On the twelfth day of the twelfth month, Prince Kang held his grand wedding.
In the carriage heading to Prince Kang’s residence to attend the early banquet, Yao Huang said to Prince Hui with a smile: “Today I should be staying at Prince Kang’s residence all day. If the prince wants to return to the residence to rest in the middle, just leave directly—no need to wait for me.”
Zhao Sui looked at the princess consort’s radiant face, recalling the scene this morning when the princess consort had been counting money pouches while muttering to herself.
Zhao Sui had asked her why she needed to bring money pouches.
The princess consort had laughed: “There’s over an hour of free time between the early banquet and the noon banquet. It’s too cold to go admire flowers in the garden. Last time when we went to Prince Qing’s residence for the wedding feast, Eldest Prince’s two secondary consorts discussed with me that when the Eldest Prince gets married, several of us will sit in the warm pavilion playing cards. We’ll play in the morning and continue in the afternoon anyway, since the bride doesn’t enter until dusk.”
They arrived at Prince Kang’s residence.
Getting off the carriage, Qing Ai took over Prince Hui’s wheelchair. Yao Huang was about to take A’Ji straight to the female guests’ side, smiling as she gave Prince Hui a “see you tonight” look.
Zhao Sui watched the princess consort’s light-footed retreating figure, his gaze briefly sweeping over the money pouch at A’Ji’s waist that the princess consort had personally counted.
When the princess consort had just married over, every time she looked at him her eyes had been bright and moving. Zhao Sui, encouraged by such gazes, had done many things at night that he had never imagined he would do. Later, as they spent more and more time together, Zhao Sui discovered that as long as the princess consort was in a good mood, whether she looked at him, at Qing Ai and Fei Quan, at unrelated passersby, or even at the wheelchair, Jinbao, or money pouches, her eyes would be equally clear and moist like water, as if containing infinite affection.
A natural beauty.
Before and during the banquet, Yao Huang had already completed her social obligations with the various female family members attending the feast. After sitting briefly following the banquet’s conclusion, the two secondary consorts of Prince Kang’s residence responsible for receiving guests inquired whether the noblewomen led by Princess Imperial Fucheng, Princess Consort Hui, Princess Consort Qing, as well as the First Princess and Second Princess wanted to play cards.
Princess Imperial Fucheng had no interest in this and prepared to return to her residence first, coming back for the noon banquet.
Zheng Yuanzhen also wanted to follow her mother but, receiving her mother’s meaningful glance, agreed to join the card game.
Thus, Prince Kang’s residence’s Secondary Consort Gu accompanied Yao Huang, Zheng Yuanzhen, and the Second Princess to form one card table, while the other Secondary Consort Ruan was responsible for entertaining other guests. The First Princess sat beside Yao Huang as a spectator.
Last time when Zheng Yuanzhen married, the two princesses as cousins had gone to the Princess Imperial’s residence to see off the bride. Chen Ying to them was just a sister-in-law from outside the family, so the two princesses came directly to Prince Kang’s residence. Chen Ying’s paternal grandparents, parents, and siblings had finally rushed to the capital in early December, moving into a residence bestowed by Emperor Yongchang. Chen Ying was also able to return to her family’s side, waiting to marry out from the imperially bestowed residence.
Yao Huang was quite happy for Chen Ying. Although her family would have to hurry back after the return visit, being able to reunite briefly was still a joyful matter.
The Second Princess glanced at Yao Huang and said: “I heard that when Second Sister-in-law was a palace maiden, she was already close with Eldest Sister-in-law. Now that Eldest Sister-in-law is married, Second Sister-in-law can frequently come to Eldest Brother’s residence to play cards in the future. With two secondary consorts to accompany you, you won’t even need to find card partners from outside.”
Speaking of card partners, the Second Princess deliberately glanced at Zheng Yuanzhen.
Yao Huang chided her: “Do you think I’m stupid? The three of them are united, while I come alone—wouldn’t that be voluntarily delivering silver for them to divide as spoils?”
Secondary Consort Gu and Secondary Consort Ruan hastily said they wouldn’t dare.
Second Princess: “So does that mean Second Sister-in-law would also invite Third Sister-in-law?”
