At the Mid-Autumn palace banquet in the twenty-ninth year of Yongchang, Empress Zhou lavishly praised Earl Zhongyong’s daughter Yao Huang as possessing heavenly beauty and grace, gentle virtue and refined wisdom. The next day, Emperor Yongchang bestowed Yao Huang in marriage to Prince Hui.
Accompanying the marriage decree, the palace arranged a team of guards to come to Changshou Alley to protect the prospective Princess Hui’s family home. They also arranged for a Nanny Fang to come teach the prospective princess consort court etiquette, and Consort Du also sent four maidservants to attend to the prospective princess consort’s daily needs.
The Yao family’s neighbors and relatives came one after another to offer congratulations.
Li Tingwang’s mother, Lady Wang, also came.
She had long known of her son’s feelings toward Yao Huang. Because she looked down on the Yao family’s status compared to her own family, she had pretended not to know. Who would have expected that after one great battle ended, not only had Yao Zhenhu become equal in rank to her husband, he had actually been ennobled as an earl—his family status had suddenly surpassed her own family by a large margin!
Jealousy aside, Lady Wang actually approved of her son marrying Yao Huang now. Thinking of the childhood friendship between the two, the Yao family shouldn’t refuse. But when she went to ask her son’s intentions, he actually gave a bitter smile and told her not to waste her efforts.
A few days ago, Lady Wang didn’t understand why her son had suddenly lost heart. When she learned that Yao Huang had been designated by His Majesty to become Prince Hui’s princess consort, Lady Wang both understood her son and was consumed with envy of the Yao family’s fortune.
Luo Jinhua received Lady Wang with intimate familiarity, not becoming arrogant just because her own family’s status had risen. She simply no longer needed to deliberately flatter Lady Wang anymore.
The Yao family courtyard continued bustling for a period of time. After all the relatives and friends who heard the news had visited once, the Yao family finally regained its former peace and quiet.
Yao Huang earnestly followed Nanny Fang in learning etiquette, including appreciation of various precious objects.
Previously she hadn’t had the conditions or necessity to learn these things. Now that she was marrying into the imperial family, although Yao Huang didn’t feel ashamed of her shallow knowledge, she also wouldn’t refuse opportunities that could make her better adapted to imperial family life.
Just like before, when Prince Hui had given her a small-leaf rosewood bracelet and mutton-fat white jade bracelet, having learned to recognize various precious objects with Nanny Fang, in the future when Prince Hui gave her more gifts or the palace bestowed rewards, Yao Huang wouldn’t need to foolishly ask others about them.
With so much to learn, time flowed like water. In late eleventh month, the five-courtyard earl’s manor mansion that Emperor Yongchang had bestowed upon the Yao family was finally renovated. The keys were handed to the Yao family—they could move!
The brand new Earl Zhongyong’s manor was very close to Prince Hui’s manor, separated by only three streets.
The couple Yao Zhenhu and Luo Jinhua lived in the main courtyard of the third section. The second section was specifically for receiving guests. Yao Lin lived in the fourth section, and Yao Huang lived in the fifth section. The family no longer needed to squeeze into one courtyard.
The day after moving, Prince Hui sent a calling card saying he wished to come offer congratulations on the next rest day at month’s end, asking whether the Earl and Madam would find it convenient.
Luo Jinhua directly told Eunuch Cao, “It’s convenient. As long as Your Highness has time, any time is convenient.”
After seeing off Eunuch Cao, Luo Jinhua went to tell her daughter.
Yao Huang’s face showed an air of indifference about whether Prince Hui came or not, but her heart was actually bubbling over with excitement.
Previously, having only seen Prince Hui four times, the two had suddenly been separated by thousands of miles for two and a half years. Prince Hui had finally returned to the capital, and they’d only met twice briefly before the marriage decree, then hadn’t seen each other for another three months.
The days passed in the blink of an eye. On the last day of the month in the morning, Prince Hui came to the Yao family’s new residence as promised.
Since there was a marriage agreement and Prince Hui’s status was noble, it was entirely reasonable for the prospective princess consort to come with her parents to pay respects to Prince Hui.
