Ever since he could remember, Zhao Sui had never argued with anyone.
As a prince, the palace servants around him and the civil and military officials outside all generally respected him. For the few who shared his status, Zhao Sui, always abiding by etiquette since childhood, would never take the initiative to offend them. When Prince Kang and Prince Qing were young and mischievous, coming to him to pick fights and cause trouble, it was nothing more than demanding some items. They were just worldly possessions anyway, so Zhao Sui simply let them have them. As the two gradually grew older and more sensible, they could at least maintain a superficial harmony when interacting.
As for those with a higher status or who held the title of an elder, his Imperial Father would only assign him tasks or praise and reward him. Empress Zhou was gentle and amiable. Noble Consort Du, on the other hand, frequently found fault with him, but no matter what she said, Zhao Sui remained silent, so Noble Consort Du couldn't start an argument even if she wanted to.
Including tonight, it was also his Princess Consort who was unilaterally angry with him. Zhao Sui himself was not angry; he only wanted to coax her.
When the Princess Consort was being unreasonable, Zhao Sui could choose not to argue with her, waiting for her to calm down and figure things out on her own.
But when the Princess Consort brought out evidence that he didn't like her—such as only being passionate in bed, or refusing to accompany her out—Zhao Sui found it hard to express his grievances. He certainly hadn't expected that while in the past a simple statement of not liking to go out would make her obediently drop the subject, tonight it had earned him a series of complaints so straightforward they bordered on vulgar. It was foul language that even lowly soldiers in the military camp wouldn't dare use in front of low-ranking officers. Yet she, a girl, an educated and well-bred daughter of an official, actually dared to say it to a prince's face, and with such righteous indignation!
If the Princess Consort had complained about something else, anything else, Zhao Sui would have reprimanded her and corrected her inelegant choice of words. However...
After a long period of shock and awkwardness, Zhao Sui thought of many inappropriate scenes.
On their wedding night, she had indeed shown obvious forbearance. Including every time after that, she initially needed time to adapt. When she cried the fiercest, she would also curse him incoherently. It was just that at such times, how could Zhao Sui mind? After all, the words she sobbed out were entirely instinctual; the more straightforward her disdain, the more he...
Zhao Sui forcibly pulled his attention back to the fact that his Princess Consort was using this matter to accuse him.
He wanted to blame her for making a fuss out of nothing, but she actually had a point. At night, she really had been enduring him and indulging him.
But could these two things really be lumped together?
The Princess Consort, who had been softly sobbing, spoke again: Never mind, ultimately I can only blame the fact that my life has been too smooth lately, making me forget that you are a prince and I am merely the daughter of a minor official. Being able to be Your Highness's primary wife is already a blessing cultivated from my past life. How could I still extravagantly hope for Your Highness to give me both gold and jewels, and true love at the same time?
Your Highness should sleep early. Rest assured, I have figured it out myself. As long as you still like my body and are willing to give me dignity, I am truly content.
After speaking, she carefully wiped her eyes, proactively leaned back into Prince Hui's embrace, and hugged him affectionately: Your Highness, please do not be angry over this. There will never be a next time. From now on, whatever you say goes. I will listen to Your Highness in everything.
Zhao Sui looked outside the bed curtain. On the night of the eleventh, there was a bit more than a half-moon. The faint moonlight shone shallowly through the paper window, ensuring the room wasn't pitch black.
Coaxing her was to prevent her from misunderstanding, feeling wronged, and crying anymore. Now the Princess Consort had stopped crying and sounded calm. However, Zhao Sui knew that once he tacitly accepted these words of hers, it was equivalent to admitting that all his kindness to her since their grand wedding was solely due to his satisfaction with her body. It would mean tacitly admitting that in a few years, he would grow tired of her lack of novelty, and his treatment of her would plummet.
Zhao Sui was not that kind of prince. He didn't want his Princess Consort to silently endure such an unnecessary grievance.
Zhao Sui also didn't want to explain to her why a disabled prince was unwilling to go out. He didn't want to face her eyes full of sympathy and pity every day from then on.
He had seen enough of such eyes. It was better for his Princess Consort to remain carefree and simple-minded.
