Leaving Chongren Alley where Prince Hui’s Manor was located, looking east revealed the imposing palace walls of the Imperial City—red walls and golden tiles, impossibly lofty.
Prince Hui had an affliction, so the carriage traveled slower than ordinary carriages, but it still took only half a ke period to arrive outside the Xihua Gate of the Imperial City.
Unless there were state affairs, imperial relatives normally entered and exited the palace through either Donghua Gate or Xihua Gate, whichever was closer.
The carriage stopped steadily. Yao Huang looked toward Prince Hui. Seeing he had no objection, she confidently walked to the wheelchair’s side, released the securing device, and by the time Zhang Yue opened the carriage door outside, Yao Huang had already pushed the wheelchair to the middle of the carriage.
Outside the carriage, Qing Ai retrieved the slanted wooden board and was about to position it when Fei Quan, having removed his boots, stood on the clean blue silk brocade cushion preparing to board. Seeing the situation inside the carriage, both froze.
Zhao Sui was just about to have Fei Quan come up when he heard the princess consort’s light voice from above: “I’ll push His Highness out of the carriage. You just catch him below.”
Qing Ai and Fei Quan had attended Prince Hui closely for over ten years. When Prince Hui’s health was sound, they dared joke around to make him smile. After Prince Hui’s accident, the manor’s servants lived in fear and trepidation. Though Qing Ai and Fei Quan, relying on deep master-servant bonds, didn’t treat Prince Hui like a fearsome beast, they still exercised twelve parts caution and respect, no longer daring to speak any frivolous words.
A tone as relaxed as the princess consort’s hadn’t appeared anywhere in the manor this past year.
Qing Ai broke into a cold sweat on his back. How dare the princess consort?
Fei Quan’s blood flow accelerated. They couldn’t let the princess consort act recklessly—she’d drop His Highness!
Before the thought settled, Fei Quan had already spoken, expression respectful: “No need to trouble the Princess Consort. This servant will do it.”
Yao Huang: “There’s only this much space in the carriage—if you come up it’ll be too crowded. Qing Ai, position the board.”
Qing Ai looked toward His Highness in the wheelchair.
Zhao Sui looked indifferently at the slanted wooden board in his hands.
Qing Ai understood His Highness’s tacit permission. Lowering his eyes, he positioned the board properly. Fei Quan had no choice but to step aside to put on his boots while guard Zhang Yue stepped forward, ready to help at any moment.
The board connecting the carriage body to the ground was long and slanted, its surface carved with auspicious patterns to prevent boot soles and wheelchair wheels from slipping.
Qing Ai walked up first, bending at the waist to grip both sides of the wheelchair. In his line of sight, His Highness’s hands gripped the armrests, the backs of his hands slightly taut.
When the wheelchair tilted, Zhao Sui, with his weakened legs, had to exert force with both arms to maintain balanced posture and avoid pitching forward or backward.
Seeing both were ready, Yao Huang said: “Let’s go.”
Qing Ai immediately applied full strength.
Yao Huang had intended to pull the wheelchair upward to lighten Qing Ai’s burden, but with Qing Ai’s exertion, not only did the wheelchair not descend—it actually moved back into the carriage.
Yao Huang: “…”
Realizing his error, Qing Ai adjusted his strength in time.
The wheelchair finally descended. Yao Huang sensed Qing Ai’s force and gradually reduced to using only sixty percent of her strength, allowing both her and Qing Ai to proceed easily.
Cooperation was mutual. Realizing the princess consort wasn’t as delicate as he’d thought, Qing Ai relaxed.
Zhao Sui couldn’t see his princess consort but could see the bulging veins on the back of Qing Ai’s hands gradually return to normal.
So the princess consort wasn’t naively reckless but confident and capable.
Smoothly disembarking, the subsequent path wasn’t as simple as Yao Huang had imagined. From Xihua Gate to the Central Palace, there were too many thresholds of varying heights and even stone steps. Each time they encountered these, Qing Ai and Fei Quan had to lift the wheelchair, and each time they lifted, it was equivalent to displaying Prince Hui’s “incapability” even more obviously before the palace servants and before Prince Hui’s newly married princess consort.
Yao Huang fell slightly behind, watching Qing Ai and Fei Quan’s lowered eyes as they lifted the wheelchair, trying their best to make it look effortless, watching Prince Hui’s face like stagnant water—rippleless and waveless. Her heart felt very uncomfortable.
