Love Lock

Chapter 369 Extra: Hua Tianyou and Zhao Ling'er

The palace in the night, devoid of the daytime hustle and bustle and celebration, resembles a lurking beast, silently breathing out the pale moonlight.

The Weiyang Palace was shrouded in an unusual silence. Inside and outside the palace walls, the guards on duty were like clay or wooden sculptures, even breathing very softly, for fear of disturbing the tranquility of the place, or rather, for fear of disturbing that stubborn slumber.

As Zhao Zun processed memorials in the imperial study, the solar-powered lights danced in his deep eyes, reflecting a weariness and longing that was completely different from the sharpness he displayed when reviewing government affairs.

He put down his vermilion brush, did not set off in his carriage, but instead walked alone under the cold moonlight toward the ice chamber of Weiyang Palace, which was built with countless solid ice blocks.

Pushing open the heavy palace door, a chilling blast of air rushed out, instantly dispelling the warmth outside.

Several small lamps were embedded in the walls of the ice chamber, emitting a soft, pale blue light that shone on the crystal-clear ice walls, reflecting a hazy glow that made the central jade ice bed and the "sleeping" figure on it appear as if in a dream.

Beside the ice bed, Imperial Physician Cui, who was on duty, was sitting on a brocade stool reading a book. Hearing footsteps, he quickly turned around, bowed, and said in a low voice, for what seemed like the umpteenth time, against his will, "Your Majesty. The Empress is sleeping very peacefully today, her breathing is steady."

Zhao Zun's gaze had already passed over him, and was firmly fixed on the woman on the ice bed whose face was still vivid, as if she were just sleeping.

He waved his hand, indicating that Physician Cui didn't need to be so polite, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Medicine."

Physician Cui immediately presented the medicine bowl, which had been carefully kept warm in a specially made warmer, with both hands.

The medicinal liquid was amber in color and emitted a fragrance that blended exotic herbs with a slightly bitter aroma.

This is a "nourishing soup" carefully prepared by the Imperial Medical Academy according to Zhao Zun's orders, using rare herbs collected from all over the world, in order to preserve Empress Han Lei's body from decay and to keep her life from dying out—at least that's what Zhao Zun believed.

Whenever he came to the ice room, Zhao Zun never asked anyone else to administer the medicine.

He took the medicine bowl, feeling the warmth of the porcelain bowl on his fingertips.

He walked to the ice bed and sat down, gently stirring the medicine a few times with a spoon. Then, in the quiet, submissive presence of Physician Cui, he did something that sent chills down the spines of all the eunuch physicians who were seeing him for the first time, yet they had to accept it as normal—

He first put a mouthful of medicine in his mouth, then leaned down and gently pried open Han Lei's cool but soft lips, slowly transferring the warm medicine over her lips.

His movements were practiced and focused, as if he were performing a sacred ritual.

After feeding her a mouthful, he would tilt his head slightly to observe her throat and make sure she had swallowed the medicine.

Although everyone knew this was just self-deception, he refused to believe it. He stubbornly believed that Han Lei could swallow, and even more so, that she would wake up one day.

He patiently fed the entire bowl of medicine, spoonful by spoonful, without spilling a single drop.

After giving her the medicine, he took some warm water from the side and rinsed her mouth with it. Then, he picked up a soft cotton strip that had been prepared, wrapped it around his finger, dipped it in a special cleaning solution, and carefully cleaned her mouth.

His fingers were nimble and gentle, and his eyes were focused as if he were polishing his most cherished sword.

Physician Cui lowered his head, looking down at his nose, seemingly lost in thought, but he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

As a physician, he knew better than anyone that the person on the bed had long since stopped breathing and had stopped pulsating. The so-called "peaceful sleep" was nothing more than His Majesty's obsession with not accepting reality.

This ice chamber, this miraculous medicine, and this meticulous care day after day—it was less about preserving the Empress's body and more about maintaining the faint flame of hope in His Majesty's heart.

These imperial physicians had long been sternly warned that anyone who dared to claim that the Empress had "died" would be beheaded.

Therefore, they either remained silent or, like Physician Cui at this moment, gave a reluctant answer.

Zhao Zun waved his hand, and the imperial physician Cui and the eunuchs, as if granted a pardon, quietly withdrew, leaving the core space of the ice chamber to the emperor and the "sleeping" empress.

Zhao Zun held Han Lei's hand in his palm. Her hand was as cold as jade, and he wrapped it tightly with his warm palm, trying to dispel the bone-chilling cold.

He adjusted his posture, moving himself closer, and began to talk to her as usual, rambling on and on.

The deep voice echoed in the empty ice room, carrying endless longing and loneliness.

