Emperor Yongchang’s arrangement at the palace banquet was naturally to build momentum for the Crown Prince’s recovery after the new year. After all, the Crown Prince had been sitting in a wheelchair for over three years. Without any warning, if one day he simply walked gracefully to the morning court session, what would the ministers think? When things are abnormal, there must be something sinister afoot?
By simply performing this little play tonight, he could both allow the civil and military officials to prepare in advance and publicize the Crown Prince’s supreme filial piety, spreading a fine tale of paternal kindness and filial devotion throughout the common people. Never mind how much the ministers believed—the common people, who had barely read any books, would easily believe and enjoy spreading such beautiful news. Then the Crown Prince of the Great Qi Dynasty would surely be a heaven-chosen heir apparent, which was why he could recover completely after three years of disability.
To perform a play, one must perform it completely. After the Crown Prince sat down in his wheelchair, Emperor Yongchang stopped his sword dance and excitedly summoned the imperial physicians to take the Crown Prince’s pulse and examine his legs.
Two of the most senior old imperial physicians came. The old physicians had not known about this in advance! At this moment, they were both massaging the Crown Prince’s legs and watching him lift his legs and walk, as if witnessing a miracle in medical history. Each was more shocked than the other. They first conservatively said the Crown Prince had the possibility of recovery, then also attributed the Crown Prince’s turnaround to his great filial piety.
For such joyous news, Emperor Yongchang naturally had to send someone to inform Empress Zhou and the Crown Princess in the central palace.
The eunuch from Qianyuan Hall came to announce the good news, standing in the center of the rear palace’s great hall. In front of all the wives of officials great and small filling the hall, he recounted like a storyteller the complete story of how the Crown Prince had stood up.
Yao Huang: “…”
She never imagined that one day she would listen to a storytelling performance that would feature her own husband and father-in-law!
Noticing that everyone was looking at her, Yao Huang quickly adjusted her emotions, her voice trembling slightly as she asked, “Is this, is this truly real?”
The messenger eunuch smiled. “Absolutely true. This servant saw it with his own eyes. The imperial physicians have also diagnosed the Crown Prince. They say the Crown Prince has an eighty percent chance of complete recovery!”
Yao Huang then happily knelt beside Empress Zhou, leaning against Empress Zhou’s legs and “weeping tears of joy.”
Empress Zhou took a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes, her eyes reddening as she repeatedly said how wonderful it was. The Grand Princess, Princess Kang Chen Ying, and the newly ennobled this year Lady Chengfu Luo Jinhua were genuinely happy for their second brother or for Yao Huang, and tears of joy fell from their eyes one after another.
Only Zheng Yuanzhen kept her head lowered, as if someone had once again extracted her soul.
Her second cousin, whose crippled legs she had disdained, had been made Crown Prince even while sitting in a wheelchair. Now, his legs were going to recover as well.
She and her mother had schemed and plotted several times in succession, only to turn the mother and daughter into laughingstocks in the eyes of all the subjects throughout the capital.
On the sixth day of the first month, officials began their duties for the new year. At this court session, Emperor Yongchang specially granted the Crown Prince a “recovery leave,” allowing the Crown Prince to temporarily move back to his old residence at Prince Hui’s mansion to rest until his legs fully recovered. During this period, if there were matters at the gunpowder workshop requiring the Crown Prince’s handling, the Crown Prince could review documents or summon officials from the gunpowder workshop at the princely mansion.
In those months before the new year, the Crown Prince’s leg muscles and bones lacked sufficient strength and could not undergo intensive training, so the Crown Prince working at the Ministry of Works would not delay his leg practice. Now that the Crown Prince’s leg muscles and bones had sufficient strength, what needed to be practiced were major movements like walking, climbing stairs up and down, and even running and jumping. In Emperor Yongchang’s view, of course the Crown Prince’s legs were more important—it did not matter if his duties slowed down.
The two gardens at the Eastern Palace were too small. The Imperial Garden was large enough, but all the consorts in the palace liked to visit the Imperial Garden. With many people and many eyes, forbidding the consorts from setting foot in the Imperial Garden solely to accommodate the Crown Prince would certainly weigh on the Crown Prince’s heart.
After thinking it over, Emperor Yongchang felt his son’s old princely residence was very suitable. Once spring arrived and the weather improved, whenever the Crown Prince wanted to practice his legs by riding horses, he could practice at any time without needing to request permission from him.
After Emperor Yongchang issued the decree, he had the Ministry of Works dispatch a group of craftsmen to the Crown Prince’s old residence. Together with the craftsmen the Prince had originally employed at his mansion, they rebuilt all the thresholds throughout Prince Hui’s mansion as well as the original stairs. All kinds of timber and stone materials were readily available. The craftsmen worked enthusiastically for two days and had everything repaired. After airing it out for another two days, on the tenth day of the first month, the Crown Prince’s family could leave the palace.
Emperor Yongchang, who happened to have a day of rest, personally escorted the Crown Prince’s family out through the Western Luminous Gate.
