Love Lock

Chapter 355 His Identity Is Different Now
In the dead of winter in Beijing, the north wind was like a knife, stinging people's faces.

The streets were sparsely populated, with everyone wrapped tightly in their robes and hurrying along, eager to get back to their warm homes.

However, the scene was quite different at Jinxiufang, located in the most bustling area of ​​the capital. The cold weather did not seem to affect Jinxiufang's business.

The shop was warm and cozy, bustling with activity.

All kinds of fabrics are neatly displayed on the shelves, ranging from coarse cloth used by ordinary people to fine silks and satins that only the wealthy could afford. Various ready-made clothes in the style of the Republic of China era are particularly eye-catching.

Several well-dressed ladies were marveling at a piece of brightly colored brocade, while maids served them hot tea with utmost care.

With a broad smile, Lin Yuanshan patiently explained a piece of shimmering satin in his hand to a middle-aged merchant: "This material was transported from Yunxin. Feel the texture; it's soft and smooth. Making a robe from it would be both warm and not bulky, making it perfect for this cold winter season."

The merchant touched the fabric and nodded in satisfaction: "It's really good. Cut two bolts for me, one navy blue and one dark green."

"Alright!" Lin Yuanshan readily agreed. Just as he was about to call the shop assistant to measure the fabric and cut clothes, the shop door was pushed open again, and a few figures walked in, enveloped in a cold wind.

He habitually put on a smile and went forward, but before he could get to the front, a burly man with sharp eyes reached out and stopped him.

Lin Yuanshan was taken aback. He had been operating in the capital for many years and had met many important people, but he had never encountered such a scene. Even when princes and nobles came to visit, they had never stopped him more than a few steps away.

Lin Yuanshan's mind raced, but he remained expressionless as he quickly sized up the newcomer.

There were five people in total, two women and three men.

The woman at the head of the group was plain-looking, dressed in a dark blue dress of fine quality but simple in style, with only a plain white jade hairpin in her hair and no other decorations.

Behind her followed a woman of similar age, who, judging from her lagging posture, seemed to be a maid. The other three men were clearly guards, each with wary eyes and upright posture.

"What brings you distinguished guests? Is there anything we can do for you?" Lin Yuanshan asked respectfully, though alarm bells were already ringing in his mind.

In this capital city, you could throw a stone anywhere and it would bring forth a noble person, but these people in front of us are clearly not ordinary wealthy families.

The woman at the head of the group smiled slightly, her voice calm yet carrying a hint of authority: "Manager Lin, why don't you take us to the backyard to talk?"

Lin Yuanshan was shocked. The person who came knew that Jinxiufang had a backyard? This backyard was where goods were usually stored and accounts were handled. Even if ordinary customers knew there was a backyard, they wouldn't go there to talk.

He hesitated for a moment, then, seeing the sharp look in the eyes of the guards, he could only bow and say, "Please follow me."

Passing through the shop and lifting a heavy curtain, you'll find yourself in a quiet and elegant courtyard.

Unlike the bustling scene before, this place was so quiet that the only sound could be the rustling of the cold wind blowing through the bamboo leaves.

There was a simply furnished tea room in the courtyard. Lin Yuanshan led them inside with trepidation and ordered someone to serve them hot tea.

The waiter quickly served tea, and after Lin Yuanshan accepted it, he left.

Seeing that there were no outsiders in the room and the aroma of tea was wafting through the air, the man who had stopped him earlier spoke up: "Manager Lin, this is Her Majesty the Empress."

With a clatter, the tea tray in Lin Yuanshan's hands nearly fell to the ground. He hurriedly put the tray down, knelt down and bowed, saying, "This humble subject was unaware of Her Majesty the Empress's arrival and has failed to greet you properly. I deserve to die!"

At the same time, a storm raged within him.

Is this plain-looking woman the current Empress Han Lei? The legendary beauty from Cangzhou who could topple kingdoms? And also the true behind-the-scenes owner of Jinxiufang?

Times have changed. I never imagined that just a few months ago, his behind-the-scenes boss was the Princess Consort of Cangzhou, and now she is the high and mighty Empress.

These days, many rumors are circulating. He had also heard that Han Lei was an extraordinary woman who not only helped Zhao Zun seize the throne but also helped the local people develop in Cangzhou, earning their deep respect and love. But upon seeing her today, he felt that her appearance was nothing special.

He suddenly recalled the time a few days ago when Zhao Qiao'er and her daughter Qin Yanran came to him asking for travel expenses. He was filled with emotion at their desperate state.

