The Gilded Cage

The calm atmosphere in the room became ambiguous again.

Before he knew it, Xiao Kezhi, who had already stood by the bed, returned to the bed again, lovingly hugged her in his arms and couldn't help but entangled.

"I can't bear it anymore. I will stay here tonight, okay?"

Chu Ning's forehead, which he wiped dry with a towel, oozes a layer of fine sweat. He raised his head weakly and asked: "This is far from the Taiji Hall. Your Majesty will participate in the meeting tomorrow. Staying here will hinder your Majesty. Right?"

"It's okay, I just got up early." He felt contented in his heart, why would he leave her alone and return to the empty nectar hall?

What she said just now really made him excited.

She shouldn't have been such a confined person, it's just that the experience of the past two years has brought her invisible shackles and opened her. Now she is suddenly unlocked, and she is still numb and at a loss.

During these two months, he always deliberately led her to learn to understand her own heart, sometimes persecuting, sometimes coaxing, just to let her speak frankly about her feelings and desires.

Now, she has finally recovered a little bit, becoming vivid, flesh and blood, complete, and even responding to his feelings...

Even if it was just a sentence of "can't let go", it made him feel shocked and realized that his thoughts were not in vain.

So, is she taking the initiative to take a step towards him, right?

While stroking her back, he recalled many previous situations in his mind, and suddenly he held his breath as if he was thinking of something, and asked in a deep voice, "Aning, you are eager to let me reverse the case for your father. , Just said that?"

At the beginning of the Feishuang Temple, he once said that she should take the initiative to leave the prince and come to him.

Chu Ning leaned in his arms and was silent for a moment. Only when his heart was about to sink a little before flying to the cloud, did he gently shook his head: "No, it's the truth."

"Your Majesty's good, these days, I have seen it in my eyes, and naturally believe in your Majesty's life, father's matter, I am not in a hurry."

He felt relieved immediately.

"I will help you in this matter, not only for you, but also for myself." After thinking about it, he still said what was in his heart, "The condition that I gave you at the beginning was that I was selfish."

Chu Ning heard the words, the original anxiety disappeared, looked at him in surprise, and asked: "What does your Majesty mean?"

She thought for a while, and suddenly remembered the details of the past, and couldn't help but guess: "Does your majesty have confirmed my father in the past?"

"Yes." Xiao Kezhi let go of her a little bit, and slowly sat up straight with a solemn expression, "I can't say that I have any friendship with your father, but he did help me."

At the beginning, he managed to escape from the iron hoof of the Beirong people, and after walking back to the government office of Ganzhou on foot, he fell ill and stayed in bed for three months before finally regaining his spirit.

At that time, the guards close to him had all lost their lives. He was in Ganzhou alone and finally became a lonely and helpless person.

The local officials in Ganzhou were so indifferent to him, even if he let him live, they still ignored him.

The Beirong people suddenly attacked. Although they looted and killed many people, they left after only a few days. When the news was reported to Chang'an, the court received no response, and it seemed that it didn't care about the safety of the people on the frontier.

When he was frustrated, he received a letter written by Chu Qianyu, who had only been promoted to Zhong Shuling.

The letter was short, just asking him how the King Qin was doing in the frontier. I thought it was because the previous memo reported to Chang'an didn't mention his situation, so Chu Qianyu sent a letter to inquire.

He felt that he had mixed feelings, and he didn't expect anyone in the court to remember him. Even before that, he had never said a word with the new prime minister.

He has not been cared for in this way for a long time. Even if it is just a few short text messages, he has written several papers in reply. To vent, he usually writes down all the depressing experiences of that period, and there is no lack of complaints and dissatisfaction. .

However, it was not until the letter had been sent that he gradually withdrew from the painful emotions that he realized that his actions were inappropriate. If the other party is a person with intentions, sending his letter to the mother's back will surely cause catastrophe. At that time, the mother's hard work before her death will be in vain?

Anxious and uneasy for three months, Chang'an did not hear the queen mother furious, but another reply was delivered to him.

The handwriting is still strong, concise and concise, but between the lines, there are mostly words of encouragement and encouragement to him. The end of the letter even more earnestly pointed out that Chang'an is a place of right and wrong. For him, a concubine who has lost his mother and has no power, it is no different from Longtan Tiger Cave. If you really want to get rid of the current predicament, you might as well start from the nearest place now. , I must know that "misfortunes depend on the blessings", how can he know that his sufferings in the northwestern frontier will not accomplish his future achievements?

"At that time, I was only a fifteen-year-old boy. No one had ever spoken to me like this. Even my mother was just to persuade me to stay away from disputes. It is enough to spend the rest of my life in this life."

When Xiao Kezhi talked about what happened at that time, his eyes filled with emotion and gratitude: "It was your father's advice that allowed me to gradually understand that my unwillingness and desire should be transformed into accumulated power. The remote northwestern border, also It's not useless. Later, when I quietly returned to Chang'an, I would always take a look at your father's situation in secret. I have always respected him very much."

He once saw Chu Qianyu taking his daughter out for an outing from a distance in Chang'an City.

