Sometimes, the most precious thing is not a fancy promise, but a sincere heart. In these days, I have clearly seen your heart."

The night breeze gradually warms, carrying with it the breath of new life on the grassland and the lively atmosphere of the distant market.

Two hands clasped tightly, their hearts beating the same rapid despite their different bloodlines.

The moonlight silently witnessed this night, and the beautiful emotions that had just blossomed on this hillside, transcending ethnicity and identity.

The night was as dark as ink, and the surrounding fields were silent except for the chirping of insects, as if they were whispering unspoken secrets.

The bright moonlight, like mercury spilling onto the ground, stretched the shadows of Tang Xiaotong and Princess Yujia, who were leaning against each other, into a long, lingering image, resembling a tranquil and tender painting from afar.

Zhao Zun, the King of Cangzhou, stood quietly in the shadow of a large tree not far away, his dark robes almost blending into the night.

His gaze was deep, fixed on the couple's backs. His resolute face revealed no emotion, only the slightly trembling tips of his ears betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

After a long silence, he sighed almost inaudibly and whispered, "Alas! Life is like a game of chess. I hope they can truly become a couple in the end."

With a slight twitch of his ear, he heard steady footsteps behind him, followed by a stiff Dajing voice: "Since the two of them are in love, how could I, the Khan, be an unreasonable and stubborn person? I will naturally grant their wish and let them be together in the end."

The newcomer was a burly man, dressed in the sable fur and gold ornaments typical of nobility from the steppes; he was none other than Bolu, the Turkic Khan.

Zhao Zun did not turn around, seemingly having already sensed the man's arrival. The guards around him had already reached for their pistols at their waists, their eyes sharp. Only when Zhao Zun gave a very slight nod did they silently step back, making way for him.

Zhao Zun slowly turned around, his face displaying his usual composure and aloofness.

"The Turkic Khan is truly fortunate. Tang Xiaotong and Princess Yujia are both extraordinary individuals. The princess, for the sake of her people, is willing to exchange marriage for temporary peace, and her ambition is commendable; Xiaotong, for the sake of the common people, has tirelessly mediated and facilitated the border trade, and his heart is respectable. If the two can join hands, it will be a great blessing for both countries. I, the King, am delighted to see it happen."

Zhao Zun spoke calmly and clearly, yet every word seemed to have been carefully considered. His gaze swept over Bolu and looked into the distant darkness, as if assessing the true weight behind his words.

Boru Khan laughed heartily, his voice booming like a bell, particularly striking in the still night: "Your Highness is right! The trade markets are thriving now, and I have seen it with my own eyes, and I know that this is truly a way to make a living. Tomorrow, I will lead my people back to the royal court. Take care, Your Highness of Cangzhou."

He paused, then pointed to the figure in the moonlight, "As for Yu Jia... let her linger here a little longer, so she can see more of the scenery of this frontier and learn more about... what her heart desires."

"May the Khan have a safe journey." Zhao Zun cupped his hands in a courteous manner. "May the flames of war be extinguished forever, may the border cities be peaceful, may cattle and sheep graze freely, and may our two nations forever be friends."

Boru Khan returned the courtesy of the steppes, declaring loudly, "Indeed!"

After saying that, he turned and strode away.

But the moment he turned his back to Zhao Zun, his hearty smile remained, but a faint yet profound curve appeared at the corner of his lips.

The smile never reached his eyes; instead, it carried a hint of cunning and shrewdness before quickly disappearing into the night.

Zhao Zun smiled and watched him leave. Once the imposing figure disappeared into the night, the gentleness on Zhao Zun's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sharpness like that of a hawk.

He did not move immediately, but stood still, as if trying to catch the last trace of eeriness in the air.

A moment later, he raised his hand and made a gentle gesture.

Commander Meng of the Imperial Guards approached silently and bowed to receive orders.

Zhao Zun turned his head and whispered a few words in his ear, his voice very low.

