When Zhao Sui was eighteen, he volunteered to go to the battlefield. Afterward, he achieved extraordinary merit, and Emperor Yongchang was greatly pleased. He made an exception to enfeoff him as prince two years early, bestowing Prince Hui’s Manor.

At that time, the First Prince Kang had already been enfeoffed. When the Ministry of Works constructed Prince Hui’s Manor, following Emperor Yongchang’s instructions, the residential portion of Prince Hui’s Manor occupied the same area as Prince Kang’s Manor—both following the regulation of five courtyards and three sections. But Prince Hui’s Manor’s garden was actually twice the size of Prince Kang’s Manor’s garden, and Emperor Yongchang even personally participated in designing the landscape layout of Prince Hui’s Manor’s garden.

Officials discussed this extensively. Some speculated the Emperor intended to establish Prince Hui as crown prince, hence such favoritism. Others believed the Emperor was simply in high spirits after the victory and thus had leisure to guide Prince Hui on garden construction. When Prince Kang was enfeoffed, floods had occurred in the southern regions, and Emperor Yongchang watched over the Ministry of Finance daily with no spare time.

Regardless of the inside story, Prince Hui’s Manor was currently the largest in area and most expensive to construct among the three princely manors.

Large estates easily invited envy. It was just that the bigger the estate and garden, the more maids and servants needed.

Throughout Prince Hui’s Manor, various servants totaled over one hundred people—and this was with Prince Hui disliking extravagance and not counting Prince Hui’s fifty personal guards.

Prince Hui’s residence was located in the fourth courtyard of the manor’s central section, named Ming’an Hall. The first two courtyards ahead were respectively places where Prince Hui received external officials and guests and handled official business. Ever since Prince Hui’s accident left him idle at home and declining visitors, those two courtyards had never again welcomed Prince Hui’s presence.

Returning to Ming’an Hall, Qing Ai and Fei Quan attended Zhao Sui resting in the front courtyard while Yao Huang took A’Ji to the rear courtyard to change clothes.

Removing the heavy formal wear, Yao Huang had Hua Mei and the others temporarily withdraw, then threw herself onto the alcove bed to first relieve her exhaustion.

A’Ji half-squatted before the bed, asking with concern: “Is the Princess Consort very tired?”

Yao Huang sighed: “That long palace pathway—walking was actually fine. The main thing is having to constantly maintain proper deportment before His Highness. After entering the palace there were even more rules to observe. Think about what I’m like at home, then making me sit properly to entertain His Majesty and the imperial consorts, accompanying conversation and smiles—it’s even harder to endure than having me run laps outside.”

A’Ji: “True, it’s not as comfortable as in Changshou Alley. But think of His Highness—you can at least walk around to stretch your muscles and bones. His Highness must sit all day or else lie down. Compared like that, isn’t it easier for you to bear?”

Yao Huang: “…”

Right—Prince Hui had been sitting continuously since getting up. Sitting so long, would his bottom go numb?

Just now His Highness told her to rest slowly and come find him to summon the servants when sufficiently recovered. Perhaps His Highness also wanted to lie on the bed a while longer!

This made Yao Huang lie even more at ease.

A’Ji glanced outside and asked quietly: “Princess Consort, how about I’m responsible for night watch from now on? Since I sleep outside after you and His Highness go to sleep anyway, keeping watch continuously won’t tire me out.”

Yao Huang asked oddly: “Why?”

Night-watch maids had to be ready to be summoned from inside at all times. If nothing happened they could sleep soundly, but if something came up they had to rise in the middle of the night—absolutely not easy work. Yao Huang didn’t want to burden only A’Ji.

A’Ji covered her mouth with one hand and explained about being able to hear movements from the inner chamber while in the side room.

Yao Huang’s face heated: “You can really hear? Everything?”

Those sounds His Highness made—the smacking, sucking, and slapping sounds…

A’Ji hurriedly shook her head: “Can’t hear you and His Highness talking. Just, just heard you crying out.”

Yao Huang: “…”

How did she not know she’d cried out so loudly?

Turning her head, Yao Huang lay facing inward for a while before finally deciding: “Let’s just rotate night watch. I’ll be more careful next time.”

The days were still long—A’Ji alone couldn’t sustain it. Besides, she also needed to gradually cultivate other trusted maids.

After lying for one ke period and using another ke period to change clothes and fix her hair, Yao Huang finally came to the front courtyard.

Fei Quan stood in the courtyard. Seeing the princess consort, he immediately bowed respectfully.

Yao Huang examined Fei Quan as she walked.

Of the two eunuchs by Prince Hui’s side, Qing Ai had proper, regular features appearing more steady, while Fei Quan had a pair of bright, sparkling eyes—round and luminous. He looked more like someone who’d dare joke with his master, yet he’d also been suppressed by palace and manor rules into rigid propriety. Or perhaps appearances were deceiving and Fei Quan’s nature was properly dignified.

