The Gilded Cage

Prince Tang, in the bedroom, Xiao Yu was neatly dressed, and was about to go out, so he heard the report from the servant that the princess was back.

He didn't rush away, but stayed in the house and waited for a while.

After a while, Chu Ning returned, and as soon as he was there, he hurried over to salute.

"His Royal Highness, the storm last night, I couldn't make it back in time, please forgive me."

Xiao Yu was in a good mood when she saw her, beckoned her to approach, and personally untied her cloak, saying: "It's okay, the wind and snow blocked the road. Next time, remember to come back earlier. Where did you live last night? ?"

Chu Ning was trapped in his arms obediently, and replied: "There is a Taoist temple under the mountain, named Seven Sacred Temples, and I lived there last night."

"Yeah." Xiao Yu glanced at her, his expression still gentle, but turned around to summon a waiter outside the house, "Go, go to the Seven Sages at the foot of the mountain, and send more silver taels. The lunch is a thank you."

"Here."

The waiter was gone, but Chu Ning was frightened. She knew him very well, and she could tell at a glance that he was worried that she was with Zhao Yanzhou last night and asked someone to go to the Taoist temple to ask if the two were innocent.

He still feels uneasy about a person who has been mutilated by him so far.

Between her and Zhao Yanzhou, he was not afraid of suspicion, but there was Xiao Kezhi in the Taoist temple last night. If he knew about it, he might cause more trouble, and I don't know whether Xiao Kezhi has left now, and whether he has taken care of everything.

"Wait." She suddenly said, calling the waiter who had gone out.

"What?" Xiao Yu's expression narrowed slightly, and he looked at her with low eyes.

"His Royal Highness, I lived in the Seven Sages Temple yesterday. I saw that the Taoist priests had a poor life. I wanted people to take some cloth, vegetables and vegetables from the library and send them together. It would be difficult for them to get to the city in such a cold snowy day. Going up to the market in China to buy these things and send cash, it’s impossible to solve the urgent need."

The most important thing is that she wanted to give Xiao Kezhi more time to take advantage of the effort of people going to the warehouse to fetch things, count, and register.

"Okay, Aning is kind and always wants to help others, so go get it." Xiao Yu didn't think much, and after hearing that, he motioned to the waiter to do the same. He took two sips of tea and went out.

As soon as he left, Chu Ning hurriedly asked Cuihe to go to Feishuang Temple in person, and found Liu Kang to give him a message, and asked him to go to Xiao Kezhi to see the situation. After half an hour, he learned that everything was set up properly. Completely relieved.

Several maids prepared hot soup for her, a pot of light sake and a few plates of refreshments. She leaned in the pool, washed away her tiredness, and she was refreshed when she came out.

Seeing that it was still early, she sent someone to Lu Guogong's residence to send a greeting note. After receiving an answer, she took Cuihe together to pack some gifts and went to visit.

In the absence of Grandpa Lu, only Madam Xu and Guoer mother and daughter were there. When Chu Ning arrived, Guoer was making a rabbit-like lantern with the maid in the courtyard, while Madam Xu took the two of them to the flowers and plants. She came over, put down everything in her hands and came up.

With sharp eyes, she saw that Chu Ning was wearing the one she sent back last time, and she was very happy. He took the initiative to pour her a cup of tea, and pulled her sleeves to sit next to each other affectionately. Speak next.

Mrs. Xu washed the muddy hands, took the snack from the maid’s hand, and put it on the case, and smiled and said, "Your Highness! I have nothing to do, I am just making flowers and plants." She said, and pointed again. Guoer, "This kid saw that Shangyuan was coming, and heard that there was a lantern festival in the palace, so he was so happy that he had to make a lantern himself!"

Chu Ning took a look at the lantern that had already begun to take shape, and nodded in praise: "Guo'er's hands are getting more and more skillful, but they are much better than me! Can you still learn to ride a horse in these two days?"

Guo'er shook his head and whispered in a low voice: "In the past two days, Lady Zhao said that she had been affected by the wind and cold, so she could not teach me."

Madam Xu hurriedly pointed aside, and Chongguoer said, "Okay, let's do it for a while. Didn't you say that you want to make one more for your Highness? It should be faster."

