At the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet in the twenty-ninth year of Yongchang, Empress Zhou highly praised Yao Huang, the daughter of the Count of Loyal Valor, for her peerless beauty, gentleness, and wisdom. The following day, Emperor Yongchang issued an edict bestowing a marriage between the Yao daughter and the Prince of Hui.
Along with the marriage edict, the palace arranged for a squad of guards to be stationed at Changshou Alley to protect the home of the future Princess Consort of Hui. They also sent Nanny Fang to teach her court etiquette, while Noble Consort Du gifted four maidservants to attend to her daily needs.
Neighbors, relatives, and friends of the Yao family flocked to their door to offer congratulations.
Li Tingwang's mother, Madam Wang, also came.
She had long known about her son's feelings for Yao Huang, but feigned ignorance because she looked down on the Yao family's status compared to her own. She never expected that after a major war, Yao Zhenhu would not only attain a rank equal to her husband's but also be enfeoffed as a Count. Their family's status suddenly completely overshadowed her own!
Jealousy aside, Madam Wang was now in favor of her son marrying Yao Huang. She figured the Yao family wouldn't refuse given the childhood friendship between the two. However, when she went to ask her son for his opinion, he merely gave a bitter laugh and told her not to trouble herself anymore.
A few days ago, Madam Wang hadn't understood why her son had suddenly lost hope. When she learned that Yao Huang had been betrothed to the Prince of Hui by His Majesty, she finally understood her son, and was consumed by sour envy over the Yao family's tremendous good fortune.
Luo Jinhua entertained Madam Wang with warm familiarity, not putting on airs just because her family's status had risen. However, she no longer needed to deliberately flatter Madam Wang either.
The Yao family courtyard was bustling with activity for a while. Once all the friends and relatives who heard the news had visited, the household finally returned to its usual peace and quiet.
Yao Huang earnestly studied etiquette under Nanny Fang, which included learning how to appreciate various precious items.
In the past, she had neither the means nor the need to learn such things. Now that she was marrying into the royal family, although Yao Huang was not ashamed of her limited worldly knowledge, she wouldn't refuse the opportunity to adapt better to royal life.
For instance, regarding the red sandalwood and mutton-fat white jade bracelets the Prince of Hui had previously given her, by learning about various valuables from Nanny Fang, Yao Huang wouldn't have to foolishly ask others what they were if the Prince gave her more gifts or if the palace bestowed rewards in the future.
With so much to learn, time flowed by like water. In late winter, the five-courtyard Count's estate bestowed upon the Yao family by Emperor Yongchang was finally fully renovated. The keys were handed over to the Yao family, and they were ready to move!
The brand-new Estate of the Count of Loyal Valor was very close to the Prince of Hui's estate, separated by only three streets.
Yao Zhenhu and Luo Jinhua lived in the main courtyard of the third compound. The second compound was dedicated to hosting guests, Yao Lin lived in the fourth compound, and Yao Huang resided in the fifth. The family no longer had to squeeze into a single courtyard.
The day after they moved, the Prince of Hui sent a visiting card, saying he wished to come and offer his congratulations on his rest day at the end of the month, and asked if it would be convenient for the Count and his Madam.
Luo Jinhua directly told Eunuch Cao, It is convenient. As long as His Highness has the time, any time is convenient.
After seeing Eunuch Cao off, Luo Jinhua went to tell her daughter.
On the surface, Yao Huang maintained an indifferent expression, as if it didn't matter whether the Prince of Hui came or not, but inside, her heart was bubbling with joy.
Previously, after having met the Prince of Hui only four times, they were separated by thousands of miles for two and a half years. It had been hard enough waiting for him to return to the capital, and after seeing each other briefly just twice before the marriage edict, they hadn't seen each other again for three months.
A few days passed in the blink of an eye. On the morning of the end of the month, the Prince of Hui arrived at the Yao family's new residence as promised.
Since they were betrothed and the Prince of Hui held a noble status, it was perfectly reasonable for the future Princess Consort to accompany her parents to greet him.
