The Gilded Cage

Chapter 52: Paint a lotus an ink-colored lotus

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Chuning paused for a while, and there were ripples in his heart, then he stood up straight, followed him back to the crowd, and said to Guo'er, "Okay, the lights are finished, I would like to thank Guo'er for your heart."

Guo'er seemed very happy, she shook her head at her, and said softly, "Your Highness treats Guo'er well, and Guo'er wants to make a lamp for His Highness!"

Xiao Kezhi listened, laughed, rubbed her head, and raised her voice: "Yes, that's how it should be. You treat whoever treats you well, and if anyone treats you badly, you don't have to be polite to him. "

These words not only encouraged Guoer, but also warned others around.

When the ladies heard this, they all felt a little guilty, and one of them said in a rounded tone, "Your Majesty is right, Madam Wei is His Majesty's cousin, who dares to be slow?"

The others were reminded and hurriedly nodded in agreement.

A few days ago, Mrs. Xu had euphemistically mentioned to His Majesty that it was no longer necessary for Erniang Zhao to teach the little lady to ride a horse. Mrs. Zhao was ordered by His Majesty himself, and Madam Xu refused to do so. Instead of being annoyed, His Majesty readily agreed, which shows her maintenance and tolerance towards Duke Lu.

If it was two months ago, everyone would not have cared so much, but as the days passed, the situation in the court became clearer day by day, and no one dared to underestimate the present His Majesty.

Xiao Kezhi saw everyone's reaction in his eyes, no more words, just waved his hand: "Okay, let's go, don't need to be in front of you."

When everyone heard the words, they all retreated. Chu Ning also turned around and left, but Guoer pulled her sleeves and asked in a low voice, "Can Your Highness and Guoer enjoy the lantern together?"

Chuning paused for a while, remembering what Xiao Kezhi said just now, and he didn't know how he arranged it. He couldn't agree for a while, so he could only look at Xiao Kezhi, who was still on the side, and shook his head with a smile: "Sorry, today I feel a little sick, and the prince is still waiting, I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy the lantern with you."

Guo'er showed regret, but nodded sensible in the end.

Mrs. Xu also quickly said goodbye and took her daughter away.

Chu Ning turned his head, bowed slightly to Xiao Kezhi, and took Cui He to another place.

When he walked to a place with few people, he saw one of the servants in front of the palace was standing by the corridor and bowed to her, then turned to go further afield, as if to signal her to follow.

Chuning paused, and seeing that no one was paying attention to this place, he stepped forward and followed.

In order to prevent the water from escaping, most of the palace servants and palace staff were transferred to the lantern fair to hold water and guard them. As a result, other places seemed deserted.

Under the quiet corridor, the servant walked a dozen feet in front of her, unhurriedly, and finally brought her to a remote palace.

This is a room for people to rest. In addition to the long couch, there is also a book table. In case of emergency, even the pen and ink are prepared.

There was no one else in the room, only a woman's dress hung on the shelf beside the bronze mirror.

The color of the dress is very bright and eye-catching, and it looks a bit similar to the dance girls of Jiaofang Division often wear, but if you look closely at the shape, they are all well-behaved, and there is no nudity at all.

Only under the innermost tube top skirt, there is a thin layer of gauze. The texture is clear and the color is beautiful. Judging from the length, it can only cover two or three inches below the buttocks.

She immediately remembered the underwear she had remodeled when she was still in the Tai Chi Palace, and stood on the spot holding the gauze, thinking about whether to put it on now, when she heard a deep voice behind her: " Why don't you change it? I specially prepared it for you."

"Your Majesty?" Her eyes moved, and she turned her head to the side. Sure enough, she saw Xiao Kezhi had come in quietly at some point, and was standing and smiling at her.

She touched the thin fabric in her hand, and couldn't help but ask, "I'll change it, will His Majesty take me to see the lights?"

Xiao Kezhi nodded, and couldn't help but take a step closer to examine her face in the warm light.

"Then Your Majesty will replace Aning in person, okay?"

She said, and took the initiative to approach, holding his two broad and rough palms, and gently placed them on the collar of her shoulders.

The clothes in winter are a little thicker, but when he put his palm on her shoulder, he still seemed to touch the smoothness and delicacy underneath.

"You asked me to come?" His voice became hoarse and his eyes darkened.

"Yes, I beg Uncle Huang to change his niece's clothes." She raised her head and looked at her eyes full of water.

His palms were getting hotter and hotter, and his fingers moved spontaneously, peeling off the complicated and dignified clothes layer by layer.

The water lilies that should be closed at night were quietly blooming in his palms again, and the white petals were dyed with a layer of light powder, as if they had been colored with a brush.

He admired the delicate flowers in his palms, but he didn't rush to bring the clothes over, but rubbed them carefully by candlelight.

The lotus branch shakes gently, the petals are full, and the sweet honey slowly seeps out from the stamens, melts into the dew, and rolls down silently.

The fingertips touched the stamens hidden between the petals, the water lilies floated and swayed among the water waves, pretending to close and fall asleep, but did not get any chance, the tip of the nose moved closer, sniffed a little, and touched it from time to time.

"Your Majesty, I don't want to admire the lanterns..."

Her complexion was beautiful, and her slender fingers penetrated into his black hair, which was tightly tied in the crown, as if not pushing.

"The lamp will be rewarded later, I will reward you first."

His eyes swept across the book case, and he was instantly interested, he hugged her directly, and made her turn over and lie on the table.

