Love Lock

Chapter 341 The Moon is Full, and People Also Long for Reunion

The air in Beijing was filled with a damp, unique scent characteristic of the capital. It was the oppressive smell of charcoal fires, cooking smoke, and some kind of invisible power intertwined together.

Turning two streets from Tongzi Lane, you'll find a three-courtyard house in Xishanlin Hutong, which looks no different from the homes of ordinary wealthy families.

The place has blue bricks and gray tiles, and the entrance is not particularly grand. Even the stone lions at the entrance are smaller than usual, giving it a deliberately unassuming appearance. There isn't even a plaque above the door.

However, inside this ordinary house, a completely different scene unfolds.

There were not many servants in the mansion, but they moved with steady steps and sharp eyes, clearly disguised as battle-hardened soldiers.

The courtyard was spotless, and several thrush cages even hung under the corridor, chirping and adding a touch of warmth, cleverly concealing the sharpness hidden beneath the calm.

This is the "blind spot under the lamp" that Zhao Zun chose.

The most dangerous place is often the safest.

He took Han Lei, who was six months pregnant, and just like that, he swaggered over to live under the emperor's nose, right under the noses of Emperor Jing and all the civil and military officials.

He had calculated it perfectly. No one could have imagined that Zhao Zun, the King of Cangzhou and the court's number one thorn in its side, would dare to so brazenly place himself in the heart of this dangerous place.

After listening to Zhao Zun's advice, Han Lei and Zhao Zun rarely went out, except for two visits to the shop to check on business and supplies. They would just stroll around the yard when they had nothing to do. After all, her belly had grown ridiculously large these days, and even just walking around the yard with Zhao Zun's help was too much of a burden, let alone walking for a long time.

Old Meng and his guards disguised themselves as ordinary people, going out every day to gather information in various places, and then meeting with Zhao Zun in the study to discuss matters.

At this moment, inside the main room, the freshly picked crabapple and rose on the low cabinet were emitting a faint fragrance.

Han Lei, wearing a thin maternity dress, leaned against the soft couch, her belly bulging high, almost blocking her view.

Her face was somewhat pale, and the hardships of late pregnancy were evident, but the charm and tranquility between her brows remained undiminished.

Under Aunt Li's guidance, she was sewing a small baby swaddle, her stitches fine and her expression focused. Because of the hot weather and her pregnancy, her forehead was covered in sweat.

Zhao Zun sat behind a desk not far away, dressed in a dark green robe with dark patterns, his dark hair tied up with a jade hairpin.

In front of him lay a map of the capital, on which many symbols that were incomprehensible to others were meticulously drawn in red ballpoint pen.

"Your Highness." When Li Sao saw Han Lei's belly suddenly move, she remembered something, put down her needlework, and looked up at Zhao Zun. "Has Your Highness made any arrangements for the midwife? I've noticed that the baby in the Princess's womb is moving more and more frequently these past two days."

Zhao Zun looked up at the sound, and the sharpness and depth in his eyes instantly turned into a gentle, spring-like tenderness when he looked at Han Lei.

He got up and walked to the bedside, naturally taking Han Lei's hand in his, his palm warm and dry.

"Don't worry, everything has been arranged." His voice was deep, carrying a reassuring strength. "Old Meng personally handled it, finding four of the most experienced men from the vicinity of the capital, with impeccable family backgrounds and tight-lipped secrets. To the outside world, they'll only be told that the men are wealthy merchants from the south, whose wives are about to give birth, and they're being hired with a hefty sum. Once they arrive, they'll be housed in the west wing, with someone specifically looking after them, so there won't be any mishaps."

"So many?" Han Lei's lips twitched.

She was a doctor herself, and although she couldn't perform a cesarean section on herself, she was very familiar with the process and key points of natural childbirth. She had been thinking that she could just have Aunt Li help her out, but she didn't expect that Zhao Zun had already arranged for midwives, and even found four of them.

