On the nineteenth of March, it started raining early in the morning. Like every spring rain in previous years, it pattered down continuously.
Yao Huang knew this was a welcome rain; only after a few spring showers could the commoners begin their farming, but...
Yao Huang sat by the window, looking at the painting she had hung on the opposite wall. When her family and sisters saw this painting, they would only see her, but Yao Huang could always see right through the painting to the handsome young gentleman kneeling on the grass, holding a brush to paint.
"I have a solitary nature and speak very little."
"I can listen to you speak."
With a creak, Aji pushed open the door and came in. Turning her head, she saw her young miss staring blankly at the painting again, her cheeks flushed red and the corners of her mouth slightly turned up, as if she was savoring some wonderful memory.
Aji coughed deliberately.
Yao Huang snapped back to reality, shot Aji a glare, and lowered her head to continue flipping through her storybook.
Aji asked, "Why aren't you going out to play with the other young ladies, Miss?"
A little rain like this could never stop her young lady's playful mood.
Yao Huang had no way to explain it to her.
After watching the rain all day, there was no sign of it letting up by dusk. Yao Lin came back from the martial arts academy first, and about two quarters of an hour later, Yao Zhenhu also returned from the East Camp. Yao Lin had borrowed an umbrella from somewhere, but Yao Zhenhu had walked straight through the rain. Wiping his face and seeing his daughter looking at him with concern, Yao Zhenhu's heart warmed. "Don't worry, a little rain won't hurt your father."
Yao Huang took another look at the big black mule tied in the shed, which was also completely soaked.
Yao Zhenhu went inside to change his clothes. Yao Lin sat down next to his sister and whispered, "Li Ting..."
Yao Huang shot him a dagger-like glare. "Don't mention him to me."
Yao Lin sheepishly shut his mouth.
His sister couldn't see how remorseful Li Tingwang looked, but he had seen it every day for the past ten days. The guy had lost a lot of weight and stumbled over his recitations, looking as if he had lost his soul.
Yao Huang snorted, "You didn't tell anyone about accompanying me to Xiangshan Temple tomorrow morning, did you?"
Her brother often made plans to play polo with others. Yao Huang didn't want her brother to cancel on them at the last minute because of her, so she had to tell him in advance to keep this rest day free. But she had laid down the law beforehand: if her brother let it slip and caused her to bump into Li Tingwang at Xiangshan Temple or on the way there, she wouldn't let him come home on his rest days for a whole year. And if he did come back, he would only be met with her and their mother's brooms, and he wouldn't get to eat braised pork.
Yao Lin replied, "No, I don't want to be unable to return home."
Yao Huang stared at her brother for a long time. Seeing that his gaze was open and not the least bit guilty, she believed him.
After taking a bath at night, Yao Huang picked out the dress, shoes, and socks she would wear tomorrow from her wardrobe. She even laid out the jewelry she was going to wear on her dressing table in advance. However, as soon as she got into bed and heard the pattering rain outside, worry gripped Yao Huang's heart again. What if it was still raining tomorrow morning? Should she go or not? If she went, she was afraid that Prince Hui wouldn't show up, and he might think that her rejection that day had been insincere and that she was actually very willing. But if she didn't go, she was afraid that Prince Hui would go, and she would become someone who broke their promise.
Yao Huang tossed and turned frequently.
Aji poked her head out from the neighboring bed. "What's wrong, Miss?"
Yao Huang replied, "...The sound of the rain is too loud."
Aji: "..."
Prince Hui's Manor.
Zhao Sui listened to the rain for half the night. It wasn't until the sound of the rain outside the window had completely faded, and until he pushed open the window and reached out his hand for a long time without catching a single drop of rain, that he finally went to sleep.
In the early morning, Yao Huang woke up. She only lazed about for a moment before suddenly crawling out of bed and pushing open the top window to look outside.
The slightly cool air carrying the scent of earth rushed against her face. The soft and bright morning light had already filled the entire courtyard. Although the ground was wet, it was somewhat firm, so she wouldn't get her soles full of mud with one step!
Seeing the good weather, Yao Huang quickly got off the heated bed. Wearing only her inner garments and with her hair loose, she ran to the mule shed in the backyard. Seeing that the two mules looked fine and were eating the forage mixed with soybean meal in the trough, Yao Huang patted each mule's neck. Humming a little tune, she turned around, only to see her mother standing at the back door, having stared at her for who knows how long.
Feeling guilty, Yao Huang pretended that nothing had happened and walked back.
Luo Jinhua looked at her daughter and asked, "Are you meeting someone else at Xiangshan Temple today?"
