In the evening, Yao Huang bathed early, changed into a clean ruqun dress, and tied a mosquito-repellent sachet around her waist. Waiting until the sky turned completely dark, she went to the front courtyard to see Prince Hui.
On the north side of the main hall, although Prince Hui was holding a Buddhist scripture, he was sitting in that elm wood wheelchair, clearly having prepared in advance to accompany the Princess Consort out.
Yao Huang walked behind the wheelchair. Before pushing it, she suddenly bent down, sniffed near Prince Hui's neck, and said with a smile, Knowing we would return late, has Your Highness also bathed?
Zhao Sui's shoulders and neck stiffened slightly. He very much wanted to remind his Princess Consort that such actions and tone bordered quite closely on being frivolous.
Ultimately, Prince Hui said nothing, allowing the Princess Consort to push him outside.
Before heading out the door, Yao Huang clung to one side of the doorframe and poked her head out to look left and right, especially under the shade of the weeping willows on both banks where it was easy to hide. Only after confirming that there was truly no one around did Yao Huang return to push the wheelchair.
Zhao Sui looked up at her. Are you afraid of running into someone?
Yao Huang whispered, It does not matter during the day, but if we are seen going out at night, it is fine if they are close by since they know we are a proper married couple. I am just afraid that if they are far away and cannot see clearly, they might think we are unmarried men and women sneaking out for a midnight rendezvous.
Zhao Sui lowered his eyes. Since you know that, why still go out at night?
Yao Huang smiled and leaned close to his ear. The beauties in the storybooks have all had secret rendezvous with their lovers. If I do not pull Second Master out for a secret meeting while you still find me novel, I am afraid there will never be such an opportunity again in the future. Would that not mean missing out on one of life's pleasures?
Prince Hui did not like going out during the day, but could he truly feel comfortable being cooped up all day in this unfamiliar new courtyard?
Since Yao Huang was the one who coaxed him into coming, she had to find a way to add more fun to Prince Hui's trip to Lingshan. Fortunately, there was a river in front of the door. The clear river water reflecting the bright moon indeed made for quite a nice scenery.
This night excursion was a sudden whim of the Prince and Princess Consort, and it was not suitable to let the squad of hidden guards at the inn know. Out of caution, Prince Hui only asked Zhang Yue and Wang Dong, who were also staying in the new residence, to hide in the dark and keep their distance while standing guard.
Once on the street, Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui directly toward the east. Afraid that the rolling sound of the wheelchair would wake the neighbors who had just gone to rest, Yao Huang walked very, very slowly.
The last time we came out, Second Master was too busy watching me socialize with others. Take this opportunity to properly admire this river now.
Zhao Sui also wanted to enjoy the scenery, but because of her earlier words, he subconsciously paid attention to the various households near and far along both banks. He kept feeling that those tightly closed doors could be pushed open from the inside at any moment, and that women would stretch their necks to look in their direction, secretly speculating why the two of them were out in the middle of the night.
Prince Hui, who had always followed the rules since childhood, had never felt this kind of guilty conscience, even though accompanying his Princess Consort on a night stroll was by no means a breach of etiquette.
As they walked, the two passed the easternmost stone bridge. After passing three households east of the bridge, the terrain ahead suddenly dropped. The flat stone-paved road disappeared here, turning into a hard dirt downhill path trodden by generations, and the high stone-built riverbank beside it also turned into a gentle slope overgrown with wild grass, extending all the way to the water's surface.
Yao Huang walked along the riverbank for a while before arriving at a good spot far away from any houses. The riverbed was wide and the water flow was very shallow; even by the moonlight, one could see the continuous patches of pebbles at the bottom of the water.
Yao Huang reminded Prince Hui to hold onto the armrests steadily, pushed the wheelchair down the gentle slope, and bumped along the narrow pebble-strewn river beach before stopping the wheelchair by the water's edge.
Moving to the side of the wheelchair, Yao Huang bent down and, facing Prince Hui's handsome face, asked cautiously, I did not bump Second Master's bottom until it hurt, did I?
Prince Hui had no desire to respond to such a question.
Yao Huang pointed to a section of the pebble beach she had deliberately left open in front of the wheelchair. Let us sit here, so we can talk close to each other.
