Love Lock

Chapter 314 Gritting Teeth and Enduring
Han Lei stepped forward, gave a graceful curtsy, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Excellency, that paper was given to him by me."

Grand Secretary Zhang's gaze immediately locked onto Han Lei, his scrutinizing eyes burning as if he had discovered a rare treasure.

His face instantly lit up with a smile, and he exclaimed repeatedly, "Oh my, young lady, you are so talented! Quickly! Quickly! Please come inside with me!"

The contrast between Grand Secretary Zhang's enthusiastic attitude and his cold and resolute tone when he relayed the message was stark.

Han Lei smiled slightly, said "Thank you," and stepped forward to follow Grand Secretary Zhang inside.

Zhao Zun, standing to the side, was immediately embarrassed. He coughed lightly and reminded her, "Teacher, wait a moment. This is my wife, my princess. She has already gone in with you, leaving me and Fatty outside. This... is probably not proper, is it?"

Upon hearing this, Grand Secretary Zhang abruptly stopped in his tracks.

He turned around abruptly and looked at Han Lei again. The joyful smile on his face quickly faded like a tide, instantly replaced by a layer of frost, and his eyes became cold and wary.

He asked sternly, "What? You are this traitor's queen?"

Han Lei knew that Grand Secretary Zhang would ask about it sooner or later, so she maintained her sweet smile and readily admitted, "That's right."

"Humph!"

As expected, Grand Secretary Zhang's expression changed drastically, as if he had been greatly deceived and humiliated. He shouted at the gatekeeper, "Close the gate! Show the guest out!"

Having said that, he angrily flicked his sleeve and turned to go back to his residence.

"Grandpa! No!" Upon seeing this, the fat man cried out in pain. He suddenly lunged forward with a burst of strength, using his obese body to block the doorway.

Looking at Grand Secretary Zhang's resolute expression, he pleaded with a sob in his voice, "Grandpa! Please let us in! I beg you! Zhao Zun isn't what you think. He and the Princess are both people who care about the world. I'll explain it to you slowly, and you'll understand! Grandpa!"

With the world in one's heart?

His grandson actually managed to portray treason as having the world in his heart.

Grand Secretary Zhang's back, which had already turned away, stiffened for a moment, and he stopped in his tracks.

He did not turn around; his gray head swayed slightly, as if he were struggling and thinking intensely.

The situation remained deadlocked, with only the heavy breathing of the fat man audible. The servants on either side of the gate looked at their master, then at the fat man blocking the door, unsure of what to do.

Grand Secretary Zhang already disliked Fatty for not liking to study and being useless; now that he was involved with rebels, he was even more furious.

But he knew his grandson's character very well. He was quite surprised that they described such a capital offense as having the world in their hearts.

Zhao Zun was his student, and he only studied at the Imperial Academy for a few short years when he was young. He might not have a deep impression of Zhao Zun from that time, but he knew all about the great achievements Zhao Zun and his son had made over the years in protecting the peace of the Great Jing Dynasty at Beiguan.

To be honest, he was also very curious as to why Zhao Zun would suddenly turn to the path of rebellion. Even his good-for-nothing grandson, Zhang Hanlin, was willing to sever ties with his family to support Zhao Zun.

He was even more curious about what kind of spell Zhao Zun had cast on Zhang Hanlin.

After a long silence, Grand Secretary Zhang made a decision that seemed to be extremely difficult.

He sighed deeply and helplessly, turned his back to the crowd, waved his hand, and his voice was full of exhaustion and a hint of weakness.

"...Alright...all of you, come in."

Big Fatty felt like he had been granted a pardon and almost collapsed from exhaustion, but fortunately Zhao Zun caught him.

The group then followed Grand Secretary Zhang, each with their own mixed feelings, into the deep mansion.

The hall was spacious and decorated in an antique style, full of scholarly atmosphere, yet also exuding an old-fashioned majesty.

Grand Secretary Zhang walked straight to the head seat and sat down. His face remained gloomy. He did not instruct the servants to serve tea, but merely glanced at everyone with extreme indifference and said with a forced sigh, "Sit down."

Immediately, Grand Secretary Zhang's gaze fell on Han Lei again, no longer concealing his eagerness and inquiry.

He picked up the piece of Xuan paper that had almost caused a commotion from the table beside him, and carefully unfolded it as if it were a priceless treasure.

He pointed to the writing above, staring intently at Han Lei, and asked, word by word.

“Tell me, did you write all of these things on this paper, such as ‘education for all, and the flourishing of education’ and ‘the unity of knowledge and action, and the extension of innate knowledge’? And the detailed rules in the second half about establishing more rural schools, allowing all children to attend for free, selecting teachers, and unifying the methods of education? Did you write all of these?” His voice trembled uncontrollably.

Han Lei met Zhang Ge Lao's questioning gaze and slowly shook her head, her voice clear and calm.

