Because it was the twentieth, a rich chicken soup with foxnut and ginseng was added to the dinner table of Prince Hui and his wife in the evening.
When they were almost done eating, Yao Huang scooped a bowl of soup for herself. She didn't really want to give Prince Hui any, but thinking of how his breathing would be as chaotic as hers after every time, and the continuous effort he exerted, Yao Huang first glared at Prince Hui, then scooped some soup into a bowl and placed it in front of him.
At this time, Yao Huang discovered the wonderful use of Prince Hui's lifeless aura. As long as he lowered his eyelids and remained silent, others could not tell whether he felt ashamed and reflected on bullying the princess during the night.
They bathed separately. As it was getting dark, Feiquan pushed Prince Hui to the backyard.
Yao Huang welcomed him into the room. Once on the bed, she completely changed from the resentment or lingering fear she had when they were alone during the day, and proactively leaned against Prince Hui's shoulder.
His Highness Prince Hui's breathing grew slightly heavy as he raised his hand to rest on the princess's waist.
Yao Huang didn't dodge, softly discussing with him: "Second Master, look at how close we live now, eating three meals a day together. Can we temporarily drop the rule of only being intimate on days ending in five and ten? I'm not saying we have to sleep together every night, but alternating nights would be fine. Like yesterday, I really couldn't take it; I'd rather spread it out over a few nights."
Zhao Sui's palm rested against the silk material of the princess's clothes. After a moment of silence, he said: "I wake up early, it will disturb you."
If he could walk by himself, getting up and changing clothes could be kept quiet, but he had to call Feiquan in, and the rolling of the wheelchair also made a noticeable sound.
Furthermore, Zhao Sui couldn't guarantee that he would sleep through the night every night. If he needed to get up in the middle of the night...
In such situations, Zhao Sui didn't even want Qingai or Feiquan by his side, let alone the princess.
Yao Huang: "I sleep soundly. As long as Second Master helps me cover up with the quilt when you leave, I won't wake up. Besides, what does waking up for a little while matter? It's better than sleeping perfectly well in the middle of the night and suddenly being woken up by you several times, with each time lasting for quite a while."
Zhao Sui didn't answer, first turning the princess over.
When the princess became teary again, Zhao Sui whispered in her ear: "Nights will still be on the fifth and tenth, but I will come over in the afternoon to accompany you for a nap."
Yao Huang forced herself to ask: "Every day?"
Zhao Sui: "Yes."
Yao Huang: "..."
She was asking, not begging. She wanted to explain, but Prince Hui no longer gave her a smooth opportunity to speak.
.
Having gone to bed early and slept very well last night, Yao Huang woke up in the early morning when Prince Hui was about to leave. She opened her eyes and saw Prince Hui sitting towards the foot of the bed, covering her with the quilt from below.
Yao Huang liked to stick her feet out when sleeping, especially during spring, summer, and autumn. In summer, she would often expose an entire leg.
Prince Hui didn't want to startle her, so he couldn't just grab the quilt and toss it casually; he had to get close and handle it gently.
Because Yao Huang lay perfectly still, Prince Hui hadn't noticed she was awake and still had his back to her. His gentle and careful movements unexpectedly reminded Yao Huang of her mother in the capital.
She closed her eyes again, listening to Prince Hui shift himself into the wheelchair, listening to him slowly push the large wheels of the rattan chair to struggle a few steps away, and then briefly ring the bell twice.
Feiquan came very quickly and pushed Prince Hui away.
The room quieted down, and Yao Huang hugged the quilt and turned over.
Last night, the prince said the rule of the fifth and tenth was because he didn't want to disturb her good sleep. At the time, Yao Huang only thought she didn't mind. This morning, she finally realized that if the prince stayed in the backyard every night, then to maintain the princess's dignity and decency in front of Feiquan and Qingai, the prince would have to cover her with the quilt every morning, carefully propping himself up from the head of the bed to the foot.
Propping oneself up was very simple for an able-bodied person, but the prince had to prop himself up for a bit and then move his legs.