Aunt Li smiled and said, "After all, this is the Princess's first time giving birth. It would be more reassuring for the Prince to have more midwives."

Zhao Zun's fingertips gently brushed across her swollen belly, feeling the vitality of the little life inside. A faint smile appeared on his cold, hard lips. "Our child must be impatient, eager to see the world of the capital."

Han Lei placed her hand on the back of his hand, her soft voice saying, "With you here, I'm not afraid. But we're still in a dangerous place. That person probably never dreamed that we'd be so close to him."

A cold glint flashed in Zhao Zun's eyes, which he quickly concealed. He said calmly, "He and the officials in the court are all focused on the border, on Qingzhou and Yizhou. The palace guards are mostly there to monitor the officials. Who would pay attention to us?"

His tone was understated yet carried a cold, worldly wisdom.

Zhao Zun knew that the best place to hide a drop of water was the ocean; the more careful and secretive one was, the easier it was to leave clues. It was better to do the opposite, to act openly and honestly while carrying out clandestine tasks.

This is not just audacity, but a deliberate provocation against the person in the palace.

After comforting Han Lei, Zhao Zun wiped the sweat from her forehead and said softly, "You rest for now, I'll go check how the arrangements outside are going."

Han Lei nodded, watching his tall figure disappear behind the curtain, her eyes filled with trust and reliance.

She knew that her man was playing a game of chess, a game that concerned their entire family and even the world.

What she needs to do is protect herself and their unborn child, so that he has no worries.

As Zhao Zun stepped out of the main room, the gentleness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by his usual coldness and introspection.

He did not go to the front yard, but instead went around the corridor and into the study.

The study was small and simply furnished.

On the table lay a map of the palace drawn by the Thirteenth Prince himself. Old Meng and his personal guards were already waiting there, and even Da Jiu, the newly appointed general of the army appointed by Emperor Jing, was present. Upon seeing Zhao Zun enter, they immediately stood at attention.

"Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty."

Zhao Zun nodded slightly and walked to the head seat to sit down.

He gestured for everyone to sit down and said, "Please, everyone, have a seat!"

Zhao Zun slowly pushed the palace map, drawn by Da Shisan himself, in front of Lao Meng. The edges of the parchment gleamed softly under the solar-powered light.

The map is outlined in ink, with detailed markings of palace walls, halls, passageways, and even a few seemingly inconspicuous corners marked with extremely fine ballpoint pen.

“This is a detailed map of the palace drawn by the Thirteenth Prince,” Zhao Zun said in a deep and steady voice. “Everyone should take a look at it and make sure to memorize it carefully. Every corridor, every pillar, every blade of grass and every tree must be correct.”

Old Meng took the map with both hands and solemnly unfolded it. The eyes of the guards around him immediately focused on the map, and they subconsciously held their breath. They knew that this map was related to the great cause, and even more so to their lives.

Da Jiu stepped forward. He was now dressed in casual clothes, but his brows already showed some of the composure of a newly appointed court noble. However, in this study, beneath that composure was the same sharpness and loyalty.

“Your Highness,” Da Jiu began, “after court today, I overheard several ministers discussing that His Majesty has ordered the Empress to begin preparations for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Moreover…”

He paused, his voice lowering further, "His Majesty has transferred most of the troops outside the capital to the Huaqing Army Camp, mainly to defend against the Cangzhou Army that has already attacked Qingzhou and Yizhou. Now, His Majesty relies more on the new army I command for the guards outside the palace."

Da Jiu looked at Zhao Zun, his eyes gleaming: "Your Highness, I believe that the Mid-Autumn Festival, during the palace banquet, is the best time for us to make our move." "Mid-Autumn Festival..." Zhao Zun murmured, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyes as he lowered his gaze in thought, obscuring the turbulent thoughts in his eyes.

This group of people had been lying in wait in the capital for over a month, waiting for just such an opportunity.

