Yao Huang’s carriage turned into Longevity Lane, just as the neighbors were sitting at home eating lunch. The lane was clear and quiet, with no one in sight.
The three members of the Yao family had also forgotten to ask the edict-delivering eunuch when their daughter would return home. When receiving the imperial edict, various emotions had surged. By the time they calmed down, the edict-delivering eunuch had probably already returned to the palace.
It was the gatekeeper A’Gui who heard movement outside. Peering through the door crack with focused eyes, he just happened to see two brocade-clad maids helping Yao Huang descend from the carriage!
A’Gui was both shocked and delighted. While pulling the door bolt, he shouted toward the inside at the top of his lungs: “Master, Mistress—Miss has returned!”
This shout carried out. The three members of the Yao family in the main hall dropped their bowls. The neighbors on both sides also pricked up their ears, scrambling to rush outside.
With footsteps clattering chaotically, Zhang Yue gave the seven guards an eye signal. The eight men, wearing sabers, stood guard outside the future princess consort and her carriage. Without permission, no one could approach the future princess consort.
Among the four palace maids, Hua Mei and Bai Ling had originally been second-rank palace maids in Consort Du’s palace. Accustomed to seeing how noble personages conducted themselves, they had long since frowned at A’Gui’s loud voice.
Bai Ling simply hadn’t adjusted yet. Hua Mei, entrusted with an important task by Consort Du, was full of mockery: Prince Hui wouldn’t listen to Her Ladyship’s advice and insisted on marrying a Captain’s daughter as his primary consort—sooner or later he’d regret it!
As for Chun Yan and Qiu Chan, they were two Consort Du had randomly selected from a new batch of palace maids. The palace maids at her side, whether senior or junior, were all carefully trained and accustomed to use—she couldn’t possibly send them all to Prince Hui.
After leaving the palace, Yao Huang no longer felt that arrow-swift urgency to return home. Along the way, she had happily weighed the silver ingots and touched the jewelry, arriving back at her family gate steadily and properly.
Hearing A’Gui’s thunderous announcement, Yao Huang instinctively observed the four palace maids, taking in all four women’s changing expressions.
Finally, the door opened. Yao Zhenhu, Luo Jinhua, and Yao Lin rushed out as if competing, followed by the equally excited cook Wu Shi and her two daughters, Qiao Niang and A’Ji.
“Mother!”
Truly seeing her family after a month’s separation, Yao Huang’s eyes instantly moistened. She threw herself into her mother’s arms, tears falling in strings.
Luo Jinhua used her peripheral vision to assess those unfamiliar guards and palace maids, deliberately joking loudly: “The palace food really is good—look at you, you’ve gotten even plumper!”
Yao Huang: “…”
Hua Mei lowered her eyes to conceal her disdain. What a vulgar woman!
Zhang Yue noticed Yao Zhenhu staring at their group of eight. He stepped forward to salute and proactively introduced their identities. The Yao family’s household was small—the eight guards would divide into day and night shifts, with two guards stationed at the front and back gates respectively being sufficient.
Hearing this, Yao Zhenhu laughed heartily: “The prince is thoughtful. However, Longevity Lane hasn’t seen thieves for many years. Having you guard here is truly overkill. You should return to serve the prince instead.”
Zhang Yue: “…”
Yao Huang was shocked by her father’s foolish words. Unable to continue being affectionate with her mother, she wiped the corners of her eyes, turned around, and said: “Father, the prince’s arrangements are all for my safety. I’m benefiting from them. You needn’t worry about it.”
Seeing his daughter smile sweetly, Yao Zhenhu immediately accepted this arrangement and enthusiastically asked Zhang Yue: “Then have you all eaten? My family has freshly steamed buns in the pot. Come in and eat?”
Zhang Yue: “Thank you, sir. We humble officers have already eaten. You should quickly accompany Miss inside to rest.”
Fearing her father would say more wrong things, Yao Huang had Zhang Yue arrange the guard duty shifts himself while she first brought her family members into the courtyard.
The neighbors, afraid of those eight guards, didn’t dare follow to the Yao residence and each returned to their own homes.
