Emperor Yongchang's busiest time was always the morning. He would preside over court assemblies, summon officials to handle urgent political affairs, and review important memorials. Even on days without court sessions, Emperor Yongchang rarely slept in. He would spend that time reading books and studying history. After all, a wise ruler needed to constantly increase his knowledge and broaden his horizons.
After having lunch and taking a midday rest, Emperor Yongchang would usher in the more relaxed period of his day. If he wanted to attend to proper business, he would continue reviewing the less important memorials left over from the morning. If he wanted to please his mind and body, he would seek some entertainment.
After washing up, Emperor Yongchang walked to the window and looked at the bright autumn sun outside. Thinking that it would only get colder from now on, he said to Eunuch Wang, Let us go. I shall also go to the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers.
Empress Zhou was going to hold a flower banquet. The day before yesterday, she had the gardeners decorate various parts of the Imperial Garden with all kinds of famous chrysanthemums. Yesterday, she brought the consorts and princesses to invite him to tour the garden first. Although Emperor Yongchang went, how could he concentrate on admiring the flowers when surrounded by a group of consorts?
Some elegant pursuits were best done alone, or at most, with two or three close friends who shared the same interests.
Emperor Yongchang had no friends. Among the consorts, only Empress Zhou could truly accompany him without any ulterior motives. Consort Xian and Consort Rou were also understanding flowers in their youth, but now they all had to scheme for their sons. As for the Noble Consort, Emperor Yongchang's head ached just thinking about her mouth that stirred up trouble everywhere.
Taking Eunuch Wang and four imperial guards, he had just left the Qianyuan Hall when two figures in colorful clothes unexpectedly appeared ahead. One was his most beloved daughter, the Eldest Princess, and the other was... the Second Prince's wife?
This was somewhat novel. Emperor Yongchang stopped walking with a smile.
The Eldest Princess jogged over while holding Yao Huang's hand. The sisters-in-law bowed to Emperor Yongchang in unison, Greetings, Imperial Father.
Emperor Yongchang said, Dispense with the formalities. How did you two end up together?
The Eldest Princess looked at Yao Huang encouragingly.
Yao Huang said respectfully and cautiously, This daughter-in-law has a matter she wishes to discuss with Imperial Father.
Emperor Yongchang asked, What is it?
Yao Huang looked at the Eldest Princess, as well as Eunuch Wang and the others.
Emperor Yongchang understood and smiled. I am just about to go to the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers. You two came at the right time. Walk with me.
The Eldest Princess naturally linked arms with her imperial father. Yao Huang, being a daughter-in-law after all, walked beside the Eldest Princess.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Garden, Emperor Yongchang ordered Eunuch Wang and the guards to keep their distance, taking only his daughter and daughter-in-law to admire the flowers.
Soon, the Eldest Princess cooperatively went deeper into the garden, where she could see her imperial father and second sister-in-law but could not hear their conversation.
Emperor Yongchang looked at his daughter-in-law.
Yao Huang lowered her head, seemingly afraid, but then spoke in a straightforward tone as if throwing caution to the wind, Since this daughter-in-law is already here, I will speak the truth directly to Imperial Father. I want to beg Imperial Father to arrange an official duty for the Second Prince.
Emperor Yongchang: ...
His second son was already in a wheelchair, and his daughter-in-law still wanted him to go on duty?
Is this your idea, or Suier's own idea?
Yao Huang looked up and gave her imperial father a faint glance. Imperial Father should know the Second Prince's temperament better than I do. Even the memorial he wrote to request the armory to build new wheelchair wheels was only written because I whined and pestered him to do it. Otherwise, he would have been perfectly content using those two bulky-looking wooden-wheeled wheelchairs. If he is like this over two wheels, how could he possibly cast aside his pride to ask you for an official duty with his disabled body?
Emperor Yongchang's entire body jolted. That memorial from his second son, which made him both angry and heartbroken, was actually urged out by his daughter-in-law?
After the shock passed, Emperor Yongchang was left with a heart full of bitterness. Indeed, this was his second son's true nature; unless absolutely necessary, he would never open his mouth to ask him for anything.
