The Gilded Cage

Only Chu Ning and Zhao Yu'e remained in the Hall of Two Instruments.

Zhao Yu'e slowly straightened up and looked at her with a different color. After a long while, he sneered and said: "The lady really teaches people to look at each other with admiration."

She used to think that the Chu family only relied on beauty and good manners to be a princess for two years under the protection of the prince. Even when she was abandoned by her husband, she was still willing and without complaints. She was a weak and incompetent woman.

However, today, this useless woman suddenly appeared next to the emperor.

You know, she has spent a lot of thoughts before, but she has not been able to get the slightest favor of the emperor, and then she has to make a desperate move and turn her attention to the prince. It turned out that the emperor was not as indifferent and ruthless on the surface, but he had something else to do.

However, I don't know for what purpose the emperor's favor to the Chu family was for pure affection or just to make the prince dissatisfied.

She didn't bother to speculate for a while, but realized that even if she became a princess now, the status of the Chu family was still above her, and she was suddenly a little unhappy.

She is also a daughter of a family. One is still aloof even though the family has fallen, but the other is always overwhelmed by others. This world is so unfair.

Chu Ning heard the weird yin and yang in her tone, and didn't feel angry, but said lightly at her: "Well, although I am now your elder, there is nothing to teach you. I only hope that you will sit as the prince concubine today. Don’t regret your position in the future."

Zhao Yu'e's face changed, as if she felt she was mocking herself, and immediately said coldly: "Lao Niangzi cares, but I am different from Niangzi and will not be at the mercy of others."

After speaking, he didn't stay much, and then turned and left after saluting.

Chu Ning calmly looked at her leaving back, sighed lightly, got up again and returned to the nectar hall, and had breakfast with Cuihe.

...

In the Taiji Hall, the officials have arrived.

Xiao Kezhi took the prince into the hall, boarded the throne, and completed the final ceremony with the ceremonial officer, announcing that the prince’s appointment ceremony was completed and accepting congratulations from everyone.

When everything was over, when everyone was about to retreat, he stopped by saying: "Well, wait a minute, every prince, taking advantage of the wedding ceremony in the East Palace today, the prince and princess also enter the palace to meet, and I have one more thing to announce to the princes. ."

The officials retreated and couldn't help looking at each other in twos and threes. When they saw the doubts in the eyes of others, they had to suppress the suspicion in their hearts and returned to their positions, waiting for the emperor's next words.

Xiao Yu was the only one who froze abruptly after hearing these words. He couldn't help but raised his head in anger and stared at Xiao Kezhi on the throne, and his left hand under the cuff couldn't help shaking slightly. At this time, he couldn't think of anything other than the matter to be announced.

Sure enough, after the hall returned to quiet, Xiao Kezhi's eyes swept across the faces of the officials, and his voice said with majesty: "Before, Zhu Qing repeatedly mentioned that I have passed the age of a weak crown, and I should have a family and a family. I thought for a long time. I think so, and I feel even more sincere and sincere, and I am determined to set up a queen immediately. Now, the imperial court has made a plan, and it will be announced to the world in the afternoon."

Everyone was quiet, completely unexpected that the emperor would stand up so without warning, and they hadn't even heard of who the queen was.

One of them hesitated and asked first: "Dare to ask your Majesty, which lady do you want to be your queen?"

Xiao Yu under the stairs became even more rigid, and his pale face lowered. The others also stopped and waited with bated breath.

Just listen to Xiao Kezhi's indifferent words: "I want to make the Chu family lady the queen."

"The Chu Family?"

"Which Chu family?"

"Could it be the one who practiced in Guanli?!"

Everyone thought about it. The courtiers in the court surnamed Chu had long been implicated in Chu Qianyu’s case, or were dismissed or dismissed. The emperor’s "Chu family lady" was only the one who entered the palace after leaving the East Palace. The Chu family who returned to the true view.

That one, but the former princess, is the emperor's nephew!

Xiao Kezhi looked at all his officials with suspicion and nodded affirmatively: "Yes, it is indeed the Chu lady."

When the voice fell, there was an uproar in the hall. Dozens of courtiers looked in the direction of the silent Xiao Yu and saw him lowered their heads, and then looked back and forth between the uncle and nephew with their eyes.

"Your Majesty, the Chu family is the daughter of criminal officials. She was once--and also the crown of Taoism. It is against the norms. I am afraid it is not suitable to be a queen..."

"Yes, I'm afraid that this matter will arouse people's discussion, please think twice!"

...

Several courtiers remonstrated one after another, causing everyone to agree.

What the courtiers meant, Xiao Ke had long anticipated, and listened patiently at this time, not at all flustered by such a one-sided scene.

When everyone's words stopped temporarily, he nodded and said: "I understand what the Qings mean, but, in the end, it is my marriage, and the one in my heart is the Chu family. Besides, I know that you all cared about her. She is the crown prince, her identity is somewhat sensitive. But now she is not a female family member of the East Palace, but the female crown of the Taoist gate. The female crown is back to the commonplace. It is not uncommon for the people to marry a child, and even the royal family."

As he said, he suddenly stopped talking and turned his gaze to Xiao Yu, who didn't say a word: "And the prince has married another now, and has no affiliation with the Chu family anymore. Prince, am I right?"