With Han Lei's help, Zhao Zun quietly seized the throne and, in an instant, brought down the powerful families that had held sway for centuries. Even Wei Chengchao, the former apparent owner of Jinxiufang, was nowhere to be found.

Zhao Qiao'er actually dared to poison such a powerful woman; she was simply courting death!

"Manager Lin, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down and let's talk." Han Lei had no idea what he was thinking. She simply raised her hand gently, gesturing for him to stand up. "I've come here today only to discuss some business matters with you. I have no other purpose."

Lin Yuanshan rose with trepidation and carefully sat on the edge of the chair, still feeling uneasy.

He secretly observed Han Lei, finding her increasingly unbelievable. Although the woman's appearance was not outstanding, she possessed a composed demeanor in every gesture, and her eyes were clear and wise, as if she could see into people's hearts.

Han Lei seemed to sense his unease and smiled slightly: "Manager Lin, there's no need to be nervous. These past few days, you've managed Jinxiufang very well, and the business is booming. I'm very grateful to you."

"Your Majesty flatters me; this is merely my duty," Lin Yuanshan quickly replied humbly.

Han Lei nodded, took the teacup handed to her by Zitan beside her, took a small sip, and then asked, "How are the solar lights used in Jinxiufang? Are they working well? What feedback have the customers given?"

When asked about this, Lin Yuanshan immediately perked up: "Your Majesty, those solar lights are truly wonderful! They absorb sunlight during the day and automatically turn on at night, saving on lamp oil costs and being incredibly bright. Many customers have been asking where they can buy them! It's just a pity they're not sold in the market."

Han Lei smiled with satisfaction and then asked, "What about the fabrics and ready-made clothes sold in the shop?"

“They are all very good,” Lin Yuanshan replied truthfully. “Especially those stylish ready-made clothes that were transported from Cangzhou. They are soft, durable, and brightly colored, and they are very popular.”

Han Lei put down her teacup and said seriously, "In that case, I would like you to take over another shop, at least two or three stories high, preferably in a high-traffic area, specifically to sell some unusual things like solar lamps, and name it Department Store."

"Department store?" Lin Yuanshan repeated in confusion.

“Yes.” Han Lei took a small wooden box that had been prepared beforehand from Zi Tan’s hands, opened it, and pushed it in front of Lin Yuanshan. “These are the things we sell.”

Lin Yuanshan curiously peered inside and saw that the box was neatly filled with many things he had never seen before: small brushes, handle-shaped objects, cylindrical items, shiny mirrors, some glass products, and various powders packaged in small paper packets, etc.

Han Lei explained to him one by one: "This is toothpaste and a toothbrush, used to clean teeth; this is a flashlight, press here to make it light up, more convenient than a lantern; this is a mirror, it reflects people much more clearly than a bronze mirror; these are batteries, used to power the flashlight; these glass items can be made into various decorations; and these are spices for cooking, which can enhance the flavor of dishes..."

Lin Yuanshan was dumbfounded. He had never heard of or seen anything like these strange and unusual things.

But with his businessman's intuition, he immediately realized the value of these things—if they were promoted, they would surely cause a sensation.

"Your Majesty, where did all these... these things come from?" he couldn't help but ask.

Han Lei smiled mysteriously: "You don't need to ask about that. You just need to know that only we can provide these things. The department store specializes in selling these products, as well as solar lights, new fabrics, and all sorts of novel and practical items."

Lin Yuanshan was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly: "Your Majesty is wise! Once this department store opens, it will surely be packed with customers!"

Han Lei nodded: "I'll leave the site selection and preparation to you. Don't worry about funding; just tell Zitan how much you need. Also, I'll send a few people to assist you; they're all knowledgeable about these products."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your expectations!" Lin Yuanshan bowed and replied.

He was an experienced businessman; he could tell at a glance whether the goods Han Lei provided had a market.

Looking at these novel and rare items, he was very glad that he had divorced Zhao Qiao'er and stood on the same business front as Han Lei. Otherwise, as Han Lei's business blueprint unfolded, the Lin family's cloth shop would have been able to survive in the cracks or go bankrupt sooner or later.

After discussing some details, Han Lei got up to leave. Lin Yuanshan respectfully escorted them to the back gate, watched them board the carriage and disappear around the corner, and then let out a long sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

Recalling what had just happened, he still found it unbelievable.

Who would have thought that the legendary, stunningly beautiful Empress would appear before him with such an ordinary appearance? Even more unexpectedly, she was not at all pretentious; on the contrary, she was kind, quick-witted, and had unique insights into business.

