Prince Hui wanted to see Magistrate Xu, but he didn't want to delay Magistrate Xu's official duties, so he could only choose the day when officials took their rest at the end of the seventh lunar month.
After entrusting the important matter of land reclamation, the "Liao family" had to make preparations to move again. They asked a broker to look for a new location for their home, the clinic needed to prepare more medicine for some patients, packing luggage in the east and west courtyards took time, and they also had to entertain the neighbors who came to say goodbye upon hearing the news. These trivial matters would take at least a few days, so the couple finally set the date of their return journey on the fifth day of the eighth lunar month.
Speaking of what to do with these two houses, Prince Hui, who was not short of money, thought they could be kept and he could accompany the Princess Consort here to escape the summer heat next year.
Yao Huang said, "The small town is quite nice, but we have lived here for about fifty days. No matter how beautiful the scenery is, we will get tired of it. If we really want to escape the summer heat next year, we should look for a new place. This way, we can see fresh scenery and experience the local customs of new places every year. So, let's sell these two houses to save the trouble of leaving people to look after them."
The houses bought at a high price would definitely incur a loss if sold now that a murder had occurred among the neighbors. However, rather than keeping two empty houses that they would almost never move into again, Yao Huang would rather get back most of the silver used to buy the houses.
Zhao Sui looked at the Princess Consort's sparkling eyes and knew that she could indeed do something like taking him to a new place to escape the summer heat every year. Then they couldn't possibly leave two empty houses to occupy space for nothing every time they went to a new place.
The houses were sold, but they could also be kept on paper.
On the twenty-ninth day, Prince Hui painted two more pictures.
For the picture painted in the morning, Yao Huang sat under the magnolia tree in the backyard for a long time. There were fruits and tea on the small table. Jinbao, who had grown a size larger, squatted at the Princess Consort's feet watching her eat fruits, looking charmingly naive. Prince Hui also inscribed a title for this picture: Enjoying the Cool.
For the picture painted in the afternoon, Yao Huang came to the front courtyard to find Prince Hui after resting. She found him sitting on the north side of the main room painting again. She leaned over to take a look and saw that Prince Hui was painting the doors and windows of the main room and the courtyard scenery outside that could be seen from his position. The door frames, window frames, and window paper were almost finished, and there were only some simple outlines in the courtyard.
Yao Huang moved a chair to Prince Hui's side, rested her chin on one hand, looked at the painting and then at Prince Hui, and smiled, "I can tell how reluctant Second Master is to leave here."
Zhao Sui didn't explain. He continued to paint a few strokes before saying to the drawing paper, "This picture is called Playing in the Rain. It depicts the scene of you standing in front of the door washing your clogs with rainwater that day."
Yao Huang: "... It's been so long, and Second Master can still paint it?"
Zhao Sui: "The rain and dress can be imagined, but if you want the person to be lifelike, you need to go over there and do the same action again."
Yao Huang: "... Then wouldn't I have to keep lifting my foot and wait for you to finish painting?"
Zhao Sui still looked at the drawing paper: "When it's finished, you should like this one more than the previous three."
The three paintings Prince Hui had given her so far suddenly appeared in Yao Huang's mind one after another. Why did she like them? Because in Prince Hui's paintings, she was very beautiful in every one of them. That is to say, in Prince Hui's eyes, the way she washed her clogs was more beautiful than the way she lay on the Luohan bed sleeping, stood at the head of the bridge looking at the water, or sat under the tree teasing the dog?
Yao Huang couldn't imagine it. Every year when it rained, she had to wash her clogs a few times like that, and she was facing away from Prince Hui. How beautiful could it be?
However, since she had nothing to do, Yao Huang cooperatively went to the backyard, took off her shoes and socks, put on her clogs, and then brought a pot of cold water according to Prince Hui's instructions. She first put the copper pot in a place where Prince Hui couldn't see it. When Prince Hui finished painting her back and dress and asked her to, Yao Huang lifted the copper pot and poured water on her extended foot.
Painting until dusk, Prince Hui asked her to go accompany Jinbao for a while and come back in half an hour.
Yao Huang was also afraid that she would see a faceless self if she went over now, so she simply went to the west courtyard to watch Madam Gao cook, and returned to the east courtyard when the time was about right.
Prince Hui had stopped painting. Yao Huang walked around to his side and looked at the easel.
There was a heavy rain in the painting. The Princess Consort, wearing a red jacket and a white skirt, stood diagonally facing the main room, holding the door frame with one hand, and lifted her right foot wearing a clog into the rain.
