The grassland within the North Garden wasn’t completely flat. Scattered throughout were patches of uneven ground and small grassy mounds—perfect for playing chuiwan.
A colored flag was planted beside each ball hole, so that even when Yao Huang and the others weren’t playing, if Emperor Yongchang and his ministers rode past on horseback, they would know to go around and avoid the accident of horse hooves stepping into the ball holes. Moreover, Yao Huang had specifically chosen a section that Emperor Yongchang rarely visited.
Several felt mats had been spread beside the grass, with canopies set up over them. Those who tired of playing could sit here to rest.
Above them stretched a clear blue sky for ten thousand miles. The canopy blocked the increasingly fierce sun just right. The North Garden was indeed cooler than the capital, but being constantly exposed to the sun would still make one hot.
Yao Huang lay down comfortably with her head on Chen Ying’s lap.
Chen Ying glanced at the three children—Dun’geer and the others—who were still playing enthusiastically on their own. Guessing that no one would come over for the time being, she finally looked down at Yao Huang’s flushed face beaded with fine perspiration and said enviously: “You seem able to be as comfortable wherever you go as if you were in your own home.”
Yao Huang smiled up at her: “This is Father Emperor’s North Garden. Father Emperor is our father, so the North Garden is one big garden belonging to our imperial family. Since it’s our own home, what is there to be reserved about?”
From Yao Huang’s observations, Emperor Yongchang was not a rigid father-in-law who would even manage his daughters-in-law’s garden tours and amusements. She observed the rules she must observe, and played to her heart’s content when it was time to play. If one day Emperor Yongchang truly felt she was living too carefree and scolded her, Yao Huang could change her ways then—it wasn’t as if it would be some great crime committed once that required divorcing a daughter-in-law.
Besides, she had Prince Hui keeping watch for her. If something truly couldn’t be done, Prince Hui would remind her.
Chen Ying couldn’t refute Yao Huang’s reasoning.
Suddenly, she looked toward the traveling palace.
Yao Huang turned her head and saw five eunuchs—one who appeared to be leading walked alongside, while the other four all carried food boxes in their hands.
As they drew near, Yao Huang recognized the leader as a steward eunuch from Empress Zhou’s service, who had come on Empress Zhou’s orders to deliver pastries to everyone.
The palace pastries were all very exquisitely made. Yao Huang had also learned eating etiquette very well. Using chopsticks, she picked up a piece of mung bean cake that she could once have stuffed into her mouth in one bite, and chewed it carefully and slowly, taking four bites before finishing it.
What the mistresses couldn’t finish was rewarded to the accompanying maids and nannies. Soon the four food boxes were emptied.
At this time, the steward eunuch said something in a low voice at the eldest princess’s ear, then withdrew with the four young eunuchs.
After playing one more round, the eldest princess wiped the sweat from her forehead and said with a smile: “I’m tired. Let’s stop here for today.”
Aside from the three children who were still eager for more, Yao Huang and the others all guessed that something might have happened at the traveling palace.
The eldest princess was indeed gentle and kind, but she would never voluntarily bring up matters that shouldn’t be discussed. Yao Huang also wouldn’t presume on their relationship to go ask.
However, before they parted at the traveling palace, the eldest princess gave Yao Huang a hint: “We’ve been playing for several days in a row. My body is somewhat fatigued. This afternoon I’ll rest in my chambers. I’ll invite my sisters-in-law to tour together another day.”
Yao Huang smiled: “Alright, I was just about to say the same thing.”
The eldest princess and second princess went shoulder-to-shoulder toward the West Palace. Yao Huang accompanied Chen Ying and her children as they walked east, not chatting about anything along the way.
At Yunshan Hall, Eunuch Cao learned that the princess consort had returned and immediately hurried over.
Yao Huang saw he had something to say in his eyes and had A’Ji leave first. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust A’Ji, but palace matters could sometimes frighten A’Ji. She would listen first and then decide whether it was necessary to tell the senior maids at her side.
Eunuch Cao said in a low voice: “Prince Qing returned. When he passed by our gate, he seemed quite unhappy.”
Yao Huang: “Do you know the reason?”
Eunuch Cao shook his head. The rule the prince had set for them was to be dutiful and proper. Without the prince’s instructions, they could not take initiative in external matters. So when in the imperial palace, he and Nanny Liu would not voluntarily go to other palaces to inquire about news, and upon arriving at the North Garden, they also obediently stayed at Yunshan Hall, not concerning themselves with any affairs.
