Love Lock

Chapter 352 The Best Arrangement from Heaven
The area in front of Tengyun Tower was bustling with activity, with carriages and sedan chairs of all kinds forming a long line that almost blocked the entire street.

Those waiting in line were all dressed in fine silks and satins, exuding an extraordinary air.

Grand Secretary Zhang and Duke Heng recognized almost all of them at a glance—they were all well-known officials and powerful figures in the capital, many of whom were "clever people" who had close ties with the major families in the past.

Zhao Zun is now the new emperor. It is normal for these people to rush to curry favor and give gifts during the full moon celebration of the princes and princesses. This is just common practice in officialdom and is a matter of human relationships.

But what stunned everyone was not the noble status of these people, but the striking red banner hanging above the entrance of Tengyun Tower, on which were boldly written in powerful characters:

"Today's banquet will not accept gifts; we will only accept gifts from people of goodwill."

Under the banner, Zhao Zun, dressed in the python robe of the Prince of Cangzhou representing his status as a prince, but not in a dragon robe, stood leisurely on the steps in front of Tengyun Tower.

He casually put one arm around Han Lei's shoulder, his posture intimate and relaxed. Han Lei wore a pomegranate red dress with gold trim, her slightly plump postpartum figure appearing even more elegant and noble. Because she had been well cared for during her postpartum period, her delicate face was radiant and fair, more beautiful than a jade plate.

She held a beautifully wrapped baby in her arms, a smile playing on her lips, her clear eyes fixed on the long queue below the steps, a hint of scrutiny in them.

Along the eaves of Tengyun Tower, a row of guards carrying M16 rifles stood watch to maintain order.

What's most baffling is that there are two square tables set up side by side at the bottom of the steps for receiving gifts. Instead of the Prince's steward, the people sitting there to receive the gifts are two serious-looking officials from the Censorate and two officials from the Ministry of Revenue who are holding abacuses and account books.

Which song is this from?
"Sincere intentions"?
What is "true sincerity"?
How can one "receive" such sincere intentions?
Just as the group was looking at each other in bewilderment, Zhao Zun, who was on the steps, saw them. He immediately put on a sincere smile, whispered something to Han Lei, and then came over hand in hand.

"Teacher, Duke, Mother, you must be tired from your journey!" Zhao Zun was the first to bow, his attitude respectful yet warm.

Han Lei, holding her child, smiled and greeted the elders.

Everyone quickly returned the greetings. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Grand Secretary Zhang looked at the grand scene of "receiving gifts" before him, and recalling the scenes of confiscation he had witnessed along the way, a surge of patriotic and people-oriented integrity welled up in his heart.

His face darkened, and his tone became somewhat displeased: "Zhao Zun, you haven't even officially ascended the throne yet, and you're already making such a grand spectacle, attracting all the officials to gather here. What kind of decorum is this? If you also learn from those aristocratic families' ways of accumulating wealth, how are you any different from a parasite? If that's really the case, I think you'd be better off not being emperor!"

As he spoke, Grand Secretary Zhang became agitated, flicked his sleeve, and turned away, seemingly unable to bear to look any longer.

Zhao Zun was taken aback by his sudden rebuke. He then exchanged a glance with Han Lei, and a knowing look flashed in their eyes. They couldn't help but laugh at the same time. Their laughter was filled with helplessness, but also with a tacit understanding that only they could comprehend.

Zhao Zun suppressed his smile, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Zhang Ge Lao's back. His tone was sincere and solemn: "Teacher, you are overthinking it. I am not taking this opportunity to amass wealth, but rather to use this opportunity to make these former powerful families, or those who are not clean themselves, voluntarily return the wealth they have plundered from the people, and put it all into the national treasury for future livelihood construction."

Han Lei smiled and chimed in, her voice soft yet clear: "Yes, teacher, you've misunderstood Brother Zun. This is Brother Zun's last chance for them."

As Han Lei spoke, her gaze swept over the long queue, "Those who voluntarily surrender their illegal gains will be pardoned by the court, retaining their official positions and possibly even being pardoned for being 'pragmatic,' allowing them to continue standing in the court. However, if anyone remains stubborn and attempts to slip through the cracks..."

She paused slightly, lowering her voice, "After the coronation ceremony, Brother Zun will order a forced purge. At that time, they will either be imprisoned or exiled; there will be no third option."

After hearing this explanation, everyone suddenly understood!
No wonder those powerful and wealthy people lined up to give gifts. It turns out that this seemingly absurd scene of receiving gifts was actually a grand show of both kindness and power!

The so-called "sincere intention" is to make the powerful and wealthy genuinely hand over their ill-gotten gains so that they can take them from the people and use them for the people.

