Bamboo Grove remained utterly tranquil—so tranquil that Qing Ai and Fei Quan, who stayed here daily with the Prince, were nearly cultivating Buddhist equanimity.

With the Prince practicing quiet meditation indoors, Qing Ai walked lightly to the gatehouse and sat on the threshold, announcing good news to Fei Quan: “The Prince seems in good spirits. He ate over seventy percent of his breakfast.”

Fei Quan was as happy as if he himself had eaten well: “From what I’ve seen, the Prince quite likes the Princess Consort. He accompanied the Princess Consort on her return home visit, accompanied her horseback riding, and doesn’t get angry no matter what bold things the Princess Consort says.”

Qing Ai recalled the day he pushed the Prince into the palace for the consort selection—his first glimpse of the Princess Consort. The Princess Consort wore a pale yellow robe the color of peonies, her standing posture dignified, yet she would secretly lift her eyelids, sending bold flirtatious glances toward the Prince each time she raised them.

Qing Ai had worried that continuing like this she might be rebuked for lacking proper conduct. Who knew that in the blink of an eye, the Prince himself would declare he wanted her as Princess Consort.

So he must truly like her, right?

After chatting awhile, Fei Quan brought out a chess board and sat with Qing Ai at the stone table in the courtyard to play. The handrails in the main room ensured the Prince could independently complete various tasks. Without the Prince’s summons, the two could only find activities to pass the time.

The sun climbed higher and higher. The Prince gave orders for the two to bring books from the study out to air.

When Qing Ai and Fei Quan entered, the Prince had returned to the east room and didn’t appear.

The two silently moved and aired the books, most of which were various profound and difficult Buddhist and Daoist scriptures. When the Prince first wanted to read these, Qing Ai and Fei Quan grieved for quite some time, feeling the Prince would never leave Bamboo Grove again. Later the two came to terms with it—as long as the Prince didn’t refuse food and water again, nearly starving himself to death, even if the Prince became a monk, they would accompany him as monks too.

Near the end of the fourth double-hour, Head Chef Kong arrived and entered the kitchen to prepare lunch.

Qing Ai helped with small tasks inside while Fei Quan bent at the waist checking the scriptures the Prince frequently read for insect damage. Just then, Nanny Liu’s low voice calling him came from outside the tightly closed courtyard gate.

Even General Steward Guo Shu rarely came to Bamboo Grove, and Nanny Liu…

Fei Quan jogged over to open the door.

Nanny Liu stood alone outside, pointing toward the end of the bamboo grove path and explaining everything clearly to Fei Quan in a few words.

Fei Quan gritted his teeth. What a second-rank palace maid from Yikun Palace—daring to slander the Prince first, then frame the Princess Consort!

If it didn’t concern the Princess Consort, Fei Quan could have authorized Nanny Liu to directly deal with this insubordinate troublesome servant.

“Nanny, please wait. I’ll go request the Prince’s instructions.”

Half-closing the gate, Fei Quan came to the window of the east room: “My lord, a maid from Ming’an Hall has committed an offense. The Princess Consort requests your judgment.”

“Come in.”

Fei Quan entered with light steps.

Zhao Sui sat resting on the heated platform bed on the north side. After hearing Fei Quan’s report, he asked: “Why would Hua Mei slander me?”

Fei Quan: “The Princess Consort didn’t tell Nanny Liu, so Nanny Liu doesn’t know either.”

Zhao Sui: “Have Nanny Liu take her to the punishment room. One hundred strokes of the cane. If the Princess Consort asks, just say she’s already been dealt with. You go invite the Princess Consort here.”

Fei Quan received his orders and withdrew. After leaving, he informed Nanny Liu.

Nanny Liu understood the Prince’s deeper meaning. The Princess Consort’s family background was simple—she probably hadn’t seen bloodshed. The Prince didn’t want Hua Mei’s matter to frighten the Princess Consort.

Nanny Liu led away Hua Mei, whose hands were bound, mouth gagged, eyes full of terror. Fei Quan followed A’Ji and Bai Ling toward Ming’an Hall.

On the road, A’Ji, not noticing Bai Ling’s deathly pale complexion, asked Fei Quan: “The Prince didn’t even see us and directly determined Hua Mei was guilty?”

She had thought she would have to exchange insults with Hua Mei again. Even county magistrates conducted trials before punishment—first examine, then punish.

