Chapter 91: Audience with the King of Cangzhou
As you enter Canzhou from Jingzhou, the first stop is Qingshui County. No matter where Zhao Zun plans to settle in Canzhou in the future, he must first go to Qingshui County.
Thus, Princess Changle has been waiting here for days.
Yesterday, she received a report saying Zhao Zun had arrived in Qingshui County, staying at the County Magistrate’s mansion. She was so excited she couldn’t sleep all night, got up at dawn to dress and groom, fortunately just in time, otherwise she would have missed him.
Princess Changle’s makeup was delicate, adorned with pearls and jade. The closer she got to Zhao Zun, the more intense the bashful blush on her joyful face became.
Princess Changle walked over quickly, slightly panting. "Prince, Changle came to Canzhou to visit friends, but never expected to meet the Prince here."
"What is it?" Zhao Zun’s face showed impatience.
He had never liked the domineering Princess Changle, especially recalling the scene at the palace banquet where she made things difficult for Han Lei, which made him feel even more disgusted.
"Uh!"
Princess Changle was momentarily choked by Zhao Zun’s sudden coldness, drowning most of the joy in her heart.
But she quickly adjusted her emotions and smiled gently: "Actually, Changle’s visit this time is not just to see friends; it’s also to express my heartfelt intentions to the Prince."
Saying this, she gently took out a delicate jade pendant from her sleeve, carved with the design of mandarin ducks playing in the water, full of profound meaning.
Sitting high on horseback, Zhao Zun’s gaze lingered on the jade pendant for a moment, but he didn’t reach out to take it, only coldly spat out two words.
"Boring!"
Before coming here, Princess Changle had thought about it; Zhao Zun is a fierce general charging into battlefields, perhaps he doesn’t understand romance, perhaps his words would be sharp and harsh. Unexpectedly, he was harsh to the point of being so unfeeling.
However, Princess Changle who had come prepared from far away, was not angry because Han Lei was in between. She was determined to speed up to win Zhao Zun.
She silently thought to herself: Men! You are hard steel, and I’ll be the soft that bends it, I refuse to believe I can’t conquer you! At worst, I’ll abandon dignity.
Thinking such, Princess Changle showed what she believed to be her most enchanting smile, disregarding the modesty of a woman, lightly and actively drawing close to Zhao Zun’s muscular thigh.
Her heartbeat like a drum, cheeks slightly red, yet she still looked up firmly at Zhao Zun’s deep, dark eyes.
She was very confident in her smile, little knowing Zhao Zun’s response was contrary to her expectations.
His eyes cold as a sword cutting through the chill night, fiercely imposing, his voice low and authoritative.
"Little girl, have you no self-respect!"
Between his words, a silver glint flashed in the air, the sharp sword was already on Princess Changle’s fair white neck, no error in its precision.
Princess Changle’s heartbeat suddenly accelerated, she felt unprecedented tension and fear.
This was her first time experiencing up close the approach of death, that icy feeling made her involuntarily tremble.
Yet, at this moment perilous like the line between life and death, Princess Changle found that Zhao Zun’s gaze, though cold, simultaneously emitted an indescribable allure.
This was a captivating masculine aura, combined with his icy gaze, forming a strange harmony.
Princess Changle felt her heartbeat racing, as if drawn by an invisible force, even knowing she might the next instant have her throat pierced by him, she longed to get closer like a moth to the flame.
Seeing Princess Changle still smiling at him, Zhao Zun’s cold voice gained more sharpness.
"Leave!"
He originally wanted to say ’scram,’ but after all Princess Changle was royalty, he ultimately left her some dignity.
With a jolt of the sword hilt in his hand, the sword slapped Princess Changle’s chin, she cried out, retreating several steps, face pale with fright.
"Onward!" With a cold sideways glance at her, Zhao Zun squeezed his horse’s belly, galloping away. Ping Chuan followed without expression close behind.
Luo Hai, who did not know Princess Changle, his carriage at the rear, lifted the curtain to watch the commotion, raising an eyebrow, shaking his head lightly in helplessness.
His dear nephew, truly doesn’t know how to cherish beauty, with such a straightforward and rigid temperament, one wonders how sweet and lovely Miss Han took a liking to him. Surely, she must have weak eyesight!
Luo Hai seemed to forget his dear nephew had a completely different demeanor in front of Han Lei.
...
After nearly two months of development and construction, this side of the wasteland now has size. From high above, the entire wasteland looks like a leaf, cement roads and ditches intersecting extend like leaf veins, displaying an image of a new countryside.
The five large grass sheds built first on the wasteland, at this time, wisps of smoke curl upwards. Some women and children are preparing lunch under the sheds.
Farmers are selecting seeds and sowing in the fields, in the distance by the riverside, the waterwheel driven by water power, directs the flow into the ditches, flowing to all parts of the wasteland.
Along the hillside stands orderly a row of two-story cement small buildings, with walls of round wood, stone blocks, and concrete, roofs of round wood and tiles. Most rooms have already been completed and occupied, a small portion still under construction by craftsmen.
On the open space before the small buildings, carpenters and bamboo craftsmen are hurriedly making tables, chairs, beds, and windows, the work scene full of vigor, well-organized.
Because Wei Dabao sees fewer farmers coming back to Tongfu Building for rest each night, it’s exactly due to the accommodation buildings on the wasteland gradually being completed, some people have already been arranged to stay on the wasteland.
Luo Hai led Zhao Zun walking among it, both touring and explaining to Zhao Zun.
Looking at the orderly and simple accommodation buildings, Zhao Zun touched the blue-gray walls, surprised in heart, couldn’t help but softly murmur. "So, this is the world of that girl?"
When they last left Qingshui County, Han Lei had left a large amount of bagged cement, saying it was for building houses and roads. He had countless times imagined the scene after the wasteland project was built, unexpectedly simple and neat, yet very spectacular.
Surveying the surroundings, these accomplishments all represented traces Han Lei had stayed here, seemingly suffused with Han Lei’s lively aura. Zhao Zun’s large hand held gently, as if touching Han Lei’s sweet, tender cheeks.
"How is it, this wall’s solid, right?" Luo Hai said with delight, pointing at a small notch: "I had someone use an iron shovel and struck hard, only knocked out this small notch, other places undamaged."
Zhao Zun’s gaze fell on the notch, he pressed his fingers firmly, feeling the hardness of the concrete. "Indeed, it’s solid."
The notch evident as the focus point of the iron shovel, apart from this, other places seemed undamaged.
Luo Hai also pointed at discarded chunks of concrete at the corner, eyes showing a tinge of pride. "I had someone soak it in water for three days and nights, equally hard. Miss Han truly is an extraordinary person. It’s unknown where she got such a thing called cement."
Speaking of Han Lei, Zhao Zun’s eyes dimmed somewhat. He had toured all corners of the wasteland project and asked many farmers and craftsmen, yet still couldn’t find traces of Han Lei.
At this moment, an official from the government hurriedly ran over to them.
"Sir, Sir. The Zhizhou adult arrived at the County Magistrate’s mansion, saying he wants to see the King of Cangzhou." The government official shouted from afar.