The Gilded Cage

In the Feishhuang Hall, Xiao Kezhi took advantage of his return at noon, and asked Liu Kang to call the imperial physician for a pulse.

From last night to now, he hasn't felt any discomfort anymore, but everything must be foolproof, and he still has to follow Liu Kang's words and ask the imperial physician to take a look.

After looking around and inquiring, the imperial physician ordered his hands and said: "Your Majesty is in the prime of his prime, and it's okay to use a little bit of this kind of incense. It's just that although you are young, you must also pay attention to strengthening the foundation and strengthening the foundation. Look at the minister, this time, you might as well drink a few decoctions to adjust your qi and blood."

In the past, Xiao Kezhi would not take it seriously and refuse on the spot, but now he is the emperor. He understands that only by protecting himself can he stabilize his position and stabilize the entire cold.

"Understood, Liu Kang, send the imperial doctor's order to prescribe the medicine."

Liu Kang should "here" and bowed to lead the imperial physician to the side hall.

After a while, Jin Jiang entered the hall and presented a memorandum and a case file in his hand: "Your Majesty, this is the file copied this morning, and it was only sent from the Criminal Ministry."

"Got it, put it here, go down."

When the door was closed, Xiao Kezhifang picked it up, opened the upper seal, and read it carefully.

In recent days, the Ministry of Criminal Affairs is still checking the old affairs of the generals who were previously dismissed by him. After he heard Chu Ning talk about the internal affairs of the year last night, he let his confidant secretly copy a record of Chu Qianyu’s case while turning over the dossier. The thick memorial in his hand is Among the doubts sorted out.

Among them, it is mentioned that the incidents of the year seem to be evidence, but they are somewhat far-fetched. The most important thing is that some of them have accused Chu Qianyu of committing such a crime because he had long ago had an affair with Xue Guifei and wanted to help. The Xue family supported Wu Wanghuan.

The so-called physical evidence was a belt of Chu Qianyu found in Xue Guifei's bedroom.

As for the testimony, it is full of flaws. Both Xue Guifei and Chu Qianyu refused to plead guilty, and the two servants who were the first to confess, even threw themselves into the well soon afterwards.

Xiao Kezhi frowned from time to time. Only his faint and weak elder brother, the first emperor Xiao Lian, would believe in such a scribbled case.

He had also heard of this before, but he was suffering from being in Ganzhou. Even if he was able to win over a lot of low-ranking juniors, he could get the secrets of many officials from North Korea and China, but he still couldn't know the details of such big cases. .

Chu Qianyu was the head of the group at the time, and Concubine Xue Gui was the most beloved concubine of the first emperor. This case was presumed by the third division, and even the file was kept secret.

At first, he only thought that it was the Xue family who wanted to murder the first emperor. It was only after the incident was revealed that he wanted to push him off to Chu Qianyu, but he didn't expect that he would still be involved in the end. As for Sansihui's decision, it was probably the Empress Dowager Qi and Qi Mu who took a fancy to Chu Qianyu's position, so they pushed the boat along the water and sent him out.

Unexpectedly, the real culprit was his eldest brother's own son and his own nephew, Xiao Yu.

Somehow, after hearing this, he never doubted, and instinctively Chu Ning was telling the truth.

On the one hand, he has roughly figured out the temperament of his nephew, knowing that he is a man who seems to be kind, filial and modest, but in fact sinister and selfish; on the other hand, he is willing to believe what she said.

Looking at the memorandum and dossier today, all the doubts in it are indeed clear, and I am more convinced that she did not lie to him.

In fact, without her pleading, he would have to wait for the purging of the government to re-examine the case and return Chu Qianyu to his innocence.

After all, if there hadn't been for Chu Qianyu's words back then, he wouldn't be what he is now.

For Chu Qianyu, perhaps it was just a momentary retreat and a simple effort, but to him, it was like a divine enlightenment, which immediately awakened him.

He always remembered this kindness.

However, now it seems that he has to think carefully about how to plan this matter.

