Chapter 10.2

Ah Ji blinked and deliberately positioned herself behind Huamei’s right side to learn in secret.

Huamei, at that moment, was more curious about what Yao Huang intended to do.

With the ink prepared, Yao Huang chose a fine brush from the brush holder. After a moment of thought, she waved her hand and began drawing straight lines on the smooth rice paper as if it were jade. After finishing the horizontal lines, she drew vertical lines. If she made a mistake, she would smear it a bit and draw anew beside it, resulting in several areas of the paper being covered in dark ink.

Huamei: “…”

Ah Ji understood: “Is the Princess dividing the vegetable garden?”

Huamei: “…”

Yao Huang smiled: “Yes, I’ve divided it up. Tomorrow I’ll have people turn the soil and plant.”

This was just a rough sketch. After making the final adjustments, Yao Huang drew two more copies. She would keep one and give the other to the steward Guo Shu.

Just as she finished, the ink still wet, Bailing announced from outside: “Princess, the Prince has arrived at the front courtyard.”

Yao Huang: “I know.”

It was time for dinner. Yao Huang was about to go directly to the front courtyard, but Bailing pursed her lips and gathered her courage to remind her: “Princess, shall I get you a new pair of shoes?”

Yao Huang looked down and noticed that her embroidered shoes, made of red silk, were covered in dirt. It must have been from entering the vegetable garden.

Seeing Bailing’s nervous expression, Yao Huang laughed: “You’re so thoughtful. You saved me from making a fool of myself in front of the Prince. Go ahead.”

If it were at home, having dirt on her shoes wouldn’t be a big deal. But her husband was a prince who had been pampered since childhood. He probably wouldn’t be able to stand a princess with dirty clothes.

Bailing immediately went to the inner chamber.

Ah Ji glanced at the Princess’s shoes and silently made a note to be more attentive in the future. He needed to think ahead for the Princess in every way.

Huamei lowered her eyelids. She had noticed the dirt on the Princess’s shoes from the beginning but deliberately didn’t say anything. Unexpectedly, Bailing spoke up. Now it seemed like she wasn’t doing her job properly.

After changing into new shoes, Yao Huang looked at the five people around her and said to Bailing: “You come with me to the front courtyard.”

Although Bailing could only stand in the courtyard when they arrived at the front courtyard, being able to accompany the Princess outside was a sign of a favored maid.

Huamei glared at Bailing. Was this girl trying to steal her position as the senior maid?

Bailing received her cold stare but didn’t have time to respond. She turned and followed the Princess.

Huamei shifted her gaze and looked at Ah Ji, who was also left behind. She said with a hint of amusement: “Look, Bailing has done a good deed and surpassed you.”

Ah Ji: “… It’s just a trip to the front courtyard. You’re overthinking things.”

Huamei: “…”

In the front courtyard, the dinner table was already set. They were just waiting for the Prince and Princess to arrive before serving the food.

Yao Huang had already become somewhat accustomed to Prince Hui’s lifeless aura. After greeting him, she sat down to the Prince’s right.

As soon as she sat down, Zhao Sui said: “Serve the food.”

Qing Ai went out to make arrangements and stayed outside.

Yao Huang smiled at Prince Hui and said: “Your Highness, I’ve decided what to plant in the vegetable garden. I just drew a plan. Would you like to see it later?”

Zhao Sui nodded.

Yao Huang: “Also, we couldn’t finish all those dishes at noon. It’s a waste to have so much leftover. I told the kitchen to prepare fewer dishes. Do you think that’s okay?”

Zhao Sui: “Yes.”

Yao Huang was about to complain about his taciturn nature when the kitchen sent a dish of cold pig liver and a plate of bright yellow fruit slices.

Yao Huang smelled the sweet and sour aroma of the fruit. She looked at the little maid who served the food. She remained silent. After the maid left, she quietly asked Prince Hui: “Your Highness, what kind of fruit is this?”

Zhao Sui glanced at the fruit plate and said: “Honeydew. It’s a tribute from Jiaozhou.”

Yao Huang knew Jiaozhou. It was the southernmost province of the current dynasty. It was said to have a hot climate, with winter as warm as spring in the capital.

“Is it delicious?”

“Hmm.”

Yao Huang used a fruit fork to pick up a slice. Just as she was about to bring it to her mouth, she had a sudden idea. She smiled and offered it to Prince Hui: “Your Highness, please have some first.”

Zhao Sui leaned back to avoid it: “I’ll do it myself.”

Seeing that he looked like he was frowning, Yao Huang ate it herself. As the delicious taste of nine parts sweetness and one part sour exploded on her tongue, Yao Huang looked at Prince Hui with surprise. Her satisfaction and affection were evident.

After swallowing the fruit slice, Yao Huang excitedly said: “It’s so delicious. It’s really as sweet as honey.”

Zhao Sui remembered Feiquan’s report from the previous day and reminded her: “Father bestowed two baskets. This fruit doesn’t keep well. If you like it, you can eat more. If you can’t finish it, you can give it to the servants.”

Yao Huang continued to pick up fruit slices with her fork while curiously asking: “Your Highness, don’t you like it?”

Zhao Sui: “… It’s okay. I don’t particularly like it.”

Yao Huang guessed that he had lost his appetite because of his leg ailment. She would have to ask Chef Kong about it later.

After eating three slices, Yao Huang picked up another fork and picked up a slice for him: “You should try some too. It’s awkward if I’m the only one eating.”

Zhao Sui finally took it. Later, seeing Yao Huang look at him again, he didn’t want her to help him anymore. He slowly ate two slices himself.

With their appetites whetted, two hot dishes and a bowl of fragrant chicken soup were served.

