Zhao Sui's youth could be described as rather dull, but he could imagine the scene of the fifteen- or sixteen-year-old Crown Princess running to the martial arts academy to watch the young men riding horses and playing ball outside. The Crown Princess would certainly not be alone, but she would undoubtedly be the most eye-catching among the girls accompanying her. Therefore, those young men would compete even more fiercely for a girl like the Crown Princess. When they tore off their shirts to reveal their youthful, immature chests and abdomens, they would definitely hope that the Crown Princess's gaze would fall on them more often.
Zhao Sui had not seen the Crown Princess at that time, and could not rush over to cover her eyes. Nor could he bring himself to bare his upper body and brandish swords and spears in front of her.
In terms of shamelessness, he could not compare to the crowd of young men in the martial arts academy of the past. But those young men could not even touch the hem of the Crown Princess's skirt, whereas he could...
Zhao Sui covered the Crown Princess's mouth, blocking any words she might use to reprimand him for his impropriety.
Driven by impulse, the Crown Prince only truly realized what he had done at the moment of completion. However, regret was useless now. He could only deliberately ignore the intelligent yet inexplicably fixed gaze of the doe in the deer enclosure looking their way, deliberately ignore the Crown Princess's whimpers leaking through his fingers, and end this absurd, inappropriate encounter as quickly as possible.
Yao Huang rested her left arm against the wall and her forehead against her arm. The tears forced out by the Crown Prince's bullying blurred her lowered vision, but she still saw his black boots retreating from her feet. She saw him release his hand, and her skirt finally fell down, covering the silk trousers that were loosely pooled over her embroidered shoes.
Yao Huang's waist was still bent. It wasn't that she couldn't move, but having been forced into this position for so long, maintaining it was actually the least strenuous option.
Yao Huang knew she looked thoroughly disheveled at this moment, but what could she do?
In these matters, the Crown Prince always took full advantage. When he was disheveled and improper, he didn't give her a chance to look back. By the time Yao Huang had the strength to look, the energetic Crown Prince had already tidied himself up, looking as handsome and ethereal as an immortal once again.
Sure enough, before Yao Huang even thought to turn around, the put-together Crown Prince had already come over to take care of her. He knelt on one knee behind her and first helped her pull up the silk trousers beneath her skirt.
When the skirt fell back into place, Zhao Sui wrapped his left arm around the Crown Princess's shoulders and supported her legs with his right arm, finally carrying her away from the base of the wall she had been facing for so long.
The soft morning light shone directly on them, illuminating the Crown Princess's flushed cheeks and the fine sweat on the side of her neck near her ears.
Zhao Sui only caught a glimpse of the faint finger marks he had left on the Crown Princess's tender cheeks before he looked away.
Although Yao Huang had suffered the Crown Prince's bullying, she wasn't angry at all. It wasn't until the Crown Prince was about to lay her down on a cool wooden bench that Yao Huang stubbornly clung to his shoulders and nestled into his embrace. I want Your Highness to hold me.
Her voice was sweet and enchanting to the bone. Zhao Sui had no choice but to lift the Crown Princess, whose skirt had already touched the bench, back up into his arms. He explained hoarsely, Lie here for a moment. I will give Qingai some instructions and then take you back to the rear hall.
Yao Huang hummed, tugging at the back of his collar. Give what instructions? Can't you say it while holding me?
Zhao Sui: ...How do I explain that you walked here but I have to carry you back?
Yao Huang buried her face in his chest, both shy and reckless: Just say I was keeping Your Highness company while you practiced your spear, and I accidentally sprained my ankle.
Zhao Sui: ...If you sprained your ankle, we would have to summon the imperial physician, and summoning the imperial physician would alarm Imperial Father and Imperial Mother.
Yao Huang: There are severe and mild sprains. The one I have this time is the kind that gets better after lying down for a bit. On the contrary, what did Your Highness plan to instruct Qingai to do? Have him chase away all the palace servants around here? That would look even more like trying to cover up a misdeed.
