This winter seemed somewhat warmer than previous years. It wasn't until the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, after the sky had been overcast for most of the day, that snowflakes finally began to drift down from midair.
The Crown Prince was still on duty at the Ministry of Works. Yao Huang took a nap in the inner chamber, which was warmed by the underfloor heating. When she woke up, the courtyard was already blanketed in a layer of white. The snowflakes, falling silently without any wind, were as large as copper coins.
The wet nurse brought Yun'er over. The little one was wrapped in a cloak over thick, silk-faced padded clothes. Once the cloak was unfastened and he was placed on the couch, Yun'er didn't even need his mother to beckon him; he skillfully crawled toward her on all fours, reaching her embrace in the blink of an eye.
Yao Huang recalled the first day of the month when her mother and sister-in-law had entered the palace to pay their respects. While sitting for a short visit in the Eastern Palace, her mother had seen Yun'er's agility and laughed, saying he was exactly like Yao Huang when she was a baby.
Yao Huang had long forgotten what she was like at a few months old, but she also felt that Yun'er's lively nature resembled hers. After all, the Crown Prince she knew was far too quiet. It had nothing to do with his legs; according to what Eunuch Cao and Nanny Liu had let slip, the Second Highness had always possessed a quiet temperament since childhood. Aside from martial arts and equestrian lessons, his three favorite activities had always been reading, practicing calligraphy, and painting.
Mother and son played on the couch for half an hour. After a brief rest, Yao Huang placed Yun'er into the new stroller Master Deng had made for children around one year old. She then set up a leather chair at the doorway of the main hall, and the mother and son sat side by side, looking out to admire the snow.
This was Yun'er's first time seeing snow. There were so many snowflakes in the sky that the little one's eyes couldn't take it all in. As he watched one flake fall to the ground, even more flakes tumbled down as if racing each other.
Yao Huang walked under the eaves, reached out to catch a snowflake, and then sat back down next to Yun'er to show him.
Yun'er stared intently at the snowflake. When it completely melted into a drop of water, the surprise in his eyes was just like when he watched fireworks vanish into the night sky.
Yao Huang was just watching the little one's fascinated and animated expression when Yun'er, leaning back in his stroller, suddenly pointed outside and began to laugh.
Yao Huang asked, Do you want more snow?
Yun'er shook his head and continued pointing outside.
Only then did Yao Huang turn her head. Through the rustling, falling snow, she saw the figure of the Crown Prince slowly pushing his wheelchair along the right corridor.
Pleasantly surprised, Yao Huang stood up. She was just about to go out and meet the Crown Prince halfway when she thought of Yun'er, who was equally happy to see his father. So, she scooped the little one out of the stroller and walked forward along the corridor.
Before she could ask the Crown Prince why he had returned so early, he looked over their clothing and asked first, Since you are admiring the snow, why haven't you put on your cloaks?
Yao Huang replied, It's not cold here at all, and it's even warmer by the door. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, why don't you feel for yourself?
Holding Yun'er with one arm, she stretched out her other hand toward the Crown Prince.
Yun'er looked down from his mother's embrace, seemingly curious about what his parents were going to do.
Zhao Sui was speechless.
Seeing this, Yao Huang deliberately blocked the front of his wheelchair, acting as if she wouldn't let him pass unless he touched her hand.
Under Yun'er's watchful eyes, Zhao Sui had no choice but to briefly grasp the Crown Princess's soft and warm little hand.
Only then did Yao Huang hand Yun'er over to him. She pushed the father and son to the front of the main hall, rearranging the leather chair and stroller so that their family of three could all huddle comfortably in the doorway.
Zhao Sui offered an explanation on his own, The snow is getting heavier. Imperial Father granted a favor, allowing the officials to leave work an hour early today and arrive an hour late tomorrow morning.
Yao Huang smiled, It is easy to see that Imperial Father has been in a very good mood lately. Those ministers could rack their brains and still never guess that this favor is actually partly thanks to Your Highness.
The royal physicians always spoke with great caution. If their masters had any difficult or complicated illnesses, even if the physicians were absolutely certain they could cure them, they would never speak too confidently, for fear of being punished if something went wrong. Imperial Physician Liao, who was treating the Crown Prince's legs, was usually the same. However, just three days ago, Imperial Physician Liao had suddenly given a definitive word, stating that the Crown Prince's legs would definitely recover to the level of mobility he had before the injury.
