Love Lock

Chapter 337 Tigers and Wolves Emerge
The next day, when Han Lei slowly woke up, the bright sunlight had already streamed through the window and filled her bed; it was already noon.

She lazily turned her head, but Zhao Zun was nowhere to be seen beside her.

As her pregnancy progresses, the most difficult things for her now are turning over and getting out of bed.

She braced herself against her lower back with one hand and held onto the bedpost with the other, trying to sit up. The baby in her womb seemed to be startled and kicked gently.

Zitan and Jinju, who were guarding outside the door, heard the commotion inside and knocked lightly on the door before entering with warm water and a handkerchief.

Seeing that Han Lei was about to get up, the two quickly stepped forward, one on each side, to help her sit up steadily, and then put slippers on her.

Perhaps it was because she stood for too long while treating Dongfang Jiming a few days ago, but these days her feet have become swollen, and she can't even wear shoes.

With the help of the two men, Han Lei slowly stood still, her gaze sweeping around the room before she softly asked Zi Tan, "When did Your Highness get up? Do you know where you went?"

As Zitan deftly straightened her pajamas, she softly replied, "Your Highness, the Prince got up early this morning. He's currently in the next room discussing matters with Da Jiu and Marshal Li Jianyong!"

Upon hearing this, Han Lei nodded slightly.

Now her body felt increasingly heavy and she felt mentally exhausted. Anyway, the battle at Dongguan was over, so she was happy not to concern herself with those complicated military affairs.

She sat down at the dressing table, letting Jinju comb her long black hair, while Zitan quickly made the bed.

Looking at herself in the mirror, who had gained more than a size, Han Lei raised her hand and gently stroked her protruding belly, feeling the life stirring within it. A gentle smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

After washing up, she softly instructed Zitan, "Bring lunch to my room; I'll eat here." At this hour, she could only combine breakfast and lunch.

Zitan acknowledged the order and withdrew. A short while later, she brought over a black lacquered food box and neatly arranged several dishes provided by the inn on the octagonal table.

With Jinju's help, Han Lei slowly moved to the table, gazing at the scenery outside the window, feeling a sense of peace.

After the battle of Dongguan ended, Zhao Zun stayed by her side. At this moment, she only wished to guard this little world and wait for the arrival of a new life.

Faint voices could be heard coming from next door, but it was impossible to make out what they were saying. Han Lei ate her meal quietly by herself. Contrary to the old folks' saying that "sour for a boy and spicy for a girl," after her morning sickness subsided, she had an exceptionally good appetite and ate everything.

After lunch, Han Lei took out a medical book from her spatial storage and started reading. It was rare for her to have such a leisurely day, so she calmed down and read for a while.

She was indeed much fuller five or six months pregnant. Her once delicate and sweet face now had a maternal glow, and even the way she turned the pages of a book had a touch of languor.

The weather was hot, and the cicadas outside were chirping incessantly. Although Zitan and Jinju were fanning her from both sides, Han Lei still felt stuffy and irritable.

The beads of sweat on her forehead, clinging to a few strands of her hair, made her very uncomfortable.

"Go prepare some hot water, I want to take a bath," she said softly, putting down her medical book.

Zitan quickly agreed, "Your Highness, please wait a moment, this servant will go and prepare."

Hot water was quickly prepared, but Han Lei, being a modern person, still didn't like being waited on, so she had Jinju and Zitan stand guard outside the screen and went behind it alone.

Steam rose from behind the screen. She had just taken off her clothes, revealing her large, round pregnant belly, and was about to carefully step into the bathtub while holding onto the edge when she heard familiar footsteps outside the door.

Zhao Zun pushed open the door and immediately saw the figure faintly visible behind the screen. Seeing that two maids were standing outside the screen, his brows furrowed: "Why aren't you going in to serve her? What if the Princess falls?"

His voice carried obvious displeasure. Han Lei explained softly from behind the screen, "I was the one who told them not to come in. I will carefully hold the wooden tub myself, so please don't blame them."

