Emperor Yongchang’s busiest times were always in the morning—presiding over court, summoning officials to handle urgent government affairs, reviewing important memorials, and so on. Even when not holding court, Emperor Yongchang rarely slept in. He would use that portion of time for reading books and history. After all, a wise ruler also needed to continuously increase his learning and broaden his horizons.

After using the noon meal and resting, Emperor Yongchang would welcome his relatively relaxed period of the day. If he wanted to do proper work, he would continue reviewing the not-so-important memorials left over from the morning. If he wanted to please his body and mind, he would seek some amusement.

After washing up, Emperor Yongchang walked to the window and looked at the brilliant autumn sun outside. Thinking that it would get increasingly colder from now on, Emperor Yongchang said to Eunuch Wang, “Let’s go. I’ll also go to the Imperial Garden to appreciate the flowers.”

Empress Zhou was holding a flower gathering. Two days ago she had the gardeners arrange various famous chrysanthemums throughout the Imperial Garden. Yesterday she brought the consorts and princesses to invite him to first tour the garden. Although Emperor Yongchang went, being surrounded by a group of consorts, how could he focus on appreciating flowers?

Some refined pursuits were suitable for doing alone, at most calling two or three close friends with shared interests.

Emperor Yongchang had no friends. Among the consorts, only Empress Zhou could truly accompany him single-mindedly. Consort Xian and Consort Rou had also been understanding flowers in their youth, but now they all had to scheme for their sons. As for Consort Du, just thinking of Consort Du’s mouth that stirred up trouble everywhere gave Emperor Yongchang a headache.

Having just left Qianyuan Hall with Eunuch Wang and four Imperial Guards, two colorfully dressed figures unexpectedly appeared ahead. One was his most beloved daughter, the eldest princess. The other was… second son’s wife?

This matter was somewhat fresh. Emperor Yongchang stopped smiling.

The eldest princess led Yao Huang over at a trot. The sisters-in-law greeted Emperor Yongchang in unison: “Greetings to Father Emperor.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Rise. Why are you two together?”

The eldest princess looked encouragingly toward Yao Huang.

Yao Huang said respectfully yet carefully, “Your daughter-in-law has a matter she wishes to discuss with Father Emperor.”

Emperor Yongchang: “What matter?”

Yao Huang glanced at the eldest princess, including Eunuch Wang and the others.

Emperor Yongchang understood and smiled. “I was just going to the Imperial Garden to appreciate flowers. You two have come at just the right time. Accompany me for a walk.”

The eldest princess naturally took Father Emperor’s arm. Yao Huang, being a daughter-in-law after all, walked beside the eldest princess.

Arriving at the Imperial Garden, Emperor Yongchang had Eunuch Wang and the guards keep their distance, only bringing his daughter and daughter-in-law to appreciate flowers.

Very quickly, the eldest princess cooperatively went to the depths of the garden where she could see Father Emperor and second sister-in-law but couldn’t hear their conversation.

Emperor Yongchang looked toward his daughter-in-law.

Yao Huang lowered her head, as if afraid, yet used a kind of reckless straightforward tone: “Your daughter-in-law has already come, so I’ll speak the truth directly to Father Emperor. I want to request that Father Emperor arrange a position for Second Prince.”

Emperor Yongchang: “…”

Second son was already in a wheelchair, and his daughter-in-law still wanted second son to serve in office?

“Is this your idea, or Sui’er’s own idea?”

Yao Huang raised her head and glanced wistfully at this Father Emperor. “Father Emperor should understand Second Prince’s temperament better than I do. Even the memorial to requisition the weapons workshop to make new chair wheels was written only after I acted coquettishly and pestered him to write it. Otherwise he would have been perfectly content using those two wooden large-wheeled wheelchairs that looked very cumbersome just by appearance. He’s like this even over two wheels—how could he possibly have the nerve to request duties from you with his disabled body?”

Emperor Yongchang’s whole body shook. That memorial from second son that made him both angry and pained was actually urged out by his daughter-in-law?

After the shock passed, Emperor Yongchang only had bitterness filling his heart. Indeed, this was second son’s true temperament—unless absolutely necessary, he would never speak up to him.