And his daughter-in-law's phrase "cast aside his pride to ask you for an official duty with his disabled body" felt even more like a knife piercing into Emperor Yongchang's heart.
These feelings were not easy to bear. Emperor Yongchang turned his back to his daughter-in-law and walked up to a nearby pot of green-petaled chrysanthemums. He stood with his hands behind his back for a moment and asked, Why did you have this thought?
Yao Huang followed for two steps and stopped diagonally behind the emperor. Her tone was as natural as if she were chatting with her own father. To tell you the truth, Imperial Father, I had this idea before the Double Ninth Festival. Of course, this daughter-in-law was only doing it for herself. I have already been trying very hard to coax the Second Prince and make him happy, taking him to play everywhere inside and outside the city, but the Second Prince always maintains a faint, indifferent attitude. It makes me anxious and exhausts my mind and spirit.
Emperor Yongchang understood. He had once asked his eldest son to guide his second son, and the eldest had complained of similar hardships to him. Even he, as the imperial father, did not know how to interact with his second son when facing him.
Yao Huang continued, At that time, this daughter-in-law thought that if the Second Prince went out early and returned late for official duties like other husbands, I would only need to take good care of his daily life, which would save me a lot of worry.
Emperor Yongchang snorted in his heart. Even if his second son's legs were crippled, it was still a great blessing from her ancestors for this daughter-in-law to be able to marry him. Since the daughter-in-law enjoyed wealth and glory that ordinary women could not experience because of his second son, how could she disdain him over these trivial matters of companionship and try to push a disabled person like him outside?
Yao Huang could not see Emperor Yongchang's expression, but since he did not tell her to shut up, she continued, Although this daughter-in-law wants to be lazy, I absolutely do not dare to show it in front of the Second Prince. Besides, the Second Prince treats me so well, and Imperial Father has also bestowed many rewards upon me. What does it matter if I just use my mind and exert some effort? If I weren't worried that the Second Prince didn't actually like my outing plans at all but would rather wrong himself to indulge my good intentions, this daughter-in-law wouldn't even have the thought of being lazy.
Emperor Yongchang felt comforted. So his daughter-in-law was still doing it for his second son's own good. His second son indeed had a tendency to do such foolish things. The eldest son's chess skills were so terrible, yet the second son was willing to pretend to lose just to make the eldest happy.
Yao Huang said, On the tenth day of the month, the Eldest Prince brought Brother Dun to visit the Second Prince. Although the Second Prince appeared cold on the surface, after the Eldest Prince left, he unprecedentedly ate half a bowl of rice more. When I praised how cute Brother Dun was, the Second Prince listened extremely attentively, enjoying it even more than when I told him jokes from the outside.
This daughter-in-law suddenly understood. The Second Prince is a prince! He has no interest in the domestic trivia of the common folk and neighborhoods that I am familiar with. He cares more about the people or things he has known and been familiar with since childhood. Therefore, the Eldest Prince's visit could bring him joy. Even when my father, a rough man, talked about the various preparations the Eastern Camp made for the military review, the Second Prince listened to every single word.
Emperor Yongchang nodded imperceptibly. He had many beauties, and beauties were of course very, very good, but if the beauties talked to him about harem trivialities every day, Emperor Yongchang couldn't be bothered to listen. His second son had studied literature and martial arts since childhood, and like all scholars and soldiers in the world, his ambition was to put his learning to use and establish merits and achievements. Rather than listening to beauties nag, he would naturally prefer to hear people discuss politics and military strategy.
Thinking of this, Emperor Yongchang finally understood his daughter-in-law's deep intentions.
The daughter-in-law behind him let out a soft sigh. This daughter-in-law is only guessing. Moreover, even if I know what the Second Prince likes, I cannot constantly bother the Eldest Prince to come and accompany him. My father loves to drink, and I am afraid he might misspeak after drinking, so I do not dare to invite him to the prince's estate often. This daughter-in-law could only continue taking the Second Prince out to relax. Then, on the seventeenth day of the month, when the Second Prince and I were returning from picking persimmons at my maternal grandfather's house, we unexpectedly encountered Imperial Father's honor guard returning from the military review at the Southern Camp.
