How to manage these four maids bestowed by Consort Du—Yao Huang had her own plans. She told her parents and older brother to continue living as they had before. They certainly couldn’t live in their own home while reading the faces of a few maids.

After dinner, brilliant rosy clouds filled the sky’s edge. Yao Huang took A’Ji walking circles in the back courtyard to aid digestion.

A’Ji was only fourteen and couldn’t keep things to herself. Finally having the opportunity to be alone with Miss, she immediately asked the biggest question on her mind: “Miss, when you marry, will you leave me at home or take me with you to the prince’s residence?”

The Yao family had four servants total—she and her mother and sister made up three. Things like washing clothes, cooking, and cleaning rooms—her mother and elder sister did almost everything. Only she, from childhood, had been arranged by the mistress to stay at Miss’s side, wholeheartedly serving Miss.

If Miss married an ordinary person or even someone like Li Tingwang, a Captain’s son, A’Ji was confident she would be taken along. Now that Miss was to become a princess consort and had better maids at her side, A’Ji felt Miss would probably abandon her, this country girl, to avoid her clumsy mistakes bringing Miss shame at the prince’s residence.

Yao Huang smiled: “What about you—do you want to go to the prince’s residence?”

A’Ji’s eyes reddened: “I do, but I also don’t. I can’t bear to leave Miss, yet I’m afraid I haven’t learned palace rules and will make mistakes at the prince’s residence.”

Yao Huang: “There’s still a month until the grand wedding. Hua Mei and the others can teach you.”

The palace selection was for three princes. The Ministry of Rites had long since begun preparing the three weddings by imperial order, and auspicious dates had been calculated. Prince Hui’s was set for late April, Prince Qing’s for August, and Prince Kang, marrying for the second time, would complete his wedding in early December.

A’Ji said happily: “So I can go too?”

Yao Huang: “Of course. Those four from Hua Mei are all outsiders. Only you are of one heart with me. I’m still counting on you to watch them for me.”

A’Ji’s heart steadied: “Good! I promise not to let them steal a single needle or thread from Miss!”

Yao Huang wasn’t in a hurry to explain the true meaning of “watching.” She only emphasized: “No matter how well they’ve learned rules and etiquette, or what talents they possess that you lack, as long as you do well the tasks I assign you, you’ll forever be my head maid—no one can supplant you. What you need to do next is hold your head high before them and fully display a head maid’s authority. You can order them around, but they cannot order you. Don’t let them look down on you.”

Thinking of Hua Mei’s arrogance—even daring to manage Miss taking an afternoon nap—A’Ji said indignantly: “Miss, rest assured. I was intimidated by their manner before, so I yielded to them. In the future, if there’s another like Hua Mei, I’ll slap her first!”

What a joke! Miss had grown up this big without suffering any grievances. There was no reason she should become timid after being ennobled as a respected princess consort.

As the evening glow darkened and night enveloped everything, Yao Huang finally returned to the west wing.

The four from Hua Mei came out to greet her.

Yao Huang: “The kitchen is over there. There’s water left in the pot. Each of you fetch water to wash up. After tidying yourselves, rest early.”

Bai Ling, Chun Yan, and Qiu Chan didn’t dare make a sound. Hua Mei remained calm and composed, as if she had already forgotten the afternoon’s punishment, saying respectfully: “Let us servants first attend to Miss.”

Yao Huang looked toward A’Ji.

A’Ji’s momentum surged. She scolded Hua Mei: “It’s you again! Why so many words? When Miss tells you to do something, just do it. Don’t be long-winded!”

Hua Mei’s chest heaved. She glared at the half-worn cloth shoes on A’Ji’s feet for quite a while before gritting her teeth: “This servant knows her error. I’ll never dare again.”

She was indeed somewhat afraid of Yao Huang now—afraid that Yao Huang, coming from a small household and not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, would punish her arbitrarily while in her own home.

Hua Mei decided to endure for now. Once Yao Huang married into the prince’s residence and entered the palace to pay respects to Her Ladyship, after receiving Her Ladyship’s lesson, she would use Her Ladyship’s authority to manipulate her.

Yao Huang seemed not to take her second offense to heart, smiling: “No matter. You’re just afraid of failing Her Ladyship’s instructions and are eager to serve me. It’s just that I’m not yet familiar with you all. Tomorrow morning, after I’ve separately questioned each of you, I’ll arrange tasks according to your strengths.”

Finishing, she went directly to the north room.

A’Ji went to the kitchen to fetch water, not giving the four palace maids a proper glance.

Hua Mei observed her completely different bearing from their afternoon interaction and said to Bai Ling in a low voice: “Obviously someone backed her up. Must we actually listen to a minor maid from now on?”

