Yao Huang, who had been sleeping soundly, turned over. The discomfort from her skin rubbing against the silk brocade quilt made her frown and wake up.
Through the two layers of bed curtains, she saw the bright light by the window.
The bedding beside her was flat. His Highness...
Remembering the encounter just before dawn, a sudden shiver ran down Yao Huang's spine to her tailbone. It was at this moment she realized she was still completely naked.
She couldn't call the maids in just yet. Yao Huang sat up, holding the quilt, deliberately ignoring the traces he had left on her. She searched around the bed with the quilt. Her inner robe was by the pillow, her inner trousers were at the foot of the bed, and her undergarment... Yao Huang remembered now. After they were done, His Highness had thoughtfully wiped her clean, and must have casually grabbed her undergarment to use!
Ruining two sets of bedsheets and undergarments in one night. He really is something!
After tying the sash of her inner robe and putting on her trousers, Yao Huang stuffed the bedsheet into a bamboo basket that was already half-full. She lifted the bed curtains to air out the room, poured herself a bowl of water, and then, holding her waist, sat down at the dressing table.
The princess consort in the mirror had disheveled hair, puffy eyes, and a faint red mark peeking from the collar of her inner robe?
Having dressed in a daze without looking at herself, Yao Huang curiously pulled open her collar. She was shocked to find many more marks scattered below her collarbone and above her waistline, some densely clustered, others sparse. The most startling was a distinct palm print on her left shoulder—evidence of the prince restraining her, forbidding her to pull away.
Yao Huang slumped back into the chair. Is this prince some kind of wolf?
Yao Huang put on an outer robe to cover all the marks, then called for Aji in a hoarse voice.
The door was pushed open, and Aji almost rushed in. Huamei, Bailing, Chunyan, and Qiuchan remained waiting in the outer chamber.
"Princess Consort, are you alright?"
Yao Huang shook her head. "What time is it?"
Aji studied the princess consort as she replied, "Lunch is in about an hour. How did you sleep so long, Princess Consort? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Seeing the strange look in Aji's eyes, Yao Huang instinctively pulled her collar tighter. "No, why do you ask?"
Not wanting others to know the princess consort's secret, Aji leaned close to her ear and whispered, "You cried for so long last night, and again this morning. Tell me the truth, did His Highness bully you?"
Aji was truly worried.
Yao Huang felt her face grow warm. She looked down at the table surface and said, "It was... alright. You'll understand once you're married. Alright, I'm starving. Go quickly and have the water room prepare bath water. After I bathe, get me something to eat."
Aji went out to relay the message, and Bailing then sent the junior maids to run errands to the water room and kitchen.
Since she was going to bathe, there was no need to bring water into the inner chamber. Huamei and the others came in to make the bed and fold the quilts.
Huamei caught sight of the princess consort's clearly tear-stained eyes and volunteered to take the bamboo basket out.
When the bath water was ready, Yao Huang only called Aji inside to assist her. This further confirmed Huamei's suspicions—last night, the princess consort must have suffered blows from His Highness, likely fainted, hence waking late. After waking, she had cried for a while on the bed, leaving a new patch of dampness on the sheets. Aji had heard everything last night, which is why she had been so worried all morning. The princess consort had injuries, so she only allowed the informed Aji to attend to her.
Prince Hui's legs were crippled, and his relationship with his only intimate companion, the princess consort, was also poor. Huamei felt quite pleased on behalf of the Noble Consort.
The Noble Consort enjoyed unparalleled favor in the rear palace. In her youth, her only frustration was the long delay in having a child. It was well known that the Yongchang Emperor's "seed" was rather problematic. Empress Zhou had borne two sons who both died young. Among the other consorts, only Virtuous Consort Liu was fortunate enough to have a prince. In such circumstances, when a lowly dancer, favored by the emperor on a whim, announced she was with child, all the consorts set their sights on that belly.
Several months later, the dancer died in difficult labor after giving birth to a prince.
Noble Consort Du, relying on her own favor, successfully had the young prince brought to her side and requested an imperial decree to have him recorded under her name.
