On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the three princes and their princesses entered the palace to pay their New Year respects to the Emperor, Empress, and consorts. Since they were all new brides, each princess received a generous sum of New Year's money from Empress Zhou and their respective mothers-in-law.
Empress Zhou gave a uniform amount of two hundred taels. Consort Liu Xian and Consort Shen Rou gave Chen Ying and Zheng Yuanzhen one hundred and sixty-six taels respectively. As Noble Consort Du held a higher rank, she gave Yao Huang one hundred and eighty-eight taels.
This was probably the moment Yao Huang found Noble Consort Du the most pleasing to the eye!
"Wishing Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law a happy New Year."
Following behind the two princesses, the fourteen-year-old Fourth Prince came to give his New Year greetings to his brother and sister-in-law.
By this time, the Fourth Prince was already as tall as Yao Huang, and he would surely shoot up even more by the end of the year.
Noble Consort Du was the greatest beauty in the palace, and the Fourth Prince was also extremely handsome. He had a pair of peach-blossom eyes that looked exactly like Noble Consort Du's, and when he smiled, they were even more charming than his second brother's phoenix eyes.
Yao Huang had not met the Fourth Prince many times. Her understanding of him came entirely from Bailing, who said that the Fourth Prince neither liked sitting quietly to study nor could endure the hardships of martial arts training. While Prince Kang worked hard at both studying and martial arts but lacked talent, the Fourth Prince was simply lazy and gluttonous, making it impossible to tell if he had any talent at all. Noble Consort Du only had this one biological son and could not bear to beat or scold him. Emperor Yongchang was busy with government affairs and had no spare time to keep a daily eye on his youngest son's studies.
As for the relationship between the Fourth Prince and Prince Hui, the brothers were ten years apart. If the Fourth Prince wanted to play, he wouldn't look for his second brother. Having everything he wanted, he never thought about fighting his second brother for anything. Even if he was occasionally mischievous due to his childish nature, Prince Hui did not bicker with him, so the brothers never got into any arguments. Then, not many years after the Fourth Prince began to remember things, Prince Hui was granted his title and moved out of the palace.
Judging only from these brief encounters, Yao Huang felt that the Fourth Prince had no deep brotherly affection for Prince Hui. However, since the Fourth Prince had an unambitious and laid-back personality, he didn't harbor any grudges against Prince Hui either. He was even a little afraid of him, probably because he had faced Prince Hui's cold face since childhood and had gotten used to being scared. When Yao Huang was little, she didn't dare approach older children who naturally looked stern, either.
To think that Emperor Yongchang actually doted quite a bit on such a Fourth Prince, who looked like he would never amount to much!
Thinking about it carefully, Yao Huang believed that the Fourth Prince's imperial favor was mainly due to two points. First, the Fourth Prince was Emperor Yongchang's youngest son, born when the Emperor was in his early forties. Second, the Fourth Prince was simply too lovable in appearance. If someone with Noble Consort Du's personality could gain favor in her youth relying solely on her beauty, it would be strange if the Emperor didn't cherish a son who was both handsome and his own flesh and blood. Anyway, there were already two adult princes capable of inheriting the throne; what did it matter if the youngest one was a bit useless?
Replying with a couple of auspicious phrases, Yao Huang presented a red pouch containing two small five-tael silver ingots. This was something she had asked Nanny Liu about beforehand and had also discussed with Chen Ying and Zheng Yuanzhen the night before. The New Year's money given to their younger sisters-in-law, younger brothers-in-law, and the three children of Prince Kang's mansion was ten taels each.
After having a luncheon banquet in the palace, the business of entering the palace for New Year greetings was finally concluded.
On the way out of the palace, while Chen Ying was talking to Prince Kang, Yao Huang leaned over to Zheng Yuanzhen and asked in a low voice, "Tomorrow is the second day of the new year. Is Third Sister-in-law going back to the Eldest Princess's estate?"
Among the common folk, new brides would always return to their maiden homes on the second day of the new year. Yao Huang wanted to sound out Zheng Yuanzhen to see how royal daughters-in-law handled this.
Zheng Yuanzhen had thought Yao Huang was going to tell her a secret. Hearing this, she simply gave a faint hum of agreement.
Yao Huang's smile did not waver. "Then how many days does Third Sister-in-law plan to stay at the Eldest Princess's estate? I also want to go back to my maiden home, but I don't know how long is appropriate to stay."
Zheng Yuanzhen replied, "... I might stay for three to five nights, but His Third Highness will also stay with me. As for you, Second Sister-in-law, it would be best to discuss it with Second Brother first."
The Eldest Princess's estate was no worse than a prince's mansion. Her mother wouldn't mind no matter how long she and Prince Qing stayed, and could entertain them with food and drink up to the standards of a royal mansion. Could the Yao family do the same?
Yao Huang understood the underlying meaning in Zheng Yuanzhen's words, but she had gotten the information she wanted, so she didn't mind.
