Stepping down from Prince Hui's carriage, Yao Huang saw a stretch of towering mountain ridges to the south. Looking from afar, it was still over twenty miles away, and that was Mount Ling.
Mount Ling was a two-and-a-half-day carriage ride from the capital. The high officials and noble lords of the capital generally did not have the leisure time to come to Mount Ling to escape the summer heat. At most, young, martial-minded noble youths who had not yet obtained an official post would ride their horses here for a short trip of two or three days, either to climb high and admire the scenery or to draw their bows and hunt.
However, Mount Ling was actually a famous mountain in the Central Plains region. It had seen the glory of emperors coming here to tour and offer sacrifices, and the three schools of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism had built temples, monasteries, and academies here. Therefore, people constantly came out of admiration. With more tourists, small towns gathered by commoners appeared around the foot of the mountain. Opening restaurants, teahouses, and inns was more or less more profitable than farming.
The most majestic and magnificent peaks worth seeing on Mount Ling were mostly on the east and west wings, and the most famous temples, Daoist monasteries, and academies were also mostly built on the east, south, and west sides. The northern side of Mount Ling, on the contrary, was the place least trodden by tourists. Yao Huang specifically asked Steward Guo for very detailed information, and then chose Lingshan Town at the northern foot of Mount Ling as the location for their summer retreat. Firstly, she figured the northern side of the mountain was indeed cooler than the southern side, and secondly, there were fewer tourists here, making it quieter.
When the convoy was only two miles away from Lingshan Town, Mount Ling became a giant crouching tiger blocking the road, and carriages and horses had to detour for over a hundred miles to continue south.
In the distance were mountains, and nearby were low, rolling hills, as well as continuous, flat fields.
Yao Huang leaned against the window, enjoying the gentle breeze brought by the carriage while relishing the scenery with great interest.
After traveling a bit further, Yao Huang waved to a guard riding a horse behind them.
The guard, dressed in plain clothes and disguised as an escort, immediately came forward and asked respectfully, What orders does the Princess Consort have?
Yao Huang looked at him with a smile, What did you call me?
The guard's wheat-colored face suddenly turned red, This subordinate, no, this lowly one misspoke, please forgive me, Madam.
Yao Huang said, We are about to enter the town. Go and give instructions again. Tell everyone to firmly remember their identities. Later, if anyone calls out the wrong title or doesn't act the part, I will deduct their reward money here.
The guard replied, Yes, Madam.
Yao Huang added, By the way, have Qingai and Feiquan come to see me.
The guard received the order and rode his horse to the front first.
Feiquan, who served the Prince on the second carriage, rushed over first. His feet did not stop as he kept pace with the carriage, craning his neck to smile apologetically at the Princess Consort inside the window, You called for me?
Yao Huang asked him with a beaming smile, What do you call me?
Feiquan replied, Second Sister-in-Law Wang?
Yao Huang said, What family includes the surname when calling a sister-in-law? Besides, my surname isn't even Wang.
Feiquan broke out in a sweat on his forehead, Please spare me. Rest assured, when there are outsiders around, this servant will absolutely not call you by the wrong title. Let it go this time. How would this servant dare to presume to be the Prince's brother?
Yao Huang said, Fine, you said it yourself. Later, if you and Qingai dare to call me wrong, I will have the Second Master replace you!
Feiquan nodded repeatedly. A moment later, the eldest cousin Qingai arrived, offering similar pleas for mercy and guarantees.
A'ji teased Qingai, Later when I get off the carriage, remember to come over and give me a hand.
Qingai felt a headache coming on and made one last plea to the Princess Consort, Could we let A'ji pretend to be our sister?
Yao Huang replied, With our family's conditions, we would be considered down-and-out in a county town, but in a small town, we are considered wealthy. With your proper appearance, and being Doctor Liao's eldest son, if A'ji doesn't act as your wife, just wait for matchmakers to come to your door to introduce more young girls to you!
Qingai was speechless.
Who could he blame? He could only blame himself for looking mature. If he also had a tender face like Feiquan, he wouldn't have to pretend to be someone's husband.
Outside Lingshan Town, the head of the family, Doctor Liao, along with his apprentices Zhang Yue and Wang Dong, had been waiting for a long time. If they weren't afraid of making the commoners suspicious, the three of them would have gone out ten miles to welcome them. Even so, there were still some commoners living nearby sitting at their doors fanning themselves, curiously watching the three of them. Other passing commoners would also stare at the newly arrived doctor in town for a while and greet him.