According to the calculation method in her world, Han Lei once said that her due date was on the second day of the ninth lunar month. If they could make their move in mid-August and force Emperor Jing to abdicate, they could then move into the palace.

At that time, the palace will have the best imperial physicians and the most complete medicines, enough to protect Han Lei's safe delivery.

More importantly, the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, where members of the royal family, nobles, and high-ranking officials gather, is indeed the perfect opportunity to bring together all the key figures.

He and dozens of elite guards infiltrated the palace through the hidden dry well passage. With the M16, a weapon ahead of its time, in their hands, they were able to take control of the situation in the shortest possible time and use the emperor to command the feudal lords.

If the high-ranking officials and dignitaries present can be dealt with or controlled, apart from the necessary resistance from the palace guards, they can minimize the possibility of harming innocent people and causing unrest in the capital.

This is what he wanted!
“Mid-Autumn Festival…” Zhao Zun slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone present like a hawk’s. “It is indeed a golden opportunity that should not be missed.”

Upon hearing Zhao Zun's agreement to take action during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the atmosphere in the study instantly became heated and tense as soon as he finished speaking.

With that set the tone for the plan, the next step was meticulous deduction and planning.

Zhao Zun gestured for Lao Meng to spread the map out in the center of the desk, and everyone gathered around. He picked up a thin stick and pointed to the location of the dry well marked on the map.

The well is located in the plum garden and has been abandoned for many years. Now that it is not the season for plum blossoms to bloom, almost no one goes there.

The map drawn by Da Shisan even meticulously marked the uneven parts of the well wall that could be climbed, as well as the artificial rocks that disguised the exit.

“We’ll enter from here,” Zhao Zun’s pen moved along a barely visible path marked with a dotted line, a path that cleverly avoided the routes of several regular patrols of the imperial guards. “Through Yongxiang Lane, and through the small alleyway beside Jinhua Gate. Here…”

His pen paused beside Jinhua Gate. "The guards take turns every half an incense stick's time, with a gap of about ten breaths. We need to pass through silently within this time."

Old Meng squinted and pointed to the open square in front of the Zichen Palace: "The square in front of the palace is the difficult point. There will definitely be a large number of guards on duty during the palace banquet. Forcing a breakthrough will inevitably result in casualties and take a long time."

Da Jiu interjected, "On the day of the palace banquet, Da Shisan can place the palace guards' and eunuchs' costumes he has obtained into the dry well, and then place them inside the palace..."

He pondered for a moment, “According to custom, there should not be more than twenty guards in the palace, and they should not carry long weapons, so as not to disturb the emperor and the distinguished guests. Our M16s are enough to suppress them instantly.”

Another capable guard pointed to another spot on the map: "Your Highness, should we divide our forces to control the inner palace and the Eastern Palace in case of any unforeseen circumstances?"

“His Majesty has no crown prince for the time being.” Zhao Zun shook his head, pointing the tip of his pole at the Zichen Palace: “To catch the thief, first catch the king. We have only one target—Emperor Jing. As long as we control him and obtain the abdication edict, the harem, the Eastern Palace, and even the army outside the city will not dare to make any rash moves. Dividing our forces will weaken us and make us more susceptible to unforeseen events. Everyone, concentrate your forces and head straight for the Zichen Palace!”

His words carried a chilling decisiveness that sent a shiver down everyone's spine, causing them to focus even more intently.

"Weapons," Zhao Zun looked at Lao Meng, "are they all in good condition?"

"Your Highness, rest assured," Old Meng replied in a deep voice, "All the M16s are in excellent condition. With the Princess here, we have plenty of ammunition. We will send the swords and grenades into the secret passage in batches over the next few days."

Zhao Zun nodded, his gaze returning to the map, his pen sweeping across several palaces and pavilions where archers might be deployed or where hidden sentries might be concealed.

"On the day of the palace banquet, Da Jiu, your men must complete the shift adjustments before Shen Shi (3-5 PM). Our men should assemble at the dry well at You Shi (5-7 PM). It will be dark when visibility is low."

