Putting away her spear, Yao Huang washed off her hot sweat. By the time she came out, it was time for dinner.
Prince Hui had left early in the morning after bustling about, and spent the whole day staying in the Bamboo Courtyard as usual. Since he didn't come over, Yao Huang was more than happy to enjoy her freedom.
Having had a good night's sleep, she woke up feeling refreshed. It was the thirtieth of the month, a rest day for officials and scholars of both civil and martial arts. Yao Huang had specifically chosen this day to invite her maiden family to the prince's estate for a garden tour. It just so happened that there were still late-blooming peonies and full-blown herbaceous peonies in the garden, and the sun was not as scorching as in midsummer.
She wrote a one-page "letter," folded it, and had A'ji make a trip to the Bamboo Courtyard. "Knock on the door, slip the letter through the crack, and then retreat to the bamboo path to wait."
A'ji glanced at the letter the princess consort handed over and advised, "You'd better use an envelope. Otherwise, what if His Highness suspects that I peeked at it?"
Yao Huang: "I didn't write anything you guys can't see, so why waste an envelope?"
A'ji shook his head and took the folded letter to carry out his errand.
Feiquan was still waiting by the south window of the porter's lodge. Seeing that it was A'ji, he picked up the letter and didn't go out to chase him, going directly to see the prince instead.
Zhao Sui opened the letter: "Your Highness, I told my father and the others to arrive exactly at the hour of Si. A half-hour garden tour before eating will be just right. Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will keep them in check and guarantee they won't disturb you."
"By the way, my father and the others are fond of drinking. I had someone fetch a jar of strong liquor from the estate's cellar. Does this liquor have any special origin? If it can't be drunk casually, I will have someone put it back."
As for the liquor, Yao Huang had intended to ask about it last night, but she was so "busy" that she completely forgot.
Zhao Sui put the letter away and asked Qingai to grind some ink.
More than a quarter of an hour later, A'ji handed an envelope to the princess consort with a teasing look: "Look, His Highness is so particular."
Yao Huang was more curious about what Prince Hui had written. She tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter, which contained only one sentence: "It is an imperial tribute liquor; the Princess Consort may use it as she pleases."
Yao Huang: "..."
The prince's handwriting was quite beautiful, and his words were pleasant to hear. However, Yao Huang didn't dare let the men of her maiden family drink to their hearts' content, acting like poor relatives who hadn't seen the world in eight hundred years. If word got out, they would be laughed at for nothing.
The banquet was set up on the east route of the prince's estate, where there were two courtyards specifically used for entertaining guests. The front was for male guests, and the back was for female guests. However, since it was their own relatives, there was no need to make such a clear distinction.
Yao Huang strolled over leisurely. Seeing that the main hall had been wiped so clean that the windows were bright and the tables spotless, with tender pink and fresh herbaceous peonies arranged in vases, and four plates of various dried fruits laid out, the image of that group of people smiling foolishly already surfaced in her mind.
As the appointed time approached, Yao Huang arrived at the main gate of the estate ahead of time. Surprisingly, Chief Steward Guo Shu, as well as the sub-stewards Eunuch Cao and Nanny Liu, were all there. They were chatting in low voices in front of the spirit screen. Hearing the princess consort's footsteps, they hurriedly came over to bow.
Yao Huang asked in surprise: "Why have you set up such a grand formation?"
Eunuch Cao smiled and said: "Distinguished guests are visiting the estate today; this is the duty of us old servants."
The prince had instructed them in advance to serve the guests well.
Yao Huang felt her face heat up as she listened. Except for her father, who was a sixth-rank military official, her maternal grandfather and two uncles were all ordinary commoners who had farmed for generations. How could they be considered distinguished guests?
However, the fact that the three of them valued her family so much showed that they deeply respected her as the princess consort, which made Yao Huang quite happy.
At this moment, the young servant waiting outside ran in: "They're here, they're..."
Bumping into the princess consort, who hadn't been there a moment ago, the young servant managed to suppress his excitement just in time.
Yao Huang ran straight out of the main gate and looked to the side. She saw five sturdily built men riding five mules, escorting two mule carts that seemed to be borrowed, having already entered the wide alley in front of the prince's estate. And those five sturdy men were none other than her father Yao Zhenhu, her older brother Yao Lin, and her three older male cousins.
