Love Lock

Chapter 345 Stars and Moon Shining Together
Zhao Zun forgot about locking the love knot and focused his gaze on the imperial physician.

"Imperial Physician! How is she?! What's wrong with her?!" Zhao Zun asked urgently.

The imperial physician remained silent, continuing to take the pulse, his brows furrowing more and more as time passed.

Inside the delivery room, the lights were bright, illuminating the unconscious mother on the bed, the anxious prince, the busy imperial physician, and the twins who had just been born and were unaware that their mother was in danger.

On the night of the full moon, Gemini was born, which should have been a double celebration, but now it was shrouded in a thick gloom due to Han Lei's sudden coma.

Zhao Zun wanted to ask more questions, but he was afraid of affecting the imperial physician's diagnosis. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms. He had fought on all sides and never knew how to write the word "fear," but at this moment he was terrified to the extreme.

No matter what, he absolutely cannot lose Han Lei!

The silvery moonlight flowed silently across the bluestone slabs of the courtyard, enveloping the mansion in tranquility. Although it was late at night, Han Lei's condition was unknown, and shadowy figures lingered in the mansion, with no one having time to rest.

After a while, the imperial physician, who had been brought from the palace, finally stood up. He glanced at Zhao Zun's gloomy face, then quickly lowered his head again. He had clearly seen what this god of death and his men had been doing in the palace with the "demon weapon."

The imperial physician swallowed hard before respectfully replying to Zhao Zun, "Your Highness, this lady is fine. She is simply weak after childbirth and overworked, which caused her to faint due to a temporary lack of blood and energy. With proper rest for a while, she will recover. I will prescribe a medicine for her to drink once she wakes up."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zun's tense jawline relaxed slightly, and he waved his hand, signaling the imperial physician to leave.

The imperial physician, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, quickly wiped the sweat from his brow and bowed as he went out to write a prescription.

After the imperial physician left, Zhao Zun called out, "Sister Li!"

"Hey! Coming!" Hearing Zhao Zun's call, Aunt Li handed the baby to the midwife and came over.

Zhao Zun asked, "Did you see the jade pendant around the princess's neck?"

“Jade pendant? I don’t have one!” Aunt Li was taken aback and shook her head.

"And you? Did you see the jade pendant around the princess's neck?" Zhao Zun asked the others in the room, and they all shook their heads.

"Could it be that the Princess took it down and put it in her room? This servant will go and look for it right away." Zitan quickly turned around and went to Zhao Zun and Han Lei's room.

"Go and search quickly!" Zhao Zun's voice was low and filled with undisguised anxiety. "Everyone, search the entire house thoroughly, inside and out. You must find that jade pendant."

Seeing Zhao Zun's serious expression, everyone in the house except the midwife responded and moved, their footsteps sounding particularly clear in the night with the full moon in the sky.

Solar-powered lights flickered between the courtyard, corridors, and flower hall, and people moved about. They carefully searched every place Han Lei had ever been, striving not to miss an inch of the area.

Zhao Zun himself was also busy, personally searching around the delivery room.

"Your Highness, I didn't see it in the front yard."

"Your Highness, we have searched the back garden as well, but we have not found the jade pendant."

Each response brought only disappointment. Zhao Zun's expression, which had just softened, darkened again.

The missing half of the love lock felt as if a piece of his heart had been hollowed out, leaving him feeling empty and chilled to the bone.

He subconsciously raised his hand and tightly gripped the half of the jade pendant that hung close to his chest, but the warm touch could not soothe the anxiety in his heart.

Inside the room, the stench of blood had not completely dissipated, mingling with the scent of calming incense, creating a peculiar and oppressive atmosphere.

Han Lei remained unconscious, her face as pale as paper, her breathing weak. Zhao Zun returned to the bedside, leaning down to gaze at her, his heart filled with indescribable pain and worry.

