Chapter 55

Chapter 55

As the wheelchair moved, Yao Huang's gaze was instantly pulled back, landing on Prince Hui's pale hand, where veins stood out from the effort of pushing the wheelchair.

Yao Huang hurriedly took control of the wheelchair.

With her applying force, the large wheels rolled, forcing Zhao Sui to let go.

Yao Huang looked down and saw that Prince Hui's face was stern, no longer simply lifeless.

Yao Huang looked up and saw that after passing two more shops, diagonally across was "Liao's Clinic." The clinic door was locked, but outside, there was a canopy with several long benches for patients to sit and wait.

Yao Huang then wheeled Prince Hui under the canopy, positioning him facing the benches, and she sat down beside him.

In that short distance, Prince Hui's face shifted from displeasure back to lifelessness.

Yao Huang held out her hand: "Give me the handkerchief."

Zhao Sui took the handkerchief from his right sleeve and placed it in her palm.

The handkerchief was still damp. Yao Huang casually shook it out and was about to grab Prince Hui's hand, which had been dirtied by the large wheels.

Understanding her intention, Zhao Sui snatched the handkerchief back: "I'll do it myself."

As he wiped his hand with his palm facing down, Yao Huang, seeing this, wanted to help again, but as soon as she reached out, Prince Hui avoided her.

Yao Huang found it funny and whispered to that handsome face everyone admired: "When those young girls and married women stare at you, I only feel proud that my husband is handsome, not at all that they are taking advantage of him. Why is it that when I glance at someone else, who didn't even notice, you get upset?"

Zhao Sui: "...Do not look at what is improper."

Yao Huang: "Common folks don't have so many rules."

Prince Hui finally looked directly at his wife: "You are now a prin..."

Yao Huang nervously covered his mouth, looked around, and scolded him: "Be careful, don't let anyone hear."

Zhao Sui: "..."

Yao Huang withdrew her hand, considering his royal upbringing and the many rules, she softened: "Alright, I promise I won't stare at other men anymore, I'll only look at you."

As she spoke, her gaze wandered over Prince Hui's upper body, encased in his long robe.

Zhao Sui: "...Let's go back."

Yao Huang: "It's still early, since we're here, let's see what other shops are ahead."

Having resolved the little spat, Yao Huang continued to wheel Prince Hui forward. Passing by a nut shop, Yao Huang bought five pounds each of plain and spiced roasted melon seeds, packed in two small burlap bags.

The shopkeeper handed the bags to Yao Huang, who then stuffed both bags into Prince Hui's arms. Prince Hui could carry her, so ten pounds of seeds wouldn't tire him at all.

After wandering around for over half an hour, Yao Huang finally wheeled Prince Hui back to their new residence. It was still daylight, and before entering, Yao Huang waved to the group of women across the river.

Fei Quan, who came to open the door, pretended not to notice the two burlap bags in the prince's arms and quickly closed the gate.

Yao Huang, gripping the wheelchair, asked: "Did two children come to deliver the dog?"

Fei Quan: "They did. Liao... my father examined it thoroughly. Jinbao, right? Jinbao is free of lice and any other illnesses, just a bit undersized and hasn't been eating well, looks a bit thin and frail. My brother just gave it two baths and is drying it off in the west courtyard. Shall I bring it over now?"

Yao Huang: "Go on."

Fei Quan bowed slightly and looked at Prince Hui for instructions.

Prince Hui gave a silent nod.

Fei Quan then understood that the prince had no immediate needs requiring the princess's attention.

After Fei Quan left, Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui to the backyard. She always kept a basin of clean water and a pot of water in her room. She dampened a towel, walked to Prince Hui's side, placed the two bags of melon seeds on the table, and then shook the towel in her hand: "Would you like to wipe yourself, or should I help?"

The river water only looked clear, definitely not as clean as well water. Whether it was Prince Hui's face or his hands from pushing the wheelchair, they needed to be wiped again.

Zhao Sui took the towel and waited for Yao Huang to turn away before wiping his face.

Yao Huang went out to hang the towel to dry, and when she returned, Prince Hui had already finished.

Yao Huang poured water for both of them, then sat beside him, grabbing a small handful of melon seeds from the sack. Following Prince Hui's example, she peeled them by hand. After peeling one, she handed the kernel to his lips: "You peeled so many for me earlier, now it's my turn to feed you."

Zhao Sui: "I didn’t peel them just for you; I rarely eat snacks like these."

Yao Huang: "Is it about dignity, or do you just not like them?"

Men have so many worries; even sitting on a cushion seems like a big deal. Perhaps they also fear that eating snacks would be criticized as improper?

Zhao Sui remained silent.

Yao Huang understood, smiling as she placed the melon seed kernel between Prince Hui's lightly pursed lips. Zhao Sui had to open his mouth, and when Yao Huang handed it over again, he took it with his hand.

After feeding several in a row, Fei Quan and A Ji arrived together. Whether the prince stayed in the backyard or not, A Ji would always keep watch for the princess in the west room.

Fei Quan held Jinbao, bathed by Qing Ai, the prince’s personal eunuch. The timid puppy cowered in Fei Quan's arms, except for turning its watery black eyes to observe the surroundings, it dared not move at all.

Yao Huang took Jinbao, and Fei Quan and A Ji retreated.

In Yao Huang's arms, Jinbao still didn’t move.

Yao Huang stroked its furry head while laughing at it: "Why so timid? I tell you, I’m the luckiest daughter of a minor official, and you’re the luckiest ordinary puppy. When you meet Second Master, you just need to enjoy good food and drink. No matter how well your siblings live, they’ll never have it as good as you."