“Is His Highness resting inside?” Yao Huang asked casually.

Fei Quan looked toward the main hall.

At this moment, Yao Huang also reached the main hall entrance. Turning her head to look, Prince Hui had changed into a set of deep red brocade robes, seated properly facing north.

In a normal household’s main hall, two principal chairs would be placed facing north with a square table between them.

Now Prince Hui came with his own wheelchair. Deliberately moving him to the host seat would be superfluous—servants wouldn’t find it troublesome but His Highness might be displeased. But positioning the wheelchair beside the host seat also wasn’t appropriate—it would disrupt the hall’s orderly layout. And if normal chairs were placed when His Highness wasn’t present, then removed when he came, that would frequently remind His Highness “you are incapable.”

What Yao Huang saw was that the north side of the hall had a long table at a height suitable for Prince Hui to access tea. Prince Hui sat alone facing north with his wheelchair. At the east and west ends of the long table were each positioned a guest chair facing the table. This way, whether Prince Hui was present or not, the table and chair arrangement wouldn’t affect the hall’s orderliness. And even if another prince came, sitting at either end of the long table still meant sharing a seat with Prince Hui—not considered neglectful.

His Highness was already disabled—which prince would quibble over such minor details?

Yao Huang couldn’t hide that she’d noticed this distinctive chair arrangement, nor did she want to pretend she wasn’t intrigued by the novelty.

Meeting Prince Hui’s stagnant-water-like gaze, Yao Huang had A’Ji remain outside while she entered with a smile and performed a shallow courtesy to Prince Hui.

Zhao Sui: “You and I are husband and wife. From now on, these empty formalities when we meet can be dispensed with.”

Yao Huang: “Good, I also think that feels unnecessarily distant.”

Her tone was natural. Zhao Sui didn’t know why he thought of last night’s intimate physical contact. Lowering his eyes, he said: “Sit. This is a register of servants throughout the manor. Look through it first.”

Qing Ai timely produced a register, bending at the waist to place it with both hands before the guest seat at His Highness’s lower left.

Yao Huang slightly lifted her skirt hem to sit. Looking at His Highness in the host position, she smiled in praise: “This seating arrangement is excellent. It’s much more convenient for His Highness to look at me or me to look at His Highness. If we sat side by side, we’d have to twist our heads around to talk. After a long time, our necks would ache.”

Qing Ai: “…”

He nervously looked toward His Highness.

Zhao Sui: “Go see if everyone has arrived.”

Qing Ai bowed and departed.

Yao Huang sensed His Highness seemed quite eager to quickly finish this matter. Without further delay, she picked up the register and began reading.

The first page contained only three names—Steward Guo, who managed the manor’s internal and external affairs; Eunuch Cao, who supervised the manor’s male servants; and Nanny Liu, who supervised the manor’s female servants.

Zhao Sui: “The manor has many servants. You’ve just arrived and aren’t yet familiar. If you need anything, you can directly summon these three. You are the princess consort. Unless your requests are excessively unreasonable, they will obey you.”

Yao Huang understood. Like spending silver—given Prince Hui’s generosity, withdrawing one or two thousand taels from the accounts office at once would be fine. But if she wanted to take all of Prince Hui’s five thousand taels stipend at once, Steward Guo would definitely need to consult the manor’s supreme master, Prince Hui.

Yao Huang continued flipping through.

The register recorded servants by rank. For instance, the manor’s three sections of residences and the rear garden each had a steward who supervised matters like maintenance of buildings everywhere, daily cleaning, and care of flowers and trees.

Following that were lists organized by specific duties—kitchen, embroidery room, flower and plant room, storeroom, craftsmen’s room, stable, laundry room, etc. Each place clearly listed everyone from stewards down to little maids and young servants.

Besides the vast majority who’d signed indenture contracts as servants, the manor also employed two resident physicians, both famous doctors with exquisite medical skills.

As Yao Huang read, she roughly tallied the numbers and calculated that the manor actually had over one hundred servants. Shocked, she closed the register and quietly asked Prince Hui: “Your Highness, with so many people, just the monthly wages paid out must be considerable?”

Zhao Sui: “…If we can use them, we can support them. No need to worry.”

Yao Huang quickly did rough mental calculations. His Highness’s annual stipend was five thousand taels, averaging to just over four hundred taels monthly. If the manor servants’ monthly allowances and food costs plus daily maintenance of residence and garden were calculated at one hundred taels, His Highness’s monthly stipend would only have three hundred taels remaining. If another hundred taels went to the couple’s food, clothing, and medicine expenses…

From Yao Huang’s background as a hundred-household officer’s daughter, the manor having two hundred taels surplus monthly was certainly abundant. But considering last night’s promise from Prince Hui that she could spend freely, and that a single gemstone hairpin cost several hundred taels at market price—if she this princess consort truly dared spend extravagantly and carelessly, the manor would quickly run out of money!

