Jing Wu carried the prince and princess in front, while Ni Guang slowly followed behind.
Yao Huang's palms gradually began to sweat because Prince Hui's hands had been holding her waist all the time.
She knew that the prince had to hold onto something to keep his balance, but she wasn't made of wood. Such intimacy in broad daylight really made her blush, and she was very afraid of being seen by the servants.
The horses' hooves rhythmically stepped on the stone path, and her waist swayed slightly with the movement. Prince Hui probably didn't want to make her feel embarrassed, so he didn't hold her too tightly. His hands slowly slid down her waist bit by bit.
The vegetable garden on the right side became her savior. Yao Huang casually asked, "Has Your Highness ever eaten steamed buns stuffed with Chinese cabbage before?"
Zhao Sui glanced at the bare vegetable beds and replied, "No."
In the palace and the prince's mansion, most of the steamed buns served on the table were stuffed with meat. If there were vegetarian ones, they were usually stuffed with three kinds of vegetables or other fancy fillings. Plain Chinese cabbage was too ordinary. Unless the masters specifically ordered them, the royal chefs didn't think much of them.
Noticing that the prince had moved his hands up, Yao Huang relaxed a bit and said, "When the Chinese cabbage in our field grows, I'll show you my cooking skills. Like my mother, I like to eat and make pasta."
Zhao Sui replied, "Okay."
After walking a little further, Zhao Sui told her to get off.
Yao Huang knew that the prince also didn't want others to see the couple riding together.
When they were on their second lap and passed by the lake again, Yao Huang invited, "Your Highness, I want to take a boat ride on the lake later. Will you come with me?"
She was a complete landlubber. The more afraid of water she was, the more she liked it. Every year when the weather was good, she would rent a boat with her family to go boating on the river. But when she went boating, others did too. The small boats on the river were crowded together. Occasionally, she would even see seven - or eight - year - old boys standing on the bow of the boat and urinating into the river brazenly, not even ashamed of being seen!
Now it was great. The large expanse of the lake in the prince's mansion belonged to her and the prince. The scenery was beautiful and quiet, and there was no need to wait in line or pay for the boat ride.
Zhao Sui looked at the lake and thought about the inconvenience of getting on and off the boat.
He could still maintain a certain amount of dignity while sitting steadily in the wheelchair. But every time he was carried on and off by others, it was a display of his incompetence. Unless it was absolutely necessary, Zhao Sui didn't want the princess or anyone else to see him in such a state.
"No, you can take the maids with you. Ask Eunuch Cao to arrange two eunuchs who can swim to guard by the shore."
Yao Huang showed a look of disappointment, but she felt relieved in her heart. If the prince came, she would definitely take good care of him. But facing such a taciturn husband, it was really tiring for Yao Huang to rack her brains to find topics. She had to be careful not to violate the taboos of the royal family or the prince, and she couldn't let the prince think that she was just making small talk. Simple daily conversations might also make the prince annoyed.
After thinking about it, Yao Huang suddenly found that the prince was actually the easiest to get along with at night. Even if there was nothing to say, she could just hug him to show her affection. If the prince was in the mood, she just needed to cooperate physically. At most, she would cry and moan a little, and she didn't need to think about anything.
It was tiring to talk during the day and physically exhausting at night. If she had to choose, Yao Huang would prefer the latter.
She knew best how much knowledge she had. She could talk about family affairs with the aunts and grandmothers in the neighborhood for a whole day. She could stay up until midnight discussing story - books with Aji. But when it came to chatting elegantly with the prince, Yao Huang really couldn't do it!
In the morning, they went boating on the lake. In the afternoon, they strolled around the garden and decided on several places to put the swing frames. Because the garden was large and the scenery was still fresh, the day passed by in a flash.
As soon as dusk fell, Prince Hui came to Ming'an Hall on time. Yao Huang's heart started pounding as soon as she sat beside him. Although she thought it would be easy at night during the day, when night really came, she was afraid of those waves that didn't give her a chance to catch her breath.
Staring at the food in front of her, Yao Huang secretly encouraged herself. After getting through tonight, she could have four days of relaxation without having to deal with the prince day and night!
After the meal, Zhao Sui was waiting for the doctor to come and give him a massage. Yao Huang didn't know the details and didn't bother to ask. She just followed the prince's instructions.