Emperor Yongchang turned around in surprise and suspicion, looking at his daughter-in-law and asking, "You were also outside the city that day?"
Yao Huang: "Yes. In the morning, I was still wondering why the Second Prince arranged two ordinary carriages. It wasn't until we encountered Imperial Father in the afternoon that I realized the Second Prince had foreseen this. Not wanting to delay Imperial Father's return to the city, he told us to step aside by the official road just like the commoners."
Emperor Yongchang turned back around.
Whether it was his eldest, second, or third son, as long as the children reached fifteen years of age, Emperor Yongchang would bring them along every year for the military inspection.
Whenever his second son was in the capital, he would never miss the grand occasion of the military inspection. However, since his legs were crippled, Emperor Yongchang feared that going to the military camp would only trigger sad memories, so he didn't invite him this year.
Then, when his second son was sitting in the carriage by the roadside, did he lift the curtain? Did he see his Imperial Father leading his two brothers on such a glorious outing?
Yao Huang: "The Second Prince could still smile when he accompanied me to pick persimmons, but he barely ate anything that night. I thought to myself, he must be feeling sad. Sad that the First Prince and Third Prince can both share Imperial Father's burdens, while he is reduced to wandering around aimlessly with me every day, with nothing to do."
At this point, Yao Huang choked with sobs, "Imperial Father, the Second Prince is a son of the dragon. Even with crippled legs, he is still a dragon possessing both civil and military brilliance. I truly cannot bear to watch him be looked down upon as a useless worm while confined to a wheelchair."
"I should be kneeling before you, but I am afraid that if Imperial Father does agree, the guards will say that the Second Prince's post was something I begged for on my knees."
"Imperial Father, the Second Prince is eloquent, writes beautifully, and paints exceptionally well. Please just arrange any post for him, let him know he is still useful and not a cripple..."
"Enough!"
Emperor Yongchang, whose face was already covered in tears, forced out these words and walked several dozen steps forward until he managed to suppress the overwhelming heartache and bitterness churning inside him.
Yao Huang stopped where she was and took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. Rhetoric aside, Prince Hui's current situation was genuinely heartbreaking.
After an unknown amount of time, Emperor Yongchang waved to her from ahead, still with his back turned.
Yao Huang quickly hurried over.
Emperor Yongchang: "I will give my second son a post. This is what he deserves. It was my negligence before, and it has nothing to do with whether you came to beg or not."
Yao Huang: "I thank Imperial Father on behalf of the Second Prince. However, I ask Imperial Father to keep this a secret for now, because the Second Prince does not know of my audacity today. I still need to spend some effort persuading the Second Prince to accept Imperial Father's kindness. Before, I was afraid Imperial Father would refuse and leave him with empty hopes, so I didn't dare mention it to him first, thinking I would wait until things were settled on your end."
Emperor Yongchang: "Alright, you persuade him first. If he can't get past his own thoughts, I will go see him personally."
Yao Huang: "I will certainly do my best. It's just that having the Second Prince come out to work will involve more trouble than it does for other officials. This might also be one of his concerns."
Emperor Yongchang: "What trouble?"
Yao Huang lowered her eyes and said, "First, the Second Prince will need a private office of his own. He is thin-skinned and will only push his wheelchair for short distances when he is alone. If anyone else is present, including myself, Qingai, or Feiquan, he barely moves."
Emperor Yongchang looked toward the distant sky. "I will give it to him, and I will also help him remove any barriers like thresholds."
Yao Huang: "The Second Prince will also need a private washroom of his own..."
Emperor Yongchang spoke with difficulty, "He will have it."
Yao Huang: "It would be best to let the craftsmen from our estate build it. When we went to Mount Ling, the Second Prince always had the craftsmen sent from our estate remodel the houses."
Emperor Yongchang: "As long as he is willing to take up a post, I will agree to whatever you need!"
Yao Huang gritted her teeth and braced herself to ask for one last thing: "Imperial Father is truly kind, but please just keep these things in mind. You absolutely must not say them directly to the Second Prince. I only deduced these things myself..."
Emperor Yongchang felt like crying again.