“Girl,” he still called out to Han Leng, his tone gentler than anyone else had ever heard, “I’ll stay here with you tonight. Ling’er got married today, to that boy Tianyou. The wedding was very lively, and you would have been very happy if you had seen it. But the thought of them living happily ever after makes me so sad. Because… I also want to live happily ever after with you.”

He paused, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips, as if lost in some memory, but it quickly vanished into the cold air.

“Tianyou used to be a good-for-nothing playboy, you know that. But he’s been in the Beiguan military camp and has really been trained on the construction site in Cangzhou. Watching him is like watching a piece of rough jade being slowly polished to its brilliance. I’m at ease entrusting Ling’er to him.”

After discussing Hua Tianyou and Zhao Ling'er's marriage, the topic shifted to national affairs. This was his usual way of sharing, as if she were simply tired and resting with her eyes closed, listening to him recount everything about the outside world.

"The large cement plant planned for the outskirts of Beijing was completed a few days ago and will soon be put into production. Once the output catches up, the repair progress of official roads and water conservancy in various places can be greatly accelerated. You used to say that if you want to get rich, build roads first... I have always remembered this. Therefore, a cement plant has also been built in the capital."

"And the glass factory, the latest batch of finished products is out, with extremely high transparency. They're beautiful when made into utensils and window mirrors. Those aristocratic families and wealthy merchants are all scrambling to buy them. Just these two things, plus that 'three-wheeled vehicle' driving school you mentioned before, which you had the Prince of Jingzhou run, will definitely add a lot of income to the imperial treasury and the national treasury. The Prince of Jingzhou submitted a memorial a few days ago, complaining that the side dishes for drinking were out of stock and that his business was affected. I think he's just being dramatic. He's already made a fortune from the cement agency and the driving school."

He spoke of these achievements, but there was little joy in his voice; it sounded more like he was completing a report. Because the people who shared this joy were not there, all the achievements seemed to have lost their luster.

Time passed silently, and Zhao Zun seemed oblivious to the cold, continuing to talk about everything from government affairs to trivial matters, from memories to future prospects, until the faint morning light shone through the window, reminding him that a new day was about to begin and that his courtiers were still waiting for him.

He finally stopped, gazing intently at Han Lei's peaceful sleeping face. After a long while, he leaned down and placed a soft, lingering kiss on her smooth, cool forehead.

That kiss contained too many unspeakable emotions—longing, pain, persistence, and a love that was almost hopeless.

"Little girl." His last words were as soft as a sigh, carrying the weariness of a night of pouring out his heart and an overwhelming sorrow, "I miss you so much."

After saying this vulnerable sentence that he had never shown to outsiders, he slowly stood up, his body stiff from maintaining the same posture for so long.

He tucked the unnecessary thin ice silk quilt around her, gazed at her for a moment, then turned and strode away from the ice chamber. His figure, bathed in the pale blue light, appeared exceptionally tall and lonely.

The door was gently closed, sealing all the cold and longing within this icy world.

……

In stark contrast to the bone-chilling cold of the imperial palace's ice chamber, the Duke of Heng's mansion was bathed in the bright and warm autumn sunshine.

Hua Tianyou woke up with a severe headache and a dry mouth. He groaned and struggled to open his heavy eyelids. The blinding sunlight streaming in through the window made him realize that it was already quite late.

The consequence of a hangover is a headache.

Hua Tianyou rubbed his throbbing temples and asked the servant in a hoarse voice, "Hiss... what time is it?"

A rustling sound came from beside her, followed by Zhao Ling'er's voice, tinged with shyness and concern: "It's almost noon."

Hua Tianyou suddenly jolted awake and became fully conscious.

Noon?!
He suddenly turned his head and looked to his side, only then remembering that he was married and that last night was the wedding night he had been looking forward to.

Zhao Ling'er had already gotten up, wearing a bright red nightgown, her long black hair cascading down, making her face appear even whiter and more translucent.

She sat on the edge of the bed, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes in her hands, her cheeks flushed, her eyes darting away, almost unable to meet his gaze.

"Uh……"

Hua Tianyou's lips twitched, but he couldn't say a word.

Last night… his wedding night… the bridal chamber… the noisy banquet, the endless toasts, the teasing from his friends—he couldn't even remember how he was helped back to the bridal chamber. He only remembered seeing Ling'er, dressed in a bright red wedding gown and covered by a veil, sitting by the bed, and then… and then nothing more!
He actually passed out from drunkenness and missed the most important moment of his life – the night of passion!
Overwhelmed by immense regret and shame, Hua Tianyou sat up abruptly, ignoring his headache, grabbed Zhao Ling'er's hand, and cried.