And his daughter-in-law’s phrase “have the nerve to request duties from you with his disabled body” was even more like a knife inserted into Emperor Yongchang’s heart.

These feelings were not pleasant. Emperor Yongchang turned his back on his daughter-in-law and walked to a nearby pot of green-petaled chrysanthemums, standing with hands clasped behind his back for a while before asking, “Why did you conceive this notion?”

Yao Huang followed two steps and stopped at the Emperor’s diagonal rear, her tone naturally as if chatting with her own father. “To be honest with Father Emperor, I had this thought before the Double Ninth Festival. Of course, your daughter-in-law was only thinking of herself, because I’ve already worked very hard to make Second Prince happy—taking him everywhere inside and outside the city to play. But Second Prince always has an indifferent attitude as if it doesn’t matter either way, making me anxious and worried, laboring in heart and mind.”

Emperor Yongchang understood. He had once had eldest son take second son out, and eldest son had complained to him similarly, including himself as Father Emperor—he didn’t know how to engage when facing second son.

Yao Huang: “At that time, your daughter-in-law thought that if Second Prince was like other husbands, leaving early and returning late for duties, I would only need to take care of his daily life, which would save me a lot of worry.”

Emperor Yongchang snorted in his heart. Even though second son’s legs were crippled, his daughter-in-law being able to marry him was already ancestral graves emitting auspicious smoke. Since his daughter-in-law was enjoying wealth and honor that ordinary women couldn’t enjoy because of second son, how could she dislike second son over such trivial matters of companionship and try to push a disabled person like second son outward?

Yao Huang couldn’t see Emperor Yongchang’s expression, but since Emperor Yongchang didn’t tell her to be quiet, she continued: “Although your daughter-in-law wanted to be lazy, I absolutely wouldn’t dare show it in front of Second Prince. Moreover, Second Prince treats me so well, and Father Emperor has also bestowed rewards on me generously. What does it matter if I just think a little and put in some effort? If I weren’t worried that Second Prince fundamentally didn’t like your daughter-in-law’s outing plans but would rather wrong himself to fulfill your daughter-in-law’s good intentions, I wouldn’t even have the thought of being lazy.”

Emperor Yongchang felt comfortable. So his daughter-in-law was still thinking of second son’s benefit. Second son would indeed commit this kind of foolishness. Eldest son’s chess skills were so poor, yet second son was willing to pretend to lose to make eldest son happy.

Yao Huang: “On the tenth, Elder Prince brought Dun’er to visit Second Prince. Although Second Prince’s face was cold, after Elder Prince left, he unprecedentedly ate half a bowl more of rice. When I praised how adorable Dun’er was, Second Prince listened extremely earnestly, even more than when I told him jokes from outside.”

“Your daughter-in-law suddenly understood. Second Prince is a prince! He has no interest in those neighborhood gossip matters familiar to commoners that I know. He cares more about people or matters he’s known and been familiar with since childhood. That’s why Elder Prince’s visit could make him happy. When my father, a rough man, talked about the various preparations the Eastern Camp made for the military review, Second Prince could listen without missing a word.”

Emperor Yongchang nodded imperceptibly. He had many beauties, and beauties were of course very good, but if the beauties talked to him every day about palace trivia, Emperor Yongchang would be too lazy to listen. Second son had studied books and practiced martial arts since childhood. Like all the scholars and soldiers under heaven, his ambition lay in displaying what he learned and establishing achievements and career. Rather than listening to beauties chatter on and on, he naturally preferred hearing people discuss politics and military matters.

Thinking of this, Emperor Yongchang finally understood his daughter-in-law’s deep meaning.

The daughter-in-law behind him let out a soft sigh. “Your daughter-in-law is only guessing. Even if I know what Second Prince likes, I can’t frequently trouble Elder Prince to come accompany Second Prince. My father likes wine. I fear his slip of tongue after drinking, so I don’t dare often call him to the prince’s manor. Your daughter-in-law could only continue taking Second Prince out to relax his mind. Then on the seventeenth, Second Prince and I were returning from picking persimmons at your daughter-in-law’s maternal grandfather’s home when we unexpectedly encountered Father Emperor’s procession returning from the Southern Camp military review.”

Emperor Yongchang turned around in surprise and looked at his daughter-in-law. “You were also outside the city that day?”

