The Gilded Cage

As May is approaching, the wedding ceremony in the East Palace is approaching day by day, the Ritual Department and Zongzheng Temple are getting busier, but new news comes from the northwestern frontier.

According to a memorandum sent back by General Liu Jiping, who was stationed in Ganzhou, the Beirong people, who had been calm for more than a year, had recently quietly assembled a few tribal young men and passed by several villages and towns after a day or two. It's quite eager to move.

If it were in the past, such news would not be delivered directly to Tianping, even if it was reported to Chang'an, it would not have attracted much attention. After all, Bei Rong lives in a place of bitter cold. The looting every year is for subsistence and rarely causes major disturbances.

It's just that the current Emperor Xiao Kezhi has a very close relationship with the Ganzhou Army, which makes everyone concerned about Ganzhou's affairs.

A few people advocated that the Ganzhou Army should be put into a state of war preparation immediately, and if necessary, they could even take the initiative to seize the opportunity.

Many courtiers also thought that they should not be taken lightly in the face of Beirong's strong cavalry. Today’s Ganzhou Army is different from what it was a year ago. A full 40,000 people were stationed around Gyeonggi by Xiao Kezhi. Only 80,000 people stayed in Ganzhou. Can they build copper walls and iron walls on the border as they did in the past? Not yet known. Once force is actually used, the 40,000 garrisoned in Gyeonggi will probably have to be mobilized.

However, the few people who were in the main battle said that now the territory of Daliang is stable and stable, and there will be no major changes in a short period of time. The 40,000 people were originally transferred from Ganzhou. If they were transferred again, it would be reasonable.

In this way, the two sides discussed for many days without a conclusion.

Xiao Kezhi was noncommittal and only sent people to the northwest to send a letter to Liu Jiping temporarily. However, if the opponent provokes him, he does not need to ask the court for instructions and send his troops immediately.

He didn't seem to have even considered whether the 80,000 people in the northwest would not be able to cope with the mighty northern cavalry.

Upon seeing this, the courtiers understood that the emperor should have done something in his heart, and gradually stopped talking.

Now that the Qi family has completely reduced its edge, the officials in the DPRK have gone through several rectifications, and most of them dare not to be too selfish. When discussing matters, they mostly consider the overall situation. There are few acts of forming parties for profit. , And no one dares to underestimate the authority of the emperor.

In the view of Guizhen, Chu Ning could still see Xiao Kezhi after a day or two.

At first, when she heard about the Northwest incident, she was still a little worried. It can be seen that he has always been calm as usual, and there is no sadness between his eyebrows, and she has gradually relieved.

As the weather gets hotter, the green waves in the pond gradually grow a lot of graceful lotus, or budding, or delicate and dripping, one branch stands with pavilions, swaying in the wind, and the cold frosty white is dyed with a layer of light powder. , Add a touch of coolness and comfort under the scorching sun.

In the afternoon, Chu Ning moved two couches with Cuihe and sat in the shade next to the Linhu Hall, enjoying the lotus while cooking tea.

Zheng felt comfortable and leisurely, but Cuihe suddenly pulled her sleeve and gestured in the direction of the corridor not far away.

"Lady, look..."

Chu Ning divided the freshly brewed tea soup into two cups. Hearing that, he raised his head and looked at her. He saw Xiao Yu standing alone by the corridor, looking at this place intently.

He was still wearing a red shirt and a single coat with gold belt hooks, but he seemed to be thinner than before. His expressionless face rarely showed a gloomy look in the Tai Chi Palace. Looking from a distance, people dare not approach.

"Miss, do we want to leave here?" Cuihe was still a little afraid of Xiao Yu, and when he saw him nearby, he was subconsciously nervous.

Chu Ning stared at him from a distance for a moment, silently averted his gaze, took a deep breath, and shook his head: "No, this is Tai Chi Palace, not the East Palace." As he said, he took another sip of tea, "Besides, there are many nearby. He doesn't do anything for the palace people who come and go."

He cares most about face and reputation, and his wedding is approaching, so he will never go wrong at this time.

Hearing this, Cuihe quickly looked to the two sides, and saw that several palace people were passing by on the road, and he was relieved. It's just that someone has noticed Xiao Yu's existence, and it makes people uneasy to look here from time to time.

Fortunately, Chu Ning was very calm, sipping tea and appreciating lotus meticulously, and didn't give Xiao Yu half a glance, which made her slowly relax.

Xiao Yu, as expected by Chu Ning, only stood by the corridor for a moment, then turned and left with a gloomy face.

He came here today only by accident.

After explaining his official duties in the Hanlin Academy, he thought of the upcoming wedding ceremony in his mind. When he passed through the devotion gate of the Houyuan, the ghost turned around, looking for the direction of returning to the true view.

He can't tell exactly what he wants to do, and if he really goes beyond the view of returning to the truth, he probably won't go in either.

But beside the lotus pond outside Linhu Temple, he saw the familiar figure at once.

She was in the shade of the tree, wearing a robes and a yellow crown, smiling and talking with the maid making tea. Compared with the previous days in the East Palace, this dress is too simple, but somehow she looks more agile and relaxed than before, as if she was relieved of the burden.

Suddenly an inexplicable displeasure surged in his heart, as if he felt that after she left the East Palace, she was living better than before.

Could it be that for her, the monotonous and tedious life trapped in Taoist temples is better than the rich clothes and good food in the East Palace in the past?