"Ling'er, I...I'm so sorry! Last night...Oh dear! Our wedding night was all..." He wanted to slap himself twice, his playboy nature of indulging in alcohol and causing trouble was exposed at this moment.

Seeing him like this, Zhao Ling'er felt a little less wronged and disappointed. She pursed her lips and quickly shook her head, "No, it's nothing, Brother Tianyou, you drank too much last night..."

“Drinking too much is no excuse!” Hua Tianyou said with a pained expression. He looked at Zhao Ling’er’s shy and timid appearance, which added to her charming and graceful demeanor. He felt guilty and restless as he thought about how he had wasted such a beautiful moment.

In an instant, his reckless, spoiled brat attitude resurfaced. Since he'd already missed the auspicious time and the evening, surely he could make up for it now?

"Ling'er, we missed our wedding night last night, but I'll make it up to you now. Hehe!" Hua Tianyou said, his eyes darkening and a wicked smile on his face. He pulled Zhao Ling'er back into his arms with force.

"Ah!" Zhao Ling'er exclaimed, falling into his firm and hot chest. Feeling the burning heat emanating from him, she immediately understood his intention.

Should we make it up to her?

It's as if she's the one who wants to do something.

Zhao Ling'er's face instantly turned as red as if it were about to bleed. "Brother Tianyou! This...this is broad daylight...we still have to go and offer tea to Father and Mother..."

"That's not important, let them wait!" Hua Tianyou interrupted her domineeringly, lowering his head to smell the fragrance in her hair, his voice hoarse, "I'll make up for what I owed you last night. Ling'er, my dear Ling'er..." Before he could finish his words, he had already put them into action.

Inside the new house, the red candles had long since burned out, but the daylight shone through the window screens, illuminating the room and adding a touch of romance that was different from the night.

At first, Zhao Ling'er shyly resisted, but under Hua Tianyou's skillful and enthusiastic teasing, she quickly softened and responded awkwardly and obediently.

In some ways, spoiled brats are naturally gifted and even know better how to create fun.

Unlike the solemnity and slightly tense exploration that should accompany their wedding night, in the bright sunshine of the day, Hua Tianyou, with a mindset of compensation and indulgence, turned this belated marital ceremony into an experience of extreme intimacy and pleasure.

He patiently guided the naive Zhao Ling'er, expressing his love and remorse through his actions, and putting all his regrets behind him.

By the time the clouds cleared and the rain stopped, and I had finished washing and dressing myself, it was already midday.

The Duke of Heng's mansion welcomed the new bride, and the Duke and his wife, Madam Lin, were overjoyed. They dressed neatly early in the morning and sat in the main seat of the main hall, waiting for the newlyweds to serve tea.

The sun rose higher and higher, the water in the teacups was changed again and again, and several pieces of the pastries on the table were eaten, but the newlyweds still did not arrive.

The couple would occasionally exchange glances, their eyes showing no impatience but rather a knowing and helpless smile.

"This lad must have drunk too much last night and overslept," Duke Heng said to his wife in a low voice, stroking his short beard.

Madam Lin smiled, her well-maintained face full of tolerance: "Young people, especially newlyweds, it's understandable. Besides, Princess Ling'er is of noble status, and it's a blessing for the Hua family that Tianyou can marry her. Waiting a little longer won't hurt."

They truly had no intention of making things difficult for the bride. Not to mention that Zhao Ling'er was the Emperor's only younger sister, a princess of noble birth, whose status was already higher than theirs as in-laws. Just a few days ago, Hua Tianyou had come to speak with them in a very serious manner.

The boy, looking very serious, said, "Father, Mother, I truly love Ling'er and will marry no one but her. Now that she's married into the family, you must treat her like your own daughter and never let her suffer the slightest grievance. If I find out that any of you are setting rules for her, acting like in-laws, or making her unhappy, I'll immediately take her and move out of the mansion to start our own household! Especially you, Mother—"

He turned to look at Madam Lin, his eyes full of warning: "You are a well-known virtuous woman in the capital. You must be a good mother-in-law. Don't be like those wicked mothers-in-law who torment their daughters-in-law, or I'll get angry with you!"

Hua Tianyou's demeanor made the Duke of Heng and Lady Lin laugh in exasperation.

Duke Heng laughed and scolded, "You scoundrel, how dare you speak to your parents like that?"

