The Gilded Cage - Chapter 149

In The Court – She Is Now Your Aunt. (2)

“Someone hasn’t arrived yet.” Xiao Kezhi said.

Xiao Yu covered up the strangeness in his heart, slowly withdrew his hand, made a puzzled look, and asked, “The Crown Prince’s bridal ritual is to offer wine and food to the Holy Majesty. Who is Your Majesty waiting for?”

Xiao Kezhi smiled and rested one hand on the wooden armrest with a relaxed posture, “In the ritual, other than me, the Empress is naturally to be offered the same.”

Empress?

When they heard the words, Xiao Yu and Zhao Yue both froze.

The Emperor had not been on the throne for a year yet, the Emperor’s harem was vacant, and they had not heard of any intention to establish a queen, especially since today was the second day of their wedding.

No one said anything in the hall, and the strange silence made the atmosphere also become strange.

A few moments later, the chamberlain outside the hall said, “The lady is here.” Immediately after that, there was a sound of unhurried footsteps.

Xiao Yu and Zhao Yue coincidentally turned their heads to look in the direction of the footsteps.

The summer sun was extremely bright and shone brightly on the person’s bodies. What they saw first was the red dress with golden peonies and luan bird patterns on the woman who was surrounded by maids- indeed, it was a dress that only the Empress could wear.

When the person came closer and saw her face clearly, Xiao Yu and Zhao Yue suddenly changed color.

This woman was no other than Chu Ning, who was supposed to be cultivating in the Guizhen Temple!

“You… A’Ning?” Xiao Yu’s eyes widened, staring at the woman who had arrived outside the hall and was stepping into the door. As if to prove that he was mistaken, he reached out and pointed at her and muttered.

Chu Ning didn’t even look at him, only smiled and looked straight ahead. She called warmly to Xiao Kezhi on the imperial seat, “Your Majesty, forgive me, I’m late.”

“No matter, you slept late in the night, but you only delayed a bit in changing your clothes, come over.” He got up from his seat, took two steps forward, and reached out to her.

She naturally put her white jade-like hand on it and was held by him as he walked to the seat and sat down side by side with him, facing Xiao Yu and Zhao Yue.

At the bottom, Xiao Yu stared at her in a daze for a long time, until he saw her sitting down and met her eyes, then he suddenly came to his senses, and his eyes rose up in fierce anger.

He never thought that his wife, whom he had abandoned, would appear beside his uncle on the second day of his wedding, while he had to take his new wife and offer wine and food to these two!

An overwhelming dull pain came from his heart and quickly rushed to his whole body, making his face pale and his limbs inexplicably trembling and weak.

Xiao Kezhi sat on the seat and took in his reaction. His face quickly flashed a trace of cold color, and then ordered, “Well, the person is here. Bring the things up.”

The wine and food were once again handed to him, but Xiao Yu froze in place, not moving.

It was Zhao Yue who came back from the shock first, smiled, turned her head, and whispered to him, “Your Highness, it’s time to offer the wine and food.” Saying so, she simply took the item from the chamberlain’s hand and handed it to him personally.

Xiao Yu looked at her in a trance for a moment before slowly sobering up. After stabilizing his body, he took the things and led her step by step towards the throne.

A few feet away, his steps were as heavy as a thousand pounds.

He couldn’t kneel down like this, and after holding back, he finally gritted his teeth and asked, “I haven’t heard that Your Majesty has crowned an empress. Is it against the etiquette to do so today?”

Chu Ning sat beside Xiao Kezhi and did not say anything, but facing him, in the end, there was still some nervousness, so she subconsciously straightened her back.

Xiao Kezhi did not look at her, but as if he had noticed, he silently grasped her hand.

The strong and warm touch gave her strength and settled her down at once.

“It is true that it has not yet been made known to the world. However, the Hanlin Academy is already preparing the decree. She is already your uncle’s wife, so it is not considered a violation of the rules.”

He coldly surveyed the two, his gaze revealing a compelling majesty and solemnity.

When the words “uncle’s wife” were uttered, Xiao Yu’s body could not help but shake, but in the end, he did not dare to ask further questions and had to hold back his doubts and resentment, lowering his head and kneeling down in front of them, numbly offering wine and food to them under the guidance of the chamberlain.

This was the end of the ritual.

After the chamberlains helped Xiao Yu and Zhao Yue up, Xiao Kezhi also got up from his couch, “Okay, it’s time to go to Taiji Hall to meet the ministers.”

After the court meeting, the crown prince should follow the emperor into the Taiji Hall to meet the ministers, while the crown prince consort should stay in the Liangyi Hall to listen to the Empress’ instructions.

“Crown Prince, follow me.” He came down from the steps and turned his head to glance at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu stiffened his face and felt that Xiao Kezhi was mocking himself from the look on his face to the hands behind his back, but due to the disparity in status, there was nowhere to vent his resentment, so he could only take a deep breath, squeeze out a flickering smile on his pale face and bowed to answer.

The two of them walked out of Liangyi Hall, one after the other, in the direction of Taiji Hall. The moment they stepped out of the threshold, Xiao Yu turned back quickly, and his ruthless and gloomy gaze fell on Chu Ning’s body, as if he was silently questioning her.

Chu Ning stood in the hall. The momentary tension and overwhelming feeling from earlier had disappeared, and she just quietly watched the two until their backs disappeared.