Prince Hui first confirmed the stability of the wheelchair on the pebbles, then, as the Princess Consort considerately held the wheelchair steady, he lifted his feet off the footrests, supported himself on the wheelchair seat, and lowered his body to sit on the ground right next to the wheelchair. The pebbles on the river beach, having baked in the sun all day, still carried some residual warmth.
Yao Huang moved the wheelchair away a little and sat close to Prince Hui, wrapping her right hand around his left arm and resting her head against him.
Zhao Sui said, Zhang Yue and the others are in the dark.
Yao Huang turned her head to look; there was not a single shadow to be seen on or below the bank. Thinking again of the respectful caution with which the princely estate's staff served the Prince, she said with certainty, Let them be. Could they possibly be staring intently at you and me? They are definitely keeping watch on the distance.
Zhao Sui did not refute her again.
Yao Huang grabbed a small stone and tossed it into the river, making a plop sound.
Zhao Sui looked at the moon in the sky, looked at the water before him, and then looked at the Princess Consort who had quieted down beside him. What are you thinking about?
The Princess Consort was more suited to the hustle and bustle of the day, rather than the desolate tranquility of this place.
Yao Huang replied, I am thinking about the things other men and women usually do when they sneak out for a midnight rendezvous. Second Master is a scholar; shouldn't you compose a poem for me? The gifted scholars in the storybooks always seem to recite a good poem, and the beauty is then captivated by his talent, planting the deep roots of love from then on.
Zhao Sui remained speechless.
He had studied poetry, songs, and odes, and had also composed a few poems when his imperial father required the princes or civil and military officials to do so. But as for a poem suitable for tonight, Zhao Sui's mind was completely blank for a moment.
Seeing his troubled expression as he genuinely pondered over poetic verses, Yao Huang laughed, hugged him, and said, I do not want to hear any sappy poetry anyway. Just looking at Second Master's face is enough to keep me from getting bored all night.
Zhao Sui looked away.
Yao Huang feigned displeasure. Look at me too. You make it seem as if tonight's meeting is just my wishful thinking, and Second Master does not want to accompany me at all. In the storybooks, men only act like you when they have fallen for someone else or are about to abandon a woman for fame and fortune.
Zhao Sui asked, Just what kind of storybooks have you been reading?
Yao Huang answered, Tales of gifted scholars and beautiful ladies. The good scholars are about how he and the woman he admires overcome numerous difficulties to happily tie the knot. The bad scholars are about how he acts treacherously and betrays the beauty, ultimately having his ugly true face exposed, suffering the consequences by either being stripped of his official post or, at worst, having his head chopped off.
Zhao Sui remarked, A good scholar probably would not invite the woman he admires out for a midnight rendezvous.
Yao Huang let go of him and huffed, Second Master is right. Then let us go back quickly.
Zhao Sui glanced at the dark surroundings and said, That works too.
The river scenery was beautiful, but he was still unaccustomed to engaging in any intimate acts with her outdoors.
Yao Huang was speechless.
Puffing her cheeks in anger, she pushed the wheelchair behind Prince Hui. Waiting for Prince Hui to sit up, she then bumped the wheelchair back up onto the bank.
Because the Princess Consort walked slowly, and it was the return journey, Prince Hui finally calmed his mind enough to properly appreciate the night scenery along the way.
Returning to the eastern courtyard, just as Yao Huang was about to hand the wheelchair over to Feiquan, who had come to open the door, she heard Prince Hui say, Go directly to the backyard.
Yao Huang, who had been annoyed the entire way, only then remembered that tonight was the fifteenth, the day Prince Hui was to spend the night with her.
Arriving at the east room in the backyard, Prince Hui pointed toward the window. I will admire the moon a bit more.
Right now, Yao Huang absolutely hated hearing about admiring the moon. She had scouted a good spot during the day and pushed him over there like a thief in the night, all just to accompany Prince Hui in admiring the moon by the river. Yet, after barely exchanging a few words, this man had clamored to come back.
Pushing him to the window with a straight face, Yao Huang muttered behind Prince Hui's back, "If you want to admire the view, do it yourself. I am sleepy, so I am going to lie down on the bed first. Call me when Second Master has admired enough."
Zhao Sui: "Mm, wipe my hands for me first."
