The Gilded Cage

ng of grass and tree leaves.
Their bodies were hot despite the chill of early winter.

Xiao Kezhi turned Chu Ning around to face him.
His deep eyes took in her snow white skin and exquisite facial features before finally pausing on her full red lips.

His Adam's apple rolled slightly.
He pinched her slender neck, forcing her to look up at him.
Then, he said with a smile, “When did I ask you to see me?”

She fluttered her long eyelashes.
Her eyes clear like an autumn lake, making his heart tremble.
She parted her full red lips and said gently, “Isn’t Your Majesty curious to know why I deliberately wanted to approach you?”

Xiao Kezhi sneered but did not answer.
He slowly let go of her and walked towards the empty room.

Chu Ning did not hesitate and followed him silently into an empty side hall.

The side hall was pitch black.
Its only source of light came from the moonlight by the window.
Then, two eunuchs came in silently and lit a lamp before bowing and exited.

The moment the door closed gently, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned mysterious under the warm candlelight.

“Your Majesty…”

Chu Ning wanted to tell him the reason she approached him, but he stopped by her.

“Hush…“ He leaned close and pressed his forehead to hers before pressing an index finger on her lips gently.
Then, he looked straight into her eyes and said, “Are you willing to confess to me now?”

Chu Ning's gaze trembled.
She nodded slightly and whispered, “I won’t hide it from Your Majesty.”

The plump red lips parted and closed, brushing against the pad of his index finger, exhaling a warm breath from time to time.

He gritted his teeth and stood up slowly, pushing her against the door frame.

“Even if you want to tell me, it depends on whether I’m willing to listen.” He slowly unraveled her clothes.
There is a hint of anger in his gaze as if he remembered the frustration from her teasing from before.
“Now, I don't feel like listening.”

With that, he grabbed the collar of her robe and pulled it to the side.

Her securely tied robe slipped and fell, revealing her distinctive undershirt.

The robe was short.
It was secured with two thin ribbons hanging from her delicate shoulder.
The undershirt covered her chest and stopped shortly above her knees.
The waist area had been tightened deliberately, outlining her slim waist.
The undershirt covered her beautiful figure just right, outlining her exquisite body perfectly.

The silk undershirt reflected the dim candlelight, accentuating the smoothness of her skin.
Chu Ning bit her lower lip and turned her back to him, revealing another dazzling sight.
A large piece of fabric had been cut off from the back of the undershirt, exposing her smooth back to Xiao Kezhi’s gaze.
Furthermore, elegant and graceful lotus flowers were embroidered on the fabric that covered her hip.

Xiao Kezhi looked at her and felt his body tightened with tension.
His eyes were bloodshot.
He pressed a hand on the door frame above her head.
He pulled her hairpin with his other hand and tossed it aside distractedly.

Her soft hair flowed down, covering half of her back and bringing a burst of fragrance.

She looked up at him.
The little golden flower on her forehead gleamed in the candlelight, making her appear like a goddess descended from heaven and trapped in the mortal world.

“Temptress.”

Xiao Kezhi gritted his teeth and felt his control snapped.