Dinner was eaten early. When Yao Huang emerged from the mist-wreathed bathtub, it was only five quarters past the hour of You.

Soft lamplight reflected on the Princess Consort’s face flushed red from the hot steam. Not only were there two crimson clouds on her cheeks, even her fair neck showed a delicate peach-pink hue.

A’Ji vigorously helped the Princess Consort wring out her hair while humming softly, “The Princess Consort is so beautiful, yet His Highness can bear to not come over for several consecutive nights. That’s quite an impressive ability.”

Yao Huang thought to herself that Prince Hui indeed had impressive ability, but it had nothing to do with whether he coveted her beauty. Rather, his ability lay in being extremely capable of restraint no matter what he wanted.

Toward Emperor Yongchang, Prince Hui wanted duties but wouldn’t speak up to ask.

Toward his beautiful Princess Consort, Prince Hui wanted to share a bed but had to wait until the appointed day, or until the Princess Consort herself took the initiative to push him over.

The former was because Prince Hui’s father-son relationship with Emperor Yongchang wasn’t close enough—at least from Prince Hui’s perspective, the Emperor Father emphasized “Emperor,” and he was bound by layers of rules. On her side, Prince Hui was both reserved and thin-skinned. Only after making her lose her wits could Prince Hui completely let loose.

Yao Huang had never before encountered someone with this temperament, but Prince Hui was both a prince and disabled. There was nothing to fault in other aspects, so Yao Huang was too lazy to quibble with him.

The inner chamber with its floor heating was warm as mid-spring. Yao Huang sat inside the canopy bed with her long hair loose and half-dry, holding a newly purchased story book she was reading.

After turning a few pages, there was movement outside.

Yao Huang got off the bed, put on the cloak prepared at the side, and walked out while tying the knots. Arriving at the reception hall, Qing Ai had also pushed the wheelchair to the doorway. Prince Hui in the wheelchair was actually wearing a set of crimson python robes with a jade belt at his waist. Combined with that noble yet austere face, one look actually intimidated Yao Huang, making her inexplicably afraid that Prince Hui had come to punish her for something.

If even her bedmate was like this, Bai Ling who was on night watch kept her head lowered, not daring to breathe heavily.

Zhao Sui glanced at the Princess Consort and explained, “I’ll depart directly from here tomorrow morning.”

On days with court assemblies, he had to rise at the hour of Yin. At that time, the Princess Consort would be sound asleep. Even if he wanted the Princess Consort to watch him put on his trousers, she wouldn’t be able to open her eyes.

Yao Huang suddenly understood and asked on Bai Ling’s behalf, “Will you also wash up here?”

If so, Bai Ling needed to prepare hot water in advance.

Zhao Sui shook his head.

Yao Huang then took over the wheelchair and pushed Prince Hui to the inner chamber.

In summer with heavy perspiration, wiping down after exertion was convenient. In cold weather, one was too lazy to move, and the sweat wasn’t as heavy either. Yao Huang had prepared four towels in advance—two for each spouse. They would simply wipe at night and wash properly during the day.

Pushing Prince Hui to the bedside, Yao Huang tactfully asked, “Should I go extinguish the lights?”

Zhao Sui nodded.

Yao Huang took another look at Prince Hui dressed in his imposing and majestic attire, then retreated outside the canopy bed and lowered the outermost curtain to block Prince Hui’s figure. She extinguished the lights one by one, conveniently draping the untied cloak back on the rack.

She even pretended to make a trip to the privy. When she emerged, the sound of clothing fabric rustling inside the bed had already ceased.

Entering the curtains, her eyes having adjusted to the darkness, Yao Huang discovered Prince Hui was actually leaning back against the headboard.

Just as Yao Huang was about to crawl over from his feet, she heard him say simply, “Come here.”

Yao Huang sat beside him along the edge of the bed.

Zhao Sui reached out and lifted a strand of the Princess Consort’s loose long hair. “Still not dry?”

Yao Huang replied, “That’s right. It doesn’t dry as quickly in winter.”

Zhao Sui asked, “Then why still wash at night?”

Yao Huang glared at him and lowered her head slightly. “I actually wanted to wash in the morning. After eating, seeing how much His Highness missed the bamboo, I also suddenly really missed my brother. Plus I’d washed just yesterday, so I went straight out.”

