Spring was warm and flowers were blooming; it was the perfect time to go out of the city for a spring outing.
On the fifteenth of the third lunar month, after their afternoon nap, Yao Huang pushed Jun-ge'er to the central palace to pay respects to Empress Zhou. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law then took Jun-ge'er for a stroll in the Imperial Garden.
Once in the Imperial Garden, Jun-ge'er was allowed out of his stroller to go wherever he pleased. Yao Huang and Empress Zhou walked slowly behind him, chatting while keeping an eye on the little boy. Occasionally, Jun-ge'er would walk too fast and take a tumble. Yao Huang did not allow the wet nurse to help him up immediately. After a few times, Jun-ge'er stopped making a fuss over such minor falls; he would just stand up, pat his clothes, and excitedly continue forward.
Having just passed his first birthday, Jun-ge'er's interest in the peach blossoms and crabapple flowers was fleeting. What the little guy loved most was going to the pond to watch the koi fish.
The koi in the Imperial Garden were raised to be large and plump. When they opened their mouths wide, they looked as if they could swallow Jun-ge'er's little fist whole.
At these times, Yao Huang kept a very close watch on Jun-ge'er. She would squat by the pond, supporting him as they watched together. When she got tired of squatting, she would simply sit on the ground and let Jun-ge'er sit on her lap.
Emperor Yongchang came over to stretch his limbs, following the path the trio had taken. Seeing the dignified Crown Princess actually sitting on the ground, he habitually scolded, "What kind of proper behavior is this?"
Yao Huang felt that at moments like this, Emperor Yongchang and the Crown Prince truly looked like father and son.
In major matters, Yao Huang treated Emperor Yongchang as the Emperor, but in minor details like this, she merely treated him as her father-in-law. Unfazed by the reprimand, she pointed at Jun-ge'er in her arms and said, "Your grandson wants to look at the fish; shouldn't I keep a close eye on him?"
Emperor Yongchang looked at the bench a few steps away where Empress Zhou was resting. "You can watch the fish just as well sitting beside your mother."
Yao Huang turned Jun-ge'er around, letting him go to his imperial grandfather.
Jun-ge'er was very close to his grandfather. He toddled over, grabbed the hand his grandfather reached down, and tried to pull him toward the pond.
Emperor Yongchang scooped Jun-ge'er up and sat down next to Empress Zhou. Before he could even point out the koi in the lake, Jun-ge'er started squirming in his arms, insisting on standing right by the edge of the pond.
Empress Zhou laughed out loud.
Emperor Yongchang continued to scold his daughter-in-law, "You've spoiled him."
After the scolding, he hurriedly led the squirming Jun-ge'er back to the bank. At first, he bent over to protect the little guy, but it didn't take long before he squatted down. After squatting for a while, his legs grew sore. Emperor Yongchang stole a glance at his daughter-in-law, only to find that she had gone behind the bench to massage Empress Zhou's shoulders. He snorted, and eventually followed his daughter-in-law's example, sitting directly on the ground and holding Jun-ge'er in his arms.
Since he was her emperor father-in-law, Yao Huang didn't dare shoot back a "What kind of proper behavior is this?"
"Alright, come sit down too," Empress Zhou said, patting Yao Huang's hand. She had been living a very leisurely life lately and didn't have any aches or pains.
Yao Huang took Jun-ge'er back, allowing Emperor Yongchang and his wife to sit side by side.
Emperor Yongchang leaned back against the bench and let out a long, contented sigh. His daughter-in-law, sitting further away, didn't hear it, but Empress Zhou certainly did.
Knowing that Emperor Yongchang easily grew fatigued from handling state affairs and was no longer in his youth, Empress Zhou considerately walked behind the bench and gently massaged his shoulders.
If it were just the two of them, it would be one thing. Emperor Yongchang glanced at his daughter-in-law and grandson, then whispered to Empress Zhou, "How can we do this in front of the younger generation?"
Empress Zhou smiled. "They are our own family; Your Majesty shouldn't overthink it."
Emperor Yongchang silently acquiesced.