With the elders present, the twenty-two-year-old Prince of Hui kept his eyes straight ahead, not sparing a single extra glance at his fiancée. It wasn't until Luo Jinhua suggested her daughter take the Prince for a stroll in the Count's small garden, and the betrothed couple were walking alone on the path to the garden, that Zhao Sui finally fell half a step behind...
Yao Huang felt her left cheek growing hotter than her right under his intense gaze. Unable to bear it, she deliberately stepped back behind the Prince and urged softly, Your Highness, please walk in front.
Zhao Sui: ...I do not know the way.
Yao Huang: Your Highness can just keep walking forward. I will tell you where to turn.
Zhao Sui had no choice but to comply.
Yao Huang took the opportunity to observe her future husband. She realized that after three months of not seeing him, the face he had tanned on the battlefield had returned to its fair complexion, glowing like fine jade under the pale winter sun.
The Prince of Hui was tall and slender, wearing a dark red brocade robe with a jade belt outlining his narrow waist.
After looking him up and down, just as Yao Huang's gaze returned to his face, she saw him stop and look back.
Yao Huang revealed a perfectly timed look of confusion.
Zhao Sui: ...For the wedding date, the Imperial Astronomy Bureau has selected three auspicious days.
This was an utmost important matter. Blushing, Yao Huang asked, Which days are they?
Zhao Sui: The nineteenth of the first lunar month, the twenty-seventh of the second month, and the twenty-first of the fourth month.
Unconsciously, Yao Huang stepped in front of him again. Which day did His Majesty choose?
Zhao Sui: Imperial Father asked for my opinion.
Yao Huang glared at him. Then which day did Your Highness choose? Must you only answer when I ask?
Zhao Sui lowered his eyes and said, The betrothal gifts, wedding attire, and all other necessary items for the grand wedding are already prepared. Furthermore, consorts will be selected for the Prince of Kang and the Prince of Qing in the third month. If you and I marry earlier, the Ministry of Rites can focus all their efforts on preparing for the selection, avoiding any mistakes made in haste.
Yao Huang: ...So Your Highness chose the nineteenth of the first month?
Zhao Sui tacitly agreed.
Yao Huang looked at the path ahead, her heart in a tangled mess. Then there is only a little over a month left. We just moved, and I was just about to enjoy the wealthy life of a proper Count's daughter... Look, this garden is completely bare. If we marry in the first month, I won't even get to see the vibrant spring scenery of this garden.
Zhao Sui carefully observed the landscaping of the Count's garden and comforted his fiancée, The two estates are close. After we marry, you can often come back here to accompany your mother.
His fiancée ignored him, but Zhao Sui saw her rosy lips pouting slightly.
Zhao Sui: ...The back garden of the Prince's estate is a hundred times larger than this one, and the spring scenery is even more magnificent. If you like admiring the view, that place should suit your tastes better.
Yao Huang couldn't imagine a garden a hundred times larger, but she refused to show any timidity in front of the Prince of Hui. She softly huffed, Is Your Highness showing off to me that the garden in your estate is better?
Zhao Sui lowered his eyes. That is your garden too, so it can hardly be called showing off.
Yao Huang: ...When all is said and done, Your Highness just wants to get married sooner.
Zhao Sui: ...Yes.
He had yearned for her day and night, unwilling to wait even a single day longer.
Yao Huang's complaints to the Prince of Hui about the wedding date being set too early were actually just out of nervousness and shyness. In her heart, she didn't resist much. She was going to marry him anyway; what big difference would two months early or late make?
In the twelfth lunar month, the Ministry of Rites officially set the wedding date. The Yao family began sending out invitations to their relatives, asking friends and family to leave a few days in the first month open to attend the banquet at the Yao estate.
Yao Huang learned everything she needed to learn from Nanny Fang and peacefully spent a prosperous New Year with her parents and brother in their new home.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the Ministry of Rites came to the Estate of the Count of Loyal Valor on behalf of the royal family to deliver the betrothal gifts. Box after box, chest after chest of betrothal gifts were enough to keep the old neighbors of Changshou Alley talking with relish for years to come.
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, just after the Lantern Festival had ended, another nanny arrived from the palace, bearing a verbal edict from Empress Zhou.