Yao Huang went to wet a towel, putting away her annoyed expression as she came to Prince Hui's side.
Zhao Sui wiped his hands himself. After he finished, he placed the towel on the table in front of them, casually grabbed the Princess Consort's wrist beside him, and pulled the unprepared Princess Consort to sit on his lap.
Yao Huang: "...What are you doing?"
Zhao Sui: "Looking at you."
Yao Huang recalled the words she had said when she teased Prince Hui by the river. However, while she dared to speak nonsense when Prince Hui was embarrassed by her, now that Prince Hui was looking at her so seriously, Yao Huang's face caught fire. She lowered her head and said, "A good scholar would not say such things."
Prince Hui humbly asked for guidance: "Then when a good scholar secretly meets a lady, what would he do?"
The Princess Consort bit her lip and remained silent.
Prince Hui went to slip the garment off her right shoulder.
Yao Huang's breathing faltered, and she asked in shock and doubt, "You have also read this kind of storybook?"
Zhao Sui: "I am only doing what I usually do with you."
Yao Huang: "..."
Zhao Sui lifted the Princess Consort's body higher, looking straight into her guilty eyes: "So, exactly what kind of storybook were you reading?"
Yao Huang covered his mouth, not allowing him to ask anymore.
.
Yao Huang thought that Prince Hui must have held back too much these past few days, otherwise he would not come to entangle with her again so early in the morning.
But Yao Huang was not made of iron; she really could not handle being served like this.
She pushed Prince Hui away, grabbed the blanket to firmly cover herself, and said resentfully, "With Second Master acting like this, even a body made of red sandalwood would be rubbed raw."
Prince Hui, who could do it but could not speak of it: "..."
Avoiding the Princess Consort's gaze, Zhao Sui wanted to sit up, get dressed, and return to the front courtyard.
Yao Huang lunged forward with quick hands and eyes, pinning him firmly onto the bed.
Just as Zhao Sui was about to look into the Princess Consort's eyes to discern what she intended to do, the Princess Consort's hand suddenly went downward.
Zhao Sui preemptively grabbed her wrist, closed his eyes, and said, "Stop messing around."
Yao Huang had been quite shy at first, but seeing Prince Hui's serious posture, she laughed out loud: "Now I believe it, Your Highness really has not read any folk storybooks."
Prince Hui had a very good memory, and having seen one of the books at the Princess Consort's place, he instantly understood the intention behind her reaching hand.
He remained silent, his hand still tightly gripping the Princess Consort's wrist.
Yao Huang pressed her face against his chest and said softly, "Second Master, rest assured. Before I married, the palace sent a matron to specifically teach me how to serve you. It is all proper technique, and it will not hurt you."
Zhao Sui: "...It is that I do not need it, so you do not have to do this."
That was not a good thing, completely opposite to the Princess Consort's beauty. Zhao Sui did not want to wrong his Princess Consort.
He insisted on moving the Princess Consort's hand away, helped her lie down on the side, and quickly sat up.
After putting on his clothes, he looked back and saw that the Princess Consort had actually covered her entire body under the blanket.
Zhao Sui went to pull the blanket, but just as he lifted a corner, she yanked it back.
Zhao Sui: "...What is this for?"
The Princess Consort's muffled complaints came from within: "Clearly you were craving it so much, and I had the good intention to serve you, yet you put on the airs of a perfect gentleman. It makes me seem so thick-skinned. How am I supposed to face you in the future?"
Zhao Sui: "...I did not think that way. I just did not want to dirty your hands."
Yao Huang: "When I did not want to dirty your hands, why did you not listen to me? Are you bullying me because I am not as strong as you?"
Zhao Sui: "..."
Yao Huang turned around under the covers and said in a fit of pique, "Today, you either lie back down honestly, or you leave and never come looking for me again. Go find a noble lady who is just as serious and strictly abides by the rules of etiquette as you are!"
Zhao Sui looked at the bulging bundle of blankets on the bed, as if he had returned to that night when the Princess Consort hid inside, talking to herself and crying over her grievances. How could he possibly leave?
Seeing that persuasion was useless, Prince Hui could only lie back down on the bed.
The bundle of blankets then spread over like the tide, covering him as well.