Yao Huang: “That depends on who organizes the card game. If I arrange it, never mind your Eldest Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law—I’ll send people to the palace to fetch both of you younger sisters too. If you arrange it, I’ll peacefully wait for you to invite me. As for who else you invite, I can’t control that. Of course, if you invite others but specifically don’t invite me, I’ll be heartbroken.”
Second Princess: “…”
As they played, Zheng Yuanzhen discovered that perhaps because Yao Huang appeared easy to talk to, whether it was Secondary Consort Gu, Secondary Consort Ruan, or the two princesses—whether joking or chatting about fabric and jewelry—they all liked to talk with Yao Huang. Despite so many people around, Yao Huang had become the center of everyone’s attention, as if the others were all Yao Huang’s supporting cast.
Zheng Yuanzhen had stayed to play cards to observe the relationship between Yao Huang and Prince Kang’s residence’s two secondary consorts. However, all they discussed and joked about were daily trivial matters, and even the Second Princess’s several attempts at provocation were lightly deflected by Yao Huang.
When the morning card game ended, Zheng Yuanzhen not only hadn’t observed anything, she had also lost over thirty taels of silver.
After eating the noon banquet, Zheng Yuanzhen directly returned to the residence with Princess Imperial Fucheng.
Princess Imperial Fucheng instructed her daughter: “You still need to try to interact more with them. Many secrets are revealed through others’ casual words or two.”
Zheng Yuanzhen: “What secrets could they have? It still ultimately depends on the princes’ performance at court.”
Princess Imperial Fucheng: “Not necessarily. Husband and wife—they share honor and disgrace together. A wife’s clan can become a prince’s support, but can also become a burden dragging him down. If you can catch any of them in a compromising position, it might come in handy in the future, especially with Prince Kang’s one principal consort and two secondary consorts—competition for favor among wives and concubines is destined to prevent unity.”
Zheng Yuanzhen felt a wave of irritation. Fundamentally, she believed Prince Qing was far superior to Prince Kang. As long as Prince Qing made no mistakes at court, the Emperor would ultimately still choose Prince Qing. There was no need for her to lower herself to engage in false civilities with Yao Huang, Chen Ying, and Prince Kang’s two secondary consorts.
At dusk, Prince Kang finally brought the bride back to the residence.
Yao Huang had long since put the card game that had ended half an hour ago out of her mind. Smiling, she pulled the First Princess to observe the ceremony. The Second Princess, seeing that without Chen Ying this time Yao Huang would rather leave one hand empty than come hold hers, remained behind in anger, exchanging wordless glances with the steadily seated Zheng Yuanzhen.
When the veil was lifted, Chen Ying’s eye circles were red—clearly she had cried hard when bidding farewell to her parents.
Yao Huang hadn’t shed a single tear at that time because her natal family was in the capital. She could come see them whenever she missed home. Chen Ying was different—when marrying out, she was bidding farewell to parents she would be separated from by vast distances.
After the evening banquet, when Yao Huang and the others were about to say goodbye, Chen Ying looked eagerly at Yao Huang, her entire face showing nervousness and unease.
Yao Huang then had A’Ji wait outside while she accompanied Chen Ying alone into the inner chamber.
Chen Ying threw herself over, her entire body trembling uncontrollably: “Yao Yao, I’m so scared.”
Yao Huang laughed at her: “Scared of the wedding night? The female officials in the palace should have taught you.”
Chen Ying was too embarrassed to say that it was precisely because they had taught her that she was afraid—unable to imagine the pain involved, especially since Prince Kang was a head taller than her with such a robust build. Her mother had only repeatedly instructed her to endure and obey, to absolutely not displease Prince Kang. The more this happened, the more nervous Chen Ying became. Yao Huang, who had already been married, became the last person she could turn to for help.
Yao Huang was too familiar with Chen Ying’s timidity. After thinking for a moment, she leaned close to Chen Ying’s ear and shared some little tricks that she had actually figured out herself but attributed to her mother teaching her.
Yao Huang: “In any case, at that time don’t treat the prince as a prince to be revered anymore—just treat him as your husband. When you should discuss, discuss. When you should take initiative, take initiative. When you should complain, complain. When you should praise, praise. The prince is also human. You can tell what he likes or doesn’t like. Just adapt according to his reactions.”