Since the Princess Consort stubbornly clung to her logic, Zhao Sui's only option to truly clear up her misunderstanding was to satisfy her desires.
Grasping the hand she had resting on his waist, Zhao Sui said, Tomorrow, I will accompany you out for a stroll.
The small hand in his palm noticeably stiffened. The next moment, the head resting against his shoulder lifted, and a soft murmur, like someone talking in their sleep, reached his ear: Your Highness, what did you just say?
Zhao Sui turned his head, looked at her, and said, I said, tomorrow I will accompany you for a stroll around this small town.
The Princess Consort's laughter burst out even before the corners of her lips curled up. Just like that noon outside the bamboo forest, the overjoyed Princess Consort threw herself at him again. Her entire body sprawled over him, swaying happily for a moment before she raised her head again and asked somewhat hesitantly, Is it only for tomorrow, or will Your Highness accompany me whenever I want to go out?
Zhao Sui pursed his lips.
Yao Huang immediately said considerately, I know Your Highness prefers quietness, so I won't ask you to accompany me every day. Um, how about six or seven times a month? Just like Your Highness also accompanies me six or seven times a month.
Zhao Sui: ...Fine, but only in Lingshan Town. If we were in the capital and I accompanied you out too often, Imperial Father might find out and get angry because of my repeated refusals to enter the palace previously.
Yao Huang smiled and said, Alright, but I don't think Imperial Father is that petty. Children always prioritize their own small families after getting married. Just like how the time Imperial Father usually spends accompanying the various consorts is definitely more than the time he spends with you all...
Zhao Sui covered her mouth and took the opportunity to say, You must not recklessly discuss Imperial Father. You also need to change your habit of speaking without a filter. If some words are overheard, it will not only damage your majesty as a Princess Consort but also easily lead people to criticize your parents for your upbringing.
Yao Huang bit her lip, glared at him, and said, It's all because Your Highness made me angry. Normally, I am very ladylike.
Prince Hui did not reply.
Yao Huang continued to try and save face: Besides, my father and mother were very strict in teaching me. They never allowed me to read those messy storybooks. It was all my brother and his boorish classmates. When I was little and went to watch them play polo, I accidentally heard some indecent words when they were fighting. At that time, I didn't even know what they meant. It was only after marrying Your Highness that I finally understood.
Zhao Sui: ...Does the storybook you read last time count as a messy storybook?
Yao Huang: ...Of course not. That one told a serious story and even exposed the ugly deeds of some corrupt and incompetent officials. As for what exactly those messy storybooks are about, I haven't read them so I don't know. When I go to the bookstore to pick out books, the shop assistants even block some of them, reminding me that those aren't for young girls like us to read.
Prince Hui suddenly pinched her plump cheek.
It hurt a little. Yao Huang swatted his hand: Why did you pinch me?
Zhao Sui: You wrongly accused me of a whole basketful of things tonight. A minor punishment.
Yao Huang thought about it, and also reached out to pinch his face: Who told you to treat your words like gold and make me shed so many tears? A minor punishment for you too.
Unfortunately, Prince Hui didn't have much flesh on his face, making it rather hard to pinch.
Her tears were fake, and before sleeping they enjoyed a few rounds of hearty intimacy. That night, Yao Huang slept very soundly, but the next day she suddenly woke up to a familiar strangeness in her body.
Although it was early morning, it was already bright outside the window. Listening carefully, one could even hear the crowing of roosters from the commoners' homes in the distance.
Yao Huang looked at His Highness the Prince of Hui, who was still sound asleep beside her. She quietly sat up and glanced at the silk mattress cover, where, sure enough, there was a smear of red.
When she looked back at the Prince, she realized he was actually awake, silently observing her every move.
Yao Huang quickly covered her eyes with her hands. Are they swollen and ugly?
Zhao Sui replied, ...They are fine. Not ugly.
Yao Huang touched them herself and muttered, Good thing I used cold water to compress my eyes a bit more last night.
Zhao Sui asked, Your monthly time has come?
Yao Huang's face grew hot, and she shot him several glaring, yet coquettish, looks. Second Master was fiercely wonderful yesterday, otherwise you would have been starved for another dozen nights.