Zhao Zun ignored them, waved for the two maids to leave, took off his outer robe, and quickly went around to the back of the screen.

In the misty steam, Han Lei's cheeks were flushed, and her hands instinctively protected her prominent pregnant belly: "You go out, I can manage on my own."

"I'm not not home, how can I let you wash by yourself?" Zhao Zun said, taking a step forward and forcefully picking her up horizontally. Then, with extremely gentle movements, he placed Han Lei into the bathtub.

The water temperature was just right, and Han Lei sighed comfortably. Zhao Zun rolled up his sleeves and naturally picked up a handkerchief to help her wash her back.

"You're heavier now, so you have to be careful in everything you do." Zhao Zun's voice was low and gentle, but it was also a little nagging. "Someone must be there to help you when you bathe. If you fall, you have to tell me..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Han Lei could hear the lingering fear in his voice.

Han Lei felt annoyed, but still found him too talkative, so she changed the subject: "Weren't you discussing something? How did it go?"

As Zhao Zun meticulously washed her, he replied, "Everything has been discussed. Marshal Li is advanced in years and has suffered humiliation this time, so I've told him not to lead troops anymore. Instead, he'll oversee the construction of the East Gate Fortress and the mausoleum, and properly settle the fallen brothers. Yang Shaojie will lead the remaining troops to guard East Gate. As for Jizhou... I'll send a message to Xiao Zhengfei later, instructing him to bring troops over to take over the city's defenses and reorganize the Jizhou and East Gate armies."

He spoke of important matters, but his hands became unruly. His warm, large hands lingered on her rounded shoulders, gradually sliding downwards.

Han Lei gave a coquettish laugh and slapped the back of his hand: "Fine, you can wash it, but where are you touching it?"

"Hehe!" Zhao Zun chuckled, but was unwilling to withdraw his unruly hand. "Isn't this just a side thing?" His gaze was intense, lingering on her smooth skin. "I remember the first time I saw you bathing before we got married, I was so scared that I didn't know what to do. Now it's fine, I can touch you openly."

His voice carried a hint of smugness as he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "And... your body has become much fuller, making me even more enamored with you."

"You're so annoying!" Han Lei blushed and gave him a playful glare. Suddenly remembering something, she asked, "What do you plan to do with that Luo Sihan?"

Upon hearing this name, Zhao Zun's gaze darkened: "Take him to the capital in a couple of days and hand him over to His Majesty for disposal."

"Go to the capital?" Han Lei was very surprised and couldn't help but turn to look at him. "But you are a prince, isn't it said that you can't go to the capital without an imperial edict? And you are now... a rebel. Aren't you afraid..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Zun suddenly laughed, his laughter tinged with arrogance: "What's there to be afraid of? Don't say it's dark under the lamp. He can't find us. Even if he did, he should be the one who's afraid."

The "he" here naturally refers to Emperor Jing.

Han Lei was very clever; she understood Zhao Zun's meaning after a little thought.

The imperial court dispatched 150,000 troops to support Dongguan, while also keeping a close watch on Cangzhou. Xiao Zhengfei led troops to attack Qingzhou and Yizhou, and the imperial court even transferred some of the imperial guards from the capital to support Yizhou.

With the country surrounded by enemies and its military forces depleted, if Zhao Zun were to appear in the capital at this time, he would indeed be a threat to Emperor Jing.

Zhao Zun gently splashed water, washing Han Lei's jade-like back, his voice softening: "You are now six months pregnant, and you've already traveled a long and tiring journey from Cangzhou to Jizhou. I don't want you to suffer any more from the bumpy ride. By the time we leisurely arrive in the capital, you will already be more than seven months pregnant. What if you go into labor on the way back?"

His considerations were all for her sake.

A warm feeling washed over Han Lei. Now that she was almost square-shaped, it was indeed not advisable for her to be stubborn anymore, so she nodded obediently.