Zhao Sui could not refute this. He let the Crown Princess stand on the long bench first. The Crown Princess held onto his shoulders while he lowered his eyes to straighten her dress.
A patch of her skirt was stained with his scent; she would have to hide this spot well when they went back later.
Zhao Sui could feel that the Crown Princess was watching him the whole time. Just as he was worrying that the Crown Princess would tease him about his recent impropriety, she suddenly leaned in and whispered in his ear, If there is a next time, Your Highness is not allowed to cover my mouth again. It had suffocated her so much she could barely breathe.
Zhao Sui pulled the Crown Princess tightly into his arms and lowered his head to bite her back shoulder.
If the Crown Princess hadn't come to seduce him, he would still be single-mindedly practicing his martial arts. How would he have lost his composure in front of her so early in the morning?
Bitten out of nowhere, Yao Huang grew anxious and repeatedly cried out in pain by the Crown Prince's ear.
Zhao Sui let go and said behind the Crown Princess's ear, There won't be a next time.
At least outside, there absolutely won't be.
.
Early the next morning, the Crown Prince got up early again to practice his spear. Yao Huang did not want to be pressed against the base of a wall in broad daylight again, so this time she directly climbed onto the top of the wall from outside the deer park. Under Qingai's worried gaze, as he stood ready to catch the Crown Princess should she fall, she sat on the wall and admired the Crown Prince's heroic posture as he practiced.
Every time Zhao Sui turned around, he would see the Crown Princess sitting on the wall wearing a white blouse and a green skirt, propping herself up with her hands against the wall, her feet dangling and swinging idly.
After practicing for half an hour, Zhao Sui decided to take a break and walked toward the wall where the Crown Princess sat, holding his spear.
Yao Huang took a handkerchief from her sleeve and tossed it down to him from her high perch. Wipe your sweat, Your Highness.
Zhao Sui caught the handkerchief and asked, Is Qingai outside?
Yao Huang turned her head to look down, meeting Qingai's nervous look as he still stood ready to catch her. Smiling, she said to the Crown Prince, He is. Does Your Highness have any orders?
Zhao Sui: Tell him to step down.
Yao Huang: ...
Hearing the voice, Qingai immediately walked away quickly.
Yao Huang grew nervous. She cautiously lifted her feet to step onto the top of the wall, blushing as she gave the Crown Prince a reproachful glare.
Zhao Sui: ...I just wanted to talk to you.
The Crown Princess was half-doubtful: Talk about what?
Zhao Sui had originally intended to lean his spear against the wall, but seeing this, he kept it in his hand. He turned to look at the deer enclosure diagonally across from them and asked, Are you planning to come over and watch me practice martial arts every day from now on?
Yao Huang: How is that possible? Doing it once or twice for the novelty is fine, but I can't keep up waking up at half past five every day, unless Your Highness wants me to come every day.
Zhao Sui: ...It's too early. I don't want you to work too hard.
Yao Huang loved hearing these words. She smiled at him, then looked at the precious spear in the Crown Prince's hand and asked curiously, How much of your previous martial prowess does Your Highness feel you have recovered?
Zhao Sui thought for a moment and said, About thirty percent.
Yao Huang gained confidence: Then shall I spar with Your Highness? Your Highness has instructed my brother in spearmanship, but you haven't guided me yet.
Zhao Sui agreed.
Yao Huang then shouted toward where Qingai was hiding, Qingai, go fetch my spear! Aji and the others know where it's kept!
Qingai replied with a distant Yes.
Just as Yao Huang stood up and prepared to jump to the ground, the Crown Prince below tossed aside the spear in his hand to catch her.
Yao Huang laughed and sat back down on the wall, saying, My brother cherishes his spear as much as he cherishes himself. How can Your Highness just throw your spear away like that?
Zhao Sui lowered his eyes: If a spear is broken, a new one can be forged.
Yao Huang softened her voice: And if I...
