Although Yao Huang couldn't help but want to hide whenever Prince Hui kissed her neck, she actually quite enjoyed it. Otherwise, they wouldn't have consummated their marriage so easily on their wedding night.
She thought the prince would like it too. However, when she leaned on Prince Hui's shoulder and earnestly kissed his slender neck for a good while, he showed no reaction at all. His breathing didn't even falter. Yao Huang became unsure. Perhaps different people had different sensitivities on their necks, just like how her armpits were very ticklish, but her brother was never afraid of her tickling him.
When she tried to hide, Prince Hui pursued her with great vigor, gripping her shoulders to prevent her from escaping.
Yao Huang had expected the prince to act the same way. But now that he was as unresponsive as a block of wood, she lost interest.
She propped herself up and looked at the prince's complexion, which seemed slightly better under the lamplight. Puzzled, she asked, "Does Your Highness not feel anything?"
Zhao Sui glanced at her crimson lips and replied, "A little ticklish."
Yao Huang was speechless.
Driven by some inexplicable impulse, she tickled his armpit.
Zhao Sui was speechless.
In truth, he was not as indifferent to any of those touches as he appeared. However, Prince Hui had experienced lying in bed for three months to heal his bones, lying in bed for a month waiting for death, and being confined to a wheelchair in a bamboo courtyard for over half a year. Having cultivated his patience and restrained his nature for so long, even if someone were to prick him with a needle or mock him with the most vicious words, Zhao Sui could remain completely expressionless.
What Yao Huang saw was simply a prince whose neck and armpits were not ticklish at all.
Yao Huang peeked at Prince Hui's chest, which was covered by his inner garments. She would have to take off his clothes to go further, and she wasn't that bold yet. Even taking the initiative to kiss the prince's neck was a result of her good mood brought about by the events of the day; in a moment of impulse, she had just naturally gone for it.
As that impulse subsided, Yao Huang lay back down properly, using her sleeve to wipe away any saliva she might have left on the prince's neck.
Just as she touched him, the prince turned over. His powerful right arm pulled her up, and Yao Huang's neck was presented right in front of him.
Yao Huang immediately grabbed his inner garment, clutching, crumpling, and tugging at it as if she hated the fabric to death. It wasn't until the prince moved her hands away and slipped off her sleeves that the fabric was finally spared, seemingly gloating as the princess's equally crumpled inner garment was tossed aside by the prince, while it remained perfectly worn on him.
"Your Highness, I want to turn around."
"Mhm."
.
The peonies in the garden were in full bloom. Yao Huang chose this spot for Prince Hui to paint his first portrait of her.
The prince's wheelchair was parked five steps away from the flowerbed. An easel was set up in front of him, and various ground pigments were placed within his reach.
After finishing all these preparations, Qingai and Feiquan retreated, leaving the entire area to the prince and princess for some alone time.
Yao Huang was still pondering her pose for the painting. Since she couldn't move once she struck a pose, she had to think it through beforehand. Bending over to admire the flowers would be too tiring, and standing straight would be too stiff. She wanted something more natural.
Zhao Sui watched silently, not offering any suggestions.
Eventually, Yao Huang stood slightly sideways in front of a cluster of purplish-red peonies. Her left hand held a delicate round fan, pretending to have just fanned herself before resting it lightly against her chest. Her right hand tenderly supported a peony that leaned towards her. She didn't lower her head; instead, she gazed out at the flowers further away.
When Yao Huang used to go to the outskirts to admire peach blossoms, she had seen some wealthy young ladies and officials' daughters from afar. She deliberately imitated their gentle and quiet demeanor. Having learned etiquette in the palace for a month, Yao Huang mimicked them quite convincingly. Anyone who didn't know her would truly think she came from a prestigious family.
"Is this okay?"
Yao Huang tilted her head to look at the prince opposite her. In fact, she didn't tilt it much; she just shifted her gaze from the peonies on the right side of the path to the end of the path.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Yao Huang used a smile to cover it up, but her clear, dark, and moist eyes couldn't hide her shyness.
Zhao Sui said, "It's fine. Keep looking at me."
Yao Huang was speechless.
Forget it, the prince definitely knew better than her what pose and expression would look best in a painting.
However, as she continued to look, Yao Huang suddenly realized that this seemed to be the first time she had scrutinized the prince for such a long time. When they were together during the day, they were either eating or strolling in the garden, and there was even less need to mention the nights.
It would have been fine if it was just her looking at the prince, but the prince was also looking at her. That focused gaze reminded Yao Huang of the night that had just passed.
Because the prince was willing to accommodate her and didn't use those embarrassing and tiring positions, Yao Huang relaxed and actually started to cooperate subconsciously. When he pulled away, she pulled away; when he approached, she welcomed him, until she had no strength left to cooperate.
Heat crept up her cheeks, and Yao Huang lowered her gaze.
Looking at the blank rice paper in front of him, Zhao Sui found himself unable to concentrate either. Forcing himself to paint would just be a half-hearted effort.
Yao Huang was not someone who could endure staying still for long. Feeling that she had been standing for a long time, she raised her eyes and asked, "How much has Your Highness painted?"
