Don’t be fooled—although Yao Huang always couldn’t help wanting to dodge when Prince Hui kissed her neck, she actually quite enjoyed it. Otherwise, on their wedding night, the two wouldn’t have succeeded so easily.
She thought the prince would like it too. However, when she bent over Prince Hui’s shoulder and earnestly kissed his slender neck for quite a while, the man showed no reaction whatsoever. He didn’t even let his breathing become disordered once. Yao Huang couldn’t figure it out. Perhaps everyone’s neck was different, just like how her armpits were very ticklish, but her brother wasn’t afraid of being tickled there.
When she had tried to dodge, Prince Hui had pursued her quite vigorously, gripping her shoulders to prevent her escape.
That was the kind of prince Yao Huang anticipated. Now that he was like a block of wood, Yao Huang lost interest.
She propped herself up and looked at the prince’s complexion, which appeared slightly healthier in the lamplight. She asked in puzzlement, “Does the prince feel nothing?”
Zhao Sui glanced at her crimson lips and said, “Slightly itchy.”
Yao Huang: “…”
As if possessed by a mischievous spirit, she tickled his armpit.
Zhao Sui: “…”
Actually, no part of him was as unaffected as he made it appear. But Prince Hui had experienced lying in bed for three months healing his bones, lying in bed for a month waiting to die, and later being confined to a wheelchair and bamboo courtyard for more than half a year. He had “cultivated his character” for too long. At this point, even if someone pricked him with a needle or mocked him with the most vicious words, Zhao Sui could maintain his expression without any change.
What Yao Huang saw was a prince whose neck and armpits weren’t ticklish at all.
Yao Huang glanced at Prince Hui’s chest, hidden by his inner robe. To go there would require removing clothing, and Yao Huang wasn’t that bold yet. Even actively kissing the prince’s neck had been prompted by today’s accumulated good mood—her head had gotten hot and she’d naturally gone to kiss him.
As that impulse subsided, Yao Huang lay back down properly, incidentally using her sleeve to wipe away a bit of saliva she might have left on the prince’s neck.
The moment she touched him, the prince turned over. His strong right arm scooped her upward, delivering Yao Huang’s neck right before the prince.
Yao Huang immediately clutched his inner robe, gripping it, kneading it, and pulling at it as if she hated that piece of fabric, until the prince moved her hand away and slipped off her sleeves. Only then was this piece of fabric relieved, gloating as it watched the princess consort’s equally wrinkled inner robe being tossed aside by the prince, while it remained properly worn on the prince’s body.
“Prince, I want to turn over.”
“Mm.”
The herbaceous peonies in the garden were in full bloom. Yao Huang chose this place to have Prince Hui paint her first portrait.
The prince’s wheelchair stopped five paces before the flower bed. The easel was set up in front of him, with various ground pigments also placed within his easy reach.
Having finished all this, Qing Ai and Fei Quan withdrew successfully, leaving this entire area for the prince and princess consort to be alone.
Yao Huang was still pondering what pose to strike, because once she settled on a pose, she couldn’t move anymore—she had to think it through in advance. Bending over to admire flowers was too tiring, standing straight was too stiff. She wanted something more natural.
Zhao Sui watched silently without offering guidance.
Finally, Yao Huang stopped slightly sideways before a cluster of purplish-red herbaceous peonies. Her left hand held an exquisite round fan, pretending to have just fanned herself, lightly pressed against her chest. Her right hand lovingly supported a peony that leaned toward her. Her head wasn’t lowered but gazed toward a more distant flower cluster.
Yao Huang had once gone to the suburbs to view peach blossoms and from afar had observed some wealthy young ladies and officials’ daughters. She deliberately imitated their gentle, quiet bearing. Having studied etiquette in the palace for a month, Yao Huang learned quite convincingly. Those who didn’t know her would truly believe she came from a prominent noble family.
“Is this alright?”
Yao Huang tilted her head to look at the prince across from her. Actually, she didn’t tilt it much—just changed from looking at the peonies on the right side of the path to looking toward the end of the path.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Yao Huang used a smile as cover, but her clear, dark, luminous eyes couldn’t hide her shyness.
Zhao Sui said, “Yes, keep looking at me.”
Yao Huang: “…”
Fine, the prince surely knew better than her what pose and expression would make a more beautiful painting.
It was just that, as she kept looking, Yao Huang suddenly realized this seemed to be the first time she’d gazed at the prince for such a long time. When together during daylight, they were either eating or touring the garden. Nighttime need not even be mentioned.
It would be one thing if only she were looking at the prince, but the prince was also looking at her with such focused eyes that Yao Huang was reminded of last night, which had only recently passed.
Because the prince was willing to accommodate her and didn’t use such embarrassing and tiring positions, once Yao Huang relaxed, she unconsciously began cooperating. When he withdrew, she also withdrew; when he came, she met him, until she had no more strength to cooperate.
Heat crept up her cheeks. Yao Huang lowered her gaze.
Zhao Sui looked at the blank rice paper before him and found he couldn’t concentrate either. To force himself to paint would be perfunctory.