Unrelated to emotion, it was sympathy and pity naturally welling up in a physically whole person facing someone with physical disabilities.
But even without the female physician’s instructions, Yao Huang understood that Prince Hui least needed such sympathy.
After returning to level ground, Yao Huang tried to lighten the atmosphere, taking out her handkerchief to wipe her forehead: “The weather’s truly warming up. Just walking this short distance has made me sweat.”
At this moment Qing Ai was responsible for pushing the wheelchair while Fei Quan lagged two steps behind. Hearing this, he promptly signaled the princess consort with his eyes—one couldn’t use the word “walking” before His Highness!
Yao Huang lowered her head to speak with Prince Hui and didn’t receive his signal.
Zhao Sui glanced at the cumbersome formal wear on Yao Huang, then looked at her flushed face—indeed warmed by the sun.
He simply said: “We’re almost there.”
The palace had many rules. Some things could only be endured.
Yao Huang noticed that in the sunlight, Prince Hui’s face was too pale—the pallor that came from being kept indoors too long without sun exposure.
Elders all said children should get more sun to grow strong. Yao Huang didn’t know if this had merit, but people with some color in their faces did look more comfortable.
Therefore, Yao Huang deliberately moved to Prince Hui’s other side to let him see more light.
She switched positions very abruptly. Qing Ai and Fei Quan’s gazes followed her halfway around, and Zhao Sui also wondered why she switched, but he didn’t ask.
Pushing and lifting along the way, Prince Hui’s Manor party finally arrived at the Central Palace.
Emperor Yongchang, Empress Zhou, and the three consorts were all present, including the First Princess and Second Princess whom Yao Huang had briefly met last night.
The newlywed couple needed to offer three bowls of tea. Emperor Yongchang was the father, Empress Zhou the mother, plus Prince Hui’s adoptive mother Consort Du.
The benefit of having multiple mothers-in-law was that Yao Huang also received an extra reward. Empress Zhou gifted her a ruby hairpin, and Consort Du competitively gifted her a pair of ruby earrings. Although the two gemstones on the earrings combined weren’t as large as the gemstone on the hairpin, Consort Du’s gesture was generous enough. Having received benefits, Yao Huang called out “Mother Consort” very sweetly.
Consort Liu and Consort Shen also gave rewards. Without the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, the two consorts’ gifts were more ordinary—one was a verdant jade bracelet, the other a smooth, delicate mutton-fat jade bracelet.
While thanking them, Yao Huang thought—why didn’t Emperor Yongchang enfeoff a few more consorts? With a few more bracelets, she could wear a new one each month of the twelve-month year.
When everyone gathered together, they all spoke ceremonial words. Afterward, Emperor Yongchang had to attend to state affairs, and Empress Zhou also had Consort Du take the young couple to Yikun Palace for more intimate conversation.
In everyone’s eyes, from birth Prince Hui had been taken by Consort Du to Yikun Palace to be raised. The mother-son bond should be no different from biological, or at least Consort Du’s displayed concern and nurturing toward Prince Hui appeared exactly so.
On the way to Yikun Palace, Consort Du walked between the newlyweds. Knowing Zhao Sui had no interest in conversation, she only spoke with Yao Huang: “Is this the dowry maid you brought from your family?”
She was asking about A’Ji following behind.
Yao Huang: “Yes, A’Ji has been by my side since age four. I’m accustomed to taking her everywhere.”
Consort Du: “You’re also bold, not afraid she’ll break palace rules.”
Yao Huang smiled: “Rest assured, I specifically had Hua Mei teach her for an entire month. Hua Mei, worthy of coming from Your Ladyship’s service, taught exceptionally well.”
Consort Du: “…How are the four including Hua Mei serving you?”
Yao Huang: “Very well. Each is more capable than the last. With their help, I hardly need to worry about anything.”
Consort Du: “Chun Yan and Qiu Chan are both new. I specifically arranged for Hua Mei to go train them for you. Hua Mei was originally a senior palace maid candidate I valued. Only because Cui’er was selecting a consort and marrying did I reluctantly part with her to give to you. Use her well to assist Cui’er in managing manor affairs properly. Don’t make me worry.”
Yao Huang: “Yes.”
Arriving at Yikun Palace, Consort Du sipped flower tea while inquiring about Yao Huang’s family situation.
Yao Huang pretended not to notice the perfunctoriness and disdain in Consort Du’s eyes and brows, answering whatever was asked.