If not for Prince Qing having to pass by Yunshan Hall when returning, and him having coincidentally dispatched a young eunuch to the flower house to collect today’s flower arrangements, he might not even have known that Prince Qing had returned.
Since Eunuch Cao didn’t know, Yao Huang could only wait for Prince Hui, who was serving at court, to clear up her confusion.
At dusk, Prince Hui returned punctually. After entering, he first inquired of Eunuch Cao who was here: “How was the princess consort’s outing today?”
Eunuch Cao: “This morning she played chuiwan for one hour then returned. This afternoon she didn’t go out again.”
Zhao Sui understood.
Just as he rounded the spirit screen, the princess consort came from behind, took over the wheelchair and pushed him into the eastern side chamber, closing the door to inquire about Prince Qing’s matter.
Zhao Sui said simply: “Father Emperor was angry that he lost too many troops. His noble rank and stipend are forfeit for one year, and he must reflect on his errors behind closed doors for three months.”
Yao Huang covered her mouth in shock. Five thousand taels of stipend—just taken away like that?
“Exactly how many troops did he lose?” After her shock, Yao Huang immediately asked. Prince Hui was a man of few words and hadn’t mentioned the details of Prince Qing’s bandit suppression to her. When Empress Zhou, Consort Xian, the eldest princess and others brought it up, they only praised Prince Qing’s achievements in front of Consort Rou and Zheng Yuanzhen. Yao Huang herself also didn’t like to casually inquire about other princes’ affairs.
Zhao Sui lowered his eyes: “Over nine hundred.”
Knowing the princess consort would be curious, Zhao Sui finally told her in detail about Peng Daji’s memorial, which should have been fairly impartial.
Yao Huang didn’t know exactly how difficult bandit suppression was and couldn’t judge Prince Qing’s merits and faults. What she thought of were those over nine hundred prefectural soldiers—in one ambush, they were gone in an instant. Compared to their lives, what did it matter that Prince Qing lost one year’s five thousand taels of silver?
“So last month when Father Emperor scolded me, it was because he had read Third Prince’s memorial and was angry. He held it in until now before erupting.”
Zhao Sui tacitly agreed.
Yao Huang sat down across from Prince Hui, rarely also falling silent.
If Prince Qing were just an outsider with no connection to the couple, Yao Huang would definitely mock him. But Prince Qing was Prince Hui’s brother, and moreover a prince who had married the cousin with whom Prince Hui had once had a verbal betrothal. For either of the couple to pick at Prince Qing’s faults would seem like gloating over his misfortune.
“Punished is punished. In any case, it was Father Emperor who punished him—it has nothing to do with you or me.” Yao Huang concluded: “In future when I see Consort Rou, the princess imperial, or third sister-in-law again, I’ll just be careful not to say the wrong thing and touch their sore spots.”
Zhao Sui: “Mm. For the next few days, best not to go to the North Garden either.”
With dark clouds massed over third brother’s side, for them to continue playing and enjoying themselves wouldn’t be quite appropriate.
At this mention, Yao Huang glared at him: “Since Your Highness understands this, why didn’t you send word back this morning? Mother Empress even knew to send a message to the eldest princess. If the eldest princess hadn’t reminded me not to go out this afternoon, I’d still be in the dark knowing nothing. What if I ran into Father Emperor again?”
Zhao Sui: “The ignorant are blameless. Father Emperor wouldn’t truly blame you.”
If he had specifically sent the princess consort a message about this matter, it would make it seem like he placed great importance on Prince Qing being scolded. It would be soon enough to instruct the princess consort when he returned.
Yao Huang looked at Prince Hui’s refined and otherworldly face and guessed his thoughts. Indeed, Prince Hui had long since lost any connection to that position. Even if Prince Qing angered Emperor Yongchang, Emperor Yongchang would only lean a bit more toward Prince Kang or the fourth prince. Why should Prince Hui make a big fuss and specially send someone back with a message?
Throughout the traveling palace, palace attendants or imperial guards stood watch at intervals. Whose comings and goings all escaped their eyes, which meant they also couldn’t escape the eyes of those who could extract information from them.