In front of everyone, the nanny said she was going to explain the various procedures for the wedding day to the future Princess Consort. After inviting the future Princess Consort alone into her boudoir, the nanny seriously spoke a bunch of refined words. Yao Huang listened closely and carefully pondered for a moment before realizing that the nanny's duty was not a proper one; she was there to teach her how to properly serve the Prince of Hui on their wedding night.
The royal family was the family with the most rules in the world. For ordinary couples, getting married just meant getting into the same bed. But in the royal family, the emperor and princes were noblemen. Even wives and concubines spending the night with a nobleman was called "serving in bed". Since it was "serving", there were all kinds of particularities. They wished the noblemen wouldn't have to do anything at all, while the wives and concubines worked hard to make the noblemen physically and mentally relaxed, as happy as immortals.
The nanny explained in detail. To prevent the young girl from being confused, she had even prepared porcelain figures and jade objects, allowing Yao Huang to know exactly what the Prince of Hui's body looked like under his clothes before she even married him.
After the nanny left, Luo Jinhua came over to have a private talk with her daughter. Upon learning what the nanny had taught, Luo Jinhua scoffed, "These are all nonsense rules. Just listen casually. When the time really comes, the Prince will naturally take the initiative. You just need to cooperate."
Yao Huang felt her mother was right, and the nanny wasn't wrong either. In the end, it all depended on what the Prince of Hui liked.
On the nineteenth day of the first lunar month, the Prince of Hui got married.
The weather was beautiful. It was a sunny day with a blue sky and warm sun, without a trace of wind.
The two estates were close, so the Prince of Hui deliberately took a detour when fetching the bride. Wherever the procession passed, the commoners who flocked to watch the excitement tirelessly praised the Prince of Hui's handsome and noble appearance. Their words were full of envy for the Princess Consort of Hui. Only a few martial arts students or neighbors in Changshou Alley who had seen the Princess Consort's appearance knew that the Prince of Hui was actually very blessed to be able to marry such a top-tier beauty resembling a peony, one in a million.
The sound of drums and music intermittently enlivened the day. At the auspicious hour at dusk, Yao Huang, covered with a red veil, finally followed the Prince of Hui into her new home, the Estate of the Prince of Hui.
In the bridal chamber, there were several female royal relatives who came to attend the ceremony, such as the Prince of Hui's aunt, Grand Princess Fucheng, and the Prince of Hui's two younger sisters, the First Princess and the Second Princess.
With outsiders present, the Prince of Hui properly completed the entire set of rituals with the Princess Consort and then went to the front courtyard to entertain guests. Only when the veil was just lifted did Yao Huang see the joy in the Prince of Hui's eyes. Unfortunately, the eye contact was too short, and Yao Huang couldn't tell if the Prince of Hui's joy was due to his fondness for her makeup and beauty, or because he finally married her today.
As for these female royal relatives accompanying her for the meal, Yao Huang would not be timid. They were royal relatives, but now she also held the esteemed status of a Princess Consort. Besides the Emperor and Empress in the palace, no one in the world could oppress her based on status.
On the wedding night of the Prince of Hui and his wife, the female guests did not stay too long. After eating with the bride, they sensibly took their leave early.
On the male guests' side, the Prince of Kang and the Prince of Qing were very happily urging the Prince of Hui to drink. The Prince of Kang was happy for his second brother's wedding, while the Prince of Qing was happy because his second brother's rejection of their cousin gave him the opportunity to marry her as his Princess Consort. As for why the Prince of Qing knew about this, it was naturally "accidentally" revealed when Noble Consort Du bickered with Grand Princess Fucheng.
Cen Jun, Jiang Qu, and the two young masters of the Li family from the Duke Zhenguo's Estate were all young nobles who advanced and retreated together with the Prince of Hui on the battlefield. Today, letting loose, they also poured a few cups for the Prince of Hui. However, the one who relentlessly chased after the Prince of Hui, insisting on getting him drunk, was the Princess Consort's biological brother, Yao Lin. As an older brother, he couldn't bear to part with his sister. Even though his sister would enjoy blessings with the Prince, the thought that his sister's figure would no longer be in their home made Yao Lin's eyes turn red.
