Weaving a cattail hassock was similar to doing needlework. Once you learned how, you just had to take your time; it was a test of patience.
Yao Huang had only made them twice with her maternal grandmother and aunts. Every time, the mother and daughters would sit in the courtyard, their hands busy and their mouths chatting, and before they knew it, the hassock was woven.
Today, Yao Huang's companion for weaving the hassock was the reticent Prince Hui.
Yao Huang had to make conversation out of nothing: "Your Highness, what illness did the former Princess Consort Kang suffer from? It's so pitiful to leave behind a young heir at such a young age."
Zhao Sui: "...Why ask this suddenly?"
Yao Huang: "I like to chat with people when I weave hassocks. Now that I'm married to Your Highness, I will definitely interact with the Prince Kang and Prince Qing's estates often in the future. Knowing more about their situations will save me from accidentally saying the wrong thing and offending someone."
At the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, Chen Ying had told her about Prince Hui's birth mother. Yao Huang remembered this kindness, so she also wanted to inquire about the Prince Kang's estate. The palace maid by Chen Ying's side was rewarded by Consort Liu Xian. Such maids usually only told Chen Ying secrets unrelated to Consort Liu Xian and Prince Kang and his son, just like how Bailing and the other two didn't dare to take the initiative to mention Prince Hui's background to her.
Zhao Sui recalled for a moment and said, "When I left the capital three years ago, I heard that Princess Consort Kang had caught a cold and wasn't recovering. The second year, I received news of her passing from illness at the border. I'm not clear on the specific illness."
Yao Huang: "...Then did Prince Kang have a good relationship with the former Princess Consort? If it was good, His Highness Prince Kang must have been very sad during that time."
Zhao Sui: "Not clear."
He would only see Prince Kang and his wife attending palace banquets together. Not to mention he wasn't curious, even if he were, what could be seen on such occasions.
Yao Huang: "..."
Seeing her disappointed expression, Zhao Sui thought of how she seemed exceptionally close to a woman next to her at the palace banquet and asked, "Do you want to know yourself, or did someone ask you to help inquire?"
Yao Huang: "Your Highness saw through it, didn't you? Prince Kang's new Princess Consort is a sister I met at the Chuxiu Pavilion. She's timid and didn't dare ask me to help with this kind of favor. I wanted to know myself. In case there are any taboos she needs to pay attention to, I definitely have to tell her, lest she accidentally offend His Highness Prince Kang."
Zhao Sui looked at her and said, "No matter how Prince Kang and the former Princess Consort's relationship was, it's already in the past. As long as the new Princess Consort strictly abides by the rules and is cautious in her words and actions, she won't offend anyone."
Although they were both Princess Consorts, the situations she and Prince Kang's new Princess Consort faced were completely different. His side was simple, while Prince Kang's original wife and two secondary consorts all came from noble families. With many wives and concubines, competing for favor was inevitable. If the new Princess Consort kept the rules well, she might have an easier time.
Yao Huang smiled apologetically: "Yes, Your Highness is right."
She actually just wanted to hear her prince talk about royal affairs to pass the time. As a result, this person wasn't clear either, and after saying a few words, he started talking about rules. How boring.
Since he had a Buddhist scripture in his hand anyway, Yao Huang simply stopped paying attention to him and focused on turning over the cattails to the sound of birds chirping in the bamboo forest.
Zhao Sui still remembered her words "likes to chat." His gaze circled around her a few times, and he asked, "The bamboo forest is damp. Will the ground be cold?"
Yao Huang was just about to say that one should pick a cool place in summer, but she changed her tune at the last minute. She shifted her bottom and said, "It does seem a bit damp. How about Your Highness goes inside, and I go back to Ming'an Hall to weave?"
He wanted to see the technique, she had demonstrated it. He couldn't chat, so she might as well go back and find the four senior maids for company.
Zhao Sui looked at the other end of the bamboo forest path bathed in sunlight and said in his usual tone, "Go ahead."
He called back Qingai, had Qingai help the Princess Consort carry her things back, and then had Feiquan push him into the courtyard.
The Prince went in, and when he had gone far enough, Qingai asked in confusion, "Princess Consort, why aren't you weaving here anymore?"
