Love Lock

Chapter 351 No Gifts Accepted at Today's Banquet

As dusk settled and the last rays of sunset faded outside the window, bright solar-powered lights were turned on inside the house.

Zhao Zun strode into the house, his face showing slight fatigue but unable to hide his excitement. He wanted to hold the two children, but seeing that they were sleeping soundly, he simply touched their delicate faces with his fingers and gestured for the wet nurse to take the children out.

He turned around and saw that Han Lei, who had just been sleeping, had woken up. He walked to the edge of the bed, sat down, held Han Lei's hand, and told her about the great achievements he had made in the past month.

In just one month, the capital city had undergone a complete transformation.

Relying on the iron will of the Cangzhou army and the unpredictable M16, Zhao Zun acted swiftly and decisively.

While others might need to weigh and calculate before eliminating dissent, he simply swept away all obstacles with swift and decisive action. Military and political problems, many intricate and complex issues, were quickly resolved and suppressed in the face of his absolute power and warrior nature.

The powerful and influential families in the capital had never seen anything like this before. Before they could even come up with a plan, the three great families had collapsed overnight.

To their even greater surprise, Zhao Zun took the initiative to confiscate his residence in the capital, "Xiaoyao Prince's Mansion," and hand it over to the Ministry of Revenue.

Zhao Zun's action was like throwing a boulder into a deep pool, creating huge ripples.

With this leading example, those powerful and wealthy people who were originally watching and feeling heartbroken dared not say anything more, no matter how reluctant they were.

Of course, there were also some astute individuals who immediately saw the wind and rushed to follow suit, either handing over their vacant mansions or offering up poorly managed properties, in any case, they voluntarily gave up some things in order to curry favor with this new master.

Speaking of those opportunists, Zhao Zun couldn't help but let a mischievous smile curl up at the corners of his cold and resolute lips.

"Hehe! I haven't been too harsh on these 'pragmatic' heroes." He deliberately dragged out the word "I," with a hint of mockery. "Today at court, I bestowed upon them all those gold and bronze plaques you bought in the system."

Han Lei leaned against the soft cushions, her slightly plump postpartum cheeks glowing warmly under the light. She blinked curiously, "Oh? What titles did you bestow upon them?"

Zhao Zun recounted the names with great familiarity: "The title of 'the greatest philanthropist in the world,' 'family of honor,' 'pillar of the Great Jing Dynasty'... is very prestigious. I even ordered people to deliver it to their residence with gongs and drums, and instructed them to hang it above the gate so that people passing by could admire and learn from it."

As he spoke, he mimicked the action of hanging the plaque, as if he had personally witnessed the expressions of those powerful and wealthy people when they received the bronze plaque—a mixture of laughter and tears.

"Pfft—" Han Lei imagined the scene and couldn't help but giggle, her clear laughter echoing in the warm room.

Han Lei laughed until tears welled up in her eyes, and she quickly raised her hand to wipe them away. "I can't believe you came up with this idea. They have all that wealth, and all they got in return was a bronze plaque like this hanging on their door. It's a pity I'm still in my postpartum period and can't go out, otherwise, I really would like to see their disgusted expressions."

Her laughter caused her body to tremble slightly, making the brocade quilt rise and fall gently.

Zhao Zun was amused by her charming appearance and reached out to tickle the soft flesh on her waist, his tone full of doting: "I learned all of this from you?"

Han Lei twisted her body to dodge while laughing uncontrollably, her breath slightly ragged: "Haha... Stop it, it tickles! How did you learn this from me? When did I ever teach you such a mischievous idea?"

“How could it not be?” Zhao Zun stopped what he was doing, grasped her waving hand, and looked at her intently. “Didn’t you always say that the way to manage subordinates is to use both kindness and severity, and to often ‘slap them and then give them a sweet treat’? This slap is like taking away their property, and then giving them a bronze plaque to glorify their ancestors as a sweet treat. Of course, this treat is a bit hard to swallow. Hahaha…” He couldn’t help but laugh as he spoke.

Han Lei suddenly realized and teased, "I did say that before, but I never expected you to use it here, and with such... remarkable effect."

"I didn't expect this effect either." Zhao Zun's smile faded, his expression turning serious, carrying a hint of composure as if he were in complete control. "These people are quite clever; they know how to assess the situation and are moving in step with me. At least they managed to get a bronze plaque. Though it's not worth much, hanging it on their doorstep is a rare kind of 'respect' and a talisman in this capital city. Didn't you see that several of those who received plaques today have already voluntarily offered up some land to show their loyalty? As for those who remain stubborn and unresponsive..."

He paused slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "Then don't blame me for not being so 'gentle' in my subsequent methods."

Hearing him say that, Han Lei chuckled again, her laughter as soft as the misty rain of Jiangnan, gently lingering in Zhao Zun's heart.

He couldn't help but ask, "What are you laughing at now?"

Han Lei extended her slender finger and gently tapped the tip of his nose, her eyes full of tenderness and teasing: "My prince, why do you still refer to yourself as 'this prince'? You should call yourself 'I, the emperor' now."

