Chapter 12.1

Late April, the sun rose early. After breakfast, the sun was bright and warm, the most comfortable time of the morning. It would be too hot later in the day.

As promised last night, Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui in his wheelchair through the front yard and into the back garden.

The garden was designed with a meandering path, with various flowering trees planted on either side: delicate and graceful maples, sturdy dragon claw locust trees, magnolia and red plum trees that had already passed their flowering season, crabapple trees still bearing pink flowers, and old osmanthus trees that would bloom in autumn…

Yao Huang usually saw willows, peach trees, and locust trees. She had only heard of many of the other species. Yesterday, she had simply wandered around the garden for a novelty. Now, accompanying the owner on a tour, Yao Huang stopped whenever she saw a tree she didn’t recognize: “Your Highness, what kind of tree is this?”

Zhao Sui would glance at it and answer. After a while, Yao Huang didn’t need to speak. As soon as the wheelchair stopped and she pointed with her finger, Zhao Sui would directly name the tree.

Passing by the pond, Yao Huang pointed to the green vines that spread across a section of the bank.

Zhao Sui: “Winter jasmine.”

Prince Hui seemed to recognize everything. At first, Yao Huang was only in awe, but gradually, she developed a mischievous streak. While walking behind the wheelchair, she purposely focused on the ground near the famous flowers and trees.

The wheelchair stopped again. Zhao Sui scanned the surroundings. Only one tree, located further away, hadn’t been mentioned. He said, “Ginkgo.”

Laughter came from behind. Zhao Sui was about to turn his head when the princess, dressed in a red dress, stepped onto the grass next to him, pointing to a wild plant hidden behind the bushes with a few pale yellow blossoms and asking, “Your Highness, what is this?”

Zhao Sui looked at the wild plant.

Yao Huang looked at him with a serious and expectant expression.

Qing Ai, several feet away, stretched his neck to see the wild grass the princess was pointing at. His face was filled with annoyance. Damn it, which gardener was lazy and didn’t notice this dandelion!

Ah Ji asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”

Qing Ai glanced at her, unwilling to expose his master’s shortcomings. He could only regain his composure.

Up ahead, Zhao Sui remained silent for a moment before saying, “Wildflower.”

Yao Huang laughed, “Finally, it’s my turn to be your teacher, Your Highness. This is indeed a wildflower, but wildflowers also have names. This one is called a dandelion. After the flowers wither, they will produce a patch of white fluff. When the wind blows, it will scatter into the air. Children in the countryside love to blow on this.”

Zhao Sui glanced at the dandelion’s leaves again.

Yao Huang returned to the path and pushed the wheelchair forward.

As Qing Ai passed by that spot, his gaze lingered on the dandelion, filled with a mixture of emotions. He didn’t know whether to pull it out or leave it. Pulling it out might upset the princess; leaving it might make the prince annoyed because he hadn’t answered correctly.

Ah Ji saw his troubled expression and asked, “Is there something wrong with this flower?”

Qing Ai: “Every day, someone inspects the garden. There shouldn’t be any weeds, especially along the main paths.”

Ah Ji looked around in surprise. Sure enough, except for this dandelion, everything else was clearly planted shrubs. Even the grass was a single species, neatly laid out.

“But this flower is very beautiful. The princess loves yellow flowers,” Ah Ji whispered.

Qing Ai felt even more distressed. Since the princess entered the palace, he and Fei Quan would experience a few moments of anxiety every time they went to Ming’an Hall. The princess was perfect in every way, but she was a little reckless. Many of the things she said to the prince were like pulling teeth from a tiger’s mouth.

Temporarily remembering the dandelion’s location, Qing Ai led Ah Ji to follow behind.

Passing through the bamboo grove, they reached the vegetable garden.

Since it was modeled after a farm, there were no stone paths here, only dirt paths. Fortunately, they were flat and solid enough.

The newly sown seeds hadn’t sprouted yet. Only the sweet potato seedlings and grape seedlings that had been transplanted were green.

The small sweet potato seedlings weren’t worth looking at. Yao Huang directly pushed Prince Hui to the grape trellis. The tender green grape leaves were illuminated by the sun, making them translucent. The topmost leaf buds were thin and curved. Some had already climbed onto the trellis above, while others were still hanging in mid-air, but their tips pointed forward. Perhaps by tomorrow morning, they would have climbed up.

Seeing that the prince was attracted to a leaf bud, Yao Huang stopped. After the prince looked away, she slowly moved forward, asking as she walked, “Your Highness, do you prefer green grapes or purple grapes?”

Zhao Sui: “Either is fine.”

Yao Huang smiled, “I prefer purple ones, but I still planted one trellis of purple and one trellis of green. We can eat them alternately later. If we can’t finish them, we can dry them into raisins.”

Leaving the vegetable garden, Yao Huang still wasn’t tired of exploring. The morning garden had a unique tranquility and vitality. Just walking around made one feel refreshed.

