Love Lock

Chapter 72 Han Lei is poisoned
Spring has quietly arrived, and a faint warmth is carried in the breeze, as if nature is whispering softly.

Inside the Zhao residence, Zhao Qiao'er was dressed in gorgeous clothes and adorned with hairpins and ornaments, as if she had put all the valuable jewelry in the house on her head and deliberately returned to her parents' home to show off.

She walked lightly into her long-missed parents' home. Her face was filled with barely suppressed joy, but a sinister glint flashed in her eyes.

"Mother, I'm back."

Zhao Qiao'er came to the old lady's room to pay her respects, bowed slightly to the old lady, and tried her best to appear choked with sobs and sadness.

The old lady exchanged a glance with Zhao Zun, who was sitting beside her, and said calmly, "Qiao'er, you're back. Your mother told me you were coming to see us off, and your brother and I are very sad."

"Qiao'er, we've gone all the way to Cangzhou this time, and we don't know when we'll be able to return. In the capital, it's just you and Aunt Qin. You must take care of each other and stay safe." Zhao Zun's eyes were full of solemnity as he spoke, adopting the role of an elder brother.

Zhao Qiao'er wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and nodded.

"Mother, brother, please take care of yourself. It's just that I'm married now and can't go with you, which makes me really sad."

Although she disliked this illegitimate daughter, they were still family members who had lived under the same roof for over a decade. Seeing Zhao Qiao'er wiping away tears as their parting approached, the old lady felt quite saddened as well.

“Come, sit down next to your mother,” the old lady said kindly, patting the seat next to her.

Zhao Qiao'er took small, quick steps and obediently sat down next to the old lady.

The old lady held her hand and comforted her, "Qiao'er, you are now someone else's wife, so you should prioritize your husband's family, but we will always remember you."

“Mother.” Zhao Qiao’er’s eyes welled up with tears.

The old lady spoke to him as if he were her own daughter, chatting intimately about everyday matters: "Qiao'er, how have you been doing since you married into your husband's family?"

Zhao Qiao'er smiled slightly, but her eyes held a hint of impatience. "It's alright, my husband treats me well."

"That's good!"

The old lady wanted to give Zhao Qiao'er a few more words of advice on how to be a wife, as the matriarch of the household, but she seemed to see the impatience in Zhao Qiao'er's eyes.

So the old lady sighed inwardly and said, "Now that you're back, go see your mother! Stay for dinner tonight before you go back. Who knows when we'll all have the chance to sit down and eat together again?"

"Yes."

Zhao Qiao'er stood up, curtsied, wiped her eyes, and then turned and went to Aunt Qin's courtyard.

Zhao Zun also saw through Zhao Qiao'er's pretense. After she left, Zhao Zun took the old lady's hand, his eyes full of guilt.

"Mother. Your son is unfilial. These years away from the Prince's Palace, you and my sister have suffered."

The old lady smiled gently and comforted Zhao Zun. "It's good that you have this intention; I'm not wronged. You and your father guard the border; you are heroes in the hearts of the people of Dajing, and I'm proud of you too!"

“Mother, your son is now just a carefree prince. After arriving in Cangzhou, your son will never leave your side again. Han Lei and I will take care of you together.”

"Good! Good! Mother thinks it's great for you to be a carefree prince! Our family can enjoy each other's company."

The old lady was comforted that her son thought this way; she was afraid he wouldn't understand.

Over here, the old lady and her son were talking inside the house. Over there, Zhao Qiao'er walked a short distance from the main house and gave a wink to her personal maid, Liu'er, who was following her. She then took out a small package from her bosom and handed it to Liu'er.

Liu'er understood, nodded, and turned to walk in another direction from the Prince's Mansion.

Soon, it was time for dinner.

The old lady and her family, along with Aunt Qin and her daughter, sat around the dining table.

The Zhao family hasn't had a meal together like this in a long time. Tonight's dinner is both a family reunion and a farewell feast.

Everyone at the table ate their meals in silence.

The old lady and her two sons were filled with the sorrow of parting, their hearts heavy, and the delicious food on the table tasted bland. Aunt Qin and her daughter were also distracted. Although they were both focused on eating, they frequently exchanged glances, as if communicating something.

As a new member of the family, Han Lei didn't know what to say and could only bury her head in her food.

The meal was boring and uninteresting!
After dinner, in Han Lei's room.

Han Lei sat at the table, carefully organizing her business plan.

From wasteland and pig farms to wineries, restaurants, and inns, she now owns several businesses. However, they are all just starting production and operation, and there is no sign of success yet.

After arriving in Cangzhou, she planned to open a cement factory, a salt factory, and so on, following the markings on the mineral map.

The flickering candlelight cast Han Lei's slender, busy figure onto the window. Before she knew it, it was late at night, and Han Lei suddenly felt unwell in her stomach.

She frowned, assuming it was because she had eaten too much for dinner and had been sitting for too long without exercising to digest.

So she casually took two digestive tablets, hoping to relieve her discomfort.

However, the symptoms did not improve. The maid, Jinju, brought in water for her to wash up and noticed that Han Lei's lips were somewhat bluish.

"Young lady, why are your lips so blue? Is it because it was cold at night?"

Jinju exclaimed in surprise, put down the copper basin, and went to get a cloak to put on her.

Han Lei was taken aback, and quickly took out a small mirror from her spatial storage and looked at herself in it.

Omg!

Her lips were indeed an unnaturally dark black. She quickly connected this to her stomach ailment and was alarmed.

The stomach pain seemed to be getting worse after taking digestive tablets.

She checked her eyes again in the mirror, and relying on her extensive medical knowledge and recalling the behavior of Aunt Qin and her daughter earlier that day, Han Lei was certain that she had been poisoned.

"Damn it, these ancient people would poison each other at the drop of a hat."

Han Lei couldn't help but curse under her breath. She had to nip this poison in the bud before it fully took effect.

"Jinju, I'm fine for now. Go and report to the Prince immediately."

She forced herself to remain calm, instructed Jinju to inform Zhao Zun, and then sent Zitan out to fetch a basin of cold water.

After Jinju left, she quickly bought several special detoxification capsules from the system, swallowed two of them, and waited to see the effect.

If that doesn't work, she'll have to consider giving herself an IV drip.

……

The night was as dark as ink, the moon and stars were hidden, and the lights in the Prince's mansion were dim, but they could not hide the undercurrents surging within.

Zhao Zun had not rested yet and was sitting upright at his desk, writing something with a faint worry between his brows.

He was leaving the capital for Cangzhou the next day, and with numerous affairs at home and his upcoming wedding to Han Lei, he was exhausted.

"Your Highness." Jinju's voice rang out from outside the door, tinged with urgency, "Your Highness, this servant has something important to report."

Zhao Zun stopped what he was doing and said in a calm voice, "Come in."

Jinju's face was tense. She pushed open the door and came in, panting as she reported, "Your Highness, Miss Han... she seems to have been poisoned!"

"What!" Zhao Zun stood up abruptly, a flash of shock and anger in his eyes. "Quick, go and fetch a doctor!"

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(End of this chapter)