She was a second-rank palace maid of Yikun Palace! Noble young ladies attending flower banquets in the palace didn’t dare give her an attitude!

Consort Du’s meaning was clear—have her control Yao Huang and train Yao Huang into a Prince Hui’s consort who would obediently listen to Her Ladyship’s words.

Bai Ling was honest and dutiful, the diligent but clumsy type who didn’t win masters’ favor. So this time leaving the palace, she hadn’t received any secret orders from Consort Du.

Bai Ling didn’t dare defy the future princess consort, nor dare offend Hua Mei. When Hua Mei whispered to her, she mumbled for a long while not knowing how to answer.

Hua Mei: “…”

A’Ji returned carrying a copper kettle, passing by the four without a sideways glance.

In the north room, Yao Huang loosened her own hair. She first stood before the washing stand to rinse her mouth and wash her face, then sat at the edge of the heated platform using another copper basin to wash her feet.

A’Ji sat on a stool, cradling Miss’s fair and tender feet while rubbing them, saying quietly: “With Miss gone, I couldn’t even sleep well. When I went to find my mother, she snores when sleeping—it gave me a headache.”

No wonder elder sister’s complexion improved so much after marrying A’Gui—it was all from escaping Mother’s snoring.

Yao Huang smiled: “I missed you too.”

At age four, she had moved from her parents’ room to the west wing. First she shared a room with Qiao Niang, then after age seven it became A’Ji. Every night they had to talk a great deal before willing to sleep.

After Yao Huang lay in her bedding, A’Ji also quickly tidied herself. With one blow of the lamp, she expertly burrowed into the bedding beside Yao Huang, her almond eyes blinking as she looked at her own miss, saying quietly: “During the month-plus Miss was away, Young Master Li didn’t come to play with Young Master even once. This shows that coming so frequently before was all to see Miss.”

Elder sister had long said Li Tingwang liked their miss. She and Miss didn’t believe it, but unexpectedly elder sister had found proof.

In Yao Huang’s mind appeared Li Tingwang’s tall, upright figure and a playful face that could still grin foolishly after taking a stick from her.

If it were Yao Huang and she’d been hit by someone she detested, she’d be furious and hateful to death. For Li Tingwang to act that way—did he truly like her?

So what if he did? Yao Huang didn’t want to marry someone who spent all day finding ways to vex her.

“Never mind what he thinks. I’m marrying Prince Hui. From now on, in public and private, don’t mention him again. He’s just my older brother’s good friend.”

After a good night’s sleep, upon rising Yao Huang first accompanied her family for the meal.

After the meal, Yao Zhenhu rode one mule to the Eastern Great Camp. Yao Lin rode the other mule to the martial academy in the west of the city to study and practice martial arts. Luo Jinhua took Qiao Niang to the silk shop to buy her daughter several bolts of good fabric for making clothes to wear as everyday garments after marrying into the prince’s residence. Additionally, she needed to buy two presentable jewelry pieces for her daughter.

This was their family’s condition. Even digging up the burial goods from the Yao family ancestral graves wouldn’t gather a complete dowry befitting a princess consort’s status. The couple simply didn’t try to keep up false appearances—doing their best to buy more things for their daughter would suffice.

The four from Hua Mei stood in the courtyard awaiting Yao Huang’s orders.

But Yao Huang took A’Ji to the back courtyard. Shortly after, A’Ji came to the front courtyard, looked at the four women, and said to Chun Yan: “Miss is calling you over for questioning. Come with me.”

Chun Yan panicked. Why was she called first?

Anxiously passing through the main hall, when lifting her foot to cross the back door threshold, Chun Yan looked up and froze.

She saw the future princess consort wearing a fine cloth jacket and skirt, sleeves rolled up, squatting in a vegetable plot. The tender green cabbage seedlings had just grown half a finger’s height. The future princess consort exposed one full, fair arm, her slender, beautiful hand reaching among the seedlings, skillfully pulling up wild grasses one by one.

Such a scene existed in Chun Yan’s memories from before entering the palace—something her grandmother, aunts, and sisters back home frequently did.

But Yao Huang was an official family’s young lady, a future princess consort! How could she do such dirty work?

A’Ji looked back: “Come on—what are you standing there for?”

Chun Yan hastily suppressed her shock and continued following A’Ji forward.

A small stool was placed beside the vegetable plot. Yao Huang sat on it and looked at the nervous, reserved Chun Yan. She smiled: “What? Are you very afraid of me?”

Chun Yan shook her head repeatedly.

Yao Huang rotated the just-pulled wild grass in her hand, saying in a relaxed tone: “No need to fear. I’m actually quite easy to talk to. As long as people around me do their duties well and don’t spoil my mood for no reason, as for hitting and scolding—A’Ji has followed me for over ten years, and I’ve never hit her even once.”