He was the Prince's confidant. How could Yao Huang be stupid enough to tell the truth? She smiled and said, "The Prince was afraid I would catch a cold, so he told me to go back and weave."
Qingai glanced at the stone slabs paving the ground, thinking that the Prince really valued the Princess Consort too much. In the middle of summer, with a layer of felt mat, how cold could it be?
.
With the four senior maids around to chat, sometimes talking about old stories from their respective hometowns and sometimes chatting about strange anecdotes they had heard, Yao Huang wove for two hours in the morning. After resting in the afternoon, she wove for another two hours or so, successfully finishing a square cattail hassock specially suited for padding Prince Hui's large red sandalwood wheelchair before dusk.
It was made on the seventh day of the lunar month, and after drying in the sun for a whole day on the eighth, it was ready for use.
Ordinary families just sat directly on the hassock. The Prince's status was noble, so Yao Huang had the deft-handed Chunyan sew a layer of coarse cloth and a layer of silk on the outside of the hassock. The coarse cloth was to prevent the hassock from wearing out the silk, and the silk was purely for aesthetics.
Chunyan immediately took the hassock and went to work.
Not much needlework was needed. By the time Yao Huang finished dinner, Chunyan had brought back the sewn hassock. She chose a purplish-black silk surface, closely resembling the color of the Prince's red sandalwood wheelchair.
Yao Huang smiled and gave Chunyan a reward. While the setting sun was still bright, she carried the hassock, which weighed about two catties, to the Bamboo Courtyard herself.
Passing through the bamboo forest path, Yao Huang was surprised to find a round stone table added to the left front of the Bamboo Courtyard's gate. Next to the table was a stone stool, similar to the set inside the Bamboo Courtyard, except this stone stool had a bamboo-green brocade cushion tied to it.
As Yao Huang was sizing up the stone table, Feiquan gently opened the door, popped his head out, and smiled at her: "Princess Consort, please wait a moment, this servant will go invite the Prince."
Yao Huang: "Wait, this, the Prince had you guys get it?"
Feiquan smiled and nodded, thinking to himself, did the Prince even need to give the order? The Prince felt sorry for the Princess Consort sitting on the cold ground. After discussing it with Qingai, he had Eunuch Cao match a set of stone tables and chairs and send them over that very day.
Hearing this, Yao Huang's conscience felt a bit guilty. The Prince truly cared about whether she was cold, but she had lied because she found him boring.
She handed the silk-covered hassock to Feiquan: "Put this on the wheelchair first, then invite the Prince to sit on it and try it out."
Feiquan didn't dare to take it: "It's better for the Princess Consort to put it on for the Prince herself."
If he took it, what if the Princess Consort ran away again?
Yao Huang: "If I put it on, won't we have to lift the Prince up later? That's too troublesome."
Feiquan thought about it and found it made sense, so he made a request: "Then the Princess Consort has to wait here. In case the Prince feels something is inappropriate, you can take it back and modify it."
Yao Huang nodded and went to sit on the stone stool.
Zhao Sui was still sitting in the backyard watching the sunset. After hearing Feiquan's words, he had Qingai push the wheelchair over.
Feiquan placed the purplish-black silk hassock on the wheelchair. Seeing that the square hassock fit perfectly on it, and wouldn't slip off even if the wheelchair was tilted without being pushed by hand, he immediately praised it from the bottom of his heart.
"So the Princess Consort wove it according to the size of the seat surface. This is too thoughtful. For such a large hassock, the Princess Consort must have measured, calculated, and woven the last circle several times to make it fit so perfectly."
Qingai nodded: "Whenever it concerns the Prince's affairs, the Princess Consort thinks exceptionally thoroughly. Even Eunuch Cao admits he is inferior."
Zhao Sui listened expressionlessly.
Feiquan: "Would the Prince like to try it? The Princess Consort is still waiting outside, insisting on making sure you use it comfortably before she is willing to leave."
Zhao Sui nodded.
Once seated, Qingai didn't say any more and pushed the Prince directly to see the Princess Consort.
