The Gilded Cage

Go to prison – Your Ancestors Would Be Ashamed. You are not Worthy of Being the Crown Prince (2)

Over the years, the prince’s efforts had been in the wrong place. He only cared about his own reputation but forgot what he should really do as a prince.

After being reminded by Xiao Kezhi, everyone immediately reacted and dared not speak again.

After a while, the team set off again and returned to the Taiji Palace.

The matter was so important that Xiao Kezhi immediately ordered the judges of Dali Temple, the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and Yushi Bureau to try the case together, while Xiao Yu, Zhao Yue, Xu Rong, and others were detained separately, waiting for interrogation.

…

As soon as he had to deal with the matter, Xiao Kezhi was busy until sunset. When the night fell, he was free for a while.

The heat of the day gradually dissipated, and the breeze brought a burst of coolness.

He put down the official document in his hand, picked up the bow and arrow beside him, took advantage of the afterglow of the setting sun, and shot two arrows at the target hanging on the tree. After exercising, he walked towards Ganlu Hall.

In Ganlu Hall, most of the ice placed at the four corners has melted, making the entire sleeping hall cool and comfortable.

Chu Ning lit the lamp and was hanging the freshly washed clothes on the rack by herself. When the maid said that the emperor was coming, she stopped what she was doing, turned her head, and laughed.

“His Majesty is back.”

Xiao Kezhi approached and saw that the clothes in her hand were prepared for him, and his lips couldn’t help curling up, “Yes, I’m back, A’Ning. Everything is fine…”

The matter of the East Palace had been resolved. They were just waiting for the third division to find out the matter and make it public.

Chu Ning paused and didn’t speak, as if something was choking her throat, she could only nod slightly.

There was a distance of several feet between the two, and the dim light intertwined with the afterglow of the setting sun was magnificent and brilliant, casting a hazy halo between the two.

The maids all retreated voluntarily, and the room was quiet. No one spoke, but there was an atmosphere that gradually loosened from tension, which made people feel peaceful in their hearts.

Chu Ning suddenly laughed, lowered her head and approached, stretched out her hand to untie Xiao Kezhi’s belt, and took off her outer robe.

“Did you feel uncomfortable during the day?” He simply hugged her and was about to tighten his arms when he suddenly remembered that she was having her monthly bleeding, so he stopped and started stroking her lower abdomen.

“I drank Your Majesty’s ginger tea and decoction. How could I feel uncomfortable?” Chu Ning thought of the bowl of ginger tea that made her sweaty in the early morning, and couldn’t help but smile again, “Besides, Aunt and Guoer also were here, and I don’t feel uncomfortable when I see them.”

“‘Aunt? You called ‘Aunt’ well.” He was very satisfied when he heard it. “From now on, my relatives will be your relatives, and your relatives will also be my relatives.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for transferring my cousins away for me, and bringing my two younger brothers back safely.” Chu Ning knew that Zhao Yanzhou and her cousins were all safe and sound because of Xiao Kezhi’s arrangements.

“They are your relatives and your father’s relatives. Your father is my benefactor, and I should do so.” Xiao Kezhi shook his head, “Besides, you have treated my uncle’s family well from the beginning, and I have seen everything…”

“They are simple, diligent, honest, and kind people, and they deserve to be treated better by others. Speaking of which, Guoer has been in the capital for more than half a year. Not only has she grown taller, but her mind has also become much more flexible. Although His Majesty already knew what happened today and had a foolproof plan, if she hadn’t discovered the clues in time, I’m afraid it wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.”

According to the servants and palace people, Guoer not only noticed Zhao Yu’e’s abnormality but even persuaded her to confess, which was very different from her usual timid and reticent appearance.

“My uncle and aunt must also feel very relieved about that child.” Xiao Kezhi patted her on the head, washed up, and took her to sit by the couch for dinner.

At night, the two of them took advantage of the moonlight to walk down the corridor for a while, then returned to the house, and read together at night by candlelight, but one was reading official documents of the imperial court, and the other was reading palace archives.

She would add tea for him, and he would rub her arms for her. The two of them were so enraptured by being together that even the waiter can be omitted.

Liu Kang was idle for a while, but felt that he was useless, so he asked someone to make a bowl of iced cream and delivered it himself.

The crystal clear ice is poured with pure white cream, and then embedded with a few jasper-like grapes, it seems to be tempting.

Chu Ning watched eagerly, rarely showing a look of longing.

Xiao Kezhi’s heart moved slightly when he saw it, he couldn’t help coughing lightly and said seriously, “This is cold, you can’t eat it.”

After finishing speaking, in front of her, he scooped up a spoonful of iced cream, put it into his mouth, and nodded with satisfaction. “Sweet and sour… Refreshing! Very tasty.”

Chu Ning glanced at him, but knew that she really couldn’t eat it, so she pursed his lips and turned around, simply out of sight, “Your Majesty, use it quickly, lest it turn into water, and it won’t taste good.”

Xiao Kezhi let out a “huh”, and put another spoonful into his mouth, but his eyes fell on her sideways back, showing a clear smile.

“The taste is indeed good. It’s a pity that A’Ning can’t taste it.” He said regretfully, seeing her back collapsed, he suddenly stretched out his hand to pull her over, and lowered his head to cover her lips.

“Is it sweet?”

The residual sweet and sour taste seeped into her mouth little by little, Chu Ning blinked, couldn’t help sticking out the tip of her tongue to lick his lips, and nodded slightly.

“Sweet.”

“Then eat more.”