The lanterns in the palace were each more exquisite than the last, but it was too desolate and cold. Being nighttime, with rockery and tree shadows everywhere in the Imperial Garden, only the sound of strings and woodwinds from the water pavilion added some human presence.

Yao Huang bent down low to whisper to Prince Hui: “Has Your Highness ever visited the lantern festivals on the capital’s four main streets?”

Zhao Sui shook his head.

Yao Huang: “Then tomorrow night I’ll take you to stroll South Main Street. It’s thousands upon thousands of times livelier than Lingshan Town’s market—food, entertainment, street performers, everything imaginable. If we miss tomorrow night, we’ll have to wait until the Lantern Festival.”

Zhao Sui nodded. Just after nodding, as the wheelchair passed a landscape of Taihu rocks, two figures appeared in his left field of vision. Zhao Sui instinctively looked over.

Yao Huang also tilted her head to look and saw Prince Qing and Zheng Yuanzhen standing in a section of ornately decorated covered walkway. Zheng Yuanzhen was looking up at a palace lantern while Prince Qing stared fixedly at her—a handsome man and beautiful woman, quite pleasing to the eye.

Yao Huang quietly retreated two steps, completely hiding Prince Hui’s wheelchair behind the nearby lake rocks. She then observed through the crevices in the nearby rocks how the other prince and princess consort admired lanterns.

Zhao Sui: “…Let’s go.”

The princess consort turned her head and shushed him.

Zhao Sui looked at the wheelchair beneath him. If only he could move, he would definitely pull the princess consort away directly. Unfortunately, sitting in the wheelchair, all stopping and starting was up to the princess consort.

One should not watch improper things. Zhao Sui didn’t join the princess consort in wrongdoing and lowered his eyes to wait quietly.

But he heard Prince Qing’s voice: “The characters are too small. Shall I take down the lantern for Cousin to see?”

“Never mind, it’s too high.”

Prince Qing said nothing more, but Yao Huang saw clearly—Prince Qing lightly leaped up, his raised right hand supporting the bottom of the lantern, lifting and shifting it. The lantern hanging on the hook was steadily taken down by Prince Qing. The lamplight illuminated Zheng Yuanzhen’s refined and beautiful face, and also illuminated the debonair charm on Prince Qing’s handsome face.

By some strange impulse, Yao Huang actually thought of Li Tingwang. One year when her brother had taken her to see lanterns, Li Tingwang had come along. When he won first place with his archery at a lantern riddle competition and received the prize, the frivolous pride with which Li Tingwang looked at her in the lantern shadows was exactly like Prince Qing at this moment.

After Zheng Yuanzhen had read the riddle on the lantern paper, Prince Qing hung the lantern back up again, his movements neat and agile, showing he had some martial skills.

The two continued walking forward—judging by the direction, they would come this way.

Only then did Yao Huang push Prince Hui out in their original direction to meet the pair. She had already seen the lanterns and scenery behind her—of course she wanted to go see what she hadn’t seen on the opposite side. If they ran into each other, so be it. After all, everyone was properly married couples or engaged couples, following Empress Zhou’s instruction to admire lanterns. There was nothing they needed to hide from.

Seeing Prince Qing and Zheng Yuanzhen both looking over, Yao Huang smiled and greeted them: “What a coincidence! We’ve all strolled to this area.”

Zhao Sui: “…”

Opposite them, Zheng Yuanzhen couldn’t smile at all.

In crowded situations, Zheng Yuanzhen could maintain dignity. However, at this moment only four people were present—one was Prince Hui whose verbal marriage arrangement she had broken off, one was Prince Qing who should know about it and was about to marry her. The propriety and shame in her bones transformed into a ball of fire, burning from her heart straight up to her face.

Her mother was the Emperor’s only sister, enjoying great imperial favor. As her mother’s daughter, Zheng Yuanzhen had also grown up amid praise from numerous nobles and officials’ wives. So far, the only thing about her that people could criticize was that she had once wanted to marry Prince Hui when he was in his glory, then broke the engagement after he became disabled and disappointed, choosing another good match.

Many decisions happen in a single thought. When the imperial physician announced that Prince Hui would have to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, Zheng Yuanzhen’s first thought was that she didn’t want to marry him anymore—didn’t want to marry a disabled prince. No matter how handsome he was, she didn’t want to marry him. She was the Emperor’s most beloved niece—she clearly had the qualifications to become Crown Princess, to become the future Empress!

