On the evening of the sixteenth of August, after having dinner at home, Yao Huang and Prince Hui each changed into a set of fine cotton clothes and left the princely estate in an ordinary carriage.
It was the last day of the lifted curfew, and the South Avenue was crowded with commoners coming to join the festivities. The large and small shops on both sides of the street also used all sorts of tricks to attract customers, all wanting to make a hefty profit during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The commoners were either looking at the lanterns, checking out the goods, gazing at their lovers beside them, or watching the children who loved to run around. At a time like this, let alone Prince Hui sitting in an ordinary elm wheelchair and being a head shorter in their line of sight, even if he were riding a tall horse and swaggering through the market, it would be difficult for him to attract prolonged stares.
Yao Huang secretly observed Prince Hui from above his head. After confirming that he showed no signs of resistance, she boldly pushed the wheelchair into the sea of people. Zhang Yue and Wang Dong each led a few hidden guards, keeping a distance and standing guard nearby, wary of threats from any direction.
Sigh, we're still too late. There's actually such a long line.
Arriving near Yao Huang's favorite lamb skewer stall, looking at the long line that stretched to the corner so as not to hinder other passersby, Yao Huang said regretfully, I wanted Your Highness to taste the freshly grilled ones. Skewers are the most delicious when they are still a bit hot.
Zhao Sui: We can wait in line.
Yao Huang: You're not afraid of waiting?
Zhao Sui smiled. If his princess consort praised him as a gentleman, he might feel unworthy, but if she praised his patience, he had no need to be modest.
Since Prince Hui was willing to wait, Yao Huang pushed him towards the back of the line. As they walked, she noticed another group of young men approaching from the opposite direction who seemed to want to line up. Yao Huang immediately pushed the wheelchair into a run, claiming the spot at the end of the line right before the young men.
Zhao Sui: ...
The hidden guards who thought there was danger and had already rushed forward a few steps: ...
Yao Huang remained completely oblivious, pointing at the skewer stall diagonally ahead and telling Prince Hui to look at the stall owner's technique.
A slightly cool autumn breeze blew from the front, carrying the mouth-watering aroma of grilled meat mixed with spices. Zhao Sui saw the smoke continuously billowing from the grill, the greedy looks of two children staring intently at the roasting meat in front of the stall, and the figures of people in the middle of the line craning their necks to look. This kind of waiting was not quiet; everyone chatted while they waited, complaining about how slow it was or discussing where to go next.
The line moved slowly. The princess consort gently pushed the wheelchair, making sure his feet would not bump into the people in front.
When there were only three people left in front of them, Yao Huang asked, How many skewers should we buy?
Zhao Sui: We just had dinner. One skewer is enough for me.
Just as he finished speaking, the woman holding a child in front of them glanced back at him, then hurriedly turned her head away when she met his gaze.
Yao Huang secretly poked his shoulder, leaning close to the top of his head and saying, Waiting in line for so long just to buy one skewer, people will think you can't afford it.
Zhao Sui fell silent.
In fact, the portion of lamb on each skewer was not much, but considering there were other snacks ahead waiting for Prince Hui to taste, Yao Huang took charge and only bought five skewers. She wrapped them in oiled paper and handed them to Prince Hui, as both her hands were occupied pushing the wheelchair.
Zhao Sui: Let's find a spot by the roadside and eat before leaving.
Yao Huang: No need. Second Master, you take a bite and then hold up the bamboo stick. I can just eat from your hand without delaying our walk.
Zhao Sui: ...
Yao Huang: Come on, I want to eat right now.
Zhao Sui glanced around, took a skewer from the oiled paper, and turned slightly to hold it up to his princess consort.
Yao Huang smiled and took a bite.
Zhao Sui sat up straight and took a bite when the princess consort urged him to eat. With people coming and going around them kicking up dust, in order to prevent the lamb skewers from catching too much dirt, Zhao Sui would put the skewers back into the oiled paper each time, only taking them out when it was time to eat.
Eating, walking, and admiring the lanterns, just as the couple was eating their last skewer, Zhao Sui recognized a familiar face in the crowd ahead.
He lowered his eyes and put the skewer away into the oiled paper.
Yao Huang had noticed the person even before he did. He was simply too conspicuous. While everyone else was walking around or gathered in front of some stall, only that man stood rigidly in place, staring fixedly at Prince Hui in the wheelchair. Looking at Prince Hui's expression and actions at this moment, Yao Huang understood; the two knew each other.
Yao Huang took the oiled paper package from Prince Hui's hand, wrapped it tightly, and held it together with the wheelchair handles. A few thin bamboo sticks were not a hindrance.
