The Gilded Cage

In the end, Fang Bo was very old, and had suffered for more than two years before, and his body was weak. After this tossing, Feng Yu went to see and treat himself, but it was of no avail. By the early morning of the next day, he lost his breath.

When the news came to the palace, Chu Ning was both sad and angry, not only for Fang Bo alone, but also for the other Chu family members and servants who had been secretly removed by Xiao Yu in the past two years.

She wished she could take out Fang Bo's letter on the spot, question Xiao Yu fiercely, expose his hypocritical face over the past two years, and make him pay the price for everything he did.

But she knew it was not yet time. Faced with his seemingly gentle face, she can only try to suppress the anger and hatred, and only show the sad and weak side.

Xiao Yu didn't say much in front of her, only a few words of relief, and said: "I'm just an old servant, it's not worthy of you being sad for him like this."

Chu Ning disagreed with him from the bottom of his heart, but knew in his heart that he was a little impatient, so he restrained his emotions and took extra silver in private so that Zhao Yanzhou could take care of the funeral on her behalf.

In the evening, Xiao Yu summoned Xu Rong into the hall alone, closed the door and asked about yesterday's affairs.

Xu Rongguan's expression knew that he was in a bad mood, and seemed to be angry, but he didn't intend to conceal this, so he bluntly said: "His Royal Highness, it was indeed done by a minister."

Sure enough, Xiao Yu was furious, and suddenly stood up and scolded: "When did you learn to be self-assertive? I clearly asked you to keep him first!"

Xu Rong was not in a hurry, his attitude was neither humble nor overbearing, and he said: "His Royal Highness did indeed give such orders. But the minister removed this person, and he also obeyed His Highness's intention. His Royal Highness asked the minister to take care of all the past matters and not leave it to others Handle, your Majesty has forgotten that our biggest handle is exactly what happened to the Chu family. His Royal Highness keeps him. Isn’t he afraid of leaking things out?"

When the voice fell, Xiao Yu's face became more and more ugly.

Xu Rong paused for a while and continued: "His Royal Highness, I would rather kill by mistake than to kill. Take a step back and say, even if he just let the crown prince know about it, is your Highness willing?"

Xiao Yu pressed his lips tightly and did not speak, but Chu Ning's heart and tears slowly emerged in his mind.

Those watery eyes were originally just looking at him softly, but in the blink of an eye, they were suddenly filled with pain and hatred, staring at him firmly, making his heart suddenly tighten.

This is the secret he has held in his heart for a long time, and the secret he least wants her to discover.

"I saved her." He spoke subconsciously, not knowing whether he was comforting himself or defending himself.

Xu Rong slowly stood up straight, looked at him directly, and debunked: "His Royal Highness also killed the Chu family."

Xiao Yu silently closed his eyes.

Xu Rong was right. He couldn't tolerate the existence of a little risk, and that Chu family servant could get rid of it.

"I was negligent, you did a good job." He sighed softly, putting aside the trace of unbearableness in his heart, "Just remember to be careful next time, don't be noticeable."

As soon as Xu Rong heard this, he knew that he had figured out the power of it, and immediately relieved his heart. Before leaving, I did not forget to remind: "His Royal Highness, the prince is gentle and courteous, she is indeed a model among women. But after the heart is separated from the belly, there is something about the Chu family, and His Highness has to guard against it."

These words just pierced the most sensitive part of Xiao Yu's heart. He couldn't help feeling a little irritable, and after a hurried nod, he waved him down.

…

On the other side, in the Ganlu Palace, Liu Kang was also reporting to Xiao Kezhi one by one the news that Cai had ordered to inquire.

"...I don't know who is living, but I heard that I have been beaten to death. Now Zhao Sizhi of the East Palace takes care of the funeral. As for the person who broke in and beat people, it seems that Xu Shidu from the East Palace arranged." Liu Kangshi He explained what he had heard in detail, but wondered the strangeness of this matter in his heart.

The house in Yongchangfang was clearly a member of the East Palace, but the one who broke in to beat others was also a member of the East Palace. Somehow, there was a commotion between my family.

Xiao Kezhi apparently noticed it too, frowning and asked, "That Zhao Yanzhou, I remember that he has a very close relationship with the Chu family."

Liu Kang hurriedly replied: "Yes, Zhao Sizhi of the East Palace is a distant relative of the prince Chu's natal family, and he is quite favored by Chu Qianyu. Later, after the Chu family became the prince, he was also recommended to join the Donggong Zhan Shifu."

