Love Lock

Chapter 348 The Arrogant and Stubborn Princess

In the evening, inside the Zhao family residence, Zhao Zun, who had just returned from the palace, strode into the study.

Xiao Zhengfei was already waiting there. Upon seeing Zhao Zun enter, he immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Cangzhou army has entered the capital as planned and is currently reorganizing the capital's garrison."

Zhao Zun nodded: "We must proceed with caution and avoid causing any disturbances."

"This subordinate understands." Xiao Zhengfei hesitated for a moment, "However... Scarface and Pockmark have already led their teams to investigate and confiscate the property of the three great families. I am worried... whether this will cause panic among other powerful figures?"

Zhao Zun walked to the window and looked at the deep night outside: "Breaking down the old and establishing the new is bound to be painful. The three great families have controlled the government and monopolized official careers for hundreds of years. It's time to break this situation. I have already ordered the Jingzhao Prefecture to take the lead in confiscating the Zhao family's original Xiaoyao Prince's Mansion and redistributing it. They should have nothing to say about that."

He turned around, his eyes resolute: "Besides, most of their wealth is ill-gotten gains. It would be most appropriate for it to be given to the Ministry of Revenue for the purpose of improving people's livelihoods."

Xiao Zhengfei bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

"How is the scientific expedition going?" Zhao Zun asked.

“Song Peisheng and Zhang Peng are already making preparations. The announcements will soon be posted all over the area around the capital.” Xiao Zhengfei paused, “However… this move will inevitably provoke opposition from powerful and influential families.”

Zhao Zun sneered: "I want them to know that from now on, the imperial court is not their personal fiefdom, and that scholars from humble backgrounds can also rise to prominence. As the saying goes, 'High platforms hide rats, while hidden talents lie among the common people.' In recent years, the recommendations of those powerful and wealthy families have made the imperial court a chaotic mess. They are useless except for their glib tongues. What we need to choose are people with real talent and ability who can truly do practical things for the people."

"Yes, we must give students from poor families a chance to succeed." Xiao Zhengfei nodded vigorously, his eyes filled with excitement.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside, and Old Meng rushed in: "Your Majesty, Dongfang Jiming has committed suicide in prison."

Zhao Zun's expression hardened: "What's going on?"

“It was…it was a head injury from hitting the wall…” Old Meng’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke with difficulty. “When the jailer found him, he was already dead. He…left a message on his clothes with his finger blood.” He paused, then added, “The body hasn’t been moved yet; it’s still in the cell.”

Zhao Zun was silent for a moment, tapped his knuckles twice on the table, and finally waved his hand: "Let's go take a look."

Xiao Zhengfei's Lao Meng accompanied Zhao Zun to the Xingbu prison. As they walked into the courtyard, a night breeze carried the faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.

Zhao Zun suddenly stopped and turned to walk into the inner room.

He had been busy all day, leaving early and returning late, and hadn't even seen Han Lei and the child yet.

The room was warmly lit by candlelight. Han Lei was leaning against the couch, and two babies who had just been fed were sleeping soundly. The air was filled with a faint scent of milk.

Upon seeing Zhao Zun enter, Li Sao quickly gestured for the newly arrived wet nurse to bow and retreat.

Zhao Zun looked at the two children, then sat down by the bed, took Han Lei's hand, and whispered the news of Dongfang Jiming's death, "Luo Sihan committed suicide in prison. I came here to tell you, I have to go to the prison to see it with my own eyes."

Zhao Zun's voice was tinged with suppressed emotion. Han Lei looked at his furrowed brows, knowing he was upset, and said softly, "I'll go with you!"

Zhao Zun immediately shook his head, his fingertips tracing her still pale cheeks: "You can't be exposed to wind during your postpartum period, let alone in a place like that." His tone was firm, yet it revealed his heartache. "You just stay home and rest well. I'll be right back."

Han Lei knew he had made up his mind, so she straightened his clothes and gently told him, "Don't overwork yourself, come back soon."

