Having just confirmed they were going to Lingshan Town, how could Yao Huang calm down and just focus on eating?
Sitting back on the stone stool, Yao Huang looked happily at the prince opposite her and emphasized once again, To me, Your Highness is not only the best husband in the capital, but also the best husband in the whole world.
Although she came up with this idea entirely for the prince's sake, the prince didn't know it, and Yao Huang didn't dare let him know. She was afraid that he would resist too much and absolutely refuse to go. Furthermore, Yao Huang didn't want the prince to feel like she was treating him as a patient in need of a cure.
Prince Hui's leg ailment had already been declared incurable by the imperial physicians. His legs had become like two small missing hollows on a piece of beautiful jade; taking medicine was useless, and not taking medicine didn't cause any pain or itching, nor did it affect the rest of his life. Since this was the case, the disability in Prince Hui's legs could no longer be called an illness.
Prince Hui was not ill, and Yao Huang had no intention of curing his legs. She merely wanted to take him outside to have a look around, let him gradually get used to it, and allow the vitality that had sunk away along with his legs to slowly surface once more.
Therefore, for a disabled prince who didn't even want to leave the Bamboo Courtyard to suddenly change his mind and go to Lingshan, over a hundred and sixty miles away, to escape the summer heat, it must be because his newly wedded princess wanted to go there. Thus, Prince Hui would rather overcome the various inconveniences of traveling and endure the shabbiness and simplicity of a remote small town, just to grant his princess her wish and coax her into happiness.
The more Yao Huang thought about it, the warmer her heart felt. When a person racked their brains for another's sake, their greatest fear was that their good intentions would be misunderstood or unappreciated.
Since Prince Hui treated her this way, Yao Huang resolved to be even more thoughtful and meticulous when caring for him during the journey there and back, as well as upon their arrival in Lingshan Town.
The princess's dark, bright, and moist eyes kept looking at him, just looking at him.
They were sincere and open, as if she wanted to use such passion to tell him that all her praises were from the bottom of her heart, absolutely not fawning, currying favor, or empty flattery.
Zhao Sui believed it. At least in this moment, she truly thought so. He had given her what she wanted, and the princess was so overjoyed that she naturally felt he was a good husband.
In order to divert the princess's attention, Zhao Sui said, I will arrange the carriages, horses, tents, and the selection and purchase of a house. However, since we are traveling incognito and staying for a long time, we need to fabricate an identity that will convince the townspeople. Additionally, have you thought about who we should bring along?
Yao Huang's expression changed as expected. If I say I have thought about it, Your Highness will probably be angry, thinking that the things I said to coax you last night were all lies.
Zhao Sui looked at the steamed buns she had made with her own hands in the bowl. I don't get angry that easily. Since we've decided to go, you can just tell the truth.
Yao Huang asked, Then I'll really say it?
Zhao Sui picked up a steamed bun and took a slow, deliberate bite, looking as if he didn't care whether the princess spoke or not.
Yao Huang watched him raise and lower the steamed bun, thinking to herself that a prince was indeed a prince. Even eating a steamed bun, he exuded an elegance and nobility that ordinary people lacked. It was just like how the wild men in storybooks always spouted a bunch of crude words when embracing a woman, whereas Prince Hui would just silently put in the effort without a single word.
Zhao Sui raised his eyes and noticed that his princess was smiling rather strangely.
Meeting his gaze, Yao Huang hastily suppressed the inappropriate praise that the prince would probably not like to hear anyway. She first took a bite of her steamed bun, eating more than half of it while organizing her words, and then took a sip of the clear tea that had been prepared on the stone table. She said cheerfully, Your Highness, let me tell you, the people in small towns love gossiping about other people's business the most. If we're going to pretend, we have to make it look incredibly real. Otherwise, if anyone spots a flaw, those people will let their imaginations run wild with absurd ideas.
Zhao Sui nodded.
Yao Huang continued, As for servants, I just need to bring Aji. Who does Your Highness want to bring?
Zhao Sui replied, I need Qingai and Feiquan to take care of my daily life. Lingshan Town is remote, and we might not be accustomed to the climate, so Doctor Liao should be brought along too. As for washing clothes, if we leave it all to Aji, can she handle it alone?
Zhao Sui wasn't sure how many clothes a maid could wash in a day. Especially since Aji was the princess's trusted maid, if the princess couldn't bear to see Aji work too hard, they could bring an extra maid for washing.