The imperial physician said Han Lei was weak and needed rest, but how could he be at ease until he saw the jade buckle return to her?
“Zitan, Jinju,” he ordered in a deep voice, “The princess is sweaty, change her into clean bedding first, and be gentle.”

"Yes, Your Highness," the two personal maids replied hastily.

Zhao Zun carefully lifted Han Lei, along with the thin blanket, into his arms horizontally, his movements extremely gentle, as if he were holding a precious and fragile item.

Han Lei's light weight made his heart tighten again. Zitan and Jinju quickly stepped forward and neatly changed the sheets and blankets that were soaked with blood and sweat.

Just as Jinju was shaking off the wet sheets she had taken off, there was a soft "smack" as something slipped out of the rolled-up sheets and fell onto the soft carpeted floor.

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn over.

On the ground lay a round jade pendant, its surface smooth and translucent, carved with intricate and ancient patterns, shimmering under the lamplight—it was the missing love lock.

"Found it! Your Highness, found it!" Jinju exclaimed in surprise, quickly bending down to pick it up and presenting it to Zhao Zun with both hands.

At that moment, Zhao Zun felt his breath catch in his throat for a split second.

He gently placed Han Lei back on the cleaned bed, took the love lock from Jinju, and held it tightly in his hand.

The cool jade against his palm, that familiar touch, finally brought his heart, which had been hanging in mid-air, back to reality.

The frost that had lingered on his face all night finally melted away, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but turn up slightly, revealing a rare smile—a smile of immense relief and ecstasy at something lost and then regained.

He held the love lock tightly to his chest, making sure it was pressed against the half of his chest that was hanging there.

The two halves of the jade buckle seemed to have a life of their own; at the moment they touched, there seemed to be a faint, almost imperceptible light passing through them, as if they were echoing each other.

Zhao Zun secretly vowed in his heart that he would never let it leave Han Lei again, absolutely not!

He looked down at Han Lei, who was still unconscious on the bed, and Zhao Zun was filled with mixed emotions. His anxiety and worry had not completely subsided, but the return of the Love Lock gave him great comfort.

He recalled his first meeting with Han Lei, the tacit understanding and trust they shared while fighting side by side, Han Lei's words of comfort when he was drunk, and Han Lei's unique act of greeting the champion marquis in the capital to avenge him... Every little detail flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

This woman had long been his whole life, and he could not bear the possibility of losing her.

"Sister Li," he called softly, "go find the strongest and softest red rope."

"Yes, I'll go right away." Aunt Li responded and went to fetch a brand new, bright red rope woven from the finest silk thread.

Zhao Zun took it personally and, by the light of the bedside lamp, focused intently and meticulously threaded the love lock onto the new red rope, tying a sturdy and delicate knot.

His movements were slow and solemn, as if he were performing an extremely important ceremony.

Then, he bent down and carefully put the love lock with the new rope back on Han Lei's slender neck, so that the warm jade pendant could hang properly on her heart.

It's magical to say the least.

The love lock was fastened back onto Han Lei, and after a short while, her long eyelashes trembled. Then, she slowly opened her eyes a crack.

Her vision was blurry at first, but after her eyes adjusted to the bright light in the room, she could see the handsome face of the man standing by her bedside, his face filled with worry and expectation.

Her lips moved slightly, and she uttered a single, extremely faint, yet perfectly clear word:
"Hungry……"

That cry of "Hungry" was like heavenly music, instantly dispelling the last trace of gloom that shrouded the mansion.

"She's awake! The Princess is awake!" Zitan and Jinju exclaimed in surprise, their faces beaming with relief. Zhao Zun was overjoyed, the immense joy overwhelming him, leaving him almost speechless.

He held Han Lei's hand tightly, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly: "Girl, you're awake? That's great! How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"

As he repeatedly asked, he turned and ordered, "Quick! Go and bring the chicken soup that's been kept warm! Be quick!"

After saying that, he personally picked up the warm water from the small table next to him and used a silver spoon to feed Han Lei little by little: "Drink some water to moisten your lips first, the food will be here soon."