As long as Jun-ge'er could see the fish, he didn't need his mother to talk to him. With something on her mind, Yao Huang looked toward the Emperor and Empress on the bench.
Emperor Yongchang felt a bit awkward, but to his surprise, his daughter-in-law didn't seem to find his interaction with Empress Zhou inappropriate at all. Instead, she spoke directly to him, "Imperial Father, the spring scenery is so lovely. When you have your day off in a few days, would you like to take Imperial Mother out of the city for a spring outing?"
Emperor Yongchang replied, "If you want the Crown Prince to take you, just say so. Would I forbid you from going?"
His second son had suffered for the past four years, unable to walk. Now that he could finally move freely this year, as long as he wanted to go out—let alone a spring outing outside the city—even if he wanted to travel to Jiangnan for three to five months, Emperor Yongchang would agree. After all, he could shoulder the state affairs himself, giving the Crown Prince time to make up for the regrets of the past few years.
Yao Huang said, "Of course I know Imperial Father wouldn't forbid us. I just feel bad that Imperial Father has been toiling year after year without a moment of leisure. The Imperial Garden has its merits, but the outdoors outside the city has its own rustic charm."
Emperor Yongchang replied, "I experienced that rustic charm when I was young. Now that I'm older, everywhere looks the same. Rather than tossing and turning on the road out of the city, it's much more relaxing and comfortable to just stroll in the Imperial Garden."
Yao Huang said, "Imperial Father is just being lazy. You look like you're only in your early forties. My maternal grandfather is almost seventy, and he still goes down to the fields to farm in person every year."
Emperor Yongchang, who was simultaneously called lazy and praised for looking young: "..."
At dusk on the nineteenth of the third lunar month, after the Crown Prince finished his duties, he returned to the Eastern Palace to change into casual clothes. He then brought his wife and son to the Qianyuan Hall to bid farewell to Emperor Yongchang.
Emperor Yongchang knew the family of three was going to spend the night at the Crown Princess's maternal grandfather's house. Since the guards and everything else were already arranged, he simply hugged Jun-ge'er and didn't say much else.
Two ordinary-looking carriages were already waiting outside the Xihua Gate. The wet nurse and Aji got into the second carriage, while the Crown Prince and Princess took Jun-ge'er's stroller into the first. Zhang Yue and Wang Dong led eight guards in the open, while three squads of hidden guards disguised as commoners were stationed outside the city gates, along the road to the Luo family's home, and at the inn in the town where the Luo family lived.
Because the Crown Prince lived deep within the Eastern Palace, his personal guards were usually quite idle. These past two days finally gave them a chance to serve.
When the carriage exited the south city gate, the evening sun was beautiful. Yao Huang lifted the curtains on both sides and supported Jun-ge'er so he could look at the scenery outside.
Jun-ge'er wanted to poke his head out, and Yao Huang had to exert some effort to hold the little guy back. Seeing this, Zhao Sui took Jun-ge'er and told the Crown Princess to sit further inside.
The one accompanying Jun-ge'er at the window then became the Crown Prince.
Yao Huang leaned against the Crown Prince's back, resting her chin on his shoulder, and whispered, "Sticking your head out like that—does it conform to the etiquette expected of Your Highness?"
Zhao Sui: "...I am taking care of Jun-ge'er, so it's excusable. If the commoners outside were to see you like this, that would be a true breach of etiquette."
The "improper" Crown Princess then did something even more improper—she stretched her neck and bit the Crown Prince's ear.
Zhao Sui: "..."
Fortunately, the Crown Princess only teased him for a moment before pulling back.
When the sun completely set, Zhao Sui lowered the carriage curtain and ordered the driver to speed up.
When they arrived at the Luo family home, night had just fallen. The townspeople and the neighboring residents were already asleep, which conveniently spared them the trouble of being stared at.
The Luo family's courtyard was very large. The wing room where Luo Jinhua had lived before her marriage had always been kept. Three years ago, because Yao Huang had brought the Prince of Hui as a guest, the Luo family had simply torn down the three old wing rooms after the couple left and rebuilt them. They were specially reserved to host their Princess granddaughter and Prince grandson-in-law should they visit again. Unexpectedly, they came in handy tonight, only the status of their granddaughter and grandson-in-law had risen another rank.