In the end, it was the eldest cousin, Luo Kun, who held down Yao Lin's arm holding the wine bowl, forbidding him from drinking anymore.
Zhao Sui knew his alcohol tolerance very well. After drinking to a state of being half-drunk with the crowd, he excused himself and left.
He disliked the smell of alcohol and even less wanted to go see his Princess Consort reeking of alcohol on their wedding night.
The bridal chamber.
Even though it was a cold winter night in the first lunar month, a fire kept burning inside Yao Huang. When she didn't think of the Prince of Hui, the fire would be milder. Once she thought of the Prince of Hui and what they had to do in the bridal chamber, the fire burned brighter as if oil had been added. It burned so much that Aji worried if the Princess Consort was sick, asking several times why her face was so red.
Yao Huang went to look in the mirror. Her cheeks in the mirror were indeed flushed, leaving only her forehead, the area around her eyes, her nose, and her chin with a fair complexion, as if a clumsy girl had applied too much rouge.
There was tea that had been left to cool for a long time in the room. Yao Huang deliberately drank a full bowl. After drinking, her face was still hot, so she asked Aji to bring a basin of cold water.
Aji said, "Princess Consort, please stop fussing, be careful of catching a cold."
Yao Huang pointed to her face, "Am I supposed to see the Prince like this?"
Aji looked at the Princess Consort and seriously praised, "The Princess Consort is also very beautiful with a red face. It's similar to when you just step out of the bath. It makes me think of a bunch of improper things."
Yao Huang: "...What improper things?" Her Aji was only fourteen years old and hadn't heard the things the palace nanny taught her.
Aji: "Just how the Princess Consort looks when bathing."
The Princess Consort didn't wear clothes when bathing, exposing everything. Thinking of these scenes was naturally improper.
Yao Huang reached out to pinch Aji's ear.
Just as the master and servant were fooling around, Bailing rushed in hastily, saying with panic and joy, "Princess Consort, the Prince is here!"
The flame in Yao Huang's heart instantly leaped higher, but she had to go out to welcome him. After all, her husband was a Prince. Previously, the Prince of Hui had seen her either outside or at her home. Now that she had come to his territory, who knew if the Prince of Hui would put on a different attitude. In Changshou Alley, there were several miserable examples of men trying every means to please women before marriage, only to treat their wives like beasts of burden after marriage.
It was cold outside, so Yao Huang stopped in the main room. When Bailing lifted the red silk curtain, and the hem of the Prince of Hui's bright red brocade robe appeared opposite her, Yao Huang immediately curtsied, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Zhao Sui was startled by his little Princess Consort's flushed face. He first pardoned her curtsy, then dismissed the maids.
Aji and the others filed out. The red silk curtain was held open a bit longer, letting in a wisp of cold wind.
Zhao Sui pointed to the inner room and said to the Princess Consort, who kept her head down and didn't dare to look at him, "Let's go inside to talk, it's cold here."
Yao Huang didn't mind the cold at all and wished she could blow in the cold wind a bit longer, but she still followed the Prince of Hui into the inner room.
There were three places in the inner room where the couple could sit together: one was the canopy bed, one was the arhat bed by the window, and one was the desk convenient for the master to read and write.
The canopy bed would make him seem too impatient, and the armchair at the desk was hard and stiff, not as comfortable as the arhat bed covered with a layer of brocade cushions.
Zhao Sui then led the Princess Consort to the arhat bed. He sat down first, then gestured for the Princess Consort to sit on the other side, separated by a movable red sandalwood low table in the middle.
Yao Huang obediently sat down, her gaze falling on the yellow rosewood floor in front of her. Not to mention anything else, her bridal chamber was truly filled with extravagance everywhere.
Zhao Sui could feel the Princess Consort's nervousness and unease. In their previous few meetings, she was sometimes shy and sometimes bold, but never this quiet.
This was not hard to understand, just as his current thoughts were also vastly different from before.
"Is the floor heating burning too vigorously?" Zhao Sui first showed concern for her overly flushed complexion.