With elders present, the twenty-two-year-old Prince Hui looked straight ahead, not giving his fiancée even one extra glance. It wasn’t until Luo Jinhua suggested having her daughter show Prince Hui around the earl’s manor’s small garden that the betrothed couple walked alone toward the small garden, and Zhao Sui finally fell half a step behind—
Yao Huang’s left cheek grew hotter than her right from his gaze. Unable to bear it, she deliberately retreated behind Prince Hui and urged quietly, “Your Highness, please walk in front.”
Zhao Sui said, “I don’t know the way.”
Yao Huang replied, “Your Highness just walk forward. I’ll tell you where to turn.”
Zhao Sui had no choice but to comply.
Yao Huang took the opportunity to examine her betrothed husband, discovering that after three months apart, Prince Hui’s face that had been tanned on the battlefield had turned white again, lustrous as fine jade in the winter’s pale sun.
Prince Hui’s figure was tall and slender. He wore a dark red brocade robe with a jade belt outlining his narrow, slim waist.
Having surveyed him from top to bottom, Yao Huang’s gaze had just returned to Prince Hui’s face when she saw him stop and look back.
Yao Huang showed just the right amount of puzzlement.
Zhao Sui said, “For the wedding date, the Bureau of Astronomy selected three auspicious days.”
This was an extremely important matter. Yao Huang asked with a red face, “Which days?”
Zhao Sui replied, “The nineteenth of the first month, the twenty-seventh of the second month, and the twenty-first of the fourth month.”
Yao Huang unconsciously walked ahead of him again: “Which day did His Majesty select?”
Zhao Sui said, “Father Emperor asked my opinion.”
Yao Huang glared at him: “Then which day did Your Highness select? Must I ask one question for Your Highness to give one answer?”
Zhao Sui lowered his eyes and said, “The betrothal gifts, ceremonial robes, and all other necessary items for the wedding are already prepared. Moreover, in the third month there will be consort selection for Prince Kang and Prince Qing. If you and I marry earlier, the Ministry of Rites staff can concentrate fully on preparing for the selection, avoiding chaos from being too busy.”
Yao Huang asked, “So Your Highness selected the nineteenth of the first month?”
Zhao Sui tacitly agreed.
Yao Huang looked at the path ahead, her heart in turmoil: “Then there’s only a bit over a month left. We just moved, and I’ve only just begun to enjoy the wealthy life of a proper earl’s daughter. Look—this garden is bare and empty. If we marry in the first month, I won’t even get to see this garden’s spring scenery in full bloom.”
Zhao Sui carefully examined the earl’s manor garden’s landscaping and consoled his fiancée: “The two manors are close. After marriage, you can often return here to accompany your mother.”
His fiancée didn’t acknowledge him, but Zhao Sui saw her rosy lips pout slightly.
Zhao Sui continued, “The prince’s manor’s back garden is a hundred times larger than this place, with even better spring scenery. If you enjoy viewing gardens, that place should suit you even more.”
Yao Huang couldn’t imagine a garden a hundred times larger, but she refused to show timidity before Prince Hui. She hummed softly, “Is Your Highness showing off that your manor’s garden is better?”
Zhao Sui lowered his eyes: “That’s also your garden. It’s not showing off.”
Yao Huang said, “So in the end, Your Highness just wants to marry quickly.”
Zhao Sui replied, “Yes.”
Longing day and night, unwilling to wait even one more day.
Yao Huang complained to Prince Hui that the wedding date was set too early, but actually it was just nervousness and shyness. In her heart, she didn’t resist much. After all, she would marry him either way—what great difference could two months earlier or later make?
At the beginning of the twelfth month, the Ministry of Rites formally set the wedding date. The Yao family began sending invitations to relatives, asking friends and family to keep several days in the first month free to come feast at the Yao residence.
Yao Huang followed Nanny Fang in learning everything she should learn, then peacefully spent a prosperous New Year at the new home with her father, mother, and brother.
On the sixth day of the first month, the Ministry of Rites came to Earl Zhongyong’s manor on behalf of the imperial family to deliver betrothal gifts. Box after box, load after load of betrothal gifts would give the old neighbors of Changshou Alley something to discuss with relish for several years.
On the sixteenth of the first month, just after the Lantern Festival ended, another nanny came from the palace bearing an oral decree from Empress Zhou.