In the small Yao family courtyard, Yao Huang briefly introduced the four palace maids’ origins to her family. Looking at the southern room of the west wing, she said to the family maid A’Ji: “Take them to clean out the southern room. From now on, they’ll live in the southern room. After cleaning, get them something to eat.”
A’Ji nodded nervously, somewhat afraid of these four palace maids dressed more expensively than the mistress.
Yao Huang then said to Hua Mei: “After the meal, you should rest first. No need to rush into tasks.”
Hua Mei responded coolly.
A’Ji then led the four palace maids away.
The Yao family went to the main hall. After the kitchen added a set of bowls and chopsticks for Yao Huang and withdrew, Luo Jinhua immediately closed the door. Eyes reddening, she grasped her daughter’s hands and looked her up and down: “All this time, did you suffer any grievances or bullying inside?”
Yao Huang smiled: “You’re overthinking. With matrons watching, the palace ladies were incredibly harmonious—no one even said a single harsh or unpleasant word.”
Luo Jinhua: “Mm, looking at your complexion, it is quite rosy. Indeed, you haven’t lost weight either.”
Yao Huang: “How could I lose weight? Such a tiny place, not allowed to run or jump. I had energy but nowhere to use it. Ah, let’s talk while eating. I still only ate one steamed bun early this morning—I’m starving!”
Yao Zhenhu’s eyes widened: “That’s the imperial palace, the most wealthy place under heaven, and they only gave you steamed buns to eat?”
Yao Huang: “Just this morning, we could only eat steamed buns—dry and tasteless, but least likely to cause trouble.”
Pushing past her blocking father, Yao Huang sat at the rosewood eight-immortals table with weak legs. Using chopsticks, she picked up a steaming hot white flour bun—that familiar taste, her dear mother’s familiar handiwork, thin skin, juicy, one bite revealing the filling.
Yao Huang ate half in one breath before giving the family members surrounding her on three sides and staring at her a glance.
Yao Lin: “Now that’s my little sister. Just now outside, you seemed like a different person.”
Luo Jinhua: “What do you know? Yao Yao is now a future princess consort. Her every move is watched by those guards and palace maids. She must be more dignified.”
Yao Huang: “That’s right. In front of others, you still have to put on an act.”
Yao Zhenhu was unhappy again: “So many rules, and Prince Hui has crippled legs. Yao Yao, tell Father the truth—do you not want to be this princess consort?”
Yao Huang exclaimed in shock: “What are you saying? Of course I want to be a princess consort!”
Then she explained the benefits of marrying Prince Hui and the rewards she received today.
Luo Jinhua said with relief: “I knew it. Yao Yao is as clever as I am.”
Yao Zhenhu snorted and said to his daughter: “Don’t just think about the beautiful things. Brocade clothes and magnificent garments are all empty. A lifetime is so long—the person by your side is most important. Look at me and your mother. When she’s angry, I have to serve her tea and water, massage her shoulders and knead her back. When she’s happy, I have to accompany her shopping and carry packages home big and small. And Prince Hui? He can’t accompany you anywhere. Instead, you’ll have to serve him tea and water and attend to his… bodily functions. We don’t even know if he can still have children!”
Yao Huang’s bun had reached her lips but suddenly became difficult to bite down on.
Luo Jinhua smacked over with her chopsticks: “What are you saying? A dog’s mouth can’t spit out ivory!”
Yao Lin also scolded his father: “Little sister is still young. Watch yourself.”
He mingled daily with a group of military men and had heard a basketful of crude talk, but his sister was different.
Yao Zhenhu snatched away his wife’s chopsticks: “These are all plain truths. I need to let Yao Yao think clearly. Prince Hui was injured on the battlefield—I respect him as a true man. But I can’t send my own daughter into a fire pit.”
Yao Huang’s heart warmed. She no longer blamed her father for his wild words spoiling her appetite and smiled: “Father, I understand all these things you’ve said. The problem is that at that time, I had no choice at all. Marrying Prince Hui was my best option. I was the one who first cast flirtatious glances at him. He was willing to accept—I’m already extremely grateful to him. To then disdain his legs—wouldn’t that make me an ungrateful wretch? Does the Old Yao family have that kind of person?”