As they got closer, the young, sturdy man had already put away the excited and complicated expression that Yao Huang could not understand. He took two steps forward, bowed, and cupped his hands to Prince Hui: Cen Jun greets the Second Master.
The beautiful lady accompanying him seemed to have been instructed; she stood reservedly with her eyes lowered and did not step forward.
Zhao Sui: Dispense with the formalities. When did you return to the capital?
Cen Jun said respectfully, Last winter. I took a post in the Southern Camp and got married earlier this year. Tonight, I'm accompanying my wife to enjoy the lanterns.
Zhao Sui glanced in the direction of his wife and said, Congratulations. This is my wife.
He knew Cen Jun was a meticulous person and must have refrained from hastily bowing because he could not confirm the princess consort's identity.
Cen Jun hurriedly bowed to Yao Huang: Greetings to the Second Madam.
Yao Huang smiled and said, We're on the street, there's no need to be so polite.
Cen Jun looked at His Highness Prince Hui once again.
In those eyes, Zhao Sui saw a thousand unspoken words. He wanted to show concern but didn't know how to speak; he felt unbearable sorrow over his crippled legs but didn't dare to show it.
This was something he once hadn't wanted to see, but now it no longer affected him. Or rather, he didn't care what Cen Jun thought of his legs.
Go on.
Cen Jun silently stepped aside. When the wheelchair completely disappeared from sight, two hot tears suddenly fell from Cen Jun's eyes.
The war with Wu lasted for two and a half years. For the first two years, he served under Prince Hui, accompanying him through one difficult and victorious battle after another. Only during the battle where his father, Cen Lianshan, was ambushed by the enemy, he was leading troops elsewhere. By the time he received the news, Prince Hui had already risked his life to rescue his father, while he himself was pursued and cornered by enemy soldiers, preferring death to surrender.
Cen Jun understood that Prince Hui went to save his father simply because his father was a famous general resisting Wu. As long as his father was alive, the morale of the border army, which had been fighting bitterly for two years, could be maintained. Once his father died in battle, the army's morale would collapse, and the border might be lost. Prince Hui sacrificed himself to save a life for the sake of the greater good; he had no personal ties with their Cen family.
But his father could not forget this debt of gratitude, and neither could he. After being transferred back to the capital garrison, he had gone to Prince Hui's estate several times requesting an audience, but the prince refused to see him. Suddenly encountering him tonight and seeing with his own eyes the prince who had once galloped side by side with him on the battlefield now confined to a wheelchair, Cen Jun felt as if a knife were twisting in his heart.
Alright, be careful lest the Second Master sees you.
A pair of gentle hands supported him.
Further ahead, Yao Huang threw the oiled paper package into a coarse porcelain vat specially used by a small tavern for leftover food, and confirmed with Prince Hui: His surname is Cen, could he be one of the young masters from the Marquis of Weiyuan's estate?
General Cen Lianshan of the current dynasty was a household name, at least here in the capital. When the news of Prince Hui crippling his legs first spread last year, some people even said that Emperor Yongchang took his anger out on Marquis Weiyuan and wanted to revoke the Cen family's noble title. It was entirely thanks to Cen Lianshan making up for his mistakes by winning a battle, ensuring that Prince Hui's legs were not ruined in vain, that Emperor Yongchang decided not to pursue the matter further.
The common people also said that if Prince Hui hadn't been injured, Cen Lianshan could have been granted the title of Duke based on his military achievements in that battle. At the time, Yao Huang had just listened to the gossip for fun, never imagining that she would actually marry the Prince Hui from the rumors.
Zhao Sui said, "The eldest son."
Yao Huang replied, "Mhm, he has an aura of righteousness and looks just like a young general. Is he quite familiar with you, Second Master?"
Aside from her own cousins, Yao Huang had many close female friends who had gradually married, as well as male playmates she used to play hide-and-seek and house with every day when they were little, only for them to become annoying as they grew up. But based on her observations, Prince Hui only seemed to have Qingai, Feiquan, Eunuch Cao, and others who constantly served him by his side. His brothers didn't seem to get along with him, and as for friends...
Just as Yao Huang was thinking that Cen Jun might be considered a friend to Prince Hui, she heard the man say, "Not really familiar. We've only interacted during official duties."
Yao Huang asked, "...Then does Second Master have any close personal friends?"
Zhao Sui shook his head.
Yao Huang finally understood why Prince Hui could stay in the Bamboo Courtyard for such long periods of time. Aside from his legs being unable to move, he didn't even have a single personal friend. What fun would it be for him to go out all alone?