"Be good, don't move."

He held one of her hands and took her to pick up the ink ingot beside her and grind it in circles on the inkstone table.

"What is your majesty going to do?"

There was a cold book case under Chu Ning, and he couldn't help shrinking.

He pressed her tightly, and seemed to be very focused on polishing the ink. When he was done, he picked up the pen and said, "I want to make a mark on you first."

After all, without waiting for her to react, after the soft and cold tip of the pen licked the ink, she slowly sketched the white greasy patch on her shoulder, stroke by stroke.

"Your Majesty, don't!" She grabbed the corner of the desk abruptly and tried to get up to dodge, but he was firmly restrained.

"Dear boy, don't move, if the painting is crooked, you will have to repaint it in a while."

Chu Ning couldn't move, so he could only endure the coldness and softness behind him, and tried his best to suppress it.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally finished painting, but he didn't let go. Instead, he leaned down and gently blew the wet ink.

He got very close, as if he was about to dry the ink, until the petals of the water lilies trembled, and the dew rolled down.

He asked her to kneel on the case facing him, turned her face, and looked at the bronze mirror beside her with her.

In the bronze mirror, the beauty was leaning softly in his arms. A black lotus was painted on her bright and clean back. The lotus branches grew below the left waist, and the petals opened under the right shoulder blade. Against the background of the white skin, Both elegant and more beautiful.

"It's done." He squeezed her cheeks, kissed her temples again, and took the thin sheer gauze to put on for her.

The lotus was covered, leaving only a hazy shadow.

Across the gauze, he bowed his head and kissed the outline of the lotus flower. The fragrance of the ink was faint, and it penetrated into the tip of his nose, making his mind rippling.

"Your Majesty, Anning is uncomfortable..."

He stopped, took other clothes, and helped her put them on one by one. He was not very skilled, but he was very patient. He straightened the buttons of the clothes so that they were not messed up, and then kissed her ear and instructed: " The lotus painted by the imperial brush, I have finished viewing the lamp in a while, and I still have to check it, but it must not be damaged."

Chu Ning shuddered, and a pimple appeared on her body, so she nodded with a blushing face.

He took out a bright mask from a box on the side and put it on for her, which dancers in the church department occasionally used, and then stood aside and looked at it.

The slightly tightened clothes framed her slender waist as soft as a willow branch, and the gorgeous mask inlaid with gems blocked her appearance.

In this way, no one can see her identity anymore, only that she is a beautiful young woman.

"Let's go."

He was very satisfied, he held her hand directly, pushed the door open without hesitation, and walked in the direction of the Lantern Festival.

The lantern festival was still crowded, with joyous songs and laughter intertwined.

Guo'er followed Lu Guogong and his wife through the lantern festival for half an hour. Although she was still full of interest, her eyelids were a little droopy.

In the end, she was still a little girl who had just turned ten years old. She had been in high spirits since the daytime, and by this time she was already tired.

Wei Shou rubbed his daughter's head and asked with a smile, "Guo'er is tired? Do you want to go back to sleep first?"

Guo'er was stunned for a while, before she realized what her father had said, and nodded confusedly.

"This child has been playing a lot recently, and I'm tired now." Mrs. Xu patted her shoulder helplessly, and took her hand to send her back, but she pulled her hand back and shook her head.

The maid on the side understood what she meant, and said hurriedly: "Madam, let's stay and have a look with Lang Jun. It is rare to have such a grand occasion in the palace. The slave maid sent the little lady back on behalf of the madam."

Guo'er nodded: "Guo'er go back, mother and father stay."

Mrs. Xu was worried, but Wei Shou sighed: "Guo'er is too old to be considerate of her mother. Madam, please stay, we have a rare opportunity to walk together. It is in the palace, and someone is leading it. , nothing will happen."

With this general advice, Madam Xu hesitated, thought for a moment, nodded her head, and said to the maid: "Forget it, please send Guo'er back well, remember to put the quilt tighter for her, she slept well at night. If you are not steady, you will always be kicked off by the quilt."

The maid answered her explanation one by one, and after bowing and saluting, she led Guo'er through the crowd and went to the residence.

After exiting the press platform, the surroundings suddenly became secluded. Bamboo shadows swayed in the moonlight, rustling, listening to Guo'er's ears, like hypnotic chants.

Her eyelids drooped, and her steps became smaller and slower.

The maid took her hand and felt her distress and powerlessness, so she couldn't help but stop and asked, "Little lady, there is still a long way to go, the servant will be returned by you, okay?"

Guo'er looked at her vaguely, before nodding her head, and then shaking her head quickly: "Far, you can't carry it on your back."

The maid was a little moved. Although this little lady was shy, she was really gentle and delicate, and she was very kind to her servants.

After thinking for a while, she brought Guo'er to a large rock under the shadow of the tree and sat down, and said softly, "My servant, go and ask someone to take the chariot to take the little lady back. The little lady will wait here for a while, okay?"

Guo'er nodded, and when the maid left quickly, she leaned her thin and small body against the tree trunk, and was immediately hidden in the darkness so that people could not see it.

Drowsiness hit her, and she stretched out her hand to hug the tree trunk, just before she fell asleep, there was a sudden sound of very fast footsteps in her ears.

On the promenade, a familiar girl stopped to one side and looked left and right, as if waiting for someone.

After a while, on the other side, a young and elegant Lang Jun approached quickly.

The two looked around together, and quickly flashed under the shadows of the trees by the porch.