Yao Zhenhu: “No, Father just…”
Yao Huang put down her chopsticks and looked at her mother and older brother who silently cared for her. Seriously, she said: “I saw with my own eyes—Prince Hui is exceptionally handsome. A handsome prince with military achievements—if his legs were fine, how could it be my turn to take advantage of this opportunity? People must be content. I’ve taken the substantial benefit of being the prince’s primary consort, so I must bear the inconvenience brought by the prince’s leg ailment. Gains and losses—it’s very fair.”
“Father, I’m marrying him willingly. The imperial marriage decree has already been issued. If you truly care about me, you should be happy like me, preparing for the wedding. Moreover, from now on, Prince Hui is your future son-in-law. If you continue finding fault with him, making malicious speculations, or specifically poking at his sore spots, you’re deliberately making me lose face. Whoever makes me unhappy, I won’t talk to them.”
Her gaze was serious, staring first at her father, then at her older brother.
Yao Lin was the first to surrender: “Fine, fine, fine. From now on, I’ll only speak well of him. If outsiders dare mock the prince, whoever says it, I’ll beat them!”
Yao Huang: “Hitting people is illegal. Just scare them. Don’t let outsiders say we’re bullying people with power or that the prince is narrow-minded and can’t tolerate the truth.”
Yao Lin nodded repeatedly.
Luo Jinhua sighed: “If you two together had half of Yao Yao’s reasonableness, I wouldn’t have gotten white hair so early.”
Yao Zhenhu: “Here we go again. Just one white hair, and you’ve been going on about it from New Year’s to now!”
Luo Jinhua: “If there’s one, there will be a second. I’m just getting old, worried sick over you father and son!”
Yao Zhenhu: “…”
Yao Huang was happy to watch the show. When her father looked over pleadingly, Yao Huang raised an eyebrow and questioned: “What I just said—have you remembered it all?”
Yao Zhenhu said with grievance: “…I remember. Prince Hui is my son-in-law. Only he can find fault with me, not me with him, right?”
Yao Huang: “That depends on what he finds fault with. If he’s nitpicking, I’ll definitely side with you.”
Yao Zhenhu was satisfied. A birth daughter is still a birth daughter!
After eating and drinking their fill, Wu Shi and Qiao Niang cleared away the tableware. Luo Jinhua had her husband and son respectively guard the front and back courtyards to prevent anyone from coming to eavesdrop. Mother and daughter lay comfortably on the heated platform in the east room, basking in the sun while sharing intimate words. They chatted about Yao Huang’s experiences after entering the palace. Since it involved palace ladies and imperial consorts, it wasn’t convenient for Yao Zhenhu and his son to hear.
Luo Jinhua was quite relaxed at first, but hearing the part about Consort Du disdaining her daughter, she straightened up abruptly, frowning: “This is bad. The consort doesn’t like you. Even ordinary mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law easily quarrel. She’s an imperial consort—won’t dealing with you later be as easy as crushing an ant?”
Yao Huang had her own considerations: “When I was just a palace lady, she could naturally treat me like an ant and humiliate me at will. Once I become a princess consort, we’ll be nearly equal in nobility. She’ll only have the elder status of being a mother-in-law. Imperial family or not, everything must be reasonable. If I don’t provoke her and she dares deliberately torment me, I’ll go ask Empress Zhou to judge fairly. If things get big, she’s the one who’ll truly lose face.”
She came from commoner origins—no one held overly high expectations for her conduct. Being somewhat crude would be normal for her. Consort Du was different. From birth, she bore the cultivation of a renowned young lady. If her reputation suffered even slightly, Consort Du herself would be the first to fume for days.
Luo Jinhua nodded: “But you also have to see Prince Hui’s attitude—see how close he is to the consort.”
Yao Huang: “Mm, after marrying over, I’ll observe slowly.”
But she had a feeling Prince Hui wasn’t very close to Consort Du. Otherwise, during the palace selection, Prince Hui wouldn’t have treated Consort Du’s suggestions like wind past his ears.
The afternoon sunlight was too comfortable. Chatting away, Yao Huang fell asleep nestled against her mother. She slept until the red sun sank in the west, waking refreshed and clearheaded.
Luo Jinhua had A’Ji go bring her daughter water to wash her face.