He didn't believe it, and soon, he wanted to prove to her that she was wrong.

...

A few days later, it was the second day of May, the wedding ceremony of Prince Xiao Yu and Zhao Yu'e.

The night before, Xiao Kezhi still stayed in the Guizhen view. Before dawn, he got up and left.

A crescent moon in the sky is dimmed, and the morning light in the sky is gradually blurring, bringing a bit of heat to the earth.

By the courtyard gate, his tall figure stopped, turned around, and dropped a gentle kiss on the side of Chu Ning's long hair that fell like a waterfall.

"I will be back at night."

Chu Ning stood by the door, looked up at his bright eyes, and nodded gently: "I am waiting for your majesty."

A few days ago, Xiao Kezhi had already made an decree, and today the prince’s wedding ceremony will stop the day.

Therefore, the government office is empty. From the East Palace to the Taiji Palace, and even the nobles in the Chang'an City, they all prepared early, and waited in the Taiji Palace first. After the prince worshipped the emperor and the queen mother, he went to the Zhao family residence to welcome him. ceremony.

It was evening, the daylight was dim, and candles were lit all around, illuminating the wide streets and open porches as bright as day.

Xiao Yu served Gunmian, dressed in black clothes, and under the gaze of everyone, he was led by the ceremonial officer to get off his horse and came to the door of Zhao's residence.

This is not the first time he has been married. Although he has a gentle smile on his face, he does not have the slightest joy in his heart. The strings in his mind are even tighter, making him feel tired and tormented. He can only continue to In my heart, I hinted that after today, I will leave Chang'an, and then everything will turn for the better.

The host waiting in the door has hurriedly greeted him and invited him in.

Zhao Yu'e's father is dead, and his elder brother Zhao Lun also stayed in Bozhou and did not return. Therefore, the master today is the two cousins ​​of the Zhao clan who have a closer relationship with this brother and sister.

Xiao Yu came back to his senses, took the big goose handed by the animal stalker, and stepped into the door surrounded by the crowd. After kneeling down to the north, he walked towards the east house.

In the east room, Zhao Yu'e has been waiting for a long time.

She wears a long hairpin that can only be worn by the princess, and she also has rich makeup on her face, which is especially dazzling under the candlelight. Seeing the prince coming from a distance, she straightened her back and showed a satisfied and ambitious smile.

She is now the woman with the highest status in Chang'an City except for the Queen Mother, and she will have more in the future.

In the sound of ritual music, Xiao Yu came to the bottom of the stairs and stretched out his hand at her.

The smile on her face deepened, and she gently stretched out her hand in full view, put it in his palm, and walked closer under his support.

But before she could stand still, he had let go of his hand, turned quickly, and walked outside with a smile.

Zhao Yu'e was stunned, not caring about his intentional alienation, and calmly followed him out of the mansion, boarded the carriage, and headed towards the East Palace.

The feast in the East Palace was ready, and even Xiao Kezhi arrived. After leading the crowd to their seats, they watched the two perform the same prison ceremony under the auspices of the ceremonial officer.

A countless amount of light fell on Xiao Yu, and then quietly swept across Xiao Kezhi's body, as if guessing how delicate the relationship between this pair of uncles and nephews is now.

When the ceremony was over, the waiters came in with wine and delicacies, and the singing and dancing of the Jiaofang Division also sounded from under the high stage.

Xiao Kezhi glanced at the sky that had completely dimmed, and smiled and raised his glass to Xiao Yu, as if he had encountered something that made him particularly happy, unlike the usual coldness and solemnity.

"Is the prince happy for the newly married today?"

Xiao Yu looked at his smiling face with a twist in his heart. But because of the inevitable gazes around, I had to cheer up and reluctantly smiled and agreed: "The minister is newly married, naturally, he is happy."

As he said, he raised the wine glass in his hand and drank with his head up.

"Okay!" Xiao Kezhi patted him on the shoulder and laughed heartily, "It's good to be happy, it's not worth my accomplishment. I am as happy as you today."

He put down the empty glass in his hand and glanced at the crowd with a smile.

It was clearly the prince's wedding ceremony, but the smile on his face made people almost mistakenly think that the person who got married should be him.

When the others saw this, they got up together, toasted the emperor and the prince, and drank several cups in a row, until Xiao Yu paled because of drinking too quickly, and then paused for a while.

"Okay, I won't stay too much, lest Zhu Qing be frustrated. Let go of the best days." He turned around and patted Xiao Yu's shoulder again, with deep meaning, "You too, enjoy this day , There will be no more."

After that, he ignored Xiao Yu's uncontrollable frown, and amidst the salutes of the crowd, he left the East Palace with the attendants and returned to the Taiji Palace.

On the wide palace road, several servants followed the imperial court and walked with lanterns. When they arrived near the Ganlu Temple, they did not stop at all, but continued to go west.

The west side is where the Guizhen view is located.

There were more and more surprised eyes and surprised discussions along the way.

"It's already night, where are you going, saint? That's—"

"Guizhenguan?! Then, isn't that the place for women's crowns to practice..."

"Yes, some of the ladies in it are all older...only the Chu lady who has just entered..."

"Madame Chu! She, she is the niece of the sage!"

"It's not anymore. There are new princesses in the East Palace."

...

This time, Xiao Kezhi no longer concealed his deeds, let alone avoiding the gazes of palace servants and servants along the way.