Once on the shore, Zhao Sui wrapped the Crown Princess in a large towel, stuffed their outer garments into her arms, and then carried her horizontally, walking along the path they had come from toward the rear hall.
Yao Huang's arms and legs were all wrapped in the towel, with only her head and a pair of feet exposed.
The summer night was warm. The two lamps by the road couldn't really illuminate much, but as the Crown Prince gradually stepped into the glow of one of the lamps, Yao Huang finally saw clearly his handsome face, still carrying a hint of moisture. She saw him looking straight ahead as if nothing had happened, his skin as white as jade, his breathing steady as if he were carrying nothing at all.
In a daze, Yao Huang remembered the midsummer of last year. At that time, the Crown Prince was still in a wheelchair. If he wanted to steal a kiss, he had to find an excuse to trick her out of the water, and she had to cast aside her shyness and fully cooperate for him to barely succeed.
But now, the Crown Prince who could stand up had a towering figure. It was much easier for him to grab her and bully her.
Entering the rear hall, from the courtyard to the main hall to the inner chamber, there was no one around.
Zhao Sui tossed aside their outer garments that were on the Crown Princess, placed her on the bed to stand, and then pulled away the towel wrapping her.
The Crown Prince had been able to walk without the help of a handrail for half a year. The calluses on his palms had long disappeared, leaving only two thin calluses from gripping a spear after he resumed his morning exercises.
But the Crown Prince's palms had regained the heat that a twenty-six-year-old young man should have. After he was able to stand up, and after he gained the dignity of the Crown Prince yet became increasingly infatuated with her, Yao Huang found it harder and harder to withstand these hands of his.
She lay weakly on the Crown Prince's shoulder, the mist in her eyes growing heavier, and her voice growing softer: "Does Your Highness really want my life?"
Even though she already had Jun-ge'er, she was only twenty years old this year. When the twenty-six-year-old Crown Prince's martial prowess had returned to its peak, there were moments when Yao Huang was truly afraid. It was like sitting on a swing and swinging to the highest point—the joy was real, but the thrill and panic were also real.
Zhao Sui kissed the Crown Princess's ear again and said in a low voice, "I won't."
He just liked hearing her cry.
At dusk the next day, the Crown Prince came to the Crown Prince's residence outside the palace again, because the Crown Princess had already found an excuse for him: he was going out of the city to ride horses tomorrow.
Having feasted for two consecutive sessions last night, tonight the couple took Jun-ge'er to the You Pool together. Under the Crown Prince's reminder, Yao Huang changed into a set of clothes and trousers that didn't expose her arms, legs, or chest before entering the water. The Crown Prince carried Jun-ge'er and walked back and forth in the pool.
Yao Huang swam two laps by herself, suddenly came behind the Crown Prince, and hugged his waist from behind.
Zhao Sui carefully held Jun-ge'er with one hand and grabbed the Crown Princess's right hand, which might cause trouble at any time, with the other.
Yao Huang complained softly, "Can't I even hug you?"
Zhao Sui: "Whatever you want tonight."
His Highness the Crown Prince defended tightly, so Yao Huang had to give up on the idea of quickly pulling down his trousers when he wasn't paying attention.
Since the Crown Prince's explicit reason for leaving the palace was to take the Crown Princess out of the city to ride horses, that night Zhao Sui only made the Crown Princess cry once. He carried her to the bathroom to clean up, and then they lay down in the inner chamber, which had an ice basin and a faint breeze from the lake, and went to sleep.
The Crown Princess, who had been served by the Crown Prince in bed, usually slept exceptionally sweetly. As she slept, she suddenly heard a crisp clap of thunder, which startled her into opening her eyes.
"It's going to rain."
Zhao Sui pulled the Crown Princess into his arms, holding half of her shoulder as he spoke.
The wind grew stronger, making the silk curtains sway. With another clap of thunder, Yao Huang was a bit worried about Jun-ge'er: "I wonder if he will be afraid of the thunder."
Zhao Sui listened intently for a moment and didn't hear Jun-ge'er crying from the side room. He figured the child was sleeping deeply enough.
"I'll go close the window."
Yao Huang hummed in agreement, watching the Crown Prince step out of the canopy bed in his neat inner garments, his tall figure coming to a stop by the window.
Noticing that the Crown Prince went to check the water clock when he returned, Yao Huang asked when he sat back on the bed, "What time is it?"
Zhao Sui: "Almost the hour of Mao."
