Love Lock

Chapter 363 Extra: Hua Tianyou and Zhao Ling'er

In the capital city at the end of the twelfth lunar month, the sky darkens very early.

Before the end of the Shen hour (3-5 PM), leaden-gray clouds had already pressed low over the entire imperial city, swallowing up the meager sunlight and leaving only a biting, dry cold.

The cold wind, like a boning knife, silently swept through the streets and alleys, stirring up the remaining snow fragments on the ground, yet it did not bring any of the hustle and bustle of the world.

The entire capital city was eerily quiet.

This stillness is not the tranquility of the deep night, but a deathly silence that tightens the heartstrings and seems to suppress even breathing.

In previous years, at this time, every household would be decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations and pasted with couplets, and crowds of people would be jostling each other to buy New Year's goods. The laughter of children and the shouts of vendors could be heard for several streets.

Nowadays, no new peach blossoms are seen in front of the grand mansions on both sides of the long street, and no colorful decorations are seen on the windows of ordinary people. Even the signs of taverns and teahouses seem to have faded and hang listlessly.

Occasionally, pedestrians would walk by on the street, but they would hunch their shoulders, hurry along, and not smile. Even their conversations were in hushed whispers, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Although no official edict was issued in the palace regarding the Empress's passing, a heavy sense of grief had already spread throughout the capital city through rumors, permeating every inch of the city's air.

In a charming courtyard on the west side of the Duke of Heng's mansion, Hua Tianyou stood by the window, wrapped in a thick black brocade cloak with a mink fur collar, yet he still felt a chill seeping in through the cracks in the window, penetrating straight to his bones.

He gazed out the window at the bare old crabapple tree, its branches trembling slightly in the cold wind, just like his restless heart.

However, he didn't feel this way a month or so ago.

At that time, he was ordered by his father to go to the Beiguan military camp to earn military merit in order to make a future. In just half a year of tempering in the Beiguan military camp, he shed his frivolousness as a playboy from the capital, his skin became weathered, and his figure became more upright and strong.

Following that, his training in Fufeng County, Cangzhou, added a touch of pragmatism to his military bearing.

He witnessed and participated in the rise of a new industrial city. Amidst the roaring machines and bustling construction sites, he found a greater sense of accomplishment than he had in the past when he was just traveling around and calling on friends.

Of course, the biggest gain was Zhao Ling'er.

Recalling Zhao Ling'er's lively and spirited appearance, Hua Tianyou's unruly features softened.

The woman who, on the construction site in Cangzhou, disregarded her status, rolled up her sleeves, and helped the craftsmen and women move materials and keep accounts. Unlike other noble ladies who were delicate and reserved, when she smiled with her eyes crinkling, she always exuded a brightness and vitality that could dispel gloom.

It was during those days filled with dust and sweat that their hearts drew closer and closer. He suppressed his last trace of playfulness and solemnly confessed his feelings to her, and she smiled and agreed.

However, because Zhao Zun was training troops for rebellion, his family disapproved, and he almost missed the chance to settle down with the woman who would make him want to stay for the first time. It was his persistence that made his parents see the strength of Cangzhou, and it was also his persistence that finally made his parents agree to his marriage to the rebel's sister.

Fortunately, Zhao Zun lived up to expectations and seized the throne, which relieved him greatly.

After returning to the capital, His Majesty Zhao Zun, his former close friend and now the emperor, was even more pleased with his marriage to Zhao Ling'er and even personally intervened.

For the Duke of Heng's family to be able to marry into the royal family was an immense honor. His father, the Duke of Heng, was overjoyed and began making preparations well in advance. He deliberated countless times over the style of the invitations, the list of betrothal gifts, and the wedding banquet arrangements before finally setting the wedding date for the first day of the third month of the following year, a beautiful day when spring is in full bloom.