Yao Huang couldn't help but touch her cheek and said awkwardly, "Your Highness knows that our old house doesn't have an underfloor heating system. I'm not used to it yet, so I always get red in the face."
If it was hot, there were only two ways. Either order the little eunuch in charge of the underfloor heating to put less charcoal, or...
Zhao Sui's gaze quickly swept over the princess' collar. Because he didn't dare to observe for too long, he couldn't judge whether the princess was wearing too much.
"I'll pour you a bowl of water?"
"Mhm."
When Prince Hui left the arhat bed and turned his back to her to go to the table with tea, Yao Huang quietly exhaled two breaths. When Prince Hui turned around with the teacup, Yao Huang immediately turned back to the dignified appearance of sitting quietly with her eyes lowered.
Zhao Sui stopped in front of the princess, leaned forward slightly, and handed her the teacup.
The princess raised her hands. Her red sleeves set off her hands, which were as white as solidified fat. Her ten fingers were pointed, soft and boneless.
Yao Huang took the teacup, but she saw the prince's slender hand still stretched out in front of her. She looked up in confusion. The next moment, the hand shrank back, and he returned to sit next to her.
Yao Huang didn't understand why, and it wasn't good to ask, so she held the teacup in both hands and took a shallow sip.
It was just drinking water. Such an ordinary little movement. Because there was an extra person next to her, a Prince Hui who was staring at her, Yao Huang actually became flustered. Some of the tea flowed into her mouth, and some of the tea wet her lips. Yao Huang subconsciously pursed her lips, and then she became even more thirsty, so she had to continue drinking.
There was still the noise of male guests in the front yard, but it was so quiet in the bridal chamber that Yao Huang could hear the sound of her swallowing tea.
Finally finished drinking, Yao Huang stiffly placed the teacup on the small red sandalwood table next to her.
After putting it away, Yao Huang continued to look at the floor.
Zhao Sui: "...Are you afraid of me?"
Yao Huang: "...Why does Your Highness say that?"
Zhao Sui: "In the past, when you saw me, you dared to speak, but tonight you didn't say a word."
Yao Huang: "...I don't know what to say." She was just nervous about sleeping.
Zhao Sui: "...Then rest early? Tomorrow morning we still have to go to the palace to pay our respects."
Yao Huang's whole body went soft, and she unconsciously propped herself up with one hand.
What Zhao Sui saw was the red-faced princess swaying, looking weak as if she would faint at any time. Considering that she might be heated by the underfloor heating, Zhao Sui pushed the small red sandalwood table in the middle aside, sat next to her, and asked with concern, "Is there any discomfort? There is a doctor in the mansion, I will send someone to invite him over."
Yao Huang hurriedly shook her head: "It's fine, I, I'm just hot."
Zhao Sui was silent, and suddenly raised his hand to touch her forehead.
Yao Huang closed her eyes, only feeling a piece of coolness on the palm of the man who posted up.
Zhao Sui touched his own forehead with his other hand, and compared to it, she was indeed not hot to an abnormal degree.
"Then I'll have someone reduce the charcoal in the underfloor heating."
Seeing that the man was about to leave, Yao Huang had no choice but to grab his wrist and explained in a trembling voice: "It has nothing to do with the underfloor heating, I'm panicking, because the bridal chamber..."
Two words, and Zhao Sui also heated up with her.
He could comfort his princess, who was six years younger than him, about other things, but only this matter, Zhao Sui didn't know how to speak.
The more dawdling, the more uncomfortable. Yao Huang couldn't take it anymore. She left Prince Hui and ran into the canopy bed, took off her shoes and got into the quilt. She covered herself in the quilt and said: "Your Highness, fight a quick battle and make a quick decision. Finish early and go to bed early."
Zhao Sui looked at the bulging quilt on the bed, stood still for a moment, and extinguished the lights everywhere in the inner room one by one, leaving only two wedding candles.
Untying his outer robe and putting it on the hanger, Zhao Sui came to the bed wearing only a set of red middle clothes.
The quilt didn't move at all, only the slight undulation brought by the princess' breathing.
It was already hot, wouldn't it be hotter to be covered like this?
