Because the Eastern Palace needed renovations, the conferment ceremony for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess was ultimately set for an auspicious day, the fifth of the eighth lunar month.
Yao Huang thought this was a wonderful date, as it perfectly avoided the sweltering heat of midsummer.
Taking advantage of the fact that she could still walk freely outside the palace, on the days the Crown Prince went to the palace for his duties, Yao Huang would invite the Eldest Princess to stroll through the markets, or take Yun'er to her maiden home to chat with her mother and sister-in-law. When the Crown Prince had his days off, Yao Huang would accompany him to relax and escape the heat in their own garden.
Yao Huang figured that the Crown Prince had been busy for nine consecutive days and had finally gotten a day to rest. Rather than sitting in his wheelchair and exhausting himself accompanying her outside, he would surely prefer to stay in the garden for some leisure.
The summer before last, right after Yao Huang married him, she dragged the Crown Prince to Mount Ling to escape the heat. Last year, the couple followed Emperor Yongchang to the Northern Park for the summer. This year, they were not going anywhere, but the Lake Pavilion in the back garden was cool enough. It even had a large pool hidden amidst a circle of rockeries and flowers. Usually, the pool was kept dry, but when the masters wanted to use it, they would simply have the palace servants clean it out and use bamboo pipes to connect it to the nearby water room.
In the summer, the water room didn't need to heat the water. It only required a complex mechanism crafted by skilled artisans to purify the lake water before guiding it into the pool. If the pool was filled early in the morning, the water would become warm after baking in the sun for over two hours. After the masters finished enjoying it, the water would be drained into the living lake outside through a mechanism at the bottom of the pool.
When Yao Huang was still a maiden, she envied her older brothers who could dive into the river, but it was inappropriate for her to jump in with them. Having been a Princess Consort for two years, she had never found the time to come here and enjoy herself. Now, before moving into the palace as the Crown Princess, she could finally fulfill her childhood wish.
Yao Huang enjoyed it privately a few times and even learned how to swim from a maid in the manor who knew how. On the twentieth of the sixth month, after taking an afternoon nap here with Prince Hui, Yao Huang changed into a set of light inner garments suitable for playing in the water. She then draped a thin silk cloak over her shoulders, which she had specially asked Chunyan to sew for her trips to the pool, and clattered over to the adjacent study in a pair of wooden clogs.
The Crown Prince, who had finished his nap early, was in the study reading a book.
At this moment in the Lake Pavilion, aside from the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, there were only Qingai, Feiquan, and Aji, a senior maid. Qingai and Feiquan were guarding the front hall, and Aji didn't dare to come over without permission.
As the footsteps grew closer, Zhao Sui looked up early at the ajar door.
A fair hand pushed the door open, a snow-white wrist flashing before the Crown Prince's eyes before quickly retracting into a red silk cloak.
From her shoulders to her ankles, the Crown Princess was entirely enveloped in the red silk cloak. She only revealed a rosy face, freshly awakened from a good sleep, and a pair of jade-like bare feet openly exposed to the air.
The cloak had no ties in the middle, and Zhao Sui could tell that the Crown Princess was using her hands inside to pull the edges of the cloak tightly together. But if the garments she wore underneath were decent enough, she wouldn't need to do this at all.
Zhao Sui's gaze fell on the Crown Princess's feet again. Her fair and clean ankles were proof enough that the Crown Princess was not wearing any long pants.
Yao Huang watched the Crown Prince behind the desk silently scan her from head to toe, and then from toe to head, twice.
Since he couldn't see anything anyway, Yao Huang felt no shame. Wrapped up tightly, she asked, I am going to the Serene Pool to swim. Would Your Highness like to come for a soak?
Serene Pool was the name given to it by the eighteen-year-old Prince Hui when he first moved into the manor. When Yao Huang asked Nanny Liu about the origin of the Serene Pool, the image of Prince Hui sitting alone in the pool, relaxing his mind and body, immediately surfaced in her mind. The pool was serene, and his person was also filled with a solitary tranquility, far removed from the mundane world.
