In the half month after Prince Qing’s wedding, Yao Huang and Prince Hui basically maintained a pattern of going out every other day.

With greater exertion outside, certain thoughts faded once they returned to the manor. At least this was true for Yao Huang. Prince Hui should also have been exhausted—for several consecutive afternoon rests, they purely slept. At night, there was only one evening on the fifth, and then last night. Yao Huang, thinking her monthly courses were approaching and fearing Prince Hui was severely pent up, specially pushed him to the back courtyard. However, Prince Hui’s interest was lackluster, only holding her once in a lukewarm manner.

Today was the Double Ninth Festival. Although it was a minor festival, Prince Hui should still sleep on her side.

Autumn nights grew increasingly long. In the pitch darkness at some unknown hour, being awakened again by Prince Hui, Yao Huang cooperatively embraced Prince Hui’s neck while groggily thinking that resting for a day really made a difference. But whether staying in the manor or going out, Prince Hui spent most of his time sitting in the wheelchair. Could the difference in physical exertion really be this great?

When her head was pounded into mush by Prince Hui, the princess consort became incoherent again. “Deliberately not letting me sleep in the middle of the night—you don’t want to accompany me out, do you? If you don’t want to, just say so directly. I’m not forcing you!” She wished she could rest for several more days!

Since the princess consort took the initiative to raise this matter, Zhao Sui paused and said, “It’s not that I don’t want to accompany you. I don’t want you to be exhausted.”

Yao Huang: “I’m exhausted now too!”

Prince Hui fell silent.

The princess consort cried and fumed, her right hand wearing the emerald bracelet that cost one thousand taels of silver scratching at his neck and shoulders again and again.

She loved this bracelet too much. Wearing it out to play, she feared it would get knocked. Wearing it to social engagements, she feared others would be envious and cause trouble. She could only wear it while sleeping.

The princess consort’s skin was like congealed fat. With her arms raised high, the emerald bracelet had long since slid from her wrist down to her elbow.

In the end, the princess consort’s arms dropped limply like vines losing their support. The emerald bracelet was pressed between the princess consort’s fine-sweated skin and the brocade, rubbing back and forth on its own.

Inside the gauze bed curtains, a pair of hands pressed on the princess consort’s shoulders. The sleeping princess consort unconsciously shrank inward.

A’Ji said urgently, “Princess Consort, wake up quickly! Prince Kang has brought the young heir to visit!”

The sun was already high in the sky. Normally the princess consort could sleep however she wanted, but today distinguished guests had arrived. If the princess consort kept failing to appear, it would make Prince Kang suspicious.

Prince Kang and his son?

Yao Huang woke up. Seeing that Bai Ling and the others behind A’Ji had prepared to serve her in washing and dressing, she quickly got up. Before washing her hands, she first removed the emerald bracelet and carefully stored it in the silver box with gilt floral patterns. When Prince Hui brought the emerald bracelet back from the jewelry shop, it came with this silver box.

Bai Ling combed the princess consort’s hair while A’Ji held a bowl of white fungus and red date soup, feeding her mouthful by mouthful from the side so the princess consort wouldn’t attend the social engagement on an empty stomach.

In the front courtyard of Ming’an Hall, Zhao Sui sat in the wheelchair on the north side. Prince Kang sat on the left side of the long table, holding the five-year-old young heir in his arms.

“Go pay respects to Second Uncle.” Prince Kang encouragingly pushed his son.

The young heir shrank into his father prince’s arms, secretly using a pair of round eyes like black grapes to peek at Second Uncle in the wheelchair.

In the twenty-seventh year of Yongchang when Zhao Sui went north to resist the Wu, the two-year-old young heir didn’t yet have memories. Last year after Zhao Sui returned to the capital injured from the battlefield, he kept his doors closed. The young heir also hadn’t had a chance to see this second uncle—he was practically a stranger. Moreover, this second uncle looked cold and aloof and didn’t seem to like him at all. The young heir’s timidity was perfectly understandable.

Prince Kang wanted to push his son again, but Zhao Sui said, “We’re uncle and nephew in the same family. No need to be too concerned with empty etiquette.”

Prince Kang smiled awkwardly, looking outward for the umpteenth time. Why hadn’t that chatty, cheerful second sister-in-law come yet?