Yao Huang said, She can handle it. It's cool in the summer, so washing clothes isn't as torturous as in the winter. Besides, our group won't be doing heavy labor, so the clothes won't get too dirty. Just rinsing them in water to get rid of the sweat will be enough.
Zhao Sui said, We're still missing a cook. Should we bring Chef Kong or the one from Ming'an Hall?
He was fine with either; it depended on which master chef's cooking she preferred.
Yao Huang quickly went over these people in her mind and smiled. Let's bring Madam Gao. It'll make it easier for us to pretend to be a large family. Doctor Liao and Madam Gao can pose as a married couple, while Qingai and Aji can pose as their eldest son and daughter-in-law. That will also save the neighbors from constantly trying to set them up for marriage, since both of their looks and demeanors would stand out in the town.
Feiquan has a youthful face, so he can pose as their youngest son. If anyone asks about his marriage, we can brush it off by saying there's no rush. Your Highness can pose as the couple's nephew, um, a smart and handsome scholar who accidentally injured his legs, and I, naturally, will be the beautiful niece-in-law they married to you.
Zhao Sui glanced at the princess's face. She indeed lived up to the description of being as beautiful as a flower.
Yao Huang continued, Doctor Liao can continue to be a doctor in the town, making it look like our family has a way to make a living. If we have a headache or a fever, he can take care of us. When we are fine, he can treat the townspeople. It will help him pass the time, benefit the local people, and build good karma for our family.
Madam Gao will be responsible for cooking, and Aji can be her assistant. When they aren't cooking, she and Aji can wash clothes together. Going in and out together will make them look more like a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Qingai and Feiquan are used to being eunuchs, so going out might easily reveal their identities. We'll just say they need to dry and prepare medicinal herbs at home, and only go out occasionally.
We should also bring guards, right? Let's bring the two guards with the best martial arts skills from the manor and have them pose as apprentices who signed life contracts with Doctor Liao. At night, they can stay with us to guard the house, and during the day, they can work at Doctor Liao's place. The town shouldn't be too big, so if we ever need the guards, we can shoot a signal arrow and they can rush over in time. There should be something like a signal arrow, right?
Zhao Sui replied, Yes.
Yao Huang added, But this is just in case. Lingshan is only a little over a hundred miles from the capital, so I expect there won't be any heinous villains who commit arson, murder, and robbery. As for ordinary petty thieves, I can take on two by myself.
Zhao Sui said, I will also arrange a squad of plainclothes guards. Have them pose as traveling merchants and stay at an inn, with one of them pretending to be bedridden with an illness. The merchant caravan's escorts can wander around the town freely during the day, keeping their distance to secretly protect you.
Yao Huang: ...
A whole squad of guards!
That's right, this man was, after all, a prince who couldn't walk on his own. In the unlikely event that the couple was truly unlucky enough to encounter several vicious villains or a gang of local ruffians, if the prince were injured or even killed, Yao Huang, the princess who encouraged him to go out, would be punished. At best, she would be given the cold shoulder or divorced by the injured prince; at worst, the furious Emperor Yongchang would have her beheaded, her family's property confiscated, and her entire extended family exterminated!
At the thought of this, Yao Huang shuddered and said nervously, Your Highness, how about we don't go? I'm suddenly a little scared.
It was her fault for only thinking about cheering up the prince, forgetting how precious he was. Yao Huang coaxing him to travel far away was like borrowing a precious egg personally laid by Emperor Yongchang; the slightest mishap would spell doom for Yao Huang.
Zhao Sui looked at her and said, "What is there to fear? Ever since Imperial Father ascended the throne, there hasn't been a bandit disturbance involving more than ten people in the entire capital region. Before we set off, I will also send men to thoroughly investigate the surroundings of Lingshan. If there were any real threat, I wouldn't take you."
Yao Huang finally felt relieved.
After lunch, all the major and minor details for their trip to Lingshan Town had been more or less figured out. While pushing Prince Hui back to his courtyard, Yao Huang made one last point, "Once we are actually there, Your Highness will have to wear common cloth garments just like me. Coarse cloth isn't as smooth as silk. How about I have someone make a set for Your Highness first, so you can try it on?"
If Prince Hui could not even tolerate wearing common cloth, all their previous plans would be for nothing.
Zhao Sui replied, "Just have the garments made."
