Chapter 47

Chapter 47

...

Prince Hui and his princess left the capital on the ninth day of the sixth month.

There were four carriages in total. The first carriage carried the "mother and son" duo: Madam Gao and Qing Ai.

The second carriage carried the quiet and solitary "nephew" of Prince Hui, along with his close "younger cousin" Fei Quan. The third carriage carried Yao Huang and A Ji, the "sisters-in-law."

The last carriage was a flatbed cart specifically for carrying luggage and items, with wooden boards surrounding the cart to block the view of passersby, and two horses harnessed in front.

In addition to the four coachmen, there were four escorts. Among these eight people, one was another physician from the prince's residence, Physician Li, and the remaining seven were all guards, all disguised as hired coachmen from the Liao family. When the group arrived at Ling Mountain Town, these eight would drive the carriages away. The guards who were to stay in town to secretly protect the prince and his princess had already checked into the town's inn in advance. Otherwise, it would have been too suspicious for both groups to arrive at the same time.

"Madam, why would the prince prefer to have Fei Quan accompany him in the carriage rather than you?"

A Ji couldn't understand. If she were a man, having such a beautiful wife like the princess to accompany him would make the long journey much more interesting.

Yao Huang smiled, "Perhaps he just prefers quiet. If I were there, I can't help but talk to him."

A Ji: "..."

Yao Huang, lying on the main seat at the front of the carriage, patted her bent legs and said contentedly, "It's better he doesn't want me with him. With you, I can lie down however I want."

A Ji sat on the floor next to the main seat, "Here, let me massage your legs."

Yao Huang: "Just relax. You used to be as idle as me at home, but once we get to the town, you'll be as busy as Qiao Niang. You only have these two good days left on the road."

A Ji: "Don't underestimate me. I can do whatever my sister can do, and besides, I receive much more reward money than her."

The work in the town is indeed more than in the palace, but who in the entire palace wouldn't want to serve in front of the prince and princess?

Take Chef Kong, for example. Because Madam Gao got the opportunity to accompany them, he even came to Ming'an Hall to recommend himself to the princess, saying that he was familiar with the prince's tastes, had great strength, and wasn't afraid of the fatigue of cooking for several people, hoping the princess would choose him. Unfortunately, the princess had her reasons for choosing Madam Gao, and Chef Kong could only wait obediently, his eyes red, in the palace for the prince's return to the capital.

The wheels rolled along the packed dirt road, stirring up waves of yellow dust. Fortunately, it was hot and windless, so the dust didn't rise very high.

A Ji rolled up the bamboo curtains on both carriage windows, leaving just a mosquito net.

Seeing the princess asleep, A Ji also leaned in the corner to doze off.

When it was time to relieve themselves, A Ji took out the brass chamber pots from the bamboo basket, one for each of the lady and her maid.

Just as Yao Huang was about to lift her skirt, she suddenly understood why Prince Hui had chosen Fei Quan to accompany him in the carriage. Otherwise, when Prince Hui needed to relieve himself, wouldn't she have to serve him?

Although the newlywed couple was intimate and wished to become one, Yao Huang was not prepared for such service.

Clearly, Prince Hui also didn't want her to witness that scene.

After finishing, A Ji sealed the brass chamber pots and put them back into the bamboo basket. The outside of the basket was covered with cloth, and when the lid was closed, it was airtight.

At noon, the four carriages stopped under the shade of some trees.

A Ji helped the princess out of the carriage first, and then Qing Ai and Fei Quan helped Prince Hui down.

When Yao Huang sat on the wooden stool opposite Prince Hui, she saw Qing Ai taking away the bamboo baskets from two carriages, with Fei Quan carrying a bucket of water beside him.

Yao Huang felt her face flush. Only after truly embarking on this long journey did she realize how many inconveniences there were along the way.

Madam Gao and A Ji brought pots, noodles, and vegetables to the other side to cook, while several guards were responsible for collecting firewood and setting up the stove.

Yao Huang looked around and whispered to Prince Hui, "It's all because of me that you’ve had to endure this hardship."

Zhao Sui: "It's alright, we should make it to town for lunch the day after tomorrow."

Yao Huang: "Were you sitting or lying down in the carriage?"

Zhao Sui: "We’ll take a break in the afternoon."

Implying he had been sitting all morning.

Yao Huang looked at the rattan wheelchair Prince Hui was sitting in, with its ordinary backrest, and thought how uncomfortable it must be to sit like that for half a day.

She stood up and went behind Prince Hui to massage his shoulders.

As soon as her hands touched him, Prince Hui moved them away, his voice firm, "People are watching, mind your manners."

Yao Huang glanced at the guards who didn't dare to look their way and retorted, "What propriety? You’re my husband, and massaging your shoulders shows I care for you. This is tenderness and consideration. What’s improper about that?"

With that, she placed her hands back on his shoulders.

Zhao Sui: "...You are the Princess Consort, there's no need for this."

The Princess Consort has her dignity, and he didn’t want the staff to see her being so attentive, as it might make them look down on her.

Yao Huang: "Where’s the Princess Consort? I’m just Physician Liao’s niece-in-law and wouldn’t dare dream of being the Princess Consort."

Zhao Sui: "..."

Yao Huang not only massaged his shoulders but also moved in front of Prince Hui, wanting to take his hands and stretch his arms.

Zhao Sui clenched his fists and remained motionless.

Yao Huang: "All that reading has made you rigid, always worrying about etiquette and rules. If you’re so brave, remember these rules at night too."