He watched Han Lei sip water, his eyes never leaving her, his tone filled with lingering fear.

"I was really scared just now... When I saw you faint, you didn't respond no matter how I called you... Girl, I was so afraid... so afraid that you would just..." He choked on the last words and couldn't finish them.

Han Lei drank some water, which made her throat feel better, and she seemed to regain a little bit of her energy. Looking at Zhao Zun's undisguised worry and affection, she felt a warmth in her heart and weakly forced a smile.

"I...I'm alright now..." Her gaze inadvertently swept over the jade pendant that had been put back on her chest, and she recalled what had happened before she fainted. "Just now...the pain was awful, and I was so agitated. I felt this thing was choking me, so...I just yanked it off..."

She paused, looked up at Zhao Zun, and asked the question that had been bothering her, "Brother Zun, why... do you always insist that I wear this jade pendant? It doesn't seem to have any special use."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zun's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, a mixture of guilt, helplessness, and deep affection.

He avoided Han Lei's question, raised his hand and gently stroked her pale and haggard face, his tone filled with deep guilt: "If I had known that childbirth was so dangerous for a woman, like walking through the gates of hell, I... I shouldn't have rushed to have a child. It's all my fault that you've suffered so much."

Seeing that Zhao Zun was very remorseful, Han Lei put her little question aside.

She chuckled lightly, her tone completely nonchalant: "Anyway, every woman has to go through this sooner or later. Now that we've already passed it, isn't that great?"

She wanted to say something more, but she still felt weak. She shifted her body, trying to sit up a little.

"Don't move," Zhao Zun immediately noticed her intention and quickly stopped her. He then took a thick, soft pillow and gently placed it behind her, helping her to sit up slowly.

Afterwards, he personally fed her the soup, meticulously attending to her every need, not allowing the two maids, Zitan and Jinju, to interfere in the slightest. The two maids could only stand awkwardly behind him, watching the prince take such good care of his wife, feeling both gratified and somewhat superfluous.

At this moment, the two midwives who had been waiting outside, their faces full of pleasing smiles, each carrying a baby who was wrapped up tightly, with only a rosy little face showing, quietly walked in.

"Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Madam! It's the young prince and his daughter, a perfect match, a truly auspicious sign!" The midwife said, offering auspicious words as she placed the two children side by side by the bed.

The auspicious words were naturally meant to solicit a reward. Now that mother and child were safe, Zhao Zun was overjoyed. With a wave of his hand, the four midwives not only received their due payment, but each also received an extra large red envelope.

After giving out red envelopes, Zhao Zun and Han Lei finally turned their attention to the two newborns.

Looking at those two wrinkled yet incredibly peaceful and pure little faces, an indescribable warmth and excitement welled up in my heart.

A gentle maternal glow shone on Han Lei's pretty face. She turned her head to look at Zhao Zun, her voice weak but full of expectation: "Brother Zun, please give the child a name."

Zhao Zun gazed at his two children, then turned to look out the window. Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival.

He pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day for family reunions under the full moon—a truly auspicious day." He first looked at the slightly composed baby boy being held on his left by the midwife, "Our son will be named... Zhao Xingheng. Is that alright?"

"The star is the star in the night sky, accompanying the moon. It symbolizes that our son will shine like the star in the night sky, be outstanding and become a pillar of the country."

"Heng, the star of the Big Dipper, also means balance and equilibrium. It is hoped that he will be meticulous, moderate in his actions, fair and impartial."

After saying that, Zhao Zun turned his gaze to the baby girl on the right, who looked even more delicate, and his eyes instantly softened to the point of being watery: "Let's name our daughter Zhao Yueyao."

"The moon signifies that she was born when the bright moon hangs high in the sky during the Mid-Autumn Festival, symbolizing purity, peace, and beauty."

"Yao means beautiful jade, and also refers to the radiance of heaven. May our daughter be as gentle as jade, of noble character, and have a radiant life with lasting blessings."