Yao Huang was getting married for the first time, but she had heard a lot about other couples in Changshou Lane. Usually, the husbands went out to be officials or work to earn money to support the family, while the wives did the laundry, cooked, and took care of the household. Some husbands, relying on the money they earned, treated their wives like beasts of burden when they got home. They would scold their wives if the food didn't suit their taste.
Although her prince was no longer an official, he could get five thousand taels of silver in annual stipends, which was even more than the salary of a first - rank prime minister. With a large family and a big fortune, he said she could spend money as she pleased. He had a good temper and didn't need her to serve him every day. Having such a good marriage, Yao Huang really had no other requests. On small matters that had nothing to do with interests, she would just do as the prince arranged.
She took a walk in the yard to digest the food and then went to the west inner room to take a bath. This room was as spacious as the east inner room and was specially used for the masters to take baths. There was a narrow couch placed on the north side corresponding to the position of the bed in the east room. The masters could sit on the couch to change clothes before and after taking a bath.
In the left - front corner of the narrow couch, closer to the door, there was a large scented cypress carved wooden bathtub. Yao Huang had soaked in it alone several times. She could rest her arms on the edge of the tub, stretch out her feet, and with a little effort, her whole upper body and legs could float with the water waves.
In the right - front corner of the narrow couch, there was a round pool. The pool was paved with bluestone bricks from the bottom to the edge, and the edges were polished as smooth as jade.
This pool was even bigger than the bathtub. People who could swim could swim around in it.
There was an eight - panel embroidered screen placed between the pool and the bathtub. The misty water and the whole place exuded an air of elegance.
Yao Huang hadn't used the pool yet. She thought she would enjoy it in a few days. If she used it right after she got married, it would seem that she was eager to live a luxurious life. Strolling in the garden was also a kind of enjoyment, but it didn't require the servants to work too hard for her. To fill this pool, the maids in the water room would have to carry at least a dozen or more buckets of water, right?
Yao Huang was sitting in the tub facing the screen. While letting Aji and Bailing wipe her arms and legs, she was daydreaming about the good days ahead.
Aji was used to seeing the princess's body and was concentrating on her work. Bailing was only seeing it for the second time. When the towel reached the princess's armpits, her face was already red, and her eyes were wandering, not knowing where to look.
Aji noticed and laughed at her, "Why are you still shy? You have one yourself."
Bailing stammered and didn't know how to explain.
Yao Huang glanced at Bailing and could somewhat understand. After all, not every seventeen - or eighteen - year - old girl could develop like her. She took after her mother, and although Aji had eaten similar food to her since childhood, she didn't grow the same way.
Yao Huang didn't know which way was better. When she was a child, she could easily practice martial arts with a spear or fist. But after she was thirteen, if she wanted to practice martial arts, she had to wrap a soft cloth around her chest first, otherwise it would be very uncomfortable when it swayed. It was also around that time that Li Tingwang would glance at her body when he saw her. Once she noticed, Li Tingwang would laugh at her for being fat!
This time, Yao Huang asked Aji to pour less flower essence. When she got out of the bathtub, every strand of her hair carried a faint fragrance of osmanthus.
The long hair that had been washed still felt damp. Yao Huang asked someone to move a chair into the yard and sat there to let the refreshing evening breeze dry her hair.
Just having taken a bath, Yao Huang was neatly dressed, but she didn't wear socks on her feet. She comfortably rested her feet on another chair.
Her hands were chubby, and so was the top of her feet. Every time Aji washed her feet, her fingers would leave small dents on Yao Huang's feet, while Aji's feet seemed to have only a layer of skin when poked.
Previously, Yao Huang only used flower juice to dye her fingernails. Before her wedding, the palace sent a maid to dress her up carefully. Even her ten toenails were painted with bright red nail polish, which didn't fade even after several foot - washings. However, she quite liked her round and cute feet like this and had decided to keep using the nail polish.
The days were getting longer. Before Yao Huang's hair was completely dry and the evening glow in the west hadn't turned dark, accompanied by the rolling sound of wooden wheels, Qingai pushing a wheelchair appeared on the western corridor.
Yao Huang had made preparations in advance. When she heard the noise, she quickly put her feet back under her skirt and stopped swinging them. There was still a long way to go in the future, and Yao Huang had to get used to the close presence of Qingai, Feiquan, or other eunuchs. Avoiding them was just asking for trouble.