Zhao Sui lifted the quilt and saw the princess lying with her back to him, her eyes tightly closed, and her right hand grabbing the brocade mattress underneath.
Zhao Sui: "...If you are really scared, we can get along for a few more days, and consummate the marriage when you are not scared."
Yao Huang: "...I'm not afraid of Your Highness, I'm afraid of pain. If I wait a few more days, won't it hurt?"
Zhao Sui was silent.
Yao Huang: "Okay, Your Highness, just come, the more you delay, the more I suffer."
Urged twice by the princess, Zhao Sui had no choice but to obey.
He sat next to the princess, first took her into his arms, looking at her flushed face and constantly trembling eyelashes. Zhao Sui's Adam's apple rolled, and he kissed down along her forehead. The little princess didn't move until his lips fell on her ears and neck, and she grabbed his middle clothes like she was startled.
Zhao Sui paused for a moment, waiting for her to slowly relax before continuing, but the princess immediately became tense again, but Zhao Sui didn't stop again.
The princess' hands began to push him, and she also called him to stop dissatisfiedly, but most of the time the princess covered her mouth, not wanting to make those sounds beyond her control.
Although he kept the etiquette, Prince Hui, who was also a young man, quickly lost his self-control. He put the princess back on the bed and buckled her wrist with one hand, which she wanted to cover from time to time.
Yao Huang was so ashamed that she was about to cry: "You cover the quilt for me first!"
The quilt prepared on the bed is to be covered, how could he throw away the quilt?
Zhao Sui didn't want to bully people too much, so he pulled up the quilt, and he continued under the quilt.
Yao Huang tacitly agreed to all the following actions of Prince Hui in such self-deception, until Prince Hui got out of the quilt again, until Prince Hui kissed her ear again.
Yao Huang wanted to pull the quilts on both sides to cover her shoulders, but Prince Hui grabbed her wrist and brought her hand to his shoulder.
Yao Huang touched Prince Hui's middle clothes!
She was already like this, and he was still wearing clothes!
Yao Huang was unhappy. While continuing to close her eyes, she indiscriminately tore off Prince Hui's middle clothes. If they were to be naked, they would be naked together.
Zhao Sui cooperatively took off two sleeves, and then let the princess throw his middle clothes out of the tent as if she was angry.
Zhao Sui then pulled the little princess' hand to touch the waistband of his middle pants.
Yao Huang was no longer angry, broke away from his hand, and came to pinch his waist.
Zhao Sui breathed heavily, and buried under the quilt again. After an unknown amount of time, when he propped up again, there was no longer any barrier between the bride and groom.
Obviously he could continue, but Prince Hui stopped.
Yao Huang slowly opened her eyes.
Zhao Sui looked at those round eyes and asked in a hoarse voice: "Can I?"
Yao Huang bit her lip, turned her face away and said: "The teaching nanny said, this is to let me serve the bed for the prince, but I don't like this way of speaking, as if I am just serving the prince."
Zhao Sui: "I don't need you to serve either. The way we are, it is just what love leads to."
Yao Huang smiled, and closed her eyes again under his burning gaze, nervously saying: "Then Your Highness be slower, I tell you to stop and you stop."
Prince Hui said okay.
The first time he did keep his promise and completely complied with the princess' request.
By the second and third time, because he didn't give the princess a promise, there was no need to restrain anything.
Yao Huang's voice was hoarse from scolding: "What gentleman's etiquette, Your Highness is pretending. Seeing that I can't run away after marrying over, Your Highness has revealed his true colors!"
Zhao Sui tightly held the princess in his arms, and said in her ear: "Only like this at night, during the day I will listen to you."
Yao Huang: "Listen to me in everything? No matter what I do, you won't put on airs of a prince with me?"
Zhao Sui: Yes, between you and me, we are only husband and wife, regardless of our status.
Yao Huang: Words are empty without proof. Your Highness must write me a pledge.
And so, on the night of their wedding, Prince Hui respectfully presented a handwritten pledge to his princess.
Words were indeed empty without proof, and such a written document held little actual power over a prince of his standing. But Zhao Sui knew that he loved this girl named Yao Huang, and that he would treat her well for the rest of his life.