Just as he finished speaking, there was a sudden crackling sound of dense raindrops hitting the window outside, turning directly into a torrential downpour.
Yao Huang sighed casually, "It hasn't rained in a long time. This rain will probably last all day. We definitely won't be able to ride horses today."
Zhao Sui: "Do you really want to ride horses?"
Yao Huang chuckled secretly. During the scorching summer, if it didn't rain, it would be terribly hot. She didn't want to ride horses at this time; it was just an excuse to stay an extra night outside the palace.
Zhao Sui acted as if he didn't see the Crown Princess's smile, reached out and pulled her over, making her lie on top of him.
Yao Huang: "..."
She wanted to climb down, but the Crown Prince pinned her down with one hand so she couldn't struggle free.
Yao Huang immediately changed tactics, lying flat on his chest and playing dead: "So sleepy, I can't even open my eyes."
Zhao Sui: "You sounded very energetic just now."
Yao Huang: "I still don't want to move."
Naturally, the Crown Prince had ways that didn't require the Crown Princess to exert herself. He hugged her and rolled half a turn to the side.
The continuous sound of rain covered the Crown Princess's crying and scolding, so the Crown Prince became even more emboldened.
When dawn broke, the Crown Prince tucked in the exhausted and sleeping Crown Princess, went to the front hall to eat by himself, and then brought Jun-ge'er over. He sat on a bench in the covered corridor with Jun-ge'er in his arms, enjoying the rain, and taught Jun-ge'er, who could already speak simple long sentences, to read poetry.
Jun-ge'er recited two poems with his imperial father and missed his imperial mother.
Zhao Sui: "Your imperial mother is practicing calligraphy. We can't disturb her right now."
Hearing this, Jun-ge'er said, "I want to practice calligraphy too."
So Zhao Sui carried the little guy to the study.
Jun-ge'er was far from the age to learn how to hold a brush. Zhao Sui spread a piece of Xuan paper on the desk, arranged several colors of paint, and let Jun-ge'er scribble casually.
When Jun-ge'er had made a mess of the Xuan paper, Zhao Sui supported the little guy's shoulder with one hand and took over the paintbrush with the other, trying to alter a few spots on Jun-ge'er's "masterpiece" to create some appreciable scenery.
When Yao Huang, who had slept nearly two hours longer than the Crown Prince, woke up, she saw the painting jointly completed by the father and son on the table in the inner chamber. The painting featured rockeries, lake water, and shrubs; there were windows, corridors, and pavilions. Searching and identifying, Yao Huang also saw a toddler squatting by a rock, and a golden dog tail sticking out from behind the rock.
The Crown Prince inscribed the date on the painting, titled "Lazy Slumber."
Yao Huang: "..."
Fine, this painting was clearly done by the father and son. A family of three, two were awake, so who else could the lazily slumbering one be?
In September, during the Double Ninth Festival, it was suitable to climb high and look far, but Yao Huang didn't join the festive crowds.
In the middle of the month, Emperor Yongchang took the Crown Prince, Prince Kang, and the Fourth Prince to inspect the military at the four major capital camps. The Third Prince, Commandery Prince Qing, was still reflecting on his mistakes behind closed doors.
The military inspection began on the sixteenth, inspecting one camp a day. By noon on the nineteenth, Emperor Yongchang, the Crown Prince, and the Fourth Prince could rest after returning to the palace from the North Camp.
The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince first respectfully saw their imperial father off to the Qianyuan Hall.
As they walked, Emperor Yongchang turned back and asked the Crown Prince, "Aren't you going to Mount Li? When are you leaving?"
Tomorrow was a rest day, and the Crown Prince had already requested permission to take the Crown Princess to the Mount Li villa for a night after today's military inspection, returning after climbing high and enjoying the mountain scenery the next day.
Climbing high and scaling mountains was an opportunity that his second son had regained after losing it for four years. Emperor Yongchang naturally wanted to satisfy his son's desire to travel.
Zhao Sui said, "We will leave after lunch."
Emperor Yongchang: "Are you taking Jun-ge'er?"
Zhao Sui: "No, it's over forty miles away. I plan to ride horses back and forth with the Crown Princess."
Just as Emperor Yongchang was about to nod, the sixteen-year-old Fourth Prince asked with anticipation, Father, I also want to go on the trip with Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law. Can I?
As a playful prince who had grown up obediently in the palace until the age of sixteen, the Fourth Prince was dying to be granted a title and his own estate. However, since he was not old enough yet, he could only seize every possible opportunity to leave the palace!
