Chapter 12.2

Zhao Sui: “…”

Outside the carriage, Zhang Yue instructed two guards to clear the way, sending the neighbors in Changshou Alley who had gathered to watch back into their homes, leaving only the few members of the Yao family who had come to welcome them at the door.

As the carriage came to a stop, before the door opened, Yao Huang leaned on one side of the wheelchair and, taking advantage of Prince Hui’s moment of inattention, whispered in his ear, “I’m giving you a little benefit first, Your Highness, please don’t turn against me.”

Zhao Sui: “…”

Yao Huang smiled at him, then lowered her head to undo the securing device.

When the door opened, wooden planks were laid down. Under the watchful eyes of Yao Zhenhu and others, Yao Huang and Qing Ai worked together to push the wheelchair down from the carriage.

As the Yao family members approached stiffly to pay their respects, Yao Huang looked at her family’s doorstep and turned to instruct Qing Ai: “Lay the planks down in the middle of the threshold.”

Qing Ai quickly understood. He had Fei Quan take over the wheelchair and lifted the long wooden plank to lay it down, ensuring the middle of the plank touched the door sill, with the southern end touching the ground first, allowing Prince Hui’s wheelchair to enter without lifting it, thereby preserving the prince’s dignity.

The Yao family residence was small, and after passing through the main door and the south door of the hall, Prince Hui was pushed into the main seat of the hall.

Several guards unloaded the return gifts from the second carriage, standing in the courtyard waiting to make the handover.

Zhao Sui looked outside and said to Yao Zhenhu and his wife, “Just a few humble gifts; I hope my father-in-law and mother-in-law will accept them.”

Yao Zhenhu had a naturally loud voice and, the more nervous he got, the more he forgot to lower it: “Your Highness is being too polite. Just your presence has made our humble abode shine. Whether gifts are brought or not makes no difference!”

Luo Jinhua tugged at his sleeve, apologizing, “Your Highness, he’s just a rough man; please don’t hold it against him.”

Zhao Sui smiled faintly. He had seen rougher men than Yao Zhenhu during his time in the army.

After a simple exchange of formalities, Yao Huang took charge and arranged, “Brother, go find an empty room to receive the gifts, and have the guards rest in the gatehouse.”

Yao Lin felt as if he had been pardoned and quickly left.

Yao Huang then pointed to the two baskets of Honeydew  in Huamei’s hands to introduce them to her parents: “These are the Honeydew  from Jiaozhou that the Emperor awarded to the prince. They’re especially sweet. The prince specifically asked me to bring two baskets—one for our family and one for my grandfather’s family. These fruits don’t keep well, so let my brother take the basket to my grandfather’s house this afternoon so they can eat them all today and not let them spoil.”

Luo Jinhua quickly pulled her husband to thank her.

Yao Huang smiled, “The prince doesn’t like too much formality, so you don’t have to be polite. Huamei, go to the kitchen and have two more sent up for the end of the meal.”

Huamei bowed and left. As she exited the hall, a hint of worry crossed her face.

Having left late and with a long journey, the neighbors had all gone home for lunch. Yao Huang asked her mother, “Is the food ready?”

Luo Jinhua replied, “Almost. There are just a few dishes that need to be stir-fried, but they’ll be done soon.”

Yao Huang: “Then let’s serve the food; we can eat and chat at the same time.”

Luo Jinhua went to the kitchen.

With the prince and princess visiting, Luo Jinhua had specially invited two renowned chefs from a large restaurant. Normally, such chefs would only take orders from noble families, but upon hearing that the son-in-law returning to the Yao family was Prince Hui, the restaurant not only didn’t charge the Yao family any silver but also brought their own wine and ingredients. Luo Jinhua felt guilty and insisted on giving them some money, and the restaurant reluctantly accepted a few taels.

The cold dishes were served first. Yao Huang looked at the presentation and asked in confusion, “Did Aunt Wu make this?”

Before Luo Jinhua could signal her daughter, Yao Zhenhu chuckled, “Of course not! Your mother specially invited chefs from Wangxian Tower. Aunt Wu’s cooking skills probably wouldn’t impress the prince.”

Zhao Sui: “You’ve gone to a lot of trouble for me.”

Yao Zhenhu: “No trouble at all! The restaurant knew they were cooking for the prince, so they didn’t charge us much.”

Luo Jinhua: “…”

Yao Huang: “Alright, let’s eat.”

Yao Zhenhu loved wine, and the better the food, the more he wanted to drink. Besides, which family wouldn’t serve wine to their son-in-law?

Ignoring his wife’s repeated warnings, Yao Zhenhu tentatively asked, “Does Your Highness drink?”

Luo Jinhua stepped on his foot.

Yao Zhenhu showed no sign of it on his face, eagerly looking at his son-in-law.