"Your Highness is here," Yao Huang said without getting up. She gave Prince Hui a bright smile while sitting on the chair, trying to let the prince know that she was looking forward to his arrival. "I'm drying my hair. It's not completely dry yet."
Zhao Sui usually wouldn't respond to such meaningless greetings. The yard in the evening was a good place to enjoy the cool. Zhao Sui signaled Qingai to push the wheelchair beside the princess's chair and then asked Qingai to step back. On the maid side, Huamei and the other three, knowing that the prince didn't like too many people around, also left. Only Aji, who was on night - watch duty that night, stayed and went to hide inside the main hall.
Yao Huang didn't expect Prince Hui to accompany her to wait for her hair to dry. When she saw the prince looking at her embroidered shoes placed aside, she quietly tucked her feet under the skirt and explained, "It's uncomfortable to sit like this. I was afraid of dirtying the chair when putting my legs on it, so I took off my shoes to let my feet breathe."
Zhao Sui looked at her armchair and asked, "There are special reclining chairs for enjoying the cool. Why didn't you use them?"
Yao Huang replied, "I just got married into the mansion. The reclining chairs are stored in the warehouse. I'll ask the maids to move one here tomorrow. I'm too lazy to bother today."
Zhao Sui nodded, leaned back on his chair, and looked up at the sky.
Taking this opportunity, Yao Huang quietly stretched out a foot to reach for her embroidered shoes.
After putting on both shoes and seeing that the prince didn't notice, Yao Huang felt relieved. She occasionally touched her hair. 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 said, "Let's go inside."
Yao Huang came to push his wheelchair. There were no thresholds on the doors, and they smoothly entered the inner chamber all the way. She parked the wheelchair beside the bed just like Qingai did.
Zhao Sui supported himself to sit on the edge of the bed, turned to the side, first moved his left leg onto the bed, and then his right leg. He had strong arm strength and was used to this movement, which looked easy and effortless.
Yao Huang asked, "Shall I turn off the lights?"
Zhao Sui replied, "Not yet. I want to read a book. Ask Aji to go to the front yard to get it. Qingai knows which one I want."
Yao Huang then went out to tell Aji.
When she came back, she found the prince leaning against the head of the bed with the quilt covering his waist, and the wheelchair was empty.
Yao Huang walked to the table and poured herself a bowl of warm water.
Soon, Aji brought back the book. Yao Huang handed it to the prince. Suddenly, she didn't know whether she should lie on the bed or sit below and wait to turn off the lights.
Zhao Sui patted the space beside him and said, "Come up."
Yao Huang had no choice but to take off her shoes and climb onto the bed.
Crawling into the quilt, Yao Huang kept a distance. She glanced at the prince's serious profile while reading and didn't dare to disturb him.
After turning a page, Zhao Sui seemed to notice the princess's gaze. He looked at Yao Huang, put down the book, and at the same time 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 pants.
Yao Huang's heart skipped a beat. The mansion was wealthy, and there were several lamps lit in the inner chamber. The room was not as bright as daylight, but it was at least as bright as the evening outside, much brighter than the wedding candles on their wedding night.
She half - propped up on her side with her back to the prince, lifted the quilt, and said, "Let me turn off the lights."
A hand pressed on her shoulder and said, "No need."
Yao Huang lay on her side, almost in tears with anxiety. "It's too bright. I can't fall asleep."
Zhao Sui looked at her blushing face and slightly trembling eyelashes. He propped himself up on the bed with his left hand and turned her around with his right hand. Then he slowly untied her middle - coat.
If the prince didn't have a leg problem, even though he was a prince, Yao Huang wouldn't just lie there obediently. She would at least try to avoid him.
But since the prince had a leg disability, Yao Huang could only cover her face with both hands and tremulously submit to him.
When it came to taking off her pants, Zhao Sui took away Yao Huang's pillow and asked her to move up on the bed. There was still more than a foot of space between the pillow and the headboard. If Yao Huang's head was against the headboard, it would be more convenient for Zhao Sui to help her.
Yao Huang's trembling voice came out from between her fingers, "Let me do it myself?"
The female doctor had told her to serve the prince, not the other way around!
Prince Hui replied in a gentle tone, "No need. Be obedient."