Zhao Sui watched his princess consort’s brow furrow slightly, then quickly smooth out again as she earnestly told him: “Rest assured, Your Highness. I’ll be frugal, absolutely not spending silver that shouldn’t be spent.”

She liked pearls and jewelry, but absolutely wouldn’t buy new expensive pieces every month. As long as His Highness didn’t mind, she’d happily continue wearing affordable commoner jewelry.

Zhao Sui: “…”

Qing Ai returned: “Your Highness, everyone has arrived.”

Zhao Sui: “Have Fei Quan bring them over.”

The people were waiting right outside Ming’an Hall. Over one hundred people were quickly led over in orderly fashion by the three head stewards.

Qing Ai pushed Zhao Sui outside while Yao Huang followed beside him.

Chief Steward Guo Shu called out: “Pay respects to His Highness and the Princess Consort!”

Everyone rustled down to their knees, greeting in unison.

Zhao Sui looked toward Yao Huang.

Yao Huang understood and had everyone rise.

After standing straight again, everyone respectfully gazed up at the princess consort’s appearance. After recognizing her face, they dutifully lowered their heads.

Zhao Sui said: “However you respect me, henceforth you must respect the princess consort the same way. Should anyone dare violate this, they will be punished according to manor regulations.”

Everyone knelt to acknowledge the order.

Having established authority for Yao Huang, Zhao Sui dismissed everyone and said to Yao Huang: “I’ll accompany you to tour various parts of the manor.”

This was the dignity a newlywed husband should give his wife.

Yao Huang was quite interested—this was her new home after all, so of course she wanted to tour it thoroughly.

But she felt that touring alone as a couple would more easily cultivate feelings and allow more freedom in conversation. So without thinking, she walked behind the wheelchair and said to Qing Ai: “You all stay here. I’ll take care of His Highness.”

Qing Ai: “…”

He didn’t even dare ask His Highness’s opinion. Moreover, standing behind the wheelchair, he couldn’t receive His Highness’s eye signals either.

Watching the princess consort reach out to take over His Highness, Qing Ai’s hands still gripped the rear handles of the wheelchair, not knowing whether to release them.

Seeing this, Yao Huang bent down and tilted her head to ask the actual master: “Your Highness, may I?”

Zhao Sui: “You may. Qing Ai and A’Ji follow at a distance.”

Qing Ai breathed a sigh of relief.

Yao Huang smiled as she took over the wheelchair: “Your Highness, please direct the way. Rest assured, I’ll definitely push steadily.”

Zhao Sui raised his hand to point in a direction.

The residences in the east and west sections each had their purposes—receiving guests, hosting banquets, serving as storerooms or libraries. After a simple tour, the party of four finally reached the rear garden.

Late April—throughout the garden, dense shade and blooming flowers everywhere. Artificial mountains, piled rocks, pavilions, and towers nestled amid tranquil scenery. Even the air drawn into the nostrils was fresher than on the road.

Yao Huang exhaled comfortably and said happily: “This garden is truly beautiful. If I hadn’t married Your Highness, I probably would never see such wonderful scenery in my lifetime.”

Zhao Sui pointed east: “Let’s start touring from this direction.”

Yao Huang nodded. Glancing at the stone-paved path ahead and confirming it was level and smooth throughout, she confidently pushed the wheelchair while admiring the surrounding scenery.

The manor’s landscape design was quite particular—every flower, tree, and stone could be appreciated for its elegance.

Walking along, Yao Huang saw two elm trees by the courtyard wall positioned just right apart. Her eyes lit up as she pointed at the trunks: “A rope could be tied here for a swing. The tree shade would block the sun perfectly.”

Zhao Sui: “If you like swinging, we can have craftsmen make several swing frames for you to place wherever you like. That’s safer than tying ropes.”

Yao Huang looked toward the top of the man’s head: “I’ve only seen swing frames in picture books. At home we all played by tying ropes.”

Zhao Sui was noncommittal.

Ahead was a pond. In the pond’s center was a winding wooden plank bridge slightly wider than the wheelchair, barely accommodating two people walking side by side. Both sides had no railings.

Following far behind, Qing Ai’s heart rose to his throat again. He could clearly see the princess consort constantly looking around at the scenery. What if she got distracted and pushed His Highness into the water!

Just as he hesitated whether to run over, Yao Huang looked at the rippling pond water and said to Prince Hui with longing: “Your Highness, I like the scenery here. May we linger a while longer?”

Zhao Sui nodded.

Delighted, Yao Huang pushed the wheelchair to the pond’s edge under a willow tree, set down the wheelchair’s locking device, then leaned forward to the very front to observe the water’s surface.