For the next eight full years, Noble Consort Du did not conceive again. The more times she was disappointed, the more importance she placed on Prince Hui. She hired the best literary and martial tutors for him and had them instruct Prince Hui in the strictest manner. It was said Prince Hui had to rise at cockcrow every day, studying until the third watch of the night before he could sleep. He was the most diligent and hardworking among all the imperial children. Because of this diligence, he became accomplished in both literary and martial arts and received the most praise from the emperor.
When Prince Hui was eight, Noble Consort Du, against all odds, was diagnosed with pregnancy. Unfortunately, this child was a daughter, so Noble Consort Du continued to strictly instruct Prince Hui.
When Prince Hui was ten, Noble Consort Du finally gave birth to her own flesh and blood, the Fourth Prince.
Noble Consort Du relaxed her tutelage of Prince Hui and began pouring all her maternal love and hopes into the Fourth Prince. She had tutors begin the Fourth Prince's education at the age of three, yet couldn't bear to let him endure the hardships Prince Hui had suffered. This resulted in the gradually growing Fourth Prince lagging behind Prince Hui at the same age in both scholarship and martial skills. When the emperor remarked in casual conversation that his fourth son was not as clever as his second, how grating that must have been for the Noble Consort to hear?
The more Prince Hui shone, the more ordinary the Fourth Prince appeared in comparison. The more the emperor valued Prince Hui, the further the Fourth Prince was from the Eastern Palace.
Other consorts and ladies of the outer palace added to this by gloating and making thinly veiled jabs, laughing that the Noble Consort had raised her adopted son well, but her own son was lacking.
Prince Hui had been a thorn in the throat of both the Noble Consort and the Fourth Prince for so many years. Naturally, only if Prince Hui was miserable and despondent would the Noble Consort be satisfied.
Yao Huang, of course, knew nothing of Huamei's wild imaginings. She enjoyed a comfortable bath, applied a cold compress to her eyes, and soon felt refreshed and clear-headed.
Today, she didn't have to share a meal with Prince Hui. Yao Huang ate alone, relaxed and at ease. After finishing, she lay on the daybed in the outer chamber to regain her strength when Huamei approached, her face full of concern. "Has the Princess Consort suffered some grievance from His Highness?"
There were still two damp undergarments in the bamboo basket, proof of how miserably the princess consort had cried at night. Her lightheartedness upon waking was surely just an act to save face.
Yao Huang glanced at her. "What makes you say that?"
Huamei didn't mention the evidence that might embarrass the princess consort, phrasing it tactfully instead. "This servant noticed the Princess Consort seems to have been crying."
Yao Huang: "So what if I cried?"
Huamei offered a suggestion: "The Noble Consort instructed us, saying that since the accident, His Highness's temperament has changed greatly, and he often vents his resentment on those around him. If the Princess Consort has suffered any grievance, you may enter the palace to complain to Her Ladyship. She will surely uphold justice for you. Think about it, no matter how noble His Highness is, he is still Her Ladyship's son. A mother disciplining and restraining her son—His Highness would certainly listen."
Yao Huang, who had just seemed dismissive of Huamei, now sat up straight. She looked at Huamei and asked hesitantly, "Does His Highness truly enjoy punishing those around him?"
Huamei nodded.
Yao Huang: "Are the punishments severe? Tell me everything you know."
Huamei had no choice but to fabricate two examples to convince the princess consort: "Those two people were expelled from the manor long ago. The others, fearing His Highness, certainly wouldn't dare mention it again."
Yao Huang thought for a moment, then called out to the outer room for Bailing.
Bailing obediently entered the room.
Yao Huang recounted the two examples Huamei had given and asked Bailing, "Did His Highness truly do these things?"
Bailing wore a look of complete bewilderment.
Huamei's heart skipped a beat. Having once had her face slapped on Madam Yao's order via Bailing back at the Yao residence, she was deeply afraid the Princess Consort was laying another trap for her.
The look Yao Huang gave her indeed held increased suspicion: "What? Were all these things fabricated by you, deliberately tricking me into sowing discord between Her Ladyship and His Highness's mother-son relationship?"
