Qi Shuo hadn’t expected Lin Hao to arrange to meet him so quickly. In his thinking, she would at least wait until after Lin Chan’s third-day return visit before remembering to seek him out.

“You want to learn to weave grasshoppers?” Hearing Lin Hao’s words, Qi Shuo was somewhat surprised.

The grasshoppers he wove… were they that popular?

Lin Hao nodded gravely: “Yes, A’Shuo, teach me as quickly as possible.”

Other people’s mothers at most had their daughters present them with handkerchiefs, shoe insoles, and the like—her mother had set her sights on grass-woven grasshoppers!

Just thinking about it made Lin Hao feel powerless.

“Alright.”

Qi Shuo was someone who could settle his mind to tasks. Facing Lin Hao, his patience was even better. With his hand-over-hand instruction, Lin Hao soon wove a presentable grasshopper.

“It’s still not quite as good as yours.” After examining it for a moment, Lin Hao said regretfully.

“It’s just for fun. Refined has its merits, but rougher work has its own interesting qualities too.” Qi Shuo consoled the somewhat dejected young lady.

“At least it should look similar enough. Let me try weaving another.”

Qi Shuo: “…” A’Hao’s sudden competitive spirit was quite strong.

Reading Qi Shuo’s expression, Lin Hao sighed deeply: “You don’t understand.”

Qi Shuo smiled: “Then weave another one.”

So she wove one after another. It wasn’t until the fifth one that Lin Hao stopped: “This is close enough. I won’t weave anymore.”

Qi Shuo smiled: “A’Hao, let me weave you a pair of grass dragonflies.”

“No!” Lin Hao was greatly alarmed. Meeting his puzzled gaze, she nearly cried. “Wait until next year to weave them.”

Qi Shuo seemed to think of something, the smile deepening at his lips: “Alright. From now on, every autumn I’ll weave you a little plaything.”

“Mm.” Lin Hao responded, then quietly, proactively, took Qi Shuo’s hand.

On the third-day return visit, what Lin Hao saw was her radiant elder sister and a brother-in-law who kept grinning foolishly.

After the meal, Cheng Shu accompanied Han Baocheng for tea while Lin Chan was pulled into a room by Lin Shi to be asked about the situation at the Minister’s household.

“Everything’s quite good. Mother needn’t worry for me.” As Lin Chan spoke these words, her cheeks were slightly flushed, showing heartfelt joy.

The Minister’s household had a simple population. The old Minister and old Madam had amiable attitudes. Her father-in-law didn’t speak much, and though her mother-in-law’s manner wasn’t intimate, she also didn’t deliberately make things difficult. The pair of underage brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law she’d had little contact with so far.

Of course, most important was the person she’d married—considerate, thoughtful, and cheerful.

In Lin Chan’s view, this was already an excellent beginning. She believed she had the ability to live her days well.

“Then Mother can rest easy.” Lin Shi’s mood improving, she remembered something. “Chan’er, do you know? A’Hao’s maid Baozhu wove grass grasshoppers that are so lifelike they look real. Later I’ll have Baozhu weave you a pair to take home and play with.”

Lin Chan looked at Lin Hao with a smile.

Lin Hao covered her forehead: “Mother, the grass is all withered now.”

Please let it go.

The family chatted and laughed until the sky grew dark. Only then did Lin Chan reluctantly bid farewell to her family and return to the Minister’s household with Han Baocheng.

The following days were calm and peaceful. As the capital’s common people discussed over tea the General’s mansion eldest daughter’s ten-li bridal procession, they began anticipating another grand occasion: the Crown Prince’s wedding.

The day of the Crown Prince’s wedding to the Duke Yingguo household’s eldest daughter would soon arrive.

For this wedding, the palace had begun cleaning and replacing furnishings early, hanging lanterns and decorations. Noble Consort Jing’s quarters especially saw people coming daily to offer congratulations—extraordinarily lively.

When people meet happy occasions their spirits soar. Not only did Noble Consort Jing not find it tiring to receive wave after wave of concubines coming to congratulate her, she actually appeared several years younger.

