The Gilded Cage

Due to Xiao Yu's active confession, the truth of an old case that had been discussed and suspected for three years was quickly revealed.

Not only the government and the public were shocked, but even the people in the public were talking about it.

The dignified prince of the Eastern Palace actually had the heart to kill his father and the king. In order to cover up all this, he did not hesitate to frame the loyal and honest courtiers. What is more absurd is that afterwards, he married the other party’s daughter casually, and even got the righteousness because of it. good reputation!

While everyone was stunned and contemptuous, they felt a little sympathy for the princess in the past and the queen now, but they diluted the ambiguous speculation in the past.

Beautiful and beautiful women from famous families are already eye-catching, but with so many fate, they have become more and more the object of discussion among the people after dinner.

After the Sansi case was concluded, Xiao Kezhi personally reviewed the case files, not only allowed Chu Qianyu to restore his innocence, but also, in accordance with the usual practice, called him the country's lord and his wife as the country's wife.

As a queen, Chu Ning finally ceased to be the daughter of a criminal minister, but returned to being a noble woman in the past, and her identity no longer needs to be criticized.

In prison, Xiao Yu had committed many crimes and was punished for several crimes. Naturally, he could not save his life, and soon he would be questioned and executed. However, he was already weak and sickly, and now he was so desperate. Before waiting for the execution day, he could not hold it up at night, vomiting blood and died.

Xu Rong on the other side seemed to feel something, and two days later, he also whimpered in the cell.

According to the jailer in the prison, he was old and physically weak. It was in the dead of night when he was lying on the low couch in the prison and died of breath. When he found out the next day, he was completely cold, and his clothes were neat and tidy. The hair crown is not messy, just as it was before his death.

As for Zhao Yu'e, Nian first pleaded guilty at the last moment. During the interrogation, he explained very clearly. In the end, he was not convicted of capital punishment, only degrading his status and sentenced to exile and labor. The same goes for his brother Zhao Lun.

When the news reached Tai Chi Palace, Chu Ning sighed for a while, but his heart slowly eased.

"It's all over." She smiled at Cuihe, and the two moved towards the sixth round together.

Over the past few days, she has roughly read through the archives of the sixth innings, and has also called the female officials to ask questions. She has gradually become familiar with the general affairs of the palace, and she has become more and more comfortable with it.

Now it’s the beginning of the month. Seeing that the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, there will be a banquet in the palace, and there are a lot more things. She presides over it personally, and the day is always very busy.

Since knowing the truth, she had fantasized in her mind countless times, but what would happen to her wish one day. Maybe weep bitterly, maybe laugh happily, maybe still calm.

But at this time, it was unexpected. In addition to comfort, it was more of a loss.

Fortunately, she has re-found the focus of life and will not lose her way because of the fulfillment of her wish.

"Yes." Cuihe followed her, straightened her back, showing a relaxed smile, and said heartily, "His Royal Highness just look forward."

The two went to Ye Ting Palace to check, asked some questions, and checked the progress of the banquet preparations. It was not until the evening that they finished processing various affairs and returned to the Ganlu Temple.

When passing by the place where the handymen and maids worked, Chu Ning kept an eye on it, stopped specifically, and asked a few more questions.

"Who is in charge of the maids here? How many people are there? What are the daily arrangements?"

The female officer in charge hurriedly stepped forward and answered one by one, explaining things in a simple and clear manner. In the end, she was afraid that something might happen, and asked: "His Royal Highness has orders?"

Chu Ning smiled and shook his head: "But I suddenly remembered something, so I just asked casually."

After that, she went in and took a look specially, and selected a few people to come over and ask a few words, and then left after knowing what to do.

Cuihe didn't know, so when he arrived at the Ganlu Temple, he asked: "His Royal Highness is suddenly concerned about the court ladies in Yeting, but what are your plans?"

Chu Ning changed the dress she was wearing outside, wiped her face with a towel, drank tea and nodded, and said: "Yes, I heard from my aunt before that she wanted to read and read at home, but she never had the opportunity to do so today. I want to go in and have a look."

She knew that the women of commoner origin entered the palace as palace maids, and they were totally inferior to the women of the official family. They could read and read and were promoted to women officials, but their talents were not necessarily inferior to others, but they lacked an opportunity.

"Among them, they should be like the first dowagers. They have the heart to go to school, but are trapped by their origins. After asking those few, one said that they are willing to learn arithmetic. I think, if you have the opportunity, you should help. They can also choose more talents for the palace."

Cuihe didn't expect that this was what she was thinking about: "His Royal Highness can think so, naturally it is good!"

She herself was a slave. Because she was born in the Chu family, she had the opportunity to read and read. The governor was polite and lived better than ordinary people’s homes. Facing other civilian women, she naturally hoped that they would have the opportunity to see a wider range of things. world.

"I will mention it to your Majesty tonight." Chu Ning has had this idea for a long time. Now that the case is over, it's time to do something. "Cuihe, the female officials of the Sixth Bureau have their own duties. If I want to To do this, it is necessary to open a school for maids in the palace to teach them literacy, arithmetic, female celebrities, etc., and someone needs to be responsible. Are you willing to take on this role?"

She and Cuihe have been with each other for many years, and they know each other's temperament more clearly. She knows that Cuihe is a person with strong opinions and courage. If Cuihe is an ordinary handmaid for a lifetime, although Cuihe will not be unwilling, but she will feel guilty. Now that she has the opportunity, she can just teach Cuihe to do something. .