Fei Quan smiled: “The Prince understands the Princess Consort’s character. No need to examine to know the guilt lies with Hua Mei.”

If the Princess Consort truly wanted to frame Hua Mei, she could simply have A’Ji hide a hairpin in Hua Mei’s bundle and be done with it. Only someone utterly foolish would take such a roundabout approach.

A’Ji was very pleased by the Prince’s trust in the Princess Consort: “So how does the Prince plan to punish Hua Mei?”

Fei Quan glanced at Bai Ling and said: “Why would the Prince waste much thought on a mere maid? Having Nanny Liu follow the rules is enough. However, Hua Mei committed the grave error of slandering her master, so she won’t return to serve at the Princess Consort’s side again.”

A’Ji was even more pleased: “Serves her right! From the moment she arrived she was arrogant and proud, even daring to lecture the Princess Consort. It’s only because the Princess Consort has a good temper—if it were me, I’d have driven her out long ago.”

Fei Quan coughed and instructed her: “Such words are fine between you and us, but once outside the manor you must be extremely careful with your speech. We servants absolutely cannot say we would replace our masters in doing this or that, even if standing up for them.”

A’Ji covered her mouth in chagrin.

Fei Quan looked at Bai Ling: “You can work in Her Ladyship’s palace, so you certainly understand all the rules. Normally you can give more guidance to Miss A’Ji, so together you can wholeheartedly serve the Princess Consort.”

Bai Ling hastily said: “Yes, I will certainly be wholehearted.”

Hua Mei’s fate was entirely brought upon herself—she felt no sympathy at all. She only feared the Prince also suspected that she, likewise coming from Yikun Palace, harbored ill intentions toward the Princess Consort. Eunuch Fei Quan’s words just now were clearly a warning.

Yao Huang hadn’t expected matters to be resolved so quickly. Since the Prince requested her presence, Yao Huang brought the just-returned A’Ji and followed Fei Quan to Bamboo Grove.

Speaking of which, Yao Huang was quite curious about the situation inside Bamboo Grove—it was the only place in the rear garden she hadn’t entered to explore.

Unfortunately, Prince Hui didn’t give her this opportunity. As the three walked along, they saw the Prince’s solitary figure on the opposite bank of the pond beneath the tree shade, appreciating the scenery. Qing Ai waited at a distance several zhang away.

Fei Quan exchanged glances with A’Ji, and both stopped in their tracks.

Yao Huang crossed the winding wooden bridge. When she reached Prince Hui’s side, Qing Ai retreated even farther, ensuring he couldn’t hear the masters’ conversation.

On the way here, Yao Huang had only been thinking about Hua Mei’s matter. The moment she approached the wheelchair, all of last night’s events immediately floated vividly before her eyes. Never mind how detestable the Prince was—she was the one he had examined from every angle, and she was the one with thin face. Look—she was about to burst into flames, yet the Prince in the wheelchair still had that pale complexion, without a shred of self-awareness about reflection or shame.

Yao Huang deliberately stood behind the wheelchair, pulling down a tender green willow branch and holding it in her hand. While tugging it up and down, she asked: “Why did the Prince seek me?”

Zhao Sui gazed straight ahead. Hearing the faint rustling of the willow branch, he asked: “Why did Hua Mei slander me?”

Fei Quan’s mouth was tight—he hadn’t told Yao Huang a single word he shouldn’t reveal. Yao Huang thought this was the Prince conducting an investigation and huffed: “Who knows what got into her head? She insisted last night the Prince beat me, then urged me to enter the palace to have Consort Noble take my side and have Her Ladyship discipline you. I’m not stupid. I lured her to provide evidence proving the Prince has a violent temperament, and she made up those two lies.”

Zhao Sui fell silent.

Her swollen eyes upon waking, the torn silk threads on the bed sheet, the marks on her body—all could make an overly suspicious maid produce such a misunderstanding.

Fundamentally, Hua Mei had long harbored ill intentions, seizing any opportunity to manipulate his Princess Consort.

Yao Huang’s right hand tapped the back of the wheelchair. She asked softly: “Why was she so bold? Or did someone give her the confidence to create discord between us?”

If Consort Du planted people to make things difficult for her, then don’t blame her for exposing her malicious heart before the Prince.

