The Gilded Cage

At night, Chu Ning failed to return to his bedroom, but was left to sleep with him by Xiao Yu.

In the darkness, she closed her eyes, who was already asleep, and she woke up like a dream all night, just waiting for the dawn.

The same was true for Xiao Yu, who could not sleep for a long time after tossing around at night.

But the two lay side by side, but they both chose to remain silent. They stayed silent until the maid knocked on the door early the next morning.

As usual, Chu Ning served Xiao Yu, dressed up, finished breakfast, and stood at the door to send him away.

Before leaving, he shook her hand tightly, as if he wanted to say something, but didn't say anything in the end. He only turned and left in silence and went to Tai Chi Palace to attend the imperial meeting.

"His Royal Highness." Xu Rong did not know when he had been guarding outside the dormitory, lowered his head to remind him, as if he was going to supervise by the side.

"Xu Shidu is not anxious, wait for me to change clothes."

Chu Ning smiled at him, gentle and calm, turned back to the room, put on a neat and clean robe prepared, her hair curled up, and a step was swayed, no powder on her face, only her lips were clicked. , But even more pale complexion.

She looked at the bronze mirror carefully, then stood up again, and led Cuihe to push the door out: "Alright, Xu Shidu, I will go now, so, is it satisfactory?"

For some reason, Xu Rong felt a little guilty in her gaze, but still squinted her eyes carefully to look at her attire. Seeing that everything was in order, she took a step back to clear the way, and bowed her hands and said, "His Royal Highness, please."

Chu Ning took a deep breath, slowly stepped down the steps, and walked towards the Baifu Hall where the Queen Mother Qi lived.

…

In the Tai Chi Hall, the matter to be discussed at the meeting was nearing completion, and the things that the prince Xiao Yu had done in Huazhou were finally brought up.

Some courtiers tentatively said: "Your Majesty, the dredging of Huazhou rivers, breaking the old river and dividing the water potential, will make Huazhou no more flooding, and the irrigation of hundreds of hectares of fertile fields will be restored. This is what can benefit the people. According to Zheng Hua’s interpretation of the observing messenger’s memorabilia, His Royal Highness's trip is indispensable."

"Yes, the minister thought that such a great achievement should be greatly praised." Another courtier also rose to agree.

The rest were waiting to see Xiao Kezhi's reaction.

Somehow, the ministers always felt that the emperor's attitude towards the prince was extremely ambiguous.

While disposing of many well-known princelings several times, he was always very tolerant of the prince, and even repeatedly said "national origin", as if he really wanted to cultivate him as a prince.

"The prince's trip is indeed beneficial to the people of Huazhou." Xiao Kezhi put the memorial in his hand on the long case, and said in a deep voice, "I also feel that I should praise it."

This attitude made everyone feel a little relieved, and gradually followed suit.

On the contrary, it was the prince Xiao Yu who was being discussed, and his face was always gloomy. Even when he heard the compliments of the crowd, he did not show any joy, but became even more depressed.

"Your Majesty," he slowly got up from his seat, bowed his head to the center, knelt down in dozens of gazes, and said solemnly, "The minister is ashamed and dare not be any praise."

"Why, do you have something to say?" Xiao Kezhi sat up straight, looking at him with a smile.

"Yes." Xiao Yu kowtowed heavily and looked guilty, and said, "The minister returned yesterday. I heard that the court said a few days ago that the minister has been married for more than two years and has never given birth to a boy. Half-female, inherited by a stable society. The minister feels deeply guilty. However, there are countless mistakes in this matter. All of them belong to the minister. There is no concubine in the East Palace, and it is not because of the prince's concubine. Before the wife was born and raised, there were other heirs first, and this has not been able to comfort the ancestors..."

These words seem to be deliberately justifying the princess.

Wei Fujing stood up and said: "His Royal Highness does not have to blame himself. In the past two years, everyone has known that His Royal Highness has treated the prince and concubine. His cleanliness and self-cleanliness is a model for you."

When the voice fell, several people rose up to agree.

Xiao Kezhi lowered his eyes to look at the few people under him, and a sneer smile flashed across his lips. Thinking carefully, Xiao Yu's remarks seemed to imply that Crown Princess Chu could not get rid of the matter.

It happened that he was so hypocritical, able to describe all selfish behaviors as selfless. This nephew has nothing to do with politics, and he has a lot of ability to reverse black and white and win people's hearts.

"Get up." Xiao Kezhi concealed the cold light in his eyes, "I never said that my nephew and daughter-in-law were wrong."

Xiao Yu was still pale and depressed, and slowly got up, staring outside the hall, as if waiting for something.

Just when he was about to return to his seat, a servant from outside the hall suddenly rushed over and said loudly, "Everyone, everyone! Go down to the palace of the prince, go outside the hall of Baifu, ask to see, see the queen mother, and say-voluntarily surrender the prince. Concubine! The queen mother is unwilling to make a decision, please ask the saint to judge!"

When the voice fell, there was an uproar in the hall!

This was the first time in this court that monarchs and ministers discussed the prince’s family affairs at a court meeting, and it was the first time that a prince and concubine wanted to take the initiative to make a name for himself.

The big rock hanging in Xiao Yu's heart fell slightly.

Xiao Kezhi waited for a while after everyone's discussion, knocked on the table with his fingers, and said in a deep voice, "Since this is the case, please invite the prince to come here with you."

The waiter hadn't panted well, and after hearing this, he rushed out again.