"Shopkeeper, what was that just now...?" the waiter asked curiously as he leaned closer.

Lin Yuanshan immediately straightened his face: "Don't ask questions you shouldn't! Go and find out all the available shops for rent in the most prosperous areas of Beijing!"

After leaving Jinxiufang, Han Lei and her group took a carriage to the textile factory construction site by the moat.

Despite the cold winter, the construction site was bustling with activity.

Workers came and went, carrying bricks, stones and timber, and the framework of several factory buildings was already taking shape.

The air was filled with the smell of cement and lime, which mixed with the cold air to create a peculiar atmosphere.

Zitan got off the carriage first, looked around, and soon found Hua Tianyou, who was directing the workers to move the timber.

He was dressed in coarse cloth clothes, covered in mud and dust. He was no longer the famous young nobleman of the capital.

"Young Master Hua!" Zitan waved and called out.

Hua Tianyou turned around and saw Zitan and Mazi. He immediately ran over with a smile: "Why are you here? This place is too dirty and not suitable for you."

Ma Zi lowered his voice and said, "Young Master Hua, Her Majesty the Empress has also arrived."

Hua Tianyou was taken aback. He followed Ma Zi's gaze to the carriage and saw an ordinary-looking woman getting off the carriage.

Upon closer inspection, he couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Han Lei? What are you putting on this for?"

Han Lei shook her head helplessly: "These are extraordinary times, we have to be careful. What, am I ugly?"

Hua Tianyou waved his hand: "It's not that I'm ugly, it's that I'm completely unrecognizable. Your disguise skills are amazing!"

Han Lei smiled and looked around the busy construction site: "How's the progress? Will it be completed on schedule?"

"Don't worry, it's absolutely possible." Hua Tianyou said confidently. "With your detailed blueprints and construction plan, plus enough workers, the progress will be even faster than expected. Come on, let me show you around."

Hua Tianyou led Han Lei on a tour of the construction site, explaining in detail the planning and construction of each area.

Han Lei nodded from time to time and occasionally offered some suggestions. She had shown Hua Tianyou and Li Sao videos of a modern textile factory and taught them how to operate the new textile machines; the rest was up to them.

"I have an idea for how to quickly sell the fabric produced by the textile factory." Han Lei took out a stack of organized promotional and management materials from her space and handed them to Hua Tianyou. "Place a spinning machine at the entrance of the shop and let the textile workers demonstrate and explain while spinning on the street. This will attract the attention of passersby and allow people to see our textile products directly."

Hua Tianyou's eyes lit up: "Great idea! This way, passersby can see how our fabric is produced, and they will have more confidence in the quality and features of our products."

Han Lei nodded: "I also want to go to the shop to see how Aunt Li and the others are setting up, and how the textile worker training is going. I don't even know where the shop will be located yet."

Hua Tianyou looked up at the sky and said, "It's getting late. Since I'm going back anyway, I'll accompany you to the shop on the way."

The group arrived by carriage at a newly built shop in the west of the city. The location was slightly inferior to that of Jinxiufang, but the foot traffic was still considerable, and the surrounding area consisted mostly of middle-class families, which was exactly the main customer base that Han Lei had in mind for the textile factory's products.

The shop has been almost completely renovated, and the spacious and bright hall is neatly furnished with shelves and modern textile machines.

Dozens of recruited female workers were gathered around a textile machine, listening intently to Sister Li's explanation.

While skillfully operating the textile machine, Sister Li explained the key points of operation and the details of using the shuttle. The female workers were all focused, nodding occasionally to take notes or asking questions on the spot.

Seeing Hua Tianyou enter, Aunt Li immediately tried to stand up to greet him, but Hua Tianyou waved his hand and said, "You all continue, we just came to take a look around."

Aunt Li nodded and continued her explanation.

However, two of the female workers immediately lowered their heads in panic upon seeing Hua Tianyou, as if afraid of being recognized. These two female workers were none other than Princess Chang Le and Zhao Qiao'er, dressed as commoners.

Both of them knew Hua Tianyou, and they were filled with unease, wondering why he had come here.
Zhao Qiao'er fared slightly better. Because she was born out of wedlock and her status was not noble enough, Hua Tianyou often went to the Prince Xiaoyao's mansion to play with Zhao Zun when he was young, but he never gave her a second glance.

Moreover, so many years have passed, everyone has grown up, and perhaps Hua Tianyou wouldn't recognize her.