Zhao Zun took her finger, kissed it, and explained, "The coronation ceremony has not yet taken place. It would be a bit hasty to call yourself '朕' (Zhen, the imperial proclamation) at this time."

Mentioning the coronation ceremony, Zhao Zun suddenly remembered something, "Oh right, there's something I forgot to tell you. Today I ordered all of the late emperor's concubines to be dismissed from the palace and given money to settle down. As for Consort Ru..."

"What happened to Consort Ru?"

Zhao Zun's tone softened slightly: "I bestowed upon her a well-located shop and a three-courtyard residence. Considering the care she had given to the Thirteenth Prince in the palace these past few days, and also grateful for the secret passage she provided. After all, without that secret passage, our operation would not have gone so smoothly this time."

Upon hearing this, Han Lei nodded slightly, a hint of pity on her face: "I heard from Thirteen that although this Consort Ru comes from the Sun family, she is also a pitiful person. If she hasn't done anything heinous, it's quite reasonable that you've taken such good care of her and given her a peaceful life."

After speaking, Han Lei raised her hand and gently stroked Zhao Zun's slightly thin cheek. Her fingertips delicately traced his prominent brow bone and the increasingly deep contours of his face due to days of hard work. Her tone was full of heartache: "These days, there are so many chores to deal with, all of which have been on your shoulders. You must be exhausted."

Zhao Zun felt a warmth in his heart, and immediately covered the back of her hand that was pressed against his cheek with his large hand, pressing her soft and delicate palm even closer to him, like a beast seeking comfort, rubbing affectionately against her palm.

He closed his eyes, feeling the comforting warmth and faint fragrance.

"I'm not tired. As long as I think about you and the baby, and about our future, I don't feel tired at all." He opened his eyes, his gaze burning like the stars in the sky, looking deeply into Han Lei's eyes. "You'll be out of confinement in two days. I just want to get all these little things sorted out and clear away any obstacles before then..."

He leaned forward slightly, his forehead lightly touching Han Lei's, their noses meeting, their breaths mingling. In a soft yet incredibly solemn tone, he said, "When the time comes, you just need to take good care of yourself, and you can wear your phoenix coronet and wedding robes, and live a peaceful and glorious life..."

He paused deliberately, then uttered the following words clearly, word by word, with promise and boundless expectation: "To be my Empress."

He emphasized the word "朕" (zhen, meaning "I, the emperor") with a smile, conveying both the domineering air of someone about to rule the world and the tender affection reserved only for her...

...This is a dividing line for asking for votes...

A few days later, at the north gate of the capital.

A long procession of cars slowly drove into the majestic city gate.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a rumbling sound. Although the decorations of the motorcade were not extremely luxurious, they had a dignified air about them, attracting the attention of a few passersby.

Inside one of the spacious carriages, Grand Secretary Zhang and Duke Heng were playing a game of chess. Upon hearing the coachman report that they had arrived in the capital, the two simultaneously put down their chess pieces and lifted the silk curtain on the side of the carriage. Outside the window, the streets of the capital were still bustling with people, and the cries of vendors rose and fell, a familiar scene of prosperity unfolding before them.

However, in the eyes of the two elderly people who had experienced many vicissitudes, they saw a different light and shadow than they remembered, and they couldn't help but feel a myriad of emotions.

Not long ago, Zhao Zun, the King of Cangzhou, was a traitor. They had to secretly go to Cangzhou because their descendants had "joined the rebellion" and they felt a little guilty about their disloyalty to the old dynasty.

Although Cangzhou is a good place, with its people living in peace and prosperity and orderly society, like a paradise in a chaotic world, the huge stone of "disloyalty" always weighs on their hearts, making it difficult for them to truly relax every day in Cangzhou.

Who could have imagined that, with the passage of time and the changing of the world, they would be able to return to the capital in such a grand manner in just a few months, and even attend Zhao Zun's enthronement ceremony as honored guests of the new emperor.

Just as the two were immersed in the melancholy of things changing and people being different, Duke Heng suddenly let out a soft "Eh," his brows furrowing slightly.

"What's wrong?" Grand Secretary Zhang asked.

“Your Excellency, look,” Duke Heng pointed to the street, “why are so many shops closed and sealed off?”

Following the direction he pointed, Grand Secretary Zhang looked up, his gray eyebrows gradually furrowing.

He took a deep breath, stroked his beard, and his cloudy yet sharp eyes carefully scanned the tightly closed doors. The official vermilion seals on them gleamed brightly in the sunlight.

"Huh?" Grand Secretary Zhang examined the place for a moment, his tone heavy with disbelief. "That closed and closed 'Fengtai Rice Shop' seems to belong to the Su family... And that gambling den, isn't it the favorite den of extravagant playboy of Prime Minister Wei's family? How come it's also..."

"Yes! This gambling den belongs to the Wei family! What's going on?" Duke Heng was also puzzled.