Old Liao!
From the first carriage, Madam Gao poked her head out of the window with a beaming smile, and praised Doctor Liao with great satisfaction, Before, when you said you found a small town, I was still unhappy, but I didn't expect the scenery here to be so good, with clear waters and green mountains. Hey, where is our new house? Is it far from here? I've been sitting in this carriage for over half a month, and I've really had enough!
Qingai pushed open the carriage door and called out Dad in a gentle and quiet manner.
Doctor Liao, who indeed had a son of this age in his real family, acted as naturally as Madam Gao. Stroking his beard, he asked, How was the journey? How is your second brother's health?
Qingai put on a worried face, Still the same. He doesn't like to talk or show his face, just staying cooped up in the carriage all day.
Doctor Liao sighed, hopped onto the carriage shaft, and pointed at the road ahead, Let's go, we'll talk when we get home.
The main road leading in and out of the small town was paved with stone slabs. It had just rained the day before yesterday, washing the road surface completely clean. Yao Huang looked out through the slit in the curtain and saw commoners craning their necks all along the way to size up the convoy. Some who already knew Doctor Liao asked if his family had arrived. Doctor Liao said yes, and then introduced his cheerful wife and steady eldest son for them to meet.
A'ji leaned close to the Princess Consort and guessed, These people must have already inquired clearly about our family's situation from Doctor Liao.
Yao Huang said, Yes, Doctor Liao bought two large mansions in the most expensive section of the town all at once. Who wouldn't find that novel in a small place?
A courtyard with two compounds was considered a large mansion that only rich people could afford to live in the town. When Doctor Liao came over, he happened to run into a family selling their property because they lacked money for life-saving medicine. Doctor Liao bought this family's mansion, and also spent a high price to persuade the neighboring family to sell theirs. They sold the old furniture cheaply to others, and then wrote a letter asking the family to send good wooden pieces from their old home in advance. Inside and out, whatever needed repairing was repaired, and whatever needed replacing was replaced, ensuring that the Prince and Princess Consort traveling incognito would live comfortably.
Walking along the north-south main street to the second alley entrance, a small river flowing east-west appeared ahead. After crossing the bridge and walking east along the south bank past two households, they arrived.
The four carriages stopped one after another.
Qingai was forced to help his wife A'ji. Zhang Yue and Feiquan lent a hand to push Prince Hui out of the carriage. At this time, Yao Huang had already gotten down, and saw a row of neighbors standing on the south bank approaching and sizing them up. Many families also came out on the north bank, including men, women, the elderly, and the young.
Yao Huang generously let them look, then walked behind her Second Master, pushing his wheelchair into the east courtyard that belonged to the couple.
Doctor Liao, Madam Gao, Qingai, Feiquan, and A'ji directed Zhang Yue, Wang Dong, and the escort guards helping with the move to carry the luggage packed in trunks and bamboo chests piece by piece into the two mansions. Some enthusiastic neighbors wanted to come over and help, but were unceremoniously chased away by the guards, We received wages from them, and have been on edge guarding all the way. If something gets lost at this time, if they ask us for it, we would be wronged, and if we ask you for it, would you pay for it?
The neighbors were speechless.
Once all the trunks and chests were carried into the courtyard, the guards and the four carriages successfully retired. Madam Gao stood at the door and waved to the commoners on both banks, We just moved here, let us tidy up first, and we'll greet the neighbors when we have some free time!
After saying this, she and A'ji closed the main gates of their respective courtyards, naturally blocking out everyone's view.
Immediately after, aside from the Prince and Princess Consort who were resting, and Madam Gao who was boiling water and preparing lunch in the west courtyard's kitchen, the rest of them first went to the east courtyard to help.
Zhang Yue and Wang Dong were responsible for moving the Prince's luggage and trunks to the front courtyard. Inside, Qingai was making the bed, hanging the bed curtains, organizing the wardrobe, and arranging the porcelain tea sets. Doctor Liao and Feiquan were tasked with moving the Princess Consort's belongings to the backyard, where A'ji was doing the same organizing work.
The east wing of the front courtyard served as a reception hall for guests, and Yao Huang and Prince Hui waited there.
Having sat in a carriage for the entire journey, Yao Huang just wanted to stand for a while. She pushed Prince Hui around the hall, touching the spotless mahogany table and looking at the floor beneath her feet, which clearly had several new stone tiles replaced. Finally, looking at the spot where the threshold had been removed and repaired, she said, Second Master has so many talented people by his side. A doctor and two guards managed to handle the purchase of this house so perfectly.