During that period, the entire Duke Heng's mansion was immersed in a busy yet joyful atmosphere. Even when he walked around the capital and encountered jokes from his old cronies, he simply laughed them off, his heart filled with anticipation for the future.

Hua Tianyou is finally going to bid farewell to the past, start a family, establish a career, become a pillar of the nation, and also become a husband that Ling'er can rely on.

But all of this came to an abrupt end a month or so ago with the news of the Empress's passing.

Empress Han Lei, the woman whom His Majesty loved more than his life and who even defied many outdated customs to make empress, suddenly... passed away.

The palace was tight-lipped about the situation, only saying it was an acute illness. But which of the imperial physicians on duty wasn't shrewd? Even if they dared not say it outright, their shifty eyes, heavy sighs, and the despair conveyed in their few words all clearly pointed to one fact—the Empress had indeed passed away.

However, His Majesty Zhao Zun refused to acknowledge it.

He refused to acknowledge that medicine was powerless to save him, and he refused to accept that the woman he deeply loved had already passed away.

He stubbornly believed that the Empress had been taken to a place they could not understand by the jade pendant called "Love Lock," just as Han Lei had inexplicably appeared in the first place.

Zhao Zun ordered the Weiyang Palace to be sealed off, claiming to the outside world that the Empress had been frightened and was seriously ill and needed to rest. At the same time, almost in a frenzied manner, he ordered the Ministry of Works to gather skilled craftsmen to collect the hardest ice from the cellars and build an ice chamber and ice coffin in the Weiyang Palace so that Han Lei could live in it.

He also ordered himself to recruit skilled craftsmen who worked with jade to repair the supposedly broken love lock.

He firmly believed that as long as the love lock was repaired, his Han Lei would return.

The emperor's obsession, like an invisible hand, gripped the throat of the entire capital. If the emperor did not mourn, the people dared not grieve. But news of the empress's death had spread far and wide; although the emperor denied the matter, how could the people dare to express joy?
This caused great suffering for Hua Tianyou and Zhao Ling'er.

The Empress's death is a national mourning event, and all citizens of the Great Jing Dynasty must observe a year of mourning. During this year of national mourning, no entertainment or celebrations are permitted throughout the country.

The wedding is just around the corner, on the first day of the third lunar month, which is only a little over two months away. But given the current situation, is the wedding still valid? This question has been debated countless times within the Duke of Heng's mansion.

“Father,” Hua Tianyou turned around and looked at the Duke of Heng, who was sitting in a rosewood armchair, his brows furrowed and sighing, “The Ministry of Works was pressured by His Majesty again today. The ice in the cellars has been used up, and the ice from the North Sea is difficult to collect and has a huge loss rate. However, His Majesty thinks the progress is too slow and made a big fuss in the Imperial Study. In this situation… should we still send out our wedding invitations?”

Old Master Hua sighed heavily and placed a gold-embossed invitation sample on the table. The glaringly red cover seemed so out of place at this moment.

"Celebrate? How can we celebrate? Although His Majesty has not explicitly banned marriage, look at the capital. How can the people dare to have even the slightest bit of joy? The palace has stopped celebrating the New Year, while our Duke Heng's mansion is holding a grand wedding. Are you trying to put our whole family on the hot seat?"

“But if we don’t issue it, are we just going to drag this out like this?” Hua Tianyou’s tone was tinged with anxiety. “What about Ling’er… how am I supposed to explain this to her? His Majesty is her brother, but right now all his attention is on the Empress, and he’s probably already forgotten about his sister’s wedding date.”

"Has His Majesty forgotten?" Duke Heng lowered his voice, filled with awe and helplessness. "He simply does not want to face the matter of 'death.' As long as he does not acknowledge the Empress's passing, the national mourning cannot begin legitimately, nor can it end. We, as his subjects, are constantly in danger of being punished."