Emperor Yongchang: ...
He looked at the Crown Prince as if watching a play.
Zhao Sui said to the Fourth Prince, I have already promised to take your Second Sister-in-law on a trip this time. Since you, Fourth Brother, have an interest in mountain climbing, I will accompany you on a trip at the end of the month if I am not busy.
The Fourth Prince replied, It does not matter if I go this time! Second Brother, you can just keep Second Sister-in-law company. Once we reach Mount Li, I will take my guards and play by myself, and then we can travel back together.
Zhao Sui: That is inappropriate. Since you are leaving the palace with me, I must be responsible for your safety.
The Fourth Prince: ...I am already sixteen. I promise I will not cause any trouble!
Zhao Sui: Even if you were twenty-six, as long as you leave the palace with me, I would still have to keep an eye on you.
The Fourth Prince looked helplessly at his father.
Emperor Yongchang asked him, Do you know how high the main peak of Mount Li is?
The Fourth Prince: Over four hundred zhang.
Emperor Yongchang: Hmm. Jingshan in the Imperial Garden is six zhang high. If you climb up from the east side and come down from the west side, that counts as one trip. If you can complete seventy trips, I will let you leave the palace at the end of the month. If you cannot finish it, do not even think about going anywhere.
The Fourth Prince: ...
Emperor Yongchang gave his youngest son's flabby arm a hard squeeze, scoffed coldly, and walked away.
After seeing his father off, Zhao Sui returned to the Eastern Palace and did not mention the Fourth Prince's nonsense to the Crown Princess at all.
After having lunch and resting for half a shichen, Yao Huang changed into a riding habit. She and the Crown Prince mounted their respective horses, Niguang and Jingwu, and galloped toward Mount Li.
Both were exceptional steeds capable of traveling a thousand li a day. Without needing to gallop exhaustingly, they easily arrived at the foot of Mount Li in half a shichen.
Emperor Yongchang had chosen a mountain peak here to build a villa. He had not publicized this matter, but this peak only had his one villa. No matter which capital nobles wanted to buy land here, the government would not approve it. Over time, smart people naturally figured out who owned the villa here.
Since the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were coming to stay at the villa this time, half of the Crown Prince's eight hundred personal guards were responsible for securing the mountain, while the other half were scattered along the Crown Prince's route out of the palace and various sections of Mount Li's main peak for the next day, strictly guarding against any assassin sneak attacks.
Yao Huang only knew that there were guards secretly protecting the couple, but she had no idea there were so many. After enjoying the scenery at the villa bestowed by Emperor Yongchang for half the afternoon, she had a good, peaceful night's sleep with the Crown Prince. Early the next morning, the couple enthusiastically set off to climb the mountain.
On the main peak of Mount Li, which was over four hundred zhang high, Yao Huang playfully raced ahead of the Crown Prince. It was not until they climbed to a height of about three hundred zhang that Yao Huang started panting heavily.
Zhao Sui: Shall I carry you on my back?
Yao Huang shook her head. The mountain path is steep. Even if Your Highness walks steadily, I would still be scared.
Besides, what if there were Emperor Yongchang's spies among those guards? If Emperor Yongchang found out she was treating the Crown Prince like a beast of burden, would he be happy?
After resting for a while, the couple continued their way up.
By the time they finally reached the summit, the sun was already high in the sky. The warm autumn sun shone on their faces, and a cool breeze gently blew past the Crown Princess's red, sweaty cheeks.
There were still seven or eight other hikers at the summit, and perhaps one or two of them were the Crown Prince's hidden guards.
Zhao Sui led the Crown Princess behind a large rock on the cliff, took out a handkerchief, and helped wipe her sweat.
Yao Huang whispered, Is this not considered improper?
The Crown Prince turned a deaf ear.
Yao Huang told him to stand there while she peeked out from behind the rock. Once this wave of hikers had gone down and the summit was empty, Yao Huang immediately pulled the Crown Prince out and agilely jumped onto his back.
Steadily carrying the Crown Princess on his back, the Crown Prince smiled silently.
With one hand resting on the Crown Prince's shoulder and the other cupped around her mouth, Yao Huang shouted the Crown Prince's name toward the vast, empty expanse below the mountain.
As she shouted from here, waves of echoes returned from the distance, as if the surrounding lower peaks were all congratulating the Crown Prince on his ascent to the summit today.