Yao Huang had been puzzled as to why Imperial Physician Liao was suddenly so confident. The Crown Prince had explained a bunch of medical theories, which Yao Huang listened to in a daze. Anyway, as long as there was good news, that was enough for her.
Zhao Sui said, It may not have anything to do with me. A timely snow promises a good harvest; Imperial Father has been looking forward to this snow all winter.
Knowing that he disliked taking credit, Yao Huang merely shot him a reproachful but affectionate glance.
Zhao Sui chatted with the Crown Princess for a while, then looked outside and said, While it's still light out, I'm going to take a trip to the Deer Park.
Yao Huang immediately felt a pang of heartache. Do you still have to go in such heavy snow?
Zhao Sui replied, The snow is heavy, but it's not cold. Feiquan has already gone over to wipe the snow off the handrails. I will be careful; there won't be any problem.
Unable to dissuade the Crown Prince, who was eager to exercise his legs, Yao Huang had no choice but to go inside and fetch a box of hand cream that had just been bestowed by the palace this winter. She pulled over the Crown Prince's hand, which was turned away from her, and personally applied the cream for him. As the pads of her fingers rubbed against the thick calluses on his palm, Yao Huang looked up, and the Crown Prince opposite her reservedly turned his face away.
Yao Huang whispered, Once Your Highness can walk again, these calluses will gradually fade. I have to touch them a few more times while they're still here.
Zhao Sui replied, Mind your words.
Yun'er was listening right beside them.
Yao Huang immediately tossed the Crown Prince's hand away.
Zhao Sui extended his hand over again. Since Yun'er's stroller was facing away from them, the little guy couldn't see what his father and mother were doing behind it.
After his hands were moisturized, the Crown Prince pushed his wheelchair to the moon gate in the backyard leading to the Deer Park. Qingai was already waiting there. Before leaving, Zhao Sui looked back toward the main hall and met the Crown Princess's worried gaze, a look that showed she strongly disapproved of his exercising in the snow but was utterly helpless to stop him.
Zhao Sui withdrew his gaze and signaled to Qingai that they could go.
The Deer Park was completely tranquil. Qingai pushed the wheelchair to the entrance of the handrails, then he and Feiquan retreated outside the park, pulling the wooden door shut from the outside.
Zhao Sui looked at the hardwood handrails, which, although just wiped clean, had already gathered a thin layer of fresh snow. Supporting himself with both hands on the wheelchair, he slowly stood up.
When he was completely steady on his feet, Zhao Sui still did not touch the handrails that were well within his reach. Instead, he slowly stepped forward.
After walking about ten steps, Zhao Sui leaned on the handrails, using the strength of his arms to give his legs a rest. Once the numbness in his legs subsided, he continued walking forward.
The Deer Park, which had been converted from a side courtyard, looked spacious but was actually not very large. The time it took to drink a cup of tea was enough for the Crown Princess to leisurely walk two laps around it. Yet, stopping and starting, it actually took the Crown Prince half an hour.
When he made his way around to the handrail exit on the left side of the Deer Park's main entrance, Zhao Sui rested for a moment longer. Then, he completely stepped out of the handrails' range and walked step by step to the wheelchair parked at the opposite entrance. He turned the wheelchair around and slowly sat down.
Having practiced for a full lap, his movement as he sat down was somewhat heavy. When he lifted his feet onto the footrests, both of his legs were still trembling uncontrollably.
Zhao Sui let his legs tremble as he closed his eyes and leaned back against the wheelchair.
In such a relaxed posture, the Crown Prince's head tilted slightly backward, and snowflakes drifted down one by one onto his handsome, flushed face.
Back in the courtyard, Yao Huang had the wet nurse take Yun'er away. She sat alone at the doorway of the main hall, staring blankly at the moon gate through which the Crown Prince had left. She watched the snowflakes fall inside and outside the gate, piling up all over the ground, leaving only a single strip of snow-free stone path on the ground sheltered by the wall above the moon gate.
The sky gradually darkened, and the gleam of the snow made the surroundings appear even colder.
Just as Aji was about to go into the inner room to fetch a cloak for the Crown Princess, the sound of wheelchair wheels crushing the snow came from the moon gate, startling Aji into quickly retreating.