This was also a public, gentle, yet extremely ruthless purge and selection of the old forces before Zhao Zun ascended the throne!
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" The Duke of Heng looked at Zhao Zun with admiration. "In this way, we can not only replenish the national treasury, but also distinguish between the loyal and the treacherous, and give these people a way to repent and start anew. Your Highness... uh, no, His Majesty's move can be described as benevolent and righteous, and far-sighted!"

The King of Jingzhou, Hua Tianyou, and others nodded in agreement, their faces showing admiration. This approach required more wisdom and courage than simple military suppression.

Upon hearing this, Grand Secretary Zhang turned around abruptly, his anger replaced by shock, relief, and a hint of barely perceptible shame.

He carefully examined the tall, sharp-eyed student before him, as if he were truly getting to know him for the first time today.

What he saw was no longer just a capable and skilled military general, but a mature ruler who was well-versed in political maneuvering and had the world at heart.

He stroked his beard and remained silent for a long time.

In the end, all his emotions turned into a long sigh, and then the corners of his mouth slowly turned up, revealing an extremely complex smile that ultimately turned into one of appreciation.

He was finding this student increasingly pleasing to the eye. The landscape of the capital had truly changed.

And it seems he no longer needs to dwell on that "infidelity".

Just then, a troop of fast horses galloped towards Tengyun Tower from afar.

The horses' hooves made a crisp, rapid sound as they trod on the bluestone slabs, drawing the attention of pedestrians who quickly stepped aside.

The leader was Song Yuanqing, the marshal of the Xuzhou garrison. He was dressed in a lake-blue silk uniform, looking travel-worn, with an unyielding anxiety and worry between his brows.

Jingzhou had just suffered a disaster, and people's livelihoods in various places needed to be restored. His uncle, Song Peilin, as the prefect of Jingzhou, had to stay in the local area to handle government affairs and was unable to accompany the King of Jingzhou and others to the capital to offer congratulations.

Along the way, he heard passersby discussing Zhao Zun's actions against aristocratic families, and he also witnessed shops being shut down in the streets and alleys of the capital. His heart was already in his throat.

The Song family was also among the four great families. Could they have been purged as well? This thought gnawed at his mind like a venomous snake.

He kept urging his horse to speed up, eager to see Zhao Zun and get some answers. But the thought that Zhao Zun was now the new emperor made him uneasy.

Will that friend, who was once a fellow military officer, also become ruthless and heartless now that he has ascended to that supreme position?
The closer he got to Tengyun Tower, the more his heart sank.

The long line in front of Tengyun Tower was filled with familiar faces, all shrouded in sorrow and despair. The scene looked nothing like a joyous full moon celebration; it resembled a procession to the execution ground.

The powerful families were uprooted, and these influential figures acted as if they had suffered heavy losses. What about the Song family…?

As Song Yuanqing thought about it, he gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Brother Song!" Zhao Zun's clear voice roused him from his chaotic thoughts.

Song Yuanqing abruptly reined in his horse, nimbly dismounting with the decisiveness characteristic of a military general. He suppressed his anxiety and hastily bowed, saying, "Congratulations on Your Majesty's ascension to the throne." Immediately afterward, he eagerly inquired, "Your Majesty, what is the current situation of the Song family? I have observed a great change in the capital's situation on my journey here, and I am truly uneasy."

His gaze eagerly searched for answers on Zhao Zun's face, his worry and fear undisguised.

Seeing this, Zhao Zun understood. He stepped forward and patted Song Yuanqing's shoulder heavily with his warm palm, the force steady and sincere.

"Don't worry, Brother Song," Zhao Zun said calmly. "While I was ruthless in purging the powerful families, I didn't try to obstruct the public. Although the Song family is a powerful family, their actions over the years are completely different from the other three major families. Your uncle cared about the people during his tenure in Jingzhou, repairing dikes to prevent floods, eradicating locusts, and providing disaster relief. I remember all of that. The Song family's businesses are mostly legitimate and have never exploited the people."

At this point, Zhao Zun turned slightly to the side and pointed inside Tengyun Tower: "Your family is already inside, safe and sound. Go and see them."

These words were like a gentle spring breeze, instantly dispelling the gloom in Song Yuanqing's heart.

He let out a long sigh of relief, his tense shoulders finally relaxing, and only then did he have the mind to notice the familiar figure beside Zhao Zun.

Han Lei stepped forward, holding the baby in swaddling clothes, a gentle smile on her lips: "Greetings, Marshal Song."

The embroidered swaddling clothes in her arms swayed slightly, revealing a delicate, exquisitely beautiful face.

Song Yuanqing's gaze involuntarily fell on Han Lei. She had become a little fuller after giving birth, which added to her graceful demeanor. Her pomegranate red dress made her skin look as white as snow, and her clear eyes were still lively, but with a touch more of the gentleness of a mother.

At this moment, Song Yuanqing felt a mix of emotions.

The girl who once stirred his heart is now a mother, standing beside his close friend, a perfect match.

