The Gilded Cage

In The Court – She Is Now Your Aunt.
(1)

That night, Chu Ning slept extremely well.

When she woke up the next day, Xiao Kezhi had already woken up first and was sitting beside her, fully dressed.

He set up a desk near the bed, from time to time frowning deep in thought, and then raising a brush to write down a few comments on the files.

He could not help but smile and soften his voice, “You are awake? I saw you sleeping well just now.
I couldn’t bear to disturb you, so I didn’t wake you up.”

Chu Ning nodded gently, recalling her good night’s sleep, and said softly, “I did sleep very well last night, I didn’t even know that Your Majesty had risen.”

Her voice still carried the softness after just waking up, which made his heart feel crispy.

Xiao Kezhi asked someone to move the desk back to the outer room, and he himself turned to his side, brushed the messy hair away from her forehead, and then reached out to pick her up from the thin blanket.

“I have prepared your dress.”

Chu Ning followed his line of sight, only to see a new Qiyun dress hanging on a side shelf.
The fabric was light, the texture was soft, and most importantly, the red background color with gold thread embroidered peony and patterns of luan birds… only the Empress Dowager and Empress could wear them.

“Your Majesty, this is…”

She was full of amazement.

Xiao Kezhi pulled her to the edge of her skirt, hugged her from behind, took her hand.
and caressed a golden peony on the skirt inch by inch, whispered, “This is for you, A’Ning, I want you to be the Empress of Great Liang.
Just now, when you were still awake, I had someone go to the Hanlin Office and prepare a decree.
After presenting it, you will be the empress, and the ceremony for the registry will also let the Ministry of Rites and the Zongzheng Temple choose an auspicious day.”

Chu Ning stood in place, no longer knowing what to say, for a long time before responding, “I did not expect…”

She thought that he was good to her, that is, he would take good care of her and pour out his feelings to her sincerely.
How could she expect that he would let a woman like her, who had already married and even left her husband in a way that was still quite controversial, become the empress?!

“This is my decision.
Since I want to keep you by my side, naturally, you should be given the name and status you deserve.” His tone carried a bit of arrogance and rare smugness, “I just said that I will not be a man like my father.”

The tip of Chu Ning’s nose was sour, and her eyes were a little wet, “This dress… When did Your Majesty have it prepared?”

The clothes and dresses had to be handstitched by the embroiderers.
Such a fine effort, no matter how hurried, would take at least two months ago.

“Two months ago.
I had many patterns drawn and finally chose this one to be made.
How is it?”

Chu Ning blinked away the wetness in her eyes and nodded with a smile, “It’s beautiful.
I like it very much.”

In fact, the style of this dress was moderate, although meticulously made.
It was not overly stunning, but this was his heart, so she naturally liked it.

At this moment, Liu Kang stood outside and said, “Everyone, the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince’s Consort are here and are about to perform the courtesy of seeing Your Majesty.”

According to the ritual, the day after the Crown Prince Consort entered the East Palace, she should enter the Taiji Palace to meet the Emperor and Empress, and after the ritual was completed, the Emperor would then enter the Taiji Hall to meet the ministers.

“Understood.” Xiao Kezhi replied in a deep voice.
The smile on his face also faded.

Chu Ning glanced at his face and was about to bow and take her leave, but he did not move and rather held her in place, gesturing at the garment, “Put it on, I’ll go to the Liangyi Hall first, after you get dressed, come along.”

It was a foregone conclusion.
They would always meet, and today was a good opportunity.

Chu Ning’s heart tightened, but she didn’t want to escape.
Hearing this, she nodded lightly, turned around, and called Cuihe in.

……

Outside Liangyi Hall, Xiao Yu and Zhao Yue stepped into the main hall under the guidance of the chamberlain and stood side by side, waiting for the emperor’s arrival.

The two were only two inches apart and seemed very proper, but if you looked closely, you could see that although they were smiling, they were very distant from each other, not like a newlywed couple.

Afraid that they would wait too long, the chamberlain brought a couch and two cups of tea.

Xiao Yu took two sips of tea, but waved his hand at the couch, “I don’t need to sit down, lest the Emperor come over and see me soon, and I am rude.”

When he was outside, he was always cautious for fear of leaving any evidence.

Zhao Yue looked coldly at his pretended humility and gentleness, a trace of disdain flashed in her eyes, and she said to the servant, “Forget it, send it away.”

As soon as the servant left, footsteps came from outside the hall, and then he heard a call.
Xiao Kezhi entered the main hall, surrounded by several servants, and sat on the throne.

The two people below rushed forward to bow.

“Okay, get up.” Xiao Kezhi waved lightly, “It’s hard for you, you have entered the palace so early, how are you feeling?”

Xiao Yu bowed and replied, “Thank Your Majesty for Your Majesty’s concern.
Everything is fine.”

The servants at the side had already prepared the food that the crown prince and consort would present to the emperor, Xiao Yu and Zhao Yue were about to bring it up, but they heard Xiao Kezhi from the throne, “Wait a minute, don’t rush.”

Xiao Yu was taken aback for a moment.
His outstretched hand stopped, and he looked over in surprise.

At some point, Xiao Kezhi’s originally plain face had a meaningful expression that seemed to be a smile but not a smile, and he felt a strange premonition in his heart, as if something were about to happen.