Yao Huang also walked away, going straight into the inner room. She let her long hair down, grabbed a comb to quickly smooth it out, and then slipped under the covers to feign sleep.
Qingai pushed the Crown Prince past the window, only feeling that it was too quiet inside; there was no laughter from the Crown Princess, nor the babbling baby talk of the little young master.
Pushing the Crown Prince into the main room, Qingai put away the cloak the Crown Prince had taken off and respectfully withdrew.
The adjoining room was empty. Zhao Sui pushed himself all the way into the inner room and saw the Crown Princess lying on the canopy bed with her back to him. Zhao Sui wheeled over to the washstand, washing his hands with the water prepared in the basin while asking, It is almost time to eat, why have you gone to bed?
Yao Huang replied, It is cold by the door, but warm in here.
Zhao Sui smiled, dampened a towel, and wiped his face. After wiping, he looked at the thin wooden push rims on both sides of the wheelchair, wiped them clean with the towel, and then wheeled himself to the canopy bed.
Taking off the outer robe and boots he had already changed out of in the front courtyard upon returning, Zhao Sui sat on the bed, lifted the Crown Princess's quilt, and lay down.
His hand reached over and directly grasped the Crown Princess's hand.
Yao Huang unexpectedly felt a patch of warmth, like the dry warmth radiating from the center of her palms after she finished building a snowman.
Yao Huang turned around, did not look at the Crown Prince, but just slipped her hand into his inner garments. Everywhere she touched was also dry and warm.
Zhao Sui was very good at exercising restraint; when he was practicing walking just now, he did not let himself get tired to the point of sweating.
After the Crown Princess finished her inspection, Zhao Sui also went to inspect how cold, or how hot, the Crown Princess was.
The calluses on the Crown Prince's palms seemed to have grown specifically to bully the Crown Princess. Without him even needing to exert force, Yao Huang began to burn up in the Crown Prince's embrace.
It was still a bit bright outside the window, the door to the inner room was not closed, and the two layers of curtains on the canopy bed were not drawn.
But as long as the Crown Prince was present, none of the maids or wet nurses serving the Crown Princess in the backyard dared to enter without permission.
The Crown Prince knelt on the bed, pinning the Crown Princess between himself and the headboard. It was the first time Yao Huang faced the Crown Prince in this posture. Feeling the Crown Prince's gaze wandering back and forth over her body, Yao Huang was so shy that she reached out to cover his eyes.
Zhao Sui caught the Crown Princess's hand with his left hand. Now that his legs were usable, he only had more ways to confine the Crown Princess.
By the time their sweat cooled, it was completely dark outside the window.
Yao Huang, held tightly in the Crown Prince's arms and covered with an extra layer of quilt, suddenly felt very thirsty. She pushed the Crown Prince, asking him to pour some water.
Zhao Sui first turned the Crown Princess over, then sat up and put on his inner shirt and trousers one by one.
Once dressed, Zhao Sui sat in his wheelchair.
Only then did Yao Huang turn around, watching the Crown Prince skillfully push the three-wheeled wheelchair to the table, watching him lift the teapot to pour water, watching him hold the teacup in one hand, and then look back towards the bed.
Yao Huang urged him in dissatisfaction, Hurry up, I am dying of thirst.
In the past, the Crown Prince would put the teapot and teacup on the wheelchair and push them straight over. What was he dawdling for now?
The unbearably thirsty Crown Princess was genuinely complaining, but her cheeks were flushed, and her reproachful look was extremely beautiful and charming.
How could he deliver the tea to the Crown Princess's mouth the fastest?
Zhao Sui left the wheelchair and stood up.
Yao Huang was speechless.
She stared in disbelief at the Crown Prince, who was clearly so familiar yet suddenly much taller. He held the tea in one hand and walked towards her, slowly but with every step steady. When this Crown Prince stood still by the bed, Yao Huang had already changed from her languid posture leaning on the edge of the bed to looking up high at him.
The Crown Prince sat down with his usual expression, holding the teacup in one hand and supporting the Crown Princess's shoulder with the other, handing the teacup to her.
Yao Huang drank stiffly, her peripheral vision unable to help but steal glances backward.
Was this man really still her disabled husband?
