44 Golden Cage
◎The thin nightgown fell off gracefully, and the bed curtains swayed.◎
Gu Ningxi did not receive a response to the memorial he submitted.
His Royal Highness Prince Zhao did not choose her to go to Longnan with him. After the Eastern Palace found out, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince only told her to continue working in the Ministry of Works. It was unknown whether he had planted someone else in the team.
Mrs. Meng said happily, "That's great! You can stay home and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival."
It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, the day for family reunion, but she doesn’t know how to celebrate it without Xier.
Madam Meng ordered the packed bags to be put back one by one. Seeing her daughter's eyes lowered in thought, she couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? What happened?"
"I was just wondering why His Highness Prince Zhao wouldn't choose me." She was the head of the Ministry of Works, and Jinzhou, where she was passing through, was her hometown. Publicly and privately, His Highness Prince Zhao had no reason to reject her.
Could it be because he knew that she had the Crown Prince's instructions behind her? The secret guards of Prince Zhao's palace were too well-informed.
Madam Meng asked, "Then it can't be that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao cares about you and wants you to have a good rest in the capital?"
He can't take Xi'er with him every time he leaves Kyoto. There are so many ministers in the court, and it will always be someone else's turn.
Gu Ningxi smiled, not wanting her mother to worry: "Yes, mother is right."
She has faded out of the fight for the throne, and the Eastern Palace has no intention of re-employing her.
It’s better not to think about the right and wrong of the crown prince.
…
The Mid-Autumn Festival was coming soon, and the court and the people took a three-day break as usual.
Emperor Mingde and Empress Yao advocated frugality. Since the Mid-Autumn Festival was soon followed by the Emperor's birthday, they ordered that the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet should be expedited. The court officials, having received the gifts, were allowed to leave their duties early to spend time with their families.
A dinner was held in Fengyi Palace, and Lu Chen and the prince's elder brother arrived in the afternoon.
He thought it was great, just the four of them being reunited, without any outsiders, it was perfect.
Emperor Mingde was surrounded by his wife and children. While he was satisfied, he couldn't help but feel regretful that Qi'an was still not here this year.
"Father, I offer you a toast."
Lu Chen was particularly enthusiastic at the banquet today. As the youngest son of the Empress, he had always been favored by his parents.
"good."
Li Ji poured more wine for His Majesty, and Queen Yao looked at the scene in front of her with a smile on her face.
The palace set an example, so naturally the various mansions would not hold grand celebrations on Mid-Autumn Night.
Marquis Xuanping is celebrating the festival in Madam Shen's courtyard tonight and sent a message to Qinlan Courtyard two days in advance.
This was the same every year, and with her daughter by her side, Mrs. Meng gradually stopped caring. She greeted her mother-in-law early in the morning, and then had some free time in the afternoon to make mooncakes with her daughter.
On a clear night, a full moon casts a soft glow, the stars twinkle, and a gentle breeze blows.
The servants in Qinlan Courtyard received mooncakes as a reward from the lady, and if they were not on duty, they could go back to their rooms and rest early.
Gu Ningxi leaned against her mother and watched the moon with her.
There were three or five exquisite snacks on the small table in front of her. Mrs. Meng looked at her daughter's young and bright face, held her hand, and felt unspeakable satisfaction and joy in her heart.
Gu Ningxi smiled brightly at her mother. There was no happier situation than the present moment.
The gentle breeze and bright moon help you sleep well.
In the dream, there is also such bright moonlight.
The moon hangs high in the sky, and the palace lanterns shine brightly underground.
The invited civil and military officials, accompanied by their families, waited in the hall, beaming with joy. This year was a bountiful harvest, and it was also the first year of His Majesty's reign, so the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet in front of Zhaoming Hall was extremely grand and lively.
The Emperor and Empress Retired were living out their days in the Dening Palace to the west, having long ago issued an edict not to attend the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. The thrones of honor in the palace remained vacant; His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine had yet to arrive.
Speaking of this imperial concubine who was favored by the emperor, many people in the court knew her, or had worked with her.
The Imperial Concubine was born into the Xuanping Marquisate. Following the defeat of the deposed Crown Prince, the Gu family, as his loyalists, faced a precarious position. Amidst this crisis, the second son of the Gu family, Gu Ningxi, was accused of disguised as a man and deceiving the emperor. Punished for multiple crimes, without the need for new charges, everyone believed the Gu family was doomed.