Yao Huang replied, "No."
Luo Jinhua said, "Alright, then Mother will accompany you. It just so happens that I also want to pray to Buddha."
Yao Huang: "..."
Her suspicions confirmed, Luo Jinhua immediately pulled her daughter further away and asked in a low voice, "Which family's young man is it? Do I know him?"
Yao Huang knew she couldn't hide it from her mother, so she twisted her hands shyly and said, "It's that pedantic Lord Zhao that brother complained about, the one who lent him the divine steed. I met him again at Jinxiu Garden last time, and he also painted that picture for me. He even directly asked if he could send a matchmaker to propose. I was afraid that his family background was too high and he would regret it after marriage, so I said we could try interacting more today to see."
Luo Jinhua quickly summarized a few pieces of information about Lord Zhao: a young official, quite wealthy family background, well-versed in both pen and sword, and knowledgeable and observant of etiquette!
"What kind of family background?" Luo Jinhua wanted to know more. After all, he was a candidate for her son-in-law, so she had to help her daughter check him out.
Yao Huang replied, "Very high. I'll tell you when I get back. In case I find some bad traits in him today, or if he disdains me, then I won't even need to say anything."
Luo Jinhua hesitated to speak.
Yao Huang smiled and said, "Alright, my brother will be accompanying me. Besides, Lord Zhao is quite thin-skinned. He didn't even dare to stare at me for too long when he was painting for me. Rest assured, Mother."
Her daughter was smart enough, her son was young but good at fighting, and that Lord Zhao even regulated young men taking off their clothes to play ball. Luo Jinhua was indeed quite reassured.
After breakfast, the ground was even drier. Yao Huang rode a mule and left the house with her brother.
When leaving the city, Yao Huang discreetly looked around, wondering if Prince Hui would be waiting here early. After looking around and not finding him, Yao Huang didn't know whether she should feel relieved or disappointed.
Xiangshan Temple was more than thirty miles away in the southern suburbs of the capital. The siblings rode against the refreshing spring breeze for half an hour and arrived. At the foot of the mountain, there was a large courtyard specifically for taking care of visitors' carriages and horses. The siblings entrusted their mules and had just received a token from the yard manager and were about to leave when Yao Lin suddenly pointed at a horse shed and said, "Look, Lord Zhao's horse!"
Before Yao Huang even saw the divine steed, her heartbeat sped up. After confirming that her brother hadn't mistaken it, Yao Huang knew that Prince Hui was more sincere than she had guessed, having actually entered the temple early to wait.
The siblings stepped onto the stone steps leading to Xiangshan Temple side by side. The path had probably been swept by the monks in advance, as there were no puddles at all.
Xiangshan Temple was halfway up the mountain. To accommodate elderly pilgrims, three pavilions had been built along the stone steps, making it convenient for pilgrims to rest temporarily or take shelter from the rain.
As they approached the second pavilion, Yao Lin, who was taller than his sister, recognized Lord Zhao sitting in the pavilion before she did. The young man happily waved his hand, "Lord Zhao!"
Yao Huang was too shy to look directly at Prince Hui, so she noticed that there were a few other people in the pavilion. Four robust men stood at the four corners of the pavilion, giving off a domineering guarding aura that forbade others from entering. On the three long benches inside the pavilion, Prince Hui sat facing this way, while another figure sat on the bench opposite him, with their back to the siblings.
Yao Huang felt a sense of strangeness. Did Prince Hui, who had brought four guards, run into an acquaintance while waiting for her here, or did he come by himself and happen to meet someone equally noble and of the same status while passing by?
Regardless, her brother had already greeted them, and Prince Hui had stood up, so Yao Huang could only follow her brother over.
The two plainclothes guards stationed outside the pavilion stepped back a little, a gesture allowing the siblings to enter.
Yao Lin glanced at the two men, as well as the two guards stationed on the outer side of the other end of the pavilion, and asked curiously, Lord Zhao, are they your guards?
Zhao Sui looked at Yao Huang and explained, They are my father's guards.
Yao Huang was speechless.
Yao Lin was also startled, and at the same time as his sister, he looked toward the other person sitting in the pavilion.
What Yao Lin saw was an older male elder of about forty years old. He had a proper, rectangular face and a pair of phoenix eyes very similar to Lord Zhao's. However, this man's official rank was definitely higher than Lord Zhao's. With just a casual glance from him, Yao Lin felt a spine-tingling sensation, as if all his inner thoughts were being seen through.
Yao Lin rubbed his arms and smiled awkwardly, Uncle, you look very imposing. You must be a high official, right?