Zhao Zun was always thoughtful and considerate, and she believed that he had made all the necessary arrangements and would definitely protect her.

But she still had questions: "Then why did you insist on handing Luo Sihan over to His Majesty for punishment?"

Zhao Zun's gaze became complicated: "The soldiers of Dongguan all wish they could skin him alive. Luo Sihan's fate is ultimately sealed with death. If I were to deal with him, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to bring myself to do it—after all, he is Uncle Luo's son." His voice was low, "Since he is a prisoner of war between two countries, it is more appropriate for His Majesty to handle him than for me. If we are still in the capital when he is dealt with, at least we can send him off on behalf of Uncle Luo's family."

As he spoke, Zhao Zun noticed that the water was getting a little cold, so he quickly and carefully lifted Han Lei out of the bathtub, gently dried her body with a soft cloth, and then brought her clean clothes and dressed her one by one.

“There are many famous doctors and good midwives in the capital.” He said softly as he tied her sash. “I can only feel at ease if she gives birth in the capital.”

Han Lei looked up at him. This man, who was decisive and ruthless on the battlefield, was now filled with tenderness in his eyes.

She reached out and gently stroked his furrowed brow: "It's alright, I feel at ease wherever you are."

Zhao Zun took her hand and kissed her palm. He felt incredibly warm inside by Han Lei's unconditional trust.

The cicadas continued to chirp outside the window, but inside the screen, a scene of tender warmth unfolded.

Zhao Zun helped Han Lei slowly walk out from behind the screen, each step extremely steady, as if fulfilling a lifelong promise...

...This is Calvin's dividing line...

Meanwhile, in the capital city, at the imperial palace.

"what--"

Emperor Jing cried out in surprise and sat up abruptly from his dragon bed. His chest heaved violently, and cold sweat trickled down his neck, soaking his bright yellow nightgown.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

Li Zhongxin, the chief eunuch who was standing by, immediately stepped forward, his voice low and cautious.

He offered Emperor Jing a warm, damp handkerchief, but the emperor did not take it; instead, he stared blankly out the window.

Outside the palace, the sky was still bright, but the afternoon sunlight was filtered by thick clouds and appeared weak and listless.

The air was stagnant and oppressive, with only the cicadas' desperate chirping striking at one's heart, adding to the restlessness.

"What time is it?" Emperor Jing's voice was hoarse from just waking up.

“Your Majesty, it’s just past 11 PM,” Li Zhongxin replied, bowing. “You’ve only rested for half an hour…”

"Half an hour..." Emperor Jing muttered to himself. He swallowed hard, raised his hand and pressed his throbbing temples. The suffocating fear from his dream still lingered.

The magnificent palace collapsed in his dream. A tiger roared and pounced from the left, followed by a pack of hungry wolves swarming from the right, their fangs gleaming white, each wolf's eyes flashing with a bloodthirsty green light. He was trapped in the center, with no way to advance or retreat...

This is definitely not a good omen!
He took a deep breath, trying to dispel the lingering fear, and said in a deep voice, "Quickly, summon the Imperial Observatory! I... I want to ask about this dream..."

"The slave obeys the order."

Li Zhongxin was unconvinced; it was just a dream. What one thinks about during the day, one dreams about at night. Why make such a fuss? But he dared not show it on his face. He simply agreed with even greater respect and turned to go outside the hall to make the arrangements.

Li Zhongxin arranged for a messenger eunuch to go to the Imperial Observatory, and as he turned around, he saw the commander of the secret guards, dressed in black and looking travel-worn, walking towards him.

Li Zhongxin's heart skipped a beat, and he secretly thought something was wrong. At this moment, the commander of the secret guards in charge of observing the battle in Yizhou suddenly appeared. What good news could he bring?

He dared not delay, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and bring in the commander of the secret guards.

Emperor Jing saw Li Zhongxin returning and the familiar black figure behind him, and his heart sank. The unease brought on by the nightmare instantly reached its peak.