A’Ji: “Right! Miss is the kindest. She hasn’t even scolded me.”

Chun Yan: “Yes. This servant will certainly keep to her duties and absolutely won’t anger Miss.”

Yao Huang: “You should all be clear about my family’s situation. Tell me about yours—starting from your family’s registered location and when you entered the palace, up through being bestowed to me by Her Ladyship. Pick the important things to say.”

Chun Yan steadied herself and spoke in detail.

The imperial palace selected palace maids from among the people at regular intervals, requiring only clean family backgrounds and proper appearance.

Chun Yan was born to a farming family. At thirteen, she participated in the selection. After entering the palace, she learned rules for half a year, then was assigned to the Imperial Wardrobe to learn needlework. This year she could complete her training. Just in time, the ladies needed to bestow palace maids upon future princess consorts, so Chun Yan was selected by Consort Du.

Yao Huang: “Can you make complete garments?”

Chun Yan: “Yes. This servant primarily learned Suzhou and Sichuan embroidery. I’ve mastered twenty-four stitching techniques proficiently, with thirty-some more requiring continued refinement.”

A’Ji: “…”

Yao Huang smiled: “Good. I still have two bolts of cloth. Later have A’Ji give them to you to cut and sew. First make a set of summer clothes for her. I’ll see what your craftsmanship is truly like.”

Chun Yan felt relieved. Finally there was something to do.

The second called over was Qiu Chan. Qiu Chan had learned accounting in the palace. Yao Huang gave her several problems. Qiu Chan answered fluently and naturally took on the bookkeeping work at Yao Huang’s place.

Returning to the front courtyard, Qiu Chan felt as relieved as Chun Yan.

Watching A’Ji lead Bai Ling away, Hua Mei interrogated Qiu Chan again. Seeing Qiu Chan say roughly the same as Chun Yan, she gained confidence.

Unexpectedly, this trip of Bai Ling’s lasted two quarter-periods in the back courtyard—almost the combined time of Chun Yan and Qiu Chan.

When A’Ji escorted Bai Ling back, Hua Mei stared at Bai Ling unblinkingly. Under such a gaze, even without secrets Bai Ling felt flustered, avoiding her line of sight several times. Only when Hua Mei’s figure disappeared at the back doorway did Bai Ling sigh in relief.

For Hua Mei, Yao Huang also asked routine questions. Hua Mei answered simply, and she didn’t probe further: “Bai Ling excels at grooming and makeup. What do you excel at?”

Hua Mei appeared compliant but was actually proud: “This servant has no needlework or manual talents. Only my memory is good—I’m well-versed in etiquette and rules. In Yikun Palace, I often assisted the senior matrons handling palace affairs and disciplining palace maids and eunuchs. When Her Ladyship goes out, she also likes bringing this servant, only because this servant is fairly clever. Palace maids and eunuchs from other palaces—I need only see them once to remember them.”

Yao Huang: “Her Ladyship is truly good to me, actually willing to bestow such a clever, quick-witted palace maid to me.”

Hua Mei: “Prince Hui is Her Ladyship’s eldest son. Now that the prince’s body is inconvenienced, Her Ladyship hopes Miss can quickly take over the prince’s residence’s internal affairs after marrying over, so she specially selected this servant to serve.”

Yao Huang: “Her Ladyship is thoughtful. How about this—first teach the palace’s etiquette and rules to A’Ji. Strive to make A’Ji look like she came from the palace by the time I marry into the prince’s residence.”

Hua Mei: “…”

Yao Huang: “Only if you teach her well will she not embarrass me. Otherwise, if the maid at my side makes a fool of herself, it will implicate Her Ladyship in mockery too.”

Hua Mei: “…Yes.”

Through Yao Huang’s arrangements, all four palace maids became busy. Chun Yan devoted herself wholeheartedly to making new clothes for Yao Huang. Qiu Chan followed Luo Jinhua helping record congratulatory gifts and courtesies sent by neighbors and relatives. Bai Ling thought up ways to use Yao Huang and her mother’s existing jewelry to dress mother and daughter more nobly and gracefully. Hua Mei busied herself serving as instructing palace maid for A’Ji, yet couldn’t lose her temper at A’Ji—because A’Ji would talk back, and if things escalated, Hua Mei wouldn’t gain any advantage.

Yao Huang did want to go out for fresh air. Having just been confined in the palace for over a month, she was truly stifled.

But guards sent by Prince Hui’s residence stood outside the main gate. A princess consort awaiting marriage wanting to run outside—if word reached Prince Hui’s ears, it might ruin his impression of her.

Before figuring out Prince Hui’s temperament and preferences, Yao Huang didn’t dare act rashly.