Prince Hui, who had not missed the bamboo at all, chose silence. He grasped the Princess Consort’s wrist and brought her to sit in his embrace.

This darkness, and Prince Hui holding her in the darkness, were both familiar to Yao Huang.

Yet her breathing still became erratic, and very soon she was whimpering softly. She should have remembered earlier—when Prince Hui was starved too severely, she was the one who suffered.

Her hair truly dried very slowly. Yao Huang simply rested her head on Prince Hui’s shoulder for a while. When Prince Hui had rested enough, he had her turn around.

In any case, neither could see the other clearly. Yao Huang let him position her as he wished. Stumbling through it accidentally turned out to be an unexpectedly good method.

Yao Huang couldn’t see Prince Hui, but she could see those two long legs that could no longer move on their own. How capable—his undergarments were still on!

Yao Huang slapped him in shy indignation.

Prince Hui paused, then quickly decided to let the Princess Consort do as she pleased. Rather than let her scratch his shoulders and back where people would see, his legs could be left to her mercy.

With great difficulty, the Princess Consort’s hair finally dried thoroughly, but the Princess Consort’s legs had gone numb. She collapsed pitifully on the bedding, using the culprit Prince Hui like a young eunuch—wherever she pointed, he had to knead.

When the Princess Consort’s legs were no longer numb, Prince Hui actually pressed down on her again.

Yao Huang protested, “…Isn’t His Highness afraid of missing tomorrow morning’s court assembly?”

Zhao Sui replied, “I won’t miss it.”

Yao Huang said, “As you wish. In any case, I only owe you three nights. After this is done, His Highness cannot disturb my sleep again tonight.”

Zhao Sui countered, “…I thought tonight was making up for the thirteenth. Which day to make up for the sixteenth and nineteenth still requires discussion.”

Yao Huang was speechless.

Yao Huang was very thirsty. Despite her weak hands and feet, she had to walk out of the curtains to pour herself a bowl of water.

Zhao Sui lay on the bed. Seeing the Princess Consort use a fire starter to light a lamp and even hold the lamp close to check the water clock, he asked hoarsely, “What time is it?”

Yao Huang glanced at him. “Three quarters past the hour of Chou. His Highness only has one hour left to sleep.”

Prince Hui, who had a rough idea, said, “…I can have your maid come in and report again.”

Only then did Yao Huang tell the truth: “A bit past four quarters of the hour of Hai. His Highness should sleep quickly—you can still sleep three hours.”

Perhaps having been starved too long previously, tonight Prince Hui had only been greedy for more, not thinking that every time would nearly take her life.

Zhao Sui said, “Pour me a bowl of water.” With the floor heating burning in the room, one easily became thirsty.

Yao Huang set down the candlestick. First, she tidied the undergarments haphazardly tied on her body, then poured water and brought it to Prince Hui.

The single lamplight was dim and yellow, illuminating Prince Hui’s slightly flushed handsome face after the act, making him appear even more refined than usual. He accepted the tea bowl and drank slowly. Yao Huang sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the crimson python robe he’d draped over the wheelchair, then glanced at Prince Hui and asked, “His Highness wore blue or green robes all this time. What special occasion is tomorrow that you’re dressed so dashingly elegant?”

Zhao Sui was only grateful he drank slowly. If he had tilted his head back and gulped like the Princess Consort just had, he surely would have choked.

Looking at the bowl of clear water that was only half-drunk, he explained, “Qing Ai selected it. Several sets are rotated. Eventually this set will be worn.”

Yao Huang smiled. “I see. I thought His Highness was deliberately wearing it to show some little palace maid.”

Zhao Sui replied, “…From Duan Gate to the court assembly hall to the Ministry of Works, I won’t encounter any palace maids.”

Having said this, he finished the remaining water in a few gulps to prevent the Princess Consort from having more time to think wildly and ask questions.

Yao Huang took the tea bowl. Her gaze circled around Prince Hui’s undergarments, then she sat up straight facing outward and turned her face to the other side, saying softly, “Does His Highness need to relieve himself? If so, I’ll push you in. After I come out, you can…”

Zhao Sui’s entire body stiffened.