Zhao Sui: "..."

.

Lunch was vegetable pancakes and cucumber egg drop soup. Because of the heat, it was hard to bring fresh meat, so they kept meals simple for the past couple of days.

Madam Gao, who handled the Princess Consort’s meals in the palace, was just as skilled as Chef Kong. The simple vegetable pancakes were golden and tender, with a fragrant, fresh filling. The slightly salty cucumber egg drop soup was refreshing and thirst-quenching.

After eating, they rested for half an hour and continued their journey once the afternoon heat had passed.

The route had been scouted in advance by Zhang Yue and others. As dusk fell, the group reached a shallow stream over two zhang wide.

As usual, the Prince and Princess Consort rested while the others attended to their tasks.

Yao Huang watched the seven guards skillfully set up three tents.

Zhao Sui: "I will stay with Qing Ai and Fei Quan. You will stay with A Ji and Madam Gao. The other tent is for Physician Li and the guards."

Yao Huang nodded in agreement. It was more convenient for the couple to stay apart at night for things like heating water and washing.

After dinner, Qing Ai and Fei Quan each brought two buckets of water to the Prince and Princess Consort’s tents. Yao Huang bid farewell to Prince Hui and as she walked away, she heard Prince Hui's low reminder, "Shadows will show on the tent. Light the lamp after you’ve finished dressing."

Yao Huang: "..."

She washed her hair and dried off in the dark. Remembering Prince Hui’s many rules, Yao Huang stayed inside and went to the inner tent, listening as Madam Gao and A Ji got ready.

The guards’ tents were far off, and Prince Hui’s tent was nearby, but no matter how hard Yao Huang listened, she couldn’t hear any movement from Prince Hui—only the footsteps of Qing Ai and Fei Quan coming and going.

A Ji, freshly cleaned, slipped in. Earlier, it was agreed that A Ji would sleep inside with the princess tonight.

After a day of bumpy travel in the carriage, both mistress and maid lay down without further conversation and quickly fell asleep.

On the tenth day, they were still on the road. Yao Huang deliberately drank less water and ate lightly at each meal. Even though she had attendants, it was better to avoid such inconveniences.

In the evening, they camped by the water again. The closer they got to Ling Mountain, the fewer people they saw around. The wide river in front of them wound between two rolling low hills, stretching as far as the eye could see. A bright red sun hung low on the horizon, slowly sinking, turning the long river into a shimmering ribbon of light.

This was a breathtaking scene Yao Huang had never witnessed in her over ten years of exploring the outskirts of the capital.

She pushed Prince Hui's wheelchair westward, against the setting sun and the river. The flat riverbank was covered with pebbles. The side of the bank near the low hills was slightly higher, where pebbles gave way to land overgrown with wild grass. The grass, only ankle-high, was easily flattened by the wheelchair's wheels, creating a relatively smooth path.

Yao Huang looked down and teased, "Second Master, your face is glowing red."

Zhao Sui looked up; the princess's face was also glowing.

Yao Huang didn't go far. She stopped, sat on a large rock nearby, looked at the prince, then at the sunset, and smiled, "Even though the journey is inconvenient and tiring, seeing this scene tonight makes it all worth it."

Zhao Sui gazed at the distant river.

He had been to the battlefield twice and had seen more spectacular and expansive landscapes along the way.

Still, tonight's sunset was truly worth admiring.

The princess sighed. Zhao Sui turned to her and asked, "Why the sigh?"

Yao Huang pointed to the river nearby, "There's a small river near my grandmother's town. Every summer when we visited, my brother and cousins would go into the river to bathe and dive. I really wanted to join them, but how could a girl go into the water to bathe? Even standing by the shore to watch would make people laugh."

Zhao Sui, "... Not here either."

Yao Huang shot him a resentful look, "I knew you'd say that, which is why I sighed. The water's been warmed by the sun all day, and now it's just the right temperature for a bath."

Zhao Sui looked away.

If it were just the two of them, he wouldn't mind letting his princess have her wish. But with so many guards around, even if he ordered them to stay in their tents, they'd speculate about what the prince and princess were doing.

"Let's head back," Zhao Sui said.

"What's the hurry? I want to spend more time with you. These past two days, except for meals, we haven't even seen each other in the carriage."

"We don't see each other every day in the palace, either."

"It's different. In the palace, I know the prince is well-fed and clothed, can read whenever he wants, has a comfortable wheelchair to lean on when tired, and a spacious bed to lie on. Now, on the road, the carriage seats are narrow, the new wheelchair isn't comfortable, and thinking it's all because of me that the prince has to endure this, I feel awful."

"We'll arrive tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is tomorrow; now I just want you to spend more time with me."

Facing the princess's passionate and persistent gaze, Prince Hui remained silent once more.

With the sound of flowing water, Yao Huang slept soundly through the night. Waking up, she thought they'd arrive at Ling Mountain Town by noon, where she could eat meat to her heart's content and take a good bath in a tub. Yao Huang felt refreshed.

After a simple breakfast, Yao Huang was about to head to her carriage when Fei Quan suddenly ran over, smiling, "Madam, Second Master invites you to ride with him."

Yao Huang, "..."

Fei Quan, after all, was a eunuch by Prince Hui's side, skilled in reading expressions after years of practice. He immediately understood the princess's concern and said with his head lowered, "Madam, don't worry. Second Master said I should come back to switch with you in an hour."

Yao Huang was immediately relieved. An hour, she and the prince could hold it!