The Gilded Cage Chapter 55

Torment (2)

“Remember these?”

Chu Ning glanced at the two identical silk handkerchiefs with lotus flower embroideries. She could not help but curve her smudged lips into a smile. “Your Majesty still keeps my handkerchiefs with you.”

Xiao Kezhi looked down at her. She now looked completely different from her demure self when she was fully dressed in her robe. He felt a wave of desire coursing through his body.

“You worked so hard to give them to me. Of course, I keep them with me.” A mysterious smile flashed across his handsome face. Then, he grabbed her wrist and pulled them to her back.

……

He forced one of the silk handkerchiefs into her mouth so that she could not speak. Then, he used the other one to firmly bind her wrists.

She was lying on her back on the chaise. Her tied hands forced her to arch her upper body. The smooth silk gleamed like pearls in the candlelight. Her long black hair spread on the chaise, making her appear even more alluring.

Xiao Kezhi placed his hands on her cheeks and looked at her with full attention. His voice was hoarse as he said, “Today, I will tame you.”

…

The banquet continued in the main hall. The Empress Dowager had already returned to the Palace of Hundred Blessings to rest. Furthermore, quite a few of the ladies attending the banquet had returned to their homes. The rest of the guests grew even less restraint and became almost riotous in their celebration.

Meanwhile, Cui He waited quietly in the outer room in one of the side halls. She heard noises of bamboo rustling in the wind and felt that they were far away.

Her hands were covered in cold sweat. She squeezed them together as she thought of Chu Ning being out for quite some time. She hoped that Chu Ning would return soon. At the same time, she also hoped that Xiao Yu would sleep longer, at least for another couple of hours like how he usually slept when he was drunk.

However, Xiao Yu did not do as she wished.

It might be the effect of the hangover soup prepared by the cooks in Taiji Palace. He drank quite a lot of it. Around an hour later, he woke up gradually and called out for Chu Ning from the inner room.

Cui He was startled. She hurriedly into the inner room and said softly, “Your Highness, you’re awake. Would you like to have some tea?”

Xiao Yu had a splitting headache and grunted in affirmation. But when he saw that the person helping him up was Cui He, his mind suddenly awakened, and he asked with a frown, “Where is Ning?”

He was quite drunk before this, so he could not remember what happened. He thought for a while and vaguely remembered someone helped him here. At the time, Chu Ning was by his side.

Cui He’s heart sank, but she remembered what Chu Ning instructed before leaving. As she poured a cup of warm tea, she explained calmly, “Madam was watching over Your Highness a moment ago. Just now, she realized that her bracelet has fallen on the way here, so she went out to look for it.”

Xiao Yu endured the dizziness and pain in his head as he drank two sips of tea. He said impatiently, “It’s just a bracelet, why does she have to look for it herself?”

Cui He looked down and accepted the cup from Xiao Yu before setting it aside. Then, she said softly, “Initially, I wanted to find it for Madam. But Madam said that it was a gift from Your Highness, so she searched for it herself. That was why she asked me to stay and watch over Your Highness.”

Xiao Yu was dizzy. After listening to her, it took him a long time to remember that Chu Ning wore a white jade bracelet today. He remembered that he gifted it to her last year. This dissipated his anger slightly.

“Fine, what time is it now?”

“It’s about three quarters of an hour into late evening.” There was no hourglass in the room, so Cui He had no choice but to estimate the time. She started to become more anxious.

At this moment, the two eunuchs had returned from the East Palace, bringing clothes and a box containing congee and a few side dishes.

Cui He asked them to come in before explaining to Xiao Yu, “Madam ordered them to get clean clothes and prepare porridge for Your Highness. Please have some. If Your Highness would like to see Madam, I’ll go and ask her to come here.”

……

“Go.” Xiao Yu sat up from the chaise and waved her off without looking at her.

Upon obtaining his permission, Cui He bowed and walked out slowly. After closing the door, she hurriedly took a shortcut and walked towards the Autumn Gate.

…

The wind penetrated through the door crack and blew out the only candle in the room, leaving only a wisp of smoke that the darkness engulfed instantly.

Chu Ning laid on the couch and felt unbearable.

She was covered in sweat and out of breath. Frustrated tears filled her eyes and were on the verge of overflow. Her mouth was still covered with a silk handkerchief. Other than a low pleading whimper, she could not make any other sound.

Xiao Kezhi seemed to have infinite patience with his desire. He kept teasing her with his fingers but never brought her to full pleasure. Her scandalous undershirt was hung on her, disheveled. He seemed determined not to allow her any satisfaction.

He was like a general who had clearly won the battle but continued to mess with his enemies to humiliate them.

“I remember that your name is Ning?” he said hoarsely, leaning close to her. He place a hand at the back of her head while teasing her underneath her skirt with his other hand.

Chu Ning couldn’t speak. She could not think as she shivered from time to time under his pleasuring fingers. She could only nod with tears in her eyes.

“Good girl.” He kissed the corner of her wet eyes. Then, he kissed the tip of her nose and asked, “Are you willing to admit your mistakes?”

She could only nod helplessly.

He took away the silk handkerchief from her mouth. “Tell me, what is your mistake?”

“I was wrong. I shouldn’t have provoked Your Majesty. I won’t dare to do it anymore,” Chu Ning said sadly with teary eyes. She no longer seemed cunning like before.

“Good girl.” He finally smiled with satisfaction and untied the handkerchief on her wrists.

At this moment, someone knocked on the door. Then, an eunuch said softly, “Your Majesty,  someone came and reported that the Crown Prince is awake.”