Zhao Sui made no comment.
After looking around the hall, Yao Huang pushed him to the west wing opposite them, which was used as a study. For this trip, Prince Hui had brought two trunks of books and one trunk of writing materials, truly looking like a scholar.
The main house was still in a mess, so Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui into a side corridor leading to the backyard. Passing through the open wooden doors, Yao Huang suddenly felt her eyes light up.
In the eastern part of the backyard stood a magnolia tree as thick as an adult's waist. Although the magnolias were long past their blooming season, the leaves were lush and green, forming a canopy like a pavilion. In the shade of the tree sat a rattan chair and a round stone table, making it a perfect spot to cool off.
The east wing of the backyard was converted into a kitchen and a storeroom, while the west wing served as a study and a heated pavilion, similarly without thresholds.
Yao Huang called over Doctor Liao, who had just finished moving a trunk, It seems to me that this house hasn't been altered much?
Doctor Liao replied, Yes, the previous owners were an elegant couple, not local commoners. It seems they came here to cultivate their minds and characters, living here for seven or eight years. As soon as I offered to buy the house at a high price and we agreed on the amount, they accepted. I imagine they had been thinking of moving elsewhere for a while.
Yao Huang thought to herself that bringing Prince Hui here was also a form of cultivating the mind. It showed that there were many people in this world who, if trapped in one place, would find it hard to untie the knots in their hearts.
After everything was moved in, Doctor Liao and Qingai left the Princess Consort's courtyard.
Madam Gao had finished boiling the water and came over to ask if the Prince and Princess Consort wanted to bathe now.
Of the three main rooms on Yao Huang's side, the west room was made into a bathroom, containing a cypress wood tub suitable for two people to bathe together.
Yao Huang knew that everyone in their party was very tired. Since both she and the Prince needed to bathe, washing separately would mean fetching water several more times.
Telling Madam Gao to return to the kitchen to continue cooking, Yao Huang glanced at Prince Hui, who sat motionless in his wheelchair. Her face grew hot as she asked softly, How about... Second Master and I share a tub?
They could first wipe themselves down with towels outside, and once clean, soak in the tub together to relieve their fatigue.
Zhao Sui glanced at her and asked, Has your monthly course not arrived?
Yao Huang replied, ...No. I don't know why I felt a pang of pain back then; maybe it is coming soon.
Prince Hui seemed to consider this for a moment before agreeing to bathe together.
Yao Huang told A'ji to call Qingai to bring the water.
Zhao Sui inspected the yet-to-be-organized bathroom. When A'ji returned, he ordered, Set up the folding screen.
Prince Hui was very particular and had even brought two four-paneled screens from the royal estate. For anything used in the inner chambers where outsiders could not see, the couple still used their items from the estate. It could be said that they appeared plain on the outside but lived in luxury on the inside.
The couple waited in the east room first. Once A'ji had set up the screen and Qingai had mixed the warm water, Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui over.
The bathtub was half-filled with warm water, and outside it sat two buckets also filled with warm water, along with three stools.
Qingai was very familiar with the Prince's bathing habits. He directly placed a stool, a bucket of warm water, and a clothes rack hung with clean towels and garments on the other side of the screen.
Zhao Sui signaled the Princess Consort to push his rattan wheelchair to this side of the screen, then said, I will just wipe myself down. You go do your tasks. Do not come over unless called.
Yao Huang looked at the wheelchair and then at the large bathtub, understanding why the Prince did not want to soak in the tub.
Perhaps in the front courtyard, Qingai and Feiquan could lift the Prince into the bathtub, but Yao Huang truly could not do it alone. Carrying a grown man on one's back and lifting him are two entirely different things.
Then, Your Highness can wash first. I will go outside to have a sip of tea.
If they were not soaking in the tub, why should Yao Huang sacrifice her dignity to undress in front of the Prince in broad daylight?
She retreated swiftly, closing the door from the outside in the blink of an eye.
After waiting for a while, Prince Hui called for her.
Pushing open the door, Yao Huang saw Prince Hui dressed in white silk inner garments, sitting on a narrow couch by the south window. The couch was likely placed there for the convenience of the master changing clothes.
Yao Huang stepped inside. Just as she was about to push Prince Hui's wheelchair, she heard the man say, Close the door and latch it.
With a boom in her mind, Yao Huang looked up in disbelief.
Prince Hui looked back at her with an indisputable gaze.