He paused, then turned to look at the scenery outside the window, as if he could see through time and space to the full moon that was destined to be stained with blood on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Zhao Zun instructed Lao Meng: "After infiltrating, Lao Meng will lead ten men to eliminate any scattered guards you may encounter along the way. Remember, you must remain silent."

Then, he looked at the others: "The rest of you, follow me straight to the Zichen Palace. Once inside, I will take control of Emperor Jing. Da Jiu, you will wait for His Majesty's order before entering the palace. Once inside, immediately reveal your identity, stabilize the new army within, and announce that Emperor Jing has 'voluntarily' abdicated. If anyone resists," a cold glint flashed in Zhao Zun's eyes, "kill them without mercy."

"Then...the imperial relatives and ministers inside the hall?" someone asked in a low voice.

Zhao Zun remained silent for a moment, and the air seemed to freeze.

The image of Han Lei's sweet face as she leaned against the couch sewing baby clothes flashed through his mind, and he subconsciously stroked the love lock hanging around his neck.

“Try not to cause any loss of life,” he finally said, his voice softening slightly. “But if anyone is out of touch with reality and leads a rebellion, that is the time to establish authority. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. What we need is a swift and decisive victory, with minimal disruption, to complete the transfer of power.”

He then looked at Da Jiu: "Starting tomorrow, after court, pay attention to who can be won over and who must be eliminated, and make a list. At that time, we can make an example of them."

"Yes, Your Highness." Da Jiu bowed and accepted the order.

In the following time, everyone repeatedly scrutinized many details—

How to deal with possible unexpected events, such as the discovery of the secret passage, the temporary change of the venue for the palace banquet, or Emperor Jing feigning illness and not attending the banquet? They even discussed how to draft and issue the abdication edict as quickly as possible after taking control of Emperor Jing, how to take over the defense of the capital, and how to appease the army if it might become unruly.

The light from the solar-powered lamps cast the shadows of the crowd, who were engaged in heated discussion, onto the wall, creating a scene resembling a shadow play depicting a conspiracy concerning the fate of the nation.

Outside the window, the night in the capital was quiet and deep, with only the occasional sound of the night watchman's clapper reminding people of the passage of time.

After an unknown amount of time, all possible aspects were carefully considered, and a preliminary solution was determined. Zhao Zun finally straightened up and rubbed his slightly swollen temples.

"That's enough for today." His voice carried a hint of weariness, but more so a sharp, ready-to-go edge. "Remember your assigned tasks, and go back and think them over carefully to ensure everything goes smoothly. There are still two weeks until Mid-Autumn Festival. During this time, everything should proceed as usual, and we must not give anything away. Old Meng, continue to keep a close eye on the outside. Da Jiu, report any unusual activity in the palace immediately."

"Yes, Your Highness!" the crowd responded in unison, their voices suppressed yet full of power.

The guards quietly withdrew from the study one by one, disappearing into the night. In the end, only Zhao Zun remained. He stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the small patch of night sky separated by the high wall.

Mid-Autumn Festival, a time when the moon is full and people long for reunion.

But who knows whether the full moon that night will illuminate the end of the old dynasty or the beginning of a new era?
He thought of Han Lei and the child in her womb who was eager to come into the world, he thought of the thousands of troops waiting in Qingzhou and Yizhou, ready to respond to his signal at any time, and he thought of Emperor Jing in the palace, who sat on the dragon throne, hating him to the bone but helpless.

A complex mix of anticipation, coldness, and a tender concern for his wife and children surged within him. He slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles turning slightly white.

He has already made his move in this game.

The Mid-Autumn Festival night is the time when the true intentions are revealed.

He turned around and turned off the lamp on his desk, plunging the study into darkness. Only the faint moonlight from outside the window outlined his tall, pine-like, and resolute silhouette.

He stepped out of the study and walked toward the warm light that had been left on for him in the main room.

The holidays are halfway over, did you all have a good time?