Going to bed early, Yao Huang woke up early as well. At six in the morning, she called the maidservants in to attend to her.
Qiuchan brought in the water, Bailing tidied the dressing table, and Aji and Chunyan made the bed.
Before she got married, Yao Huang only had Aji by her side. When Aji went to fetch water for washing her face, Yao Huang would dress herself and fold her own quilt. She wouldn't just dump all the little things she could easily do herself onto Aji. But now, with four senior maids, everything from putting on her shoes and washing her face to combing her hair and applying skincare was completely taken over by others.
Take dressing up for example: Bailing would first massage her scalp and comb through her hair several times before starting to style it into a bun. When applying facial cream, all Yao Huang had to do was lean back against the chair. Bailing's deft hands would gently massage in circles over her forehead, cheeks, around her nose, chin, and neck. It was so comfortable that Yao Huang almost fell back asleep.
Aji watched dumbfounded from the side, "There are so many tricks to this?"
Bailing smiled and said, "This helps the Princess Consort absorb the facial cream better."
Why did the concubines in the palace seem to defy aging better than the rest? Aside from eating and living well, expensive facial creams and skilled maids also played a part.
"It's not just facial cream; there is also body cream to be applied all over after a bath. Would the Princess Consort like to try it tonight?"
As the master and servant gradually grew familiar with each other, Bailing felt bold enough to speak more.
In the palace, she had mainly learned hair combing and massage. However, Imperial Consort Du was surrounded by talented people, so it was enough for Bailing to show just one of her skills. She had only stepped in to serve when the senior maid in charge of combing Her Highness's hair fell ill. If she had shown herself to be too capable, the senior maids would not have tolerated her.
Just hearing about it made Yao Huang feel as if her bones were melting in relaxation. "Mm, I'll try it tonight."
The Princess Consort's satisfaction with Bailing was evident in her words and expressions. Aji didn't think much of it, but Chunyan, watching from a distance, nervously curled her fingers.
After learning that Huamei had been punished by the Prince, the three maids from the Yikun Palace were all filled with worry about their futures. Bailing had taken the initiative to show off her skills, and Qiuchan had flawlessly handled fetching silver from the accounting room yesterday. Only Chunyan had yet to truly do anything for the Princess Consort.
Seeing that the Princess Consort had finished dressing up and was about to change her clothes, Chunyan finally mustered up her courage and stepped forward. "Princess Consort, the weather is getting hotter. Yesterday, this servant sewed two veiled hats for you to block the sun and dust. Would you like to try them on?"
Chunyan's specialty was her excellent embroidery. Yao Huang recalled the wealthy young ladies and madams she used to see on the streets who liked to wear veiled hats, and she gladly agreed. "Alright, go fetch them quickly. It just so happens that I woke up early today; I'm going to ride my horse outside the city first."
She could enjoy a cool morning ride and then go shopping when it got hotter.
A gleam of light immediately appeared in Chunyan's eyes. She trotted out and trotted back in, holding a veiled hat in each hand, with two strips of snow-white, lightweight gauze draped over her arm.
Neither of the two veiled hats had a high crown; they only featured a wide brim. The center of the brim was hollow, allowing it to be worn directly over a hair bun so that it wouldn't make the head feel stuffy in the summer. One veiled hat looked more luxurious, with a plate-sized, pale yellow silk peony pinned to the wide brim and a circle of short tassels adorned with small pearls hanging from the edge. The other hat had no tassels, and the plump silk peony was replaced by a small peach blossom.
Chunyan explained, "The Princess Consort can wear this simple one when going out incognito for fun, and this one when strolling through the gardens in the estate."
The white gauze hanging from the veiled hats only reached the neck. If the Princess Consort wanted to ride a horse, she could take off the short gauze and replace it with the waist-length long gauze draped over Chunyan's arm, which would better block the dust kicked up by the horse's hooves.
Yao Huang absolutely loved them. She tried them both on, and since she was currently wearing a fine cotton dress, she chose the peach blossom veiled hat and had Chunyan swap it for the long gauze.
After eating breakfast, she had a young maid pass a message to Zhang Yue, while Yao Huang herself headed to the Bamboo Courtyard.
The bamboo forest in the early morning was just as serene, but it held a more vibrant vitality than at dusk. Along the short stretch of stone-paved path, Yao Huang spotted several slender bamboos that had just grown from shoots.