But Princess Chang Le was different. She and Hua Tianyou were both celebrities in the capital's elite circles and knew each other very well. She was afraid that if she suddenly fell from her high and mighty position as a princess to her current status as a textile worker, and Hua Tianyou recognized her, wouldn't he laugh at her? And the news would spread throughout the capital.

The two women lowered their heads and hid behind other female workers, whispering to each other, "Be careful, don't let that young master Hua recognize us."

They secretly glanced at Hua Tianyou as he led Han Lei around the shop, wondering about his relationship with the textile factory and why he had suddenly appeared there.
Suddenly, Hua Tianyou said, "Han Lei, what do you think about setting up the textile machine here for a demonstration? Passersby can see it, and it won't affect people coming and going from the shop."

"boom!"

Hua Tianyou's words were like a thunderclap, instantly exploding in Princess Chang Le's mind.

The ordinary-looking woman walking next to Hua Tianyou is Han Lei.
This...how is this possible?

She had seen Han Lei at the palace banquet. Although she was unwilling to admit it, Han Lei's stunning appearance was something that even she, who considered herself to be as beautiful as a flower, was ashamed of. How could she be the kind of person who would be lost in a crowd?
Princess Chang Le stared wide-eyed in disbelief. She covered her face with her hands and whispered to Zhao Qiao'er, "Qiao'er, you know Han Lei too. Quickly take a look and see if that woman is Han Lei."

Zhao Qiao'er glanced over furtively, not recognizing Han Lei, but she did recognize Zi Tan behind Han Lei. She whispered, "That maid is called Zi Tan. She used to be a maidservant of the old lady in our mansion, and later she was given to Han Lei."

Having recognized Zitan, and considering Hua Tianyou's earlier address, Han Lei's identity was naturally confirmed.

Princess Chang Le was even more surprised!
Good heavens! Just who is this Han Lei? She can even change one's appearance?
If Han Lei can change her appearance, and Hua Tianyou personally accompanies her to visit this newly opened shop, then it means the shop is related to Han Lei, then...

A flash of inspiration struck Princess Chang Le, making her suddenly feel enlightened.

She suddenly remembered that after she and Wei Chengchao kidnapped Han Lei, she was kidnapped by Zhao Zun's men who impersonated bandits and taken to the mountain. Meanwhile, Wei Chengchao and Han Lei were together, and inexplicably he started doing business and became the owners of several shops. Were those shops all related to that bitch Han Lei?

Then, her family's Marquis's mansion and the palace inexplicably exploded. Not only her family, but also Wei Chengchao's family, who were involved in the kidnapping of Han Lei, were affected.

Members of the Wei family were arrested as suspects. Subsequently, Han Lei and Zhao Zun returned to the capital, seized the throne, and became emperor and empress.

Previously, even the Jingzhao Prefecture and the Dali Temple couldn't solve that bombing case, which remained an unsolved mystery for a long time. Now, thinking back, could the chubby boy who appeared at the Marquis's mansion on the day of the bombing and then disappeared without a trace have been Han Lei in disguise?
If it's really as she thinks, then the way things have come to this point for her family and Wei Chengchao's family must be a conspiracy meticulously planned step by step by that bitch Han Lei.

Princess Chang Le became increasingly alarmed and furious as she thought about it. In a fit of anger, she immediately wanted to confront Han Lei, but when she looked up, she realized that Han Lei and Hua Tianyou's group had already left sometime earlier.

"They're gone," Zhao Qiao'er said softly, her tone tinged with relief that they hadn't been recognized.

Princess Chang Le clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white, and gritted her teeth as she said, "I never expected it to be that bitch! It was all that bitch Han Lei's doing!"

Startled and confused, Zhao Qiao'er quickly grabbed her sleeve: "What are you saying? Keep your voice down! Her status is different now!"

Princess Chang Le glanced at her, suppressing her anger, and stared coldly at the doorway.

One day, she will make Han Lei pay the price!
By this time, night had fallen outside, and Han Lei and her entourage had returned to the palace after dinner.

They entered the palace just as the gates were closing. Turning back to watch the gates slowly close, Han Lei breathed a sigh of relief. Any later, and if the gates had closed, the procedures for entering the palace would have been much more complicated.

She'd been out for most of the day; by now, Zhao Zun should have already gone to Weiyang Palace for his meal! She needed to get back before Zhao Zun to avoid being discovered.

Thinking of this, Han Lei straightened her clothes and hurriedly led Zi Tan and the others toward Weiyang Palace.

Before she even reached Weiyang Palace, Han Lei heard a shrill scream coming from afar.

"what--!"

Something happened in the palace?
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