After putting away her spear, Yao Huang washed off the sweat from her exertion and came out just in time for dinner.
Prince Hui had left early in the morning after his disturbance and stayed in the bamboo courtyard all day as usual. Since he didn’t come over, Yao Huang was happy to have her peace.
She slept soundly and woke up refreshed. It was the thirtieth day of the month, a rest day for officials and civil and military students. Yao Huang deliberately chose this day to invite her natal family to tour the princely residence’s garden. The garden still had late-blooming peonies and magnificent herbaceous peonies in full bloom, and the sun wasn’t as scorching as in midsummer.
She wrote a one-page “letter,” folded it, and had A’Ji make a trip to the bamboo courtyard: “Knock on the door, slip the letter through the door crack, then retreat to the bamboo grove path and wait.”
A’Ji glanced at the letter the princess consort handed him and advised, “You should still use an envelope, otherwise what if the prince suspects I peeked at it?”
Yao Huang replied, “I didn’t write anything you can’t see. Why waste an envelope?”
A’Ji shook his head and took the folded letter paper to carry out his task.
Fei Quan was still waiting by the southern window of the gate house. Seeing it was A’Ji, he picked up the letter and didn’t go out to chase after him, heading directly to see the prince.
Zhao Sui opened the letter: “Prince, I’ve told my father and the others to arrive exactly at the hour of the snake. After touring the garden for half a shichen, we’ll go eat—that timing is just right. Prince, rest assured, I’ll manage them well and guarantee they won’t disturb you.”
“By the way, my father and the others enjoy wine. I had someone fetch a jar of strong liquor from the princely residence’s wine cellar. Does this wine have any special provenance? If it can’t be casually consumed, I’ll have someone return it.”
Yao Huang had planned to ask about the wine last night but was so “busy” she completely forgot.
Zhao Sui put away the letter and had Qing Ai grind ink.
More than a quarter-hour later, A’Ji handed an envelope to the princess consort with a teasing expression: “Look, see how particular the prince is.”
Yao Huang was more curious about what Prince Hui had written. She tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter paper. On it was only one sentence: “Tribute wine bestowed by His Majesty. The princess consort may use it at will.”
Yao Huang: “…”
The prince’s calligraphy was quite beautiful, and his words were pleasant to hear. However, Yao Huang dared not let her natal family’s men, young and old, drink to their hearts’ content, making it seem like poor relatives who hadn’t seen the world in eight hundred years. If word got out, they would be laughed at for nothing.
The banquet was set up on the eastern route of the princely residence. There were two courtyards there specifically for entertaining guests—the front for male guests and the back for female guests. But if they were just family relatives, there was no need to separate them so clearly.
Yao Huang strolled over leisurely and saw that the main hall had been wiped spotlessly clean. The vases were filled with tender, fresh herbaceous peonies, and four plates of various dried fruits were also laid out. In her mind, she could already picture that group of people grinning foolishly with joy.
Near the agreed-upon hour, Yao Huang came early to the main gate of the princely residence. Chief Steward Guo Shu, as well as Managing Eunuch Cao, and Nanny Liu were actually all there, standing in front of the spirit wall chatting in low voices. Hearing the princess consort’s footsteps, they hurried over to pay their respects.
Yao Huang asked in surprise, “Why have you set up such a grand formation?”
Eunuch Cao smiled and said, “Today honored guests are visiting the residence. This is our duty.”
The prince had instructed them in advance to serve well.
Yao Huang’s face grew warm as she listened. Aside from her father being a sixth-rank military official, her maternal grandfather and two maternal uncles were all ordinary commoners who had farmed for generations. What kind of honored guests were they?
But the fact that these three people valued her family so much showed they greatly respected her as the princess consort. Yao Huang was quite pleased.
At this moment, the young servant who had been waiting outside the gate ran in: “They’re here, they’re…”
Running into the princess consort who hadn’t been there just moments ago, the young servant promptly suppressed his excitement.
Yao Huang ran straight out the main gate herself. Looking to the side, she saw five sturdily-built men riding five mules, surrounding two mule carts that appeared to be borrowed, already entering the wide alley in front of the princely residence. Those five sturdy men were none other than her father Yao Zhenhu, her older brother Yao Lin, and her three male cousins.
