Love Lock

Chapter 376 Extra: Zhao Zun and Han Lei

Without a second thought, Han Lei immediately took off after him.

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, almost bursting out. She stared intently at the retreating figure, afraid that she would lose her only hope in the blink of an eye.

The alley was narrow and dilapidated, lined with low bungalows. Fortunately, it was cold today, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the road, making the target very clear.

Han Lei watched as the woman stopped in front of a particularly dilapidated house, the dim streetlights illuminating her slightly hunched back.

The woman took out her key, opened the creaking wooden door, went inside, and closed the door behind her.

Han Lei took a deep breath to calm her almost out-of-control heartbeat before quickly walking forward and knocking on the door.

A woman's wary voice came from inside: "Who is it?"

"Auntie, it's me, the one you accidentally bumped into at the ghost market just now." Han Lei tried to make her voice sound calm.

The door creaked open a crack, and the woman, seeing Han Lei, panicked for a moment, assuming she was there to settle scores or extort money. She quickly and timidly explained, "Miss, I really didn't mean to, and I've already apologized..."

"Auntie, please don't misunderstand!" Han Lei quickly interrupted her, her tone urgent and sincere. "I'm not here to cause you any trouble. I... I wanted to ask about the jade pendant you're wearing around your neck. Could... could I take a look at it?"

The woman was stunned, clearly not expecting Han Lei's purpose to be this.

She breathed a sigh of relief, but her gaze immediately dimmed again. Her hand instinctively covered the jade pendant on her chest, and she stammered, "This...this jade pendant isn't worth much..."

"It's okay, I just want to take a look, is that alright?" Han Lei's voice trembled slightly and pleaded.

The woman hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside: "The room is messy, young lady, if you don't mind, please come in and sit down!"

Han Lei thanked her and went inside.

The room was small and dimly lit, with only a low-wattage incandescent bulb casting a yellowish glow. The house was bare, with only a few old tables and chairs and a cabinet with peeling paint.

Surprisingly, the room was very clean. Near the door, sorted waste was neatly stacked, including plastic bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans.

"Young lady, have a cup of hot water to warm yourself up." The woman poured Han Lei a cup of hot water in an old enamel mug with a red "double happiness" character printed on it, a little embarrassed, "There's nothing much to offer you at home."

"Thank you." Han Lei took the water glass, the warm touch coming from her cold fingertips. Her gaze never left the woman's neck.

The woman seemed to sense her urgency, sighed, and finally carefully took the jade pendant off her neck and handed it to Han Lei.

"Look, it's really worthless. I took it to an antique shop and they only offered five hundred yuan."

Han Lei almost held her breath as she accepted the jade pendant with slightly trembling hands.

It feels slightly cool to the touch and has a rough texture. The surface is covered with a thick layer of patina and dirt, making it almost impossible to see the original color of the jade. The hanging cord is greasy and black, almost blending into the jade pendant.

But Han Lei's heart was beating faster and faster! She carefully stroked the edge of the jade pendant with her fingers, feeling the familiar curve.

By the dim light, she strained to discern the patterns obscured by grime... Yes! That's it! Although it looked older and more worn than the one Zhao Zun had given her, it was definitely of the same type and from the same source!
Overwhelmed with joy and excitement, she was almost brought to tears.

She forced back her emotions, looked up at the woman, and asked in a choked voice, "Auntie, where did you get this jade pendant?"

The woman was somewhat surprised by Han Lei's unusual reaction, but still answered honestly, "My son bought it for me a few years ago. He said this jade is good for one's health..."

The woman's eyes instantly welled up with tears when her son was mentioned, and her voice lowered. "He...he was a firefighter. He died while fighting a fire the year before last."

Han Lei's heart sank.

The woman wiped away her tears and continued, choking back sobs, "This jade pendant is the only keepsake my son left me. Originally... originally I wouldn't have sold it. But my husband..."

She pointed to the inner room, "A while ago, when he was on his way home from work, he helped put out a fire. The house collapsed, and he was trapped underneath, suffering serious burns. Although he survived, the subsequent treatment and skin grafts will cost a lot of money... I had no choice but to think about selling it. But those shops only offered five hundred... I... I can't bear to part with it..."

Tears streamed down the woman's deeply lined cheeks. A hero's son, a hero's husband—this family deserved to be treated well, yet they were now trapped in such a predicament.

As Han Lei listened, her heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by something, a mixture of bitterness and sorrow.

As a doctor herself, saving lives is an instinct ingrained in her. The plight of this family resonated deeply with her, causing her immense pain.

"Auntie, can... you take me to see Uncle?" Han Lei asked softly.

The woman nodded and lifted the curtain to the inner room. A faint smell of medicine and a suffocating atmosphere wafted out.

A man covered in bandages lay on a simple bed, his exposed skin revealing gruesome burn scars. He was awake, his eyes somewhat cloudy, and he stirred slightly upon seeing the stranger.