Yao Huang was afraid of annoying Prince Hui and didn’t dare to say much, but she couldn’t help but glance at him every now and then. When it came to eating, everyone had to be relaxed in order to enjoy the food. Otherwise, one person would be expressionless and only occasionally take a bite, while the other would be eating heartily, which would make the other person feel uncared for. Eating less would then make them feel uncomfortable in their stomachs.

Yao Huang had a pair of large, black eyes like grapes. Zhao Sui understood her predicament the first time he looked at her. The Princess was only seventeen years old. She couldn’t even enjoy her meals. Since he only accompanied her a limited number of times each month, he might as well accompany her to eat more.

Therefore, Zhao Sui also increased the number of times he picked up food.

After finishing their dishes, Yao Huang scooped an eight-tenths full bowl of chicken soup for him. Chicken soup was good. It nourished the qi, replenished blood, strengthened the body, and improved health. It was perfect for the Prince.

Under Yao Huang’s occasional furtive glances, Zhao Sui finished the bowl of soup.

After wiping his mouth, he said to Yao Huang: “You go back first. I’ll come to see you after I bathe. It will be like this from now on.”

Yao Huang, full and satisfied, left.

Half an hour later, when it was pitch black, Zhao Sui, who had changed into a set of ordinary clothes, was pushed to the back courtyard by Qing Ai.

Yao Huang had already washed up and put on another set of water-red underwear and pajamas. She hid in the bathroom first. After Qing Ai left, she appeared.

Seeing that Prince Hui was leaning back on the bed, Yao Huang picked up the drawing paper that was on the dressing table and sat down by the bed. She showed it to him: “Look, I’ve divided the vegetable garden into two sections, north and south. From the outside to the inside, the south section will have sweet potatoes, wheat, and corn. The north section will have vegetable beds, melon fields, and a grape arbor. The tall plants are in the back so they won’t block the view.”

Zhao Sui first noticed her neat handwriting, which could only be praised as tidy.

Yao Huang continued to explain: “It’s half an acre. We can’t finish all the vegetables if we plant only vegetables. We can plant a variety of things and try different flavors. Don’t you think so?”

Zhao Sui didn’t say anything.

Yao Huang pointed to the five vegetable beds: “These are just five types of vegetables I randomly listed. Are there any vegetables you want to grow? Also, the melon fields and grapes. Do you want to make any changes?”

Zhao Sui: “No, just follow your arrangement.”

Yao Huang was also confident in her layout. She smiled and put the drawing paper on the table.

Zhao Sui: “Go to sleep.”

There were no red candles tonight. Yao Huang extinguished all the lights except for a dim yellow lamp by the bathroom door.

It was very dark by the four-poster bed. Yao Huang had to walk closer to see the heavy wheelchair placed by the bed. The back of the chair was empty.

The Prince was wearing pants!

Realizing that the Prince wasn’t in the mood for that tonight, Yao Huang instinctively felt relieved. Although she had enjoyed it last night, she remembered the pain from the beginning. She was afraid that she would have to endure the pain every time.

She climbed onto the bed and burrowed into the quilt. Yao Huang lay flat like the Prince.

When her breathing calmed down, Yao Huang smelled a faint but pleasant scent.

She sniffed gently and exclaimed in surprise: “What kind of bath oil does Your Highness use? It smells so good.”

Zhao Sui: “…”

He didn’t use anything. It was the lingering scent of the massage oil. Even bathing couldn’t completely eliminate it.

“Qing Ai prepared it. I don’t know the specific ingredients.”

Yao Huang moved closer and hugged him like last night. She took a deep breath: “It’s so good. It’s much better than the flower-scented perfume that I use, which is refreshing.”

The flower-scented perfume prepared by the Residence  was fragrant, but it was also a bit cloying.

Zhao Sui’s whole body was tense. He didn’t know if she was simply praising the oil or using it as an excuse to curry favor.

Although Zhao Sui didn’t think she genuinely liked making love with him, there was no reason for her to hug him like this if she didn’t have anything to say.

“Don’t you like the flower-scented perfume you’re using now?”

“It’s okay. It would be better if the fragrance was lighter.”

Zhao Sui: “Tell Old Madam Liu tomorrow. The residence should have other flower-scented perfume. If not, let the perfume shop send a batch.”

Yao Huang hesitated: “I just got married. Let’s talk about it later.”

Her heart was filled with hesitation. She unconsciously twisted her body. Zhao Sui’s left arm, which was pressed against her, felt like it was rolling in cotton.

After a moment of stiffness, Zhao Sui grabbed the hand that was resting on his waist.

He just didn’t want the Princess to move around and touch things she shouldn’t. Yao Huang didn’t know this. She thought the Prince wanted to hold her hand.

Yao Zhenhu was a rough man, and Luo Jinhua was a country girl from a small town. When Yao Huang was a child, she often saw the couple hugging or kissing.

Prince Hui was so cold. Yao Huang didn’t have the opportunity to cultivate feelings with him during the day. Now that the Prince had finally taken the initiative, Yao Huang’s heart softened. She hugged Prince Hui tighter and whispered shyly and happily: “Your Highness.”

It would be good If the couple became intimate. The Prince’s household would feel more like her home.

Zhao Sui, who had been called “Your Highness” for five years, realized for the first time that the word “Your Highness” could be twisted in so many ways.

The Princess’s intention to curry favor was very clear. Zhao Sui didn’t want to dampen her spirits. He closed his eyes and said: “I’m thirsty. Go get me a glass of water.”

Yao Huang: “…”

So, holding her hand was just to make her do errands?

She pouted but didn’t dare to complain. She obediently got out of bed to get water.

However, when she came back, she found that there were a pair of underwear on the wheelchair!

Yao Huang’s hand trembled, and her heart skipped a beat. ‘Again?’