Zhao Sui took two steps forward, caught the Crown Princess by the legs, and brought her down steadily. He then rubbed the top of her head and said, "Stop spouting nonsense."
Yao Huang gave him a quick hug and went to the side to stretch her limbs.
A moment later, Qingai brought over the Crown Princess's spear. This was the same old spear of the Crown Prince's that Yao Huang had asked Guo Shu to pick out from the storehouse the year she had first married into the prince's estate.
Before the sparring match began, Yao Huang asked, "Is there a wager?"
Zhao Sui replied, "...If I lose, you may demand whatever you wish."
Yao Huang teased, "Even if I ask Your Highness to practice martial arts bare-chested for me to watch, would Your Highness still do it?"
Zhao Sui answered, "...If that is the case, then I will not lose."
Yao Huang retorted, "...To speak so boastfully when you have only recovered thirty percent of your strength, it turns out Your Highness is quite arrogant too."
Zhao Sui looked down at the ground.
Yao Huang's eyes darted around as she proposed, "If Your Highness loses, you will do as I ask. If I lose, my punishment will be that I cannot serve Your Highness in bed for half a month. How about that?"
Zhao Sui remained silent.
Yao Huang declared, "Silence means consent. Alright, let's begin!"
With that said, Yao Huang took the initiative and launched an attack at the Crown Prince.
Zhao Sui earnestly sparred with the Crown Princess, but he only defended and did not attack, ensuring a draw where he would neither win nor lose.
As for Yao Huang, although she had talked a big game, she knew from the very beginning that she could not beat the Crown Prince. Setting aside the vast difference in the subtlety of their spear techniques, the Crown Prince's arm strength was even greater than her older brother's. If the Crown Prince used his full strength to flick her weapon, Yao Huang's spear would be sent flying.
But Yao Huang still gave it her all, because she wanted to see just how far she could push the Crown Prince.
Zhao Sui then noticed that the Crown Princess's eyes, which usually held a gentle smile, had become resolute and sharp. The force transmitted from her spear was also stronger than anything he had ever experienced from her before.
When the Crown Princess had completely exhausted all the spear techniques she had learned and had no new moves left to show, Zhao Sui began his counterattack.
Since the Crown Princess was not just playing around, he would not brush her off either.
However, Zhao Sui did not suppress the Crown Princess with brute strength; he only secured victory through sheer technique the moment she revealed a flaw in her defense.
The sparring match ended there, and Zhao Sui put away his spear.
Yao Huang had fought to her heart's content and took her loss graciously. She walked over to the Crown Prince and asked him to critique her performance.
Zhao Sui praised the Crown Princess's agile footwork, pointed out a few flaws she habitually made, and finally mentioned that her strength was lacking. He suggested that if she could persist in practicing with him for half an hour every morning...
Before the Crown Prince could finish his sentence, Yao Huang politely but firmly declined. Her pursuit of martial arts was not nearly enough to make her give up sleeping in every day.
"I accept my defeat. For the next half a month, Your Highness doesn't need to think about me; you can sleep in the front courtyard by yourself."
The Crown Princess hugged the Crown Prince with great reluctance, speaking with deep sincerity.
The Crown Prince did not respond.
That evening, after dinner, once the wet nurse carried Jun-ge'er away, the Crown Prince also went to the front courtyard.
Yao Huang rested for half an hour before taking a bath. After washing, she sat directly on the couch in the side room, reading a storybook while letting her hair dry. When her hair was almost dry, the Crown Prince came over from the front courtyard. As he passed through the side room, he seemed completely oblivious to the Crown Princess on the couch, walking straight into the inner chamber without looking sideways.
By the time Yao Huang followed him in, all the lights in the inner chamber had been extinguished.
Yao Huang fumbled in the dark toward the canopy bed and whispered to the Crown Prince, who seemed to be sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for her, "Didn't I say..."
The Crown Prince pulled the Crown Princess directly into his arms.
Any nonsense the Crown Princess spouted, he treated as if he had never heard it at all.
