After the flower viewing, Empress Zhou hosted a banquet.
The imperial chefs were ranked in various grades. When Yao Huang was still a candidate in the palace, the dishes she ate were only slightly better presented than those made by Auntie Wu back home. While they were generous with the meat, the flavor was much the same. Today, however, thanks to the presence of Empress Zhou and the three high-ranking consorts, even the garnish in a dish of steamed shrimp with tofu was stewed until it was silky smooth and bursting with flavor.
Each person had their own individual table. The dishes were numerous but the portions small. Yao Huang picked out her favorites; of the eight dishes served, she finished four at a leisurely pace, ate half of two others, and only took a single bite of the remaining two that truly didn't suit her palate.
Among the ten people present, she was the one who ate with the most gusto.
The Second Princess teased, "No wonder my second sister-in-law is so voluptuous; it turns out she has such a fine appetite."
There was a woman named Chen Ying between the two of them, and Yao Huang couldn't help but admire the Second Princess’s willingness to crane her neck just to peer over. Picking up the silk cloth prepared by the palace maids to wipe the corners of her mouth, Yao Huang smiled at the princess. "Does Sister think I am beautiful?"
The Second Princess paused. "...Yes, you are."
Yao Huang replied, "Then you needn't envy me, Sister. If you eat a bit more, you can become voluptuous too."
The Second Princess’s face instantly flushed, then turned pale with indignation. Who was envying her? So what if she had a large chest and a narrow waist? Her own waist was thin too, but her chest... damn it, was this woman intentionally mocking her for being as flat as a board?
Princess Royal Fucheng let out a sudden laugh. Glancing at the Second Princess, she said, "Se'er indeed needs more nourishment."
The Second Princess’s name was Zhao Se.
A young girl being teased about her figure was always at a disadvantage. The redder her face grew, the more amusement she provided for the others. Feeling wronged, the Second Princess looked toward her mother.
Noble Consort Du naturally stepped in to support her daughter. Glancing at Zheng Yuanzhen, Noble Consort Du smiled and said, "If everyone is to be compared to Huanghuang, then Yuanzhen needs some nourishment as well."
Princess Royal Fucheng replied, "Yuanzhen certainly doesn't envy her."
Noble Consort Du continued, "Of course. Yuanzhen has made a much more fortunate match. Although Prince Hui is talented in both civil and military arts, he is, after all, crippled now. How can he compare to the heroic stature of Prince Qing..."
Empress Zhou’s gaze swept over, cold and sharp.
Noble Consort Du didn't care in the slightest and insisted on finishing her thought. "Prince Qing is truly blessed. If the Princess Royal hadn't been so reluctant to part with her beloved daughter and insisted on keeping Yuanzhen until she was eighteen, the title of the capital's number one beauty would never have fallen to anyone else before Prince Qing could marry her."
She intentionally emphasized the words "number one beauty," casting a half-smile toward Yao Huang as she spoke, making no effort to hide her derision.
Zheng Yuanzhen’s expression remained unchanged. She simply continued to sip her soup quietly, as if the verbal sparring of her elders had nothing to do with her.
Princess Royal Fucheng gave a faint smile. "In the presence of the Noble Consort, who would dare claim to be the capital's number one beauty?"
Consort Rou added, "Speaking only of the younger generation, Noble Consort Sister is indeed correct. Yuanzhen possesses both an exquisite physical appearance and a transcendent grace. You won't find another beauty like her in the entire capital."
This was a subtle jab at Noble Consort Du’s advancing age.
On her own, Noble Consort Du was no match for the combined front of Princess Royal Fucheng and Consort Rou. She huffed and turned her gaze back to Yao Huang. "A heart filled with poetry and books naturally radiates elegance. Usually, you shouldn't just think about eating; read more books, lest people mock you for being nothing more than a pretty face."
Yao Huang looked utterly bewildered. "What is Mother saying? Weren't you all just praising my good looks?"
Noble Consort Du: "..."
Princess Royal Fucheng and the others: "..."
After the banquet concluded, the sun was at its peak. Empress Zhou arranged for palanquins to carry Princess Royal Fucheng and her daughter, as well as Yao Huang, who lived outside the palace.
Just as Yao Huang was about to express her gratitude, Noble Consort Du spoke in an overbearing tone. "Follow me to the Palace of Established Happiness. I have something to say to you."
