The Gilded Cage

What Xiao Kezhi remembered was his mother who died in Tai Chi Palace many years ago.

He is the son of a court lady, not loved by his father, not accepted by his aunt, even his brothers and sisters of his age look down on him.

Only the mother loves and protects him wholeheartedly.

In order to let him live safely in the second half of her life, she devoted almost all of her efforts, even before she died, she was worried about sending him away from Longtan Tiger Den, Chang'an.

When he was young, he was grateful to his mother. But later, he grew up and matured, and when he recalled the past, he felt guilty.

When my mother was an ordinary court lady, she had a hard life, but she was carefree and ordinary and happy. But after having him, she didn't live another day for herself.

For the rest of her life, she lived for others.

He didn't think it should be like this.

Now facing the woman kneeling in front of him, he had the same idea.

He has seen too many people, who always live for others, but he has forgotten what he wanted in the first place. He didn't want her to do the same.

"Myself?"

Chu Ning knelt on the ground and repeated it lowly, a bit of confusion flashed in his eyes, and then he became firm again: "Of course I want to live. But I want to clear my father's grievances even more. For the sake of my father, I can do nothing. ."

She only thought he was testing his own determination, so she answered decisively.

But Xiao Kezhi's eyes flashed disappointment.

She is a tough girl, but because of the pressure of life, she has to put away her original innocence and brightness, until now, she seems to have lost herself.

She thought it was selfish, but in fact, she didn't know how to think for herself, fight for herself, and naturally she would not consider the emotions between men and women...

"Of course you will live." He shook his head slightly, staring at her complicatedly, "If I don't let you die, you won't die."

"Your majesty meant..." Chu Ning's eyes flashed, thinking about his words carefully, almost thinking that it meant helping her.

Xiao Kezhi closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his disappointment was gone.

He stretched his hand over the book case in front of him, and the pen tube in his hand touched her chin and lifted it slightly.

"You tell me, what is your father to do with me? If you want me to help a dead ‘sinner’, what would you give me back?"

Chu Ning met his eyes blankly, and a layer of water appeared in his eyes.

This sentence seemed to be frivolous, but it was enough to make her feel at ease, even what she dreamed of.

She bit her lower lip, slowly lowered her head, bends her waist and neck, bowed her waist and neck, bowed down on the ground respectfully, her voice trembling, but her tone was very firm: "But according to your majesty's orders."

As long as he said, she would give everything and do nothing.

Xiao Kezhi stared at the slender and white neck that she had exposed for a moment, then chuckled lightly, got up from the seat slowly, walked to her and leaned over, gently holding her shoulder with one hand, She pulled up a little bit with half support, holding her face in the other hand, making her look up at herself.

With his eyes facing each other, he said word by word: "I want you to leave him and come to me."

When the voice fell, Chu Ning did not make a sound for a long time, just staring at him blankly, unable to distinguish the feeling in his heart.

The "he" in the words naturally refers to Xiao Yu.

She had no idea that this was his request. Does he have other thoughts on her?

This idea only appeared, and it was immediately denied by her.

He is the emperor who holds the power of life and death, and she is his niece, she is a shameless, ignorant, reserved bad woman, how could he be affectionate to her?

It was not the first time that he had said this, but she couldn't believe it at all.

Falling overnight, everyone's contemptuous experience made her can't believe that there would really be someone who was kind to her for no reason, but the direct exchange made her feel more at ease.

She lowered her eyes and whispered: "As long as your Majesty has an imperial decree, Aning will definitely follow it."

Uncles and nephews, whether in the folk or in the royal family, are not tolerated by everyone. But as long as he didn't care about fame, she would never care.

"Will you be willing?"

"Willingly."

She spoke calmly, but Xiao Kezhi did not show a satisfied look.

"No," he frowned and shook his head, with some disapproval in his eyes. "You are not willing, you just confessed your fate."

This is not the "willingness" he wants. What he wants is that she can truly regard herself as a complete person, and that she can take the initiative to fight for herself.

He stretched out his hand and gently covered her heart, conveying a warm and powerful touch to her: "What I want is that you come to me willingly, not for anyone else, just for yourself."

Since she wanted to achieve the goal with each transaction that she needed, he would just follow her intentions.

Now, he can no longer escape the strange feelings in his heart for her.

He likes her, loves her, wants to have her, and wants to keep her by his side for a long time.

But he didn't want to force her, and he didn't want the relationship between the two to be so cold and clear. If he directly agrees to her, as she said, he will immediately make her and the prince reconcile, then he will become the same as the prince who married her when she fell into the quagmire, and she will have a hard time in her life. Actively approached him.

"Your Majesty, I--" Chu Ning was confused and hesitated by what he said. He wanted to ask something, but couldn't ask anything. He just felt a little sour and distended.

"Okay, it's almost time." Xiao Kezhi pulled her up, rubbed her thin shoulders and said, "It's time to send you back."

With that said, he summoned a court lady to change her clothes and hair, while he sat aside and stared at her quietly.

Quietly in the air, there were only the sound of the rubbing of fine cloth and the sound of the hairpin being picked up from several cases, and then gently bumping after being put on.

When everything was cleaned up, the maid picked up the only pair of earrings left to put on her.

The luster of gold and jade flashed before her eyes, and suddenly reminded her of an earring she had lost last time.

She turned her head to look at him, the swaying steps in her hair shining brightly, making her eyebrows picturesque and charming.

"Have your majesty ever seen an earring of Aning? It's a turquoise gilt earring, which resembles this pair."