Her eldest cousin Luo Kun and second eldest cousin Luo Peng were twins from her eldest uncle's family, both twenty-two this year. Luo Ze, who was just eighteen, was from her second uncle's family.
Seeing his sister, Yao Lin wanted to speed up, but was stopped by a low shout from Luo Kun beside him: "Steady!"
From the town in the suburbs to here, they had been steady for the long journey of more than ten miles. If they lost their manners right when they reached the important grounds of the prince's estate, wouldn't all their pretending have been for nothing?
Yao Lin had no choice but to continue moving slowly.
Finally arriving at the gate, the five of them dismounted their mules at the same time and bowed to the princess consort with great solemnity.
Yao Huang supported her father: "Alright, there are no outsiders here. You don't need to be so polite."
She went to the first mule cart and helped her maternal grandfather and grandmother, who had changed into brand-new fine cotton clothes, get down. The elderly couple were both over sixty with graying hair. However, because their family's life had been getting better and better over the past twenty years, both of them were quite hale and hearty. Her grandmother, in particular, had a rosy complexion and would be the best-looking one even in a crowd of old ladies.
Luo Jinhua was also sitting in this cart.
Over at the second mule cart, her eldest uncle and aunt, as well as her second uncle and aunt, got off by themselves, bringing along Yao Huang's only younger female cousin, Luo Yue, who was also from her second uncle's family.
Having discussed it beforehand, both families, regardless of age or gender, were wearing brand-new fine cotton clothes. They were not luxurious, but they were decent enough.
Ignoring Yao Huang's attempts to stop them, the whole group insisted on bowing to the princess consort.
Yao Huang quickly told Guo Shu, Eunuch Cao, and Nanny Liu to step down. Only after they left would her maiden family feel at ease.
Sure enough, when they reached the banquet hall and A'ji led Bailing and the other two back to the courtyard, fifteen-year-old Luo Yue immediately rushed over and hugged Yao Huang's arm: "Sister, the prince's estate is too big! Walking from the main gate to here, I think Grandfather's legs were about to tremble!"
Her grandfather's old face flushed: "Nonsense, that was because I was nervous. If we're just comparing strength, I farm even faster than your father."
Her second uncle smiled good-naturedly and didn't contradict the old man.
Grandmother: "Yao Yao, I think this courtyard is pretty enough. Why don't we just stay here? We'll leave after eating and skip the garden tour. With my old arms and legs, I really can't walk through such a huge garden."
Second Cousin Luo Peng: "You call yourself having old arms and legs? Just a couple of days ago, after my mother came back from the market, she was complaining to my father that you were too good at walking around. The soles of her feet were sore, and she almost couldn't keep up."
Eldest Aunt: "..."
Second Aunt helped smooth things over: "Sore as it may be, we were happy in our hearts. Other people's mothers-in-law wouldn't keep buying things for their daughters-in-law like that."
The two aunts were biological sisters from the same family who had successively married the Luo brothers, so their relationship was very close.
Grandmother: "Alright, alright, this is the prince's estate. Stop talking about useless things and listen to Yao Yao's arrangements."
Yao Huang: "My arrangement is to tour the garden. Those who feel they are too old can stay here, and everyone who can still walk, come with me."
Everyone exchanged glances, and in the end, they all followed Princess Consort Yao in a mighty procession.
On the way, Yao Huang had repeatedly promised that the Prince lived in seclusion in the Bamboo Courtyard and would not make an appearance, urging everyone to put their minds at ease. To her surprise, the moment she took the lead and stepped through the moon gate leading to the back garden, she bumped right into His Highness, Prince Hui, sitting in a wheelchair under the dense green shade diagonally ahead.
It was too late to shout a warning. Her relatives spilled through the gate one after another like dumplings tumbling into a boiling pot. After a brief moment of looking around, they were successively frightened into stunned silence by the sudden appearance of Prince Hui.
Yao Zhenhu, Luo Jinhua, and Yao Lin fared somewhat better. Her grandfather, who had farmed the land his entire life, went weak in the knees. Fortunately, her two uncles caught him just in time.
Zhao Sui smiled and tilted his head slightly, prompting Qingai to push the wheelchair toward them.
Luo Jinhua was the first to react, gesturing for everyone to follow her lead in paying their respects.
Zhao Sui spoke up before they could, "We are all family here; there is no need for such formalities."
The relatives, however, ignored the Prince's words and insisted on bowing anyway.