The little girl smiled innocently, holding her father in one hand, and the sugar man in the other, walking through the lively street market, pointing to the new stuff on the street and saying something, as if he was in the Tai Chi Palace when he was young. The most exquisite porcelain doll I have ever seen.

In his heart, she should be so carefree and laughing wantonly.

"Aning, if you didn't have your father, there wouldn't be who I am today, so no matter what, I will always give him justice."

He held her cheeks in both hands, his eyes were calm and firm, and he said word by word.

After listening to Chu Ning, he felt complicated in his heart and shook his head: "Father's words are nothing but heartfelt words. In the final analysis, everything today is due to your majesty himself. I am very grateful that your majesty can remember my father."

"Don't worry, after the Zhao family and the prince are dealt with, I will reverse the case for your father. Not only this matter, but your other relatives, I will also protect it." He rubbed her hair with a firm tone. "I don't need your gratitude, as long as you can live with peace of mind like then."

Thinking of the time when he lived with his father in the past, Chu Ning's eyes suddenly became sore, but when he met his sincere gaze, the thousands of words in his heart turned into a short word.

"it is good."

…

In the morning of the second day, before dawn, Liu Kang was already waiting quietly for his return to the truth.

The emperor did not return to the Ganlu Temple overnight, and was still watching, but within a little half an hour, the servants of the palace servants who watched the night had to change people, coming and going, if they bump into it, they will attract criticism.

At this time, he even wanted to break in immediately, awaken the emperor who was addicted to Gentle Township, and bring it back to Ganlu Palace.

When I was feeling a little overwhelmed, the small side door beside him finally opened with a "squeak". Xiao Kezhi walked out quickly, closed the door again, and said, "Okay, it's not early. Let's go back."

Liu Kang breathed a sigh of relief and didn't dare to complain. He could only wipe his forehead covered with cold sweat, and walked behind him.

"Everyone, there was someone coming in and out of the East Palace last night. That person pretended to be a guard. He was waiting near the gate as soon as he left. I'm afraid he is going out of the city." He recalled the news he had received two hours ago and walked. Return in a low voice.

Xiao Kezhi made a faint "Well", and almost didn't need to ask more to guess that this person must have been sent from Zhao Lun from Bozhou to hand over the situation to Xiao Yu privately.

He raised his head and glanced at the starry sky that was dimmed by a ray of morning light in the sky, thinking about the news sent by Jin Jiang's men a few days ago.

The three big clans of Banzhou selected last time have been carefully inspected. After thinking about it, he chose an official named Wang Su as his successor.

Wang Su is a person from Bozhou. During these years as an official, he has stayed in Yuezhou for several years. Most of his positions are related to military and political affairs. He is upright and has a lot of achievements. He is able to take on the important task of guarding the frontier.

Seeing that there is more than one month left, it will be the wedding ceremony between the prince and Zhao Erniang. It's time to make a move.

He didn't care how Xiao Yu wanted to prepare and arrange, because he would never have any chance of realization.

Back at the Ganlu Temple, he did not rush to change clothes and eat, but first went to the bookcase and quickly wrote two secret letters, sealed them with his own hands, and then summoned Jin Jiang into the hall and said: "Go to Bozhou yourself. Give these two letters to Wang Su and the governor of Bozhou, so that they can act as soon as possible according to the arrangements here. Remember, don't disturb others."

Jin Jiang's expression was solemn. After listening to them, he put the letter close to his body, and immediately after saluting, he hurried out of the hall and hurriedly left before the meeting.

The sky was getting brighter, and the palace servants and servants everywhere began to move, and the originally quiet and cold Ganlu Temple also gradually returned to life.

Liu Kang brought a few people in with a hot breakfast. After putting them on the food table one by one, he smiled and said, "Everyone, it's time for breakfast."

Xiao Kezhi picked up the bowl of soup cakes and drank the soup, feeling satisfied and content, but as if thinking of something, he whispered: "Let’s let someone go to Chuzhou."

Liu Kang was stunned for a moment before remembering, and he couldn't help asking, "Do you want to bring the two young lords of the Chu family back to Chang'an?"

"Wait a little longer, just watch over it in secret." He used a warm mutton biscuits, "Bring them back in a month."

"Here."

Liu Kang understood that he was already ready to go, and he didn't plan to pretend to be with the prince anymore. Unfortunately, the prince was still unconscious and was always kept in the dark.

It seems that the East Palace will really change soon.

After finishing the meal, the waiter came in with water, asked him to rinse his mouth first, then put on his regular clothes for the meeting, and re-tied his hair crown.

Everything was ready, Xiao Kezhi stood up and stepped out of the Ganlu Hall refreshingly, heading to the Taiji Hall.

It’s already a bit hot in April, and even the early morning sun can make people feel unbearable.

Somehow, he always felt that something was missing. After walking out for a while, he frowned and said, "I will send you a bowl of iced cherry cream later."

The weather in late spring and early summer should match such sweet and sour things.

"Give some to Gui Zhen Guan."