The Crown Prince lowered his eyes, then lifted the book in his hand and said, Go by yourself. I want to finish reading this book today.
Yao Huang asked softly, Do you really not want to go, or do you just find it too troublesome?
She had it all planned out. She would push the Crown Prince over, let him prop himself up and sit by the edge. There were a few steps leading into the pool, and he could support himself down step by step until the water reached his waist. A soak like that on a summer day would be very comfortable.
Things were different now. The Crown Prince was even willing to relieve himself in the washroom on her side, and he could push his wheelchair to fetch water for her. Surely he could let go of his inhibitions enough to soak in the pool in front of her?
However, the Crown Prince sitting opposite her still shook his head.
Yao Huang said, Alright, then I will go by myself. Take your time reading, Your Highness. I will play for about an hour and then come back.
Zhao Sui watched the Crown Princess's retreating back and asked, How deep is the water in the pool?
Without looking back, the Crown Princess replied, It just barely reaches my waist. Do not worry, Your Highness.
Zhao Sui was not at ease and reminded her to call for Aji.
The Crown Princess, who had already left, agreed, but Zhao Sui did not hear her calling out for Aji.
A moment later, Zhao Sui placed his book behind his wheelchair and pushed himself out of the study, slowly making his way toward the Serene Pool.
Zhao Sui naturally knew the location of the Serene Pool. Long before he injured his legs, he too had enjoyed soaking in it.
In the palace, he was a prince who was almost devoid of desires in order to avoid trouble and conflict, but that did not mean Zhao Sui did not know how to enjoy life. After being granted the title of a Prince and his own manor, on his own territory, Zhao Sui's food, clothing, and lifestyle were all fitting of the luxury a Prince should have. From the bamboo courtyard on the east side of the garden to the pavilion in the lake, he had stayed in all of them for a time, until he lost the use of his legs.
Today was Zhao Sui's first time coming to the Serene Pool since his injury.
The summer scenery was exactly the same as in his memory. The only difference was that many years ago, he was the only one who would walk this path. Today, however, a Crown Princess had stepped onto this stone path ahead of him.
As he got closer, the rockeries and flowers surrounding the Serene Pool blocked Zhao Sui's line of sight, but he could hear the cheerful sounds of splashing water coming from inside.
Zhao Sui slowed down, paused for a moment, and then continued to slowly push the thin wheels of his chair.
He was just coming here to read. In case the Crown Princess got a cramp in her leg and found herself in danger, he could call for help in time.
As he drew nearer, the sound of the water masked the faint rolling noise of his three-wheeled wheelchair. When Zhao Sui navigated through the rockeries and turned onto the small path leading to the Serene Pool, reaching a spot where he could see the Crown Princess in the pool but she would have a hard time spotting him, he stopped his wheelchair securely. He swept his gaze toward the bank of the pool, where the red silk cloak the Crown Princess had just worn lay, next to her pair of wooden clogs.
His gaze fell into the pool. The Crown Princess was swimming toward the opposite bank like an overly energetic fish. With her body obscured by the splashing water, Zhao Sui could only clearly see her fair arms occasionally breaking the surface, and catch a glimpse of the white gauze fabric clinging tightly to her body.
When the Crown Princess reached the end and was about to turn around, the Crown Prince quickly backed his wheelchair up. Making sure the Crown Princess could not see him, Zhao Sui took out the book he had placed behind him.
The water splashed continuously as the Crown Princess swam back and forth in the modestly sized pool a few times, yet the pages of His Highness the Crown Prince's book remained unturned.
When the splashing stopped but there was no sound of her coming ashore, Zhao Sui set down his book and pushed his wheelchair forward a bit. He then discovered that the Crown Princess was likely tired. She was leaning back lazily against a smooth rock on the western side of the pool, shaded by flowering trees. From the waist down, she was faintly visible beneath the water; from the waist up...
