Love Lock

Chapter 364 Extra: Hua Tianyou and Zhao Ling'er

On the Lantern Festival, the city was deserted and the shadow of national mourning loomed over the entire capital.

The entire Duke of Heng's mansion simply ate a bowl of glutinous rice balls to celebrate the festival. Hua Tianyou put down his bowl and went out. He wrapped his dark sable cloak tighter around himself and rode his horse through the bluestone streets.

Yesterday he was working at the textile factory and didn't get home until very late. This morning, after breakfast, he hurriedly went out again. His purpose for this trip was not to go to the textile factory, but to the jade shop in the east of the city.

His Majesty has issued a secret decree to spare no expense in recruiting the world's most skilled jade craftsmen, with the sole purpose of repairing the Love Lock.

These days, he used all the connections and trade routes established by the Duke of Heng's mansion and Jinxiu Workshop to expand the search from the north to various states, and finally found several old craftsmen who were said to have the unique skill of "continuing jade".

Today is the day we agreed upon, when we will send the second batch of craftsmen to the palace for an audience.

Only through this opportunity could he finally step into the palace now shrouded in sorrow and ice, and see the person who haunted his dreams.

In front of the jade workshop, three elderly craftsmen with white hair and beards had been waiting for a long time, accompanied by several young apprentices, carrying toolboxes of various sizes, their expressions a mixture of fear and longing for royal rewards.

Hua Tianyou nimbly dismounted, exchanged a few brief pleasantries with the leading craftsman Wang, and then said nothing more, simply waving his hand: "Master craftsmen, please follow me into the palace. His Majesty... is already waiting."

His voice was steady, revealing little emotion, but the solemnity deep in his eyes made even the most experienced craftsmen tense up.

The group silently passed through the heavily guarded palace gates. The once magnificent and vibrant palace now seemed to have lost its soul.

The palace servants lowered their heads, hurried along, and dared not make a sound. An invisible oppression filled the air, and... a faint chill drifted from the direction of Weiyang Palace.

Outside Weiyang Palace, guards stood in rows, creating a more somber atmosphere than in other parts of the palace.

The palace itself has been renovated; the heavy palace doors are lined with insulating material, and huge cotton felt curtains hang at the entrance, with two eunuchs standing solemnly on either side.

Even standing outside the door, you can feel the bone-chilling cold.

After the announcement, the cotton curtain was lifted, and an even more biting chill rushed out, causing the old craftsmen behind Hua Tianyou to shiver involuntarily.

Inside the palace, the warmth and fragrance of the former Empress's residence were gone. The massive pillars and walls were covered with a thick layer of white frost, and the floor was smooth as mirror-like ice.

In the center of the palace, a simple ice chamber was built from huge, crystal-clear blocks of ice. Through the blurry ice walls, one could vaguely see an ice couch inside, on which lay a slender figure dressed in an empress's robe. Her face was indistinct, as if she were simply asleep.

Before the ice chamber stood a tall and solitary figure, draped in a black cloak, his shoulders seemingly bearing an immense weight. This was none other than the current emperor, Zhao Zun.

He didn't turn around, but just stared blankly into the ice chamber, as if everything outside was irrelevant to him.

As Hua Tianyou and the others entered the hall, a small door on the other side was also pushed open, and a slender figure wrapped in a moon-white silver fox cloak silently walked in. It was Zhao Ling'er.

She had lost some weight, and her once round face now had a soft curve. When she saw Hua Tianyou, her eyes, like autumn water, instantly shone with uncontrollable joy and tenderness, but this was quickly suppressed by the scene before her, and tinged with a faint sorrow.

She first gave a silent bow to Zhao Zun's back before quickly walking to Hua Tianyou's side and softly calling out, "Brother Tianyou."

His voice was soft, like a feather brushing against the heart, yet it instantly dispelled the dust and fatigue of Hua Tianyou's journey. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was looking, he quickly squeezed her cold fingers and whispered, "Aren't you cold? Why aren't you wearing more clothes?"

Zhao Ling'er shook her head slightly, looking at her elder brother and the craftsmen with concern.

Hua Tianyou understood, released his hand, took a few steps forward, and bowed to Zhao Zun's back: "Your Majesty, I, Hua Tianyou, have been ordered to bring the jade craftsmen Wang Da and Li Qi from Jingzhou, and the craftsman Abdul from the Southern Frontier, to pay homage."