Zhao Zun nodded, placed a tender kiss on her forehead, and then stood up. The warmth of the kiss still lingered on his lips as he, along with Lao Meng and Xiao Zhengfei, disappeared into the depths of the corridor.

Upon entering the Ministry of Justice prison, a damp and gloomy atmosphere hit you, and torches cast flickering shadows on the walls.

Upon hearing that the new emperor had arrived in person, the prison guards knelt down in fear.

The jailer stepped forward, his back hunched, his voice trembling: "Today, as is customary, there is a general amnesty, and we released the prisoners one by one. Who knew that when we got to this cell..." He dared not say more, but simply pointed to the cell door.

Zhao Zun waved for everyone to stand up and walked alone to the front of the prison cell.

In the dim light, Dongfang Jiming could be seen lying on a pile of hay, with dark red bloodstains congealed on his forehead. In the middle of the cell lay a white garment, on which was a suicide note written in blood.

The jailer presented the undergarment, the characters on which were slightly crooked yet pierced the fabric. Zhao Zun stared intently at it, his fingers gradually tightening, wrinkling the undergarment.

In a daze, he seemed to see again the boy in red who always followed him around calling him "Brother Zun" many years ago. The kind faces of Uncle Luo and Aunt Luo surfaced in his memory, forming a stark contrast with the cold ending before him.

In his book, Dongfang Jiming recounted his experiences after he went missing. His tragic and bloody circumstances evoked sympathy, but that was not a justification for his evil deeds.

Dongfang Jiming's cruelty had long since crushed their childhood friendship into dust. His suicide ultimately only earned him a sigh from Zhao Zun's heart—

"sad!"

The soft sigh was exceptionally clear in the silent cell. After a long while, Zhao Zun loosened his clenched, white fingers and instructed the waiting jailer, "Find a quiet place and bury him!"

The jailers quickly stepped forward to tidy up. Zhao Zun carefully folded the undergarment with the blood-written letter and tucked it into his sleeve. He took one last look at the old friend who would never wake up again, then turned and walked into the corridor.

The torches on the corridor walls illuminated his tense profile; each step he took stood at the boundary between shadow and light, heavy yet resolute…

Night had fallen, and all was quiet. But from the depths of the Marquis of Champion's mansion came a series of shrill screams, so startling that even the crows perched on the paulownia trees dared not land.

In the flickering candlelight of the inner room, large beads of cold sweat beaded on Princess Chang Le's forehead. She bit her lip tightly with her pearly teeth, and her clean face was contorted with pain from her legs.

"Princess, please bear with me. I am setting your bones." The old doctor, with his white hair and beard, gently pressed his hand on her swollen calf through a pair of silk trousers.

Chang Le gasped sharply, her fingernails digging deep into the brocade cushion beneath her, as if the beating hadn't hurt her as much.

"How are you?" she asked, her voice trembling as she forced back the pain.

The old doctor's fingers gently explored her leg, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

Suddenly, he withdrew his hand and shook his head heavily: "Princess, your leg...it's not dislocated, it's broken completely. And the injury has been delayed for too long, the blood clots have congealed in the meridians."

He paused, and as Chang Le's face suddenly turned deathly pale, he continued, "I am incompetent. Even a divine physician reborn could not guarantee a full recovery from such injuries!"

"What did you say? How is this possible?" Princess Chang Le suddenly sat up, disregarding any secrecy between men and women, and grabbed the old doctor's arm. "Do you know that I, this princess, am going to the palace to meet the Emperor? I am going to become His Majesty's imperial concubine! If this leg..."

At this point, her words abruptly stopped, a hint of panic and anxiety flashing in her eyes.

The old doctor dared not meet her gaze and silently packed his medicine box: "Princess, you should seek another skilled physician. I am truly powerless to help."

"Stop!" Seeing the old doctor about to leave, Chang Le's voice changed with anxiety, "If you can cure my leg, I will give you a thousand taels of gold, no, ten thousand taels! I will give you ten thousand taels of gold!"

The old doctor simply shook his head, picked up his medicine box, and left the inner room without looking back. His figure quickly disappeared into the night as the curtains swayed.