Zhao Sui wanted to stand up from his wheelchair to bid farewell to Father Emperor, but Emperor Yongchang had barely glimpsed his movement before pressing him back down, laughing, “What use is standing for this short moment? Practice well over there. When you’ve completely recovered, come back to the palace—We want to see you moving freely.”
He felt heartbroken that Second Son’s legs had been ruined. When determining the heir apparent, he did not care that Second Son’s legs were ruined, but Emperor Yongchang had actually always missed that Second Son with his upright bearing—missed having his Second Son, who was like flawless beautiful jade, return to his presence sooner.
The Crown Prince, who could not raise his eyes to look directly at Father Emperor at the New Year’s Eve palace banquet, still kept his eyes lowered at this moment.
However, that night the Crown Prince’s face had been flushed, whereas now the Crown Prince’s eyes were rimmed with red.
Emperor Yongchang was very gratified. At least in Second Son’s heart at this moment, he should still count as a loving Father Emperor, right?
After hugging his little imperial grandson again, Emperor Yongchang looked toward his daughter-in-law. “Take good care of the Crown Prince. When rest days come and the Crown Prince continues practicing his legs, don’t forget to bring Jun’er into the palace to pay respects to Us.”
Yao Huang smiled. “Since Father Emperor is so reluctant to part with Jun’er, why not just keep Jun’er in the palace? Father Emperor and Mother Empress can take more trouble to help us look after him. It would also let Jun’er fulfill more filial duties on behalf of His Highness and myself before Father Emperor and Mother Empress.”
Emperor Yongchang then pretended to carry Jun’er toward the palace.
Yao Huang also pretended to push the Crown Prince’s wheelchair toward the carriage.
Jun’er was still laughing at first, but laughing and laughing, he discovered that Father Prince and Mother Consort were about to leave, and immediately became anxious.
Although he very much liked his little imperial grandson, Emperor Yongchang fundamentally did not have much leisure time or patience to coax children. He walked back beside the carriage and personally handed Jun’er to his daughter-in-law, who had already boarded the carriage.
After bidding farewell once more, the carriage departed.
Emperor Yongchang was a dignified emperor—how could he stand before the palace gate foolishly seeing off his son? He clasped his hands behind his back, turned around, and was about to walk back.
Suddenly, a familiar crying sound came from ahead. Emperor Yongchang’s heart skipped a beat. He turned his head and saw Jun’er lying at the carriage window, craning his neck looking for Imperial Grandfather. His daughter-in-law was supporting the little fellow from behind, revealing half her face.
Emperor Yongchang watched anxiously. “Quickly sit inside!” Don’t let his Jun’er fall!
Yao Huang replied, “Your daughter-in-law obeys the decree!”
After making Jun’er’s little hand wave toward Emperor Yongchang, Yao Huang steeled her heart and pulled Jun’er away from the window, placing him directly on the Crown Prince’s legs, which were not that afraid of being pressed on.
Zhao Sui then handed Jun’er the jade pendant he had prepared in advance.
Having received the jade pendant, though Jun’er’s eyes still held two pools of tears, his little mouth smiled.
Before the palace gate, Emperor Yongchang’s heart was also quite pleased. He had not doted on this grandson in vain!
The carriage soon arrived at the old Prince Hui residence. Before the carriage had stopped steadily, Yao Huang lifted the curtain and discovered that the plaque hanging high above the mansion’s main gate had changed to a brand new “Crown Prince’s Mansion,” and below the plaque there were now several more layers of stairs and a red lacquered threshold.
Yao Huang made way for some space, allowing the Crown Prince in the wheelchair in the middle to see outside. She teased, “Father Emperor truly did have Your Highness return to practice his legs. He didn’t miss the opportunity to exercise Your Highness even here at the main gate.”
Zhao Sui looked out the window and saw the scene from when he first moved into Prince Hui’s mansion at eighteen years old.
Yao Huang first handed Jun’er to the wet nurse, then coordinated with Qing Ai to push the Crown Prince off the carriage. If all went well, today should also be the last time the Crown Prince would ride in a carriage sitting in a wheelchair.
The wet nurse placed Jun’er in the stroller and secured the straps. Just as Yao Huang took over the stroller, the Crown Prince had already left his wheelchair.
Since the Crown Prince dared to stand, Yao Huang trusted he could walk this distance well. However, though the Crown Prince could walk, Jun’er’s stroller encountered trouble when it reached the stairs.
Qing Ai and Fei Quan smiled as they lifted the young prince’s stroller through the mansion’s first gate.
Yao Huang walked to the Crown Prince’s side. Eyes facing forward, her hand secretly grasped the Crown Prince’s hand.
The Crown Prince’s footsteps paused slightly. Just as Yao Huang worried whether this man was going to be reserved and proper again, the Crown Prince freed himself from her hand and grasped it back in return.