Although Guo'er was young and didn't like to talk, but his mind was sensitive, a pair of round eyes looked between the two of them, nodded obediently, and followed the maid to the side to continue making lanterns.

"On New Year's Eve, what happened to Ms. Zhao--hey, it's hard to make people feel embarrassed after all!" Madam Xu waited until her daughter had gone away and couldn't hear her before she whispered to Chu Ning, "Previously, I only thought Ms. Zhao's attitude was a bit perfunctory. But after all, I was patiently teaching Guoer. Now that something embarrassing has happened, I don’t teach Guoer at all. I naturally don’t want to teach Guoer halfway, and want to be taught by others, but Lady Zhao was ordered by the saint herself, I really don’t know. What should I do!"

Chu Ning understood, Zhao Yu'e couldn't refuse. Mrs. Xu looked at Xiao Kezhi's face, and it was not easy to find someone else directly, so she felt that she was in a dilemma.

She thought for a while and said: "Ms. Zhao was indeed picked for Guoer by the saint himself, but what the saint meant was to teach Guoer to let go of her temper and to have more contact with others. If the wife feels inappropriate, or Guoer doesn't like it herself, so she can say it euphemistically, as long as it doesn't hurt her face, it's okay."

"But the saint Jinkouyuyan, and I don't know if I will blame it..." Madam Xu felt somewhat reasonable after hearing her words, but she still felt violent in her heart when she thought of Xiao Kezhi's solemn and solemn appearance.

Chu Ning looked at her hesitantly and couldn't help laughing.

She knew how much Xiao Kezhi valued the relatives in the only mother's family, but it was obvious that the Lu Guogong and his wife treated him more in awe than closeness. I am afraid that his unsmiling appearance is too awkward.

"Madam, you, Duke Lu, and Guo'er, and the saint are relatives of the family. Since they are relatives, what can't you say? The saint is just looking cold, but in fact, he cares about your family very much. ."

After listening to Mrs. Xu, she slowly remembered that after Chang'an, the saint's many cares about their family, although they did not say anything, it was enough to teach them to be grateful. If they dare not say anything, they are indeed a little out of sight.

"What your Royal Highness said seems to make sense..." She smiled awkwardly, and there was a little admiration in her eyes. "Your Royal Highness is really careful. When we see a saint, we don't even dare to show up. How can you be so clear about the meaning of the saint like His Royal Highness?"

However, when she finished speaking, she thought about the relationship between the prince and the emperor. She suddenly realized that she had said something wrong, and hurriedly closed her mouth and looked over carefully.

One is the emperor, the uncle, the other is the prince, the niece, how can we understand each other?

Fortunately, Chu Ning just paused, then naturally talked about other topics, and didn't seem to take it to heart, so he revealed the matter.

...

On the other side, in Feishuang Hall, after Xiao Kezhi came back from the court, he took a shower and changed clothes again, so that people would send the memorabilia they want to watch today to the book table.

I have been busy for a long time before I have time to sit down.

He didn't rush to pick up his pen to read the notes, but drank a sip of tea, summoned Liu Kang, and asked, "You said that the people around Chu had been here before. Why?"

Liu Kang hurriedly told about Xiao Yu's sentencing to the Seven Sacred Views, and said: "Don't worry, the old slave has been arranged in advance, and the people in the view didn't say anything."

Xiao Kezhi nodded, but his frowned eyebrows did not loosen. The prince's suspicion is so severe, it's no wonder that he can't be a great weapon. In the past, he only felt a little emotional, but now that he has Chu Ning, he is beginning to feel uncomfortable for her.

After thinking for a moment, he quietly made a decision in his heart, then let go of his brows.

"Well, let's not talk about it. I heard that news from the south is also coming today. Let Jin Jiang come over."

Liu Kang responded, and soon Jin Jiang came.

"Let's talk about it, what's the situation in Bozhou?"

Jin Jiang bowed his hand in a salute, then took out a sealed letter from his sleeve and said, "Five people have been selected from the local clans, and now they are in different official positions, and they are only waiting for your majesty to decide. Who can take the position of General Zhao."

Xiao Kezhi opened the letter, recorded several names one by one in his mind, then browsed through each person's resume, pointed out three of them, and said, "Have you checked their family history?"