He stood up, walked to his son's side, patted him on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Tianyou, you are no longer the naive young man you once were. You should know what's important. The wedding preparations can proceed as planned, but the invitations absolutely cannot be sent out now. Let's... wait and see. Perhaps His Majesty will soon understand. If His Majesty understands that mourning is just a year of mourning, and the wedding can be held next year. But if he doesn't understand, perhaps..."

He himself knew that this "maybe" was slim, so he stopped there.

Hua Tianyou nodded silently.

He understood his father's concerns. Zhao Zun was no longer just his close friend, but first and foremost the emperor. The emperor's will was unpredictable, especially in His Majesty's extraordinary state. Any misstep by anyone could bring unforeseen consequences.

He could understand it, but the pent-up frustration and guilt he felt towards Zhao Ling'er grew like weeds. He left his father's study and wandered aimlessly through the garden. Passing by the hall being decorated for the New Year, he saw the servants carefully removing some of the conspicuous red ornaments and replacing them with simpler items. He felt as if something was blocking his heart, making it hard to breathe.

He recalled sending the newly recruited jade craftsmen to the palace yesterday, and then taking the opportunity to visit Zhao Ling'er. The princess's palace, which used to be filled with laughter and joy, was now shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.

Ling'er dismissed everyone else and met him only in the warm pavilion.

She had lost some weight, wearing a pale white jacket and skirt, without any makeup, and her eyes held an undisguised worry and weariness. Upon seeing him, Ling'er tried to force a smile, but it appeared somewhat strained.

"Brother Tianyou, you're here." Her voice was still gentle, but it lacked the usual elation.

"Ling'er," he took her slightly cool hand and sat down on the edge of the softly cushioned kang, "Are you... alright?"

Zhao Ling'er leaned gently on his shoulder and whispered, "I'm fine, I'm just worried about my brother. He's locked himself in Weiyang Palace and won't see anyone. Even his memorials are delivered by Eunuch Li. Last time I tried to visit him, he... scolded me and sent me away." Her voice was tinged with a barely perceptible sob.

Hua Tianyou felt a pang of pain in his heart, tightened his arms, and hugged her tightly.

He knew that Zhao Zun and Ling'er had a deep sibling bond, and now that Zhao Zun was in this state, the one who would be most heartbroken, besides Zhao Zun himself, would probably be Ling'er.

“My brother… he doesn’t believe my sister-in-law is gone.” Zhao Ling’er raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears. “I don’t know what he’s doing ordering people to build an ice chamber and collect rare herbs from all over the world. The imperial physicians all said…”

Zhao Ling'er didn't finish her sentence, but they both understood what she meant by what she was saying.

Hua Tianyou was silent for a moment before speaking with difficulty: "Then...our marriage..."

Zhao Ling'er's body stiffened slightly, then she nestled even closer into his arms, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "My brother is like this now, how... how can I be in the mood... But, the wedding date was set a long time ago, and the Duke's mansion has been preparing for so long..."

She didn't continue, but Hua Tianyou understood her dilemma.

In public, with the Empress Dowager's death a great loss, the whole country should be in mourning. How can a princess openly marry?

On her own, her brother was immersed in immense grief and obsession, so how could she, as his sister, bother him with her own joyous occasion at this time?
Moreover, whether the wedding can proceed as scheduled is not in their hands at all.

"My father's idea is to postpone the invitation, and wait for news from the palace," Hua Tianyou said in a low voice, feeling the body in his arms grow even colder.

“…Hmm.” After a long while, Zhao Ling’er responded softly, “I understand. Waiting… is fine too.”

But how long must this "waiting" last? Nobody knows. The emperor's obsession is like a bottomless well; even if you throw a stone in to test the waters, you won't hear an echo.

Pulling himself out of his memories, Hua Tianyou sighed and unknowingly walked into the back garden of the mansion.

The once carefully tended flowers and trees are now nothing but withered branches and leaves in the cold winter. The artificial hill and pond are covered with a thin layer of ice, and the view is desolate.

