The Gilded Cage - Chapter 140

Heartfelt Thoughts – If You Can’t Bear It, Don’t. (2)

He had raised the prince to be a gentle and courteous modest gentleman, but because of the previous emperor’s ruthlessness and weakness and the Empress Dowager’s coldness and oppression, he gradually developed a gloomy and suspicious nature.

Lady Chu was one of the few people who could make the Crown Prince feel human. The first time he saw this, he had to admit that she had taken good care of the prince and served him for the past two years so that his weak body had improved.

The other maids and chamberlains did not dare to approach him because of his unpredictable nature, fearing that they would be chastised if they were not careful, and their words would never be taken to heart by the crown prince, so they naturally would not be much comforted.

Only Lady Chu could advise the prince to take medicine or go to bed early, and the prince would more or less listen to some of her chidings.

Now that she was gone, the whole East Palace felt what was missing, empty and lifeless.

He thought that the prince was forcing himself so much to escape the guilt and anger in his heart.

“I’m fine, there’s no need to worry.” After Xiao Yu calmed down for a moment, he sat up straight from the couch, waved his hand at him with his head bowed, and continued to talk about the deployment, “The 100,000 people stationed in Ganzhou, we also have to guard against them getting word to return to help by then.”

Xu Rong looked at him for a moment and saw that although his face was pale, his mind was very sober, so he nodded along, “Yes, although the two armies can match each other, to ensure that nothing can go wrong, indeed, we must guard against them. Your Highness has a countermeasure?”

Xiao Yu didn’t say anything, but rethought the map of Great Liang in his mind, especially the area of Ganzhou, and only after a moment did he slowly say, “The Ganzhou army was set up to resist the Northern Rong.”

“Not bad.” Xu Rong nodded and replied, “The north is desolate and barren, and the Northern Rong people drink blood and eat hair, and in order to seize food and treasure, they repeatedly come south and invade our borders, causing the people to suffer, and the imperial court is always worried, which is why they have a large army in Ganzhou – Your Highness, do you want…”

At the end of the sentence, he slowly came back to his senses and suddenly had a guess, and could not help but ask with wide eyes.

Xiao Yu frowned, nodded gently, and said, “The only ones who can hold back the Ganzhou Garrison are the Northern Rong.”

“But, that is the northwest frontier, the Northern Rong are vicious and savage, once they break through the defense line – the consequences are worrying!” Xu Rong considered himself a person who would do whatever it takes to achieve his goal, but this time, even he was alarmed by the prince’s words.

In the past few years, the Ganzhou army had grown to keep the Northern Rong people at bay and the northwest border calm.

Xiao Yu was silent for a moment and closed his eyes silently.

He naturally knew the consequences of doing so, but once a great opportunity was missed, it would never be available again.

“Minister Xu, I-I will not let that kind of consequence happen.” He clenched his fists and whispered, “As long as I’m quick enough to seize the empire before something happens, everything will be solved…”

“Alas…” Xu Rong frowned, repeatedly struggled, finally gritting his teeth and agreeing, “Let’s just take a chance.”

If they really lost, they would be dead. At that time, what would the lives of others mean to them?

……

In the Guizhen Temple, the sound of insects near and the sound of instruments in the distance have gradually calmed down.

Chu Ning, draped in a thin gauze, lazily reclined on Xiao Kezhi’s chest. Her originally blurred thoughts gradually returned.

She knew that the sound of music in the Hall of Ganlu from time to time was his intentional action to make himself look overindulgent and , from after the new year, until now in April, intermittently, without stopping.

Such a well-intentioned effort, she seems to be increasingly able to appreciate and even be moved by.

It was late at night, and she nudged him and said softly, “Is Your Majesty still not going back?”

Although he often comes to the temple, he often had to go to court early the next morning and could not stay overnight.

“I’m leaving now.” He said in a dumb voice, but did not let go of her to get up, but turned to cover her lips and kissed them with intent, “I am still a bit reluctant.”

Chu Ning’s wet eyes looked at him in confusion.

“My jade was worth a thousand taels of gold, yet you want to send me off with a bowl of pre-prepared cherry milk dessert?”

As his words fell, she remembered the white snow reflecting red plum and swallowed, cheeks scarlet.

“Was that dessert not good?” She looked away and asked in a low voice.

“Good, too good, I didn’t get enough.” He stroked her cheek and gently tweaked her soft earlobe, “I always want more.”

“What else does Your Majesty want?” Chu Ning became more and more confused, suddenly remembering the few personal items he had taken from her earlier, she couldn’t help but blurt out, “I do not have a lot of things, Your Majesty has a lot of things.”

He laughed, but his eyes quietly moved to the red tassel rope she used to tie her hair on the side table.

However, this was only a look, he will wait until the day she really enters the Taiji Palace and then personally untie the tassel for her.

“This Emperor will always want things.” He slowly sat up straight, “But you can owe me for today. Later, I will come back to collect it.”

After saying that, he turned around to get off the bed.

Chu Ning understood his intention. Moved, she could not help but reach out and pull his arm, whispering to him.

“Your Majesty…”

He stopped moving and turned his head again to look at her, “What is it?”

“Your Majesty asked A’Ning to say all that was in her heart…” Her cheeks grew scarlet, as if she were hesitant to say anything to him.

Somehow, his heart suddenly lifted and he nodded, holding his breath to hear her next words.

“I want His Majesty to know my heart–” She took his hand and placed it on her left side of her chest, letting him feel the thumping heart underneath.

“I seem to be less and less able to bear to let Your Majesty go…”

Feeling the soft smoothness and light beating in his palm, a cluster of fireworks suddenly rose up in his dark eyes.

“A’Ning…” He leaned down again and wrapped his body around hers for a kiss, “If you can’t bear it, don’t.”