Unexpectedly, the current emperor's second imperial decree after ascending the throne would be to admit Gu Ningxi into the palace and appoint her as a noble consort. Overnight, the Gu family gained a lifeline. When the new emperor purged the remnants of the Eastern Palace, the Gu family eliminated those who deserved the punishment and barely managed to save their family. While the Gu family's status within the court was significantly reduced, it still held the emperor's great favor.
The Xuanping Marquis's mansion currently has no sons seeking official positions, and His Majesty shows no favoritism to the mansion. However, His Majesty shows unexpected favor to the Imperial Concubine in the harem. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, the harem remains empty, with only the Imperial Concubine.
His Majesty has no intention of taking a concubine, and no one in the court dares to dissuade him.
The glazed palace lanterns reflected a magnificent light, which spread from far away to near. The eunuchs sang in unison: "Your Majesty has arrived, and the Imperial Concubine has arrived."
The guests in the hall all bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to you. Long live Your Majesty. Long live the Imperial Concubine."
At the banquet, the Ministry of Rites arranged for the Imperial Concubine to sit with His Majesty. A beaded curtain obscured the Imperial Concubine's face, leaving her hazy, yet unable to conceal her alluring beauty. The Imperial Concubine wore a bright red peony-embroidered gold brocade dress. The hem was intricately embroidered with jade beads, which shone brilliantly under the lantern light. The pearl adorning the Imperial Concubine's forehead shone brightly, adding a touch of nobility to her captivating features.
The royal family was so prosperous that families with daughters of marriageable age at court always wanted to have their daughters enjoy the pleasures. Unfortunately, His Majesty had no intention of selecting a concubine. The first few requests for His Majesty to take a concubine were rejected, and no one dared to disobey His Majesty's wishes.
Amidst countless envious gazes, Madam Meng, who was standing behind Marquis Xuanping, looked at her daughter who was sitting beside the emperor with tears in her eyes.
The Marquis of Xuanping could only soothe her gently, "Your Highness is doing well, you should be happy. Don't let the Highness see this and upset her."
Mrs. Meng wiped her tears with a handkerchief. Although he was a nobleman, he was not the ideal match for her daughter.
Behind a beaded curtain, the golden tassels at Gu Ningxi's temples rustled softly. The peony hairpin, woven from gold thread and inlaid with precious stones, was exquisitely crafted. There was only one such hairpin in the entire palace, and it was incredibly valuable. Such a treasure could only serve as an embellishment on one side of her dark hair, not as a primary ornament.
Gu Ningxi ate absentmindedly, a cherry biro on her plate. Although she had little appetite, she forced herself to eat a little, unsure if her mother could see through her.
Separated by a pearl curtain, Gu Ningxi's eyes occasionally swept towards the palace. Since entering the palace, she had no chance to see outsiders.
The whole hall is filled with beautiful women in elegant clothes, and people are drinking and chatting.
The harvest was plentiful, the crops were plentiful, the government was clean and honest, and the signs of a prosperous era began to emerge.
The banquet was about to end under the moonlight, and the court officials respectfully saw His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine off.
The harem was peaceful and quiet, with bright sunlight and mist curling around the white marble bathing pool.
Two jade hairpins held her three thousand strands of black hair in place. Gu Ningxi took off her gorgeous clothes and immersed herself in the bathtub.
The hot spring water was warm, and her skin, whiter than snow, was rosy. Her hair was slightly damp as four maids helped the queen change her clothes.
Gu Ningxi put on a moon-white gauze nightgown. When she returned to the bedroom through a small door at the side, there was no one left to serve her.
The emperor finished bathing before her and sat by the window reading.
"Come here," he said to her.
Gu Ningxi obediently let him hold her in his arms, her dark hair flowing softly. Her loosely tied nightgown slipped down a little, revealing her fair, jade-like shoulders.
"Who were you looking at at the table just now?"
Gu Ningxi answered quietly: "Why isn't my cousin here?"
"Why, you want to see him?"
Gu Ningxi shook her head slowly, just wanting to know that her family members were all right.
Lu Jing was still the man who would answer every question: "The generals in Liangdi have rebelled, and the imperial army will march out in May."
May... Gu Ningxi thought about it. His cousin had made military achievements in the South, and His Majesty ordered him to join the army to fight. It can be said that he knows how to appoint people to the right positions.
The moonlight gradually faded, and Gu Ningxi was picked up and taken to the couch.
