Love Lock

Chapter 313 Where there's demand, things are easy.
Zhao Zun, Han Lei, and Da Pangtou arrived in Jingzhou by carriage.

Upon entering Jingzhou, one is immediately struck by a bustling scene, with activity everywhere.

With the support of Zhao Zun and Han Lei, and having previously resided in Cangzhou where he meticulously examined the various development measures implemented by Han Lei, and further supported by the professional construction team and cement materials sent by Zhao Zun, the King of Jingzhou returned to Jingzhou and immediately began to vigorously promote construction.

The King of Jingzhou first focused on road construction and the establishment of breeding farms to solve the people's urgent need for food and clothing.

Before leaving Beijing, Han Lei specially gifted him a large quantity of corn, sweet potato, and potato seeds.

So the people of Jingzhou continued to grow rice in their existing paddy fields, and at the same time, they sowed these new crops, which were not picky about soil and had strong vitality, on newly reclaimed slopes by the mountains.

The seeds of hope are quietly nurturing for a bountiful harvest in the future.

Construction sites were visible everywhere in Jingzhou. Newly built cement roads stretched into the fields like a spider web, but were blocked by loess and gravel everywhere. There were even people from the Jingzhou government office directing the construction.

As the wheels rolled over the newly compacted roadbed, the carriage shook violently. Zhao Zun reached out to protect Han Lei's waist, his brows furrowing slightly.

"They've been working on this road quite diligently," Han Lei said, lifting a corner of the car curtain and looking out the window. "I just wonder when it will be completely unobstructed."

Her gaze swept across the fields beside the road, where farmers were bending over to plant rice seedlings. The tender green shoots swayed gently in the breeze, creating a peculiar contrast with the dusty construction site in the distance.

As the carriage reached a fork in the road, Han Lei suddenly straightened up and looked at Zhao Zun. "Now that we're in the city, why don't we visit the Prince of Jingzhou's residence first? We could also ask him how his cement business is progressing."

As she spoke, her fingers unconsciously traced her slightly protruding belly, a gesture that softened Zhao Zun's gaze for a moment before it hardened again.

"No way!" Zhao Zun shook his head without hesitation, his expression uncompromising.

He reached out and lifted the car window curtain. "Look at the delivery trucks. There's construction going on everywhere in Jingzhou right now, and the streets are chaotic with cars and pedestrians. You're pregnant; what if you get hit by a car?"

Just then, several oxcarts carrying supplies rumbled past, raising clouds of yellow dust.

Han Lei pouted; she knew he wouldn't agree. Aside from pulling the scenery cart, she'd spent almost the entire journey in the carriage, either sitting or lying down. She was practically going stir-crazy.

Big Fatty turned around from the front seat, his round face full of urgency: "How about... we go straight to the old house in Taoyuan County? I'm really looking forward to it."

He rubbed his short, stubby fingers together, his voice filled with anticipation, "It's been more than half a year since I last saw Grandpa. I wonder how they are doing."

Before Han Lei could say anything more, the car wheel suddenly rolled over a deep pothole, and she nearly crashed into the side of the car.

Zhao Zun quickly pulled her back and called out to the driver, "Slow down, head straight to Taoyuan County."

Then, he turned to Han Lei and explained gently, "There will be opportunities to visit the Prince of Jingzhou's residence in the future. Right now, your health is the most important thing."

The convoy drove through the bustling city and gradually headed towards the countryside.

Han Lei gazed at the gently flowing pastoral scenery outside the window and finally nodded softly.

Zhao Zun tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips lingering briefly on her earlobe—an intimate gesture unnoticed by anyone.

As the sun began to set, the carriage drove onto a relatively smooth, newly built official road.

Suddenly, the fat man pointed ahead and cheered, "See that old locust tree? Turn that corner and you'll be in Taoyuan County!"

Guided by the fat man, after about half an incense stick's time, the carriage stopped in front of a magnificent old house.

The old house has high walls made of blue bricks, a vermilion gate, and two majestic stone lions standing in front of the gate. Above the gate hangs an ebony plaque with the two gilded characters "Zhang Residence". Although it has been weathered and is slightly mottled, it still exudes an inviolable solemnity.

This is the ancestral home of Grand Secretary Zhang in Jingzhou.

As soon as the carriage came to a stop, Big Fat Head couldn't wait to jump off, excitedly stepping onto the stone steps and waving his copper ring to knock on the door.

The heavy knocking echoed in the quiet alley. After a short while, the gate creaked open a crack, and an elderly man who looked like a doorman peeked out with half his face.