When A’Ji came in, the palace maid Hua Mei was actually following beside her.
Seeing Yao Huang on the heated platform with disheveled hair and languid sleeping appearance, Hua Mei frowned: “Miss has only just left the palace and has already forgotten all the etiquette and rules learned there?”
A’Ji, who had just placed the copper basin on the washing stand, felt her heart jump. Luo Jinhua, holding a towel about to attend to her daughter’s face washing, raised an eyebrow.
Yao Huang smiled and asked Hua Mei in a calm tone: “What have I done improperly?”
Hua Mei raised her chin slightly, listing two items: “First, Miss is already seventeen years old and should not sleep soundly in her parents’ room. Second, in broad daylight, Miss, as an official family’s young lady, sleeping lazily all afternoon already violates propriety—what more given Miss’s current status as future princess consort?”
Yao Huang nodded and said to A’Ji: “Go call Bai Ling and the other two over.”
A’Ji didn’t dare ask more questions. Whatever Miss commanded, she would do.
Shortly after, Bai Ling, Chun Yan, and Qiu Chan walked in one after another. Yao Zhenhu and Yao Lin hid in the main hall eavesdropping. Wu Shi and Qiao Niang stood under the eaves.
Yao Huang had Hua Mei repeat what she had just said.
Hua Mei remained righteous and stern.
Outside, Yao Lin gritted his teeth. Yao Zhenhu held back his son who wanted to rush in, saying in a low voice: “Your mother hasn’t called us. Don’t move.”
For this kind of little slip of a girl, his wife could smash the other’s mouth—no need for father and son to help.
Inside the room, Yao Huang temporarily ignored Hua Mei and asked Bai Ling: “Before Consort Du arranged for you to go to Chuxiu Pavilion, she should have given instructions, right? Did Her Ladyship have you come as palace maids of Yikun Palace to teach me rules, or did she pity me for having no one at my side and specially bestow you to me as maids, ordering you to henceforth regard me as master and serve me wholeheartedly?”
The newcomers Chun Yan and Qiu Chan instinctively looked toward Bai Ling.
Bai Ling felt inexplicably flustered and said respectfully: “In response to Miss, Her Ladyship specially bestowed us four servants upon Miss. Before departure, she repeatedly instructed us to be loyal to Miss and serve diligently.”
The truth was that Consort Du hadn’t said so much, but she had to speak well on the consort’s behalf for the sake of the consort’s reputation.
Only then did Yao Huang look at Hua Mei: “What Bai Ling said—is it true?”
Hua Mei could only acknowledge it.
Yao Huang: “Since I am the master and you are servants, then tell me—is there a rule allowing servants to lecture their master?”
Hua Mei was unconvinced: “This servant is only doing this for Miss’s good…”
Yao Huang: “I am the Prince Hui’s consort personally designated by the Emperor. Could I possibly be so stupid that I can’t even distinguish good from bad and need you, a maid, to teach me?”
Hua Mei: “…”
Yao Huang: “Considering this is your first offense, I’ll only punish you with three slaps to the mouth. I hope you remember today’s mistake. In the future, observe the rules, be cautious in word and deed, lest because of you, Her Ladyship be criticized for not knowing how to train palace maids.”
Hua Mei: “…”
Yao Huang: “What? When you were a palace maid, didn’t the matrons teach you how to slap your own mouth?”
Hua Mei knew this punishment couldn’t be avoided. Her peripheral vision swept over Luo Jinhua and A’Ji on the left, Bai Ling and the three others on the right. She secretly gritted her teeth and, enduring humiliation, raised her hand and slapped herself three times—neither too light nor too hard.
The force wasn’t great, but it made her lose all face.
Perhaps Bai Ling and the others weren’t laughing at her, but the more arrogant a person, the less they could endure such “humiliation.”
Yao Huang: “A’Ji, stay. You four may all withdraw. Remember, unless you have matters to report, if I haven’t called you over, no one should take it upon themselves to act.”
Hua Mei was the first to take leave. Bai Ling and the other three quickly followed.
A’Ji breathed a sigh of relief. Luo Jinhua looked at her daughter with approval. It should be this way. About to become a princess consort—how could she allow a minor palace maid to ride roughshod over her?