When the marriage truly dissolved into nothing, when her mother told her that Consort Shen and Prince Qing were both very willing to form a marriage alliance with their family, when she no longer had to worry that Prince Hui and Consort Du would cling on relentlessly, Zheng Yuanzhen completely relaxed. However, it was also at that time that Zheng Yuanzhen noticed something extra in the gazes some officials’ wives and even young ladies directed at her.

Only then did Zheng Yuanzhen realize that while she had escaped the disabled Prince Hui, she had acquired a character flaw that would follow her for life.

With others, she could pretend she and Prince Hui had never discussed marriage at all. Only before Consort Du, the Second Princess, and Prince Hui could she not pretend.

Consort Du and her daughter were both petty people—Zheng Yuanzhen could not care about them. As for Prince Hui…

When Prince Hui repeatedly declined palace banquets, declined going out, and stayed deep within the prince’s residence, Zheng Yuanzhen was relieved, because as long as the two didn’t meet face to face, Zheng Yuanzhen could bury that sense of indebtedness deep in her heart and gradually forget it. But the Prince Hui who had married a princess consort was actually willing to attend palace banquets again. He had even gone outside to escape the summer heat, and had come again to this Mid-Autumn palace banquet.

Zheng Yuanzhen had no face to look at Prince Hui, so she saw Yao Huang’s bright and captivating smiling face.

Having lived together in Chuxiu Pavilion for a month, Zheng Yuanzhen had never regarded Yao Huang highly. With such an acquaintance, Zheng Yuanzhen didn’t believe Yao Huang would truly be happy to see her and Prince Qing. So was Yao Huang deliberately smiling so beautifully to mock her as someone who appeared dignified and noble on the surface but was actually a perfidious, opportunistic person?

Zheng Yuanzhen looked toward Prince Qing. She didn’t want to exchange any pleasantries with Yao Huang.

By marrying her, Prince Qing gained her mother’s support—he was taking advantage of her family. Moreover, over these several years, Prince Qing had constantly been courting her favor. Zheng Yuanzhen could completely continue interacting with Prince Qing in her previous manner.

Prince Qing was also secretly observing Second Brother’s and his cousin’s expressions. Second Brother was as usual, his expression cold and indifferent. His cousin looked like she desperately wanted to avoid them.

Prince Qing could somewhat understand his cousin’s feelings. He felt happy about this because his cousin had no lingering attachment to Second Brother and truly was willing to marry him.

As for Second Sister-in-law…

His gaze briefly swept over Yao Huang’s peony-like charm and fullness under the moonlight. Prince Qing smiled at Second Brother in the wheelchair: “Second Brother, would you like to come into the covered walkway? There are steps at both ends—I’ll help lift Second Brother up.”

In just two sentences, Yao Huang also felt a ball of fire ignite in her chest. If Prince Kang helping Prince Hui push the wheelchair was just using this gesture to show the Emperor his care for his brother, then the “sympathy” in Prince Qing’s smiling face was very punchable. To think she had just felt that Prince Qing’s movements taking down the lantern were debonair, that his courting of Zheng Yuanzhen seemed like what a lover should be.

Zhao Sui said indifferently: “No need to trouble Third Brother. I’ll just look from outside the walkway.”

Prince Qing: “Alright then. You and Second Sister-in-law take your time looking. We’ll head on ahead.”

He led Zheng Yuanzhen away.

Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui forward. The scenery inside the covered walkway could also be seen from outside—naturally she wouldn’t insist on pushing the wheelchair up the steps.

Zhao Sui heard the princess consort sigh and looked back to ask: “What’s wrong?”

Yao Huang bent down low and said in his ear: “After marrying Your Highness, I assumed all princes were refined gentlemen like you. I didn’t expect Prince Qing, like Consort Du, to have a mouth that deserves a beating—his words are particularly unlikeable.”

Zhao Sui didn’t know how to respond.

Yao Huang huffed: “For this kind of brother we still have to give six hundred taels as a wedding gift. The more I think about it, the more aggrieved I feel.”

Zhao Sui fell silent.

Yao Huang: “Good thing Prince Kang gave six hundred taels as a gift at our wedding first. I’ll just consider this windfall silver as being transferred back out.”