Zhao Sui: “I can have a couple of sips.”

Yao Zhenhu grinned and didn’t call for the maid; he went to get a jar of his prized wine himself.

With no small cups at home, he poured a bowl for the prince and son-in-law, filling it seven parts full.

Yao Huang glared at her father, just about to advise him when Zhao Sui picked up the large bowl with both hands and said to Yao Zhenhu, “To my father-in-law.”

Having said that, he downed the entire bowl in one go.

Yao Zhenhu praised him and finished his own bowl as well, while Yao Lin, not wanting to be outdone, also downed a bowl.

Yao Zhenhu was about to pour more wine when he noticed that Luo Jinhua had kicked the jar of wine under her skirt.

Luo Jinhua didn’t look at her husband. Seeing her son-in-law seemed interested in the dishes on the table, she shyly said, “Your Highness, I’m not good at cooking, but I make a great dough dish. The bok choy in the courtyard is tender, so I steamed a pot of your princess’s favorite bok choy dumplings. We also have rice. Which would you like, Your Highness?”

Even with the renowned chefs, Luo Jinhua felt that the prince must be tired of rich delicacies, so she made her specialty dumplings to offer something new.

Zhao Sui glanced at Yao Huang and said, “Then let’s have the dumplings.”

Luo Jinhua quickly called for Qiaoniang, who was waiting outside, to bring the dumplings.

Since the table was already full of dishes, Qiaoniang brought in a large platter, each bowl containing two fist-sized white dumplings. The first bowl was placed in front of the prince, and the second bowl was given to the princess.

The freshly steamed dumplings were steaming, releasing a fragrant aroma.

Zhao Sui looked down at the dumplings, and Yao Huang thought to herself that the prince only ate half a bowl of rice each meal. Two dumplings might be a stretch for him.

She proactively took one out and placed it next to a cold dish, smiling, “Your Highness, try the flavor first. If you like it, then you can have the second one.”

Zhao Sui nodded, ignoring Yao Zhenhu’s small gesture of trying to grab a dumpling only to be stopped by Luo Jinhua just in time. He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the dumpling skin. It was thin and chewy, and the inner layer was soaked with the filling’s broth, fragrant but not greasy.

Once they started eating, they couldn’t leave any behind. Zhao Sui, while engaging in simple pleasantries, finished the dumpling.

The prince was quite proper during meals; he ate the dumpling elegantly, leaving his bowl completely clean with not a single scrap of filling left.

Yao Huang could eat three of those dumplings in one sitting, and seeing the prince finish one, she used her clean chopsticks to pick up the one she had set aside, looking at him inquiringly.

Zhao Sui hesitated slightly but agreed.

Luo Jinhua was very happy; it seemed the prince was satisfied with her cooking, eating more than the other dishes.

After the meal, Zhao Sui took the initiative to ask about Yao Lin’s studies, finally giving Yao Huang and her mother an opportunity to talk privately in the west wing.

Luo Jinhua was most concerned about one thing: “Your Highness, how is he in that regard?”

It was fine if his legs were useless, but it would be too hard for her daughter to live as a widow for her whole life!

Yao Huang’s cheeks flushed at the question, and she turned her head, saying, “Not just okay; I’m almost at my wits’ end with him.”

Luo Jinhua’s eyes widened!

Yao Huang: “Alright, alright, let’s not talk about that. I hurried back just to tell you that I’m doing really well over there.”

She told her mother about the big courtyard of the Prince’s Residence, and how the prince had given her authority, so that basically everyone inside and outside of the Prince’s Residence was under her command.

Luo Jinhua was first delighted, then sighed, “It’s good, but it also means the prince plans to just muddle through like this forever. He’s still young; how can he just hide away?”

Since he had already become her son-in-law, and he was handsome with a good temperament, Luo Jinhua treated Prince Hui like half a son, even if he didn’t particularly care.

Yao Huang didn’t respond. Sympathy was one thing, but she couldn’t do anything about it.

Luo Jinhua thought for a moment and advised, “To be honest, we all hope the prince can pull himself together, but you mustn’t overreach by lecturing him with grand principles. He has read so much; he knows more than you think. Understanding and acting on that understanding are two different things.”

Yao Huang: “I know. It’s been a year since the prince had his accident. The emperor, the empress, the noble consort, and other princes must have all comforted him. They’ve probably tried every method possible to console him. Anything I say would just be something he’s heard too much of; it’s better not to bring it up.”

The two women chatted for about a quarter of an hour, and Yao Huang, worried that her father and brother might say something foolish, reluctantly went out.

Yao Lin was practicing with a spear in the courtyard.

Seeing his sister, Yao Lin looked relieved. He had just eaten his fill, but his father insisted that he show the prince a few moves for guidance. It was both hot and exhausting; it wasn’t easy for him!