Consort Du glanced at Prince Hui, who seemed to be in meditation, then sighed to Yao Huang: “You still have good fortune. Originally Cui’er should have had another fine marriage, but unfortunately heaven didn’t favor him. He was injured on the battlefield, which is why it’s your turn to pick up this great bargain.”
Yao Huang: “…”
The fifteen-year-old Second Princess coughed, seemingly kindly reminding her mother: “Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law are newlyweds. Why do you speak such disappointing words?”
Consort Du said regretfully: “My fault. Huang Huang, don’t take it to heart. I’m just heartbroken for Cui’er—I meant nothing else.”
Yao Huang: “…”
This person was definitely doing it deliberately, deliberately calling her “Huang Huang”!
Legend had it that when she was just born, her parents racked their brains to give her the name “Yao Huang.” Logically, “Yao Huang” carried the beautiful reputation of the peony flower king. Her parents hoped she could grow into a young lady like the peony flower king—giving such a name showed loving blessing. Only when it came time to call her by a nickname did her parents discover that “Huang Huang” or “A Huang” both sounded a bit like names commoners gave to yellow dogs. The couple had a flash of inspiration and only called her “Yao Yao.”
From childhood to adulthood, companions who got along well with Yao Huang all called her “Yao Yao.” Only people like Li Tingwang who deliberately opposed her called her “Huang Huang.”
Consort Du’s malice was undisguised, yet Yao Huang couldn’t correct her over the nickname issue.
With a snort of laughter, the Second Princess couldn’t help laughing, looking at Yao Huang with feigned innocence: “Do Second Sister-in-law’s parents also call you this?”
Yao Huang smiled in reply: “Sometimes Yao Yao, sometimes Huang Huang.”
The mother-daughter pair wanted to see her embarrassed and angry—she refused.
So what about “Huang Huang”? Not only was yellow bright and vibrant, how many imperial families had endowed it with noble significance as an honored color? As long as she didn’t feel ashamed, “Huang Huang” could also be a fine name.
Zhao Sui suddenly said: “This son is weary. If Mother Consort has no other matters, this son and the princess consort will take our leave.”
Consort Du had no reason to detain him and had her daughter see the couple out of Yikun Palace.
The Second Princess smiled broadly as she saw the two out. Before parting, she deliberately leaned close to Yao Huang’s ear and whispered: “Second Sister-in-law must be curious who Second Brother’s original marriage match was, right? I’ll tell you—that person is Zheng Yuanzhen, my prospective Third Sister-in-law.”
Aunt Princess Imperial Fucheng was wildly ambitious. Three years ago she most favored Prince Hui and intended to marry her daughter to Prince Hui as princess consort, to eventually become empress. But Princess Imperial Fucheng had only begun broaching the subject with Mother Consort when border warfare suddenly erupted. Prince Hui led troops to battle but returned disabled, completely losing any chance at the Eastern Palace.
How could Princess Imperial Fucheng bear to marry her daughter to Prince Hui then? Fortunately, Father Emperor decided to hold selections, and Princess Imperial Fucheng smoothly inserted her daughter into the selected maidens’ ranks.
This way, she could arrange for Consort Shen, mother of Prince Qing whom she now favored, to proactively choose Zheng Yuanzhen, avoiding the embarrassment of unilaterally breaking the engagement herself.
Otherwise, why would a dignified Princess Imperial need to go through the selection process to form a marriage alliance with an imperial prince?
Yao Huang finally understood what last night’s flying glances between the Second Princess and Princess Imperial Fucheng at the evening banquet were about.
On the way out of the palace, Yao Huang thought about many things.
Emperor Yongchang’s indulgence of his sister Princess Imperial Fucheng had long spread among the people—indulged to the point where when Princess Imperial Fucheng recommended officials to Emperor Yongchang, he would seriously consider them and had actually adopted several recommendations.
As such, if Princess Imperial Fucheng favored which prince as crown prince, her support would surely carry considerable weight with Emperor Yongchang.
Yao Huang looked toward Prince Hui in the wheelchair.
Being a prince was noble enough. Only today did Yao Huang learn that her husband Prince Hui had once had very good odds of competing for the throne.
Yet with his crippled legs, he would remain merely a prince for the rest of his life.
Yao Huang felt no regret—she even thought this was more stable. There were still three other princes. In competing for the dragon throne, the three princes would surely engage in open and covert struggles. In the future, whichever achieved his wish would punish the other two to varying degrees. Only Prince Hui, who withdrew from contention early, was safest. The new emperor might even especially favor Prince Hui to demonstrate brotherly harmony and respect.