Zhao Sui: “As long as you’re aware of it, that’s good.”

Whatever Consort Du thought, her methods didn’t dare be used on him—they could only target the Princess Consort.

Yao Huang: “I’m aware. So when Her Ladyship asks me where Hua Mei went, should I push everything onto you? After all, you’re indeed the one who punished her. I know nothing.”

Zhao Sui: “Mm.”

Yao Huang looked up at the blue sky overhead, her mood entirely cheerful: “The Prince may not know this, but Hua Mei never regarded me as her master. Lucky I fear neither Her Ladyship nor her, otherwise Hua Mei would have long suppressed me. Previously I had no reason to drive her away. Today she delivered herself—like a rabbit voluntarily running into a tree stump. It delighted me to no end.”

She was about to go out and play, perhaps staying out from morning until night. Bai Ling and the other two wouldn’t dare gossip about her, but Hua Mei would certainly hold it against her and find opportunities to pass information to Consort Du. With Hua Mei gone, she essentially had one less informant around her. How wonderful.

Zhao Sui could hear her happiness: “You are the Princess Consort. You may freely dispose of servants who displease you. No need to wait for them to make mistakes.”

Yao Huang: “Ordinary maids, certainly. But she was bestowed by Her Ladyship after all.”

Zhao Sui: “What’s bestowed to you is also yours. No need to consider what she thinks.”

Yao Huang rested both elbows on the chair back, using the willow branch tip to poke his nape: “Is the Prince saying that if Her Ladyship truly punishes me over this, you’ll stand up for me?”

“Mm.”

Yao Huang felt that the Prince being somewhat wolfish had its advantages. If he were spineless and afraid of his adoptive mother, she would be the one caught in the middle suffering.

Not far away, wispy cooking smoke rose from Bamboo Grove’s kitchen, and the fragrance of food also drifted over on the breeze.

Yao Huang sniffed and asked him: “These next few days, will the Prince also take all three daily meals at Bamboo Grove?”

Zhao Sui lowered his eyes: “Yes.”

Yao Huang bit her lip.

Zhao Sui turned his head, capturing her small gesture before she could conceal it. After pausing, he extended an invitation: “The meal will be ready soon. Would you come to Bamboo Grove to eat with me?”

The weather was good. He could have Qing Ai set the dishes on the stone table in the courtyard.

Yao Huang shook her head, looking at him with slight trepidation: “No need. I just ate breakfast and I’m quite full. What I mean is, since the Prince eats on his own, may I eat outside in the evening and return to the manor after eating?”

The capital had several large restaurants where the head chefs had excellent culinary skills, but the dishes were expensive. The Yao family only occasionally ate at restaurants for major celebrations—like when father was promoted to company commander through military merit, when her brother successfully tested into a martial academy where famous teachers taught military strategy and martial arts, and each year when she and mother celebrated their birthdays.

Now Yao Huang had silver. Though reluctant to buy jewelry and gems worth several hundred taels, eating at restaurants several more times was certainly affordable!

Besides restaurants, there were also various street food vendors at dusk. Just thinking about it made Yao Huang’s mouth water.

Zhao Sui sat up straight and said calmly: “You may, but don’t linger outside too late. Besides the maids, have Zhang Yue assign one more guard to accompany you.”

Yao Huang understood her status was different now. With guards secretly protecting her, she needn’t worry about petty thieves stealing her purse.

“Thank you, my lord. You’re truly wonderful.”

Yao Huang released the willow branch and touched his neck with her hand: “Then the Prince should return to eat. I’ll go change into more ordinary clothes.”

Zhao Sui watched her light footsteps carry her back to the opposite bank. She turned around, waved at him, and left with a smile.

He gave Fei Quan, still standing over there, a meaningful look.

Fei Quan hurried over to push the Prince back to Bamboo Grove.

In the kitchen, Head Chef Kong was in high spirits, full of energy as he tossed his wok. The Prince’s appetite had noticeably improved recently, and he’d eaten especially well this morning. He would continue working hard to make the Prince eat even better!

However, shortly after Qing Ai delivered the meal inside, he brought it back out again. The fragrant white rice had only been touched a few times, and the four dishes and soup showed little change either.

Chef Kong didn’t understand: “Wasn’t everything fine this morning?”

Qing Ai sighed. Ask him? He didn’t know either!