Love Lock

Chapter 54 Princess Chang Le's Thoughts

Zhao Zun really wanted to slap himself twice.

His personal guards were specifically assigned to protect him on the battlefield; they were his exclusive property. No one but him could command his personal guards.

He never expected that Han Lei would use the Love Lock as a universal token on his personal guard.

This little girl really doesn't play by the rules!

If he had known, he should have just said it was a token of love for Han Lei. Why did he have to say it could be used to command the servants? It's true that his brain just doesn't work when he's around this girl.

Hey!
His genuine love for Han Lei is one thing, but using external means to keep Han Lei by his side is another.

After all, they had only known each other for a month or two, and their relationship was still too fragile and thin. Han Lei was not yet at the point where she would marry no one but him.

If Han Lei knew that he wanted to use improper means to obtain her life, given her independent nature, she would definitely think that he was up to no good and was deceiving her, and would resolutely leave him.

Zhao Zun had no confidence in his two-month relationship and kept telling himself this.

Wait a little longer! Wait a little longer!
In two days it will be Lunar New Year's Eve. On that night, Emperor Jing will issue an imperial decree of marriage, and even though they have not officially married yet, Han Lei will be his bestowed wife.

By then, Han Lei will have nowhere to hide in their relationship except to return to China. Telling her then will significantly reduce the risk of her leaving him.

Han Lei, however, did not notice Zhao Zun's unusual behavior. Her pretty face flushed red, and she looked at Zhao Zun shyly.

"This...is this really the love token you gave me?"

"Um……"

Zhao Zun drew out the "hmm" for a long time. His expression was slightly stiff, and his eyes flickered uncertainly. He clearly didn't know how to answer, and only said ambiguously, "Remember... to keep it with you and don't take it off. It... has special significance."

Seeing Zhao Zun's slightly awkward demeanor, Han Lei felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She assumed that Zhao Zun, as a grown man, was too embarrassed to admit his feelings in front of the two guards.

Han Lei's lips unconsciously curled up, feeling wonderful inside. She hung the exquisite love lock back around her neck, as if she could feel the warmth and affection it conveyed. At this moment, her heart was filled with happiness.

Seeing this, Zhao Zun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

A dangerous situation was averted.

To prevent Han Lei from having any wild thoughts after she leaves, Zhao Zun personally instructed Pingchuan and Xiao Zhengfei to lead their personal guards to temporarily obey Han Lei's orders.

Furthermore, he decided to put down his work and accompany Han Lei to go shopping and choose a location, so that Han Lei's attention could be completely diverted from the lock of love.

Two guards followed Han Lei and Zhao Zun out of the palace and onto the street.

Unbeknownst to them, no sooner had they stepped out than their aunt, Qin Yanran, also sneaked out of the palace.

...I am a lazy dividing line...

Tengyunlou was the largest restaurant in the capital, renowned far and wide, located on the city's most bustling street—

Xuanwu Street
When the late emperor was alive, he was particularly fond of Tengyun Tower and often visited it incognito to enjoy the delicacies served there.

Tengyun Tower is a four-story wooden building with carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent in gold and green. When night falls, it is brightly lit, like a fairyland.

The restaurant was bustling with diners; scholars and poets composed verses, while high-ranking officials and nobles drank and chatted. Each time the late emperor visited, he was warmly welcomed by the restaurant's manager and staff, who prepared meticulously to ensure his satisfaction. The late emperor had tasted countless delicacies at Tengyun Restaurant and praised its culinary skills highly. He once remarked with a smile, "The food at Tengyun Restaurant is unparalleled in the world."

These words greatly enhanced Tengyun Tower's reputation, making it an indispensable scenic spot in the capital. Now, the late emperor has passed away, but the story of Tengyun Tower continues to circulate in the streets and alleys of the capital.

For this reason, the prices at Tengyun Tower are now prohibitively high. Those who can dine there are either royalty, high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants, or literary figures. Ordinary people can only look on in envy.

It was midday, and Tengyun Tower was bustling with activity. Sunlight streamed through the carved window frames, casting golden hues on the rustic wooden floor.