Huamei's mind raced. Admitting to fabrication would offend the Princess Consort irrevocably; this bold and daring Princess Consort might directly demote her to the laundry. Not admitting it, she could easily explain that Bailing was too withdrawn and kept to herself while at Yikun Palace, hearing nothing of the outside world. Given Bailing's usual deference towards her, she would likely just tacitly accept this explanation and not dare openly contradict her.
As long as the Princess Consort believed it and actually went to the palace, once Prince Hui was reprimanded by Lady Consort Hui, he would surely cold-shoulder the Princess Consort. Then, the Princess Consort would have no choice but to cling tightly to Lady Consort Hui's patronage and would no longer dare to look down on her.
Thinking this, Huamei calmly said, "Every word I said is true. When Bailing is not on duty, she always stays behind closed doors and would have no way of knowing about these matters."
Bailing genuinely hadn't heard of them, so she couldn't judge their truth or falsehood.
After sending Bailing away, Huamei moved closer to the Princess Consort and spoke with earnest concern: "His Highness raised his hand against you, didn't he? You must not suffer in silence, Madam. A husband beating his wife, if it happens once, there will be a second time. If you tolerate His Highness's behavior today, next time he will dare to strike even harder. You have no powerful maternal family to rely on; His Highness will not value your life. Only by seeking Lady Consort Hui's intervention will His Highness show some restraint."
Yao Huang twisted her handkerchief tightly, her brows knitted in worry. "You may leave now. I need to think carefully."
Huamei urged her a couple more times before withdrawing. She waited outside for a while and heard the Princess Consort summon Aji. Within a few sentences, Aji came out, ignored them completely, and headed straight outside.
Huamei stopped her. "What are Madam's orders?"
Aji replied irritably, "Don't ask questions you shouldn't."
Huamei: "..."
She hoped even more fervently that the Princess Consort would make up her mind soon. As she waited, Aji returned, followed by one of the chief stewards of the Prince's residence, Matron Liu, who was in charge of the maidservants' affairs.
Yao Huang sat upright on the couch and ordered Huamei to repeat those words in front of Matron Liu.
Huamei's face turned deathly pale. Although Matron Liu was also originally arranged by Lady Consort Hui years ago to care for Prince Hui, after the Prince established his own household, Matron Liu no longer heeded Lady Consort Hui's words. Together with Chief Steward Cao, she was utterly loyal to Prince Hui. To slander Prince Hui in front of Matron Liu—was she tired of living?
When Huamei refused to speak, Yao Huang had Bailing do it.
Bailing was clumsy with words but had an excellent memory, repeating the account almost verbatim.
After listening, Matron Liu's face darkened. Maintaining propriety, she addressed the Princess Consort: "Madam, please do not listen to this person's malicious lies. His Highness has been established for three years. It has always been Qingai and Feiquan attending to him closely. He has never punished any servant."
Yao Huang: "So, Huamei has overstepped and slandered His Highness?"
Matron Liu: "Precisely."
Yao Huang sighed. "Although His Highness has entrusted the household affairs to me, Huamei was bestowed by Lady Consort Hui. How to punish her is something I truly dare not decide on my own. Matron, you should take her to see His Highness and let him adjudicate."
Upon hearing this, Huamei threw herself to her knees with a thud, her face white as she loudly protested her innocence. "I know the Princess Consort dislikes me, but you cannot bribe Bailing to frame me! I never said those things! I beg Matron to see the truth!"
She wanted to make a big scene, to take it all the way to Lady Consort Hui. Her Ladyship already disliked the Yao daughter; she would surely take her side!
Bailing panicked, kneeling down as well and looking at Matron Liu. "She's lying! It was she who first slandered His Highness, and then the Princess Consort called me in to bear witness..."
Huamei stubbornly denied everything.
Yao Huang simply watched the drama unfold.
Matron Liu pulled out a handkerchief, pressed one hand on Huamei's shoulder, and with the other stuffed the handkerchief into Huamei's mouth. After stuffing it, she covered Huamei's mouth with her hand and looked up. "Madam, this old servant will take these two to see His Highness now. Please rest well. I will return to report as soon as His Highness makes a decision."
Yao Huang: "I trouble you, Matron."
She instructed Aji to help Matron Liu by twisting one of Huamei's arms. Matron Liu was nearly fifty; she mustn't get hurt over this.