Yao Huang was someone who couldn’t endure stillness. After feeling she’d been standing for a very long time, she lifted her eyes to ask, “How much has the prince painted?”
Zhao Sui put down his brush: “Come see for yourself.”
She could move! Delighted, Yao Huang ran over, circled around the easel to stand beside the wheelchair, and faced that entire expanse of bare rice paper. Yao Huang froze.
Zhao Sui grasped her wrist and pulled her into his lap to hold.
Yao Huang instinctively looked left and right.
Zhao Sui said, “Without my orders, they won’t come over to disturb us.”
Setting aside her worry about being seen, Yao Huang immediately glared at him: “Why didn’t the prince paint? You made me stand for so long for nothing.”
Zhao Sui looked at her face: “Just now you suddenly blushed. What were you thinking about?”
Yao Huang replied, “…I was thinking whether the prince would find me too vain. The more I thought about it, the more embarrassed I became. What about the prince?”
Zhao Sui said, “I haven’t painted in a long time. My hand is out of practice for the moment. I didn’t want to force it.”
Yao Huang wasn’t disappointed at all: “Then let’s forget about today. The prince can practice more. Whenever your hand is ready, paint then.”
Zhao Sui agreed.
Yao Huang was very afraid she would crush the prince’s legs, which weren’t working well to begin with. She twisted her waist and struggled out of his arms, which weren’t holding her very tightly, and suggested, “Let me push the prince inside to admire the flowers, shall we?”
Zhao Sui nodded.
The flower bed grew at least a dozen varieties of herbaceous peonies. Yao Huang didn’t recognize any of them and had to ask the prince to help clear up her confusion.
As they questioned and answered, Qing Ai suddenly ran over. Only when he drew near did he slow his pace. He said to the prince and princess consort who looked over, “Her Majesty the Empress has sent someone. There is an oral edict for the princess consort.”
Yao Huang was startled. Her Majesty the Empress?
Zhao Sui turned his head and said to her, “It’s probably related to the Dragon Boat Festival. Go on, don’t keep Mother Empress’s person waiting long.”
With this guess he provided, Yao Huang, receiving an oral edict from the empress for the first time, didn’t need to worry unnecessarily. She told Qing Ai to serve well, then went directly through the flower bed, taking a shortcut south.
The visitor was a eunuch from Empress Zhou’s side. Her Majesty the Empress’s oral edict was very simple—inviting Yao Huang to enter the palace tomorrow to admire herbaceous peonies.
Yao Huang secretly smiled. The prince guessed wrong.
Not counting the second day of their wedding when she accompanied Prince Hui to serve tea to the emperor, empress, and consorts, today counted as Yao Huang’s first time entering the palace in her capacity as Princess Consort Hui.
The palace maid leading the way brought her and A’Ji directly to the Imperial Garden.
Yao Huang was a bit surprised. The Imperial Garden looked even smaller than the rear garden of Prince Hui’s residence. Too many features had been crammed in, resulting in the peonies and herbaceous peonies here barely encircling one pavilion together.
At this moment, several noblewomen and young ladies in magnificent garments sat in the pavilion. Empress Zhou sat in the center, with Princess Imperial Fucheng, Noble Consort Du, Consort Liu, and Consort Shen seated on her left. On the right were the First Princess, Second Princess, and Chen Ying, the future Princess Consort Kang, and Zheng Yuanzhen, the future Princess Consort Qing, whom Yao Huang hadn’t seen in a long time.
Yao Huang noticed that Princess Imperial Fucheng’s seat was placed before the three consorts. Clearly, when an imperial aunt returned to her natal home, she was also an honored guest—even the legendary Noble Consort Du, whose favor supposedly crowned the harem, had to yield to her.
The palace maid who led the way and A’Ji stopped outside the pavilion. Yao Huang alone ascended the steps, smiling warmly as she said to Empress Zhou, “Mother Empress told me not to come too early, yet I’ve become the one who arrived last, making Mother Empress and all the ladies wait. What a transgression.”
Empress Zhou was slightly stunned. Princess Imperial Fucheng raised her eyebrows slightly. Noble Consort Du stared at Yao Huang with an expression as if she’d seen a ghost.
Yao Huang first paid her respects to Empress Zhou, then to the emperor’s sister and concubines. Toward the two princesses and her sisters-in-law, she simply smiled.
Such a generous and cheerful young princess consort—the more Empress Zhou looked, the more she liked her. She had no sons. Whichever of the four existing princes inherited the throne would have to honor her as empress dowager. Not needing to compete, Empress Zhou saved herself much trouble and treated the several princess consorts purely according to affinity. Those she liked, she drew closer to; those she didn’t like, she maintained appearances with.
“Not late, not late at all. We were already in the palace to begin with, coming to the garden early to get some fresh air. Princess Imperial and the others also arrived not long ago. Come, take your seat.”
Yao Huang’s seat was placed between Chen Ying and Zheng Yuanzhen.
Walking toward her seat, Yao Huang winked at Chen Ying, who was eagerly watching her.
Because Yao Huang was newly arrived, Empress Zhou first asked about her newlywed life. Yao Huang answered that everything was satisfactory, and everyone continued the idle chat they’d been having.