With her professional insight, Han Lei quickly determined that although the injury was serious, it was not impossible to recover; however, it would require continuous and standardized treatment and considerable medical expenses.

She silently withdrew and stood in the outer room, looking at the jade pendant in her hand that carried the hopes and pain of two families. She gritted her teeth and made a decision in her heart.

She pulled a bank card from the inside pocket of her down jacket. The money inside was all her savings, enough for a simple life for two or three years. It was originally intended as a guarantee for her long-term search for the jade pendant and to maintain her most basic living standards.

“Auntie,” Han Lei said firmly, handing the bank card to the woman, “this card contains all my money. It’s not much, but it should be enough for Uncle’s initial treatment and several skin graft surgeries. The PIN is six eights. Please take this and use it to get Uncle treated quickly.”

The woman was stunned. Looking at the card in her hand, she felt like she was holding a hot potato and repeatedly refused, saying, "No, no! How can this be! Miss, we're not related, how can I take your money! If you like this jade pendant, I... I'll give it to you, but I can't take your money!"

“Auntie, please listen to me!” Han Lei held the woman’s rough hand tightly, her eyes earnest and sincere. “This jade pendant is really important to me. It can’t be measured in money. It might… it might be related to whether I can see my husband and children again.”

At this point, Han Lei's voice choked up, "Uncle and your son are both good people, heroes. Heroes shouldn't be treated like this. You must accept this money, consider it... consider it a small token of my appreciation for the heroes, and also to thank you for giving me this jade pendant."

The woman stared, stunned, at the same deep pain and sincerity in Han Lei's eyes, tears welling up again: "Girl, you..."

"I'll accept this jade pendant." Han Lei held the jade pendant tightly in her palm, feeling its cool touch, as if she could see through the dirt and feel the temperature of another world beneath it.

“It’s really useful to me. Auntie, this is my phone number,” Han Lei handed the woman a piece of paper with her number written on it. “Please keep this safe. I’m also a doctor. If you have any questions about your uncle’s condition, you can call me anytime. I’d be happy to help you.”

The woman took the note with trembling hands, then looked at the bank card in her hand, sobbing uncontrollably, "Thank you... thank you, young lady... if this jade pendant can really help you, I... I'd be happy to! I believe my son in heaven would agree..."

At the same time, a "ding!" sound suddenly rang in Han Lei's mind.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully giving alms. Reward: 1,000 taels of gold."

The moment that familiar voice appeared, Han Lei's eyes widened. She hadn't heard that voice in a long time; it was the system's voice, and she knew even more clearly what it meant.

Han Lei burst into tears of joy.

This time, she immediately pinched her thigh; the sharp pain confirmed that she wasn't dreaming. Leaving the woman's house, Han Lei practically ran back to her small, cold rented room.

She closed the door, leaned against it, and gasped for breath, her excitement unable to subside for a long time.

She opened her palm, and the dirty jade pendant lay quietly in her hand.

She went into the bathroom, found a soft cloth and a toothbrush, squeezed on a little toothpaste, and began to clean the jade pendant with extreme care and meticulousness.

Gradually, the grime was peeled away, and under the warm water, the jade pendant slowly revealed its true appearance.

The warm and translucent texture, although still bearing the marks of time and some minor imperfections, has an understated luster and clear patterns that perfectly match the one she remembers!
This jade pendant may not be the one Zhao Zun gave her, but she believes it is from the same source as the love token Zhao Zun gave her!
She wiped it clean with a soft, dry cloth, then found a new red braided rope and carefully strung it on.

She turned on her computer and pulled up her drawing in the drawing software. Upon comparison, the two jade pendants were exactly the same in size, shape, and pattern.

"Hehe! Hehe!"

Han Lei covered her mouth and laughed out loud.

She walked to the mirror and carefully put the jade pendant around her neck. The pendant hung down to her chest, close to her skin, giving her a slightly cool touch, which was then warmed by her body temperature.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror—a thin, haggard figure with a long-lost light burning in her eyes—she gently tucked the jade pendant into the innermost layer of her clothing and wore it close to her body.

Through the thin fabric, my fingertips traced the outline of the jade pendant, as if I could feel the warmth and heartbeat of Zhao Zun and the children on the other end.

"Brother Zun, baby..." she murmured to herself in front of the mirror, tears finally streaming down her face, but they were tears of hope. "I found the jade pendant... I found my way back... You must wait for me..."

She raised her head and looked out the window at the dark, starless city night sky, but her gaze seemed to pierce through layers of barriers, and she saw the dimly lit imperial study, and the father and his two sons embracing tightly.

A frantic longing surged simultaneously in two different times and spaces.

And this time, the flame of hope has finally been rekindled...

Winter has passed and spring has come again, and the cold and heat have come and gone.

All things flourished and thrived under Zhao Zun's rule during the prosperous era.

After Zhao Zun ascended the throne, he strengthened the border defenses and sent all the prisoners and captives of the Eastern Ming Empire to mine iron. Based on the materials left in Han Lei's library, he carried out large-scale iron smelting, crafting of agricultural tools, vigorous development of agriculture, construction of water conservancy projects, dredging of canals, reduction of taxes, and establishment of schools...