—Just like his mood right now.

Thinking back to their childhood, he and Zhao Zun were the most carefree and spirited young men in the capital. They went to school together, hunted birds together after school, and talked about their unrealistic ambitions. They had been friends since childhood; they were true confidants.

Later, Zhao Zun went to the border and experienced life and death. After returning, he became much more calm and composed. Later still, he met Han Lei and gradually rose to the pinnacle of power until he ascended the throne as emperor.

Hua Tianyou, too, was forced to go to Beiguan from a playboy who only knew how to enjoy life. He washed away his impetuousness in the blood and fire, and found his direction in the industrial torrent of Cangzhou.

He thought they were all growing and moving towards a better future. Especially Zhao Zun, who possessed supreme power and the woman he deeply loved; he should have been the most fulfilled person in the world.

But who could have predicted that fate would play such a cruel joke?

“Locking in Love…” Hua Tianyou murmured, savoring the name.

When he was in Cangzhou, Zhao Zun mentioned that the Love Lock was a jade pendant that could enhance the feelings between a man and a woman if they wore it. At the time, Zhao Zun also told him not to tell Han Lei, saying that he didn't want Han Lei to know that he was using these abnormal methods to keep Han Lei by his side.

But what exactly is that jade pendant? How could it bring someone back to life?
He initially didn't believe in such supernatural tales, but Han Lei's origins were mysterious, and the things she produced and her knowledge suggested she was no ordinary person. It wouldn't be unreasonable to suspect that Han Mei was a monster. Therefore, he couldn't help but believe it to some extent.

But now, the jade pendant is broken, it took away the Empress, and it has almost... driven His Majesty insane.

If the Empress had truly "gone" rather than "died," then would everything His Majesty had done still have any meaning? But what if... the imperial physicians' diagnosis was true? Then His Majesty's obsession was... Hua Tianyou dared not think any further.

The sky had completely darkened, and the cold wind grew stronger. Fine snowflakes began to fall, hitting Hua Tianyou's face with a chill.

A servant boy ran up cautiously and whispered, "Young master, the princess sent a food box of pastries from the palace. They were made by Princess Ling'er herself."

Hua Tianyou felt a warmth in his heart, but it was mixed with even more bitterness. Even at this moment, Ling'er was still thinking of him.

He returned to his courtyard and eagerly opened the food box. Inside, several of his favorite delicate pastries were neatly arranged, still steaming slightly. At the bottom of the box, pressed, was a small note with Zhao Ling'er's elegant handwriting:
"Brother Tianyou, it's as if I'm seeing you in person. Palace affairs are numerous and my mind is troubled. I can only offer this small treat by hand in the hope that you will take care of yourself. Please take care of other matters later and don't worry about me. Spring is late, but it will come eventually."

"Though spring's tidings may be late, they will eventually come..." Hua Tianyou kissed the flower slip, repeatedly reciting this last sentence, and then tightly clutched the slip in his hand.

Yes, spring may be late, but it will always arrive. But will their spring, their first day of the third lunar month, arrive on time?

He looked up toward the palace. The night was dark, and he could only see the blurry outline of the majestic palace walls and the faint lights of the Ministry of Works working day and night to finish the work in the Weiyang Palace area.

The question is, is it building a hope, or a greater despair?

The entire capital city remained deathly silent. Heavy snow fell silently, quickly covering the streets and rooftops, as if to obliterate all sound and color.

Beneath this oppressive white backdrop, preparations for the wedding at the Duke of Heng's mansion were forced to a halt. The prepared bright red silk and invitations were silently stored away deep within chests, and no one knew whether they would ever see the light of day again.

Standing alone in the wind and snow, Hua Tianyou felt that this year-end was even colder than the harshest winter in the Beiguan military camp.

Thank you to Jiujian, Anli, and Banziqianmei for their generous donations.

Starting today, I'll begin updating the side stories, striving for a complete ending!