Xiao Yu stood there stiffly, only to feel that the gazes from all directions seemed like cold arrows pierced on him, making his breath tremble.

But under the eyes of everyone, he could not vent the pain and anger accumulated in his heart. He could only pinch his fingertips, clenched his teeth, bowed and lowered his head, concealing his twisted face, and said warmly: "Your Majesty said so."

Qunchen was speechless for a while.

I don't know who suddenly said in a low voice: "Your Majesty has always been innocent, and it is reasonable to be like today. It is better than always hanging back, continue, continue as before..."

Yes, the emperor is decisive in political affairs, but in matters of men and women, it is not a day or two. The Chu family has left the East Palace anyway and can barely be regarded as a woman of innocent origin. It is better than the previously rumored married couple. Dancing girl and others...

After thinking about it, everyone felt that it was not as unacceptable as it was at the beginning, and even the voice of the discussion gradually became quieter.

When Xiao Kezhi saw this, he knew that the matter was here, and it was basically settled. For the rest, they liked to talk, so they talked about it for the time being. As time goes by, it will always pass.

"Well, that's the end of today's ritual. You guys step back. If you have political affairs to play, stay for a while and then discuss." He said solemnly and waved at everyone.

The courtiers hesitated for a moment, then bowed to salute, and stepped back. Only a dozen officials from the Ministry of Education and the Sixth Ministry were in the palace, and they wanted to continue discussing political affairs.

...

In the Temple of Ganlu, after Chu Ning had breakfast, he took Cuihe and the other two maids from the Temple of Ganlu to return to Zhenzhen.

She didn't use her footsteps, but instead brought a hat to block the scorching sun above her head, and enjoyed the scenery as she walked all the way.

In the previous few months in Guizhen View, although she was not restrained, she only walked around one or two nearby palaces. Today, she came out, always take a good look at the scenery along the way.

Many of the attendants passing by on the road have not heard of the changes during the night, but saw the two imperial maids present, each of them stared wide, hesitantly saluting, and looked at her back for a long while. , Just talking about leaving.

Chu Ning was accustomed to such attention, and nodded at them with a smile, and continued walking without a hassle.

When it was in the Guizhen Temple, he took off the hat and watched a few people pack her things.

Dozens of colorful dresses and dresses in various styles in the cabinet have not been worn, and the dazzling array of jewelry in the makeup has never been touched.

She subconsciously stroked the red jade bracelet that she was still wearing on her wrist, and then looked down at the red dress on her body.

So many clothing and jewelry can not be prepared in a day or two. When did he ask someone to do these things for her? Two months ago, or three months ago?

His mind had been understood a long time ago.

"Still keep these as they are and send them to my bedroom." She pointed to the clothes and jewelry that Xiao Kezhi had prepared for her, and ordered the maid who was packing.

Several people responded "Here" and put the cage alone.

She didn't have many things, mostly clothes and other things, and other daily utensils didn't have to be taken away, so it was just half an hour before she had arranged them properly.

She asked the imperial maid to take the box away in a car first, and she continued to walk slowly with Cuihe.

The speed of rumors spreading is always extremely fast. After only half an hour, the attendants who met again seemed to have known the change of her identity, and the gestures and tone of salute were several times respectful.

Cuihe was a little uncomfortable, but Chu Ning was calm. She thought that everyone's heart is like this, so there is no need to be demanding. Now that he is out, he can be more relaxed and relaxed, and he can relax.

"Let's go to Linhu Hall and have a look."

She loved the lotus pond in Linhu Temple for ten minutes, and she wanted to go in and have a look when she passed by today.

Compared with a few days ago, there are more pink and white flowers in full bloom in the lotus pond, one by one standing high on the ground, swinging in the wind, under the scorching sun, there is still a bit of tranquility and elegance, which is involuntary. Follow the irritability in my heart and calm down.

Her preference for Lian originated from her mother who died young.

There is the word "Lian" in her mother's boudoir name, and her favorite flower during her lifetime is also a lotus. Father always said that as long as he sees Lian, he can think of his mother.

She can't remember her mother's appearance, she can only feel the tenderness and care that belongs to her mother in a few fragments of her memory.

Chu Ning looked at him in the pavilion, feeling a little in a daze, but suddenly felt a burst of discomfort, and the feeling of being like a man on his back came from behind.

Her heart tightened, and she turned around subconsciously, and she saw Xiao Yu standing silently a few feet outside the pavilion.

His pale face was still thin and gloomy even under the scorching sun, and a pair of gloomy eyes were staring at her on his thin cheeks.

She was a little bit cold, but she still straightened her back. Standing in the pavilion, looking at him under the steps, she asked faintly: "At this time, if the prince doesn't go to the government office, how can she stay in the backyard of the palace?"

Apart from Cuiwei, there is no one else around, but her tone of voice is no longer the gentle and obedient of the past. It fell in his ears, like a cold knife frozen in a layer of ice in winter, and like a torch ruthlessly thrown into lamp oil. While making his heart cold and painful, a flame of anger rose up.

"I never dreamed that there would be such a day-Aning, why on earth would you betray me?"