Font Size:
Ah Ji noticed and laughed at her, “Why are you blushing? You also have one.”
Bailing stammered, not knowing how to explain.
Yao Huang glanced at Bailing, understanding to some extent. After all, not every seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl was as well-developed as she was. She had inherited her mother’s physique, and Ah Ji had eaten similar food since childhood, but she hadn’t grown like her.
Yao Huang didn’t know which was better. When she was younger, she could easily practice martial arts and boxing, but after she turned thirteen, she had to wrap herself in a layer of soft cloth before practicing, otherwise, it would feel uncomfortable when she moved. It was around that time that Li Tingwang’s eyes would always glance at her body whenever he saw her. When she noticed, Li Tingwang would tease her for being fat!
This time, Yao Huang asked Ah Ji to pour less floral water. When she got out of the bathtub, every strand of her hair carried a faint fragrance of osmanthus.
Her long hair, after being wrung out, felt damp and heavy. Yao Huang asked someone to bring a chair to the courtyard and let the cool evening breeze dry her hair.
After taking a bath, Yao Huang was dressed neatly, but she didn’t put on socks. She comfortably placed her feet on another chair.
Her hands were plump, and the back of her feet was also fleshy. Whenever Ah Ji helped her wash her feet, her fingers could press a small indentation into the back of her feet, while Ah Ji’s feet felt like they had only one layer of skin.
In the past, Yao Huang would at most dye her fingernails with flower juice. Before her marriage, the palace sent a wet nurse to properly dress her up, even applying red nail polish to her ten toes. Even after washing her feet several times, the polish didn’t chip at all. However, Yao Huang liked the round and cute look of her feet and decided to continue using nail polish.
The days were getting longer. Yao Huang’s hair wasn’t completely dry yet, and the evening sunset hadn’t turned blue. Accompanied by the rolling sound of wooden wheels, Qing Ai pushed the wheelchair into view from the west corridor.
Yao Huang was prepared. When she heard the sound, she quickly put her feet down and tucked them under her skirt. Then, she stopped moving her feet. There was a long time ahead, and Yao Huang had to take the initiative to get used to Qing Ai, Fei Quan, or other young eunuchs being close to her. Hiding and dodging would only cause unnecessary trouble.
“Your Highness is here.” Yao Huang didn’t stand up. She sat in her chair and gave the Prince a bright smile, letting him know that she was looking forward to his arrival. “I’m drying my hair. It’s not dry yet.”
Zhao Sui usually wouldn’t respond to such meaningless greetings. The evening courtyard was perfect for enjoying the cool breeze. Zhao Sui motioned for Qing Ai to push the wheelchair next to the Princess’s chair and dismissed him. The maids, knowing that the Prince disliked crowds, also left, leaving only Ah Ji, who was supposed to stay up tonight, to hide in the main hall.
Yao Huang hadn’t expected the Prince to stay with her until her hair dried. Seeing the Prince look at her embroidered shoes placed aside, Yao Huang quietly tucked her feet under her skirt and explained, “Sitting like this is uncomfortable. My legs are resting on the chair, and I’m afraid of getting it dirty. So I took off my shoes and let my feet breathe.”
Zhao Sui looked at her armchair and asked, “There are reclining chairs for enjoying the cool breeze. Why didn’t you use them?”
Yao Huang: “I just got married, and the reclining chairs are still in the storeroom. I’ll ask them to move them over tomorrow. I’m too lazy to bother today.”
Zhao Sui nodded, leaned back against his chair, and looked up at the sky.
Yao Huang took this opportunity to quietly reach out with one foot to grab her embroidered shoes nearby.
After putting both shoes on, seeing that the Prince wasn’t paying attention, Yao Huang felt relieved. She kept touching her hair, and after it was completely dry, she asked, “Your Highness, do you want to stay outside for a while longer, or go inside to rest?”
Zhao Sui: “Let’s go inside.”
Yao Huang pushed him, and there were no thresholds in any of the doors. They went smoothly into the inner room and, learning from Qing Ai, leaned the wheelchair against the bed.
Zhao Sui propped himself up to the edge of the bed, turned sideways, and first moved his left leg onto the bed, followed by his right leg. He had enough arm strength, and this was a routine action for him. It looked easy and effortless.
Yao Huang: “Shall I go put out the lights?”
Zhao Sui: “No hurry. I want to read a book. Ask Ah Ji to get it from the front yard. Qing Ai knows which one I want.”
Yao Huang went out to instruct Ah Ji.
When she came back in, she found the Prince leaning against the headboard, the quilt covering his waist, and the wheelchair was empty.
Yao Huang walked to the table and poured herself a cup of warm water.
Soon, Ah Ji brought the book back. Yao Huang handed it to the Prince, suddenly unsure whether she should lie down on the bed or sit below and wait for the lights to be put out.
Zhao Sui patted the space beside him: “Come up.”
Yao Huang had no choice but to take off her shoes and climb onto the bed.
Getting into the quilt, Yao Huang kept her distance, glancing at the Prince’s profile as he read intently. She didn’t dare to interrupt him.
After turning a page, Zhao Sui seemed to sense the Princess’s gaze. He looked at Yao Huang and said, “Turn around.”
Yao Huang did as she was told. She heard him put the book aside and the sound of him moving his legs and taking off his trousers.
Yao Huang’s heart skipped a beat. The Prince’s Mansion was luxurious. There were several lamps lit in the inner room alone. The room was not as bright as daylight, but it was at least as bright as the twilight outside, much brighter than the candles on their wedding night.
She turned her back to the Prince and propped herself up slightly, lifting the quilt as she said, “I’ll go put out the lights.”
A hand pressed down on her shoulder: “No need.”
Yao Huang lay on her side, feeling like she wanted to cry: “It’s too bright. I can’t sleep.”
Zhao Sui looked at her crimson face and her slightly trembling eyelashes. He propped himself up with his left hand, used his right hand to turn her around, and slowly began to unfasten her tunic.
If his legs were fine, even if he was the Prince, Yao Huang wouldn’t have just lain there like this. She would have at least tried to dodge.
But the Prince had a leg ailment. Yao Huang could only cover her face with her hands and tremble as she followed him.
When it came to her trousers, Zhao Sui took Yao Huang’s pillow and asked her to lie on it. There was still a foot or so of space between the pillow and the headboard. If Yao Huang’s head was against the headboard, it would be easier for Zhao Sui to help her.
Yao Huang’s trembling voice leaked out from between her fingers: “I’ll do it myself?”
Even the female physician had said that she should serve the Prince, not the other way around!
The Prince’s reply was gentle: “No need. Be good.”