When he saw that it was Big Fat Head, his expression changed drastically. Before Big Fat Head could speak, he slammed the door shut with a loud "bang" as if he had seen a plague god, and the sound of the bolt being bolted could be clearly heard.

Big Fatty froze on the spot, his excitement instantly freezing.

Seeing this, Zhao Zun stepped forward slowly, straightened his clothes, and knocked on the door again in a calm tone.

He called out loudly through the crack in the door, "Please inform him that I, Zhao Zun, have come to pay my respects to my esteemed teacher, Grand Secretary Zhang."

Zhao Zun's tone was gentle and humble, revealing deep respect.

The doorman opened the door a crack again, revealing only half of his expressionless face. He looked Zhao Zun up and down, said "Wait," and then withdrew his head.

The footsteps faded into the distance, and a suffocating silence fell outside the door, broken only by the rustling of the warm breeze through the old locust tree at the alley entrance.

After a while, the gatekeeper returned, still only sticking out half his body, and said coldly, "The master said you should go back; he will not see any guests."

Big Fat Head panicked and rushed forward, his obese body almost squeezing through the crack in the door.

He said urgently, "Go and report it again! Tell Grandpa that Fatty is back! It's his own grandson Fatty! Grandpa will definitely see me!"

Seeing the fat man's anxious expression, the gatekeeper's eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness. He sighed, finally softened, and turned back to go inside to report.

This time the wait was a little longer, and everyone's hearts sank little by little with time.

Finally, the gate opened again, and the gatekeeper's face was even colder than before, with a hint of disdain.

He cleared his throat and raised his voice, as if he were not speaking to the fat man, but rather announcing it to the entire alley.

"The master has decreed: Zhao Zun, the King of Cangzhou, has raised an army in rebellion, which is disloyal, unfilial, and utterly treasonous! Since you, young master, have colluded with the rebels, our family has already severed all ties with you! From this day forward, the Zhang family has no such person as Fatty Young Master, and the master has no student who plots rebellion! Everyone, please leave! Do not cause any more trouble!"

Before the words were even finished, and before anyone could react, the door was slammed shut with a loud bang, the sound like a final verdict that sent shivers down everyone's spines.

Big Fatty was still not giving up. He pounded on the cold, vermilion door and called out to his grandfather, but there was only silence inside and no response.

All of Big Fatty's hopes and courage completely collapsed at this moment.

He slowly slid down onto the cold stone steps, his huge body curled up, his hands covering his head, and he began to sob like a child abandoned by the whole world. His broad shoulders trembled incessantly, and his cries were filled with grievance and despair.

Zhao Zun and Han Lei, who had been observing the situation quietly, exchanged a glance. A heavy sense of guilt flashed across Zhao Zun's usually cold face.

He walked to the fat man's side, gently patted his shoulder, then looked at the tightly closed door and sighed deeply. He said to Han Lei in a low voice, "Grand Secretary Zhang is a veteran of three reigns, who has devoted his life to upholding the principles of 'loyalty to the emperor and love for the country,' which are ingrained in his very bones. For such old ministers, this is the most fundamental principle in the world. Even if the court has a thousand faults, and His Majesty has ten thousand mistakes, they will remain steadfast in their convictions. In their eyes, treason is an unforgivable crime, beyond redemption. I had anticipated this outcome... but ultimately, I have failed the fat man in causing him to break with his loved ones."

Upon hearing this, Han Lei's pretty face immediately showed a hint of anger.

She scoffed and muttered in a low voice, "What an incredibly stubborn and inflexible old man! He can't distinguish between loyalty and treachery, or between family and friends. He doesn't even want his own grandson!"

Zhao Zun shook his head slightly, his tone helpless yet still respectful.

“Girl, don’t speak of your teacher like that. He is blindly loyal to the court and is indeed a bit old-fashioned and stubborn, but he is an upright person and by no means a wicked one.”

Han Lei held her lower back with one hand, looking at the very aggrieved-looking fat man, and felt guilty for Zhao Zun.

"So what do we do now? Are we just going to sit here doing nothing? I can't stand up any longer." Han Lei pouted.

Zhao Zun quickly helped her up, his brows furrowed in thought, but after a long while he had no good solution, he could only say softly, "You're feeling heavy, go back to the carriage and rest first, let me think about it some more."

"Okay! Then go check on Fatty." Han Lei sighed and turned to walk towards the carriage.

As dusk approached, the golden rays of the setting sun shone down, dazzling the eye.

She raised her hand to shield her forehead, her gaze unconsciously sweeping across the distant fields. She saw several farm children, around seven or eight years old, helping their parents work hard in the fields, their small shadows stretching long in the setting sun.