The courtyard doors opened, and Yao Huang immediately stood up from the stone table. Upon seeing the wheelchair, her eyes first darted toward the seat beneath Prince Hui. The light was dim over there, and the finger-thick purplish-black silk surface of the woven cushion seemed to blend seamlessly with the red sandalwood wheelchair. In her heart, Yao Huang could not help but praise Chunyan for her excellent taste once again.
Qingai was made quite embarrassed by the Princess Consort's staring. After bringing the wheelchair to a halt, he quickly backed away.
Yao Huang circled the wheelchair. Resting her left hand on the high armrest, she used her right hand to press down on the empty space of the cushion beside Prince Hui and asked with a smile, How does Your Highness feel? Is it a bit more comfortable than sitting directly on the wood?
Looking at the smiling face right in front of him, Zhao Sui suddenly grabbed her extended hand, lifting it up by pinching her fingertips.
Her fair palms, usually as tender as spring water, were now covered in red indentations left by the coarse cattail leaves.
Zhao Sui asked, Does it hurt?
Yao Huang smiled. It does not hurt. It just looks a bit dreadful because I rarely do manual labor. It will be fine after a couple of days of rest. Your Highness still has not answered me, is it comfortable or not?
Zhao Sui replied, It is fine.
Yao Huang perked up. Then I will weave another one for your study chair tomorrow! That one is smaller, so I can finish it in two hours.
Zhao Sui said, You do not need to work so hard. Just have the servants buy a ready-made one from outside.
Yao Huang insisted, It really is not hard work, it is quite simple. Think about it, Your Highness, you treat me so well, but I do not have any gold or silver to give you. Even if I did, you might not care for it. I can only use my hands to weave some practical little items to show my sincerity. If Your Highness does not let me do this, I really do not know how else to repay you.
Looking at the reddened, marked palms exposed before him, Zhao Sui lowered his gaze and said, I give you gold and silver, but not because I want you to repay me.
Yao Huang tilted her head to look into his eyes. I know. We are husband and wife, talking about repayment is far too distant. You see, when you give me good things, I just offer a few modest words and then accept them. So when I give Your Highness a little gift or two, please do not stand on ceremony with me either, alright?
Zhao Sui gave her a glance, tacitly agreeing.
Yao Huang naturally withdrew her hand and asked, Are the chairs in Your Highness's study the same size as the ones in my room?
Zhao Sui answered, Yes, the study chairs are all part of a set.
Yao Huang now had a plan in mind. Just as she was about to say her goodbyes, Prince Hui spoke up. Let us take a stroll in the garden while it is still cool. Wait here a moment, I will go change my wheelchair.
Since Prince Hui was in an elegant mood, Yao Huang could only accompany him.
The elm wood wheelchair was light and compact, making it much easier for Yao Huang to push.
Zhao Sui asked her how the dimensions of the cushion were so accurate, as he was certain she had never measured the red sandalwood wheelchair.
Yao Huang explained, Before making the cushion, I asked Master Deng for the length and width of the inner seat of Your Highness's chair. He thought I had come up with some new idea again, but I just told him I was asking casually and did not mention the cushion.
Her father, a rough and tough man, would often deliberately sit on the chairs she had placed cushions on. Yet, when her mother offered to weave one specifically for him, her father would stubbornly insist that he did not care for such things.
Yao Huang did not understand how a mere cushion could be tied to a man's pride, but she was more than willing to play along with His Highness.
They took a leisurely stroll around the grounds. By the time they arrived at the moon gate leading to the main courtyard, the last glimmer of the setting sun was about to fade away.
Yao Huang still wanted to head toward the Bamboo Courtyard, but Prince Hui instructed, Go to Ming'an Hall.
Yao Huang was speechless.
Zhao Sui did not turn his head, but since the wheelchair had stopped moving, he explained, You worked so hard to weave that cushion for me, and your maids have all seen it. Since I have accepted your gift, it is only right that I show some appreciation.
Yao Huang replied, Your Highness treats me well enough, and they all know it in their hearts. Even if Your Highness does not visit my quarters tonight, they will not let their imaginations run wild.
Zhao Sui turned slightly, looking at her as he asked, You do not want me to go over?
Yao Huang looked away and whispered, I do want you to, I am just afraid that Your Highness will keep me awake all night long again.
Zhao Sui paused, then said, Rest assured, I will not touch you tonight.