Qing Ai and Fei Quan, who had just set the stroller steadily on the ground, saw this and quickly lowered their heads. After the Crown Prince and Crown Princess walked past them, Qing Ai pushed the young prince along while maintaining a distance, with Fei Quan guarding beside them.
Jun’er could see Father Prince and Mother Consort’s backs. Knowing his parents were both there, the little fellow relaxed and looked around in all directions. Compared to the young prince, Jinbao, who had jumped down from another carriage, was very steady—staying close to his young master’s stroller without leaving for a moment, appearing uninterested in anything else.
Last year on the ninth day of the twelfth month, the Crown Prince could only walk a mere ten steps or so after releasing the support rail. Today’s Crown Prince actually accompanied the Crown Princess all the way to the front courtyard of Mingan Hall, even crossing several thresholds along the way. However, this was also the limit of what he could currently do. Yao Huang noticed the fine sweat on the Crown Prince’s forehead and smiled as she took Jun’er into her own arms.
The Crown Prince liked to practice his legs alone in the garden, but the Crown Princess also liked to take Jun’er for walks in the garden. The couple divided the back garden in two. If the Crown Prince was in the eastern garden today, the Crown Princess would amuse herself in the western garden. If the Crown Prince chose the western garden tomorrow, the Crown Princess and her son would go play in the eastern garden.
The Crown Prince specifically chose quiet, secluded sections to practice. Yao Huang would not deliberately go looking for him, so the couple basically only saw each other during their three daily meals and at night.
At night, the Crown Prince would pull the Crown Princess along to continue practicing his legs. Only at these times did Yao Huang personally experience that the Crown Prince’s leg strength was growing ever greater.
By mid-February, the sunlight in the capital had noticeably warmed up.
The peonies at the Crown Prince’s old residence were cultivated in the area with the best light exposure. Yao Huang had recently been frequently bringing Jun’er to the peony garden, especially loving to observe the flower buds of those twelve Yellow Yao peonies. According to Yao Huang’s understanding of these Yellow Yao peonies, they would bloom most magnificently in mid-March, but every year one or two flower buds would bloom early, competing to win their masters’ favor.
On the twenty-third day of the second month, Yao Huang came to see the peonies again.
Jun’er, who had just learned to walk, already knew which plant Mother Consort liked to look at most. After being set down on the ground by Mother Consort, the little fellow immediately swayed and tottered along the garden path forward, ultimately stopping accurately before a Yellow Yao peony. Looking at that flower bud that was a bit taller than him, the little fellow excitedly turned half a circle in place, pointing at the bud and calling to Mother Consort, “Open! Open!”
Yao Huang caught up and saw that this flower bud had indeed opened its first pale yellow petal.
As mother and son were watching with rapt attention, footsteps suddenly sounded behind them—somewhat unfamiliar, yet somewhat familiar.
Yao Huang turned her head and saw the Crown Prince, wearing a tea-white brocade robe, walking toward them along the small path the mother and son had taken. He was not walking fast, but neither was he as slow as when practicing his legs before. It was as if he were simply a male master of the house taking a leisurely stroll to admire the flowers—a male master who had never been injured and had never sat in a wheelchair for three years.
Yao Huang, who was crouching before the peony flowers while supporting Jun’er, once again had to look up high at the Crown Prince.
Jun’er did not think there was anything wrong with Father Prince being like this. He left Mother Consort’s side and swayed and tottered toward Father Prince.
The little fellow walked somewhat urgently. When still a few steps away from Father Prince, he suddenly fell forward.
Zhao Sui took several quick steps forward and steadily caught Jun’er, smoothly lifting the little fellow up.
Yao Huang: “…”
She slowly straightened up, looking at the gradually approaching Crown Prince with astonishment.
Zhao Sui avoided the Crown Princess’s overly bright eyes. Though he stopped beside the Crown Princess, he only lowered his head to play with Jun’er.
Jun’er was at the age when he loved to walk. He twisted his little body to have Father Emperor set him down, then went off to look at other peony buds.
Zhao Sui was worried about him and wanted to follow.
The Crown Princess suddenly spread her arms, blocking his way.
Only then did Zhao Sui meet the Crown Princess’s eyes. He lowered his gaze and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Yao Huang hummed, “So you can hold people now?”
Zhao Sui tacitly acknowledged this.
Yao Huang: “Then can Your Highness hold me?”
The Crown Prince did not answer. He only stepped forward two paces and, just like when he had held Jun’er, lifted the Crown Princess up high by her underarms, then steadily embraced the Crown Princess’s legs.
Yao Huang, who had been lifted like this countless times by her father when she was young, still felt her heartbeat quicken. She hurriedly steadied herself by gripping the Crown Prince’s shoulders, clamped her legs around his waist, and looked at him nervously. “I was just saying it casually. Quickly put me down, don’t force yourself…”
Zhao Sui smiled and looked back at his Crown Princess. “I’m not forcing myself.”
From this day forward, he could hold her like this every day, continuing to hold her until he grew old and could no longer carry her.