Yao Huang discovered that His Highness Prince Hui could occasionally say one thing and mean another. Just like when he praised her in the carriage for performing well in front of Emperor Yongchang, he actually still held a grudge against her for mentioning how he was looked down upon by the mountain folks of Lingshan. The proof was that during today's midday rest, Prince Hui was exceptionally energetic. The edge of the soon-to-be-useless ivory mat against the inner bedboard was rubbed so much that a two-to-three-inch wide strip curled up.
Yao Huang cursed between sobs, I should have let you stay cooped up in the study until you really became weak. Let's see how you'd torment me then!
Prince Hui remained unmoved.
Yao Huang thought of a new trick. She turned her head and shouted towards the outside, Come look...
Before she could finish saying what to look at, Prince Hui covered her mouth.
However, provoked by the Princess Consort like this, Prince Hui had no choice but to let her go early.
Having done his bad deeds, Prince Hui went to the Bamboo Courtyard without even resting for the afternoon. Yao Huang wrapped herself in a blanket and slept until dusk. When she woke up, she received two Mid-Autumn festival gift lists sent by Head Steward Guo Shu: one for the Princess Consort's maiden family in Changshou Alley, and one for her maternal grandfather's family in the suburbs.
Mid-Autumn was a major festival, so the festival gifts prepared were even more abundant than those for the Dragon Boat Festival. There were ginseng, bird's nest, wine, tea, chicken, duck, fish, meat, silk, satin, rouge, and powder.
Thinking of the heart and body she had expended for Prince Hui, Yao Huang accepted the two gift lists on behalf of her family without any guilt.
In the evening, Prince Hui returned to Ming'an Hall from the Bamboo Courtyard.
Yao Huang lowered her head and gripped her fingers.
Prince Hui had two faces, one on the bed and one off it. Yao Huang felt she was the same. Thinking back to before she married into the Prince's estate, although she had nothing to do with being a dignified and elegant young lady, she had never said such shameful things or done such shameful deeds. Those bold words that made her extremely embarrassed when recalling them afterwards were truly all bullied out of her by Prince Hui!
After silently finishing a meal, the more Yao Huang thought about it, the harder it was to swallow her resentment. She walked around to the back of Prince Hui's wheelchair, poked his shoulder, and said, It's all your fault.
Zhao Sui looked outside the door, not quite sure what the Princess Consort was blaming him for.
Yao Huang: If you were actually a bit weak, I wouldn't have spoken without thinking and said such crazy things.
Zhao Sui: ...Mm.
Yao Huang: Your punishment is to rest by yourself tomorrow afternoon.
Zhao Sui nodded.
The Princess Consort felt better and ran out the door with a blushing face.
On the morning of the tenth, Zhao Sui supported himself on the handrails in the Bamboo Courtyard for two quarters of an hour. After finishing his massage and bathing, he returned to Ming'an Hall.
Yao Huang received the news and checked the water clock. It was just past Chenshi. If they set off for Changshou Alley now, she could stay at home for half an hour longer than she had previously expected.
She went to the front courtyard to see Prince Hui and asked tentatively, Has Your Highness finished reading?
Zhao Sui: The journey to Changshou Alley is long, so we should set off early.
Yao Huang was delighted. She couldn't wait and told Feiquan to go to the front courtyard to pass on the message to prepare the carriage and load the gifts.
As Mid-Autumn approached, the common people were all visiting relatives and friends, exchanging festival gifts. Wealthy families gave more, while ordinary families gave less; the important thing was to suit the occasion.
When the Prince Hui Estate's carriage turned into Changshou Alley, the commoners waiting outside all craned their necks.
Yao Huang hid behind the window curtain and peeked out. Suddenly, she waved to Prince Hui, pulling the curtain gap wider to let him look out: That round head wearing the blue cloth short shirt, do you see him?
His Highness Prince Hui, who always sat with a proper posture, had to turn his head. Following the corner of the curtain lifted by the Princess Consort, he saw a young man in a blue cloth short shirt standing in front of a house diagonally ahead. He was of average height, not considered fat, but his head was indeed very round.
Because the Princess Consort had lifted the curtain high, the other party also saw him. His eyes widened in shock, and then he lowered his head as if in fear.