A trace of indescribable melancholy quietly swept through his heart, but he quickly suppressed it and solemnly clasped his hands in return: "Miss Han, it's been a long time."

“Ahem! Brother Song,” Zhao Zun keenly caught Song Yuanqing’s momentary lapse in concentration. He coughed lightly, and without making a sound, reached out and put his arm around Han Lei’s waist. His tone was intimate yet assertive, “From now on, you can’t call her Miss Han anymore. You have to call her Your Majesty the Empress.”

This sudden intimacy made Han Lei's ears turn slightly red. She glared at Zhao Zun coquettishly, her eyes filled with both shyness and a hint of reproach for him making a mountain out of a molehill by being jealous.

But Han Lei quickly regained her composure and smiled sincerely at Song Yuanqing: "Marshal Song, you must be tired from your journey. Please come in and have a seat!"

Song Yuanqing smiled awkwardly and readily bowed again: "Your Majesty is right, it was my oversight. Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

At that moment, he clearly realized that some boundaries had been drawn and some past events could only be cherished.

He looked at Zhao Zun's hand protecting Han Lei's waist, and at the baby in Han Lei's arms, a symbol of their love, and suddenly felt relieved—perhaps this was the best ending.

"Song Yuanqing, why are you still standing here? Hurry up and come in with us to take your seats." Just then, Hua Tianyou and Big Fatty also came over to greet Song Yuanqing.

Song Yuanqing quickly agreed, "Tianyou and Hanlin, how dare you two say that? Last time you made me drunk for three days straight, do you dare to drink again today?"

Hua Tianyou scoffed, then high-fived the fat man. "Who's afraid of who! Let's go, we won't leave until we're drunk!"

As they spoke, the two men came up and put their arms around Song Yuanqing's shoulders, one on each side.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me to your seats." Han Lei greeted everyone present at the right time, her tone unhurried and composed, displaying the demeanor of an empress.

Song Yuanqing turned around and smiled at Zhao Zun, their brotherly bond rekindling in their gaze.

Zhao Zun gestured for them to follow, then walked alongside them up the steps, as if the subtle incident from earlier had never happened.

Leading them to the door, Zhao Zun paused and looked at Hua Tianyou: "You two go in first and have a good drink with Brother Song. I still need to stay here and supervise them accepting gifts."

"Alright, then you'd better hurry up!" Hua Tianyou patted Zhao Zun's chest: "Before you put on the dragon robe, we brothers should have a good drink together. There won't be many more opportunities like this later."

These words carried a hint of sadness, and Zhao Zun's eyes darkened. He stepped forward and put his arms around their shoulders. "Don't worry, I'll often leave the palace to get together with you all. It's just... Brother Song is stationed in Xuzhou, which is quite far away, so the opportunities will be fewer. We must drink to our hearts' content today."

"Yes! That's right! We'll have few chances to get together in the future, so we must drink to our hearts' content today." Song Yuanqing nodded vigorously.

He looked up and saw a powerful figure carrying a bronze plaque passing by them. The plaque was engraved with the words "Model of Dajing".

The man looked as if he had swallowed a fly, his face contorted with tears, yet he carefully held the bronze plaque. Even after sitting down at the table, he respectfully placed the plaque on his lap before beginning his meal, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

Curious, Song Yuanqing gestured towards Hua Tianyou and asked, "What's that person putting on their lap?"

Hua Tianyou followed his gaze and suddenly burst out laughing.

He quickly covered his mouth, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously, "You mean that? That's Zhao Zun's return gift to them. With this gift, they'll have a lot more face, and it'll be their lifeline."

Song Yuanqing nodded as if he understood but not quite. He was the only military officer in the Song family and was only interested in military strategy, tactics, and warfare. He hadn't yet figured out the intricacies of court politics.

"Alright, forget about that." Zhao Zun chuckled and patted his shoulder lightly. "Go sit down and have a drink."

Upon hearing this, Song Yuanqing followed Hua Tianyou and the others into Tengyun Tower.

Inside the hall, the lights were bright, but there was no laughter or chatter. The dignitaries who had come to give gifts were all on the verge of tears, eating their meals in silence.

The banner outside the building that read "We only accept gifts from the heart" was particularly eye-catching in the sunlight, while the unique full moon banquet inside was quietly reshaping the landscape of the entire capital.

Song Yuanqing sat in his seat, looked back at his good brother who already possessed the air of an emperor, and Han Lei who was talking to him with a charming smile. The last trace of doubt in his heart vanished.

He thought, perhaps this is the best arrangement from heaven—

A monarch who can distinguish right from wrong and uses both kindness and severity, a magnanimous and wise empress who is a model of virtue for the world, and a peaceful and prosperous world, just like Cangzhou, is slowly unfolding...

Have a great weekend, everyone!