First cousin Luo Kun and second cousin Luo Peng were twin sons from her eldest maternal uncle’s family, now twenty-two years old. Luo Ze, just eighteen this year, was from her second maternal uncle’s family.
Seeing his younger sister, Yao Lin wanted to speed up but was stopped by a low shout from Luo Kun at his side: “Steady!”
They had maintained composure for the entire dozen-plus li journey from the town in the suburbs to here. To lose their manners now that they’d actually reached the princely residence—wouldn’t that make their act pointless?
Yao Lin had no choice but to continue at a slow pace.
Finally arriving at the gate, all five men dismounted simultaneously and solemnly paid their respects to the princess consort.
Yao Huang supported her father: “Enough, there are no outsiders here. No need to be so formal.”
She came to the first mule cart and helped her maternal grandfather and grandmother, who had changed into brand-new fine cloth garments, down from the cart. The elderly couple were both over sixty, with graying hair. But because the family’s circumstances had been improving for nearly twenty years, both were quite robust. Her maternal grandmother especially had a ruddy complexion—placed among a group of old ladies, she would be the best-looking one.
Luo Jinhua was also seated in this cart.
At the second mule cart, eldest maternal uncle, eldest maternal aunt, second maternal uncle, and second maternal aunt got down themselves, bringing Yao Huang’s only female cousin, Luo Yue, also from second maternal uncle’s family.
They had discussed it beforehand—both families, men and women, old and young alike, all wore brand-new fine cloth clothing. Not luxurious, but respectable enough.
Ignoring Yao Huang’s protests, the whole group insisted on paying their respects to the princess consort.
Yao Huang quickly had Guo Shu, Eunuch Cao, and Nanny Liu withdraw. Once they left, her natal family could relax.
Sure enough, upon reaching the banquet hall, when A’Ji led Bai Ling and the other two back to the courtyard, fifteen-year-old Luo Yue immediately rushed over and hugged Yao Huang’s arm: “Sister, the princely residence is huge! Walking from the main gate to here, I saw Grandfather’s legs starting to tremble!”
Maternal Grandfather’s old face grew hot: “Nonsense, I was just nervous. If we’re comparing strength, I can farm faster than your father.”
Second Maternal Uncle smiled honestly and didn’t refute the old man.
Maternal Grandmother said, “Yao Yao, I think this courtyard is quite lovely. Why don’t we just stay here? After we eat, we’ll leave. Let’s not tour the garden—with my old arms and old legs, I really can’t manage walking through such a large garden.”
Second cousin Luo Peng said, “You and your old arms and old legs—just two days ago, Mother was complaining to Father when she got back from the market, saying you’re too energetic at browsing, her feet were aching, and she almost couldn’t keep up.”
Eldest Maternal Aunt: “…”
Second Maternal Aunt helped smooth things over: “Aching aside, we’re happy in our hearts. Other families’ mothers-in-law don’t constantly buy things for their daughters-in-law.”
The two maternal aunts were biological sisters from one family who had married the Luo family brothers one after the other. Their relationship was excellent.
Maternal Grandmother said, “Enough, enough. This is the princely residence—less useless chatter. Listen to Yao Yao’s arrangements.”
Yao Huang said, “My arrangement is to tour the garden. Those who think they’re too old can certainly stay here. Anyone who can walk, come with me.”
Everyone exchanged glances, and in the end, the whole group followed Princess Consort Yao in a grand procession.
Along the way, Yao Huang repeatedly assured them that the prince was secluded in the bamboo courtyard and wouldn’t appear, telling everyone to relax. Unexpectedly, as soon as she led the way through the moon gate leading to the rear garden, she immediately spotted Prince Hui sitting in a wheelchair under the dense green shade of trees diagonally ahead.
It was too late to warn them now. Her relatives crossed through one after another like dumplings being dropped into boiling water, then, after looking around, were successively stunned into silence by the sudden appearance of His Highness Prince Hui.
Yao Zhenhu, Luo Jinhua, and Yao Lin fared somewhat better. Maternal Grandfather, who had farmed his whole life, went weak in the knees. Fortunately, the two maternal uncles promptly supported him.
Zhao Sui smiled slightly and tilted his head slightly. Qing Ai then pushed the wheelchair toward them.
Luo Jinhua reacted first, signaling everyone to follow her in paying respects.