Inside a private room on the second floor, the slanting sunlight streaming through the window illuminated the figures of several prominent young men and women from Beijing's elite families. Dressed in fine clothes, they savored delicious food, chatted idly, and enjoyed the cozy warmth of the winter sun.

The private room was large, with two large round tables separated by a screen. One table was for the young gentlemen, and the other for the young ladies.

"Did you know? Marshal Zhao Zun, the garrison commander of Beiguan, returned to the capital yesterday," Wei Chengchao, the son of Prime Minister Wei, said mysteriously.

Wei Chengchao bore a striking resemblance to Prime Minister Wei, with a cunning and treacherous look. Beneath his slicked-back hair were a pair of small, darting eyes, and a frivolous smile played on his lips. His lavish attire could not conceal his dissolute and extravagant nature.

His gaze would occasionally drift over the woman's silhouette reflected on the screen, his eyes full of flirtatiousness and amusement.

"When did you see that? Wasn't it rumored that he held military power and was self-important? How could he so easily relinquish his military power and return to the capital?" A young master picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. Then, while chewing, he casually said.

"Pshaw! My father told me this himself yesterday when he returned home, how could it be false? I heard that he handed over the military tally to His Majesty as soon as he entered the palace."

“I heard about this from my father as well,” another young master said.

"Zhao Zun's reputation made the three northern kingdoms tremble with fear. I actually admire him quite a bit. Tsk tsk tsk, it's such a pity that such a brave and capable general has returned to the capital to retire." Another young master joined their discussion.

Several young men were discussing Zhao Zun, the hero of Beiguan. On the other side of the screen, Princess Chang Le, who had been appreciating poetry with her girlfriends, suddenly felt a flutter in her heart upon hearing that Zhao Zun had returned to the capital.

Princess Chang Le, Su Wanlan, is the Empress's younger brother and the daughter of the Marquis of Champion. She should address Emperor Jing as her uncle.

She was spoiled by nature, plain-looking but of illustrious birth. Having studied at the Imperial Academy with the princes for a few years and possessing some knowledge of poetry, she earned the reputation of a talented woman in the capital through her intentional or unintentional boasting.

When Princess Chang Le was seven or eight years old, she entered the Imperial Academy for the first time and happened to meet Zhao Zun, who was twelve years old at the time. During the break between classes, they practiced sword dancing in the garden.

Zhao Zun's strong and heroic figure caught her eye, making her stop in her tracks. At that time, as a little girl, she fell in love with Zhao Zun at first sight and vowed to marry him when she grew up.

During breaks between classes each day, she would hide behind the artificial hill to secretly watch Zhao Zun practice martial arts. Sometimes she would bring delicious snacks from home and have her maid deliver them to Zhao Zun after his workout to tide him over.

Unfortunately, they only spent a few days together before twelve-year-old Zhao Zun was sent by his father to the Beiguan military camp for training. They met twice more after the former Duke of Zhenguo died in battle and Zhao Zun escorted his coffin back to the capital.

After Zhao Zun returned to the military camp and was promoted to Marshal of the garrison at Beiguan, the border wars continued, and Zhao Zun never had the opportunity to return to the capital. They never saw each other again.

Later, Zhao Zun achieved great military exploits and rose to fame, becoming a hero in the eyes of the people of Dajing. Princess Chang Le became even more infatuated with Zhao Zun.

She frequently inquired about Zhao Zun through various channels and learned that he was busy with the war and had not yet married. Therefore, she ignored her family's urging to arrange a marriage.

Even now, Princess Chang Le is a twenty-three-year-old spinster, and she is still waiting for Zhao Zun to come back and marry her.

Upon hearing that Zhao Zun had returned to the capital, she could no longer suppress her excitement and made an excuse to leave. Accompanied by a large group of maids and guards, she boarded a carriage and headed straight for the palace.

She wanted to go to the palace immediately to ask her uncle, the emperor, to grant her and Zhao Zun a marriage.

immediately! immediately!
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(End of this chapter)