Chapter 13.1

Yao Lin was practicing his spear techniques. Yao Zhenhu stood outside the main room watching, while Prince Hui was seated in his wheelchair inside the doorway, and Qing Ai stood behind the wheelchair.

Yao Huang, glancing at the scene, noticed first that Qing Ai’s face was even paler than Prince Hui’s, which wasn’t the case before.

At that moment, Yao Lin skillfully put away his spear, making way for his mother and sister.

Luo Jinhua, trailing behind her daughter, felt like the sky was falling. Letting her son show off his skills in front of her disabled son-in-law, only a foolish tiger like Yao Zhenhu could do such a thing.

If the prince were to punish her husband out of anger, Luo Jinhua would have grudgingly said he deserved it. But she was afraid that the prince would hold back here and vent his anger on her daughter later!

Yao Zhenhu, oblivious to the anger in his wife’s eyes, turned to ask his son-in-law, “What do you think, Your Highness?”

He was just a hundred-household captain, and before this marriage, he had no chance to meet Prince Hui. But Prince Hui’s martial arts skills, learned from a master, and his numerous battle achievements had spread throughout the army. Yao Zhenhu sincerely wanted his son-in-law’s guidance, hoping that his son’s movements could be further improved, so he could win a good ranking in the next year’s martial arts examination.

As soon as he said this, a shade of green washed over Qing Ai’s already pale face. The Princess was beautiful enough, and her occasional clumsiness with words wouldn’t make anyone angry. But Yao Zhenhu, with his rough and sturdy appearance, spoke and acted in ways that constantly poked at the Prince’s wounds. How could the prince bear it?

Zhao Sui’s gaze swept over the Princess and her mother as they stepped out of the west wing, landing on Yao Lin’s hand holding the spear. He said, “Lingyun is gifted with extraordinary strength and his spear techniques are proficient, but his movements are slightly lacking. If he could quickly recover after throwing the spear, he would have a better chance in combat.”

Lingyun was Yao Lin’s courtesy name. He was only two years older than Yao Huang, just nineteen years old. Zhao Sui addressed him as an elder brother, offering advice.

Yao Lin was surprised, “Your Highness has such sharp eyes! Every time I spar with Li Tingwang, he always gets the upper hand because of the gap in my spear recovery!”

Luo Jinhua’s eyelids twitched.

Zhao Sui didn’t know who Li Tingwang was, nor was he interested in finding out. He continued to guide Yao Lin on how to improve his movements.

Yao Huang understood. Her brother’s weakness was in his agility. He needed to train the speed of his reactions, both in his head and in his body.

Yao Zhenhu, impressed by the Prince’s accurate observations, also wanted to ask for some guidance.

Luo Jinhua wouldn’t give him the chance. She stood in front of her husband and gave her daughter a look.

Yao Huang seized the opportunity and suggested they leave. If their family had a larger house, they could have invited Prince Hui to stay in the guest room. Without it, they could only leave early.

After the couple got on the carriage, Luo Jinhua breathed a sigh of relief. But Yao Huang started to feel nervous.

The carriage was different from when they came. There was a faint smell of alcohol.

Yao Huang knew it was her father’s favorite strong wine, which he had hidden in the room to prevent her brother from stealing it. It was a rare and expensive brew from Wangxianlou, a bottle of which he only bought once a year. Yao Huang, out of curiosity, had once dipped a chopstick into it, and just a drop had burned her chest like fire. Yet, her pale-faced husband, the prince, had actually drunk a large bowl of it!

The effects of the alcohol would come on slowly. It had been two or three hours since they finished their meal…

Yao Huang secretly looked at Prince Hui.

The Prince was leaning back in his wheelchair, eyes closed, his pale handsome face not flushed by the alcohol.

Yao Huang felt relieved. Then she looked at the comfortable wheelchair made of purple sandalwood, and a little envy arose within her.

The wheelchair seat was wide. If the Prince moved to the very edge, there would be room for another person next to him.

There were footrests underneath the wheelchair, and below the footrests, there was a flat space about two feet long. This could also accommodate a person. The backrest wasn’t straight up and down, but curved in a way that was comfortable to lean against. If it weren’t for the four wheels below, it would look like a very comfortable reclining chair at first glance. After a full meal, on a long journey, leaning back like that would definitely be more comfortable than sitting upright like her.

Suddenly, Prince Hui opened his eyes.

Yao Huang lowered her head in embarrassment.

Zhao Sui: “Water.”

The buns at Yao’s house were very good, but they were a bit salty. The chef at Prince Hui’s mansion had been instructed by the physician, so the food for the past year had been very bland.