In front of everyone, the nanny said she had come to explain to the prospective princess consort the various ceremonies for the wedding day. After privately requesting the prospective princess consort to her boudoir, the nanny solemnly delivered a refined speech. After Yao Huang listened carefully and pondered its meaning, she understood that this nanny’s assignment wasn’t proper—she was to teach her how to properly serve Prince Hui on their wedding night.
The imperial family was the clan with the most rules under heaven. Among common people, a married couple just needed to share a bed together, but on the imperial family’s side, emperors and princes were all noble persons. Even wives and concubines accompanying noble persons overnight was called “attending the bedchamber.” Since it was “attending,” there were various particulars—wishing that the noble persons wouldn’t need to do anything while wives and concubines exerted themselves to make the noble persons physically and mentally comfortable and happy as immortals.
The nanny lectured in detail, guarding against the young lady listening in confusion. She prepared porcelain figures and jade objects, so that before Yao Huang even married Prince Hui, she first learned what Prince Hui’s body looked like specifically beneath his clothing.
After the nanny left, Luo Jinhua came to speak intimately with her daughter. Learning what the nanny had taught, Luo Jinhua scoffed, “These are all pointless formalities. Just listen casually. When the time really comes, the Prince will take the initiative himself. You just need to cooperate.”
Yao Huang felt her mother was right. The nanny’s teaching wasn’t wrong either. In the end, it still depended on what Prince Hui liked.
On the nineteenth of the first month, Prince Hui held his wedding.
Heaven favored them—it was a clear day with blue sky and warm sun, without even a trace of wind.
The two manors were close, so Prince Hui deliberately took a longer route when fetching the bride. Wherever the ceremonial procession passed, common people who surged over to watch the excitement tirelessly praised Prince Hui’s refined nobility and noble bearing. Their words were full of envy for Prince Hui’s consort. Only the few martial academy students or Changshou Alley neighbors who had seen the Princess Hui’s appearance knew that Prince Hui was actually also very fortunate to marry such a one-in-ten-thousand supreme beauty resembling a peony flower.
The sounds of drums and music bustled intermittently throughout the day. At the auspicious hour at dusk, Yao Huang, veiled in red, finally crossed the threshold of her new home with Prince Hui—Prince Hui’s manor.
In the bridal chamber were several imperial female relatives who had come to observe the ceremony, such as Prince Hui’s aunt Princess Imperial Fucheng and Prince Hui’s two younger sisters, the First Princess and Second Princess.
With outsiders present, Prince Hui properly completed the entire set of ceremonies with his princess consort before going to the front courtyard to attend to guests. Only when he first lifted the veil did Yao Huang see the joy in Prince Hui’s eyes. Unfortunately, the moment of eye contact was too brief. Yao Huang couldn’t distinguish whether Prince Hui’s joy was pleasure at her makeup and beauty, or happiness that he had finally married her into his household today.
As for these several imperial female guests dining with her, Yao Huang wasn’t at all timid. They were imperial relatives, but now she also held the honored position of princess consort. Aside from His Majesty and the Empress in the palace, there was no one else under heaven who could oppress her based on status.
On the wedding night of Prince Hui and his wife, the female guests didn’t linger too long. After dining with the bride, they tactfully took their leave early.
On the men’s side, Prince Kang and Prince Qing were both happily plying Prince Hui with wine. Prince Kang was happy for his second brother’s wedding joy. Prince Qing was happy that his second brother had refused their cousin, giving him the opportunity to marry his cousin as his princess consort. As for why Prince Qing knew of this matter, naturally it was “inadvertently” revealed when Consort Du and Princess Imperial Fucheng quarreled.
Cen Jun, Jiang Qu, and including the two young masters of Duke Zhenguo’s Li family were all young nobles of merit who had advanced and retreated together with Prince Hui on the battlefield. Today they let loose and all toasted Prince Hui several cups. But the one who pursued Prince Hui relentlessly, determined to get him drunk, was still the princess consort’s own brother Yao Lin. As a brother, he couldn’t bear to part with his sister. Even though his sister would enjoy good fortune following the Prince, thinking that the family would no longer have his sister’s presence in the future, Yao Lin’s eyes reddened.
In the end, it was eldest cousin Luo Kun who pressed down on Yao Lin’s arm raising the wine bowl, forbidding him to drink more.