Xiao Kezhi nodded his head with a "hmm", and then fell into thinking.

In this way, Zhao Yanzhou should be the crown prince's person, and the other Xu Rong is undoubtedly Xiao Yu's person. One wanted to put the people in that house to death, but the other asked Feng Yu to heal him, which shows that there must be a contradiction.

But the prince is a sinful courtier, and the person she wants to protect, apart from being related to the Chu family, there is no other possibility.

But why did Xiao Yu act on the people of Chu?

Slowly he had a bit of speculation in his heart.

The expression on the beautiful face that flashed in my mind from time to time has changed, and it has changed back to the gentle and stubborn appearance when I was at the side of the mountain pool yesterday.

He remembered her words exactly.

"He did save me, but I don't owe him."

He was almost certain that his nephew was not as good as others thought, how good he was to her, the princess, otherwise, how could someone get rid of the Chu family?

Somehow, he breathed a sigh of relief inexplicably, but at the same time, he gave birth to another speculation-she took the initiative to approach his husband's uncle, I am afraid there is another plan.

A strong sense of contradiction was intertwined in his heart, but he did not feel too much anger, but only felt a flame ignited in his body.

She really is a different woman.

That weak face became bright and beautiful in the light of the fire, and she was smiling at him through the hazy tulle.

The smile was filled with hints and temptations that seemed to be non-existent, which made his heart feel awkward, and the whole person tensed up with excitement, as if there was an urgent need to find a place to vent the enthusiasm in his body.

"Everyone?" Liu Kang waited for a long while, and couldn't help but remind him before he ordered.

Xiao Ke stood up abruptly from the couch, put on his robe, took off the bows and arrows hung on the wall, and said, "Go, let people go to the backyard to prepare a horse, and I will run a few laps."

Liu Kang was taken aback. I don't know why he was going to Houyuan for a horse race at night. After being startled, he ordered a small housekeeper to go out and make preparations. When he arrived, the horse was ready.

Without a word, Xiao Kezhi turned on his horse with a bow and arrow on his back, and galloped toward the north.

Tai Chi Palace occupies a large area. In addition to the garden scenery, the Houyuan also leaves ample flat slopes. Not to mention a horse race, it is not a problem to hold two polo matches at the same time.

Xiao Kezhi didn't hold the horse in the direction of the horse. He only ran in the cool breeze of the autumn night. Occasionally, with his excellent eyesight, he quickly let out an arrow and ran a little while when there were hares and wild pheasants flying past the trees and trees At that time, after a thin layer of sweat broke out on his body, he took the reins and returned to the original place.

The prey that had just been shot had already been brought back by the relatives, and they were placed in front of him one by one at the moment.

He got off his horse, looked at the prey, and pointed to one of the hares that was not shot and was still moving, and said, "Give this to Vimala, and send the rest to the pantry."

The guards should immediately "here" and leave first with their prey.

He took off the arrow and bow from his back and gave them to the waiters, and then stretched out his hand to pull the lapels of his clothes to let the cool breeze in.

After running down, the heat in the body was finally temporarily suppressed, and even his mind became clearer and calmer than before.

Under the cold moonlight, he stopped and raised his eyes to the direction of Shenlongmen.

It was dark there, only a few palace lanterns dotted it.

In the silent air, he seemed to be able to hear the stronger and stronger impulse in his heart. But before taking the first step, he had to figure out what the woman wanted.

…

On the second day, from the Baifu Hall where the Empress Dowager Qi lived to the Wanchun Hall where Xiao Yu lived temporarily, they all ate the hares and wild pheasants hunted from Houyuan on the night of Xiao Ke at lunch, and even came to Tai Chi Palace to worship His courtiers were also rewarded with roast rabbit meat and soup.

While everyone was surprised, they not only wondered why the saint suddenly hunted at night, but also marveled at his excellent riding and shooting skills. He could hunt so many prey even at night.

Those generals who have always been ignored by the court in recent years and can only hold idle titles have faintly seen hope, and the new emperor's move seems to have the meaning of reusing generals. The civil servants who have always regarded themselves highly, all have to sweat for themselves, for fear of being despised from then on.

Xiao Yu saw all this in his eyes, only to feel that the bad premonition in his heart became stronger and stronger.

Seeing that the one-month period is about to expire, everyone will take off their filial obedience once the national funeral is over. The entire empire will return to the previous order. The military affairs that have been stagnated for a whole month will also be brought back to the table. The eldest son, the prince of Da Liang, did not know how the new emperor would deal with himself.