Yao Huang did not like seeing this scene. She walked up to the wheelchair and asked in a low voice, "Why did Your Highness come out? You didn't even give us a heads-up, leaving us completely unprepared."
Her familiar tone, tinged with a hint of complaint, caused her grandmother and Luo Jinhua to quickly exchange a meaningful glance. Then, they heard the seemingly unapproachable Prince reply, "It is the elders' first time visiting. It would be improper for me to neglect my manners."
Seeing that he was willing to lower himself to show respect, Yao Huang smiled. She took over the wheelchair, pushed it closer, and introduced her maternal grandfather and grandmother to him first.
Zhao Sui chatted with her grandfather for a few moments, asking about his health and how many acres of land the family farmed.
Her grandfather answered him, stumbling over his words.
Turning to her grandmother, Zhao Sui glanced at Yao Huang and said, "The Princess Consort looks more like you."
Her grandmother was much more composed than her grandfather. Stifling a smile, she replied, "Your Highness has a keen eye. When the Princess Consort was little, all the neighbors used to say the exact same thing."
Her daughter's eyes took after the old man's, resembling sharp, upturned phoenix eyes that made her look brisk and shrewd. In contrast, her granddaughter's eyes were rounder and more dewy, making her look incredibly easy to bully. In reality, the girl was no less clever than her mother; her innocent appearance merely made it easier for her to fool others.
As for the two uncles and their wives, Zhao Sui simply nodded in their direction without addressing them or speaking. Then it was the turn of Yao Huang's three older male cousins.
Zhao Sui looked them over one by one and asked the eldest cousin, Luo Kun, "Have you studied literature or martial arts?"
Luo Kun possessed the steady demeanor expected of the eldest grandson in the family. Facing the Prince, he was respectful yet composed. "To answer Your Highness, we three brothers all benefited from our uncle's influence. We have practiced martial arts since childhood and have all successfully passed the exams to enter the prefectural martial academy."
The imperial court had established literary and martial academies across the capital, prefectures, and counties. There were two martial academies in the capital. One was located in the west of the city, exclusively recruiting imperial relatives, nobles, and the martial-inclined sons of civil and military officials. The other, located in the east, functioned like the local academies across the country: any commoner who passed the assessment could enroll to study military strategy and practice martial arts.
Zhao Sui asked, "Are you confident about next year's martial imperial examination?"
Luo Kun replied, "I dare not speak arrogantly, but I will certainly go all out."
Zhao Sui nodded and turned to the Princess Consort. "After you finish touring the garden, take your four brothers to the library pavilion. They may borrow any books they believe will help them with the martial examination. They can take them home to read and return them later, or just pick out a few first and borrow more once they finish."
Luo Kun's eyes lit up. He dropped to one knee and said, "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Yao Lin and the other two cousins hurriedly knelt down to express their gratitude as well.
Zhao Sui told them to rise, then said to Yao Huang, "I have other matters to attend to, so I will not join you all for the luncheon."
Yao Huang looked at him, her eyes brimming with gratitude for his generosity in lending the books.
Once Qingai had pushed the wheelchair away and their backs completely disappeared from sight, the eldest aunt exclaimed excitedly, "The Prince has such a mild and amiable temper! He is completely different from what I imagined."
The grandmother looked at Yao Zhenhu and reminisced, "Isn't he just? I still remember when my good son-in-law first visited our home, he put on quite a bit of an official's air."
Yao Zhenhu protested, "Impossible, Mother-in-law, please don't falsely accuse me!"
The grandfather, who had been quiet for a long while, suddenly slapped his thigh. "Wait, that's not right! Our family originally had fifty acres of land. Later, when Jinhua got married, we gave her five acres as a dowry, so now we only have forty-five acres. When I just told the Prince we had fifty acres, does that count as the crime of deceiving... deceiving a prince?"
Yao Huang was left completely speechless.
Luo Jinhua sighed, "Father, you still remember an account from eight hundred years ago so clearly. Are you trying to use this as an excuse to make me return those five acres of ancestral land to you?"
"Return it then," Yao Zhenhu chimed in. "I didn't marry you for the land. You were the one who insisted on asking your father for it because you were afraid you would lack standing in our household."
Yao Huang took her younger female cousin's hand, pointed ahead, and said, "Come on, let's go enjoy our walk and ignore them."