When the Crown Prince came to pay respects and saw Noble Consort Jing’s good complexion, he was in a fine mood: “For this son’s wedding, Mother Consort has worked hard these days.”

“Mother Consort isn’t tired.” Noble Consort Jing looked at her extraordinarily handsome son, almost reluctant to look away. “Mother Consort never imagined we mother and son would have this day…”

Back then when so many children had died young, she had nightmares every night, never sleeping peacefully, until she made up her mind to personally mix that medicine into food and feed it to her son…

“Mother Consort?” Noticing Noble Consort Jing’s distraction, the Crown Prince called out.

Noble Consort Jing came back to herself and changed the subject without a trace: “After the wedding you’ll be a true adult and can’t let everything follow your mood like a child. Mother Consort knows you’re not entirely satisfied with the Crown Prince Consort candidate, but don’t neglect the Crown Prince Consort over this. Spend more time together and give birth to a little imperial grandson early—that’s most important. Later naturally there will be countless women who satisfy you for you to choose from…”

“This son understands.” After hearing Noble Consort Jing finish, the Crown Prince responded blandly.

He had been grotesquely obese for so many years. Though no one dared mock him to his face, their eyes couldn’t hide it. Having experienced that, what couldn’t he endure?

Seeing her son thus, Noble Consort Jing showed a relieved smile: “Go attend to your affairs. You’re the Crown Prince now with many matters—you needn’t always come to Mother Consort’s quarters.”

“Then rest well.”

The Crown Prince returned to the Eastern Palace. Remembering today was the officials’ rest day, he sent an attendant to relay a message to Yang Zhe and the others, arranging a small gathering at Five Flavors House.

Five Flavors House was the capital’s finest restaurant. These past few years, every time this season came around he made several visits, sampling the exquisitely flavored crab-stuffed oranges.

Emperor Tai’an had revealed to the Crown Prince that after his wedding he would begin attending court to observe governance. At that time it would no longer be so convenient to leave the palace casually to relax.

The Crown Prince changed into plain clothes that didn’t reveal his identity and arrived at the restaurant first. Afterward Yang Zhe and the others arrived one after another.

“Apologies for keeping Your Highness waiting.” The last to arrive, Han Baocheng bowed deeply to the Crown Prince, then cupped his fists toward the others in apology.

The Crown Prince looked at the radiant young man and couldn’t help smiling: “Newlywed bliss is understandable.”

Han Baocheng’s face immediately reddened: “How is Your Highness also teasing people now?”

“Where is His Highness teasing you? That’s exactly how it is.” Zhang Liangyu smiled as he picked up the conversation. “That day when I called you out for drinks, I couldn’t get you to come—were you accompanying your wife shopping?”

The others also joined in the teasing.

Han Baocheng downed a mouthful of wine and laughingly scolded: “Don’t tell me you all won’t be taking wives? Your day will come.”

At this, he raised his cup: “Baocheng congratulates Your Highness in advance.”

The Crown Prince smiled slightly as he drank the wine.

“Come, come, drink.”

The several people including the Crown Prince were all young men. After a few cups of wine, the atmosphere quickly became lively.

Among them, Han Baocheng and Zhang Liangyu had cheerful temperaments—most of the joking came from these two. Yang Zhe was calm and casual, Wen Feng steady and taciturn, while Li Lan was somewhat reserved.

The Crown Prince looked at these vigorous faces. The slight resistance he’d felt toward the upcoming wedding quietly dispersed.

Mother Consort was right. Having become Crown Prince, he even more couldn’t let everything follow his mood. The days were still long.

Just then Yang Zhe stood up and said apologetically: “I’m going to the washroom. You all drink first.”

Han Baocheng also stood: “I happen to want to go too. Brother Yang, let’s go together.”

Yang Zhe nodded with a smile.

“Come back quickly!” Zhang Liangyu called out.

Yang Zhe and Han Baocheng smiled their assent and left together.