Font Size:
Jingwu led the Prince and Princess in front, while Neon followed slowly behind.
Yao Huang’s palms began to sweat, as the Prince’s hands remained clasped around her waist.
She knew the Prince needed to hold onto something to maintain his balance, but she wasn’t a piece of wood. In broad daylight, such intimacy made her blush, and she was afraid the servants might see.
The horse’s hooves rhythmically beat against the stone road, her waist swaying slightly with each step. Perhaps fearing her embarrassment, the Prince didn’t hold her too tightly, his hands slowly sliding down her waist.
The vegetable patch on her right became a savior. Yao Huang casually asked, “Has Your Highness ever eaten cabbage-stuffed buns?”
Zhao Sui glanced at the few bare patches of land and said, “Never.”
The palace and the Prince’s Mansion served mostly meat-filled buns. If there were vegetarian options, they were usually three-flavor vegetarian or other elaborate variations. Pure cabbage was too ordinary. Unless the masters specifically requested it, the royal chefs wouldn’t even consider it.
Noticing that the Prince had moved his hands back up, Yao Huang relaxed a little. “When the cabbage in our garden grows, I’ll show Your Highness how to make them. My mother and I both love to eat and make them.”
Zhao Sui: “Good.”
They walked a little further before Zhao Sui asked her to get off.
Yao Huang knew the Prince didn’t want people to see them riding together as a couple.
As they went around for the second time, passing the lake again, Yao Huang invited, “Your Highness, I want to go boating on the lake later. Would you like to come?”
She was a complete landlubber. The drier she was, the more she loved water. Every year, when the scenery was beautiful, she would rent a boat with her family to go boating on the river. But she was just one among many others, and the small boats on the river were crowded. Occasionally, she would even see eight-year-old boys standing at the bow of the boat, shamelessly peeing into the river, and they wouldn’t even feel embarrassed when caught!
Now, things were different. This vast lake belonged to her and the Prince. The scenery was beautiful and peaceful, and they could go boating without having to queue or pay.
Zhao Sui looked at the lake, thinking about the inconvenience of getting on and off the boat.
Even sitting steadily in his wheelchair, he could still maintain a certain level of dignity. Otherwise, every time he was carried up and down, it would be a public display of his helplessness. Unless absolutely necessary, Zhao Sui didn’t want his Princess or anyone else to see him like that.
“No, you go with your maids. Ask Eunuch Cao to arrange for two eunuchs who know how to swim to stand guard on the shore.”
Yao Huang looked disappointed, but she felt a sense of relief in her heart. If the Prince came, she would definitely take good care of him. But facing such a taciturn husband, Yao Huang found it quite tiring to come up with topics. She had to be careful not to violate any royal or princely taboos, and she couldn’t let the Prince think she was being garrulous. Ordinary household conversations might bore him.
After considering all this, Yao Huang suddenly realized that the Prince was easier to get along with at night. Even if they didn’t have anything to say, she could just hug him to show her affection. If the Prince was in the mood, she could just follow his lead. At most, she would cry and scream, but she wouldn’t have to think about anything else.
It was tiring during the day, and tiring at night. If she had to choose, Yao Huang would prefer the latter.
She knew best how much knowledge she had in her head. Yao Huang could chat with the aunts and grandmothers in the neighborhood about family matters for a whole day. She could stay up late discussing novels with Ah Ji. But when it came to having polite conversations with the Prince, Yao Huang was really not good at it!
…
They went boating in the morning, and in the afternoon, they toured the garden, deciding on a few places to put up swings. Because the garden was large and the scenery was still fresh, the day passed by in a blink of an eye.
As dusk arrived, Prince Hui arrived at Ming’an Hall on time. Yao Huang’s heart started pounding as soon as she sat beside him. During the day, she had thought that the night would be easier, but now that it was actually here, she was afraid of the waves that wouldn’t give her a moment to breathe.
Staring at the food in front of her, Yao Huang secretly encouraged herself. Just get through tonight, and then she would have four days and nights of freedom from the Prince!
After dinner, Zhao Sui waited for the physician to come and give him a massage. Yao Huang had no idea about this, nor was she curious to find out. She simply followed the Prince’s instructions.
This was the first time Yao Huang had been married, but she had heard so many stories about other couples in Changshou Alley. Basically, the husbands were either officials or businessmen who worked outside to earn money to support their families, while the wives did the laundry, cooked, and managed the household. Some husbands, relying on their money, treated their wives like cattle and horses when they came home, scolding them if the food didn’t meet their liking.
Although her Prince wasn’t an official, his annual salary alone was five thousand taels of silver, more than the salary of a first-rank minister. He had a large family and a vast fortune. He had said that she could spend money as she pleased, and he was also good-tempered. He didn’t need her to serve him day and night. Having found such a good marriage, Yao Huang had nothing else to ask for. In matters that didn’t involve major interests, she would do whatever the Prince asked.
She went for a walk in the courtyard to digest her food, and then went to the west room to bathe. This room was as spacious as the east bedroom, specifically for the masters to bathe in. Facing north, corresponding to the location of the bed in the east room, was a narrow couch where the masters could sit and change clothes before and after bathing.
To the left of the narrow couch, closer to the door, was a large cypress wood carved bathtub. Yao Huang had bathed in it alone a few times. Leaning her arms on the edge of the tub, she stretched out her legs. With a little effort, her entire upper body and legs could float with the water.
To the right of the narrow couch was a round pool dug into the ground. From the bottom to the edge of the pool, it was all paved with bluestone bricks, the edges polished to a jade-like smoothness.
This pool was even larger than the bathtub. Those who could swim could swim around in it.
Between the pool and the bathtub was an eight-panel embroidered screen, creating a hazy and elegant atmosphere.
Yao Huang had not used the pool yet. She thought she would enjoy it in a few days. If she used it right after getting married, it would seem like she was eager to indulge in luxury. It was also a kind of enjoyment for her to walk around the garden, but that didn’t require the servants to work hard to serve her. But to fill this pool, the maids in the water room would have to carry dozens or even more buckets of water, wouldn’t they?
Yao Huang sat in the tub, facing the screen, letting Ah Ji and Bailing wipe her arms and legs. She was daydreaming about the good days to come.
Ah Ji was used to seeing the princess’s body and concentrated on her work. This was only Bailing’s second time. When the towel moved to the Princess’s armpit, her face turned red, and her eyes darted around, not knowing where to look.