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside. Before long, a figure dressed in white upper garment and green skirt appeared at the doorway of the hall.

Seeing the situation inside clearly, Yao Huang smiled and called out “Elder Brother” to Prince Kang, then beckoned to the young heir with a grin. “Dun’er has come! Come give Second Aunt a hug.”

The young heir was also shy with this second aunt, but Second Aunt smiled so beautifully. With a push from his father prince, the young heir cooperatively walked over.

Yao Huang led the little one to sit at the other end of the long table, then gathered the young heir into her arms. Touching the tender cheeks unique to small children, then pinching the young heir’s chubby little hands, she praised sincerely, “Dun’er is so handsome.”

Prince Kang had a square long face with narrow eyes. The young heir at this time appeared to have an oval face with peach blossom eyes—clearly taking after the former princess consort. He was a beautiful boy who would grow well. Yet his forehead and eyebrow shape looked extremely like Prince Kang’s, giving him a very proper bearing.

The young heir stared unblinkingly at Second Aunt, who was even more beautiful than him.

The kitchen sent pastries and fruit. While Yao Huang took care of the young heir eating, she glanced at the two imperial brothers who were both watching her and the child.

Guessing that Prince Kang had proper business to discuss with Prince Hui, Yao Huang asked the young heir, “Second Aunt has raised a little dog. Shall I take you to see it?”

The young heir nodded expectantly.

Yao Huang then let Prince Hui entertain Prince Kang and left leading the young heir.

Zhao Sui looked toward Prince Kang.

Prince Kang: “…I have no particular business. My hands just got itchy. I wanted to ask Second Brother to play chess with me.”

Hearing this, Zhao Sui had Qing Ai fetch the chess board.

Prince Kang moved his chair to sit opposite his second brother and silently began playing chess. Playing and playing, Prince Kang thought of his youth when the Emperor didn’t want Second Brother cooped up in the study all day and told him as the elder brother to find ways to take Second Brother out. Prince Kang tried. Second Brother was indeed willing to come out with him, but the entire way he had to rack his brains to find things to say. If he didn’t speak, Second Brother wouldn’t say a word, making Prince Kang feel uncomfortable all over.

After the Emperor learned of this, he told him to accompany Second Brother in doing things Second Brother loved to do.

Prince Kang went to ask. Second Brother said he liked reading books. Besides reading, there was also chess and painting.

Painting was a solitary activity, so Prince Kang accompanied Second Brother in playing chess. Every time he won, making Prince Kang very embarrassed. Later when the Emperor came to watch the brothers play chess and brought him away together, the Emperor scolded him, “As the elder brother, having inferior chess skills to your younger brother is one thing, but you actually can’t even tell that Second Brother has been deliberately letting you win!”

Recalling the past, Prince Kang lifted his eyes and looked at his second brother. “Let’s play honestly. You don’t need to let me win. Although Elder Brother’s chess skills aren’t refined, Elder Brother can afford to lose.”

Zhao Sui nodded.

Playing three consecutive games, Prince Kang lost three times in a row.

Prince Kang turned his head to look outside. “The weather is nice. Let me push you to the garden to get some sun.”

Zhao Sui: “…”

Prince Kang came around to help his second brother push the wheelchair, his face showing relief that Second Brother couldn’t see. But the next moment he couldn’t smile anymore. He stared in shock at several thin red marks on his second brother’s nape, then immediately stopped, forcefully grabbed his second brother’s back collar and pulled it outward, revealing even more red marks hidden underneath.

Seeing it with his own eyes, Prince Kang was enraged. “What happened? Who injured Second Brother?”

When wiping his nape and back with a cloth last night, Zhao Sui had noticed slight stinging pain but hadn’t paid attention at the time. Now being grabbed by the collar and questioned by his elder brother, he instantly understood. After brief silence, Zhao Sui explained, “At night it’s inconvenient to turn over. My neck and back often develop rashes. When they itch, I can’t help but scratch.”

The fury in Prince Kang’s eyes was quickly replaced by heartache. His eyes even reddened.

Zhao Sui didn’t turn his head. In his usual tone he said, “I’m long accustomed to it. Elder Brother needn’t feel sad. Also, please keep this secret for me, Elder Brother. I don’t want to be pitied for things besides my legs.”