Cuihe was stunned for a moment. After looking at her for a moment, he nodded hesitantly: "I-the slave and maid are naturally willing, and I will never disappoint His Highness's trust!"

She understood that this was an opportunity for herself, and at the same time she was delighted, she also felt a long way to go.

...

At night, after Xiao Kezhi inspected from outside the city, it was too early to rush back to the Ganlu Temple.

Chu Ning had eaten dinner, but the fireside was still warming the flax cake and mutton soup that he gave him. When he saw him back, he was put on the dining table, and he personally went to take off his robe and handed him a hand towel. Go over and wipe his face.

He smiled and took it easily, wiping it, and couldn't help but kiss her twice.

Chu Ning smiled and touched his stubble chin, and shrank his head and pushed him: "It hurts me!"

Not only did he not back away when he heard the words, but instead he rubbed her neck intensified, and said in a low voice: "But it has grown out after two days of repairing. Aning helps me take care of it, okay?"

Chu Ning pulled him to sit at the food table and let him eat first: "Okay, in a while, I will take care of your majesty."

Upon hearing this, he chewed the flax cake faster, but for a moment, he swallowed two cakes into his belly with soup.

The waiter had prepared the knife, towel, hot water, etc., Chu Ning simply let him lie down on his back, put it on his lap, first moisten the towel with hot water, and warm and soften the beard on his chin. Scrape it carefully with a knife little by little.

Where the knife passed, the green stubble that emerged one after another was taken away and restored to level.

Xiao Kezhi's heart was filled with comfort and contentment. Although lying on his back, he refused to close his eyes. He stared straight at Chuning's focused and careful face, and couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips.

"Don't move!" Chu Ning was startled, and the knife in his hand was hurriedly moved away, for fear of cutting his cheek, "almost hit it."

Only then did Xiao Kezhi return to his senses, and tried to squeeze his face and let her handle it cleanly.

It's strange that he used to be an unsmiling person, but when he was in front of her, he seemed to have removed some disguise, and he could not help showing a relaxed smile.

After a while, Chu Ning put down the knife, covered him with a towel, and then applied a thin layer of facial grease to complete it.

"Okay, look at your majesty, how?"

Xiao Ke Yi Gulu got up, looked around at the bronze mirror, and said with satisfaction: "Aning's craftsmanship is naturally better, better than my own!"

Chu Ning covered her lips and smiled, and raised her head proudly: "That's natural. Your Majesty is not as patient as I am."

"Yes, I should reward you for your patience..."

With that, he simply pulled her into his arms and rubbed her neck with his smooth jaw.

"Your Majesty-don't, I have something to say!" Chu Ning felt the change in his movements, giggled and avoided, "I went to Ye Ting today."

Xiao Kezhi glanced at the hour and knew that she did have something to say, and he happened to have something to say, so he stopped and asked, "What did you do?"

"I met the handyman maid there and asked a few more questions."

She also said what Mrs. Xu had said before, along with the plan in her heart.

"I want to set up a school in the palace to teach these ladies of commoner origin to read, read, and learn skills. If there are outstanding ones, they will be promoted and become maids like those of all women. Your Majesty. What do you think?"

Xiao Kezhi listened carefully. At this time, he couldn't help but sit up straight, took her hand, and said, "I think it's great. I haven't thought about this, but you are paying attention."

His impression of his mother stayed before the age of twelve. Even though he remembered that his mother seemed to love to read, he had never thought about it, but she had paid attention to it and came up with such a way.

"Now in the court, I am about to gradually promote some people of insight who come from a poor family. Although I want to learn it slowly, I have made some progress. If you can do this in the palace, it is also in line with my proposition. It’s really good to set an example for the people of the world."

As he said, his eyes were touched: "If my mother could see this matter in the Spirit of Heaven, she would definitely agree. When she was in the palace, she didn't have the opportunity to go to school. You are like this, and you can be considered for her. I am very grateful for the original wish, Aning."

She knew that he understood his intentions: "Aning wants to do his best to do something for your majesty. Now that you are a husband and wife, your majesty's mother is also my mother. Even if he is gone, I know that his majesty is still worried."

"Yes, I am thinking about it, you know..."

He sighed softly, pushed the window to see the stars in the sky, and whispered in his heart to his mother who had been dead for many years.

She reached out and hugged him lightly and pressed her face to his chest.

The two were quiet for a while, and he whispered: "I have something to say to you. Aning, on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, I plan to hold your canonization ceremony, okay?"

"Canonization ceremony?" Chu Ning was taken aback, raised his head to look at him, "Yes, but my robes and accessories are not ready yet--"

"You don't have to be busy with these. I have already asked the internal servants to do it. After two days, I can send it to you to try on." He had been thinking about it for a long time, as early as when she was connected to the Tai Chi Palace. , I already thought of this day, "That day, the Mid-Autumn Festival, was celebrated in the whole world, and then the canonization ceremony is to let the people all over the world celebrate this event. At the night banquet, there are hundreds of officials to celebrate for you."

"Besides, the Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes reunion. When we are together, we are married. We also ask for a good sign."

When Chu Ning heard him speak so well, he knew that he had already thought about it: "Then listen to your majesty, I just manage the banquet, and the rest will be handed over to your majesty."