Obviously, she showed a side profile in the painting, but Yao Huang's attention still fell on her right foot first. The toes painted with bright red nail polish were wet from the rain, making the nail polish even brighter than usual. The five toes were round and smooth, and the instep was painted white and plump by Prince Hui, with water droplets rolling on it.
Yao Huang really wanted to continue looking, but she was afraid that Prince Hui would laugh at her for being mesmerized by her own foot. Only then did she look away to look at her side profile, which was hazy. Only those who were familiar with her could recognize that it was her.
Yao Huang deliberately asked, "The appearance can't even be seen clearly. What's there for me to like?"
Zhao Sui didn't argue with the Princess Consort.
At night, the Princess Consort, who had obtained two paintings of a beauty, pushed Prince Hui back to the backyard again.
Knowing that Prince Hui had a pair of strong arms, taking advantage of the moonless night outside the window and the pitch-black inside the bed curtain, Yao Huang hugged Prince Hui's shoulders, changed to lying flat, and silently pulled him towards her.
Zhao Sui didn't know why, but the Princess Consort would never fool around at such a moment. In order not to crush her, Zhao Sui supported himself with both hands on either side of the Princess Consort.
His legs couldn't exert force, heavily weighing down his waist, like a fish or beast biting a drowning person to drag them to the bottom of the water.
Prince Hui supported himself above, and Yao Huang moved down a bit, putting her hands on his waistband.
Prince Hui's breathing became heavy. He had read the storybooks the Princess Consort had read, so he understood her intention.
When the Princess Consort moved up, Zhao Sui said with difficulty, "Audacious."
Burdened by his legs, he couldn't hold on for too long like this. Wasn't she afraid that he would become angry out of embarrassment?
Yao Huang felt quite hot moving up and down, and was actually scolded. She retorted resentfully, "I thought Your Highness liked my feet."
Zhao Sui: "What does this have to do with your feet?"
Yao Huang bit her lip, touched his tense arm, and whispered, "Hold on, something even more audacious is coming."
After saying that, she climbed her hands up Prince Hui's neck, and the pair of feet that had once landed on Prince Hui's drawing paper stepped on his back from a high place.
A royal descendant, noble since childhood, but on this night, Yao Huang just wanted to step on him once.
.
Having been stepped on a bit too many times, Yao Huang involuntarily slept in. When she woke up, she was startled and called Aji to ask, "Did any guests come to the house?"
Today was the end of the month, the big day when Magistrate Xu was coming to see Prince Hui.
Aji shook her head: "No, what guests?"
Yao Huang didn't explain to her. She quickly changed her clothes, didn't even care to eat breakfast, and went straight to the front courtyard.
Prince Hui was in the elegant reception room near the study, sitting upright on a rattan chair, still holding a Buddhist scripture in his hand.
As soon as Yao Huang approached the door, Prince Hui looked up.
The sun was dazzling, making Yao Huang's face feel hot. The night when they couldn't see each other's faces clearly would make people bolder. As soon as it dawned, that courage shrank back. And Prince Hui's gentlemanly and upright face, and his calm eyes as water, increasingly reminded Yao Huang that she was the one who started everything last night.
Yao Huang didn't walk further inside. She hid on one side of the doors and windows, only letting Prince Hui see half of her body, and asked in a low voice, "Hasn't that person come yet?"
Zhao Sui looked at the embroidered shoes half-hidden beneath the princess consort's skirt and gave a faint "mm."
Yao Huang touched the window paper: "Why is he so late?"
Zhao Sui: "I had Li Dechun take him up the mountain to see the medicinal fields first. If they are fast, they should arrive around lunchtime."
It took time to rush over from the county office, and going up and down the mountain also took time.
Yao Huang breathed a sigh of relief: "Then I'll go eat breakfast first. When he comes, I'll hide inside and listen to you talk."
Zhao Sui wanted to ask the princess consort why she wanted to listen, but the hungry princess consort had already run off, leaving behind only a string of footsteps.
.
Magistrate Xu, named Dongyang, had met Li Dechun yesterday evening after finishing his official duties.
The first time Xu Dongyang heard of Scholar Liao was when the constables went to investigate the beating of Eldest Son Qi and briefly mentioned the two courtyards of the Liao family while introducing the situation of the Qi family's neighbors. Because it was unrelated to the case, Xu Dongyang did not take Scholar Liao to heart. He truly remembered Scholar Liao after seeing that birthday congratulation painting at the Qi family's home. Xu Dongyang felt as if he had seen the work of a heavenly being, and even thought about finding time to visit him to make friends through literature.
It wasn't until Li Dechun took out the waist token of Prince Hui that Xu Dongyang suddenly realized that it wasn't the small Lingshui Town hiding crouching tigers and hidden dragons, but rather a dragon son of the imperial family living incognito in the small town.