Therefore, the prince definitely set the rule of the fifth and tenth to save himself some inconvenience. Otherwise, given his enthusiasm for that matter, why would he wrong himself?
Then, was covering her with the quilt the only inconvenience?
Sometimes after they finished, Yao Huang would go to the washroom to relieve herself. Did the prince also have the need to relieve himself to feel comfortable?
But the prince had never used the washroom on her side. Was it because he didn't want the princess to push him in?
Right, other men stood to relieve themselves; how did the prince handle it?
These were all trivial matters that happened every day. Yao Huang either didn't think of them, or today suddenly opened a floodgate, and all sorts of inconveniences related to the prince's disability on his end sprang to mind all at once.
Yao Huang stared blankly at the distant window.
She could understand the prince's concerns, because if she were the one with crippled legs, she could accept having normal marital relations with her husband, but absolutely couldn't bear having her newlywed husband carry her to the chamber pot. Perhaps it would be fine when they were an old married couple, but she was still young and thin-skinned. The prince was young and noble, having just been married for two months, and would find it even more unbearable.
Feiquan had said that the prince didn't like them going to his bathroom or washroom, so these two places must have something installed to allow the prince to bathe and relieve himself independently.
Rather than leaving every detail to those around him like a useless person, the prince definitely preferred living in a place where he could take care of himself.
The Bamboo Courtyard was such a place. To satisfy her wish to come out and escape the summer heat, the prince had Doctor Liao and others modify the front courtyard into such a place as well.
Yao Huang thought that her side could actually be modified just like the front courtyard.
But the prince didn't want the princess to know these things, didn't want the princess to ponder how he bathed or relieved himself. What Yao Huang needed to do was remain ignorant and uncurious. In a few years, when the couple was more familiar with each other and the prince could let go in front of her, the prince would naturally speak up.
.
After breakfast, Yao Huang smiled and asked Prince Hui: "Does Second Master really want to tan yourself a bit darker?"
Zhao Sui looked at the princess and said: "Just enough so you don't have to worry about the kitchen stewing tonic soup for me every day."
Yao Huang gave him a reproachful look: "That's perfect, I don't want you to tan to the wheat-yellow skin tone of my father and brother either. Second Master is so handsome, I still prefer your face as flawless as jade."
His current paleness was like a ghoul. When there were many people, him sitting all alone in a dim inner room or a bamboo forest looked quite scary at first glance.
Looking outside, Yao Huang suggested: "Then taking advantage of the morning and evening when the sun isn't so fierce, how about I accompany Second Master out for a stroll for half an hour each time? Walking by the river, walking at the foot of the nearby mountain, soaking up the sun while admiring the scenery of Mount Ling, so as not to waste our bumpy and hard journey."
Zhao Sui agreed.
He could also sunbathe in the courtyard, but rather than sitting dryly in such a small courtyard for half an hour, it would be better to accompany the princess for a stroll.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the princess suddenly leaned over, her dark, moist eyes smiling at him: "These two trips in the morning and evening count as me accompanying Second Master out, they can't be counted in the six or seven times you promised me earlier. When I go strolling, half an hour is not enough."
Zhao Sui looked away and said: "Fine, but it's still early now. Come find me at five quarters into the hour of Chen."
Yao Huang understood. The neighbors in town woke up early, and right now was the time when many people were out working or squatting by the river washing clothes. Even if Prince Hui went out to sunbathe, he preferred it to be quieter.
Yao Huang then took Jinbao to the west courtyard, asked Qingai to call over Zhang Yue, and asked in a low voice, "Is the matter settled?"
Women like Madam Zhu could be found in Changshou Alley too; they didn't commit crimes, but whenever they were displeased, they would use harsh words to belittle those they considered inferior. If Yao Huang weren't a princess consort, she could have easily rendered Madam Zhu speechless with a few words over the wall. However, she couldn't let her husband, the prince, hear Madam Zhu's cynical mockery, nor did she want him to see her engage in such an ungraceful verbal spat. Fortunately, she had people at her disposal.