Zhao Zun then slowly turned around.

His face was pale, his eyes were sunken, and his jawline was taut. Only his eyes burned with an almost insane obsession. "Rise."

His voice was hoarse, with an icy chill, "The thing is there, go and take a look."

He raised his hand and pointed to a rosewood table in front of the ice chamber. The table was covered with bright yellow brocade, and a broken jade pendant lay quietly on it.

It should have been an exquisite and beautiful jade ornament, but now it was broken into pieces. The largest fragment was no bigger than a fingernail, and most of them were small jade shavings that could barely be pieced together to form a ring shape.

The jade itself is an extremely rare mutton fat white jade, warm and lustrous, but those hideous fracture surfaces are like scars etched on the heart, shocking to the eye.

The three old craftsmen exchanged glances, and each saw solemnity in the other's eyes.

On their way here, Hua Tianyou had briefly mentioned that the mission might be a bit difficult, but seeing this pile of "wreckage" in person still made their hearts sink.

Under Zhao Zun's piercing gaze, the three cautiously stepped forward, first bowing respectfully before approaching the table, holding their breath and carefully examining it.

Master Wang took out a single-piece magnifying glass made of crystal and examined the fragments inch by inch.

Li Qijiang then touched the broken edge with extremely gentle fingers, feeling the texture of the jade.

Abdul, who came from southern Xinjiang, took a strange little bronze mirror from his apprentice and used the light from the solar-powered lamps in the hall to examine the internal structure of the jade.

Time slipped away slowly in the silence and cold.

Zhao Zun's gaze remained fixed on them, filled with a desperate, all-or-nothing expectation. Hua Tianyou and Zhao Ling'er stood a little further away, their hearts also pounding with tension.

Hua Tianyou could clearly feel the slight trembling of the woman beside him, unsure whether it was from the extreme cold of the ice chamber or from nervousness. He quietly took a step forward, using his broad shoulders to shield her from most of the chill seeping in from the direction of the ice chamber.

After a long while, Master Wang was the first to straighten up, his face covered in sweat, whether from fright or anxiety, it was hard to tell.

He knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please forgive me! This jade... this jade is shattered too thoroughly! The fractures are jagged and crisscrossed, and many parts have turned to dust. Not only can it not be repaired using conventional gold-inlaid or bezel-inlaid methods, but even... even trying to piece it back to its original form is... almost impossible! This old man... this old man's skills are too meager, I am truly... truly powerless!"

Zhao Zun's face darkened instantly, but he didn't react. He had seen it himself; the jade pendant was shattered too badly because it had absorbed the full force of the crossbow bolt as it flew through the air.

Zhao Zun took a deep breath, seemingly forcing himself to accept the reality before him, and then he turned his gaze indifferently to Li Qijiang.

Li Qijiang also knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, what Elder Wang said is absolutely right. The jade itself is of excellent quality, but precisely because of its dense and tough texture, the force it experienced when it broke was extremely strong, causing its structure to be fundamentally damaged. Even if we were to forcibly glue it together with an adhesive like fish glue, it would probably break again with the slightest touch. This is simply impossible to accomplish..."

Finally, it was Abdul's turn. He bowed and said in heavily accented Mandarin, "Your Majesty, in my homeland, we have also repaired precious jade artifacts. But I have never seen such a broken sacred object. With our limited skills, we are simply incapable of restoring this jade. I am sorry, I cannot accept the gold you promised."

The three craftsmen's words were like three buckets of ice water, extinguishing the last glimmer of light in Zhao Zun's eyes. He swayed, his face turning from pale to a despairing ashen.

He didn't roar or punish, but simply waved his hand in an extremely weary voice, as if all his strength had been drained: "I understand. You may leave. Tianyou, take them to get some travel expenses."

The emptiness and deathly stillness in that voice caused Hua Tianyou a pang of pain in his heart.

He quickly replied, "Yes! Your subject obeys."

After signaling the eunuchs to take the pale-faced, repeatedly thanking craftsmen out, Hua Tianyou looked at Zhao Zun, who was still standing stiffly in front of the ice chamber, and wanted to say something to comfort him, but found that any words seemed pale and powerless at this moment.