Yao Huang also saw this scene. She dropped the curtain, scoffed, and complained to Prince Hui: That's him. When we were young, he always called me Ah-Huang. Even when we grew up, he often mocked me behind my dad's and brother's backs for being fat. Good thing I am broad-minded and didn't want to bicker with him. Otherwise, a single punch from my dad or brother would leave him bedridden for days.
Mainly, she was more worried that her father or brother would hit him too hard and he would run to the authorities to sue them.
Zhao Sui looked at the Princess Consort's beautiful face, which glowed radiantly even inside the carriage, unable to understand how any man could mock her.
The Princess Consort leaned close to the curtain gap again, and after looking for a while, she sighed.
Zhao Sui: Why are you sighing?
Yao Huang looked at him and said: I just feel it's a pity. If Your Highness's status were a bit lower, like a young master from a Marquis's family, I would definitely drag you around in front of the neighbors to show off, making those who usually dare to gossip about me incredibly envious and jealous. But you are a Prince. If I really dragged you out, everyone on the street would have to kneel and bow. That would make me look like too much of a bully, and I can't do that.
The fearful expression of the young man in the blue shirt just now floated before Zhao Sui's eyes, and then he thought of the neighbors on both sides of the river in Lingshan Town.
He used to think that when he appeared in front of people in a wheelchair, they would either pity him, sigh in regret, mock him, or look at him like a monster.
When he was actually pushed onto the street by the Princess Consort, Zhao Sui found that very few people cared about his legs. Aside from being curious about how he injured his legs, the neighbors cared more about his appearance and wealth. They either envied or were jealous of his financial power, painting skills, and the fact that he had married a beautiful wife. As for strangers passing by, they were all busy with their own affairs, and their gazes didn't linger on him for too long.
If he revealed his identity, how would these commoners react?
They still wouldn't pity him, because he would still be the incomparably noble His Highness Prince Hui in their eyes, a Prince they had to respect and fear so as not to bring trouble upon themselves. Just as the commoners revered and feared him before he was twenty-two, they would continue to do so after he was twenty-two. This included the dukes, marquises, nobles, and civil and military officials the Princess Consort mentioned; they would still maintain the proper etiquette expected of a subject meeting a Prince in front of him.
Zhao Sui wasn't taking pride in his status as a Prince. He just suddenly understood that besides himself, and besides a few people close to him who would pity him or take pleasure in his misfortune, no one else actually cared whether his legs were crippled or not. They only cared whether the wealth, talent, and power he possessed would affect them. For example, the female stall owner of the fabric shop went out of her way to flatter him, Squire Qi begged him for a painting, the noisy scholar's mother resented him for stealing her son's thunder, and the neighbor who had offended the Princess Consort feared his revenge.
People in the past cherished their own worthless belongings; today, he was merely wallowing in self-pity over his crippled legs.
I heard there's a Longevity Stone in Changshou Alley? After a long silence, Zhao Sui asked the Princess Consort.
Yao Huang was preparing to get out of the carriage. Hearing this, she looked over in surprise: Your Highness even knows about this?
Zhao Sui: When I was young, I read a map of the entire capital. Some street and alley names had their origins annotated.
Yao Huang once again experienced Prince Hui's extensive knowledge and strong memory. When he read something, he truly remembered it, unlike her, who only retained deep impressions of interesting or frivolous things.
Immediately after, Yao Huang felt a bit ashamed and explained: What Longevity Stone? It's just that there was once an elderly man who lived a long life in the alley. There used to be a stone in front of his house, the kind of flat stone common in village homes that can be used as a stool. The old man liked to sit on the stone and chat with people. After he passed away, that stone gained the gimmick of being the 'Longevity Stone' and was placed at the entrance of the alley by the village head as a facade. If I had known Your Highness was interested, I would have pointed it out to you when we just turned in.
Zhao Sui: There's no rush.
They arrived at the Yao residence. Yao Zhenhu, Luo Jinhua, and Yao Lin were already waiting respectfully at the door.