Yao Huang could guess his reserve. In an even softer voice, she said, “His Highness isn’t embarrassed with me, are you? Just now, you didn’t look the least bit embarrassed. To put it crudely, my face and hands aren’t as familiar with His Highness as that place is. It’s just relieving yourself. I won’t be there watching. His Highness must not stand on ceremony with me. Being comfortable yourself and sleeping well is what’s important.”

Zhao Sui suddenly very much hoped the Princess Consort could extinguish that lamp.

Yao Huang truly didn’t think this was anything embarrassing. Previously when traveling on the road, the couple had each taken care of things in their respective carriages. They both knew perfectly well. It wasn’t as if they had to face each other directly.

Afraid Prince Hui didn’t know the layout of the privy on her side, Yao Huang continued, “There are originally two compartments inside—one for you, one for me. With windows open for ventilation and incense burning, it’s perfectly clean. If His Highness only needs to urinate, just sit forward on the wheelchair and aim at the chamber pot, right?”

Zhao Sui was speechless.

Yao Huang set the empty tea bowl aside, slowly moved over, then turned to embrace Prince Hui’s waist. Resting her head on his shoulder, she said, “His Highness, tell me the truth. We haven’t been together for so many days. Did you miss me?”

Zhao Sui tacitly agreed.

Yao Huang’s face was turned outward where she couldn’t see. She insisted he say it aloud: “Did you miss me or not? If His Highness doesn’t say it, I’ll assume you didn’t.”

Zhao Sui said, “…I missed you.”

It wasn’t necessary to be together every night, but being separated for more than ten consecutive nights—Zhao Sui was indeed very unaccustomed to it.

Yao Huang said, “I missed His Highness too. Since we both missed each other, His Highness should get used to using the privy on my side earlier. That way, unless His Highness has official business to attend to, we can sleep together every night from now on. Oh, tonight His Highness should make do—I’ll push you over. Tomorrow I’ll have that ugly three-wheeled rattan chair from the storeroom moved over here. Then when you need to get up at night, you can push yourself in. When Master Deng’s side delivers the one with large wheels, it’ll be even more convenient.”

Zhao Sui replied, “…All right.”

Yao Huang was very happy. Holding the tea bowl in one hand, she used the other to place His Highness’s python robe and jade belt outside. After Prince Hui moved himself onto the wheelchair, Yao Huang came over to push him.

High-ranking officials and nobles knew best how to enjoy themselves. Take Yao Huang—this Princess Consort’s privy inside the inner chamber was actually larger than her boudoir at her maternal home. On the south window side were a tall mirror, a washing stand, and prepared water basins, buckets, and towels. Beneath the window on the north side were two exquisitely crafted rosewood compartments. Brocade curtains hung at the entrance of each compartment. Those who didn’t know might think some precious treasures were hidden inside, when in fact they were just two equally magnificently and elegantly crafted chamber pots.

Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui to his compartment. Seeing that Prince Hui could reach out and open the lid with its auspicious crane neck-shaped handle, Yao Huang withdrew having accomplished her mission.

She sat at the vanity table and picked up the comb to smooth her long hair that Prince Hui had disheveled. She could vaguely hear some water sounds. Imagining Prince Hui’s movements, Yao Huang smiled and shook her head.

Unless Prince Hui called her, Yao Huang absolutely wouldn’t intrude. Only when the sound of washing hands came from inside did Yao Huang walk over in surprise, seeing that Prince Hui’s wheelchair had indeed stopped in front of the washing stand.

Zhao Sui gazed straight ahead. From the corner of his eye, he could see the Princess Consort leaning against one side of the doorway, leisurely combing her hair while laughing at him. “Well now, so His Highness can push the four-wheeled wheelchair around everywhere. No wonder you lift and carry me around so smoothly.”

Zhao Sui said, “…It’s late. Let’s sleep.”

He set down the towel and prepared to grip the push rims on both sides of the large wheels.

Yao Huang put away her teasing and took control of the wheelchair before Prince Hui could.

After extinguishing the lights and lying back down on the bed, Yao Huang nestled in Prince Hui’s embrace and confirmed, “No more rules about every fifth or tenth, or every third, sixth, and ninth?”

Zhao Sui replied, “Mm.”

The Princess Consort laughed secretly. “Do I not need to make up those two nights I owe His Highness either?”

Prince Hui fell silent again.