After exchanging simple greetings, everyone moved to the main hall. The Second Aunt served two bowls of her signature chicken soup braised noodles before retiring with the First Aunt and the two Uncles, leaving only the maternal grandfather and grandmother to entertain their noble guests.
The wet nurse and Jun-ge'er had already eaten dinner in the palace, so they went straight to the north room of the wing to wash up and rest.
Zhao Sui ate his noodles quietly, listening to the Crown Princess chat with the two elders about everyday matters.
After the meal, Yao Huang accompanied her brisk-walking grandmother to wash the dishes, letting the Crown Prince return to their room first.
Zhao Sui waited in the room for about half an hour before the Crown Princess came in carrying two buckets of hot water. Zhao Sui frowned at the sight. "Why didn't you call me?"
Yao Huang replied, "It's not like I can't lift them. I just brought them over on my way. If Your Highness wants to help, you can toss the water out later. Just throw it into the vegetable patch on the north side."
Zhao Sui nodded.
Yao Huang introduced the two brand-new elm wood buckets to him, adding that the bedding, towels, and cabinets in the room were all new as well.
Zhao Sui said, "We shouldn't have let Grandfather and the others go to such expense."
Yao Huang said, "It's alright. The wood is just the ordinary kind commonly used by commoners, and the covers for the quilts and mattresses are made from the silk I sent over previously. Even counting the three newly built rooms, the total cost didn't exceed thirty taels of silver."
Zhao Sui took an envelope from his robes containing two hundred taels in silver notes, telling the Crown Princess to give it to her grandmother before they left tomorrow.
Yao Huang teased, "Truly worthy of being the son of the God of Wealth."
Zhao Sui rubbed the top of the Crown Princess's head.
With only this one empty room, the couple inevitably had to bathe in the same place tonight. However, the Crown Prince insisted that the Crown Princess wash first, while he sat by the dim candlelight, reading a book with his back to her.
Having such a reserved husband made Yao Huang prone to shyness as well; she wiped herself down with bated breath, afraid that the Crown Prince might suddenly turn around.
But the Crown Prince remained a perfect gentleman. It wasn't until Yao Huang had put on her inner garments and sat on the heated brick bed that he finally put down his book.
Yao Huang teased him softly, "Do you want me to turn around?"
Zhao Sui didn't need her to, but he lifted the Crown Princess down from the edge of the bed, helped her put on her shoes, and then set her outside the door, whispering, "Go see if Jun-ge'er is asleep yet."
With that, the Crown Prince closed the door and slid the latch into place.
Yao Huang was speechless.
The wet nurse lived in the room opposite. Yao Huang couldn't bring herself to unlatch the door just to peek at her husband bathing, nor did she want to, so she had no choice but to go sit in the wet nurse's room for a while. Jun-ge'er, who had been excited the whole journey, was already asleep. The wet nurse entertained the Crown Princess somewhat nervously, afraid that she might find fault with how she was serving the little young master.
In the quietness, Yao Huang heard the sound of the Crown Prince going to the vegetable patch to empty the water. Only then did she advise the wet nurse to rest early and got up to leave.
When Zhao Sui returned from emptying the water, he found that the Crown Princess was already lying under the covers on the bed.
Zhao Sui took off the brand-new casual clothes he had temporarily put on, lifted the quilt, and lay flat on his back next to the Crown Princess.
Yao Huang gave him the cold shoulder for a moment before turning over to lean into his embrace, asking, "Are you used to staying here?"
Actually, leaving the city tomorrow morning would have been fine too, but that would mean spending the whole morning and afternoon traveling. It was better to rush over a night in advance so they could start having fun right after breakfast the next morning.
Zhao Sui replied, "It's about the same as staying in the Bamboo Courtyard."
Even if there were some inconveniences, it was only for one night; Zhao Sui wouldn't mind.
He discussed with the Crown Princess, "Should I have Guo Shu pick some places with beautiful scenery outside the city to build a few villas? That way, we won't have to disturb Grandfather's family every time."
Yao Huang asked, "How big of a villa? About how much silver would it cost to build one?"