"Come back! Come back to me!" Chang Le shouted hoarsely, grabbing the jade ruyi from beside her pillow to throw it, but the movement aggravated her injured leg, causing her to curl up in pain.

Mingyue quickly stepped forward to help her up: "Princess, please calm down. This servant will go and fetch another doctor. This doctor can't cure your leg; he's just a quack."

"Snapped!"

A resounding slap landed on Mingyue's face.

Chang Le was trembling with rage, pointing at her and cursing, "It's all because of you, you idiot! What kind of quack doctors have you brought! This is the fifth one already! Every single one of them comes up and pinches my leg, then says they can't cure it! Do you know how painful that is?!"

Mingyue was beaten, but dared not argue. She could only cover her face and kneel on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly: "This servant knows her mistake. This servant will go and fetch the best doctor in the capital."

"Get out!" Princess Chang Le swept all the teaware off the small table, shattering the porcelain pieces everywhere. "If you bring in another quack doctor, I'll have you beaten to death!"

Mingyue scrambled away, and the maids inside the room trembled as they cleaned up the mess on the floor, each holding their breath, afraid of disturbing the furious princess.

Chang Le collapsed onto the couch, staring at her swollen and deformed left leg, a wave of despair washing over her.

She thought of her long-standing infatuation with Zhao Zun, and how Zhao Zun had now ascended to that coveted position. She couldn't even stand by his side when she was having fun, and now if she were to become disabled... Princess Chang Le dared not think any further.

"Princess, the doctor has arrived." Mingyue's voice startled her from her reverie.

Looking up, I saw two elderly men, both over fifty, standing outside the door carrying medicine boxes, looking trembling with fear.

"What are you still standing there for?" Chang Le snapped impatiently.

Two doctors rushed forward and carefully examined her injured leg.

The older, white-bearded doctor pondered, "If the princess's injury had been treated promptly when it first occurred, there might have been a chance of survival. Now that so much time has been delayed, the bones have already grown out of place."

"I don't care about any of that!" Princess Chang Le interrupted him. "As long as you can heal this leg, you can have any reward you want!"

She kept referring to herself as a princess, whether she had forgotten that she was no longer a princess or was deliberately avoiding the issue. Perhaps only by constantly mentioning her noble status could she find a shred of confidence.

Seeing that Princess Chang Le offered such a high reward, the two doctors exchanged a glance. The younger doctor in gray tentatively spoke up: "If we forcibly straighten the dislocated bone, I'm afraid... I'm afraid the pain will be unbearable for most people."

"What pain haven't I suffered?" Chang Le sneered. "You can just focus on treating me!"

Since Princess Chang Le had given such an order, the two doctors naturally couldn't say anything more.

The two senior doctors exchanged another glance, and in each other's eyes they saw two words: "Let's get to work!"
Attracted by the high reward, the two rolled up their sleeves and began to treat Princess Chang Le.

Although Princess Chang Le was stubborn, she almost fainted from the pain when the bone-setting treatment actually began.

Two doctors, one holding down her leg and the other forcefully straightening the dislocated bone, made the cracking sound of bones grinding together particularly clear in the quiet night.

"what--"

Chang Le let out a shrill scream, her fingernails tearing several cracks in the brocade quilt. She was also a ruthless person; when Mingyue offered her a piece of cork to bite on, she pushed it away.

"Continue!" she squeezed out through gritted teeth, veins bulging on her forehead.

The two doctors dared not delay; one immobilized the injured leg, while the other quickly clamped it with a wooden board and then wrapped it with layers of bandages.

Because the growth had become misaligned, it was very difficult to straighten it, so the whole process lasted a full hour. By the time dawn broke, Chang Le's legs were wrapped up tightly and fixed in thick splints.

"It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone. Princess, please remember, you must not walk for three months," the white-bearded doctor instructed, wiping his sweat. "You must take your medicine on time every day, and if the wound itches, you must not scratch it."