Additionally, she told Chen Ying that after enduring the initial slight discomfort, afterward it could make her cry from pleasure.
Chen Ying’s ears turned red from listening.
She didn’t seek to cry from pleasure—as long as it wasn’t as painful as she had imagined, that would be fine.
Chen Ying trusted Yao Huang very much. If Yao Huang dared to tell her such embarrassing things, they must be even more true.
Close to the first watch, Prince Kang finally came over, carrying a full body’s worth of alcohol smell, even walking somewhat unsteadily.
The princess consort naturally had to take good care of the prince. Chen Ying temporarily forgot her nervousness and helped escort Prince Kang inside.
Prince Kang drunkenly collapsed onto the wedding bed.
He had too many relatives—brothers from the Duke Zhenguo’s residence where his first wife came from, all practicing martial arts; the brothers of his two secondary consorts; and Third Brother who had malicious intentions deliberately trying to get him drunk. Prince Kang only had a sturdy physique—his martial skills and alcohol tolerance were both poor. In the end, it was Second Brother who swept his gaze over the rowdy young men and simply said “enough” before those people let him go.
A maid brought hot water.
Chen Ying wanted to wet a cloth to care for the prince, but Mujin, the palace maid Consort Xian had given her, respectfully said: “This servant will do it. The princess consort just needs to watch from the side.”
Chen Ying knew the palace and prince’s residences all had a strict set of rules. Perhaps these tasks of serving people had to be done by the maids?
While hesitating, Mujin had already wrung out the cloth and was about to help Prince Kang wipe his face.
Chen Ying stood to the side, looking toward Prince Kang with concern.
Prince Kang was lying on the bed with his eyes open, seeing the little princess consort’s care and worry clearly, including her brief embarrassment and constraint after reaching out to take the cloth but being blocked by Mujin.
Prince Kang felt uncomfortable inside.
Mother Consort had already told him her reasons for choosing Chen Ying. In Mother Consort’s eyes, Chen Ying was just an insignificant chess piece—neither making Father Emperor suspect his greed and ambition, nor making the Duke Zhenguo’s residence worry about the heir’s position.
Prince Kang knew Mother Consort was doing this for his good, but he couldn’t view this girl ten years younger than him as a chess piece. She was born in Shu territory, left her hometown to enter the palace for selection, and in the future could only rely on him as her prince husband.
“Withdraw. Let the princess consort do it.”
Prince Kang looked warningly at Mujin.
Mujin’s expression changed. Lowering her head, she handed the cloth to the princess consort beside her and withdrew with another maid.
Prince Kang looked again at Chen Ying, who seemed frightened by his tone, and softened his voice: “You are the princess consort, the mistress of this residence. As long as you have reason on your side, from now on you can do whatever you want in this residence and care for me however you want to care for me. How could you let a maid at your side make decisions for you?”
Chen Ying understood. Blushing, she came to the bedside and bent down to wipe Prince Kang’s face.
Prince Kang looked at her still-red eye circles and asked: “Did you cry the whole way?”
Chen Ying guiltily lowered her eyes.
Prince Kang sat up with support, grasped her hand and said: “I know you can’t bear to part with your parents. Crying is appropriate—just don’t cry every day.”
Chen Ying’s attention was entirely seized by the man’s large hand. Flustered, she nodded.
Prince Kang was not some inexperienced young man marrying for the first time. Pitying Chen Ying’s young age, he tried to be as considerate as possible. However, he had always followed the script mechanically in this matter. His former princess consort and two secondary consorts had all been dignified young ladies from good families. However Prince Kang proceeded, they cooperated accordingly. This resulted in Prince Kang, married for six years, not having mastered any superior techniques.
Chen Ying feared pain and had no choice but to follow what Yao Huang had taught her. With tearful eyes, she pleaded with Prince Kang above her: “Wait a moment…”
Prince Kang’s body stiffened. Could this even wait?
Chen Ying hooked his neck and pressed toward her own neck: “Kiss me again.”
Prince Kang was being asked this by a bedside companion for the first time. Looking at Chen Ying’s pale little face, he cooperatively kissed her. Only when Chen Ying’s face regained its rosiness, even showing faint urging movements, did Prince Kang fully release his restraint.