The thin nightgown fell off and the bed curtains swayed.
There was no more sound of conversation in the bedroom, and gradually only the woman's gentle moans remained.
The sun shines brightly.
The sunlight filtered through the layers of curtains, and the bed beside Gu Ningxi was empty.
"The Queen is awake."
Maids filed in, bearing three new dresses, and helped the Imperial Concubine to her feet. The newly imported Xiangyun silk from the outer chambers was incredibly soft and light. Six pieces were sent to Dening Palace, and His Majesty had the rest cut into dresses for the Imperial Concubine.
Everyone outside knew of the Imperial Concubine's favor, and those close to her naturally saw it even more clearly. His Majesty prioritized the Imperial Concubine in all the palace offerings. Her daily expenses, food, clothing, and other expenses were unbelievably excessive.
The brocade skirt was gorgeous and intricate, and all the maids were amazed.
Gu Ningxi's fingertips gently stroked the satin. If she was just the legitimate daughter of the Gu family, perhaps she would be happy to accept such a day.
But unfortunately, she was once Gu Yuanle.
…
On the streets of Linyang, Xie Qian and His Royal Highness Prince Zhao were strolling casually.
They had reached Jinzhou the day before, two or three days ahead of schedule. They rested at a post station that night, avoiding alerting the local governor. Linyang was the largest county town in Jinzhou, and it was market day mid-month, so the streets were bustling with activity.
Xie Qian accompanied His Highness. They had been away from the capital for nearly half a month. Not only were the court officials puzzled by His Highness's purpose for this trip, but even those within Prince Zhao's palace were equally baffled. Of the three Black Armor Army commanders, he was accompanying His Highness, while the other two remained in Kyoto. His Highness simply said he was leaving the capital to relax, and they were not inclined to question him.
The job was quite leisurely, the scenery along the way was mediocre, and most of the time I had nothing to do.
For example, right now, they stopped at the end of the street and watched several groups of children fighting in groups.
Gradually, Xie Qian figured out something. They were not fighting, but engaged in a war, and it was the same battle as the one at Sishui Pass.
Xie Qian whispered, "Is it Zhao Jianan's army of 100,000 that is invading and encircling our army?"
Lu Jing nodded. They both found it interesting and watched it for a while longer.
The war was about to break out, but somehow the three parties were deadlocked.
Xie Qian listened intently as the leading children argued endlessly, "I want to be His Royal Highness Prince Zhao."
"No, it's my turn to act."
"It was you last time too, get out of here."
One of them said loudly: "I am the tallest, so I should play the role of King Zhao."
Another person said, "I'm very strong. If you don't believe me, let's have a competition."
The last child said, "I act the best, let me do it."
"Why do you say you acted the best?"
The other children mocked him in unison, and the child blushed: "My grandmother has seen King Zhao! I look like him the most."
"Shame on you for lying!"
"Liang Mu is a liar, he has no shame."
The other children didn't believe it, but Liang Mu insisted, "My grandmother really saw it. At that time, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was about the same height as me."
He gestured vigorously and refused to change his words.
Xie Qian felt playful when he heard this and stepped forward: "You still haven't figured out the commander?"
The children were talking at once, and no one could convince anyone else. It was rare for an adult to come and act in a fair manner.
The two brothers in front of me are tall and make people convinced.
The children reached a consensus and asked them to judge the roles.
Xie Qian smiled and looked at Liang Mu: "When did you meet His Royal Highness Prince Zhao?"
"It's not me...it's my grandmother." Liang Mu stammered.
His family had warned him not to talk nonsense outside, but they had argued so fiercely today that he accidentally forgot what his parents had said.
"You can't tell the answer, you're lying." The tallest child spat at him.
Xie Qian thought it was normal for children to talk big, and exchanged glances with His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.
Seeing that everyone was questioning him, Liang Mu could no longer hold back: "My grandmother once served in the home of a high-ranking official and brought a young man from his family. She was the one who met Prince Zhao at that time."
Liang Mu recalled the scenes of prosperity his grandmother had described to him after getting drunk: "It was during the Mid-Autumn Festival that the young man my grandmother raised sneaked out to watch the lanterns with Prince Zhao, leaving only a note. Later, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao brought him back, so my grandmother had seen it."
His story was so convincing that it made people believe it at first.
Xie Qian smiled and shook his head, but when he looked back, he saw that His Highness looked thoughtful, wondering what he was thinking of.
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