Zhao Ling'er's eyes filled with tears. She stepped forward, gently tugged at Zhao Zun's sleeve, and choked out, "Brother! Please don't be like this. If my sister-in-law knew how heartbroken you were, she would be heartbroken too."

Zhao Zun slowly turned his head, looking at his sister's tearful face, and finally a trace of the gentleness that belonged to an "older brother" appeared in his eyes, "Your sister-in-law is not dead, Ling'er."

He repeated the same words countless times, as if telling himself, and as if telling everyone, "She's just asleep, waiting for me to wake her. If the Love Lock can bring her here, it can definitely bring her back... it can definitely be fixed..."

His gaze returned to the pile of shattered jade, and he murmured, "There are so many skilled craftsmen in the world... I don't believe that no one can repair it! Tianyou, please continue your search! Even if you have to search this entire continent, you must find someone who can fix it for me!"

Hua Tianyou sighed inwardly. He knew Zhao Zun had gone down a dead end, and there was no point in trying to persuade him now. He could only agree, "Yes, Your Majesty. Your subject will do his utmost." Zhao Zun said nothing more, turned around again to face the ice chamber, and resumed his statue-like posture, as if everything outside had been cut off from him.

Hua Tianyou knew it was time for them to leave. He gently tugged at Zhao Ling'er's sleeve, gesturing with his eyes. Zhao Ling'er understood, glanced at Zhao Zun with concern, and then followed Hua Tianyou, turning back every few steps, as they left the chilling Weiyang Palace.

Stepping out of the palace gates, they felt the fresh, yet vibrant air outside and both of them took a deep breath in unison.

The oppressive atmosphere and despair within Weiyang Palace were almost suffocating.

“Brother Tianyou, my brother…” Zhao Ling’er’s voice was hoarse from crying, full of worry.

Hua Tianyou stopped and looked at her small face, slightly red from the cold. He reached out tenderly and gently wiped away the tears that hadn't dried at the corners of her eyes with his fingertips. "Don't worry too much, His Majesty... he's just having trouble accepting it right now. Give him some time."

Even so, he knew in his heart that what Zhao Zun needed was probably not time, but a miracle.

"Our wedding date..." Zhao Ling'er lowered her head, looking at the toes of her shoes embroidered with lotus patterns, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible, "Mother said it might have to wait until a year later..."

Hua Tianyou grasped her icy hand, trying to transfer his warmth to her. He led her slowly toward the Imperial Garden.

None of the flowers in the garden had bloomed yet, except for a few winter plum trees that were still blooming in the cold, their subtle fragrance adding a touch of vibrant color to the desolate palace.

“I know.” Hua Tianyou’s voice was deep and firm. “It’s only a year. I can wait. Ling’er, believe me. No matter how long it takes, I will wait for you.”

He stopped under a wintersweet tree in full bloom, turned around, and looked intently into Zhao Ling'er's eyes: "Do you remember at our Cangzhou construction site? You were covered in dust, carrying bricks and tiles alongside everyone else, without any airs. At that time, I thought, you are different from all the noble ladies I had ever known before. You are kind, resilient, and have the suffering of the people in your heart. From that moment on, I knew you were the one."

Zhao Ling'er blushed at his straightforward and affectionate words, and the gloom in her heart was dispelled. She glared at him coquettishly: "Who asked you to say that... You were a famous playboy back then. I thought you were just going to the army to gain seniority."

“Yes,” Hua Tianyou chuckled self-deprecatingly, “If my father hadn’t sent me to the Beiguan military camp and then happened to go to the construction site in Fufeng County for training, I might still be the Hua Tianyou who only knows how to travel around. Speaking of which, it’s fate that brought me to you.”

He looked around the somewhat desolate Imperial Garden and sighed, "This capital city, this Duke's mansion, with its wealth and leisure, is now making me feel a little uncomfortable. The textile factory needs to expand production, the blueprints for the new loom are only half finished, and there's also His Majesty's task of finding craftsmen... There are so many things to do."

Zhao Ling'er nodded understandingly, her eyes full of support: "Brother Tianyou, what you are doing now is of great importance. My brother is in such a state now... and many affairs in the court also rely on you and the other officials for support."

She paused, her voice softening, "But... you also need to take care of your health. I see you've lost weight."

"Don't worry," Hua Tianyou felt a warmth in his heart and couldn't help but raise his hand to gently brush away a plum blossom petal that had fallen into her hair. "I'm willing to do anything, no matter how tired, so that I can marry you in a grand and glorious way as soon as possible."