Yao Huang covered her mouth and mimicked a yawn. "Does Mother have something urgent? If not, let's speak another time. Your daughter-in-law is very sleepy."
Empress Zhou looked over at Noble Consort Du.
Noble Consort Du suppressed her anger and said, "I am your mother-in-law. Can't I call you over to have a private chat?"
Upon hearing this, Yao Huang stepped forward and took Noble Consort Du’s arm, leaning her head against her shoulder. "Of course you can. Then, Mother, please take pity on me and let's just talk here. It saves me a trip to the Palace of Established Happiness, which would take at least half an hour round trip. The sun is so fierce; your daughter-in-law is afraid of the heat."
Noble Consort Du was startled by the sudden pressure of the soft body against her.
The Second Princess’s eyes stung at Yao Huang’s intimate gesture. That was her mother; what right did Yao Huang, a mere daughter-in-law, have to act so spoiled?
Empress Zhou said, "Since we are all leaving anyway, you two can chat here."
She led the rest of the group away in a grand procession.
Yao Huang was still holding onto Noble Consort Du.
Noble Consort Du shook her off with a look of distaste and sat down on the "beauty’s lean" bench on one side of the pavilion. She scolded, "This is the palace. Mind your manners."
Yao Huang sat opposite her with great familiarity and smiled. "It is the palace, but it is also my husband’s home. They say a mother-in-law is like a second mother; why should I worry about manners with my own mother? Don't you agree, Mother?"
Noble Consort Du: "...Why did you bring that girl with you again? Where are Huamei and Bailing? Is the senior maid I sent you not as useful as the little maid from your own family?"
Hearing this, Yao Huang looked at Noble Consort Du with a mournful expression. "Mother, you have the heart to mention it! That Huamei you sent me—I don't know what possessed her, but she actually dared to slander the Prince's reputation to my face and try to drive a wedge between us... It was the first time I’d ever dealt with such a thing. I didn't know what to do, so I left it all to the Prince to handle. I haven't seen Huamei since that day."
Noble Consort Du: "..."
Was Huamei truly that stupid?
Noble Consort Du could have continued to press for details, but since the girl was already gone, there was no point in dwelling on it. She said casually, "It was my oversight in choosing people. Shall I send you another maid?"
Yao Huang replied, "Please, don't. The Prince was already furious once. If another Huamei comes along, I'm afraid it might affect the relationship between Mother and the Prince. Besides, I have four senior maids now, which is just right. Adding another would make the numbers uneven."
Noble Consort Du: "...Fine, then. During the flower viewing, what did the Empress say to you?"
Yao Huang sighed. "Her Majesty asked if I could persuade the Prince to attend the Dragon Boat Festival banquet. How could I possibly manage that? Perhaps Mother could give the Prince a direct verbal command? He would surely listen to you."
Noble Consort Du gritted her teeth. In the past, Prince Hui indeed would never have refused her commands and would have come whenever summoned. Now, he even dared to disobey the Emperor’s summons; calling for him herself would only be asking for humiliation.
"I have to worry about everything. What use was there in marrying you into the family? Go back now, and figure it out yourself."
Riding the palanquin gifted by the Empress, Yao Huang swayed gently as she left the palace and boarded her own manor's carriage.
The Prince Hui Manor was very close to the palace. Yao Huang had only just managed a short nap when they arrived. Assuming the Prince was likely taking his afternoon rest, she went straight back to Ming'an Hall.
After taking off her outer robe and washing her face, Yao Huang climbed into bed to sleep.
Regardless of the season, Yao Huang always had the habit of taking an afternoon nap. There was spring fatigue and autumn weariness, and since summer was too hot and winter too cold, one naturally had to sleep a little then as well.
When she woke up, Feiquan came in to serve her and said, "Eunuch Feiquan stopped by. He said the Prince requests your presence at the Lower Bamboo Courtyard at the hour of the Rooster."
Yao Huang acknowledged this. After washing up, she called for Guo Shu to discuss the holiday gifts to be sent out for this year's Dragon Boat Festival. She only had two families of relatives on her side, but there were four on Prince Hui’s side: the Prince Kang Manor, the Prince Qing Manor, the Princess Royal Fucheng Manor, and Noble Consort Du’s maternal family, the Manor of the Duke of Chengen. Noble Consort Du had been titled a Noble Consort as soon as she entered the palace, which was due not only to her beauty but also to the fact that the Empress Dowager was her biological aunt.
