The Gilded Cage

The Silk Handkerchief (2)

Chu Ning too did not expect him to tell her anything.
She got up from the couch and went to him.

He was steaming with frustration and immediately grabbed the sash at her chest and pulled her into his embrace.
He asked unhappily, “Why are you here?”

Chu Ning couldn’t help remembering what happened just now, and her heart skipped a beat.
However, she put on a bewildered expression and said, “I was just passing by.
I remember that people say that there is a good view of the whole of Taiji Palace up here.
I’ve never had the chance to come here even though we have been married for two years.
That’s why I’m here.”

Xiao Yu’s expression became twisted for a second.

If Xiao Kezhi did not suddenly appear and steal the throne from me, this palace would be mine and she wouldn’t seem sad.

Unfortunately, it is my uncle who lives in Amrita Hall now.

The hatred that accumulated secretly in him for so long was on the verge of bursting out.
He tightened his grip on the sash at her breast.

The sash tightened around her full breasts.
She couldn’t help but frown and cry out in pain.

“Your Highness, it hurts…”

Xiao Yu did not seem to hear her.
As his fingers felt the softness of her body, he found an outlet to release his pent up frustration.
He pulled her high-waist ruqun open and pressed her down to kiss her.

Her skirt slipped down while her wide sleeved top and shawl were still hanging on her shoulders.
She felt exposed.

“Your Highness, we are in Taiji Palace…”

She panicked and reminded him, but he did not care and pushed her onto the narrow couch.
He grabbed her wrist tight to stop her from moving and used his free hand to lift up the hem of her robe.

“This is indeed Taiji Palace.
This palace is supposed to be mine!”

A eunuch brought tea and went up the stairs.
When he neared the top, he heard a strange sound and immediately saw a sight that made him blush.

He looked down in panic, turned around, and fled downstairs.

As the wooden stairs were a little steep, and he was carrying a tray of tea, he only managed to flee a few steps before losing his footing and falling forward.
The tray of tea flew from his hand and rolled down the steps.

Sharp pieces of the shattered tea set cut into his arms and thighs, causing him to break out in cold sweat.
However, he did not dare to cry out in pain.
He quickly waved to other servants, indicating that they should not go up to disturb them.

The fall made a loud noise below, but Xiao Yu did not hear it at all.

He pulled Chu Ning up from the couch and led her to the window.
He restrained her arms from behind and looked out of the window towards the Amrita Hall.

The sky was darkening, and the sound of a gong sounded from afar.
Cold air blew in through the window, so Chu Ning couldn’t help but shiver.

“I will get this back from him.” He whispered into her ear.
His breath sounded uneven, “Chu Ning, don’t worry.
One day, I will make you the Empress of Great Liang.”

Chu Ning bit her lower lip and feared that someone could hear him.

She wanted to sneer in her heart.

What’s the use of being an Empress? There’s no way you can do that.
You destroyed the Chu Clan to make me your Crown Princess.
I don’t dare to think what you would take from me to make me an Empress.

Now that she had lost everything, all she wanted was to clear her father’s name and protect Zhao Yanzhou and her two young cousins.

Despite her frustration, she pretended to look forward to it and said, “Thank you, Your Highness.
Also… About my father, will Your Highness be willing…”

He seemed to stiffen behind her.

It was only for a moment, but disgust formed in her heart.

……

“I will clear his name, Ning.
Don’t worry,” he said naturally, telling her the same lie that he had told her numerous times.

…

An hour later, at Amrita Hall, a eunuch rushed to Liu Kang and whispered into his ear.

Liu Kang frowned upon hearing what he said and glanced furtively at the Emperor who was writing at his desk.
It seemed as if he was afraid that the Emperor would notice.

Xiao Kezhi did not look up from his writing, but he noticed what was happening from the corner of his eye.

He put down his brush, rubbed his forehead, and asked, “What is the matter?”

Liu Kang hesitated for a moment before saying with a smile, “Nothing much.
It’s only to inform that… The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess had just left the Lingyan Pavilion and returned to the Palace of Eternal Spring.”

In actuality, there was more.
The eunuch informed that the Crown Princess looked weak, and the Crown Prince’s expression seemed a little tired.
However, Liu Kang did not dare to inform the Emperor this.

Xiao Kezhi looked at Liu Kang’s troubled expression and discerned what he had left out.
Then, he glanced at the hourglass.

He focused on a silk handkerchief placed nearby.
The silk handkerchief was embroidered with lotus flowers.
It looked clean and elegant.
However, the lotus leaf embroidery was stained with a little rouge.

This was the silk handkerchief he brought back from Lingyan Pavilion.

When he was changing clothes, he acted as if he was not aware of it and did not look at the handkerchief.
The eunuch helping him to change wisely did not say anything about it.
The eunuch saw Liu Kang’s gaze and carefully placed the handkerchief at a place Xiao Kezhi could see easily.

However, when Xiao Kezhi looked at the handkerchief now, he couldn’t help feeling furious.

“Leave.”

He stood up from his desk and considered whether he should do something to release his tension.
However, after pacing in the hall for a while, his gaze still landed on that handkerchief.

He gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes.
He grabbed the handkerchief tightly in his hand and walked into the inner room.