Jin Jiang nodded: "I have checked it, and I will send it with the official department's file tomorrow."

"No, from the staff, don't move for the time being, so that people may not notice it." Xiao Kezhi put the letter away and ordered, "Let’s check the family, especially if anyone in the family has committed a crime, and how they dealt with it. This is very important. Important. In addition, people have to stare at them, just two months, and write down their daily management and military training, and then I will make a decision."

The Bozhou army is large in number, and it is on the southern border to handover with neighboring countries. Even if Nanzhao and other countries are small countries, they cannot be taken lightly.

"Here." After Jin Jiang responded, he reported two more about the city defense, and then withdrew.

Xiao Kezhi sorted out the things on hand, and then asked Liu Kang, "What's wrong with Zhao Erniang?"

He gave Zhao Yu'e such an implied warning a few days ago that if she was unwilling, she might act.

"Back to everyone, Zhao Erniang has been ill for the past few days and has not been behind closed doors. There is no other move. It is just that the day before, General Zhao from Banzhou wrote her a letter, and she has sent a reply."

As for what was written in the letter, I am afraid it is what happened in the past few days.

"Yeah. I'm afraid Zhao Lun has already noticed that someone is investigating in Bozhou, so he has to keep an eye on it." Xiao Kezhi nodded and said again, "What happened to the Qi family?"

"The Queen Mother seems to have intentionally asked Qi Xianggong to write a letter to persuade everyone to get married. In the past few days, Qi Xianggong has begun to contact the Minister of the DPRK. According to this situation, it is about time that everything in the first month is finished. By mid-February, they Then I will co-sign the book."

"Yeah." This was expected, he didn't ask more, but talked about something else.

"The director of the Donggong Zhanshifu, Zhao Yanzhou, I heard that his articles were very good back then. Not only was his writing straightforward, he was also able to point out current malpractices, and he was quite talented. You can look for two of his past articles for me. Look."

He loves talents, has always ignored his background, and listened to what Chu Ning said. The sympathy and regret for Zhao Yanzhou were naturally deepened. If he is truly talented, he will not hesitate to support him in the future.

Liu Kang glanced at him and went down silently. He understood that the emperor did not tease the lady in the East Palace at will, but really took her to heart.

...

In the next few days, there was no more snow in Lishan, and the previous snow gradually melted. It's spring, and after a bit of cold, it gradually warms up.

Xiao Yu went in and out of the Prince's Tang every day. In addition to going to the court, he often went to the residences of several officials living nearby to attend banquets.

In the past, he was reluctant to accept the invitation of these officials, but feared that he would have too close personal contacts with them and would lose his authority. But today is different from the past. There are fewer and fewer firm supporters around him, and he has to put down his face and make more friends.

That evening, he went out from Jinyang Gate to take a carriage to the residence of one of the officials to a banquet, but only when he went up a secluded mountain road, he was accidentally stopped.

"Why did you stop?" he asked displeasedly while sitting in the car.

"His Royal Highness, the road ahead is blocked."

The driver's voice fell, and someone came over, saluted by the car, and whispered: "I'm disturbing, my lady has something important to report to the prince, and ask for your permission."

Xiao Yu didn't move, but frowned slightly. The waiter outside the car asked coldly: "Bold, who is your wife? Dare to stop the Prince's car from driving!"

The man did not answer, but only presented a wooden sign with the surname engraved on it, and was sent to the carriage by the servant.

Xiao Yu looked at the word "Zhao" on the wooden sign, and his eyes suddenly showed disdain and contempt.

It turned out to be Zhao Yu'e.

Such a woman with a bad reputation dared to stop his car.

He didn't have the intention to go down at all, but said coldly in the car, "Keep walking", meaning that he would ignore her.

The coachman and attendants responded and immediately urged the horse forward again.

But the road was narrow, and when he passed Zhao Erniang's carriage, there was almost only a few inches in between. At the moment that passed by, Zhao Yu'e's voice came from the other side of the car curtain in a low voice.

"Is your Highness really willing to live under others?"

Xiao Yu's face became stiff, and the hand resting on his lap jerked the towel. How could he be willing? However, in just a few months, he was about to reach the peak, and suddenly fell back to the bottom, feeling that in addition to frustration, there was more panic, but he was afraid that he would never be able to get up again.