Zhao Sui put down his brush. "Come see for yourself."
Finally allowed to move, Yao Huang happily ran over, bypassed the easel, and stood beside the wheelchair. Facing the completely blank sheet of rice paper, Yao Huang was stunned.
Zhao Sui grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, holding her.
Yao Huang subconsciously looked around.
Zhao Sui said, "Without your orders or mine, they won't come over to disturb us."
Letting go of the worry of being seen, Yao Huang immediately glared at him. "Why didn't Your Highness paint anything? You made me stand there for nothing for so long."
Zhao Sui looked at her face. "You suddenly blushed just now. What were you thinking about?"
Yao Huang replied, "...I was wondering if Your Highness would think I was being too vain. The more I thought about it, the more embarrassed I felt. What about you, Your Highness?"
Zhao Sui said, "I haven't painted for a long time, so my hands are a bit out of practice. I didn't want to force it."
Yao Huang wasn't disappointed at all. "Then shall we forget about it for today? Your Highness can practice more, and paint whenever your hands feel smooth again."
Zhao Sui agreed.
Yao Huang was very afraid that she would crush the prince's already impaired legs. She twisted her waist and struggled out of his loose embrace, suggesting, "Shall I push Your Highness inside to admire the flowers?"
Zhao Sui nodded.
There were at least a dozen varieties of peonies grown in the flowerbed. Yao Huang didn't recognize a single one, so she asked the prince to enlighten her.
As they were asking and answering questions, Qingai suddenly ran over, slowing down only when she got close. She said to the prince and princess who were looking her way, "Her Majesty the Empress has sent someone with a verbal edict for the princess."
Yao Huang was taken aback. Her Majesty the Empress?
Zhao Sui turned his head and said to her, "It might be related to the Dragon Boat Festival. Go on, don't keep Imperial Mother's people waiting."
With his guess, Yao Huang, who was receiving a verbal edict from the Empress for the first time, didn't have to let her imagination run wild. She told Qingai to serve the prince well and took a shortcut straight through the flowerbed, heading south.
The person who came was an eunuch from Empress Zhou's side. The Empress's verbal edict was very simple: she invited Yao Huang to enter the palace tomorrow to admire the peonies.
Yao Huang chuckled inwardly. The prince had guessed wrong.
.
Excluding the second day of her marriage when she accompanied Prince Hui to serve tea to the Emperor, Empress, and concubines, today was considered Yao Huang's first time entering the palace in her capacity as Princess Hui.
The palace maid leading the way guided her and Aji directly to the Imperial Garden.
Yao Huang was a little surprised. The Imperial Garden actually didn't seem as large as the back garden of Prince Hui's estate. It was crammed with too much scenery, resulting in the peonies and Chinese herbaceous peonies here only being enough to encircle a single pavilion.
At this moment, several noblewomen and young ladies dressed in luxurious garments were seated in the pavilion. Empress Zhou sat in the center. Princess Fucheng, Noble Consort Du, Worthy Consort Liu, and Consort Shen Rou sat on her left. On her right were the First Princess, the Second Princess, as well as the future Princess Consort Kang, Chen Ying, and the future Princess Consort Qing, Zheng Yuanzhen, whom Yao Huang had not seen in a long time.
Yao Huang noticed that Princess Fucheng's seat was placed ahead of the three consorts. It was evident that when a royal aunt returned to her maiden home, she was still an honored guest. Even Noble Consort Du, who was rumored to be the most favored in the inner palace, had to yield to her.
The guiding palace maid and Aji stopped outside the pavilion. Yao Huang ascended the steps alone and said to Empress Zhou with a radiant smile, "Imperial Mother told me I didn't need to come too early, but it turns out I am the last to arrive. Making Imperial Mother and all the esteemed consorts wait so long is truly a sin."
Empress Zhou was slightly taken aback, Princess Fucheng raised her eyebrows slightly, while Noble Consort Du stared at Yao Huang with an expression as if she had seen a ghost.
Yao Huang first bowed to Empress Zhou, then bowed to Emperor Yongchang's sister and concubines, and simply offered a smile to the two princesses and her sisters-in-law.
Such a generous and cheerful little princess consort—Empress Zhou grew fonder of her the more she looked. She had no sons of her own, and whichever of the four current princes inherited the throne would have to respect her as the Empress Dowager. Not having to compete saved Empress Zhou a lot of mental effort, so she treated the princes' consorts purely based on how pleasing she found them. She would grow close to those she liked, and simply maintain a polite facade with those she didn't.
"Not late at all, not late at all. We were already in the palace and just came to the garden early for some fresh air. The Princess and the others also just arrived not long ago. Come, take a seat."
Yao Huang's seat was placed between Chen Ying and Zheng Yuanzhen.
As she walked to her seat, Yao Huang winked at Chen Ying, who was gazing at her eagerly.
Because Yao Huang was a newcomer, Empress Zhou first asked about her newlywed life. Yao Huang replied that everything was going well, and then everyone resumed their previous idle chatter.
Not long after, Empress Zhou told the five young sisters-in-law to go admire the flowers in the garden on their own.