In the pond’s center, several red koi swam leisurely. In the clear water, finger-length small fish darted about happily from time to time.

The crystal-clear water reflected the azure sky. The more Yao Huang looked, the more she liked it: “When I was learning etiquette at Chuxiu Pavilion, I regretted missing this year’s spring scenery in the countryside. Coming to Your Highness’s garden, I realize all my good fortune lies ahead.”

Going to the countryside for spring outings required riding horses for a long distance—quite laborious coming and going. Coming to the Prince’s Manor garden was much more convenient, and she didn’t have to compete with other visitors for space!

However, in Zhao Sui’s eyes, all this scenery was what he was accustomed to seeing, so his expression was quite indifferent.

Yao Huang noticed this. Having feasted her eyes sufficiently, she quickly resumed pushing Prince Hui forward.

A verdant bamboo grove appeared in her field of vision. Stone-paved paths ran through the grove, and a small courtyard could be faintly seen inside.

Yao Huang stood at the path entrance, curiously peering inside: “Your Highness, what place is that?”

Zhao Sui: “Bamboo Garden. Since my illness, I normally live there.”

Yao Huang: “…Then now…”

Zhao Sui didn’t turn his head, his tone flat as if merely chatting: “I’ll accompany you for the first three days of marriage. Each month on the fifth, tenth, fifteenth, twentieth, twenty-fifth, and thirtieth, or during holidays, I’ll also accompany you overnight at Ming’an Hall. Other times I’ll still live here. If you have matters, you may come find me. If not, don’t bother.”

“This isn’t directed at you specifically. I simply prefer solitude now. Even Qing Ai and Fei Quan don’t attend me closely often.”

“The servants all know. They won’t gossip over this.”

Yao Huang understood. Looking at the small courtyard deep in the bamboo grove, she pushed the wheelchair forward, asking in confusion: “Then what should I do when Your Highness isn’t at Ming’an Hall?”

Zhao Sui: “Tour the garden or go out—as you wish.”

Yao Huang suddenly didn’t know whether to be happy or worried.

His Highness didn’t restrict her—she could apparently live more freely than at her parents’ home. But with His Highness secluded in the bamboo courtyard, why did she feel like she was keeping a living widowhood?

That wasn’t quite right either—His Highness would go spend nights with her at intervals.

The fifth, tenth, fifteenth, twentieth, twenty-fifth, thirtieth… Well, each month His Highness would accompany her six nights. During holidays there’d be a few more nights.

Story books often said men indulging in excessive pleasure easily harmed their health. Perhaps six times monthly was just right? With His Highness’s leg inconvenience, he needed to exercise more restraint than ordinary men.

Walking not far from the bamboo garden, half a mu of vacant field appeared by the roadside.

Yao Huang’s steps had just slowed when Zhao Sui already knew what she wanted to ask and explained: “This is a vegetable plot.”

A vegetable plot—naturally a place for growing vegetables. The wealthy would expend some effort cultivating it to show respect for farming and experience pastoral pleasures.

When Zhao Sui’s legs were sound, he personally planted some vegetables every year. After his accident, he didn’t come, but he didn’t speak up either, so the servants didn’t dare arbitrarily change this half-mu of land.

Yao Huang could guess the story behind this plot. But since His Highness continued keeping this land, it showed he wasn’t that petty.

She requested: “My family’s back courtyard also has two vegetable plots. Since childhood I’ve helped my mother tend them—I can grow seven or eight kinds of vegetables. If Your Highness trusts me, may I manage this plot?”

Zhao Sui: “As you wish. Except for Bamboo Garden, you may modify the entire garden however you like.”

This sounded a bit like words spoken in anger. Yao Huang wisely didn’t take the bait.

On the garden’s north side was a stretch of rolling low hills, the mountains lush with greenery. The couple walked along the mountain’s base, passing four paths leading to the summit—two paved with stone steps, two with stone slabs.

The more Yao Huang walked, the more she could feel the manor servants’ trepidation serving Prince Hui. Removing the stone steps risked His Highness’s anger; not removing them made wheelchair passage difficult and would anger His Highness more—so they laid two new paths.

Even viewing scenery was like this. If they truly stayed together day and night, just managing Prince Hui’s moods would require considerable extra effort!

Quickly leaving the low hill area, the two came to the garden’s west side where the view opened up, dominated by a vast expanse of clear, broad lake water. Peach and willow trees were planted alternately along the shore. An island pavilion was built in the lake, with a covered bridge and water pavilion connected.

Yao Huang’s mood lightened again. In a couple days, no matter what, she’d come to the lake to row a boat and fish.

Approaching noon, Yao Huang didn’t want to tour the middle of the garden either. She’d wait for next time when alone to tour thoroughly and completely, not missing a single artificial mountain cave.