Upon reaching the door, Yao Huang knocked gently.
Feiquan leaned close to the crack of the door. Suddenly coming face-to-face with a circle of white gauze, Feiquan's heart abruptly tightened.
The next moment, the visitor lifted half of the light gauze, smiling with eyes that seemed to hold the stars. "It's me."
Feiquan hurriedly opened the door, slipping out as usual to speak with the Princess Consort. "Do you wish to see the Prince?"
Yao Huang replied, "Yes, I'm about to head out, so I came to greet the Prince." She also wanted to let the Prince see her veiled hat, to let him know that she was picking up the manners of a noble household and wasn't just showing her face in public every day.
Feiquan said, "Please wait a moment, Princess Consort. This servant will go in and pass the message."
This time, Yao Huang still waited for about half a cup of tea's time, and then Qingai pushed the Prince of Hui directly to the courtyard gate.
The two door panels slowly opened. The Princess Consort, turning around at the sound, appeared before Zhao Sui. She was wearing the veiled hat, dressed in a peach-pink cross-collared top and a light jade-green split skirt underneath. The split skirt could be separated and closed, which was commonly worn by women when horseback riding.
After parking the wheelchair, Qingai swiftly retreated into the distance.
Yao Huang deliberately kept her distance from the Prince of Hui, asking through the light gauze, "Like this, can Your Highness recognize me?"
Zhao Sui saw a pair of hazy black eyes and her rosy lips, but he indeed couldn't see her face clearly.
Knowing what she wanted to hear, Zhao Sui shook his head.
Yao Huang walked forward, stopping three steps away from him, and leaned over slightly to make it easier for him to see. "How about now?"
The light gauze swayed gently with her movements, and even after the Princess Consort stopped, it hadn't settled completely. Zhao Sui caught a fleeting glimpse of her distinct red lips and caught the faint fragrance of the facial cream coming from her.
He lowered his eyes and nodded.
Yao Huang smiled, fastening the front white gauze onto the brim of the hat, and bent over to talk to him. "Has Your Highness eaten yet?"
Zhao Sui replied, "I just ate. There's no need for this; stand up straight to speak."
Yao Huang said, "But I don't want you to have to look up at me. Rules or no rules, two people only seem like a married couple when they are closer to each other."
With that, she squatted down on one knee beside the wheelchair, looking up at him. "This works too. Either way, I can't let Your Highness strain your neck."
Zhao Sui said, "...Let's go over to the stone table."
Yao Huang replied, "There's no need for the trouble. I'll just chat with Your Highness for a few words and then leave. It's cool in the morning, perfect for riding a horse."
Zhao Sui glanced at her skirt hem. "Go then. If you delay, it will get hot."
Yao Huang peeked at the tightly shut doors of the main hall inside, genuinely unable to understand how the Prince could endure being cooped up in there all day long. Even if the Prince loved to read, making his face so morbidly pale couldn't possibly be good for his health. The doctors in the medical clinics often diagnosed whether a person was ill based on their complexion. The Prince's legs were ruined; he couldn't afford to ruin other parts of his body by staying cooped up.
"Would Your Highness like to accompany me for a ride?"
Yao Huang invited cautiously. Jing Wu was so intelligent; as long as they found a way to secure the Prince's legs, riding slowly shouldn't be a problem.
With her squatting right in front of him, Zhao Sui couldn't lower his eyes. He looked to the side and said, "No. I've told you, I do not like going out."
Yao Huang grew nervous. "Is Your Highness angry with me?"
Zhao Sui tried his best to make his tone sound gentle. "No, I just don't want you to think of me the next time you have any plans for an outing. I want to make it clear once and for all, so that I won't have to disappoint your good intentions time and time again."
Yao Huang wasn't as bold as Qingai and the others thought. Although she hoped the Prince would get out in the sun more, as long as she was rejected by him once, she wouldn't dare to try again for the time being.
The relaxed atmosphere from earlier was gone. Zhao Sui called for Qingai.
He was going inside. Yao Huang had no choice but to walk down the small bamboo path alone. Halfway down, she turned her head and found that the courtyard gates had already been closed.