Prince Kang thought of his mother consort’s previous reminder, saying that disabled people most couldn’t bear others’ sympathy, because that sympathy had no use—it only repeatedly rubbed salt in their wounds.

Prince Kang agreed with a slight catch in his throat.

Arriving at Prince Hui’s manor’s back garden, walking to the bottom of Cuiping Mountain on the north side, seeing that newly built ramp suitable for wheelchair passage, and once again truly experiencing his second brother’s hardships over the past year and more, Prince Kang’s eyes stung again.

Circling to the west side of the lakefront, Prince Kang saw his second sister-in-law. Second Sister-in-law threw a red cloth ball high into the air. His son and a golden-furred puppy excitedly chased it simultaneously.

Looking at Second Sister-in-law’s carefree, thoughtless smiling face, Prince Kang’s expression hardened. He stopped the wheelchair to let Second Brother throw the cloth ball for the child, then walked to Second Sister-in-law’s side. With his back to Second Brother, he interrogated in a low voice, “Second Brother’s back has developed rashes and he’s scratched them raw. Can’t you see, Sister-in-law?”

Yao Huang: “…”

Prince Hui’s back felt as smooth as his face when touched. What damned rashes!

However, regarding the scratching raw part, Yao Huang seemed to understand what was going on.

Her face heated as she lowered her head.

Prince Kang took it that she felt ashamed and continued, “Sister-in-law can make Second Brother cheerful—this is your achievement. But you must be more attentive. At night when Second Brother finds it inconvenient to turn over, you or Qing Ai and the others should work a bit harder and help him turn over twice. Don’t just focus on sleeping yourself.”

Yao Huang understood. Prince Hui must have spouted nonsense to Prince Kang, and Prince Kang, never having been scratched on the neck by the former princess consort or side consorts, actually believed Prince Hui.

Yao Huang wouldn’t get angry with a foolish prince. Besides, such a misunderstanding was better than having Prince Kang see through the couple’s private intimacy.

“Understood. Elder Brother can rest assured. I’ll be more careful. Also, please conceal this mistake for us, Elder Brother. I fear the Emperor will blame us if he finds out.”

Prince Kang firmly grunted his assent.

Prince Kang and his son didn’t stay for a meal. Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui to see father and son off from the manor. Returning to Ming’an Hall, taking advantage of both Qing Ai and Fei Quan having withdrawn, Yao Huang stood behind, gently touching Prince Hui’s nape. “Really, Prince, if you have rashes why didn’t you tell me? You made Elder Prince scold me thoroughly.”

Zhao Sui: “…I’ll be more careful next time.”

Seeing Prince Kang’s normal expression after speaking with her, Zhao Sui knew the princess consort had cooperated with his deception.

Yao Huang: “Who should be careful? Should I be careful not to scratch you again, or should you be careful not to disturb my sleep again?”

Prince Hui didn’t answer.

This meant he was unrepentant. Yao Huang angrily gave the wheelchair a forward push.

Because the princess consort found the wheelchair with push wheels ugly, the wheelchair Zhao Sui frequently sat in recently was still the original light rosewood wheelchair. Now pushed several steps away by the princess consort, Zhao Sui found it difficult to push himself and could only remain quietly in place.

Yao Huang came over and pushed him into the hall, asking curiously, “Elder Prince came at the end of last month, and came again today. Is there some matter?”

Zhao Sui: “Nothing special. Similar to his purpose in helping me push the wheelchair in the palace.”

Five parts sincerity, five parts performance.

Yao Huang turned this over in her mind before understanding. Emperor Yongchang’s distress over his disabled second son was there for all to see. She took care of Prince Hui and brought him to life, so Emperor Yongchang rewarded her with a jade ruyi. If Prince Kang showed more concern for Prince Hui a few times, Emperor Yongchang would surely also praise him as a good elder brother.

Emperor Yongchang was already over fifty. The crown prince would basically be chosen between Prince Kang and Prince Qing.

For the sake of her own and Prince Hui’s comfortable days, Yao Huang hoped more that Prince Kang would enter the Eastern Palace. Prince Qing looked like someone who frequently mocked Prince Hui, and Zheng Yuanzhen had never treated her as a sister-in-law at all.

However, these matters were still distant. Yao Huang didn’t dare meddle randomly and could only observe cautiously from the sidelines. But Prince Kang’s visit today did help her a little with her upcoming plans.