It was true that he had been dressed in brocade and fine silk since childhood, but that did not mean he could not endure hardship. Compared to braving the elements and facing the flashing swords on the battlefield, wearing common cloth was hardly a suffering.
.
The embroidery workshop already had His Highness Prince Hui's measurements. Furthermore, sewing the plain garments of commoners was much simpler than tailoring elaborate brocade robes. In just five short days, the workshop delivered ten sets of plain clothes, shoes, and socks for Prince Hui. At the same time, they provided Yao Huang and Aji with five or six sets of new fine cotton clothes, and also sent several sets over to Doctor Liao, Madam Gao, Qingai, and Feiquan.
This was plenty. Yao Huang told the embroidery workshop there was no need to make any more.
After waiting two more days, His Highness Prince Hui came to Mingan Hall to inform the princess that the residence and the storefront for the medical clinic in Lingshan Town had all been procured.
Yao Huang took the scroll he handed over, asking in surprise, "So fast?"
Zhao Sui replied, "Doctor Liao took Zhang Yue and Wang Dong to handle it. They have already settled in over there, so we can set off at any time."
Yao Huang was already looking at the scroll. It depicted the floor plan of their new residence in Lingshan Town, which consisted of two adjacent double-courtyard estates with their front gates facing the river. The eastern estate was for the prince and princess, while the western one was for Doctor Liao's "family." The dividing walls between the front and back courtyards of the two properties had been knocked through.
Even though they would only be staying there for about two months, Yao Huang still felt a sense of fondness and anticipation for this house, treating it like a real home. Sitting beside Prince Hui, Yao Huang pointed at the eastern courtyard and suggested, "On the surface, we have three married couples. Why don't we let Qingai and Aji stay in the front courtyard, while Your Highness and I stay in the back? That way, the western estate will be a bit more spacious."
Zhao Sui said, "There are plenty of rooms, so it won't be crowded for them. The eastern courtyard will be just like Mingan Hall; I will stay in the front courtyard, and you will stay in the back."
Yao Huang did not understand. "Since we are pretending to be commoners, why must we sleep in separate quarters? My father and mother have always shared a room."
Prince Hui's tone was flat. "I prefer quiet."
Yao Huang muttered, "...It is not as if I insist on pestering Your Highness to talk every single night."
Zhao Sui made no further response.
Yao Huang did not press the issue. It was already wonderful enough that the prince was willing to go to Lingshan Town at all. Having a courtyard all to herself was hardly a terrible thing.
With clothing, food, housing, and transportation all properly arranged, Yao Huang reminded Prince Hui, "Since we are going on a long trip, I have already informed my family, telling them that Your Highness is taking me to the Beiyuan villa to escape the summer heat. Shouldn't Your Highness also inform Imperial Father? Otherwise, if Imperial Father and Imperial Mother suddenly wish to see us one day, the edict-bearing eunuch will arrive only to find us gone, and the two elders will worry."
Prince Hui replied, "Mhm."
The following day, after concluding the early morning court session, Emperor Yongchang received a long-absent memorial from his second son.
Memorials from imperial princes fell into two categories. The first type followed the standard procedure, passing through the Central Secretariat for review and sorting before being presented to the emperor. The second type could be submitted directly to the emperor's desk; these usually pertained to royal family matters or were highly confidential reports.
This particular memorial from His Highness Prince Hui had been handed directly to Eunuch Wang to present to Emperor Yongchang.
Emperor Yongchang excitedly opened the memorial, only to read: "Reporting to Imperial Father: The summer heat is oppressive. Confined to a wheelchair, your son finds the sweltering weather unbearable, and thus I have taken my princess away to escape the heat. We departed the capital this morning and shall return before the Mid-Autumn Festival. Servants, guards, and a physician are all in attendance. I hope Imperial Father takes good care of his health. Please do not worry."
Emperor Yongchang was stunned. His second son had gone out to escape the summer heat?
Looking at the blazing sun outside the window, Emperor Yongchang suddenly felt a pang of heartache. His second son's legs were crippled, forcing him to remain seated in a wheelchair for long periods. Even if there were ice basins in the room, sitting all day would still leave him uncomfortably hot.
Last summer, the broken and fractured bones all over his son's body had not yet healed, leaving him bedridden. Now that he could move around this year, it was only natural that he would want to find a cooler place to spend the summer.
Let him go. As long as his son could live comfortably, it did not matter where he was.