After five years of development, Dajing is now a prosperous and powerful nation, just like the golden age that Zhao Zun and Han Lei longed for.

Zhao Zun ignored the rumors circulating outside the palace and continued to devote himself to state affairs.

The twins, a boy and a girl, were already five years old, but Han Lei, lying in the ice coffin, had not changed a bit in appearance. She remained as charming and sweet as ever, with fair skin, still looking like a young girl.

Zhao Zun sat down beside the ice coffin, put down the medicine bowl in his hand, and smiled. "Girl, look how old I am, but you are still so charming."

"Tell me, once you return, how will I be worthy of you?"

“Girl, the children were clamoring to see you again yesterday… Yao’er looks like you, she’s little and loves to be pampered, and even when she makes a mistake, I can’t bear to punish her. Heng’er has also grown up, he’s not even six years old yet, he can shoot arrows and write poems, the Grand Secretary has taught him well, his national policies and court discussions are all reasonable. I think… Heng’er will definitely become a wise ruler of the country in the future, and he will be even stronger than his father.”

Zhao Zun was already used to talking to himself like this, "Now the country is at peace, the children are grown up, with their aunt and Tianyou looking after them, and Big Fatty... those guards are all pillars of the nation now. Girl, the five-year agreement has been reached, I can't wait any longer. I've used five years to leave my son a country of peace and prosperity, a stable and secure land..."

Zhao Zun spoke for a long time, then wiped his eyes, sighed, and got up.

"Li Zhongxin."

Li Zhongxin, who was guarding the door, cautiously entered, his head bowed, not daring to look at the ice coffin. "Your Majesty."

Zhao Zun looked at him indifferently, his eyes bloodshot and slightly moist.

"Go to the Imperial Study and prepare writing materials for me."

"Yes!" Li Zhongxin accepted the order, bowed, and left.

Zhao Zun followed him to the Imperial Study.

Upon entering the imperial study, Zhao Zun concentrated for a long time, then spread out a yellow silk cloth and wrote down each character one by one—

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Since I ascended the throne by the mandate of Heaven, the people have suffered greatly… For five years I have worked diligently and conscientiously in governing the country, never daring to slacken in the slightest. Now, the Great Jing Dynasty is prosperous, its resources abundant, its people plentiful, and its army strong and its generals numerous. It is the time to 'strengthen the foundation of the nation and establish a suitable heir'… The eldest son, Zhao Xingheng, is of upright character and capable of inheriting the throne. He is hereby established as the Crown Prince and will reside in the Eastern Palace…"

He wrote a lot more on the rice paper, mostly about personnel arrangements and various instructions for Zhao Xingheng...

Li Zhongxin watched silently from the side, not understanding why His Majesty would write these things at this time.

Your Majesty is only thirty-three years old, the prime of your life for establishing a foundation and building an empire. How could it be written like a will?

The words "suicide note" suddenly flashed into Li Zhongxin's mind, and he was immediately shocked. He covered his mouth in terror but dared not say anything...

A few days later, Zhao Zun held a grand investiture ceremony for Zhao Xingheng in the palace.

On this day, the entire capital city seemed to be shrouded in a grand atmosphere; the long streets were deserted and the alleys were empty.

The people flocked to the area around the imperial city, eager to witness the grand investiture ceremony of the eldest son of the Great Jing Dynasty.

Deep within the palace, a grand procession of ceremonial guards stood before the Golden Palace, accompanied by magnificent music and rituals.

The officials stood solemnly, their brocade robes and magnificent crowns gleaming in the sunlight.

Chief eunuch Li Zhongxin stood beside the dragon throne, holding a bright yellow imperial edict, and read the edict of investiture in a clear and solemn voice, word by word.

With a somber and mature appearance, the eldest prince, Zhao Xingheng, slowly ascended the jade steps and received the golden book and imperial seal. At that moment, cannons roared and bells and drums resounded, announcing that the foundation of the Great Jing Kingdom had been established and the position of crown prince had been decided.

However, on such an important day, the Empress still did not attend. The civil and military officials looked at the reserved seats next to the dragon throne, daring only to whisper among themselves, and no one dared to ask any questions loudly.

On this day, not only did the people of the capital spontaneously decorate with lanterns and set up altars to celebrate, but neighboring countries from all directions also sent envoys to pay tribute and present gifts.

The entire capital seemed to be immersed in a sea of ​​jubilation. Shops on both sides of the street were decorated with colorful banners, gongs and drums were heard on the stage in the neighborhood, and teahouses and taverns were filled with conversations about the Crown Prince's virtues.

A few days after the Crown Prince's investiture ceremony, it was Zhao Zun's birthday.

Since the Empress has been in a "long sleep," Zhao Zun has not celebrated his birthday for five years. But this time, he broke with tradition and sent out invitations to his friends and ministers to come to the palace for a gathering and have some fun.