Because Prince Hui wanted him to go up the mountain first, Xu Dongyang suppressed the excitement in his heart and stayed in the county for a night. Early this morning, when the sky was just getting light, he rode a horse with Li Dechun to Lingshan Town, passing through the town without entering.
After entering the mountain, Xu Dongyang not only saw the four fen of medicinal fields cleared by Physician Li, but also followed Physician Li to inspect several nearby mountain peaks.
The common people's arable land was limited and had to be used to grow grain. Even if they could figure out a way to plant Solomon's seal in the arable land themselves, they would be suppressed by the government. Moreover, Solomon's seal took five years to grow and sell for a good price. If the common people used their arable land to grow medicine, what would they rely on to eat and pay land taxes for these five years?
Lingshan was a famous mountain in the Central Plains. The government forbade logging and land reclamation, but the medicinal herb Solomon's seal grew under the forest canopy. This would preserve the forest scenery while allowing the common people to grow medicine and sell it for money. Prince Hui's policy was not only feasible, but also a great policy that would benefit the surrounding common people for generations to come!
The mountain road was difficult to walk, but Xu Dongyang became more energetic as he walked. He wandered around with Physician Li until noon, gnawing on dry rations while descending the mountain to meet Prince Hui. He ate his fill first so that the prince wouldn't have to provide him with a lunch.
The two entered from the west courtyard, and Qingai went to the prince first to announce them.
Zhao Sui looked at the princess consort who had been waiting here all along.
Yao Huang smiled and hid in the inner room.
Qingai, accustomed to this, went to the west courtyard to lead the person in.
Not long after, Yao Huang hid behind the crack in the curtain, watching her prince sitting upright in the seat of honor, and watching Magistrate Xu, dressed in plain clothes, kneel down as soon as he entered the door, respectfully bowing to Prince Hui.
Yao Huang's heart trembled slightly.
The prince had always treated her generously and mildly, and there were usually few servants around him. Therefore, the longer Yao Huang was married to the prince, the fainter her awe of him became. It wasn't until this moment that Yao Huang realized once again how noble the prince's status was.
Zhao Sui: "Dispense with the formalities."
Xu Dongyang stood up straight, his eyes lowered respectfully.
Zhao Sui: "What do you think of the policy of reclaiming land to plant medicine?"
Xu Dongyang had been reminded by Physician Li and Qingai, knowing that His Highness Prince Hui did not like flattery. He simply said, "This subordinate believes this policy is feasible."
Zhao Sui: "If I hand it over to you, are you confident?"
Xu Dongyang: "This subordinate will go all out."
Zhao Sui: "This policy is mentally and physically exhausting, and it will take five or six years to see results. If things go contrary to your wishes and you gain nothing, not only will you have no political achievements, but you will also be impeached by others for wasting manpower and money."
Xu Dongyang smiled: "As an official, only by being willing to do practical things for the common people and the imperial court can one have political achievements. If one looks forward and backward, one can only hold a sinecure. Please rest assured, Your Highness. This subordinate would rather toil for several years and fail on the verge of success than sit back and watch the common people of Lingshan live in poverty while guarding a mountain of treasure."
Zhao Sui: "Since that is the case, I will leave this matter to you. Whether you submit a memorial to request instructions from the imperial court or discuss this matter with relatives and friends, there is no need to mention this prince."
Xu Dongyang raised his eyes in astonishment.
Zhao Sui waved his hand: "You may withdraw."
Xu Dongyang looked at the wheelchair beneath Prince Hui, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt down again. After kowtowing, he retreated backwards.
Perhaps Prince Hui no longer remembered. He was a jinshi of the twenty-fifth year of Yongchang. At the Qionglin Banquet that year, he had seen the eighteen-year-old His Highness Prince Hui from a distance, tall and straight, with the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix.
A prince who was well-versed in both literature and martial arts still cared about the livelihood of the people even though his legs were crippled. He, whose legs and feet were sound, having received the prince's guidance, should naturally go through fire and water without hesitation.
After Xu Dongyang left, Yao Huang came out from inside, looking at Prince Hui with a beaming smile.
Zhao Sui: "...What are you smiling at?"
At this time, Prince Hui was sitting in an elm wheelchair that was more suitable for receiving guests and sturdy enough, so Yao Huang confidently sat on Prince Hui's lap, hugged his neck and said: "I can't explain it clearly, I just felt that Your Highness looked even more handsome just now."
Zhao Sui: "..."
She insisted on running over, and in the end, it was still him she was looking at?