"Your Excellency, these words and the subsequent ideas were not my creation. They originated from another great sage who had a heart for the world and possessed extraordinary wisdom. I only had the opportunity to glimpse them by chance, and today I have merely copied them down and presented them to Your Excellency. I wonder what Your Excellency thinks of these words written on this paper, and the educational vision envisioned afterward?"

When Grand Secretary Zhang heard "not my creation," a clear look of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but he was immediately drawn in by what followed.

He lowered his head again, almost greedily rereading the contents of the Xuan paper word by word, his withered fingers gently stroking the ink characters as if caressing a long-lost treasure.

After a long while, he suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with immense excitement and shock, his beard trembling slightly, and his voice becoming somewhat high-pitched due to extreme excitement.

"I find it brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Grand Secretary Zhang merely praised the words on the paper. "These words and strategies are truly groundbreaking, expressing the ambitions I have sought my entire life but could never articulate! This is no ordinary strategy; this is... this is the beginning of a grand plan! Young lady, who exactly is this great sage who wrote such a magnificent piece and possesses such unparalleled talent? Where is he now?!"

Han Lei shook her head, indicating that she did not know where that great sage was now.

Her gaze was calm, but a faint smile played on her lips, as if she were hiding a shocking secret.

She said softly, "However... what does Your Excellency think of the four lines written on this paper: 'To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations'?"

Upon hearing this, Grand Secretary Zhang's cloudy eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light.

His withered fingers unconsciously traced the "Four Lines of Hengqu" on the Xuan paper, murmuring the last line repeatedly: "To usher in an era of peace for all generations... To usher in an era of peace for all generations..."

His voice started low, then grew louder, and finally trembled slightly, "What a lofty ambition! It can be said to be earth-shattering and deeply moving! But..."

He suddenly sighed, the burning light in his eyes gradually dimming. "In the end, it's all just empty talk. This world is full of turmoil, and people's greed is unpredictable. Even if one has the talent to govern the world, how can one truly create lasting peace? Perhaps... it's just the most beautiful fantasy in the hearts of scholars."

Han Lei didn't answer, but turned slightly to look at Zhao Zun, who had been silent all along. She smiled and gently gestured towards Zhao Zun: "Your Excellency, to be honest, Zhao Zun is doing this right now."

"Him? Pshaw!" Grand Secretary Zhang glanced sideways, his gaze sweeping across Zhao Zun's resolute face like a knife.

When this topic came up, his gray eyebrows furrowed tightly, and the corners of his mouth curled down in an undisguised sneer. "Absurd! Zhao Zun is brave and might be a hero on the battlefield, but what about bringing peace to the world for generations to come?"

He snorted loudly, his voice suddenly rising in pitch, carrying the sternness of an elder reprimanding a junior.

"His rebellion is known throughout the land! The imperial court sent troops to suppress him, and the whole country condemned him! How can you call such traitorous behavior 'creating peace for all generations'? It's utterly ridiculous!"

Every sarcastic word from Grand Secretary Zhang was like a cold pebble, crashing heavily into the silent air.

Zhao Zun sat upright like a bell, but his face was full of dark lines. His hands, which were resting on his knees, were clenched tightly, and his knuckles turned slightly white from the force, revealing the turmoil in his heart.

His jawline was taut, his gaze lowered as he looked at the patterns of light and shadow on the ground.

The teacher's repeated use of the word "traitor" was like a series of fine needles, piercing the softest part of his heart where he respected his teachers the most.

Before he arrived, he had already anticipated the storm he would face, and he had even prepared for even more unbearable insults.

He thought he could face it calmly, but when he actually sat in front of his mentor, who had taught him loyalty to the emperor and love for the country since childhood, and heard the utterly disappointed rebuke, his chest still felt like it was blocked by a huge rock, heavy and suffocating, making it hard for him to breathe.

This was his mentor. He gritted his teeth and endured it. If it were anyone else, his clenched fists would have already met with a slap in the face.

But even when faced with Grand Secretary Zhang's closed door and sarcastic remarks, he couldn't retaliate.

He also wanted to politely ask Grand Secretary Zhang to relocate to Cangzhou so that Fatty could reunite with him. He didn't want his impulsiveness to worsen the relationship between Fatty and his family.

Moreover, now that Han Lei has come up with a way to discuss things with Grand Secretary Zhang, he must cooperate with her.

Han Lei saw Zhao Zun's forbearance and felt a slight pang in her heart, but her face remained calm and composed.

She met Zhang Ge Lao's angry and aloof gaze, her voice soft and gentle yet steady.

"Your Excellency, it is true that Zhao Zun plotted a rebellion. Everyone knows that the court dispatched a large army to suppress it. But let's not discuss whether Zhao Zun's actions were truly rebellious or out of necessity. Let's just talk about the fate of the army. Do you know what became of the court's army?"

Grand Secretary Zhang was taken aback, and the anger on his face froze for a moment.

He stared intently at Han Lei, a barely perceptible hint of inquiry and bewilderment flashing in his cloudy eyes.