…

Outside the Baifu Hall, Chu Ning got up from the ground and followed the waiter quickly to the outer direction south.

The majestic and majestic palace in front of her is the Tai Chi Hall. Except for the death of the first emperor, she has never been here again, and will finally step into it today.

Under the stone steps, she stopped, stood in the spring breeze and in the sun, looking up at the open door of the palace with complicated eyes.

Outside such a vast and tall palace, her stature became thinner and petite, and even the servant who had brought her could not help but go up and help her.

"No need, thank you." She smiled, shook her head and refused, took a deep breath, straightened her back, and climbed the stone steps step by step into the hall.

The Dao in the middle had been turned away, and the original discussion disappeared the moment she stepped in. Under countless gazes, she bowed her head and knelt in front of the throne.

"I just heard that when you come to the Queen Mother, you are going to resign from the Crown Prince?" Xiao Kezhi's low voice came from above his head.

She nodded and said loudly: "The concubine Chu, since she married into the East Palace and became a prince's wife, she has not done anything for more than two years, and she knows her status is low. She is the daughter of a criminal minister, and she doesn't deserve to be a prince. Coming today, I want to surrender the position of the prince and concubine, and ask your majesty to hire another good wife for the prince with the respect of the elder."

When the voice fell, the courtiers all around became quiet, and then gradually there was a sound of discussion.

Xiao Yuxuan's heart fell completely, but only for a moment, he mentioned it again, and while looking up at Xiao Kezhi, he looked up at Xiao Kezhi and waited to see his reaction.

"Are you really willing?" On the throne, under the gaze of everyone, Xiao Kezhi stared at the kneeling nephew and daughter-in-law, and said lightly, "You know, if you lose your position as a princess, you will no longer be a royal clan. A member of, your current status, wealth and reputation will no longer exist?"

"The concubine is voluntary, and I understand what it is to give up, I just ask your majesty to fulfill it -" Although Chu Ning's voice is soft, his tone is very firm.

Somehow, she felt that he deliberately asked this in front of Xiao Yu.

She bowed her head and said the second half of the sentence: "The concubine is willing to ask herself to enter the Taoist temple to practice, and she will not ask about world affairs, and will not be involved in common customs."

After saying this, she finally exhaled the breath that was pressing in her heart, as if she felt lighter all over.

Xiao Yu on the side was stunned, staring at her dumbfounded.

"Aning?"

What he thought before was that she gave up her position as a regular wife and continued to stay in the East Palace as a concubine, but she suddenly said that she wanted to become a monk in Taoism!

In the presence of the ministers, he almost got up and asked her what was going on. Wei Fujing, who was closest to him, hurriedly pulled the hem of his clothes, frowned and shook his head silently.

He endured it, and finally gritted his teeth, sat down slowly, and stared at his wife who was kneeling on the ground and never looked at him with flushed eyes. The hand beside him was also clenched tightly and couldn't help shaking.

"Okay." After examining her for a moment, Xiao Kezhi slowly raised his hand and waved it, as if tired out, and said in a deep voice, "Since you have made up your mind and you really haven't made anything in the past two years, I will allow you to leave. Donggong. I think you have been observing your duty for the past two years. Before you have passed the rituals, just enter the practice of returning to the true view."

The Guizhen Temple is a royal Taoist temple, built just west of the Houyuan of Tai Chi Palace. Most of the people who practice in it are the noble women from Chang'an City, especially the women of the Xiao family and the women who are closely related to the royal family. The Lord, some were originally dedicated to Taoism, while others had to become a monk temporarily for various reasons.

In the past, the entrance and exit of the female crown in the Guizhen view were governed by the supervisor of the harem. Now that the harem has no owner and the emperor arranges it himself, it is reasonable. So after everyone froze, they no longer think about it, but are still immersed in today This big change is in progress.

It was about thinking of Chu Ning’s identity. Everyone looked at her with pity, regret, and even ridicule. They had known that they would end up like this today. When they had become the daughter of a criminal minister, why bother? How about marrying the prince?

Few people remember that it was the prince who insisted on marrying Chu's daughter.

Even the courtiers who had been friends with Chu Qianyu in the past only thought of the prince who had done his best to benevolent and worthy of the Chu family after all.

Chu Ning didn't have time to care about the thoughts of others, but felt that the big event in his heart finally settled. He sighed greatly, bowed and bowed, and after thanking him, he got up and exited the Tai Chi Hall.

The person had already left, and the others slowly withdrew their gazes, only Xiao Yu had been staring at the direction of the hall door steadily.

"His Royal Highness!" Wei Fujing on the side could not help but remind him in a low voice, and this brought his mind back a little.

"...Prince, do you have complaints when I deal with it like this?"

Xiao Yu listened to the question that was repeated again, and slowly bowed, depressingly, "Chen-dare not."

"That's all right." On the throne, Xiao Kezhi glanced at him, a fleeting smile flicked across the corner of his lips, and said: "This matter, let the Hanlin Court make a plan immediately. Now that the seat of the prince is empty, As an uncle, I should also seek a new marriage for the prince. If the princes have suitable candidates, they can talk about it at that time."

After all, he didn't intend to get entangled in the matter anymore, he simply waved his hand to signal to retreat, and left since he got up, leaving the courtiers all over the hall, as if they had exploded the pot, and discussed fiercely.

In the crowd, Xiao Yu's face was pale, and he was dumbfounded for a long time without saying a word. Suddenly he got up and did not go to the government office. Instead, he hurried to the direction of the East Palace.