“Your Highness, let’s walk around a little more. After all, we’re just setting off at the fourth hour. It’s still early.”

She wanted to see her parents, but if she arrived home too early, she would be happy, but the prince would be stuck in her unfamiliar and cramped father-in-law’s house, which might be very boring and difficult for him.

Zhao Sui’s three daily massage sessions were scheduled at specific times. Since they were set, he hadn’t changed them.

The garden was large. He didn’t want to spoil the princess’s mood, so he said, “We can walk for another two quarters of an hour.”

Yao Huang estimated, “Then I’ll walk faster, and we’ll be able to finish a whole circle.”

She no longer wasted time recognizing the trees she passed by. She simply walked, and since her speed increased, she didn’t feel anything. But Zhao Sui, sitting in the wheelchair, felt a cool breeze blowing towards him, carrying the scent of soil and plants, as well as the fragrance of peonies.

When they turned to the west side of the garden, they were met with a lake of sparkling water. The sun was too bright, making both of them turn their heads at the same time.

The view was wide, and the wind was stronger, cool and comfortable.

Yao Huang pointed to the pavilion in the center of the lake, “Your Highness, can people live there?”

Zhao Sui: “Yes.”

Yao Huang was delighted, “Can I move in there during the summer? It must be cool here.”

Zhao Sui: “You can.”

Yao Huang was in a good mood and couldn’t help but hum a little tune.

Zhao Sui: “…”

His princess was very beautiful, and her voice was pleasant, but the tune was truly difficult to appreciate.

After enduring it for a while, he had to take the initiative to start a conversation: “Who did you learn that tune from?”

Yao Huang felt a strange sense of gratitude. For the past two days, she had been the one trying to find things to talk about, while the prince had been unresponsive. Today, the prince was finally willing to chat with her!

“My mother and Aunt Wu both know some little tunes. I learned to sing them after hearing them so many times.”

Zhao Sui: “Do you often sing at home?”

Yao Huang: “Not really. I just hum to myself when I’m in a good mood. How is it, Your Highness? Do you think I sing well?”

Zhao Sui: “…Yes.”

He wouldn’t pour cold water on his princess when she was in a good mood.

After being praised, Yao Huang continued to sing softly.

The garden was quiet. Although Yao Huang’s voice was low, Qing Ai and Ah Ji, who were following behind, could still hear it.

Qing Ai looked at Ah Ji with a complex expression.

Ah Ji actually hummed along, in the same tune as her princess.

Qing Ai: “…”

When they returned to the moon gate leading to the garden from the front yard, it meant that the prince had fulfilled his promise to accompany the princess on a tour. For the first time in a long time, Qing Ai, without waiting for the prince’s orders, gathered his courage and approached Yao Huang, saying, “Your Highness, please go back to rest. I will escort the prince back to the bamboo courtyard.”

Yao Huang looked at Prince Hui’s profile, “Can I walk with the prince for a few more steps?”

Zhao Sui: “No need.”

Yao Huang could only hand the wheelchair over to Qing Ai.

Qing Ai silently pushed the prince, arriving at the spot where the dandelion grew. Qing Ai asked, “Your Highness, what about this wild grass?”

Zhao Sui: “Leave it.”

…

The return gifts were loaded onto a specially prepared carriage by the servants in advance. When the departure time arrived, Qing Ai and Fei Quan also escorted Prince Hui to Ming’an Hall.

The prince and princess were both dressed in festive red. They both had fair skin. Zhao Sui had a kind of illness that made him look like he hadn’t seen the sun in a long time, while Yao Huang was radiant and beautiful.

After getting into the carriage, Zhao Sui remained silent as usual. Yao Huang also sat upright, her eyes downcast, seemingly lost in thought.

The journey from Prince Hui’s residence in the west of the imperial city to Changshou Alley in the southeast of the capital was long. Yao Huang held back her words the whole way. As they approached their destination, she looked at Prince Hui hesitantly.

Zhao Sui: “Feel free to speak your mind.”

Yao Huang worried, “I’m afraid my family won’t be able to provide proper hospitality and the prince will be angry.”

The people in the palace had been serving the prince for so long, and they were so careful, afraid of angering him. Her father, mother, and brother were all rough people. How could Yao Huang not be nervous?

Zhao Sui: “I don’t get angry easily.”

Yao Huang extended her pinky finger towards him, “You said it yourself. Let’s pinky swear?”

Zhao Sui glanced at her pinky finger, which was sticking out by itself, and turned his head, disdainful of such a gesture.

Her head was tilted, but her hand didn’t move. Yao Huang took the initiative to hook his left pinky finger, which was resting on his thigh, and shook it, saying, “We have a deal. Even if you’re angry, you have to pretend nothing happened. When we return to the palace, Your Highness can take it out on me. You can punish me however you like.”