He took a deep breath, and before the carriage went far, he solemnly ordered: "Stop."

The carriage stopped, and he ordered someone to open the curtain, but did not go down, but waited for Zhao Yu'e to walk outside the carriage step by step and bow to him.

"His Royal Highness, would you like to hear Yu Niang's words?"

Xiao Yu looked at her coldly, as if thinking about it. After a while, he beckoned and said, "Come on."

Zhao Yu'e smiled slightly, carrying her skirt and stepping on the zizi and stepped into his carriage.

She still wore a bright dress today, although she didn't have the bold and bare chest as when she saw Xiao Ke a few times ago, but the tighter dress still outlines her plump figure.

I was just outside the car, the moonlight was dim and I couldn't see clearly, but the bright candlelight in the car illuminated everything clearly.

Xiao Yu looked at her figure, a strange color flashed under his eyes, which seemed uncomfortable and disgusting.

"Well, if you have anything, say quickly, don't miss my time."

Zhao Yu'e didn't care about his indifference, and smiled calmly and said: "Yu Niang came today to make a deal with His Royal Highness. I don't know what your Royal Highness thinks, what is the strength of the Bozhou Army in my Zhao family?"

He didn't have the oppressive aura of Xiao Kezhi on his body. Although her face was cold, she did not feel nervous, because she knew that she was holding a bargaining chip that he could not refuse.

Sure enough, when he heard the words "Baozhou Army", Xiao Yu's face was stagnant, and his heartbeat trembled.

"The Bozhou Army, the strength should not be underestimated, and it is comparable to the sage's Ganzhou Army. Why, do you want to use this to trade with me?"

What he lacks most in his hands is military power, which is naturally what he needs most. And the Bozhou Army in the hands of the Zhao family was a better choice than the ones he had previously wanted to fight for.

"Yes."

Zhao Yu'e nodded without hesitation and truthfully explained the plight of the Zhao family in Bozhou.

Xiao Yu bent his finger knuckles, tapped on the armrests once and again, thinking quickly in his heart, and asked, "What do you want from me?"

Zhao Yu'e smiled and said: "My brother and I will assist Your Highness to achieve great cause. I only hope that His Highness can protect my Zhao family's status in the future."

What she said seemed straightforward, but in fact she didn't say it clearly. Xiao Yu concealed the emotions in her heart, and asked in a deep voice, "If I promise you something like this, what can you do? Make it clear, what do you want? what?"

"His Royal Highness is willing to marry me as his wife?"

Zhao Yu'e didn't go around with him, and simply made the request clear.

Xiao Yu's expression turned gloomy, and he said coldly, "I have a regular wife."

"When you marry me, my brother's Bozhou army will only look after your Highness, and my Zhao family will be a relative in the future, and no one will dare to look down upon it. So, isn't it the best of both worlds?

"If I heard you right, your Zhao family is now desperate. If you don't turn to me, you will probably be uprooted and will never recover. So, you still have to negotiate terms with me?"

Zhao Yu'e smiled in good time: "Yes, the Zhao family has come to a dead end. Isn't your Highness? How many days can your Highness live without my brother? If my Zhao family chooses to hand over everything immediately, there is still a possibility of surviving, but Where's your Highness?"

Xiao Kezhi is the emperor, who has everything in her hand, and there is no lack of loyalty in her hands. Faced with him, she naturally dare not ask too much. But Xiao Yu was just a precarious prince. If it weren't for knowing that his situation was difficult, but still holding the position of the first emperor's son and the prince, she and her brother would not even bother to hit him.

In that case, how could she be willing to subdue to others?

"The Chu family is just the daughter of a criminal minister. Can she bring a whole Bozhou army to His Highness like me? Her status is no longer worthy of His Highness."

Xiao Yu's face gradually distorted: "She is not worthy, can you be worthy of a shameless widow?"

"His Royal Highness does not need to rush to make a final conclusion. Yu Niang was so disturbed today that she did not dare to delay her business affairs, so she left, please consider it carefully, and it will not be too late to make a decision at that time."

She smiled meaningfully, and without waiting for him to nod, she got up and left on her own.