The Gilded Cage

Ribbon (3)

“Your Majesty!” He was taken aback, saluted hurriedly, and explained as if he was afraid of being misunderstood, “This citizen just met Her Highness by chance, and Her Highness asked about my foreign appointment, so we said a few more words…”

But before he finished speaking, a powerful hand patted him meaningfully on the shoulder, “Ah, I didn’t ask you, so you don’t have to worry.”

Zhao Yanzhou’s words came to an abrupt end, and his tight body gradually relaxed. That’s right, the current emperor was not the Xiao Yu of the past. The emperor who was born to look down on all sentient beings has always been very kind to A’Ning, so why would he take offense to him?

Xiao Kezhi smiled and supported his arm with one hand to make him stand up, “Since Minister Zhao mentioned the matter of foreign appointment, I have to ask one more question. Does the minister have any complaints about this arrangement?”

Zhao Yanzhou was stunned for a moment and immediately shook his head solemnly, “Your Majesty has worked so hard to give me the opportunity to display my ambitions. I am so grateful, how can there be any complaints?”

He continued in a low voice, “Also, I am so unbearable, but Your Majesty did not give up so that I could continue to serve as an official in the court. I am already very satisfied. How dare I ask for anything else…”

The “unbearable” in his mouth naturally referred to Xiao Yu’s castration of him. Even if Chu Ning hadn’t mentioned this matter, he thought that the emperor and empress should have known about it from Xiao Yu’s confession. As a dignified man, it was really hard to say what happened to him.

Intentionally or not, Xiao Kezhi didn’t seem to understand what he meant and kept silent about it, just patting him on the shoulder and saying earnestly, “I have been wise. Minister Zhao is indeed a man with great ambitions. I know that you are ambitious and talented and have read your articles. The opportunity to give you a foreign job is not for the sake of the empress, but because I think that you are a promising talent. You just need more experience. With time, you can also become a figure like Grand Chancellor Chu back then and become the mainstay of the court. Minister Zhao, do you understand what I mean?”

His heart was shaking and he had mixed feelings before, when he first received the assignment. It was only when he was underappreciated that he realized how important it was to have common sense. Especially when the other party clearly knew your most embarrassing side but still chose to trust you.

“I understand. I will never disappoint Your Majesty’s trust!” Zhao Yanzhou took two steps back and saluted him meticulously.

“So, I’m looking forward to what you do in the future.” Xiao Gezhi didn’t converse with him any more but rather said, “Get up and have a good time at today’s banquet before leaving tomorrow.” After nodding to him, he turned and left, also heading towards the side hall.

In the side hall, Chu Ning changed her clothes first, then wiped her hands and face, took the hangover soup from Cuihe, and slowly drank it. Only then did she feel much more comfortable.

Cuihe put a soft pillow behind her, covered her with a thin blanket, and asked, “Does Your Highness still need some food? At the banquet just now, we drank a lot of wine but ate little.”

Chu Ning replied, “No, I’ve had enough hangover soup, I’ll just rest for a while.”

Cuihe responded, and was about to sit on the side to watch, but footsteps came from outside the house, and then someone called, “Your Majesty is coming.”

The door was pushed open from the outside, Xiao Kezhi walked in quickly, sat by her side, held her hand, and asked, “Have you taken the hangover soup? Is it any better?”

“My dizziness is no longer there, but after all, I drank too much and feel a little tired.” Chu Ning leaned on his shoulder and replied softly, “Why is Your Majesty here? Less than an hour after the banquet started, the emperor and empress had already left the banquet, and others will discuss it.”

“Then let them discuss it.” Xiao Kezhi showed a nonchalant smile on his face, “Today is the day of the grand ceremony, and it can be regarded as our wedding. It’s human nature to leave the meeting earlier.”

Chu Ning smiled embarrassedly. She didn’t expect him to regard today as their wedding day, so she couldn’t help saying, “But if you want to get married, the bedroom should also be decorated with red “double happiness” characters.

Xiao Kezhi thought for a while, then shook his head and said, “There is no need to decorate the sleeping hall, but there is something that must be done. ”

What is it?” Chu Ning looked up at him curiously. Remembering something, her cheeks slowly turned red.

“A’Ning, what are you thinking?” He looked at her appearance, picked her up, stepped out of the side hall, and walked towards the direction of Ganlu hall. The autumn wind was blowing, and the two cuddled together, avoiding everyone’s attention. He had carried her through the palace many times in his arms.

In the past, due to the taboo of status, she tried her best to cover herself and avoid the prying eyes of others, so he became the “unrestrained” young emperor in the eyes of others. Now, they let go of the shackles and bravely faced everyone’s arguments. Everything in the past was dispelled like clouds by the warm sun.

The palace servants passing by on the road no longer talked about it, but stood by the road with a smile on their faces, bowing and congratulating them at the same time. It was indeed like a wedding day.

With Ganlu Hall close at hand, Xiao Kezhi carried Chu Ning up the steps step by step into the palace and gently put her down beside their bed.

Candle flickers, bright moon, and cool breeze.

He sat opposite her, with their knees touching and hands intertwined. “Tying hair as husband and wife, there is no doubt about our love. A’Ning, although I have become the Son of Heaven, I still hope to be like ordinary people in this life, a husband and wife who love each other and support each other.”

Chu Ning’s eyes moved slightly. He silently took off the hairpin and strands of long hair fell down, revealing the colorful ribbon tightly tied in between.

He slowly stretched out his hand, untied the satin ribbon solemnly and gently, and held it gently in his palm.