Yao Huang: “Yes. Early that morning I still wondered why Second Prince wanted to arrange two ordinary carriages. In the afternoon when we encountered Father Emperor, I finally understood that Second Prince had predicted this matter long ago. Not wanting to delay Father Emperor’s return to the city, he had us move aside by the official road like ordinary common people.”

Emperor Yongchang turned away again.

Whether eldest, second, or third son, once the children reached fifteen years old, every year at the military review Emperor Yongchang would bring his sons along.

Whenever second son was in the capital, he would definitely not miss the military review spectacle. But second son’s legs were crippled. Emperor Yongchang feared second son would feel sad seeing familiar sights at the military camp, so this year he didn’t call on second son.

Then when second son sat in the carriage by the roadside, did he lift the curtain? Did he see Father Emperor leading his two brothers out in splendor and glory?

Yao Huang: “When Second Prince accompanied your daughter-in-law picking persimmons, he could still smile a little. But that evening he didn’t eat much. Your daughter-in-law thought Second Prince must be sad—sad that Elder Prince and Third Prince can both help Father Emperor share his burdens, while he can only be reduced to idly wandering everywhere with your daughter-in-law every day, accomplishing nothing.”

Saying this, Yao Huang choked up. “Father Emperor, Second Prince is a dragon’s son! Even with crippled legs, he’s still a dragon with literary and military strategies in his breast. Your daughter-in-law truly cannot bear to watch him be regarded as a rotten worm in a wheelchair by people.”

“Your daughter-in-law should kneel to you, but your daughter-in-law fears that if Father Emperor truly agrees, those guards will say Second Prince’s position was obtained by your daughter-in-law kneeling to beg you for it.”

“Father Emperor, Second Prince can speak, write, and paint excellently. Just randomly arrange any position for him. Let him know he’s still useful, not a useless person…”

“Silence!”

Emperor Yongchang, already with tears streaming down his face, barely managed these two words before walking forward dozens of steps, until he suppressed that overwhelming heartache and sourness.

Yao Huang stayed in place, taking out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears. Rhetoric aside, Prince Hui’s current circumstances truly made people ache for him.

Not knowing how much time passed, Emperor Yongchang ahead beckoned to her, still with his back to her.

Yao Huang quickly hurried over.

Emperor Yongchang: “I will give second son a position. This is what he deserves. I was neglectful before. It has nothing to do with whether you came to request it or not.”

Yao Huang: “Your daughter-in-law thanks Father Emperor on behalf of Second Prince. However, please keep this matter concealed for now, because Second Prince doesn’t know about your daughter-in-law’s boldness today. Your daughter-in-law still needs to spend effort persuading Second Prince to accept Father Emperor’s good intentions. Previously, fearing Father Emperor would refuse and Second Prince would be happy for nothing, your daughter-in-law didn’t dare mention it to him first, thinking to tell him after your side was settled.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Good. You persuade him first. If he can’t come around, I’ll personally go find him.”

Yao Huang: “Your daughter-in-law will certainly do her best. It’s just that having Second Prince come out to serve will be more troublesome than other officials serving. This may also be Second Prince’s concern.”

Emperor Yongchang: “What troubles?”

Yao Huang lowered her eyes. “First, Second Prince needs an office room belonging exclusively to him. He’s thin-skinned. He’ll only push his wheelchair to move short distances when alone. With multiple people present, including me and Qing Ai and Fei Quan, he hardly moves.”

Emperor Yongchang looked toward the distant sky. “I’ll give it to him, including helping him resolve threshold obstacles everywhere.”

Yao Huang: “Second Prince also needs a lavatory belonging exclusively to him…”

Emperor Yongchang spoke with difficulty. “There will be.”

Yao Huang: “It’s best to have the craftsmen from our manor do the renovations. When we went to Lingshan, the houses were all remodeled by craftsmen dispatched from the manor for Second Prince.”

Emperor Yongchang: “As long as he’s willing to serve, I’ll agree to everything you ask!”

Yao Huang bit her teeth and brazenly requested to the end. “Father Emperor is so good. But just keep these things in your heart. Please don’t speak directly to Second Prince. Your daughter-in-law has also deduced all this myself…”

Emperor Yongchang wanted to cry again.