Once in the carriage, Yao Huang brought up the matter of returning to her maiden home for New Year greetings the next day with Prince Hui.
Prince Hui would definitely have to accompany her back. As for staying over...
Yao Huang took the initiative and said, "My family's conditions are simple. Without underfloor heating, Your Highness definitely wouldn't be used to it. It will be fine for Your Highness to return after having the luncheon banquet. As for me, how many nights will Your Highness allow me to stay at home?"
Zhao Sui asked, "How long do folk customs allow one to stay?"
Yao Huang replied, "There is no set number. If the parents can't bear to part with their daughter and her in-laws have no pressing matters, there are those who stay for seven or eight days. If the parents do not welcome their daughter, or if the in-laws need her to manage the household, then she might only stay one night or even leave on the same day."
Zhao Sui thought to himself that the Yao family would definitely welcome the princess for a long stay, and there were no mundane matters in the prince's mansion that absolutely required the princess to manage personally.
Looking at the princess's expectant eyes, Zhao Sui said, "It is up to you. Three to five days, or seven to eight days are all fine."
Yao Huang smiled and said, "Seven or eight days is too long. Even if Your Highness can bear to part with me, I couldn't bear to part with Your Highness. I'll just stay for three nights. On the noon of the fifth day, Your Highness can come pick me up, have a meal at my house, and then we'll come back together."
Zhao Sui replied, "Alright. Do you need me to arrange guards?"
Yao Huang said, "Of course I do. After all, that whole row of seventeen or eighteen-year-old young men in Changshou Alley are my childhood friends. I don't want any idle gossip reaching Your Highness's ears just because there were no guards keeping watch."
After the imperial selection and the bestowal of marriage, the palace or the prince's mansion arranged guards for the humble Yao family precisely to prevent the future princess from associating with outside men. Just before the new year, Li Tingwang had shown his face in front of Prince Hui, even causing Prince Hui to feel a little sour. Yao Huang had to be even more cautious.
Prince Hui: "..."
.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Prince Hui accompanied the princess to pay New Year respects to his father-in-law and mother-in-law.
Just as the husband's family would give a new bride a generous amount of New Year's money, a new son-in-law received the same treatment at his father-in-law's house. As soon as they entered the main hall, Luo Jinhua looked a little embarrassed as she handed Prince Hui a bright red envelope, explaining, "This is a folk custom, meant to bring good luck and festivity. I hope Your Highness won't disdain it."
Zhao Sui received it with both hands and said, "Mother-in-law, please do not treat me as an outsider."
Just as Prince Hui was about to tuck the red envelope into his sleeve, the princess suddenly reached out, snatched the red envelope, opened it, and pulled out a portion of a banknote. She exclaimed in surprise, "Fifty taels?"
Luo Jinhua's face flushed red, and she glared at her daughter. "Are you embarrassing me on purpose?"
If a fifty-tael banknote fell at the feet of her prince son-in-law, the prince probably wouldn't even bother bending down to pick it up.
Yao Huang explained to Prince Hui, "Our neighbors in Changshou Alley, whose family conditions are similar to ours, basically give ten taels of silver as New Year's money to new brides and new sons-in-law in the first year. My mother even gritted her teeth and muttered about it before, saying that when my brother marries a sister-in-law or when I get married, she would have to pay that much too. Now, my family's financial situation is still the same, yet my mother is willing to part with fifty taels. It shows just how satisfied she is with you as a son-in-law."
Prince Hui lowered his eyes at the princess's teasing.
Yao Huang stuffed the red envelope into his sleeve. "Put it away quickly, or my mother might regret it in a little while."
With the prince present, Luo Jinhua could do nothing about her daughter; otherwise, she would have definitely spanked her bottom.
After eating the luncheon banquet, Prince Hui was about to leave, and Yao Huang brought her family out to see him off.
The carriage door soon closed, cutting off their line of sight.
Zhang Yue stayed behind along with one guard.
About two hours later, Prince Hui sent Feiquan over, carrying a fox fur cloak that the Princess Consort often wore.
Yao Huang met Feiquan alone in the main hall. Looking at the luxurious cloak that was completely out of place in her home, Yao Huang said helplessly, Take it back. I do not want to show off to the neighbors.
Feiquan smiled and said, You do not have to wear it, Princess Consort, but this is a token of His Highness's affection. Please accept it.
Yao Huang had no choice but to ask Aji to carry the cloak to her room in the west wing.
Feiquan followed Aji out and whispered an instruction to him.
After Feiquan left, while Aji was arranging the cloak, a letter fell out from the sleeve. On it was written, To be opened personally by the Princess Consort.
Aji hurriedly took it to the Princess Consort.
Yao Huang opened the letter. First, she saw two bank notes inside, each worth one hundred taels. Then she looked at the letter itself, which contained only one sentence: During your short stay at home, do not let your parents incur any expenses.