"Let's go for a walk." With many doubts in his mind, Grand Secretary Zhang stopped the carriage and got out with Duke Heng, deciding to walk to the agreed-upon Tengyun Tower.

They received a message from the communications station that Zhao Zun had booked the entire Tengyun Tower today to hold a full-moon celebration for his two children, and that they should go directly to Tengyun Tower upon arrival.

Seeing the two key figures alight from their carriages, the Prince of Jingzhou, Hua Tianyou, and others in the following convoy also followed suit. Even the old lady, supported by Zhao Ling'er and Lady Lin, the wife of the Duke of Heng, stepped onto the streets of the capital.

The group walked slowly along the wide street, and the closer they got to the inner city, the more alarming the sights became.

Along the streets, many shops that should have been bustling with customers are now closed, their doors tightly shut. The crisscrossing seals, like two scars, proclaim the abrupt end of these businesses.

The lintels and old plaques of these shops are still faintly discernible, and almost all of them belonged to the several powerful families who once made the capital tremble with a stomp of their feet.

Unable to contain himself, the Duke of Heng walked toward a street vendor selling used books.

"Young man, may I ask you something?" Duke Heng tried to make his tone sound as casual as possible. "I haven't been back to the capital for a long time. Why have so many shops been shut down? Has something major happened in the city?"

Upon hearing this, the vendor immediately perked up, a proud and smug look spreading across his face, as if he had witnessed some kind of legend.

"Oh dear, old man, you don't know yet, do you?" He lowered his voice, making sure everyone around could hear him, "It was our Emperor! The new Emperor acted swiftly and decisively, confiscating the assets of the three great families... no, he confiscated all those corrupt officials! All their properties were turned over to the national treasury!"

He paused, then raised his voice a few decibels, with a sense of cathartic satisfaction: "His Majesty said that all the ill-gotten gains collected from aristocratic families should be used for the benefit of us ordinary people! Building bridges and roads, establishing schools—that is the right path!"

Upon hearing this, the Duke of Heng was greatly shocked and exchanged a shocked look with Grand Secretary Zhang beside him.

He couldn't help but press further: "The relationships between the major families are intricate and intertwined; a single move could have far-reaching consequences. His Majesty... he has only recently ascended the throne, how dare he do such a thing..."

He wanted to say "too hasty," but before he could finish speaking, the vendor laughed.

"Hahaha..." The vendor let out a mocking laugh, exaggeratedly slashing left and right with his right hand as if swinging a knife. "Our Emperor is no ordinary man! He's incredibly powerful! Swish! Swish! Swish! In just a few moves, he uprooted those aristocratic families that had been entrenched for hundreds of years! I heard that His Majesty has already issued a decree that the day of his enthronement ceremony will be the day these captured aristocratic family's core figures are exiled thousands of miles away! This is called double happiness, ptooey, ptooey, no, it's about eliminating the old and establishing the new!"

These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Not only were Duke Heng and Grand Secretary Zhang frozen in place, but the King of Jingzhou, Hua Tianyou, Fatty, and the others who followed behind also gasped in shock.

A complex emotion, a mixture of shock, fear, and a hint of excitement, filled the air.

"mighty!"

Hua Tianyou and Da Pangtou blurted out almost simultaneously, their faces beaming with worship and longing for absolute power.

Grand Secretary Zhang, Duke Heng, and the Prince of Jingzhou were all utterly shocked and unable to process what they were seeing. They understood the court all too well and were acutely aware of the power of aristocratic families.

Throughout history, which emperor didn't appease, win over, and compromise with powerful clans and aristocratic families? Even if they wanted to reform them, they always proceeded cautiously and slowly, fearing a severe backlash.

Zhao Zun, on the other hand, not only conquered the capital with lightning speed and seized the throne, but also, before ascending the throne, he took the opportunity to completely eradicate these malignant tumors with overwhelming force!

How on earth did he do it?
After the initial shock, the King of Jingzhou was overwhelmed with immense joy and relief.

His elder brother, who had repeatedly sent assassins to kill him, has finally fallen from power! And now, sitting in that position is Zhao Zun, who possesses absolute strength and charisma!

With Zhao Zun around, his family could finally escape the days of living in constant fear and walking on thin ice.

He was almost moved to tears and quickly wiped his slightly moist eyes with his sleeve.

The turmoil in Zhang Gelao's heart was even more complex. His student was terrifyingly powerful! He had advanced triumphantly and without restraint, seemingly reckless, but in reality, every step he took was precise and ruthless.

Zhao Zun possessed both the courage of a military general who would fight to the death and the strategic thinking of a scholar, truly deserving the title of "both scholarly and martial"!
Little did he know that Zhao Zun's rapid advancement was entirely due to the deterrent effect of the M16, proving the saying that "politics and power grow from the barrel of a gun."

With mixed feelings, the group finally arrived at Tengyun Tower.

However, the scene before them once again stunned them, even more so than when they saw the streets sealed off earlier.

No gifts are accepted at today's banquet; the only acceptable gift is a complete package!