Madam Lin chided, "You child, what do you take your parents for? Leaving aside the fact that Ling'er is a princess, of noble status, we're more than respectful to her. We've watched her grow up; she's lively and adorable, we know her inside and out, we love her dearly! Before… the reason we didn't quite agree was because of special circumstances. The Prince of Cangzhou… oh no, His Majesty was plotting something big then, and we were worried about our family being implicated. Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, not only has he forgiven us, but he still values ​​you highly, allowing you, as the prince consort, to participate in court affairs. Just this trust and favor is enough for the entire Hua family to be grateful for. How could we be so ungrateful as to make things difficult for our princess daughter-in-law? You can rest assured!"

Because of this groundwork, the Duke and Duchess of Hengguo had only blessings and understanding for the newlyweds, and not a trace of dissatisfaction.

Finally, footsteps and a maid's announcement came from outside the hall.

Hua Tianyou led Zhao Ling'er in, and Zhao Ling'er, still thinking about the romantic scene in the room, was too shy to lift her head.

Hua Tianyou looked refreshed. Although there was still a trace of a hangover in his eyes, he was radiant and had a satisfied smile on his lips.

Zhao Ling'er, on the other hand, wore a bright red dress, adorned with pearl hairpins, and had exquisite makeup, yet she could not conceal the delicate charm and spring-like allure in her eyes.

She kept her head down, her cheeks still flushed, her hands nervously gripping her sleeves, and her steps were somewhat stiff.

Walking to the brocade cushion laid out in front of the hall, Zhao Ling'er took a deep breath and bowed gracefully according to the etiquette taught by her nanny.

At this moment, a maidservant brought over the prepared teacups.

"Daughter-in-law Zhao Ling'er, please serve tea to Father. Please have some tea." After all, it was her first time living in an unfamiliar family, and Zhao Ling'er's voice carried a hint of nervousness as she held the teacup with both hands, respectfully raising it above her head.

Duke Heng immediately accepted the gift, took a sip with a beaming smile, then took out a thick red envelope and a set of fine writing implements from his sleeve and placed them on the tray. He said gently, "Good, good, get up quickly. Ling'er, this is your home from now on, no need to be so formal. If Tianyou dares to bully you, just tell your father, and I will teach him a lesson for you!"

"Thank you, Father." Zhao Ling'er felt a warmth in her heart, and her tension eased somewhat.

Then, she offered tea to Madam Lin: "Daughter-in-law Zhao Ling'er offers tea to Mother. Please enjoy the tea, Mother."

Lin took the tea, her face beaming with joy. She quickly took a sip, then pulled Zhao Ling'er's hand to help her up. She then placed a heavy sandalwood box in Zhao Ling'er's hand, inside which was a set of priceless ruby ​​jewelry and a stack of land deeds and house deeds.

Madam Lin patted her hand, her tone full of affection: "Good child, get up quickly. From now on, we are family. If there is anything you are not used to, or if you lack anything, just tell your mother. Don't be a stranger. Tianyou can be a bit of a rascal sometimes, but please be more tolerant of him. He has a good heart and values ​​you the most."

Feeling the sincere kindness of her in-laws, Zhao Ling'er's eyes welled up with tears. All her previous worries and anxieties finally vanished at this moment.

She looked up and revealed her first truly relaxed and sweet smile of the day: "Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom."

Hua Tianyou watched from the side and saw that his parents were indeed as loving as promised, so he felt a great weight lifted from his heart. He couldn't hide his smug smile and went over to them with a grin, saying, "Dad, Mom, see, I wasn't wrong, was I? Isn't Ling'er wonderful!"

"Go away, you're never serious!" Lin laughed and spat at him.

After the tea ceremony, the family enjoyed a pleasant lunch together. The Duke and Duchess of Hengguo kindly did not keep the young couple any longer, and let them return to their courtyard to rest after the meal.

The sunlight was just right, casting dappled shadows through the lush flowers and trees in the courtyard.

Hua Tianyou held Zhao Ling'er's hand and walked slowly along the corridor. After their morning's intimacy and the successful tea ceremony, the shy barrier between them seemed to have completely broken down, and the atmosphere was warm and natural.

"See? I told you my parents would like you." Hua Tianyou proudly shook their intertwined hands.

"Yes!" Zhao Ling'er nodded gently, her face beaming with happiness. "My parents are both doing well."

She hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Brother Tianyou, did you... really tell them that before? That you were going to take me out..."

Hua Tianyou raised an eyebrow, showing no remorse: "Of course! I have to pave the way for you in advance, so you won't suffer any injustice. You're my precious wife! Let me tell you, I'm a woman of my word."

Zhao Ling'er felt a sweet warmth in her heart. She gave him a playful glare, but her heart was sweeter than if she had drunk honey.

She knew that the man before her might still retain some of the carefree and unruly traits of a spoiled brat, but his feelings for her were sincere and passionate.

He cherished her dearly, considered her needs, and created a carefree haven for her.