The two Princes were of the same generation, while the households of the Eldest Princess and the Duke of Chengen belonged to the senior generation.
Yao Huang asked, "Should the gifts for my own family and my maternal grandfather's family follow the same standard as those for the Duke of Chengen's manor?"
Guo Shu replied, "The current Duke of Chengen is the brother of Her Imperial Noble Consort and the Prince's maternal uncle. Thus, gifts for your two uncles may follow the same list as the Duke's. However, for your father and the elder Master and Madam Luo, the gifts should be increased by twenty percent to properly observe etiquette."
Yao Huang smiled. "Let it be as you say. Also, include two jars of tribute wine for each family."
After handling some trifles, Yao Huang headed to the Bamboo Courtyard fifteen minutes early.
Prince Hui was sitting by the pond, seemingly watching the koi swimming within.
Yao Huang trotted over. "Was Your Highness waiting for me?"
Zhao Sui replied, "I was watching the fish, and waiting for you as well."
Yao Huang smiled. "Had I known, I would have set out earlier."
Zhao Sui observed her expression and asked, "How was your visit to the palace this morning? Did it go smoothly?"
Yao Huang sat on a lake stone facing him. "Smoothly enough," she said, amused. "I just realized that some of those imperial ladies are not much different from our neighbors back in Long Life Lane. When they're unhappy, they bicker and use veiled insults; they just do it with a bit more refinement. Isn't it strange? When they were candidates for the harem, they had to learn so many rules—to be dignified and virtuous, as if everyone in the palace were like that. But in reality..."
She gave the Prince a knowing look.
Zhao Sui asked, "Did someone insult you?"
Yao Huang's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly brushed it off. "They just mocked me for being plump and having a low social standing. I'm used to it."
Zhao Sui said, "You are not fat."
While she hadn't blushed when being mocked, her face now burned. She lowered her head. "Even if Your Highness wants to make me happy, you shouldn't tell such barefaced lies."
Zhao Sui continued, "Fatness implies excess flesh. You are voluptuous and well-proportioned, like a peony among flowers."
Yao Huang could boast about herself or accept her family's praise with a laugh, but being told this by her husband, the Prince, in broad daylight made her so shy she covered her face and turned away.
Zhao Sui gazed toward the distant horizon.
Once the heat in her face subsided, Yao Huang slowly turned back. Meeting the Prince’s gaze, she whispered, "There is a Dragon Boat Festival banquet in the palace on the fifth day of the month. Will Your Highness be attending?"
Zhao Sui remained silent.
Yao Huang continued, "If you don't want to go, then don't. I'm not afraid to go alone anyway. The Empress and the Eldest Princess are very gentle, and I know the Princess Consort of Kang. We can chat while we eat, and the banquet will be over before I know it. You don't need to worry about me."
Had it been just himself, Zhao Sui certainly would not have gone.
Now that he had a Princess Consort, accompanying her to the palace banquet might give her more confidence, and his father, the Emperor, would likely credit her for his attendance. However, the other princes were all tall and elegant, while her husband sat in a wheelchair, a head shorter than the rest. No matter how one looked at them, they were an ill-matched pair. Because of this, she might draw countless gazes filled with pity, sympathy, or even schadenfreude.
Zhao Sui was not sure if she could endure such scrutiny.
"Do you want me to go?" Zhao Sui left the decision to her.
Yao Huang had already pondered this question on her way back, so she gave him an answer immediately: "I want Your Highness to do whatever makes you happy. If the palace banquet brings you joy, then go. If it only brings you frustration, then stay at home. This applies to the Mid-Autumn Festival, New Year’s Eve, or any other banquet in the future."
Yao Huang remembered when she was twelve or thirteen and had a breakout of acne. It wasn't severe, just a few spots on her face, but she had stayed cooped up in her room the entire time. She wouldn't even let her brother see her, even though she knew he wouldn't mock her.
To the Prince, his leg disability was likely similar to the acne on her face back then.
Therefore, she respected his wishes.
As for Emperor Yongchang’s longing and heartache for his son—that was his business. What did it have to do with her? The Prince was the one sharing her pillow.
