The Gilded Cage - Chapter 130

The Court Meeting – I would like to ask for permission to enter the Daoist temple for training (2)

Outside the Hall of Hundred Blessings, Chu Ning got up from the ground, followed the servant, and walked quickly to the outer court in the south.

The majestic palace in front of her was the Taiji Hall. Except when the first emperor passed away, she had never been here before, and she was finally going to step into it again today.

At the foot of the stone steps, she stopped and stood in the spring breeze under the sun, looking up at the open temple door with complicated eyes.

Outside such a vast and tall palace, her figure became thinner and petite, and even the servant who led her couldn’t help but go up to help her.

“No need, thank you.” She smiled, shook her head, and refused, took a deep breath, straightened her back, climbed up the stone steps one by one, and entered the hall.

A path between the ministers opened up for her, and the original discussion disappeared the moment she stepped in. Under countless gazes, she lowered her head and knelt in front of the throne.

“I just heard that you are going to resign from the position of the Crown Prince’s Consort in front of the Empress Dowager?” Xiao Kezhi’s deep voice came from above his head.

She nodded and said in a loud voice. “This Concubine Chu, since she married into the East Palace and became the Crown Prince’s Consort, has had nothing to do for more than two years and knows that her status is low. Today, this lowly one wants to give up the position of the Crown Prince’s Consort, and beg Your Majesty to find another good wife for the Crown Prince with the respect of a parent.”

As soon as the words fell, the courtiers around fell silent, and then gradually there were voices of discussion.

Xiao Yu’s hanging heart fell completely, but within a moment, he raised it again, while making an unbearable and sad look, while looking up at Xiao Kezhi, waiting to see his reaction.

“Is this really voluntary?” On the throne, under the gaze of everyone, Xiao Kezhi stared intently at his niece-in-law who was kneeling below, and said lightly, “Do you know that if you lose the position of Crown Prince’s Consort, you will no longer be a member of the royal family? Your current status, wealth and fame will no longer exist?”

“This consort is doing so voluntarily, and she understands what she is giving up. This lowly one just asks Your Majesty to fulfill it—” Although Chu Ning’s voice was soft, her tone was very firm.

For some reason, she felt that he deliberately asked this question in front of Xiao Yu.

She bowed her head and kowtowed, and continued the second half of the sentence. “I would like to become a nun in the Daoist temple to practice the Dao, and I will never care about worldly affairs or get involved in secular customs.”

After saying this, she finally let out the breath that was suppressed in her heart, and her whole body seemed to feel lighter.

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

“A’Ning?”

What he thought earlier was that she would give up her position as the main wife and continue to stay in the East Palace as a concubine, but she suddenly said that she wanted to become a nun in a Daoist temple!

In front of all the ministers, he almost got up and asked her what was going on. Duke Xu, who was closest to him, hurriedly grabbed his clothes, frowned, and shook his head silently at him.

He endured it, gritted his teeth, and sat down slowly, staring at his wife kneeling on the ground, who had never looked at him with red eyes, and the hands beside him were clenched tightly, trembling uncontrollably.

“Okay.” After examining her for a while, Xiao Kezhi slowly raised his hand and waved it, as if he was tired, and said in a deep voice, “Since you have made up your mind, and you have not done anything in the past two years, I will allow you to leave the East Palace. I think you have always kept your duty in the past two years, and the behavior has not changed, so—you are permitted to practice the concept of returning to the Dao.”

Guizhen Temple was a royal Daoist temple, built on the west side of the back garden of Taiji Palace. Those who practiced in it on weekdays were mostly noble women in Changan City, especially the women of the Xiao family and those who were closely related to the royal family. Some of them were dedicated to the Dao, while others had to temporarily become nuns due to various reasons.

In the past, the entry and exit of the women in Guizhen Temple was controlled by the director of the harem. Now that the harem has no owner, the Emperor arranged it by himself, which was reasonable. Everyone was stunned about the drama, but they did not dwell long on this small detail.

Probably remembering Chu Ning’s identity, everyone looked at her with pity, regret, and even mocking. As the daughter of a disgraced lord, why did she not want the Crown Prince’s protection?

Few people remember that it was the prince who insisted on marrying the daughter of the Chu family.

Even the courtiers who were on good terms with Chu Qianyu in the past thought that the prince had done his utmost benevolence and righteousness, and after all he was worthy of the Chu family.

Chu Ning had no time to care about other people’s thoughts but felt that the important matter in her heart was finally settled. She breathed a sigh of relief, bowed and bowed again, thanked him, and then got up and exited the TaijiHall.

After she left, the others slowly looked back up front. Only Xiao Yu was staring at the direction of the palace door.

“Your Highness!” Duke Xu couldn’t help reminding in a low voice, which pulled his mind back a little.

“…Crown Prince, do you have any complaints about my handling of this?”

Xiao Yu listened to the repeated question, bowed slowly, and replied subduedly, “I dare not.”

“That’s good.” On the throne, Xiao Kezhi glanced at him, a fleeting smile flickered across his lips, and he said, “Let the Imperial Academy draw up an order on this matter immediately. Since the position of Crown Prince’s Consort is vacant, as an uncle, I should also find a new marriage partner for the prince. If you have a suitable candidate, we can talk about it when the time comes.”

After all, he didn’t intend to get entangled in this matter any longer. He simply waved his hand to signal his retreat, then got up and left, leaving behind the courtiers, big and small, discussing all these tidbits of information.

In the crowd, Xiao Yu’s face was pale, and he was stunned for a long time without saying a word. Then he got up suddenly. Instead of going to the government office, he hurried towards the East Palace.