After strolling on the streets for over two hours, the couple finally returned to the prince's manor.
Since it was still a holiday, Prince Hui came to the backyard after bathing. Yao Huang, who was having her monthly time, obediently leaned into his embrace and chatted, "Second Master doesn't like skipping stones, but you're quite amazing at the ring toss. Fortunately, I only took a fancy to three items. Otherwise, if I had bought a few more rings, you would have made that stall owner cry from losing so much."
She had taken a liking to two small porcelain rabbits, one with its head turning left and the other turning right, looking like a pair. However, the smaller the item, the harder it was to ring. After wasting seven rings, Prince Hui offered to help her use the last three. In the end, he actually got them, and even snagged a small porcelain plate, which was perfect for displaying the two porcelain rabbits.
What Zhao Sui was thinking about was the princess consort's pouting lips after her seventh ring missed its mark.
As they chatted, sleepiness washed over her. Yao Huang hugged Prince Hui and softly said, "In the past during the Mid-Autumn Festival, I always spent the holiday with my father, mother, and brother. Now that I've married Your Highness, you will be the one accompanying me for the holidays from now on."
Zhao Sui held her hand and gave a soft "Mhm."
Yao Huang asked, "Does Your Highness like spending the holiday like this?"
Zhao Sui simply replied with another "Mhm."
Yao Huang smiled and said with her eyes closed, "I like it too."
She had spent many years wandering through those noisy, bustling lantern festivals full of running and shouting. Taking a slow, leisurely stroll like tonight held a different kind of charm.
The princess consort fell asleep, and Zhao Sui opened his eyes.
They hadn't been married for long, and she still found him a novelty. Once the princess consort grew tired of looking at his face and his paintings, would she still have the patience to push him around to celebrate holidays like this?
After the holiday, the officials resumed their duties. Master Deng, whom they hadn't seen for over two months, also arrived at Prince Hui's manor with a new batch of wheelchairs he had just made. The wheelchairs were placed inside the carriage cabin, so anyone passing by wouldn't be able to guess what was inside.
The matter of the wheelchairs had always been the princess consort's responsibility, so Guo Shu sent someone to invite her, temporarily not disturbing the prince who had gone to the Bamboo Courtyard.
Yao Huang thought about how Prince Hui was no longer resistant to seeing outsiders, so she personally went to the Bamboo Courtyard and pushed Prince Hui over to look at the new wheelchairs together.
When they arrived at the front, Guo Shu, Eunuch Cao, and Master Deng were all waiting in the courtyard. The wheelchairs had already been moved into the main hall beforehand.
Turning to the doorway, Yao Huang looked inside. Good heavens, there were a full five of them!
The five wheelchairs were roughly the same size. Three of them had four wheels, with a ring of smaller, thinner wheels added to the outside of the two large wheels. The only difference was the materials used: red sandalwood, elm, and rattan.
Master Deng walked over to the four-wheeled red sandalwood wheelchair. With both hands from behind, he turned the small rings attached to the bottom outer side of the large wheels off the ground. The small rings then drove the large wheels, and the wheelchair moved forward.
Master Deng respectfully explained, "Previously, the princess consort suggested adding handles to the large wheels. This commoner tried it, but embedding multiple handles into the large wheels severely compromised their stability. Moreover, having many handles sticking out didn't look good. Later, when this commoner saw an apprentice pushing the wheelchair, the shadows of these handles connected into a circle. This commoner had a sudden inspiration and directly added this thin wheel to the outside of the large wheel. Although it adds a bit of weight, it doesn't destroy the stability of the large wheel, and it's quite smooth to push."
Zhao Sui could clearly see the structure, but he wouldn't try it right now. He cast his gaze toward the other two wheelchairs.
These two wheelchairs were made of red sandalwood and rattan, respectively. They only had two large wheels with hand-push rims in the front, lacking the two small wheels, while a single small wheel was added to the back of the chair.
Master Deng said, "Three wheels are more flexible and require less effort to push than four wheels, but the stability of the chair body is not as good as the four-wheeled ones. It is best if Your Highness only uses them indoors to prevent the wheelchair from tipping over."
Yao Huang asked, "It won't tip over if used indoors?"
Master Deng lowered his head and replied, "This commoner has tested it over a hundred times. Normal pushing or swaying one's body from left to right on the chair will not affect the stability of the three-wheeled wheelchair. The only fear is that uneven ground might cause the chair to lose its balance."
Yao Huang felt relieved.
Master Deng waited for a moment. Seeing that the prince and princess consort had no other concerns, he carefully deliberated and said, "Actually, this commoner has another method for improvement."