This ordinary rural scene, however, was like a bolt of lightning, suddenly cleaving through the fog in Han Lei's mind!
She suddenly remembered that Zhao Zun had mentioned before that when he was listening to Grand Secretary Zhang's lectures at the Imperial Academy, the Grand Secretary once got drunk and lost in thought, and privately sighed that his lifelong wish was that "all children in the world could recite poetry and books, all children in the world could be my students, education should be available to all, and education should flourish!"
"My only wish in life is... to educate all without discrimination..." Han Lei murmured, repeating these four words, her eyes instantly lighting up.

It seems this pedantic old man has a need!

If there's a need, things are easy to handle!

She immediately quickened her pace, almost running, to the carriage, where she climbed up using both hands and feet.

Zhao Zun was about to go over and ask her when he saw that she had already climbed into the carriage and lowered the curtain.

Inside the carriage, Han Lei quickly opened the system interface using her divine sense. Her slender fingers moved rapidly through the air, as if operating an invisible touchscreen, and she soon found the document she needed.

She carefully browsed and extracted the text, and finally, a sheet of high-quality Xuan paper appeared in her hand, with ink dripping on it and rows of vigorous and powerful characters written on it.

She took a deep breath, gripped the piece of Xuan paper tightly, lifted the carriage curtain, and awkwardly stepped down from the carriage, protecting her belly.

When Zhao Zun saw her return with a piece of paper in her hand, he couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Why did you come down again?"

Han Lei didn't answer him, but gave him a reassuring look before walking straight back to the tightly closed vermilion door.

Without hesitation, she grasped the cold brass ring and knocked on the door knocker forcefully and rapidly, her voice firm and carrying an air of undeniable authority.

"Who is it?! Are you ever going to stop?!"

An extremely impatient voice came from behind the door, and the door was pulled open a crack again, revealing that old face full of disgust.

Before he could react, Han Lei handed him the folded paper, her tone calm yet authoritative: "Present this to your master. Once he sees it, he will come to see us."

The gatekeeper was taken aback, then scoffed and refused to take the paper: "Madam, don't joke! The master has made his intentions crystal clear; he will not see you! How could he change his mind because of a piece of paper? Hurry up and leave, don't make a fool of yourself!"

Han Lei's face darkened, her eyes sharpened as she stared at him, and her voice turned cold.

"Just deliver it. If it delays your master's important business, and he blames you and punishes you, don't blame me for not warning you!"

The doorman was intimidated by her imposing manner and, seeing her so confident, couldn't help but feel somewhat doubtful.

He hesitated as he took the light yet seemingly heavy sheet of Xuan paper, glanced at Han Lei several times, and ultimately dared not bear the consequences of potentially making things worse.

The gatekeeper could only mutter, "Just you wait! If the master gets angry, you'll be in trouble!"

After saying that, he slammed the door shut with the paper in his hand, turned around and ran quickly towards the inner courtyard.

This time, the wait wasn't long.

However, Zhao Zun and Da Pangtou outside the door felt as if an eternity had passed.

Big Fat Head sobbed, staring nervously at the door.

Zhao Zun also frowned slightly, glancing at the composed Han Lei from time to time, his eyes filled with inquiry and doubt.

Suddenly, a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps came from inside the door, much louder and more rushed than ever before.

Immediately afterwards, to the astonishment of Zhao Zun and Big Fatty, the vermilion door that had always been tightly closed to them suddenly creaked open from the inside!

The gatekeeper led more than ten maids and servants out in single file, quickly lining up neatly on both sides of the gate. Each of them bowed their heads and looked respectful, a stark contrast to their previous aloof attitude.

Zhao Zun and the fat man looked at each other, completely bewildered as to what had happened.

What’s even more shocking is yet to come.

Two well-dressed maids carefully helped an elderly man with white hair, dressed in brocade robes, as he walked out, trembling.

The old man was advanced in years, his face covered with wrinkles, but his eyes were not cloudy. At this moment, they shone with an unusually bright, almost ecstatic light as he eagerly searched outside the door.

Zhao Zun and Big Fatty immediately recognized that this was none other than Grand Secretary Zhang!
The two were at a loss for words and quickly stepped forward to pay their respects according to etiquette.

"This student pays his respects..."

"Grandson pays his respects..."

Before the two could finish speaking, Grand Secretary Zhang raised his hand and waved it to stop them.

His gaze swept over Zhao Zun and the fat man without lingering, finally landing on the gatekeeper. His voice trembled with urgency: "Who gave you that piece of paper just now?"

The doorman paused for a moment, then quickly pointed to Han Lei, who was standing slightly ahead.

I need a one-stop service! A one-stop service! Thank you so much, everyone!