Before long, Empress Zhou told the five young sisters-in-law and princesses to go admire flowers in the garden themselves.
Filing out of the pavilion, Yao Huang and Chen Ying naturally stood together. Zheng Yuanzhen and the Second Princess, Noble Consort Du’s daughter, simultaneously looked toward the First Princess, Empress Zhou’s only daughter.
The First Princess didn’t get along with either of them. Seeing that Chen Ying seemed to have a bellyful of things to ask Yao Huang, she chose a direction and went off on her own.
Zheng Yuanzhen disdained fawning over the First Princess’s cold face. She used to be able to chat with the Second Princess, but after that unrealized betrothal between her and Prince Hui, Zheng Yuanzhen always felt the Second Princess looked at her with mockery, so she also went to admire flowers alone.
The Second Princess bit her teeth, glared at half-sister-in-law Yao Huang who hadn’t come to curry favor with her, and went to chase after the First Princess. Having someone to chat with was better than being all alone.
Yao Huang only felt baffled. She hadn’t provoked the Second Princess—why should she be glared at?
“How are you living here?” Once they were far from the pavilion, Yao Huang asked Chen Ying.
Chen Ying smiled and said, “Quite well. Her Majesty the Empress assigned several female teachers to instruct us. I selected three subjects—zither, chess, and painting. Additionally, there are matrons teaching us various skills.” Much more interesting than just being an imperial selection candidate.
Yao Huang thought to herself that there was still half a year until Chen Ying and Prince Kang’s wedding. If they didn’t find something for her to do, this future princess consort would probably be bored to death.
“What about you? What is Prince Hui’s temperament like? How does he treat you?”
Before Yao Huang could speak, Chen Ying looked at her rosy cheeks and bright eyes and said, “Prince Hui must treat you very well.”
Some things were too embarrassing to voice. Yao Huang answered with a deeply satisfied smile.
Chen Ying was timid, Yao Huang was bold. After they finished their intimate conversation, Yao Huang actively led Chen Ying to find the First Princess. The Second Princess and Zheng Yuanzhen clearly didn’t welcome them. The First Princess’s likes and dislikes were still unknown. Considering she was the Middle Palace Lady’s only beloved daughter, Yao Huang hoped to establish a good relationship with the First Princess.
Sensing their approach, the sixteen-year-old First Princess revealed an amiable smile.
Yao Huang had her answer. At least the First Princess didn’t look down on them because of her and Chen Ying’s family backgrounds.
One flower-viewing session wasn’t enough to deeply befriend the First Princess. It basically consisted of mutually praising each other’s beauty and praising the surrounding flowers.
Empress Zhou and the others also entered the garden. Under Empress Zhou’s deliberate maneuvering, the First Princess led Chen Ying away, leaving Yao Huang alone at Empress Zhou’s side.
Empress Zhou took Yao Huang’s hand and said sincerely, “So beautiful, and blessed with such jade-like skin and bones. No wonder our Prince Hui selected you at a glance.”
Yao Huang blushed and said quietly, “Your Majesty, please stop teasing me. I know you all saw me sneaking glances at the prince that day.”
Empress Zhou said, “You dared to sneak glances—that’s your destined connection. You may not know, but His Majesty has always valued Prince Hui highly. After Prince Hui’s accident, His Majesty felt even more heartache for him than for anyone else, hoping more than anyone that Prince Hui could emerge from his gloom and come out more. But from the Mid-Autumn Festival last year to this year’s Lantern Festival, Prince Hui refused to attend several palace banquets. Even when His Majesty missed him, he had to consider his mood and refrain from visiting the princely residence.”
Yao Huang said emotionally, “Imperial Father treats the prince so well.”
Empress Zhou replied, “Indeed. The Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet is coming soon. If Prince Hui could appear, His Majesty would surely feel greatly comforted. Just now in the pavilion, everyone spoke polite words. Now tell me the truth—since your marriage, has Prince Hui shown any joy? Is he affectionate enough toward you?”
Yao Huang thought privately that the prince was truly a brilliant strategist—Her Majesty the Empress indeed brought up the Dragon Boat Festival.
She considered carefully and said, “The prince treats me very well. When I hosted my natal family, he even came out to greet them. It’s just that the prince rarely smiles. On days that aren’t multiples of five or ten, he still lives alone in the bamboo courtyard.”
Empress Zhou sighed, “Prince Hui is a man of few words but generous spirit. He has always been thorough with proprieties.”
Despite having such a beautiful princess consort, he still kept to the bamboo courtyard alone, only giving the princess consort six nights a month for appearances. This showed he hadn’t thought things through yet.
Patting Yao Huang’s hand, Empress Zhou instructed, “Regarding the Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet, try to persuade Prince Hui as much as you can. If he agrees, excellent. If he’s unhappy about it, just let it go. Don’t anger him over this matter.”
Yao Huang said, “Yes. The prince promised to accompany me during festivals and holidays. If he really comes before the festival, I’ll try when he’s in a good mood.”
Empress Zhou understood. Imperial family men were inevitably common in this regard—they were all more agreeable in bed.