Zhang Yue said ashamedly, "He Wenbin didn't go out yesterday, so we didn't have a chance to strike."
Yao Huang didn't have the patience to wait. If Madam Zhu suddenly acted up and broke the prince's heart, causing him to refuse to leave the house again, what would she do?
She had put so much effort into this; she couldn't let it be ruined by the mouth of a mean neighbor.
She said to Zhang Yue, "During the Chen hour, I will accompany the prince out for half an hour. While we are away, you and Wang Dong go directly to the He family. Oh, by the way, can you shatter a wooden plank with a single punch?"
Zhang Yue maintained his steady expression. "Yes."
Yao Huang: "Good. When you go over, call out both Madam Zhu and He Wenbin. There's no need for unnecessary words; just break a wooden plank each for Madam Zhu to see, then point at He Wenbin's legs and warn her to watch her mouth. Once she witnesses your strength, she will definitely restrain herself."
Since it concerned the prince, Zhang Yue had to be cautious. "What if Madam Zhu flies into a rage out of humiliation, and instead of being afraid, blows the matter out of proportion..."
Yao Huang: "Alas, you went to the clinic early yesterday, so you didn't hear Madam Zhu curse the Second Master, calling him a cripple."
Instantly, Zhang Yue exuded a murderous aura!
Yao Huang: "Exactly. With this kind of look and imposing manner, if she still dares to make a fuss, I would actually respect her as a heroine among women."
Zhang Yue: "..."
.
When the agreed time arrived, Yao Huang came to pick up Prince Hui to go out. They walked east against the sunlight. As they crossed the last stone bridge and were about to head down the slope, Yao Huang turned her head and saw Zhang Yue peeking out to look in their direction.
Time was limited. Zhang Yue and Wang Dong slipped out and arrived at the door of Scholar He's house.
The front door was surprisingly ajar.
Since they were there to issue a threat, there was no need for politeness. Zhang Yue simply pushed the door open, and after Wang Dong came in, he shut it backhand.
Madam Zhu was wiping the tables and chairs in the main hall. Her husband was a scholar, and her son was a provincial graduate; guests frequently visited, so the house had to be kept spotlessly clean.
He Wenbin was studying in the east wing's study. When he heard his mother's surprised and somewhat panicked voice from outside the window asking, "What are you doing here?", He Wenbin instinctively put down his book and hurried out. Upon exiting, he saw two burly men in plain clothes each pull out a brand-new, finger-thick hardwood plank from behind their backs. They swept a murderous, ruthless glare over him, and then struck at the same time.
With two loud bangs, the two hardwood planks instantly snapped in half.
He Wenbin's face turned pale, and Madam Zhu's legs went weak, trembling like a leaf.
Pointing at He Wenbin, Zhang Yue said to Madam Zhu, "We two brothers only managed to save our lives because the Liao family took us in. By insulting and mocking the Second Master, you are mocking our saviors. Yesterday, considering it was your first offense, we didn't hold it against you. If there is a next time, we will directly kill your whole family and then surrender ourselves to the authorities, leaving absolutely no future trouble for the Liao family."
Local bullies in small towns would glare and scowl when threatening people, but Zhang Yue and Wang Dong merely kept a cold face from beginning to end. Even Zhang Yue's words were spoken in a suppressed, calm tone.
However, the calmer he was, the more convincing his seriousness became. Madam Zhu felt as if she could already see the blood-soaked blades of these two men scaling the wall in the dead of night to slaughter their family of four!
Using her last ounce of strength, she ran to her son's side, knelt on the ground, and pleaded, "Spare our lives, good heroes. It's all my fault. It was my foul mouth that spoke out of turn. Please rest assured, I promise I will never dare to show any disrespect to the Liao family again, truly! I swear to heaven!"
Zhang Yue simply tossed the broken planks in his hands in front of the mother and son, and left side by side with Wang Dong.
