The Gilded Cage

The news of the move to Lishan reached the East Palace, and Chu Ning ordered people to pack up their clothes and bags, and only waited for the departure five days later.

In the eyes of others, this is just a consistent rule, or even a means-if the prince is not in Chang'an, he must keep a close eye on the princess and not leave any opportunities to take advantage of it.

But in Chu Ning's eyes, this was a hint, implying that all her efforts were not in vain, and the next opportunity was right in front of her.

She thought for a while, she didn't take all the maids in the sleeping hall, except for Cuihe, she only picked four more close and safe places, and the rest were all doing handyman outside.

On the eve of her departure, she received a letter from Xiao Yu from Huazhou saying that she would return to Chang'an around New Year's Day, and asked about Donggong.

This is customary, maybe out of meager feelings, maybe out of anxiety after deception. He has been away from Chang'an for a long time, and he will definitely write back to ask her about her situation.

Chu Ning looked at the handwriting on the paper and couldn't help but sneer.

Only if he did something like this and deceived her for two whole years, would he be in a state of anxiety all the time, for fear that one day he would teach her to discover the truth.

One day, he discovered that she not only knew the truth, but even secretly communicated with his most hated uncle under his nose, begging this uncle not only to pull off his wings bit by bit, but also to force it. He pleaded guilty for the evil that he had done, how should he react?

With a cold light in her eyes, she put the letter paper filled with his ink on the candlestick and lit it until it burned to ashes, then took out the pen and ink, wrote two greetings in the same respectful tone as before, and said that she would go with him to Lishan. The matter was sent out.

...

Early in the morning of the second day, the weather was clear and sunny, and the day was bright and beautiful.

Outside Chengtian Gate of Taiji Palace, hundreds of princes, nobles, courtiers and their families have gathered here, waiting to follow the holy drivers to Lishan.

In the cold wind, the BMW Xiangche was full of roads, and the chattering and laughter of men, women and children were endless.

Chu Ning walked from the Changle Gate of the East Palace. After the audience paid a courtesy visit, they consciously stood up to the front of the female family members, waiting only for the emperor and the queen of Qi.

The ladies and girls around were still afraid to talk to her more, occasionally they would greet her specifically, and after only one or two words, they hurriedly avoided.

No one wants to be found close to the East Palace in full view.

Only Mrs. Lu from the State of Lu brought her daughter Guo'er over and greeted her sincerely.

Mr. Lu and his wife had the emperor's shelter in Chang'an, and no one dared to face their disrespect. But they have the simple temperament of Yanzhou Tianshelang. Even if they are replaced with brocade beads, they always give pointers to the rich and powerful, and no one is willing to take the initiative to befriend them, for fear that they will become an alien among the rich and powerful. For the laughing stock.

Mrs. Xu has seen the thoughts of these people in the past two months. Although she is still trembling, for fear of making mistakes, she no longer works hard and wants to integrate into the lives of the upper-class nobles.

"I haven't seen you for many days, how is everything, Madam?" Chu Ning looked at the mother and daughter beside him, smiling and greeting, "Guo'er seems to be a little more rounded when Bicai came."

Mrs. Xu nodded, and pulled Guo'er to her again, saying: "This child was a little uncomfortable on the way to Chang'an. He had vomiting and diarrhea during the past few days, and his face was sallow. Now I am about to adapt and eat more. This will get better."

Both she and Lu Guogong Weishou were born in a peasant household. In the past, they worked for many years and suffered from famine. They were married for many years. Because of their poor health, they were unable to give birth to a son and a half until they were nearly 30 years old. For such a daughter, both husband and wife love each other very much.

Guo'er blushed, raised his head and smiled at Chuning, and then carefully stretched out and pulled her sleeves.

Chu Ning touched her little hand, bent over and watched her smiling and turning in a small circle in front of her, as if she was showing today's clothes, and then she realized that she was showing herself the clothes she was wearing today. It was the first picture in the album that was given back last year.

"Guo'er looks good in this dress." She did not hesitate to praise her, and immediately nodded at the child with a smile, "Whether the bracelet on her wrist matches well."

Guoer was very happy after receiving the praise, and smiled sweetly: "Thank you, Your Highness."

After a while, Xiao Kezhi and the Empress Dowager Qi finally walked down surrounded by palace men and guards in the open Chengtian Gate.

When everyone saw this, they stopped talking and laughing, turned and saluted the two respectfully.

When he stood up straight again, Chu Ning heard Guo'er beside him holding Mrs. Xu's hand and said timidly: "Aniang, Your Majesty seems to be coming to our side."

She couldn't help raising her head, just to meet a pair of familiar sharp eyes.

Xiao Kezhi didn't ride a carriage, but rode on a tall horse, coming here step by step.

Everyone thought he was coming to talk to Mrs. Lu’s mother and daughter. In fact, after he turned over from the horse, he did pass Chu Ning, who was standing in the front, and walked straight to Mrs. Lu and Guo’er. .

But Chu Ning knew in his heart that the moment his eyes met, he was indeed looking at her.

"I heard from my uncle a few days ago that I used to have pains in my back due to work. My aunt also suffered from cold in the last two years and her legs were not responsive. This time I went back to the hot spring palace. I ordered the doctor to prepare some herbs. It may be used for uncles and aunts at times, and it may alleviate chronic diseases."