Zhao Sui knew his own alcohol tolerance very well. After drinking with everyone to five-tenths drunk, he apologized and departed.
He didn’t like the smell of alcohol, much less wanting to see his princess consort on their wedding night reeking of it.
The bridal chamber.
Though it was a cold winter night in the first month, a fire kept burning inside Yao Huang’s body. When she didn’t think about Prince Hui, that fire would be gentler. Once she thought of Prince Hui and what things must be done in the bridal chamber, that fire blazed hotter like oil had been added, burning so intensely that even A’Ji worried whether the princess consort was ill, asking several times why the princess consort’s face was so red.
Yao Huang went to look in the mirror. The reflection showed her cheeks indeed flushed crimson, leaving only her forehead, around her eyes, nose, and chin in fair skin tone—as if the young lady had clumsily applied too much rouge.
There was tea in the room that had cooled long ago. Yao Huang deliberately drank a full bowl. After drinking, her face was still burning hot, so Yao Huang had A’Ji fetch a basin of cold water.
A’Ji said, “Princess Consort, please stop fussing. Be careful of catching cold.”
Yao Huang pointed at her own face: “Should I see His Highness like this?”
A’Ji looked at the princess consort and earnestly praised, “Princess Consort, your red face is also very beautiful. It’s about the same as when you’ve just bathed—looking at you makes me think all sorts of improper thoughts.”
Yao Huang asked, “What improper thoughts?” Her A’Ji was only fourteen years old and hadn’t heard those things the palace nanny taught her.
A’Ji replied, “Just the way you look when bathing.”
When bathing, the princess consort wore no clothes, everything exposed. Thinking of those images was naturally improper.
Yao Huang reached out to pinch A’Ji’s ear.
Master and servant were just fooling around when Bai Ling rushed in hurriedly, both flustered and joyful: “Princess Consort, His Highness is here!”
The flame in Yao Huang’s heart immediately shot up a large section. She had no choice but to go out to greet him. After all, her husband was a prince. Previously when Prince Hui saw her, it was either outside or at her own home. Now that she had come to his territory, who knew whether Prince Hui would display a different attitude? In Changshou Alley, there were several disheartening examples of men who tried every means to please women before marriage but treated their wives like draft animals after marriage.
It was cold outside. Yao Huang stopped in the main hall. When Bai Ling lifted the red silk curtain and Prince Hui’s bright red brocade robe hem appeared opposite her, Yao Huang immediately curtsied: “This consort pays respects to Your Highness.”
Zhao Sui was startled by the little princess consort’s flushed red face. He first excused her from the formality, then had the several maidservants withdraw.
A’Ji and the others filed out. The red silk curtain was held open a bit longer, letting in a thread of cold wind.
Zhao Sui pointed toward the inner chamber and said to his princess consort who kept her head lowered, not daring to look at him, “Let’s go inside to talk. It’s cold here.”
Yao Huang didn’t find it cold at all. She wished she could blow in the cold wind longer, but still followed Prince Hui to the inner chamber.
The inner chamber had three places where the couple could sit together: one was the canopy bed, one was the daybed by the window, and one was the writing desk convenient for reading and writing.
The canopy bed would seem too eager. The round-backed chairs at the writing desk were hard and uncomfortable—not as comfortable as the daybed spread with a layer of brocade cushions.
Zhao Sui led his princess consort to the daybed. He sat down first, then indicated for the princess consort to sit on the other side, with a moveable rosewood low table between them.
Yao Huang obediently sat properly, her gaze falling on the yellow rosewood floor in front of her. Nothing else to say—her bridal chamber was truly filled with precious elegance everywhere.
Zhao Sui could sense his princess consort’s nervousness and constraint. In their previous meetings, sometimes she was shy and sometimes bold, but she had never been this quiet.
This wasn’t difficult to understand. Just as his current thoughts were also greatly different from before.
“Is the heating system burning too hot?” Zhao Sui first expressed concern about her overly flushed complexion.
Yao Huang couldn’t help touching her cheeks, saying awkwardly, “Your Highness knows our old home didn’t have an underfloor heating system. I’m not used to it yet, so I always get a big red face from the heat.”