Zhao Sui lowered his eyes, propped his hands against the bed, and sat up.
Yao Huang grabbed her clothes and went to the washroom to clean herself up first. When she returned, she saw the Prince had already put on his inner garments. Yao Huang went out to take a look. The quilt on the couch in the west room had already been folded; A'ji had either gone to fetch water or to help in the west courtyard's kitchen. Feiquan, however, was already leaning against the long bench in the corridor early in the morning, and he immediately jumped up upon seeing her.
Yao Huang returned to the east room, pushed the Prince out, and handed him over to Feiquan. Afraid of being heard by Scholar Zhen and his family next door, none of the three spoke, nor was there anything that needed to be said.
Not long after, Qingai came over carrying a bucket of warm water, with A'ji following beside her.
After Qingai carried away the water used in the east room the previous night, A'ji leaned close to the Princess, who was resting in bed, and smiled. Madam, have you made up with Second Master?
The houses in the small town did not have soundproofing as good as the walls of the princely manor. In the dead of night, while lying in the west room, A'ji had heard all of Madam's noises loud and clear.
Yao Huang glared at her.
A'ji changed the subject. Just now, Feiquan went to the kitchen to pass on a message, specifically telling us to bring Madam warm water to wash up, and he also had me set your breakfast right by your bed. Second Master really knows how to dote on people.
Yao Huang replied, Dote my foot. My waist is aching to death right now.
A'ji offered, I will massage it for you!
Yao Huang did not need her massage; she just wanted to lie there completely motionless.
A'ji attended to the Princess's morning wash, then gathered the clothes and mattress cover that needed laundering. The breakfast from the kitchen was also ready. A'ji and Qingai brought it over together, placing the food in the main hall first. A'ji was responsible for moving a table to the front of the Princess's bed, while Qingai went to the front to push the Prince over, everything handled in perfect order.
Thus, the Prince of Hui and his Princess, who had separated earlier that morning, met again by the bedside.
Yao Huang leaned lazily against the headboard. Her body felt weak, so her appetite was not as good as usual.
Zhao Sui felt very regretful about last night. If he had not taken her, her weakness this morning might have been milder.
Is it uncomfortable to sit? seeing her looking at the tabletop without leaning forward, Zhao Sui asked.
Yao Huang nodded, then lay back down again. Looking at him, she said, Second Master, eat by yourself. I really do not feel hungry this time.
Zhao Sui replied, You still have to eat. I will call A'ji in to feed you.
Yao Huang's heart stirred, and she said softly, I want to be fed by Second Master.
Zhao Sui looked at the Princess's face, which lacked its usual rosy complexion, making her dark eyes look all the more pitiful and endearing. He pushed the small table lying between them to the side, then turned the two large wheels of his rattan wheelchair to move to the head of the bed.
Breakfast was a river seafood porridge, paired with vegetarian pan-fried dumplings that Madam Gao had woken up early to wrap, boil, and fry fresh, along with two side dishes, one cold and one hot.
The river shrimp had already been peeled and deveined. Zhao Sui held the bowl in one hand, feeding the Princess a spoonful of porridge and a spoonful of shrimp with the other.
Yao Huang opened her mouth to receive his spoon, her dark, moist eyes staring at him the whole time.
Zhao Sui asked, What are you looking at?
Yao Huang wore a smile of someone who had taken full advantage. I was thinking, I am truly bold as brass, daring to order a dignified Prince to serve me.
Zhao Sui replied, You dared to ask even knowing that?
Yao Huang said, Who asked you to also be my husband? It is perfectly justified and natural for a husband to dote on his wife.
Zhao Sui then simply focused on feeding her.
Once Yao Huang finished eating, it was her turn to watch the Prince chew his food carefully and swallow slowly. When the Prince finished eating and was about to leave, Yao Huang said, In a bit, Second Master needs to write me a written pledge regarding what we agreed on last night. Otherwise, I am afraid that after being delayed by my monthly time for a couple of days, when I go ask you to accompany me for a stroll, Second Master will turn hostile and refuse to admit to it.
Zhao Sui: ...
