Chapter 68: It’s Just a Formality
Prince Mansion.
By the time Han Lei and Zhao Zun returned to the mansion, it was already late at night. Inside the mansion, red lanterns were hung high, laughter and chatter filled the air, and everyone in the mansion was staying up to welcome the New Year.
The children laughed as they played and chased each other, while the adults cut paper window decorations or raised their glasses to celebrate and wish for good weather in the coming year.
Zhao Ling’er and her mother sat around a table, staying up while writing wedding invitations based on the sorted guest list, while Ms Qin sat sullenly at a distance with the maids, cutting paper decorations.
While receiving the royal decree in the palace, Zhao Zun showed no emotion, his face devoid of joy or anger. However, upon returning to the mansion, as soon as he stepped into the main hall, his face darkened, and he harshly threw the luxurious cloak he was wearing onto the ground, having crumpled it into a ball.
His furious demeanor instantly froze the joyous atmosphere in the mansion, making everyone, whether master or servant, watch him cautiously.
"Mother, we’re back."
Zhao Zun greeted the old lady, looking at the pile of red invitations in front of her, but said nothing and returned to his own courtyard with a darkened face.
Watching his figure disappear beyond the door, Han Lei let out a soft sigh.
The old lady stood up, holding a writing brush in her hand, and moved closer to Han Lei, asking, "Lei’er, what’s wrong with him?"
Ever since they first met, the old lady had taken a liking to Han Lei, this kind-hearted yet strong girl. Hence, her address was particularly affectionate.
"It’s nothing. Aunt, you don’t need to worry." Han Lei smiled sweetly, helping the old lady back to her seat at the table, comforting her: "He’s just feeling a bit stifled, let him be alone for a while."
"Was the marriage proposal to the emperor unsuccessful today?" The old lady’s eyes were full of concern.
Just as the old lady finished speaking, the sound of crashing objects came from a distant courtyard, intensifying the worry on her face.
As soon as the Prince lost his temper, the servants in the mansion didn’t even dare to breathe loudly or drink anymore.
Under Mr. Liu’s instruction, they all scattered. Only Ms Qin remained in the corner, her charming eyes darting around, waiting to see the drama unfold.
Once the servants had gone, the old lady took Han Lei’s hand, sat her down beside her, and asked, "What exactly happened?"
"Today, the emperor granted us a marriage in the palace. Uh..." In order not to worry the old lady, Han Lei pretended to be relaxed and said, "He also named Zhao Zun as the King of Canzhou. On the sixth day of the New Year, we have to move to Canzhou to live."
"King of Cangzhou? Vassal King?"
Upon hearing this, the old lady’s face turned grim. As a Duchess, she naturally knew the significance of a Vassal King. Without an imperial edict, one cannot enter the capital. The emperor is still wary of Zhao Zun!
The old lady sighed, a look of helplessness and worry flashing in her eyes.
"King of Cangzhou... a Vassal King! What seems like honor is actually fraught with hidden dangers. Zun’s journey may be fraught with uncertainty."
Han Lei patted the old lady’s hand softly and said, "Aunt, don’t worry, I am by his side. Moreover, the emperor’s decree said that we can take our family to Canzhou. We will all go. It’s nice to be able to live together as a family, isn’t it?"
"Can take family?"
The old lady was very surprised; such an arrangement is rare among all the vassal kings.
For example, she knew that Prince Jingzhou’s mother, Consort Hui, was kept in the palace, ostensibly for her retirement but actually as a hostage.
However, what the old lady didn’t know was that the reason Emperor Jing allowed the family of Prince Mansion to go to Canzhou was because of the starling Zhao Zun sent and his fierce protective brawl at Tengyun Building on behalf of his wife.
"Yes, the whole family together." Han Lei nodded with a smile. "So you don’t need to worry. As long as the family is together, it doesn’t matter where we live."
"Oh! Okay!"
Only then did the old lady’s expression soften slightly.
"Sister-in-law, do I get to go too?" Zhao Ling’er interjected excitedly. She had never traveled far in her life.