Being able to become princess consort was already extraordinarily fortunate. Yao Huang had no greater ambitions.
She just didn’t know whether in Prince Hui’s heart, missing out on the throne was as difficult to accept as losing the ability to walk.
Sitting in the carriage again, Yao Huang found it hard to be as relaxed as on the way there. After all, Prince Hui had just been wounded by Consort Du’s pointed remarks. Consort Du’s cold mockery toward her might also have embarrassed Prince Hui by association.
In deathly silence, Yao Huang lowered her eyes, pinching her fingertips.
Her cheeks were full. When she lowered her head, the flesh on her cheeks naturally presented a slightly pouting appearance, as if somewhat unhappy.
Zhao Sui looked several times before finally asking: “Why so gloomy?”
Yao Huang looked up, gazing blankly at Prince Hui.
Zhao Sui looked directly at her and asked: “Why displeased?”
Yao Huang blinked and explained: “Not at all. I’m just nervous seeing you not speaking, not daring to talk carelessly.”
Zhao Sui: “On the way here I also didn’t speak. Weren’t you quite bold in speaking then?” And acting.
Though they were lifeless eyes, when staring at someone they carried sufficient authority and sharpness. Yao Huang could only pick safe answers, saying softly: “Because of my family background and nickname, even Your Highness’s dignity suffered by association.”
Zhao Sui was silent for a moment, then said: “I already knew your family background on selection day. If I minded, I wouldn’t have chosen you.”
“As for your nickname, I don’t find anything laughable about it.”
Yao Huang understood—His Highness didn’t care at all about those two points Consort Du looked down on!
“Your Highness is so good. The consort said one thing correctly—I’m fortunate to be able to marry you!”
Zhao Sui: “…”
He closed his eyes, no longer looking at those bright, radiant eyes.
His Highness had the mind to console someone, indicating he himself wasn’t affected. Yao Huang completely shed her concerns, moving closer to Prince Hui and asking in a confidential tone: “Your Highness, your mother-son relationship with the consort isn’t very close, is it?”
Zhao Sui glanced at her: “What makes you think so?”
Yao Huang huffed: “Love extends to what one loves! If she truly liked Your Highness, for your sake she would be more polite to me rather than immediately mocking me.”
Zhao Sui: “…So what if that’s true?”
Yao Huang: “That depends on what Your Highness thinks. If Your Highness hopes I’ll respect and yield to her, I’ll be an obedient, dutiful daughter-in-law. If Your Highness disapproves of her behavior, I won’t swallow grievances—I’ll stand my ground when I should.”
Zhao Sui had noticed last night that this young lady was rather bold—cooperative with him but without fear. Now her daring to discuss an imperial consort this way wasn’t surprising either.
But she was still an imperial consort with plenty of methods to torment a daughter-in-law princess consort from a minor household.
“Endure small matters when possible. If truly unbearable, don’t wrong yourself either. Prioritize being thorough above all.”
Suffering physical punishment for pride wasn’t worth it.
Yao Huang smiled: “Rest assured, Your Highness, I have sense of proportion. But we must establish this first—in the future, no matter who I quarrel with, as long as reason is on my side, if it truly reaches Your Highness, you must back me up. Otherwise I’d rather suffer in silence than have you join outsiders in reprimanding me, leaving me wronged both inside and out, suffering for nothing.”
She had no powerful natal family. A princess consort’s confidence all came from Prince Hui. Only with husband and wife united could she dare straighten her spine.
Zhao Sui looked at her upturned, bright face and suddenly felt somewhat doubtful: “You wouldn’t dare even contradict Father Emperor, would you?”
Yao Huang laughed at his words: “Of course not. Whatever His Majesty says to me, I’ll obediently listen.”
Zhao Sui turned his head, giving his assurance: “As long as you have reason, I’ll stand on your side.”
Delighted, Yao Huang propped one hand on the wheelchair and swiftly rose to plant a kiss on His Highness’s face.
Zhao Sui gripped the wheelchair armrest with one hand, scolding in a low voice: “Don’t be improper.”
Yao Huang saw he truly showed no hint of pleasure, unlike her father who would smile happily after being kissed by her mother. She sheepishly returned to her seat, muttering in self-defense: “I thought Your Highness liked it that way. I’ll never dare again.”
Zhao Sui said nothing more.