Xiao Kezhi's heart was swayed by her appearance, and she couldn't help but let the maid step back, walk behind him personally, and leaned over to pick up the pair of earrings and put it on for her.

The earrings sway gently on the cheeks and neck, like a pair of flapping wings flying butterflies.

He couldn't help holding her waist, leaning close to her ear, and kissing along the skin behind the ear, and he couldn't help but hang around on the side of his neck. He was affectionate and gentle. He wanted to eat her as he pressed her in the temple before. The fierce appearance of the belly is completely opposite.

"That earring, I put it away." He returned to her ear and kissed her auricle lightly, causing her to tremble slightly.

"I have not only your earrings here, but also your veil, your robes..."

Chu Ning suddenly remembered the situation of the previous few times when he said that, his cheeks were hot, and his head shrank.

He reluctantly chased after him, found her lips and kissed little by little, until the water came out in her eyes again, and then slowly let go.

"Your Majesty, Aning should go now." She panted and pushed him away, stood up with her back to him, and straightened out her slightly wrinkled dress before going out.

Xiao Kezhi didn't stop her either, just stood up straight, followed her to the door, and stopped.

The snow outside the hall had fallen for an entire hour, and a thick layer had accumulated on the ground. The door was swept by the waiter, leaving a path, but the falling snow quickly covered it with a thin layer of frost.

Stepping stopped not far below the steps, Chu Ning wore a drapery hat and stepped cautiously in the snow for fear of slipping.

Xiao Kezhi watched for a moment, then suddenly stepped out of the threshold and directly hugged her up. Regardless of the thin robes and silk shoes on his body, he walked to the front of the footsteps and sent her to the seat to sit down.

"Everyone! Beware of the cold!" Liu Kang was startled, staring straight at his wet silk shoes, wishing him to step on the two heaters underneath immediately.

Xiao Kezhi laughed heartily and waved his hand: "The wind and snow in Ganzhou are much larger than in Chang'an. When I was twelve years old, I was able to walk in the snow for two days and two nights with only an ordinary cotton coat. This is today. What is snow afraid of?"

Liu Kang trembled and tried to persuade him to come back quickly, but he closed his words to his lips. Instead, those big eyes turned to Chu Ning, who was sitting on the steps, and kept beckoning her to persuade him.

It was Chu Ning who wore a drapery hat and couldn't block his urgent sight.

She lifted the tulle under the brim of her hat, watching Xiao Kezhi standing in the snow, and whispered: "Your Majesty, go back, it's strangely cold outside."

Xiao Kezhi suddenly smiled, staring at her with black eyes for a moment, and then slowly retreated to the steps and under the eaves.

Liu Kang breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's go." Chu Ning put down the tulle and said softly.

Steps were lifted and headed steadily in the direction of Rihua Gate.

She couldn't help turning her head, through the hazy tulle, saw him returning to the sleeping hall, then turned away and started to daze.

What happened this evening made her breathe a sigh of relief, but also made her confused and hesitated. She had some guesses in her heart, but she couldn't believe it.

She thought for a while, and rushed to the several servants who stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty's abnormality today, can you find out who did it?"

These servants have been with Liu Kang all the year round. Now they are in front of the imperial court. They are very trustworthy. They naturally know the inside story. When Zhao Yu'e entered the imperial palace, there was a lot of noise and noise. Many people saw it, so they don’t need to hide it , He replied: "It's Zhao Erniang. The saint was detained before, but now he has been reprimanded and sent out."

Chu Ning replied, did not ask any more, but said in his heart, "It really is her".

Zhao Yu'e is bold, she has always known, and only she can do this today.

Somehow, she suddenly realized Xiao Kezhi's different attitudes towards the two of them, and she was shocked in her heart, and she didn't dare to think about it anymore.

After a while, he stopped outside the Rihua Gate, and Cuihe was also led over.

One of the servants said: "His Royal Highness, the slaves can only send you here."

Chu Ning took off his veil and handed it back to them. He and Cuihe hit an oiled paper umbrella, and said with a smile: "Thank you, a few inside officers, it's cold, go back soon."

Few people stayed, and hurriedly left after saluting.

Prince Tang was close at hand and arrived after passing the Rihua Gate. Chu Ning took a deep breath, looked at Cuihe at each other, and turned and walked past.

Outside the sleeping hall, a maid rushed out in a panic. When she stepped into the snow, she slipped and fell to the ground. She was about to endure the pain and cold, got up and continued walking, but her eyes suddenly fell on the far and near. Chu Ning was instantly overjoyed.

"His Royal Highness is back!"

She beckoned to Chuning, as if she wanted to greet her, but hesitated for a moment, and then turned back to the sleeping hall in a hurry.

When Chu Ning saw this situation, he knew that Xiao Yu must have been awake.

She couldn't help squeezing Cuihe's hand.

Fortunately, because of his temperament, people are only looking for her now, and he must have only recently woke up.

She winked at Cuihe and told her to go back to the house by herself, not entering the main hall, biting her lip, putting on a gentle and dignified smile, and stepping into the lighted hall.

"His Royal Highness is awake." She stopped by the door, took off her cloak and clogs soaked in snow, and then quickly walked to the bed, knelt down on the footrests, and looked up at the bed with a calm face Xiao Yu.

Her expression was very natural and flawless, but her heart couldn't help but thump.

"Where did you go if you didn't come back so late?"

Xiao Yu squeezed her wrist tightly, the corners of her lips pressed tightly, his eyes were full of displeasure and suspicion.