The teapot was on the cabinet opposite them. The top two layers of the cabinet were small drawers, holding handkerchiefs, towels, a comb, and a mirror. The bottom layer was about a foot high, holding a teapot, a water jug, and two sets of matching small bowls.

No matter how stable the carriage of the royal mansion was, it would still shake a little. To prevent the water from spilling, Yao Huang lifted her skirt and knelt down in front of the cabinet. One hand held the jade-colored white porcelain water jug, the other hand steadily held the bowl of the same color and material.

She stared intently at the water flowing out of the spout and into the bowl, oblivious to the fact that both sleeves had slipped down, revealing a pair of wrists that were even smoother than white porcelain.

Yao Huang hadn’t drunk any alcohol during the meal, but she was naturally rosy-cheeked. She had washed her face before leaving the west wing, reminding people of a pink peony blooming after a rain shower.

The water was poured. Yao Huang put the water jug back in the cabinet and carefully stood up, bending over to hand the bowl to Prince Hui.

She was wearing a bright red tunic. When she was standing, the waist of her long skirt fit her tightly, hiding her inner beauty. Now, as Prince Hui sat low, Yao Huang bent over, and a gap appeared between her skirt and her skin.

Zhao Sui, without looking, took the small bowl and drank it in three gulps.

Yao Huang: “Do you want more?”

Zhao Sui: “Yes.”

Yao Huang poured him another bowl. The bowl wasn’t even as big as her palm, one bowl wouldn’t quench his thirst.

After the prince had drunk enough, Yao Huang changed to a different small bowl and drank two bowls herself.

Sitting back on the side seat, Yao Huang glanced at Prince Hui, seeing that he had his eyes open, she asked in a low voice, “Does Your Highness usually drink?”

Zhao Sui: “No.”

Yao Huang’s heart immediately jumped, and a hint of fear appeared in her eyes, “My father forced you to drink. Are you angry?”

Zhao Sui looked at her, “I don’t drink normally, but I will have a few sips when I’m socializing.”

Yao Huang: “…Your Highness has a good capacity for alcohol, you didn’t get drunk even after drinking the strongest wine from Wangxianlou.”

Zhao Sui: “It’s okay.”

The conversation was open now, and Yao Huang dared to speak more, “What do you think of my father, mother, and brother? If there’s anything you don’t like, I’ll remind them to change.”

Zhao Sui: “Nothing.”

Yao Huang: “So, you’re not angry at all at our house?”

Zhao Sui agreed, closing his eyes again.

This was a way of declining further conversation. Yao Huang wisely shut her mouth. She couldn’t nap, so she turned around and secretly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain.

They had just left Changshou Alley, and the surrounding area was still inhabited by ordinary people. There were children of four or five years old running out of their houses, chasing and playing.

From the time she was selected for the draft to the time she got married, Yao Huang had spent nearly three months living a secluded life, and she was already bored. She turned her head and asked Prince Hui, who was closing his eyes, “Your Highness, can I really go out whenever I want?”

Zhao Sui responded softly.

Yao Huang: “Will the censors accuse me of being undignified and damaging the royal dignity?”

Zhao Sui: “As long as you don’t bully others or break the law, the censors won’t care, and they have no right to care.”

Yao Huang: “Then what about the Emperor, Empress, and Imperial Concubine?”

Zhao Sui opened his eyes and looked at her for a few moments, “What will you do after you go out?”

Yao Huang thought for a moment and listed them one by one, “Go shopping, visit temples, go to teahouses to listen to stories, go to theaters to watch plays, go home to see my father, mother, and brother, go out of town for a picnic or a mountain hike when the weather is good… Oh, I also want to ride a horse. Does the Prince’s mansion have any spare horses for me to use, or do I need to buy my own?”

Zhao Sui: “You can ride a horse?”

Yao Huang blushed slightly, “I can ride a mule, but riding a mule is pretty much the same as riding a horse, right?”

Zhao Sui: “…How is your horsemanship?”

Yao Huang: “It’s okay? Anyway, when I race against my brother, he rarely wins.”

The two mules at home were almost as strong, but her brother was heavier than her by dozens of pounds, so the mule carrying him would definitely be slower.

Zhao Sui understood, “There are a few horses in the mansion. You can use whichever one you like. If you don’t like any of them, tell Guo Shu to find a few more. You can do all the things you just mentioned, just don’t act too outrageously and give people a reason to criticize you. The Emperor and Empress won’t interfere. If you’re really worried, you can reduce the number of times you go out, don’t go too often.”