So what if he was an official? He was Lord Zhao's student, not a criminal. Why was the man being so serious?
Yao Huang was also frightened by the aura of Prince Hui's father; her legs felt a bit weak. However, upon hearing her brother's foolish words, Yao Huang knew she had to steady herself. Otherwise, if her brother kept getting startled, he would definitely do even more foolish things. After all, he who does not know is not guilty, and Prince Hui had introduced him simply as his father.
Greetings, Lord Zhao. Greetings, Uncle, Yao Huang said, curtsying.
There was no need to guess; Prince Hui must have let something slip in front of the Emperor. This monarch had come in person to see this daughter of a Centurion, to see if she was truly qualified to be Prince Hui's princess consort.
This could be considered a matchmaking meeting, and such meetings were private affairs. Yao Huang made up her mind: unless Emperor Yongchang decided to put on airs as a monarch, she would simply treat him as the father of her prospective match!
So what if he was the Emperor? Only if he was satisfied with her would Yao Huang need to consider him as a future father-in-law. If he acted high and mighty and completely looked down on her, then no matter how respectful and flattering she was, she would only be further despised by the peerless monarch. Rather than trembling in fear and being underestimated, it was better to act according to her true nature. Anyway, she had insisted on interacting more with Prince Hui precisely to understand each other better.
Emperor Yongchang understood. This little girl had not told her family about his son's true identity, which proved she had not become complacent just because she had gained his son's favor.
Dispense with the formalities.
Emperor Yongchang excused the little girl from her bow and then smiled at Yao Lin. I have indeed been an official in the court for a long time. I may have accumulated some official authority, but you siblings need not mind it.
Yao Lin said, It's fine, it's fine. What a coincidence. Did Master Zhao and Lord Zhao also come to offer incense?
Emperor Yongchang replied, Yes, but unfortunately, I am getting old. I am already tired after climbing just this bit of the mountain path.
Yao Lin said, Then you must be a civil official. My father is about your age, and he can climb these stairs without his legs getting sore or running out of breath.
Emperor Yongchang, who had already thoroughly investigated Yao Zhenhu's background through Jiang Qu, the Commander of the Eastern Camp Guard, and who was exactly ten years older than Yao Zhenhu, was left speechless.
Yao Huang, who was worried that her brother's words were unpleasant to hear, was surprised to meet the faint smile at the corner of Emperor Yongchang's mouth.
Emperor Yongchang said, Alright, we've rested enough. Let's continue up. How about you siblings walk with us?
Yao Lin agreed without a second thought.
The stone steps could only comfortably accommodate two people walking side by side. Emperor Yongchang asked Yao Lin to walk with him and asked, I still don't know what you siblings are named?
Yao Lin answered, My name is Yao Lin, the Lin from Qilin. My sister is Yao Huang, the Yao Huang from the Yao Huang peony.
Zhao Sui looked at the girl beside him.
Yao Huang's face felt hot. Her name sounded nice in a way, but it could also be considered rather tacky.
Emperor Yongchang glanced back. Setting aside family background and status, this girl from the Yao family truly lived up to her name as the king of flowers. No wonder his son, who had always been dense regarding romance, was filled with joy the moment he saw her. Even he himself, who had originally been eighty percent against it, found his heart softening by half upon seeing her.
After entering the temple, Emperor Yongchang said to his son, I... the scenery here is not bad. You go stroll around with these siblings. I will go play a game of chess with the abbot, and I'll leave first after I'm done.
Zhao Sui replied, Yes.
Yao Huang steeled her heart and spoke up, Uncle, may I ask you a question?
Emperor Yongchang smiled, Speak freely.
Yao Huang asked him to step away a few paces. Looking down at her feet, she whispered, Before I ask, please forgive us siblings for the crime of not kneeling and bowing. This commoner truly did not expect to have the honor of meeting you. Down there just now, I was completely flustered, and it would have seemed too deliberate to kneel later.
Emperor Yongchang said, It does not matter. I did not come here to watch you kowtow.
Yao Huang blushed and took the opportunity to ask, Then do you find this commoner acceptable? If you do not, then please take Prince Hui with you to see the abbot, and my brother and I will go enjoy the scenery freely.
Emperor Yongchang found it amusing, If I find you acceptable, are you willing to marry Prince Hui?
Yao Huang replied, ...I was a bit hesitant at first, but since you do not disdain this commoner, what reason do I have to not dare marry Prince Hui?
Emperor Yongchang was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter. His second son really did well! He might be dull himself, but the princess consort he picked was so clever and endearing!
Go on. I will make the arrangements for you.