Because his grandson was involved with rebels, in order to avoid bringing disaster to the family, he has been living a secluded life at his old residence in Jingzhou for some time now, and knows very little about the outside world, especially about the outcome of military battles. There are various rumors circulating among the people, but it is difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

He unconsciously stroked his beard, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he didn't utter a sound. However, the look in his eyes as he gazed at Han Lei indicated that he was waiting for what was to come.

Han Lei smiled slightly, a smile that carried a touch of the cold confidence unique to the people of Cangzhou: "The imperial army of 100,000 men to quell the rebellion couldn't even set foot in Cangzhou before they were defeated and routed, a complete rout, utterly... utterly humiliated."

Her tone was calm, yet every word carried immense weight, striking the ground with a sound like metal striking stone.

The imperial army suffered a crushing defeat?

"What?! This... how is this possible?!" Grand Secretary Zhang gasped sharply, his body standing up uncontrollably.

His pupils suddenly contracted, his face filled with disbelief, horror, and astonishment. He abruptly turned his head and stared intently at Zhao Zun, as if he were seeing his student for the first time.

When did this young yet weathered face acquire such terrifying power?

What kind of overwhelming power was hidden beneath Zhao Zun's calm and composed expression? Could it be... could it be that Zhao Zun and his son had been secretly cultivating their own power in Beiguan for many years?
He subconsciously thought this was the trump card that the Zhao family, a family of generals for generations, had accumulated over many years.

"Grandpa, it's true." The chubby guy who had been quietly standing by finally found a chance to interject.

His voice was loud and clear, full of youthful vigor and an undisguised admiration for Zhao Zun.

"Cangzhou has been completely transformed! Its development is progressing rapidly, and its military equipment is so sophisticated and powerful that the imperial army simply cannot compete with it. More importantly, Zhao Zun and Han Lei... they truly love the people like their own children! The people of Cangzhou, as well as the soldiers in the military camp, all sincerely support them and are willing to follow them to the death!"

Big Fatty talked on and on, getting more and more excited as he spoke, his face flushed: "Grandpa, can you see those hard, flat, and wide roads being built all over Jingzhou?"

Grand Secretary Zhang nodded subconsciously. Although he rarely left his house, his servants had already told him about this major event, road construction, as if it were a strange and wonderful story.

He had glanced at it from afar, and the gray-white road surface was something he had never seen before.

"That's called a 'cement' road! It's cement produced in Cangzhou itself!" Big Fat Head said with pride. "Not only are they building roads, but the King of Jingzhou and Prefect Song Peilin of Jingzhou are now also loyal to Cangzhou! Everything we've done in Cangzhou—running farms, building roads—is for the benefit of the local people! Now, even the Duke of Heng's family has moved to Cangzhou..."

This series of news, like a series of thunderclaps, exploded in Zhang Ge Lao's ears. His aged face was filled with layers of astonishment.

Duke of Heng?
That's a Duke! Even he...

Grand Secretary Zhang felt his throat go dry and his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest. He realized that his understanding of the world was being completely overturned by the casual words of these young men before him.

Seeing his grandfather's shock, the fat man spoke even more enthusiastically: "And there's more! Zhao Zun and Han Lei have set up numerous clinics in Cangzhou, benefiting the poor. They've also established schools in various counties of Cangzhou! They stipulate that all commoner children aged six to sixteen can enroll, with tuition completely waived for the first three terms! They say this is the true realization of 'education for all'!"

"Nonsense!" Grand Secretary Zhang retorted instinctively. This was far beyond the imagination of this traditional Confucian scholar. "This...this is no child's play! Tuition fees are secondary. With so many students, where will we get so many books? Where will we get enough paper? How much money will this cost? It's simply unsustainable!"

For many years, studying has been something that only the children of the wealthy could do.

He had also dreamed of children from poor families being able to go to school, but he could only sigh in vain, as it was simply impossible.

In his view, this was nothing short of idealistic fantasy, defying all the laws of reality.

"Possibly! And it's already done!" The fat man's voice grew louder and louder, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Han Lei has opened a massive paper mill in Cangzhou, not only solving the livelihood problems of countless people, but also producing cheap and high-quality paper to continuously supply the schools! The book printing workshops are also operating day and night, and the textbooks used by the children are all uniformly printed at extremely low cost. The excess paper and books produced can be sold to other prefectures, actually filling the treasury!"

Seeing his grandson speaking with great enthusiasm, Grand Secretary Zhang was completely speechless. His mouth was open, his white beard trembled slightly, but he could not utter a sound.

He dedicated his life to scholarship and deeply understood the difficulty and expense of disseminating knowledge. Han Lei's actions were truly transformative, opening up a new world!
Upon hearing what the fat man said, Han Lei immediately took out a thick object from her sleeve, or rather, from her spatial storage, and respectfully presented it to Grand Secretary Zhang with both hands.

"Your Excellency, please take a look at this item and tell me what you think?" Han Lei asked respectfully.