That night lying in bed, Zhao Sui held the princess consort who had leaned over and said: “It just so happens your monthly courses are about to arrive. If Mother Empress asks why you’re not active anymore, you’ll have an open reason.”
Yao Huang nodded. Last month it had come on the eleventh. Today was already the thirteenth—it would probably come tomorrow.
Then thinking of Prince Hui’s greedy vigor after going hungry for a long time, Yao Huang pillowed her head on his arm and raised her hand to trace circles on Prince Hui’s chest.
Zhao Sui grasped her hand: “Sleep.”
Prince Qing had just been punished. If he as the elder brother did this tonight, what would the princess consort think of him?
Yao Huang said in a muffled voice: “Don’t give me that. Your Highness bringing up that my monthly courses are near—weren’t you hinting that I should seize the opportunity?”
Prince Hui was like this—greedy yet unwilling to admit it, always using various words and actions to tempt her into taking initiative. If Yao Huang didn’t cooperate, next time Prince Hui would dare to keep her up all night.
Zhao Sui: “…I didn’t mean that.”
Yao Huang: “Right, Your Highness didn’t think of it—I’m the one who did.”
Deeply understanding that if she didn’t take initiative tonight, after her courses truly came and then ended, she’d be fiercely pursued by Prince Hui, the princess consort very actively began kissing Prince Hui’s neck.
Zhao Sui: “…”
The next day Yao Huang stayed at Yunshan Hall reading storybooks all day. In the evening when Prince Hui returned, Yao Huang’s new book had just reached an exciting part, so she didn’t go to meet him.
Zhao Sui simply assumed the princess consort was physically uncomfortable. After changing into everyday clothes, he proactively came to the rear courtyard to see the princess consort. Arriving at the side chamber, he saw the princess consort lying on the couch, one hand propping up her chin, the other turning pages of her storybook, her two fair and clean feet exposed outside, one resting on top of the other.
Zhao Sui signaled Qing Ai to push him back and stop behind the long table.
The princess consort’s puzzled voice came from inside: “Why isn’t Your Highness coming in?”
Zhao Sui: “I won’t disturb your reading.”
Yao Huang didn’t think much of it.
When night fell again, the princess consort came over to embrace him with three parts shyness and said at Prince Hui’s ear: “It hasn’t come yet—does Your Highness want to seize the opportunity?”
The warm breath puffed into his ear, first seizing Prince Hui tight.
But Prince Hui’s rationality was still present. He asked: “Why is it three days late this time?”
Yao Huang: “It’s not too bad. I’ve been this late before. Besides, we’ve changed locations—maybe I’m a bit unaccustomed to the climate?”
The eighteen-year-old princess consort didn’t take it too seriously, but the twenty-four-year-old Prince Hui thought of one possibility.
However, he didn’t say it aloud, afraid the princess consort would become too excited to sleep well.
“Today Minister Yan temporarily assigned me a construction project. I need to calculate some accounts. You sleep first.”
Yao Huang understood. Tonight Prince Hui truly had no designs.
At dawn, Prince Hui woke first. The princess consort happened to be lying with her back to him. After Prince Hui threw back the covers and sat up properly, he first looked out of the bed curtains for a while, then slowly turned his head to look at the princess consort’s light-colored silk underpants.
Whether those silk underpants or the place where the princess consort had slept, everything was clean and dry.
Zhao Sui’s heartbeat accelerated with an unfamiliar throbbing. Looking again at the princess consort sleeping so soundly, Zhao Sui quietly covered her with the quilt.
A’Ji and Qing Ai were both waiting in the side chamber. Seeing the prince push himself out, Qing Ai promptly stepped forward to take over the wheelchair.
A’Ji had already familiarized herself with Prince Hui’s preferences and knew that the prince didn’t like having them, the senior maids, constantly seeing him off and greeting him, so she stood respectfully to the side, only waiting for Prince Hui’s wheelchair to leave her sight before relaxing.
The prince, who hardly ever spoke to them, actually looked toward her and instructed in a low voice: “Be especially careful when attending the princess consort these next few days. Don’t let the princess consort do anything involving running or jumping.”
A’Ji promptly agreed.
When the princess consort was ready to rise, A’Ji relayed the prince’s instructions to the princess consort.
Yao Huang touched her waist, which showed no signs of soreness or fatigue, and a guess she dared not believe suddenly emerged in her mind. Could it be that…