Zhao Sui quickly said, “We’re all family relatives. No need for excessive formality.”
The relatives didn’t listen to the prince and insisted on the courtesy.
Yao Huang didn’t care for this scene. She walked to the wheelchair and asked quietly, “Why did the prince come out? You didn’t even give us a heads-up so we could be prepared.”
The familiar tone carrying a hint of reproach made Maternal Grandmother and Luo Jinhua exchange a quick glance. Then they heard the prince, who looked quite unapproachable, say, “It’s the elders’ first visit. It wouldn’t do to be remiss in etiquette.”
Since he was willing to condescend, Yao Huang smiled, took over the wheelchair to get closer, and first introduced her maternal grandfather and grandmother.
Zhao Sui chatted with Maternal Grandfather for a few moments, asking about his health and how much land the family farmed.
Maternal Grandfather answered haltingly.
Regarding Maternal Grandmother, Zhao Sui glanced at Yao Huang and said, “The princess consort looks more like you.”
Maternal Grandmother was more capable than Maternal Grandfather. Suppressing a smile, she said, “The prince has a keen eye. When the princess consort was young, all the neighbors said the same thing.”
Her daughter’s eyes took after the old man—somewhat phoenix-shaped, looking sharp and shrewd. Her granddaughter’s eyes were rounder and more luminous, appearing easy to bully, but in reality, she wasn’t any less clever than her mother. In fact, it made it easier for her to fool others.
Zhao Sui merely nodded at the two maternal uncles and aunts without calling on them or speaking, then it was the turn of Yao Huang’s three male cousins.
Zhao Sui examined each one and asked the eldest, Luo Kun, “Have you studied or practiced martial arts?”
Luo Kun possessed the steadiness befitting the eldest grandson of the family. Meeting the prince, he was respectful yet composed: “In response to the prince, we three brothers all benefited from our uncle-in-law’s influence. We’ve practiced martial arts since childhood and passed the examinations for the prefectural martial academy.”
The court had established civil and martial academies in the capital, various prefectures, and counties. There were two martial academies in the capital—one in the west side of the city that only admitted imperial relatives, nobility, and martial-inclined sons of civil and military officials; one located in the east side, which, like the prefectural and county martial academies elsewhere, accepted commoner youths who passed the assessments to study military strategy and practice martial arts inside.
Zhao Sui asked, “The military imperial examinations next year—are you confident?”
Luo Kun replied, “I dare not speak presumptuously, but we will certainly give our all.”
Zhao Sui nodded and said to the princess consort, “After touring the garden, take your four brothers to the library pavilion. Any books they find helpful for the military imperial examinations, they may all take home to borrow. Return them after reading, or first select a few books, then borrow more after finishing them.”
Luo Kun’s eyes lit up. He knelt on one knee and said, “Thank you, Prince!”
Yao Lin and the other three quickly knelt as well to express their gratitude.
Zhao Sui told them to rise and said to Yao Huang, “I still have matters to attend to. I won’t be joining you for the noon banquet.”
Yao Huang looked at him with eyes full of gratitude for his generous offer to lend books.
When Qing Ai’s back pushing the wheelchair completely disappeared from view, Eldest Maternal Aunt said excitedly, “The prince has such an amiable temperament—completely different from what I imagined.”
Maternal Grandmother glanced at Yao Zhenhu and recalled, “Indeed. I still remember when my good son-in-law first came to our home, he still carried a bit of an official’s airs.”
Yao Zhenhu protested, “Impossible! Don’t wrongly accuse me, old lady!”
Maternal Grandfather, who had been quiet for a long time, suddenly slapped his thigh: “Wait, something’s wrong! Our family originally had fifty mu of land, but when Jinhua married, we gave her five mu as dowry. Now we only have forty-five mu. So just now when I told the prince fifty mu, does that count as deceiving the prince?”
Yao Huang: “…”
Luo Jinhua said, “Father still remembers accounts from eight hundred years ago so clearly—are you using this as an excuse to make me return those five mu of ancestral land to you?”
Yao Zhenhu replied, “Return them if you want. When I married you, I wasn’t after this. You were the one afraid of lacking confidence in our family and insisted on asking your father-in-law for land.”
Yao Huang took her female cousin’s hand and pointed ahead: “Come on, let’s tour our garden and ignore them.”