"Haha." Han Lei was amused by her words. "You are family too, of course, you are going!"
After speaking, Han Lei thought to herself: Zhao Ling’er must have been well protected by the old lady all these years. She’s already at the age for marriage proposals, yet she’s still so innocent and naïve.
"Bang! Crash!"
The sound of things breaking and unclear angry curses continued to come from Zhao Zun’s courtyard.
Han Lei heard it but didn’t go to him. Instead, she greeted the old lady and went directly to the kitchen in the mansion.
She didn’t disturb Zhao Zun during his tantrum, allowing him to vent his anger freely in his courtyard.
Han Lei understood that Zhao Zun needed to vent this anger. Firstly, to relieve the frustration in Zhao Zun’s heart, and secondly, because the capital city is the center of imperial power; this outburst needed to be seen by those with ulterior motives.
After some time, Han Lei emerged from the mansion’s kitchen. She had actually used the kitchen as an excuse to prepare a steaming bowl of white fungus soup from the system she had just bought.
Han Lei entered Zhao Zun’s study with the white fungus soup, admonishing him as any ordinary wife might do to her husband.
"Enough already, don’t think just because you’ve earned some merit in Beiguan, you can now act smug."
Seeing Han Lei enter, although Zhao Zun’s anger hadn’t completely subsided, his heart warmed.
Han Lei’s admonishment made him feel a bit wronged, yet he couldn’t help but confide in the person he loved.
"It’s not really a big deal, it’s just that I feel wronged. I’m not trying to be arrogant because of my merits. Even if the emperor sidelines me after using me, asking me to return to the capital to be an idle prince, I’d accept it. But why does the emperor treat me like a dog, calling me to come and go at his whim?"
Han Lei sighed softly, handing the white fungus soup to Zhao Zun, and gently said, "Alright, I know you feel wronged. Drink this and rest early—it’s late, and even if you don’t want to sleep, others do!"
"But I just can’t figure it out." Zhao Zun’s voice lowered, but the pain in his eyes was still there.
Han Lei understood his pain, but in this era, imperial power was like a shackle that suffocated people. Moreover, they had just attended a palace banquet, and Han Lei didn’t believe Emperor Jing would make no moves.
She thought for a while, turned Zhao Zun’s face to meet her eyes, and casually tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Even if you are aggrieved and angry, what can you do? Ultimately, you’re only harming yourself, which isn’t worth it. The entire Da Jing Dynasty belongs to the emperor. As the saying goes, ’When the emperor wants a minister to die, the minister must die.’ Right now, he hasn’t sent you to death but rather to Canzhou to be a prosperous prince. This is a fortune many people beg for; why are you still angry?"
After finishing, Han Lei took his hand, her fingers lightly tapping in his palm, seemingly conveying a message.
Han Lei’s actions made Zhao Zun instantly understand. Han Lei was warning him to be cautious as walls have ears, and with the decree already issued, their priority was to leave the capital smoothly and head to the granted land.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm his inner anger. Han Lei was right; the entire Da Jing Dynasty belonged to the emperor. And he had his mother, his sister, Han Lei, and friends.
He could refuse to be blindly loyal, but he could not be unfilial or unrighteous. Even if the emperor treated him this way, he had to endure it; he could not push all family ties into the storm’s forefront.
Zhao Zun’s grievance and anger gradually faded. He no longer complained about Emperor Jing, but instead, he supported Han Lei by her shoulders, gazing deeply into her eyes with heartfelt apology.
"With the soup you brought me, I no longer feel angry. It was just a momentary inability to think it through. Yet... I had wanted, during our wedding, to invite the capital’s dignitaries and give you a grand wedding ceremony, but now I cannot. In the remote and barren place like Canzhou, you’ll have to endure it."
Seeing that he had controlled his emotions, Han Lei finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled faintly: "Those are just formalities and not important. What matters is...us being together."
After speaking, she willingly leaned into Zhao Zun’s embrace, and they held each other closely...