Old Meng's eyes sharpened, he nodded emphatically, then clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, his figure quickly retreating into the shadows to carry out Zhao Zun's secret command.

The night grew deeper, and the chill in the air intensified.

Zhao Zun turned his gaze back to the two figures still nestled together, a rare hint of complex tenderness appearing in his usually cold eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

He slowly raised his head, squinted his eyes, and looked towards the vast, boundless Turkic steppe to the north, bathed in the lonely moonlight. His gaze seemed to pierce through the darkness and see the undercurrents that might be surging beneath the calm surface.

He stood with his hands behind his back, motionless for a long time, like a frozen statue, with a thousand thoughts churning endlessly in the deep night...

...This is a line for asking for comments...

The newly built workshop in Qingshui County was filled with a strong and unfamiliar smell.

Han Lei stood in the center, wearing two masks, revealing only her bright and resolute eyes.

She was more than three months pregnant, her belly was noticeably protruding, and her movements were somewhat clumsy, yet she still meticulously directed the craftsmen to operate the distillation equipment.

"Be careful with the heat, watch out for the condenser..." Her voice was slightly muffled through the mask, but it carried an undeniable calmness.

After several days of repeated experiments with the craftsmen, she finally succeeded in refining gasoline equivalent to modern 92-octane gasoline using the tools provided by the system.

Looking at the slightly swaying liquid in the porcelain jar, she breathed a sigh of relief, raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead, but accidentally smeared a smear of oil on her cheek.

Sunlight streamed through the makeshift window, illuminating her slightly tired yet content face.

She originally wanted to try refining 95-octane gasoline, but looking at her increasingly heavy body, she eventually gave up.

After all, her current situation, dealing with crude oil every day, is not good. Moreover, she has already squandered all the crude oil she bought from the Turkic merchants, and she cannot make any further progress in the short term.

"Number 92 is enough for the three-wheeled vehicles for now..."

She murmured to herself, her palm unconsciously resting on her swollen belly.

After her morning sickness subsided, her appetite was excellent. The baby in her belly was growing so fast that, at just over three months, it looked like it had been inflated to the brim, making her more noticeable than other women who were five months pregnant.

My body is heavy, and spending days in the workshop has taken its toll.

When he returned to the palace with two maids, the sun was already setting.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw several servants winking and giving her meaningful glances.

Han Lei was puzzled, but she didn't think about it too much before stepping into the front hall.

Just as she was about to take a step, Han Lei felt a wave of low pressure rushing towards her.

In the center of the hall, Zhao Zun sat upright in a grand chair, still wearing his dusty black military uniform. His brows were furrowed, and his face was so gloomy it could drip water.

"Don't worry, Mother. I'll give her a good scolding when she gets back. She's been too outrageous." Zhao Zun didn't look at the old lady, remaining angry to herself. Her chest heaved violently with anger.

The old lady sat to one side, looked at Zhao Zun, sighed helplessly, and shook her head.

She nags on and on every day, repeating the same old things.

Han Lei, that girl, was also very well-behaved, bowing her head and listening attentively, indicating that she had taken his advice to heart. But every day she would disappear in the blink of an eye, only returning to the palace with her heavy body as the sun set.

Han Lei was well-behaved, so she didn't say too much, lest she say something too harsh and make things difficult for her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

But let's not go into details. Han Lei's body is getting heavier and heavier every day. She's afraid that if Han Lei accidentally bumps or falls, not only will it hurt the baby in her belly, but Han Lei's body will also suffer.

Most importantly, when her son returned from Yong'an City, she didn't know how to explain things to him, even though he had given her countless instructions before leaving.

Now that her son is back, she has no choice but to tell him everything about Han Lei's "behavior" these past few days.

Upon hearing this, the son's already imposing face immediately darkened.

In the hall, one was sighing and lamenting, while the other's face was ashen.

Han Lei's heart skipped a beat when she saw this.

broken!

Thank you all for your full subscriptions! Several times I wanted to write something short and simple, but seeing everyone's support made me feel embarrassed to do so.