Yao Huang patted a nearby bamboo stalk in frustration. Perhaps she shouldn't have come over this morning. The Prince had told her long ago that she should only seek him out if she had matters to discuss, and leave him be if there was nothing.
Arriving at the main entrance of the Prince's estate, Zhang Yue and the other guards were already prepared. The eight guards each had a horse, and they had also brought out the eight fine steeds kept in the estate's stables. Yao Huang rode Jing Wu herself and let Aji ride her Ni Guang. The remaining six horses were handed over to six guards, who were instructed to pair up and take the horses out through the east, west, and north gates of the capital. They were to walk the horses for a full two hours before returning to the estate. Zhang Yue and Wang Dong would continue to protect the Princess Consort.
The commotion was so great that the chief steward, Guo Shu, also came out. He only breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the Princess Consort's arrangements.
If the Princess Consort had really led six empty horses out of the city herself, it would definitely attract a crowd of commoners. If anyone recognized that these were horses from Prince Hui's estate, the people would sigh and say that since the Prince was crippled, even the horses in his estate had become mere decorations. Such comments would absolutely not be pleasant for the Prince to hear.
Since he was here, Yao Huang specifically asked, "I don't know how to raise horses. Will there be problems if they are locked in the stables every day? Or do they need to be let out for a run every now and then?"
Even an inanimate object like a sword would rust if left unused for a long time, let alone horses.
Guo Shu replied, "The Princess Consort's concerns are valid. Usually, the grooms lead the horses in circles around the outside of the stables, once in the morning and once in the evening, precisely to maintain their muscle condition."
Yao Huang asked, "Is just walking enough?"
Guo Shu hesitated. "...It's definitely better if they can run."
Yao Huang decided, "Then let's do this. In the future, when the Prince and I don't need the horses, have the guards take them out of the city for a two-hour run every morning. You can skip it if it's raining or snowing."
Guo Shu said, "Yes."
After running the horses enough, she had Wang Dong lead her horse back to the estate. Yao Huang continued to stroll through the shops. She bought the jewelry she had her eye on yesterday, then picked out a few bolts of silk and fine cloth. When she got hungry, she went to a restaurant to eat. After eating, she bought some small trinkets, and then went to a teahouse to listen to storytelling for over two hours. When the storyteller took a break, she switched to listening to the patrons chatting.
The teahouse patrons were the most impressive; they knew all the latest gossip in the capital. From small scandals like a neighbor's younger brother having an affair with his sister-in-law, to major news like a high-ranking official's relative committing a crime, they knew it all. When they reached the exciting parts, they could even draw the storyteller over to listen with relish alongside everyone else.
At dusk, Yao Huang returned thoroughly satisfied.
This time, she brought the Prince a large palm-leaf fan commonly used by ordinary households. When Feiquan came up to the crack in the door, Yao Huang told him not to open it. She just slid the fan sideways through the gap and said in a low voice, "Tell the Prince that I know he has used all sorts of precious items and it's hard for him to find anything novel anymore, so I picked out this palm-leaf fan for him. Don't underestimate it because it's cheap or less elegant than a folding fan; using this kind of fan in the summer gives the coolest breeze. It's perfect for the Prince to use casually at home."
Feiquan said, "Please wait a moment, Princess Consort. This servant will invite the Prince out so you can give it to him personally..."
Yao Huang replied, "Don't bother. The Prince is doing just fine staying in his room, and coming out to see me would just be a hassle for him."
Shoving the fan into Feiquan's hands, Yao Huang turned and ran off. She was going to take a bath and try out a full-body massage from Bailing. Since the Prince didn't like being disturbed anyway, why should she rack her brains trying to spend more time with him?
Feiquan opened the door to chase after her, but the Princess Consort ran too fast. By the time he chased her to the outside of the bamboo grove, she was already out of sight.
Left with no choice, Feiquan could only carry that plain-looking palm-leaf fan, which cost five copper coins at most, to pass on the message.
Zhao Sui stared at the palm-leaf fan.
When inspecting the four major military camps, he had seen them on the common soldiers' communal beds. When entering or leaving the capital in the summer, he had also seen them in the hands of commoners or peddlers by the roadside.
He took the palm-leaf fan and gave it a few test waves. It indeed required less effort and produced a stronger breeze than a folding fan.
Only, why didn't she give it to him herself?