If hot, there were only two solutions: either instruct the young eunuch managing the heating to use less charcoal, or—
Zhao Sui’s gaze quickly swept across the princess consort’s collar. Because he didn’t dare observe too long, he couldn’t judge whether the princess consort was wearing too many layers.
“Shall I pour you a bowl of water?”
“Mm.”
When Prince Hui left the daybed with his back to her and walked toward the table with tea and water, Yao Huang secretly let out two breaths. When Prince Hui turned around carrying a tea bowl, Yao Huang immediately reverted to the appearance of sitting upright with lowered brows and eyes.
Zhao Sui stopped before his princess consort, bending slightly to offer the tea bowl.
The princess consort raised both hands. Her bright red sleeves made her hands appear white as congealed fat, ten fingertips pointed, soft as if boneless.
Yao Huang had already accepted the tea bowl, yet she saw His Highness’s slender hand still extended before her. She looked up in confusion. The next moment, that hand withdrew and the person also returned to sit beside her.
Yao Huang didn’t understand but didn’t dare pursue the question. Holding the tea bowl with both hands, she took a shallow sip.
Just drinking water—such an ordinary small action—because there was an extra person beside her, a Prince Hui who was staring at her, Yao Huang actually drank with a panicked heart. Part of the tea flowed into her mouth while part moistened her lips. Yao Huang unconsciously pressed her lips together, then grew even thirstier and had to continue drinking.
The front courtyard still had the clamor of male guests, but the bridal chamber was so quiet Yao Huang could hear the sound of herself swallowing tea.
Finally finished drinking, Yao Huang stiffly set the tea bowl on the rosewood small table beside her.
Having set it down, Yao Huang continued looking at the floor.
Zhao Sui asked, “Are you afraid of me?”
Yao Huang replied, “Why does Your Highness say so?”
Zhao Sui said, “Previously when you saw me, you always dared to speak. Tonight you haven’t said a word.”
Yao Huang answered, “I don’t know what to say.” She was entirely anxious about the sleeping matter.
Zhao Sui suggested, “Then shall we rest early? Tomorrow morning we still need to enter the palace to pay respects.”
Yao Huang’s entire body went soft, unconsciously supporting herself with one hand to the side.
What Zhao Sui saw was the princess consort with her face completely flushed swaying once, appearing fragile as if she might faint at any moment. Considering she might be overheated by the floor heating, Zhao Sui pushed the rosewood small table between them aside, sat beside her, and asked with concern, “Are you unwell somewhere? The manor has a physician. I’ll send someone to fetch him.”
Yao Huang hurriedly shook her head: “I’m fine. I’m just, just feeling flustered from the heat.”
Zhao Sui fell silent, suddenly raising his hand to touch her forehead.
Yao Huang closed her eyes, only feeling the man’s palm pressed against her was entirely cool.
Zhao Sui touched his own forehead with his other hand. Comparing them, she indeed wasn’t abnormally hot.
“Then I’ll have someone reduce the charcoal in the heating system.”
Seeing the man about to leave, Yao Huang reluctantly grasped his wrist and explained in a trembling voice, “It has nothing to do with the heating. I’m flustered because of the bridal chamber—”
Two words, and Zhao Sui also grew hot along with her.
He could comfort his princess consort, six years his junior, about other matters. Only regarding this one thing, Zhao Sui didn’t know how to begin.
The more they delayed, the more unbearable it became. Yao Huang couldn’t stand it anymore. She left Prince Hui behind, ran into the canopy bed, kicked off her shoes, burrowed into the bedding, and said while hidden under the covers, “Your Highness, let’s make it quick. Finish early so we can sleep early.”
Zhao Sui looked at the bulging mound on the bed. He stood in place for a moment, then extinguished the lamps throughout the inner chamber one by one, leaving only two wedding candles.
Removing his outer robe and hanging it on the clothing rack, Zhao Sui came to the bedside wearing only a set of bright red inner garments.
That mound didn’t move at all—only the slight rise and fall from the princess consort’s breathing.
She was already hot—wouldn’t covering herself like this make her even hotter?
Zhao Sui lifted the covers and saw his princess consort lying with her back to him, eyes tightly closed, right hand gripping the brocade bedding beneath.
