The Gilded Cage - Chapter 189

One Year Old (2) This chapter is all about the cousin! (3)

A few days later, it would be the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, and the first birthday banquet for the emperor and empress’s sons and daughters was also held today.

The excitement in the Taiji Palace was even more lively than in the past. The crowds were full of laughter. The two little birthday stars were hugged by the Emperor and Empress, accepting congratulations from time to time.

Zhao Yanzhou looked at his cousin’s family of four sitting on the throne from afar, feeling in a daze.

The young Emperor not only gave A’Ning a legitimate and dazzling identity but also made her rely on him from now on, and he never had another woman for two or three years. This was almost impossible for most aristocratic men in the world.

So easy, it was really embarrassing.

He suppressed the complex and sour taste in his chest, stretched out his hand to lift the jug, filled the glass with wine, stood up silently, walked to the throne, and bowed humbly, “Today’s Mid-Autumn Festival, the two young highnesses just turned one year old, this citizen came to offer this glass of wine to Your Majesty, Your Highness, and the two young Highnesses, wishing the two Young Highnesses a long and safe life.”

The Emperor and Empress looked at each other and smiled, raised their wine glasses together and drank with their heads up, signaling to him.

Chu Ning smiled and taught the children to learn to call “Uncle” again, and pointed to the golden longevity lock on their necks, and said, “Brother, look, the longevity lock you sent, Zhang’er and Fu’er are both wearing theirs. From now on, this longevity lock will protect them until they grow up.”

“Her Highness has overpraised.” Looking at Zhang’er and Fu’er’s lively appearance, he couldn’t help but twitch the corners of his mouth and smiled.

“Minister Zhao has worked hard in the past two years. I heard that you have made a lot of achievements in Jinzhou. You don’t need to be humble.” Xiao Kezhi rarely smiled happily and nodded to him in affirmation.

The emperor never cared about his relationship with A’Ning and gave him opportunities and affirmation more tolerantly.

“Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. I just did my duty and did what I was supposed to do? That’s all, it’s not ‘achievements’.”

His eyes moved, and he felt that the warmth and intimacy among the four members of the family in front of him, although expected, was still admirable.

His cousin A’Ning finally found her home for the rest of his life. In the future, he shouldn’t have to worry about her anymore, right?

For some reason, while he felt a sense of loss in his heart, there was also an inexplicable relaxation, as if some heavy burden was suddenly taken away, which made his whole heart feel a little “unreal”.

“Brother, I just sent someone to your house with a few bolts of fabric to make some clothes for Yunniang.”

Chu Ning’s voice penetrated into his ears again, bringing him back to his senses.

“Your Highness? I understand.”

He suddenly remembered Yunniang’s words that day.

Now that A’Ning had everything, the only regret and guilt in his heart was probably her cousin, right?

He shouldn’t make her worry so much, let alone let her have any regrets. He just wanted her to be happy in this life, without any worries.

“Brother, what did you understand?” Chu Ning was a little confused, but Xiao Kezhi who was beside him seemed to have understood.

Zhao Yanzhou didn’t explain much, after bowing his hands and saluting, he left silently.

The banquet was not over, but he didn’t stay any longer and returned directly to his residence.

On the fifteenth day of the month, the moonlight was bright and clear, casting a clear glow in the courtyard.

Yunniang was sitting alone on the porch waiting for him, and when she saw him come back, she immediately showed a happy smile, “Master, you came back so early? Yunniang thought that Master would stay in the palace today. ”

“Since you thought I would stay in the palace, why are you still waiting here?” He stopped, stood in front of her, and asked in a hoarse voice.

“It’s just a guess, in case, in case the master comes back, wouldn’t this servant wait for him?” She smiled softly, turned around, and opened the door to welcome him in.

The warm candlelight came from the door, making his eyes hot.

“Yunniang.” He stood still, his voice trembling, “I have been castrated, so I am no longer a man.”

“In my heart, I still pretend to be someone else, all the time, and in the future, I can’t give it all to you.”

“If I marry you, it’s also to let her feel at ease.”

Yunniang’s footsteps stopped, and she turned around abruptly, holding back tears and looking at him.

“So, are you still willing to stay by my side?”

She raised her head. Her lips trembled slightly, her beautiful and clean eyes were glossy, and with a slight movement, tears welled up in her eyes.

She was obviously shocked in her heart, but her intuition told her that there was no room for hesitation at this time.

“Yunniang is willing, as long as she stays with Master, Yunniang doesn’t care about anything.”

She spoke without hesitation, like a desperate moth rushing towards the flames.

“Silly Yunniang.” His eyes were sour, and he finally sighed and stretched out his hand to press the top of her hair, “I am not good enough for you.”

“Isn’t Master as stupid as Yunniang…”

Yunniang spoke in a voice that made him chuckle with tears in his eyes.

“Yeah, the two idiots are a good match again?”

“What does Master mean?” She was nervous and looking forward to it, and even looked at him with fear.

“Yunniang, I will marry you.” He lowered his head and said softly, “I can’t promise you too much, but in the future, I will only have you by my side, and everything will be yours. I will do my best to treat you well, are you willing?”

He had already pretended to be someone else, he couldn’t guarantee that he would forget the past immediately, and he loved Yunniang wholeheartedly. He was willing to give it a try, to give her support so that she would never have to worry about it in this life.

She deserved good treatment from him.

“Master, I… How could I not want to?”

“Okay, from now on, let’s live a good life.”

Want to read more chapters and support us? Please consider becoming a patron to read chapters in advance!