Yao Huang smiled and handed the two bank notes to her mother. Here, a token of respect from your good son-in-law.
Luo Jinhua refused to accept it, her face flushing as she scolded her daughter. It is all because you talk too much. If you had not complained about being poor to him, why would His Highness send this?
Yao Huang replied, You were the one trying to play the wealthy lady first. After brother finishes his martial arts examinations, it will be about time for him to marry. By giving His Highness fifty taels as a New Year's gift, I am afraid you will not have any silver left for eldest brother's wedding, will you? Besides, my words were not complaining about being poor to His Highness. I just wanted him to know that although my parents do not have much silver, they treat their son-in-law with absolute sincerity. To His Highness, your earnest intentions make him far happier than if you had given him five hundred taels.
Luo Jinhua fell silent.
Yao Lin looked at his mother and then at his sister, saying, I am in no rush to take a wife. At worst, I will just marry in a couple of years. Once I pass the martial arts imperial examination, receive an official post, and earn a salary, I can save up for the betrothal gifts myself.
Yao Zhenhu looked at his wife and then at his children, drooping his head. Blame me. If I had the ability to get promoted...
Luo Jinhua poked him with a finger. Shut up, nobody is complaining about you!
With her husband's temperament, not getting promoted was actually a good thing. If he did, she would be even more on edge, terrified that he would get swept up in some political scandal.
.
After spending the afternoon with her family, the sky quickly turned dark.
Aji went to sleep with his sister Qiaoniang. Tonight, Luo Jinhua slept with her daughter. The heated brick bed in the west wing room was fired up nice and warm, and a hot water bottle had been tucked into her daughter's quilt in advance.
The mother and daughter chatted until midnight before finally going to sleep.
Early on the morning of the third day of the New Year, Yao Huang sent Zhang Yue to deliver a message to Prince Hui. Thus, nearing noon, Prince Hui once again rode his carriage to Changshou Alley.
After lunch, Yao Huang accompanied Prince Hui into the carriage.
As soon as the carriage doors closed, Yao Huang sat on Prince Hui's lap.
Zhao Sui lowered his head to look at his Princess Consort's face, only to see a blush of crimson. Her eyes were closed, looking somewhat shy.
The fingers resting on the Princess Consort's waist tightened slightly as Zhao Sui asked, Didn't you say you would stay for three nights? Why the sudden change of heart?
Yao Huang mumbled softly, The brick bed at my home is too hot, but stepping away from it is too cold. It is not like the Prince's estate, where everything from the inner chambers to the main hall is comfortably warm.
Zhao Sui replied, ...Shall I have artisans come over to dig heating flues for your family?
Yao Huang raised her eyes and gently chided him, Is it merely a matter of heating flues? Even with flues, they still need to burn firewood and charcoal. A whole winter's worth of charcoal costs a large sum of silver. Even if you offer to pay, my parents would never take advantage of their son-in-law like that. Besides, they are long used to the heated brick bed at home. Unlike me, for whom it is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury back to frugality.
Zhao Sui fell silent.
Yao Huang asked him, With me gone last night, where did Your Highness sleep?
Zhao Sui answered truthfully, The front courtyard.
Yao Huang hooked a finger around the jade pendant at his waist. Without my incessant chatter, did Your Highness sleep exceptionally well?
Zhao Sui lowered his eyes. I have never found you bothersome.
Yao Huang looked at Prince Hui's lowered eyelashes. Your Highness still has not answered if you slept well or not.
Zhao Sui turned his head slightly. It was fine.
Yao Huang said, Is that so? Then have the carriage stop. I should just go back and stay my full three nights. After all, the only reason I wanted to return to the estate early was out of worry that Your Highness would not be used to sleeping without me.
Her parents and brother missed her, but they had each other, and they could still see her on ordinary days. Prince Hui was different; she was his only truly intimate companion.
Before falling asleep last night, a vivid image had flashed through Yao Huang's mind of Prince Hui lying all alone in a cold, lonely bed. It would have been one thing on an ordinary day, but it was the New Year.
However, since Prince Hui's answer was so nonchalant, Yao Huang turned her head to look outside. Stop...
She had barely let out a short syllable before Prince Hui's large hand suddenly covered her mouth.
He did not make the Princess Consort turn back around, nor did he explain anything. He simply kept his hand over her mouth until the carriage turned out of Changshou Alley, only then releasing his grip.
Yao Huang glared at him, puffing her cheeks in anger. Why did you cover my mouth?
Zhao Sui did not answer, because he knew the Princess Consort already knew.
Failing to hear what she wanted, Yao Huang was so annoyed that she leaned in to bite Prince Hui's beautiful, thin lips, which seemed to serve merely as decoration.
Prince Hui reacted swiftly. A split second before the Princess Consort could bite him, he parted his lips, cupped the back of her head, and kissed her.