The Crown Prince wanted to push his wheelchair back again, but a sudden smack came from behind him. It turned out that the book he had just casually placed on the seat behind him had somehow slipped through the gap between the wheelchair's backrest and armrest.
Zhao Sui: ...
His heartbeat was startled into a flurry by the falling book, while Yao Huang was frightened by the stealthy noise. Even though she knew it was impossible for anyone to dare peek, she still subconsciously slid into the water, exposing only her head. Swimming forward slightly, she caught sight of the handsome Crown Prince half-hidden behind the rockery.
Yao Huang: ...Why is Your Highness here?
Looking as composed as ever, the Crown Prince scanned the edge of the pool and asked in return, Why didn't you call Aji to accompany you?
Seeing that the Crown Prince had no intention of moving forward, Yao Huang swam all the way to the spot closest to him. She propped her arms on the bank and rested her chin on them, keeping everything below her shoulders submerged in the water. Looking up at the man in the wheelchair with wet, dewy eyes, she softly huffed, I did call her. But who can blame my words for becoming less and less effective? I asked Your Highness to accompany me, and Your Highness refused. That wretched girl Aji just learned bad habits from Your Highness and completely ignored me.
Zhao Sui: ...
Yao Huang pointed to the steps leading into the water diagonally ahead. If Your Highness is worried about me, why not sit here and watch over me?
Zhao Sui lowered his eyes and said, I don't want to get my clothes wet.
Yao Huang's face grew hot. Gritting her teeth, she said, Then Your Highness close your eyes. I will push you to the edge and help you take off your outer trousers.
The Crown Prince did not reply, but he cooperatively closed his eyes.
Yao Huang emphasized, You are not allowed to open them.
The Crown Prince nodded.
Only then did Yao Huang step ashore with some nervousness. She first grabbed a cloak to wrap around herself before putting on her wooden clogs and walking over.
However, before she could walk around to the back of his wheelchair, the Crown Prince suddenly reached out, grasped her wrist, and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
Startled, Yao Huang turned her head to look at the Crown Prince's face.
The Crown Prince still had his eyes closed, but his hands indisputably pulled off the half-wet, thin silk cloak wrapped around her body.
His actions made Yao Huang feel incredibly bashful. It wasn't as if they hadn't done it in the wheelchair before, but in broad daylight, and outside no less...
She covered the Crown Prince's hand, bending over to negotiate, Can we go back inside?
The Crown Prince didn't answer; he merely placed a kiss on the back of her neck, which was still dripping with water.
Right next to them was the rockery. The Crown Prince chose a suitable spot, had the Crown Princess lock the wheelchair in place first, and then made her turn around to hold onto a section of the rocks.
The Crown Prince, whose legs were disabled, had developed a pair of strong, powerful arms. He could support himself on the wheelchair's armrests to lift his body up a certain distance.
Ultimately, it was contrary to propriety, so the Crown Prince didn't dare to linger for too long. Once he sat back down in the wheelchair, the Crown Princess sat down as well.
Holding the Crown Princess, whose cheeks were flushed and eyes closed as if she were about to fall asleep at any moment, Zhao Sui coaxed her helplessly, Stand up for a moment first.
He needed time to adjust his clothing.
The soft and limp Crown Princess curled up the corners of her mouth, leaning even more shamelessly into his embrace as she mumbled, So sleepy. Your Highness, hurry and take me back.
Zhao Sui fell silent. Looking at the red silk cloak scattered on the ground, he reminded her, Then you still need to cover yourself properly.
The Crown Princess, who had originally been covered perfectly well until the Crown Prince tore her cloak away, immediately flew into a humiliated rage. She pulled open half of the Crown Prince's inner robe and went to bite his shoulder.
In the past, she liked to bite the Crown Prince's neck, but since the Crown Prince had to go out for his official duties and couldn't let others see the marks, Yao Huang had no choice but to change her target to his shoulder.