After a while, Liu Kang came back with the decoction from outside, and said, "Everyone, the medicine is ready."

Xiao Kezhi made a "hmm" and locked the file in his hand into the box along with the memorabilia. Only then did he pick up the medicine and drank it all.

Liu Kang quickly handed over the hot tea again. Seeing that he drank two sips one after the other, he said: "Everyone, it has spread all over the world today, saying that the saint, the saint’s human nature, the unrestrained, informal manner, provoke and provoke. I had a lot of romantic debts, but I didn't even take it into the palace..."

As he said, he took a careful look at Xiao Kezhi's face and saw that he showed no signs of anger, and then continued: "There are also people who say that Zhao Erniang has an affair with her, but they have long refused to take her into the palace. It drew her to visit the Piandian at night..."

Since he became the imperial prison, he has strived to do everything safely and solve problems for the emperor. He has been very concerned about all kinds of news and rumors outside, and he has been going outside to inquire every day. These were just a few little servants who secretly told him that the emperor's holy name was damaged, so he naturally didn't dare to hide it, so he told the truth.

Xiao Kezhi didn't have any special reaction after hearing this. He only said lightly "I know".

This is what was expected. He is not his fame-fishing nephew, and he doesn't care about his reputation. After all, the most important thing to be this emperor is his wrist and power. If he can hold him back, whatever they say, he won't be able to shake his position.

"You are doing a good job, you really need to pay attention to the wind outside. Just listen to this matter today, don't pay attention to it for the time being."

It seems right to say that he is naturally profligate. After all, he is not even willing to let go of his nephew and daughter-in-law.

...

The second day is the second day of the first month.

Chu Ning got up early in the morning and said goodbye to Xiao Yu.

Probably out of a guilty conscience and anxiety, Xiao Yu would never stop the worship of her parents, let alone go with her.

She was happy, and took Cuihe down the mountain while it was still early.

The snow that had fallen the night before had melted a bit, and the mountain road had been cleaned a long time ago. It was not difficult to do, but it was extremely cold. She didn't take a step, holding the stove, huddling with Cuihe, talking and laughing all the way to the gentle ramp, and finally saw the carriage and servants who had been waiting.

Zhao Yanzhou was standing by the car facing the cold wind, although he was wrapped in a thick robe, he still looked a little thin. When Chu Ning came over, he hurriedly greeted him and bowed his hands in a salute: "It's cold, your Highness will get in the car."

With that said, he took the 杌子 from the car and set it up, and then personally lifted the curtain for her.

Chu Ning looked at his red and swollen hand from the cold, and quickly gave him the heater he held in his palm.

"Brother don't freeze!"

She smiled at him, hurried into the car, blocked his movement to return the hand stove, and said: "The car is very warm, and if I hold a hand stove, I will sweat. If you blow it again, you really catch a cold."

Zhao Yanzhou looked at the bright smile on her face that hadn't been seen for a long time, couldn't help being startled, and finally let go of the old-fashioned expression.

The inside of the carriage was arranged by him himself. It was heated underground with charcoal fire, and two heaters were inserted under the pillows. It was indeed not cold at all.

"I see, this stove, the minister will hold it for His Royal Highness."

After he said, he lowered the curtain, turned on his horse, and walked in front of the carriage to lead the way.

The Chu family lived in Jingzhao for generations, so Chu Ning's parents were buried together near the Chu family tomb on the outskirts of Beijing. It takes about half an hour to arrive from Lishan. However, today the road was slippery and the carriage was traveling slowly. It took more than half an hour of the road for an entire hour to arrive.

Before noon, Chu Ning never stopped and went directly to the tomb to worship.

This was the first time she went to the tomb of her parents to worship after she learned the truth. Originally, she thought that she would be full of grievances and resentments to tell, but after leaving Tangquan Palace today, she felt light-footed, and now that she has arrived, she suddenly felt calm in her heart.

She was silent for a long time, and finally only kowtow deeply on the futon underneath.

Zhao Yanzhou waited not far away, staring at her back with complicated eyes, until she turned and approached, she asked softly, "A-Ning, you seem to be in a good mood today."