Fortunately, during this month awaiting marriage, she couldn’t stay idle either.

First, matrons from the Imperial Wardrobe brought embroiderers to measure her, rushing back to make the princess consort’s wedding garment and several formal dresses.

Following that, the Ministry of Rites represented the imperial family in sending betrothal gifts—the initial gifts once, the main betrothal gifts once. The gifts included the pearl-and-kingfisher crown only a princess consort could wear, informal residence garments, various brocade clothes and magnificent garments for spring, summer, autumn and winter, chest after chest of gold, silver, jewels, silk and satin, rouge and powder, plus substantial and auspicious pigs, sheep, rice, flour, wine, tea, fruit, and cakes…

Box after box, chest after chest, filling every empty room in the Yao household to bursting. After the guests departed, just taking the betrothal gift list to check each item kept Yao Huang busy for four or five days before finally recognizing everything once through. If not for the four new maids including Hua Mei watching, Yao Huang would have wanted to scatter those jewels on the heated platform and wake each day amid dazzling jeweled splendor.

Living such days, even staying indoors felt thoroughly comfortable!

When so comfortable, time passed especially quickly. Three days before the grand wedding, people came from the palace again. This time was rather novel—actually a female physician around fifty years old, bearing verbal instructions from Empress Zhou.

The Yao family respectfully welcomed the female physician inside.

The female physician had kind brows and gentle eyes. After exchanging pleasantries with Yao Zhenhu and his wife, she took Yao Huang alone to her room. Two accompanying palace maids stood guard outside the door, preventing anyone from approaching to eavesdrop, including the four maids bestowed by Consort Du.

Inside the room, the female physician looked at Yao Huang with gentle eyes: “With the grand ceremony imminent, this subject-wife will directly address you as Princess Consort.”

Yao Huang nodded.

Female physician: “Princess Consort need not be nervous. Her Majesty commanded me to come actually because of Prince Hui’s leg ailment. The prince has limited mobility. On the wedding night and in married life afterward, everything will require Princess Consort’s full cooperation to allow your conjugal relations to be harmonious and avoid some unnecessary troubles.”

Yao Huang said with sincere gratitude: “Thank Her Majesty for her kind intention. Rest assured—I will certainly study earnestly.”

The female physician moved a chair before the heated platform, imitating someone with a leg ailment sitting on it, having Yao Huang complete the process of helping her onto the platform through lying down.

Yao Huang’s first time doing this, inevitably clumsy, trying seven or eight times before successfully completing it without causing the female physician any discomfort.

The female physician said quietly: “The prince’s body is heavier than mine. Before the prince, Princess Consort must remember to use more strength.”

She could only help this far. Anything more would require the princess consort to explore and grasp the measure herself.

Yao Huang looked at her own arms and smiled: “No problem. I’m strong—I won’t drop the prince.”

That smile was frank and pure, absolutely not forced cheerfulness. The female physician thought even better of this princess consort and continued instructing Yao Huang on how to cooperate with a groom whose legs were inconvenienced in consummating the marriage—starting first with undressing the groom, focusing on removing trousers.

Reaching the most crucial step, no matter how thick-skinned Yao Huang was, kneeling face-to-face at the female physician’s waist, she still blushed crimson.

The female physician’s expression remained natural—the heart of a healer: “If matters can be accomplished, Princess Consort need only care for the prince well in the future, and there will be nothing to worry about.”

Yao Huang shifted to sit aside, looking at the female physician’s waist, asking through her shyness: “Are additional techniques needed to guarantee matters can definitely be accomplished?”

The female physician sat up and moved close to Yao Huang: “Since the prince returned to the capital after his injury, his mood has been melancholy. Each time imperial physicians go to examine him, they only dare inquire about sensations related to his legs, not daring to say more. However, among those with disabled legs, some can perform conjugal duties normally, some require their wives to employ auxiliary means to accomplish matters, while the most severe cases are completely unable to perform conjugal duties.”

“How the prince truly is—the imperial physicians don’t dare ask, and the prince wouldn’t mention it unprompted.”

Yao Huang fell silent.

The female physician took an object from the medical kit she brought and taught Yao Huang auxiliary manual techniques and oral methods for assisting the groom.

Yao Huang: “…”

After Yao Huang learned with reasonable proficiency, the female physician instructed with pity: “First test the prince’s attitude. If the prince agrees, you may try these methods. If these methods are useless or the prince has no interest whatsoever, Princess Consort must absolutely not force matters, lest you anger the prince.”

Yao Huang accepted with forced composure.

The female physician’s task ended here. How Prince Hui specifically was would require the princess consort to explore. What kind of life the married couple could make depended on the princess consort overcoming difficulties herself.