He held Han Lei's hand, his gaze lingering deeply between the two children: "The stars and the moon are the most beautiful and harmonious companions in the night sky. These two siblings, shining like stars and the moon, will surely rely on each other throughout their lives and work together to create a glorious future for our great city."

"Zhao Xingheng, Zhao Yueyao..." Han Lei repeated the two names softly, growing fonder with each word. A satisfied and happy smile bloomed on her pale face. "Yes! Brother Zun is right, the stars and moon shining together, how beautiful..."

Inside, the room was warm and cozy, with solar-powered lights illuminating the silhouettes of the family of four, creating an atmosphere of warmth and happiness that seemed to overflow.

Holding Han Lei's hand, Zhao Zun's gaze lingered on his wife and children. He felt that life couldn't be more perfect than this. Even the power and influence of the country seemed far less important than the peace and warmth he felt at this moment.

However, a slightly urgent buzzing sound from the walkie-talkie broke the silence.

Zhao Zun frowned almost imperceptibly, clearly displeased that this rare moment of warmth had been disturbed.

Old Meng's respectful and clear voice came through the walkie-talkie:

"Your Highness, everything in the palace has been arranged according to your instructions. Our people have been deployed to all the palace gates and important halls, and several cabinet ministers are waiting in the side hall for your further instructions. What do you think... should we proceed next? Should we go to the palace immediately?"

The voices on the walkie-talkie were clearly audible to everyone in the delivery room. Zitan, Jinju, the midwife, and the others immediately held their breath and lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.

Zhao Zun's gaze fell back on Han Lei and the two children, and his resolute facial features softened unconsciously.

He spoke into the walkie-talkie with almost no hesitation: “Tell the cabinet that today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I am overjoyed to have a son and a daughter. There are many matters to attend to in the palace. As for matters in the palace, let them handle them according to the established procedures. Unless it is extremely urgent, there is no need to report it.”

He paused, his tone softening, yet each word was clear: "Today, I will not go anywhere. I only wish to stay at home, with my maid and children."

After saying that, Zhao Zun ended the call immediately.

Han Lei leaned against the headboard, listening intently to every word he said. With such a considerate man by her side, she felt as if she were enveloped in a warm current, feeling comforted and at ease.

Zhao Zun is now the de facto ruler of the world, yet at this moment, for her and her newborn child, he put aside all the complicated affairs of state for the time being... How could she not be moved by this sentiment?
However, despite being moved, Han Lei is not someone who lacks common sense or is uncultured.

She reached out her weak hand and gently grasped Zhao Zun's large hand in return, saying softly, "I understand your feelings, and... I am very happy."

She paused, looked up into his deep eyes, and spoke gently but with a hint of admonition, "But your status is different now; you are the king, the focus of all the people's attention. Everything should be based on the affairs of the state. How can you let me delay things?"

A faint, mischievous smile played on her lips as she quoted classical texts to Zhao Zun.

"I'm not Yang Guifei from the story of 'the emperor neglecting his morning court,' and you mustn't let me bear the stigma of being a 'femme fatale.' There are many people in the family, and Aunt Li is here too; they will surely take good care of me and the child. You should go and rest for a while, and go to the palace to handle state affairs when it's light."

Listening to Han Lei's gentle and considerate words, Zhao Zun felt even more fond of her. He lowered his head and planted a soft kiss on her smooth forehead, readily agreeing.

"Alright, I'll do as you say, girl. I'll steal a day of leisure today and go back to the palace tomorrow."

He looked at Han Lei with intense eyes, "But you must promise me that you will rest well and get better soon."

Han Lei smiled and nodded. Weariness washed over her again, and she slowly closed her eyes, but the corners of her mouth still held a happy and content smile.

Outside the window, the sky was just before dawn, and the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival still shone brightly, intertwining with the faint light of the rising sun, quietly enveloping this mansion immersed in the joy of new life and tender warmth.

The light of the stars and moon shines upon the world, heralding the start of a new journey.

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