Since Yizhou is relatively close to the capital, he sent his secret guards to observe the battle. The fact that the commander of the secret guards sent to Yizhou to observe the battle is here now means only one thing—the battle in Yizhou has come to a conclusion.

"What is the situation in Yizhou?" Emperor Jing's voice unconsciously became tense. He stared intently at the kneeling commander of the secret guards, as if trying to discern some clues from his face.

The commander of the secret guards bowed deeply, his voice mechanical yet clear: "Your Majesty, Yizhou... Yizhou City has been captured by the Cangzhou army."

Despite having a premonition, upon hearing the news with his own ears, even on a sweltering day, Emperor Jing still felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

The commander of the secret guards continued his report, each word like a barrage of pear blossom needles piercing Emperor Jing's heart: "The Cangzhou army is cunning. The 30,000 imperial guards sent by the court... failed to engage the enemy and were instead lured into an encirclement, where they were all... all captured and bound. From my vantage point, those captured imperial guards have been dispersed and incorporated into the Cangzhou army."

"Thirty thousand imperial guards... all... all gone?" Emperor Jing's body swayed almost imperceptibly, and Li Zhongxin quickly stepped forward to support him.

Emperor Jing felt a chilling sense of despair instantly grip him, and a coldness permeated his entire body.

Thirty thousand well-equipped imperial guards, the elite troops protecting the capital! How could they be so utterly defeated, not even making a dent, and swallowed whole by the Prince of Cangzhou?
In my dream just now, tigers and wolves appeared together. Could this be a premonition of this matter?
He slumped back, leaning against the cold back of the dragon bed, utterly dejected.

Qingzhou, Yizhou, and Jizhou, these three provinces, formed a strategic pincer movement along the edge of the capital region, serving as the most important barrier for the city. Now that Qingzhou has fallen and Yizhou has also been captured, the northwestern gateway to this vital region of the capital has been wide open!

With the Cangzhou army's advance pointing in the direction of the capital, wouldn't their next move be a direct assault on the capital? Meanwhile, in Jizhou, they are already preoccupied with the ever-watchful Eastern Ming Empire and have no time to spare...

A sense of isolation, like "being at the mercy of others," enveloped him tightly.

He could almost see the dark, imposing army of Cangzhou, armed with terrifying, unheard-of weapons, advancing step by step toward the capital.

"Did you see clearly?" Emperor Jing leaned forward abruptly, his eyes gleaming with the last glimmer of hope, staring intently at the commander of the secret guards. "What kind of weapon did the Cangzhou army use?"

The commander of the secret guards, feeling the weight of the emperor's gaze, lowered his head even further: "Your Majesty, the battlefield is treacherous, and we dared not approach too closely, only observing from afar. But... but those weapons spewed flames, their sound like thunder, easily taking lives from hundreds of paces away. Their range and power far surpassed that of bows and crossbows. We suspect that it is probably the 'Aim Sixteen' that Deputy General Lu mentioned..."

“Aim Sixteen…Aim Sixteen…” Emperor Jing repeated this strange and chilling name weakly, his last glimmer of hope completely extinguished.

He felt as if his spine had been ripped out; his shoulders slumped, and he collapsed onto the couch. A profound sense of powerlessness and the desolation of a dynasty's demise overwhelmed him.

The King of Cangzhou has advanced into Yizhou!
King of Cangzhou!
Now, just hearing that name is enough to make him tremble with fear and lose sleep over it.

Is the fate of this great spectacle truly coming to an end?
Should he really not have ascended to the throne?

Just then, a high-pitched voice came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, Minister of War Cao Ge requests an audience."

Emperor Jing looked up toward the source of the voice and asked weakly, "What is it?"

Li Zhongxin quickly repeated loudly, "His Majesty asks, what is the matter concerning Minister Cao?"

Cao Ge's joyful voice immediately came from outside: "Your Majesty, good news! A great victory at Dongguan!"

Happy holidays, everyone! Have fun!