Standing sideways in front of Chu Ning, he took care of Mrs. Xu with a normal attitude.

Mrs. Xu was flattered and hurriedly took Guo'er to thank her again and again.

After some care, he did not leave. Instead, he looked sideways at Chu Ning, who was standing silently aside, and said: "These days, thanks to my nephew and his cousin for taking care of my aunt and cousin."

When he said this, he patrolled past her with a somewhat oppressive look, and the hands covered in his wide sleeves stretched out as if excited with excitement, and the tone of his mouth was full of carelessness. It seemed to be just a perfunctory sentence after exhorting Mrs. Xu.

Chu Ning raised his head, his gentle and dignified face showed a very faint, charming smile that he was very familiar with. When his eyes flashed slightly and his eyes darkened, he quickly put it away, as if he had done nothing, and responded softly. : "Sharing the worries for your majesty and honoring the elders is what the nephew and daughter-in-law should do."

A distance of two steps, the atmosphere has subtle changes.

Xiao Kezhi looked at the tightly dressed woman in front of him with a smile but a smile. What appeared in his mind was that she was wearing that bold blasphemy, her mouth was blocked by silk paws, her hands tied, and tears in her eyes sobbed at him to beg for mercy. He just felt the blood in his body boil at once.

It’s been ten days, I’ve had enough, maybe it’s time to close the net.

He gave a meaningful "Well" and left the sentence "Then continue to share the worries for me", then turned and left, turned on the horse again, clamped the horse's belly, and urged the horse to trot to the front.

The team set off soon.

Mrs. Xu took Guoer and Chu Ning in the same car, talking and laughing along the way. She didn't find it boring until Guoer learned the "Thousand Characters Essay" that Guoer had learned by memorizing. It was not until the afternoon when she arrived at Tangquan Palace. Go to their respective residences.

Tangquan Palace is an imperial palace built on the hillside of Lishan Mountain. Unlike Tai Chi Palace, not only the emperor can live in the palace, but the relatives who are closer also live in the palace, but there is more distance and barrier between the residence of the emperor and the relatives.

There is no special east palace here, but there is a prince soup dedicated to the prince to live. As a prince, Chu Ning naturally lives here alone.

She recalled the layout of the Tangquan Palace, and immediately remembered that the emperor’s Xingchen Tang and Jiulong Tang were located to the west of the Prince’s Tang, almost separated by a wall on both sides, but the Empress Dowager’s Yichun Tang was slightly farther to the east.

This is a convenience.

After being bumped in the car for more than two hours, she only felt a little tired. After changing her clothes, she used a few snacks and then took a nap in the sleeping hall. It was not until the evening that she woke up leisurely.

The dinner is ready, and the soup pond under the pavilion outside the hall is full of soup springs, and the water vapor evaporates out, immediately surrounding the courtyard like a fairy palace.

She leaned on an imperial concubine couch for a moment, then summoned Cuihe and gave a few words in a low voice.

...

After Xiao Kezhi arrived at Tangquan Palace, he did not immediately rest in the inner sleeping quarters, but first summoned courtiers in the outer court to deal with all the political affairs that have fallen today, and then stayed in the palace after reading the notes before relaxing.

When going in the direction of the inner bed, it was already night.

It was a cold winter night, and it was rare for him not to walk back to the sleeping hall, but to take a short walk back, so as to save some energy to think about the things just now. But I didn't pay attention, but found that the route back seemed a little different.

Going back from the court near Jinyang Gate, he can directly reach Feishuang Temple, but now, he has bypassed the apse first, and needs to go through Rihua Gate to return to Feishuang Temple.

Although he had never lived in the imperial palace before, he had come here a few times when he was young. He was naturally familiar with the layout, and he immediately noticed something was wrong. He immediately became vigilant and frowned, "How can I go around here? ?"

Liu Kang laughed nervously, bowed his waist and replied: "Everyone, the scenery here is better. The old slave saw that everyone was too exhausted to deal with government affairs, so he made his own way and let him go."

Xiao Kezhi glanced at him, and said coldly, "You are becoming more and more self-assured."

Having said that, he didn't change his route. There was no reason for him. Only after thinking about it, he remembered it. He took this route around and happened to be able to pass outside the courtyard where Prince Tang was located.

He didn't even have to ask to guess that Liu Kangding was instigated by the enchantress and deliberately led him over!

Somehow, as the distance got closer and closer, a faint excitement and tension flashed in his heart, and his whole body became hot and cold, even when facing the night wind of winter, he did not feel cold at all.

Under the night, except for the place illuminated by the palace lanterns, everything was dark. Although he knew that no one else lived nearby, the vigilance he had cultivated over the years still made him wonder what would happen if anyone saw it.

This vigilance also turned into excitement, making his heart beat.

"Everyone, there is Prince Tang in front." Liu Kang has been secretly observing his words and expressions, and at the moment he is busy pointing to a short distance to remind him softly.

Xiao Kezhi pursed his lips and said nothing, but his eyes were already looking in the direction he was pointing.

I saw that the place was separated by a wall from his residence, the door was slightly open, as if deliberately waiting for someone, and the looming light in it made people want to go in and find out.

He sullen his face, did not speak, and turned his head again with only one glance. But just as he was about to pass the gate, he still clenched his fist.

"Stop."

Under the short and low order, he stopped steadily and landed in front of the half-open door.