Zhao Sui: “…”

When the couple nearly circled back to the water pavilion, they encountered Prince Kang and Chen Ying returning from another path. Because Prince Kang seemed more agreeable than Prince Qing, plus he was Chen Ying’s husband and had contributed a six-hundred-tael gift for them, when Prince Kang came to compete for the wheelchair again, Yao Huang accommodated him. Taking advantage of the brothers walking ahead, she quietly asked Chen Ying: “How was it? Did he say any intimate words?”

Chen Ying’s face was red. She glanced at Prince Kang’s upright back and nodded: “He asked if I felt stifled in the palace, if I missed home…”

Chen Ying did miss home, very very much, especially on this Mid-Autumn reunion day. So when Prince Kang asked, somehow tears fell. Prince Kang then took out his handkerchief for her to wipe her tears. After wiping, Chen Ying thought the handkerchief was soiled and didn’t know whether she should return it to Prince Kang, when Prince Kang casually accepted the handkerchief and put it in his sleeve pocket.

Chen Ying then knew that Prince Kang didn’t despise her for her humble family background. This was enough.

Yao Huang then told Chen Ying the two most important things among what Nanny Liu had told her: first, the former princess consort had died of illness—Prince Kang’s residence had no sinister rear courtyard schemes; second, Prince Kang didn’t prioritize female beauty. The residence currently had just two side consorts, unlike some noble households with a whole heap of concubines and chambermaids.

Chen Ying held the title of princess consort. If she only needed to deal with two side consorts, it shouldn’t be too difficult.

Entering the palace for selection, neither she nor Chen Ying had any choice—they could only strive to live smoothly after marriage.

Chen Ying squeezed Yao Huang’s hand. After tonight, she felt more at ease.

When the palace banquet ended, Princess Imperial Fucheng who lived outside the palace, along with the three princes and others, all had to leave the palace.

Princess Imperial Fucheng walked ahead with her daughter. When boarding the carriages, they also boarded first.

Prince Qing mounted his horse with a flip, planning to escort his aunt and cousin back to the residence.

At this time, the Prince Hui residence’s carriage had only just set up the slanted wooden plank. Prince Qing sat high on his horse, smiling as he waved at Second Brother in the wheelchair and Big Brother who was helping push the wheelchair.

Prince Kang secretly shook his head. Third Brother really—ever since Father Emperor bestowed the betrothal of their cousin to him, Third Brother had developed a showing-off streak.

In Princess Imperial’s carriage, Zheng Yuanzhen threw herself into her mother’s arms as soon as she boarded.

Princess Imperial Fucheng’s expression darkened as she asked in a low voice: “What, did Third Brother touch you inappropriately?”

Of the four nephews, Princess Imperial Fucheng had watched each one grow up. She knew each one’s temperament clearly. Prince Qing’s civil and military talents weren’t as good as Prince Hui’s, but he far surpassed Prince Kang—he was the prince most likely to be chosen as Crown Prince by the Emperor. He was just overly romantic when it came to women, changing chambermaids almost every year.

But for a dignified prince, having more women around was normal. If her daughter wanted to become Empress, she had to have that kind of tolerance.

Zheng Yuanzhen shook her head and raised a face that, though not tearful, still evoked heartache and pity: “When we were admiring lanterns in the Imperial Garden, we ran into Prince Hui and his wife. Mother, I truly don’t want to see him. Every time I see him, I feel ashamed in my heart.”

So it was this. Princess Imperial Fucheng stroked her daughter’s flower-like delicate cheeks and smiled: “Ashamed of what? It’s not as if you caused his legs to be crippled. He himself knows that his current self fundamentally doesn’t match up to you. Consort Du treats him so harshly yet he doesn’t resent her—how could he bear a grudge against you for this matter? It’s just that you’re young and like to torture yourself over this.”

Zheng Yuanzhen: “Still, I…”

Princess Imperial Fucheng: “What does it have to do with you? Parents’ orders, matchmaker’s words—your marriage has always been my decision. If others want to mock or ridicule, you just push it all onto Mother. Mother isn’t afraid of those things. You just remember—the Empress’s position is what’s most important. Once you sit in that position, everyone before you will only fawn and flatter.”

Zheng Yuanzhen looked into her mother’s eyes and thought of the several male favorites her mother kept at the manor.

Because her mother was the Princess Imperial deeply doted on by the Emperor, her father dared to be angry but not speak out. No matter how much the capital’s officials’ wives scorned and despised her behind her back, in her mother’s presence they still had to be respectful and deferential.

Her conscience, which had been tormented all evening, received consolation. In her mother’s embrace, Zheng Yuanzhen calmed down once more.