He just noticed that her face was not as deliberately meek and dignified as usual, and her eyes flashed with light that she hadn't seen for a long time. Even the "brother" that she inadvertently called him made him Can't help but think back to her when she was a child.

How long have you not seen her like this?

He couldn't remember clearly, he just felt a soft wave in his heart, and he also evoked her boudoir name.

Chu Ning was stunned, and then reacted with hindsight. It turned out that she was in a good mood because of her briskness today.

"Yes." She smiled, and walked towards the carriage with him. "It's probably because of my father, maybe there will be a turnaround."

She attributed it all to this.

Zhao Yanzhou couldn't help turning his head to look at her, with a flash of bitterness in his eyes.

His cousin, the poor and lovely cousin, has paid too much for the death of his father. He wanted to persuade her so much that he didn't have to always remember his grievances and hatred, and he didn't have to bet everything about him. Uncle and aunt would never want to see her like this.

But he has no position, let alone the qualifications to say such a thing.

He can only hate himself for not being able to solve these things for her. He can't even keep it for himself. Only by her sacrifice can he get a place.

He opened his mouth, and finally said abruptly, "As long as you take care of yourself."

...

Several people simply used a meal together in a restaurant, and after a short rest, they rushed back.

However, less than half an hour after the trip, the originally clear sky gradually became gloomy. The north wind whizzed past, gradually bringing flakes of snowflakes.

It's another snow, from small to large.

By the time the carriage reached the foot of the mountain, the snow had fallen to cover the fields, and it had accumulated thickly on the layer that had not yet melted, almost reaching the ankles.

The mountain is colder than the mountain below, and there is naturally more snow, and there is no calf in the depths, and it is difficult to walk without walking for a while.

Zhao Yanzhou frowned and stopped the carriage, personally took two people along the mountain road to explore the way, and it took nearly a moment before he returned.

"His Royal Highness, there is a lot of snow on the mountain road, it is difficult to move, I am afraid I can not go back today.

Chu Ning poked his head out of the car and looked at the heavy snow of goose feathers engulfed by the north wind. There was no sign of stopping. He nodded and said, "Then find a place to settle down below the mountain. When the snow stops tomorrow, I will meet you. Someone cleans up the Dao, and it will not be too late to go back then."

Several people then returned along the road in the snow, and found the Seven Sages at the foot of the mountain to stay temporarily.

Daliang Buddhism is prosperous, and temples and Taoist temples can be seen everywhere. Although this seven-sacred temple is built not far from the foot of Lishan, it is a bit far from the town where the people live. There are temples and Taoist temples in the palace of Tangquan Palace, so whether it is Ordinary people or high-ranking officials do not come here, the incense is not strong, and the internal regulations are naturally a little crude.

When Chu Ning entered, she did not reveal her identity. It was just that the Taoists in Guanzhong saw that she was dressed luxuriously and had an extraordinary manner, and they were taking servants to go up the mountain, so they guessed that she was extraordinary, so they were extraordinarily polite and reluctantly cleaned up a room for her. The spacious wing came out.

There is only one table, one couch and one candlestick in the room. The couch is spacious and used for both sitting and sleeping. The surrounding walls were old blue-gray, pitted, bumpy, and even peeled off in a few places.

Fortunately, she was not picky. After thanking her, she asked Zhao Yanzhou to pay some money and went into the house to rest.

It was cold, and the charcoal stove I brought out was already burned out. Guanzhong Taoist priest was poor, and there was no good charcoal to keep in the house. So she wrapped her clothes tightly, filled a soup woman with hot water and hugged it. He was stunned in his arms.

Cuihe went out to fetch her fast food for her, and when she came back she looked a little weird: "Lady, there is another person in Guanli."

"Who is it, do we recognize?"

In such a snowy sky, I don't know who else will come to this place. Is it also that he is blocked on the road back to the palace and can only rest here?

Cuihe leaned in her ear and whispered, "It's General Jin... and the saint."