Chang Le leaned weakly against the soft pillows, her face as pale as paper: "This leg...can it possibly heal?"

The two doctors exchanged another glance, and the doctor in gray carefully spoke, "With proper care, walking should be no problem. However..."

"But what?" Princess Chang Le asked hurriedly.

The doctor in gray hesitated for a moment, but still said, "I'm afraid it will leave a slight limp."

Chang Le's heart sank suddenly.

She gestured for Mingyue to pay the consultation fee, waved for the doctor to leave, and gazed absently at the gradually brightening sky outside the window.

If I become a cripple, how can I enter the palace as a concubine? How could a proud man like Zhao Zun want a disabled concubine?

Thinking of Zhao Zun, a pang of sorrow welled up in her heart. That man at the pinnacle of power had once shown her a gentle smile. Although it might have been just a polite smile, she was already deeply infatuated, unable to extricate herself…

"Princess, it's time for your medicine," Mingyue called softly, holding a bowl of dark medicine.

Chang Le took the medicine bowl and suddenly asked, "Do you think His Majesty would come to see me if he knew I was injured?"

The bright moon lowered its eyes, not daring to answer.

"Speak!" Chang Le shouted sternly.

“Princess,” Mingyue bit her lip and knelt down, carefully choosing her words before speaking tactfully, “The situation in the court is complicated now, and the Marquis’s mansion is not what it used to be. His Majesty is probably too busy to attend to matters of state.”

Chang Le's hand trembled, and a few drops of the medicine spilled out, spreading dark stains on the brocade quilt.

Yes! How could she forget that since her parents and aunt's accident, the Marquis of Champion's mansion had become deserted. Those powerful and influential people who used to fawn over her now avoid her altogether.

But she was still unwilling.

"Go prepare pen and ink," she suddenly said. "I need to submit a memorial to His Majesty."

"Princess, please reconsider!" Mingyue hurriedly advised. "Your injuries are not yet healed. If you rashly submit a memorial, I'm afraid..."

"What are you afraid of?" Chang Le looked at her coldly. "Afraid of annoying His Majesty?"

Mingyue lay prostrate on the ground, silent, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Chang Le sighed deeply and said nothing more.

How could she not know what Mingyue was worried about? She was no longer the Princess Chang Le who could do whatever she wanted; the Marquis of Champion's mansion was now just an empty shell.

But she just couldn't let go of her obsession with Zhao Zun.

"Princess," Mingyue said carefully, holding the medicine bowl, "the medicine is getting cold."

Chang Le took the bowl of medicine and drank it all in one gulp. The bitter medicine slid down her throat, making her frown involuntarily.

"Change your clothes," she suddenly said. "I need to go to the palace."

Mingyue was shocked: "Princess! Perhaps we should wait for your legs..."

"What are you waiting for? Even if I have to crawl, I, this princess, will crawl into the palace! If I wait until my leg heals, there will probably be no place for me by His Majesty's side."

Princess Chang Le pushed Mingyue away, her eyes gleaming with stubbornness. Clinging to Zhao Zun's leg was her chance to regain her noble status.

"But the doctor said..."

"Shut up!" Chang Le shouted sternly, "Hurry up and get ready!"

Mingyue dared not persuade her any further, and could only call a maid to help her change her clothes.

When the sedan chair was ready, Princess Chang Le was so eager that she stepped out. When her injured leg landed, the excruciating pain almost made her faint.

She gripped Mingyue's arm tightly, cold sweat instantly beading on her forehead.

"Princess, the palace gates aren't open yet! How about we..." Faced with this domineering and stubborn princess, Mingyue was almost in tears.

"Help me into the sedan chair!" Princess Chang Le said through gritted teeth, gazing towards the palace. "Today I must enter the palace to see His Majesty!"

Helpless, Mingyue had no choice but to call a maid to help her put Princess Changle into the sedan chair. Then, she had the sedan chair bearers carry the chair to the palace.

But as soon as they reached the front yard, they heard someone frantically knocking on the door knocker outside.

"Open the door! Open the door now! Open the door now!"