Zhao Sui said, “If you’re truly afraid, we can spend a few more days together. We’ll consummate when you’re no longer afraid.”
Yao Huang replied, “I’m not afraid of Your Highness. I’m afraid of pain. Will waiting several more days make it not hurt?”
Zhao Sui fell silent.
Yao Huang said, “Alright, Your Highness just proceed. The more you delay, the more I suffer.”
With his princess consort urging him twice, Zhao Sui had no choice but to obey.
He sat beside his princess consort and first embraced her. Looking at her flushed face and continuously trembling eyelashes, Zhao Sui’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he began kissing from her forehead downward. The little princess consort didn’t move until his lips fell on her ear and neck—only then did she grasp his inner garment as if startled.
Zhao Sui paused, waiting for her to slowly relax before continuing. But the princess consort immediately tensed up again. Yet Zhao Sui didn’t stop anymore.
The princess consort’s hands began pushing him, and she called out in displeasure for him to stop. But more often, the princess consort covered her mouth, unwilling to make those sounds she couldn’t control.
Though observant of propriety, Prince Hui was still a young man and quickly also lost self-control. He laid his princess consort back on the bed, using one hand to hold down her wrist that kept wanting to cover herself.
Yao Huang was so embarrassed she wanted to cry: “Cover me with the blanket first!”
Blankets on beds were meant to be used for covering. How could he just cast aside the blanket?
Zhao Sui didn’t want to bully her too much, so he pulled up the blanket. He continued beneath it.
Thus Yao Huang tacitly permitted all of Prince Hui’s subsequent actions in this self-deception, until Prince Hui emerged from under the blanket again, until Prince Hui kissed her ear once more.
Yao Huang wanted to pull the blankets from both sides to cover her shoulders. But Prince Hui grasped her wrists and brought her hands to his shoulders.
Yao Huang touched Prince Hui’s inner garment!
She was like this, yet he was still wearing clothes!
Yao Huang grew displeased. While continuing to keep her eyes closed, she haphazardly pulled off Prince Hui’s inner garment. If they were going to be exposed, they’d be exposed together.
Zhao Sui cooperatively removed both sleeves, then let his princess consort petulantly throw his inner garment outside the bed curtains.
Zhao Sui then pulled the little princess consort’s hand toward his inner trousers’ waistband.
But Yao Huang wasn’t petulant anymore. She jerked her hand free, then pinched his waist.
Zhao Sui’s breath grew heavy. He buried himself under the blanket bottom again. After who knows how long, when he propped himself up again, there were no longer any barriers between the newlywed bride and groom.
Though he could have continued, Prince Hui stopped.
Yao Huang slowly opened her eyes.
Zhao Sui looked at those round eyes and asked in a hoarse voice, “May I?”
Yao Huang bit her lip, turned her face away and said, “The instructing nanny said this is called me attending Your Highness’s bedchamber. But I don’t like that expression—it’s as if I’m merely serving Your Highness.”
Zhao Sui replied, “I also don’t need you to serve me. You and I being like this is simply passion arriving naturally.”
Yao Huang smiled. Then under his burning gaze, she closed her eyes and said nervously, “Then Your Highness go slowly. When I tell you to stop, you stop.”
Prince Hui agreed.
The first time, he indeed kept his promise, completely following his princess consort’s requests.
By the second time, the third time—because he hadn’t given his princess consort any promise, there was no need to restrain himself.
Yao Huang scolded until her voice grew hoarse: “What gentlemanly propriety—Your Highness has been pretending all along! Seeing that I’ve married over and can’t run away, Your Highness has revealed his true face!”
Zhao Sui held his princess consort tightly in his arms and said in her ear, “Only like this at night. During the day, I’ll listen to everything you say.”
Yao Huang asked, “Listen to everything I say? No matter what I do, you won’t put on princely airs with me?”
Zhao Sui replied, “Yes. Between you and me, we only discuss husband and wife, not status.”
Yao Huang said, “Oral promises carry no weight. Your Highness, write me a written pledge.”
Thus, on their wedding night, Prince Hui reverently presented a pledge written in his own hand to his princess consort.
Oral promises indeed carried no weight, and such a written pledge had little actual effect on a prince. But Zhao Sui knew that he liked this young lady named Yao Huang, and he would treat her well for their entire lives.