When Yao Huang and Qingai worked together to push Prince Hui's wheelchair down from the carriage, the family of three got a clear look at His Highness. Yao Zhenhu was both surprised and envious. Just how cool was it over at Lingshan to have nourished his royal son-in-law's complexion so well? The beginning of summer in the capital was deadly hot; even his wife refused to share a blanket with him!
Luo Jinhua only felt happy. The better her son-in-law's complexion, the more promising her daughter's future would be.
After exchanging greetings, everyone went to the main hall. Wooden planks had been laid in front of the Yao family's main gate and the entrance to the hall, allowing the new wheelchair to pass through with ease.
With Yao Huang taking the lead, Yao Zhenhu was the first to relax, curiously asking his daughter about the situation in Lingshan Town.
Luo Jinhua personally went to the kitchen to wash the grapes her daughter had brought. It was a heavy basket; if their own family had to eat it all, their teeth would surely ache from the sourness!
Since it was still early for the meal, Zhao Sui said to Yao Lin, I would like to go and observe the Longevity Stone of this alley. How about Lingyun leading the way for me?
Yao Lin looked blank. What Longevity Stone?
Yao Huang: Just that rock at the entrance of the alley.
Yao Lin was just about to say there was nothing worth observing about that broken rock, but catching his mother's meaningful glance, he immediately stood up: Alright, I will take Your Highness over.
Yao Huang was quite surprised that Prince Hui would single out her careless brother to accompany him. Fearing her brother would not be a good host, she asked, Should I come along too?
Zhao Sui: You should spend more time with your mother.
Yao Zhenhu: Right, Yao Yao, you stay home. Your brother and I will accompany His Highness. There is nothing to worry about. The village head heard that His Highness was coming today and already told every household to tie up their dogs, guaranteeing they will not disturb His Highness.
Yao Huang: ...
Watching her burly father and brother flank Prince Hui and escort him out the door, Yao Huang suddenly felt a sense of unease, as if Emperor Yongchang had entrusted a precious, golden egg to her, and she had just handed it off to her father and brother.
Luo Jinhua smiled and pushed her daughter into the east room: Do not worry, Eunuch Qingai is there. Your dad and the others will not offend His Highness. Hurry up and tell mother, how did His Highness get his spirits up?
Yao Huang did not mention her long-term plans. She only talked about the crucial battle where she acted coquettishly and played shamelessly to coax Prince Hui into agreeing to go out with her.
Luo Jinhua sighed emotionally: It is because His Highness has you in his heart, otherwise even going on a hunger strike would not work.
Yao Huang: It is still my own capability that made His Highness have me in his heart.
Luo Jinhua: ...
In Longevity Alley, the neighbors who were craning their necks to peek at the Yao family's doorway suddenly saw Prince Hui in his wheelchair coming out again. Those close to their own homes immediately ran back inside, while those too far to run stood frozen in place. Seeing someone kneel to welcome His Highness, the rest of them all followed suit and dropped to their knees in a flurry.
Yao Zhenhu was stunned.
Zhao Sui said: I am just taking a casual stroll. Father-in-law, tell them to dispense with the formalities.
Accompanying his royal son-in-law out for the first time, Yao Zhenhu snapped back to reality from the scene. He took two steps forward, took a deep breath, and his loud, tiger-like voice echoed through the entire alley: His Highness is going to observe the Longevity Stone at the entrance of the alley, and he tells you to dispense with the formalities! Everyone, hurry up and get up, go do whatever you need to do!
Hearing this, the kneeling neighbors hastily stood up and scattered cleanly in the blink of an eye.
Seeing this, Zhao Sui decided that in the future, he should still accompany the Princess Consort incognito when going out.
Qingai pushed the wheelchair, and amidst the silent sound of footsteps, the four arrived at the entrance of the alley and saw the truly ordinary Longevity Stone.
Yao Lin, who had been unable to find anything to say, thought of an old memory. Pointing at the Longevity Stone, he said: The year I first went to study martial arts, I usually lived at the academy and only came back on rest days. Then, every evening before a rest day, my sister would sit here and wait for me. After doing it so many times, she even changed the name of the stone to the Waiting for Brother Stone.
After saying this, Yao Lin saw his royal brother-in-law smile slightly.
Yao Lin looked excitedly at his father.
Yao Zhenhu snorted. His daughter had never sat here to wait for him!
