The Gilded Cage

Letter (3.2)

Then, he caressed her skin with his thumb and said casually, “I heard that you found an old family servant?”

Chu Ning’s back stiffened, and she immediately knew that he was talking about Fang.
She did not need to guess where he had heard it from.
In the past two years, although he allowed Zhao Yanzhou to help her find her scattered relatives and servants, he had also gotten people to keep tabs on them.
Almost any news she received, he would have already known.

At the time, she thought that he was just paranoid and was being careful against the Empress Dowager.
Now, she finally understood and knew that he wanted to exterminate anyone who may know the truth of what happened in the past before it got to her.

It was no wonder that in the past two years, apart from two infant cousins, she couldn’t find any other relatives.

She nodded slightly, and her eyes seemed sorrowful, “I found the old butler who had served my family.
Sadly, he is very old and has suffered a lot in Qianzhou for the past two years.
When I found him, he was very sick and confused.
He couldn’t even recognize Supervisor Zhao.
Now, he is placed in Yong Chanfang’s residence.
I fear that he will never recover.”

There was not a hint of a lie in what she said, so she did not fear Xiao Yu’s investigation.
As for the letter Fang wrote, she deliberately concealed it from him.

Fang became ill half a year ago.
At the time, he must have known that his days were coming to an end, so he rushed to write that letter.
He kept the letter close to him all the time and protected it with his life, never showing it to anyone.
Meanwhile, he grew more and more confused every day.
Even though he had forgotten Zhao Yanzhou, he still remembered Chu Qianyu’s only daughter.
The moment he saw her, he broke down into tears and stuffed the letter in her hand.
Then, he hurriedly explained what happened years ago.
After that, as though he had finally released a huge burden, he let go completely and became senile. 

Xiao Yu did not say anything but looked into her eyes for a moment.
Then, he sighed and hugged her closer as he said, “Thank heavens that Supervisor Zhao was able to find him.
Otherwise, he may never be able to return.
Ning, it’s all my fault.
It has been so long and yet I’m still unable to clear your father’s name.”

Chu Ning leaned her face against his chest and felt the coolness of the material of his robe.
She shook her head slightly.
“Let’s resolve the problem before us first.
We can deal with my father’s matter in the future.”

Outside, the horse-drawn carriage was ready.
Both of them entered the carriage.

The night guards surrounding the East Palace had no intention of leaving.
All the way to Taiji Palace, there were at least ten guards keeping eyes on them every step of the way.
It was very oppressive.

Xiao Yu sat in the carriage with his eyes closed and his lips pressed together.
He was completely silent as though concentrating his mind to control his emotions.
The carriage stopped outside the palace door.
The moment he stepped down from the carriage, he rescinded his gloomy expression and put up his usual refined and gentlemanly demeanor, tinged with the paleness from fatigue and a little grief from losing his father.

The late Emperor’s funeral ceremonies would be held in Taiji Hall, which was in the center of Taiji Palace.
As Chu Ning and Xiao Yu neared the hall, most of the late Emperor’s relatives and ministers had arrived.
They all stood in lines before the steps, whispering among themselves.
When they saw Chu Ning and Xiao Yu, their gazes were either filled with curiosity, mockery or pity.

Chu Ning stood straight and focused on looking before her as she followed Xiao Yu to stand in front of all the relatives and ministers.

Immediately after taking their position, she saw more than ten fully armored imperial guards escorting a young man who was walking fast from Zhuming Gate. 

The young man seemed to be around twenty-five to twenty-six years old.
He was tall and had wide shoulders.
His posture was straight, and he had a commanding presence.
This young man was Xiao Kezhi, the Prince of Qin, and the heir to the throne.