The two whispered secrets under the plum tree, pouring out their hearts to each other, temporarily forgetting the cold and sorrow in Weiyang Palace. This brief moment of warmth became the sweetest comfort that sustained them both.

However, good times are always short-lived.

A palace maid hurried over and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."

Zhao Ling'er glanced at Hua Tianyou helplessly.

Hua Tianyou understandingly released his hand and said softly, "Go ahead. I should also leave the palace. The Ministry of Works has arranged to meet with some officials to discuss the matter of continuously supplying ice to the Weiyang Palace Ice Room."

"Okay." Zhao Ling'er nodded obediently, reluctant to part. "You... be careful in everything you do."

As Zhao Ling'er and the palace maid disappeared into the end of the corridor, the gentleness on Hua Tianyou's face was gradually replaced by solemnity.

He turned and strode out of the palace.

The hope of repairing the love lock is slim. His Majesty's obsession remains unresolved.

His wedding to Ling'er seemed a long way off. And then there was his enormous business empire...

A thousand and one thoughts, like the lingering chill of early spring, enveloped him tightly. But Hua Tianyou was no longer the spoiled brat who only knew how to escape or rely on his family when faced with trouble. The wind and sand of Beiguan and the construction sites of Cangzhou had long since tempered his will.

He raised his head, looked at the gray sky beyond the palace walls, and took a deep breath. No matter how difficult the road ahead, he would keep going.

But can that shattered love lock truly be repaired? Is the Empress's return merely a lovesick fantasy, or a miracle that might actually happen?

Hua Tianyou clenched his fist, and with determined steps, walked out of the imperial city. He still had many things to do; he couldn't stop for a moment...

……

In another time and space, spring is in full bloom, and birds are chirping.

Bright sunlight streamed through the clear windowpanes, casting a warm glow on the snow-white sheets of the military hospital dormitory, but it couldn't dispel the chill in Han Lei's heart.

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. The familiar ceiling came into view, and the faint smell of disinfectant lingered around her nose.

A wave of powerlessness washed over me, not just physical weakness, but also a deep weariness from the depths of my soul.

"Han Lei! You're awake? Oh my god! You're finally awake! My goodness, you scared us to death! Why would you suddenly decide to take sleeping pills?"

A woman's voice, filled with urgency and worry, suddenly rang out, breaking the silence in the room.

Han Lei turned her head slightly, her vision blurry, and finally focused, making out the figure in military green standing by the bed—it was her comrade-in-arms and roommate, Luo Min.

Luo Min was dressed in a smart casual suit, looking dashing and spirited. But at this moment, his face under the peaked cap was filled with anxiety and lingering fear.

Upon seeing Luo Min and the familiar modern decor in the room, a hint of disappointment flashed in Han Lei's eyes.

She failed again.

She was unable to return to the Great Jing Dynasty she longed for!
She remained trapped in her own "reality," far removed from the Great Jing Dynasty she longed for, far from the man who left an indelible mark on her heart, and far from her two infant children.

My heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and a dull pain spread through me.

From the moment she discovered the existence of that mysterious system and the spatial watch on her wrist, she was absolutely certain that it wasn't a dream. She had truly traveled through time and space and landed on the land of the Great Jing Dynasty.

There, she met Zhao Zun, the person the system had mentioned who had been entangled with her in her previous life.

Zhao Zun, the Prince of Cangzhou, who faced suspicion, suppression, and even attempts to eliminate him at court, yet remained loyal, righteous, and deeply devoted, endured so much with her. She even bore him two children, creating a home unimaginable in that era.

But all of this was interrupted by that damned crossbow bolt and the shattered jade pendant. She was forcibly sent back, like an abandoned, lonely soul. Meanwhile, the man she deeply loved and her children were separated in another time and space.

When she returned, she almost went crazy.

Just like when she triggered the time travel last time, she drove the ambulance assigned by the team to the mountain road where the accident happened every day, trying again and again to find any possible spatial nodes.

She longed for the moment when rocks would fall and she would be in grave danger again, hoping that a sudden swerve would plunge her back into that familiar vortex of time and space.

But the reality is cruel; that section of road was flat and safe, with no cliffs whatsoever.

Each failed attempt felt like another knife being stabbed into her heart.

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