Zhao Sui answered, "Since we'll only stay for a few nights each year, a three-courtyard layout will do. The front and rear courtyards can be left for the accompanying maids and guards. The materials don't need to be too lavish. One villa would cost around three hundred taels of silver."
He would draw the blueprints himself, removing any redundant rooms. Three hundred taels would be enough to ensure the residence was decent and elegant.
Noble families easily spent over a thousand taels to build a single villa outside the city. For the Crown Prince to build five villas for only one thousand five hundred taels—if word got out, he would either be praised for his frugality or mocked for his shabbiness.
Yao Huang thought this was a great idea. There were plenty of fun places around the outskirts of the capital; they couldn't possibly come to her grandfather's town every time.
But she reminded the Crown Prince, "Let's build a four-courtyard one in the place with the best scenery. Who knows, maybe one day Imperial Father will be willing to travel with us."
Zhao Sui pinched the Crown Princess's ear.
Yao Huang knew the Crown Prince wouldn't try anything funny tonight, so she deliberately rubbed against him until he was aroused before smiling and turning away.
The Crown Prince stared at the window, calculating exactly how many villas to build.
Early the next morning, the Crown Prince's family took a carriage to the river outside the town. The family of three were all dressed in ordinary clothes, so most of the commoners didn't recognize them.
The hidden guards kept their distance, and Qingai and the others stayed behind at the Luo family compound.
Yao Huang led Jun-ge'er to the riverbank to throw stones, while Zhao Sui laid out a felt mat by the river before following them with a small wooden bucket.
Before dusk, the Crown Prince's family returned to the palace and went straight to the Qianyuan Hall to pay their respects to Emperor Yongchang.
Jun-ge'er excitedly pointed at the bucket in his father's hand for his imperial grandfather to see.
Emperor Yongchang leaned over without much interest, but upon seeing the bottom of the bucket densely packed with river crabs, he looked at the Crown Prince. "Did you catch any of these?"
Zhao Sui replied, "...Yes."
The Crown Princess had been catching them happily, and Jun-ge'er had been laughing joyously; unable to resist, he had rolled up his sleeves and joined in.
Emperor Yongchang imagined the scene and gave an inscrutable smile. He picked up his grandson and asked, "Besides river crabs, what else did you see outside?"
Jun-ge'er blinked and popped out two words: "Moo cow!"
Emperor Yongchang grew interested. "What does the moo cow do?"
Jun-ge'er wriggled down from his imperial grandfather's arms and pointed at the floor. "Field!"
Emperor Yongchang was surprised. "You even know about farming?"
Yao Huang said, "Jun-ge'er even helped his great-grandfather sow corn seeds. He got both feet covered in dirt and still couldn't bear to leave."
Emperor Yongchang had initially thought the Crown Princess just went out of the city to play, but now he nodded in satisfaction. "The nation relies on the people as its foundation, and the people rely on food as their heaven. Royal descendants are born into wealth and rank; it is only right for them to personally experience the bitterness of farming to sympathize with the hardships of the commoners."
Yao Huang was speechless.
Just scattering some seeds is considered bitter? He really is a doting biological grandfather!
After Emperor Yongchang had his fill of doting on his grandson, the Crown Prince's family returned to the Eastern Palace. A few days later, when Zhao Sui came to the Imperial Study to report on matters, he took the opportunity to mention his plan to build villas outside the city, while handing the blueprints for the five villas to his imperial father for review.
Emperor Yongchang asked, "...Why are they all so small?"
Zhao Sui replied, "They are just for short stays on rest days, so this kind of residence is sufficient. I only fear it might wrong Imperial Father."
Emperor Yongchang said, "Wrong me how?"
Zhao Sui took out the blueprint for the four-courtyard villa and pointed to the main courtyard, saying, "This villa is on Mount Li. The scenery there is beautiful, and the Crown Princess wanted to invite Imperial Father and Imperial Mother to travel with us."
Emperor Yongchang replied, "...I have a large villa on Mount Li. You don't need to build this one; I will reward you with mine."
What mountains and waters—he had toured them all in his youth too!