Walking out of the pavilion in a line, Yao Huang and Chen Ying naturally stood together. Zheng Yuanzhen and Noble Consort Du's daughter, the Second Princess, both looked toward Empress Zhou's only daughter, the First Princess.
The First Princess didn't get along with either of them. Seeing that Chen Ying seemed to have a bellyful of questions to ask Yao Huang, she chose a direction and wandered off on her own.
Zheng Yuanzhen disdained trying to warm up to the First Princess's cold shoulder. She and the Second Princess used to be able to chat well together, but after her unrealized marriage arrangement with Prince Hui, Zheng Yuanzhen always felt that the Second Princess looked at her with mockery in her eyes, so she also went off to admire the flowers on her own.
The Second Princess gritted her teeth, glared at her half-sister-in-law Yao Huang who hadn't come to curry favor with her, and went to chase after the First Princess. Having someone to chat with was always better than being all alone.
Yao Huang just found it baffling. She hadn't provoked the Second Princess, so why glare at her?
"How are you doing living here?" Yao Huang asked Chen Ying once they were far from the pavilion.
Chen Ying smiled and said, "It's quite nice. Her Majesty the Empress sent several female tutors to give us lessons. I chose the zither, chess, and painting. There are also momos who teach us some other skills." It was much more interesting than when she was merely an elegant lady candidate.
Yao Huang thought to herself that there was still half a year until Chen Ying and Prince Kang's grand wedding. If they didn't find her something to do, this future princess consort would probably die of boredom.
"What about you? What is His Highness Prince Hui's temperament like, and how does he treat you?"
Before Yao Huang could open her mouth, Chen Ying looked at her rosy cheeks and bright eyes and said, "Prince Hui must treat you very well."
Some things were too embarrassing to speak of, so Yao Huang answered with a deeply contented smile.
Chen Ying was timid, while Yao Huang was bold. After the two finished their intimate chat, Yao Huang took the initiative to lead Chen Ying to find the First Princess. The Second Princess and Zheng Yuanzhen clearly didn't welcome them. The First Princess's likes and dislikes were still unknown, but considering she was the only beloved daughter of the Empress of the Central Palace, Yao Huang hoped to establish a good relationship with her.
Noticing their approach, the sixteen-year-old First Princess revealed an amiable smile.
Yao Huang felt reassured; at the very least, the First Princess didn't look down on them because of her and Chen Ying's family backgrounds.
.
A single flower-viewing stroll was not enough to forge a deep friendship with the First Princess. It basically consisted of mutually praising each other's beauty, and then praising the surrounding flowers.
Empress Zhou and the others also entered the garden. With Empress Zhou's intentional approach, the First Princess led Chen Ying away, leaving Yao Huang alone by Empress Zhou's side.
Empress Zhou took Yao Huang's hand and said sincerely, "You are beautiful and possess such fair skin and delicate bones. No wonder our Prince Hui chose you at first glance."
Yao Huang blushed and said softly, "Your Majesty, please don't tease me. I know you all saw me sneaking glances at the Prince that day."
Empress Zhou replied, "Your daring to peek is precisely the destiny between you two. You might not know this, but the Emperor has always valued Prince Hui highly. After Prince Hui's accident, the Emperor's heartache for him deepened. He hopes more than anyone that Prince Hui can step out of the gloom and move around more. However, from last year's Mid-Autumn Festival to this year's Lantern Festival, Prince Hui has refused to attend several palace banquets. Even when the Emperor misses him, he has to be mindful of his low spirits and finds it inconvenient to visit him at the estate."
Yao Huang said, moved, "Imperial Father is truly good to the Prince."
Empress Zhou said, "Indeed. The Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet is coming up soon. If Prince Hui can make an appearance, the Emperor will definitely feel extremely gratified. Just now in the pavilion, everyone was speaking pleasantries. Now, tell me the truth. During this time after the wedding, has Prince Hui shown any joy? Has he been intimate enough with you?"
Yao Huang thought to herself that the Prince was truly a brilliant strategist. Her Majesty the Empress really did bring up the Dragon Boat Festival.
She chose her words carefully, "The Prince treats me very well. He even came out to greet my maiden family when I hosted them for a banquet. It's just that the Prince rarely smiles, and on days other than those ending in five or zero, he still lives alone in the Bamboo Courtyard."
Empress Zhou sighed, "Prince Hui is a man of few words but has a lenient and gentle nature. He has always been thoughtful in matters of etiquette."
To leave such a glamorous and beautiful princess consort aside and insist on living alone in the Bamboo Courtyard, only giving the princess consort six nights of dignity a month—this meant he still hadn't moved past his trauma.
Patting Yao Huang's hand, Empress Zhou instructed, "Regarding the Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet, try your best to persuade Prince Hui. It would be best if he agrees, but if it displeases him, let it be. Don't anger him over this matter."
Yao Huang replied, "Yes. The Prince promised that he would accompany me during festivals and holidays. If he really comes before the festival, I will pick a time when he is in a good mood to try."
Empress Zhou understood. The men of the royal family were not exempt from worldly ways; they were always easier to talk to in bed.