Jinbao didn’t understand but felt the gentleness of Yao Huang’s touch, more comforting than the original little owners' strokes.

Prince Hui quietly watched from the side.

Yao Huang felt Jinbao’s round, full belly, clearly indicating it had eaten well at Madam Gao's place.

After enjoying herself for a while, Yao Huang asked Prince Hui: "Would you like to hold him? Qing Ai washed him very clean; he smells of soap pods."

Zhao Sui: "No need."

Yao Huang teased: "Are you really scared of dogs?"

Zhao Sui looked at Jinbao and suddenly called: "Yellow."

Jinbao perked up, clearly recognizing its old name.

Yao Huang: "..."

She shot Prince Hui a look: "If you tease me like this again, I’ll stop talking to you."

Zhao Sui: "You’re the one who started it."

Yao Huang: "But I didn’t give you a nickname. Since childhood, only those few children in the alley who annoyed me would call me Yellow, Huang Huang, Ah Huang. Do you want me to get mad at you?"

Zhao Sui did not answer the question, only reached out to pat Jinbao’s head, saying to the puppy, "It is indeed your fortune to have the princess consort bestow a name upon you."

Yao Huang gave him a slightly annoyed look, understanding his indirectness.

As the light outside faded, Zhao Sui still needed a massage and a bath, so he called Fei Quan to push him to the front courtyard. Before leaving, Prince Hui glanced at Jinbao in the princess consort’s arms and said, "Have A Ji take Jinbao to the west wing and bring it back tomorrow morning."

In Prince Hui’s eyes, cats and dogs were only brought over by their masters for amusement when they were in the mood; otherwise, the servants took care of them.

Yao Huang laughed, "No need, let it sleep in my room, it’ll keep me company."

Zhao Sui glanced at the princess consort a few more times, wondering if she was hinting at something.

However, the princess consort was still petting Jinbao, her eyes full of affection, not at all like someone using a dog to express emotions.

After Prince Hui left, Yao Huang finished her evening routine and had A Ji fetch a small basket from the west wing. She lined the basket with dry straw for kindling, firmly packed it to serve as Jinbao’s bed, and placed it by her bedside.

Jinbao was the runt of the litter, always bullied by the other four since birth, only getting scraps when it came to milk and food, which made it timid and fearful. During the day, it was somewhat better, but tonight, suddenly moved to an unfamiliar place, it woke up during the night and couldn’t find the big dog that always slept with it, so the little one let out a soft, whimpering cry.

Yao Huang was sleeping soundly, and it took seven or eight cries from Jinbao to wake her. Half-asleep, she leaned over the bed, reaching a hand into the dog bed, stroking it and half-heartedly soothing it, "Alright, alright, stop crying."

Jinbao, settled in the bed, felt the warmth of that hand and indeed stopped crying.

At that moment, A Ji pushed the door open from outside, peeking in and asking, "Madam, is everything alright?"

Yao Huang held down Jinbao, who was trying to get up again, and mumbled, "It’s fine, Jinbao is just homesick and whimpered a few times. Go back to sleep, no need to come over if you hear it cry again."

A Ji said, "Should I take it with me? Don’t let it bother you."

Yao Huang replied, "No need, go to sleep."

A Ji wanted to sleep, but just as she reached the door of the west room, she heard someone knocking on the corridor door. A Ji hurried over and, through the door, heard Fei Quan whisper, "What’s wrong with the madam?" Perhaps a snake or a mouse had gotten in and startled her?

A Ji explained the situation.

Fei Quan was relieved and went to report back to the prince.

In Zhao Sui’s mind, the image of the princess consort, clearly very sleepy, still trying to soothe a puppy, came to him, especially since she was also on her period.

When Prince Hui was woken by the faint sound of a puppy’s cry from the backyard for the second time, he called Fei Quan and asked, "What time is it?"

Fei Quan checked the hourglass and said, "Just past midnight."

Zhao Sui said, "Light a lamp."

A Ji knew the princess consort loved dogs. She had kept one as a child for a full seven or eight years. Later, when the dog fell ill and died, the princess consort cried so bitterly that her parents took her to Wangxian Tower for a feast to cheer her up. That’s why the princess consort insisted on keeping Jinbao with her to sleep, and A Ji didn’t try to take over.

Jinbao didn’t cry for long, and A Ji was almost asleep again when she suddenly heard Fei Quan’s voice outside the window, telling her to open the door.

A Ji was startled awake. There were only two keys to the small door, one in the front courtyard and one in the back. At night, only the prince could use the key when he came over.

Quickly getting dressed, A Ji opened the door as quickly as she could.

In the faint moonlight, there was indeed a wheelchair outside the door.

A Ji lowered her head and stepped aside.

Fei Quan pushed the prince into the east room in the dark.

Yao Huang first felt Jinbao’s restless movements before realizing someone had entered, the unmistakable sound of the wheelchair rolling—it was the prince.

Yao Huang didn't want to move and continued to soothe Jinbao, asking, "Why has Prince Hui come? I’m fine here."

Zhao Sui: "It’s bothering me. Let Fei Quan take Jinbao to the west courtyard."

Yao Huang didn’t mind the inconvenience but couldn't delay the prince's rest, so she had to watch as Fei Quan carried the dog bed away.

Late at night, since Prince Hui had come to the backyard, naturally, he wouldn't return.

Yao Huang pushed the wheelchair to the bedside, and Prince Hui hoisted himself up.

Yao Huang habitually leaned into his arms, muttering, "You’ve got sharp ears, I thought you wouldn't hear it."

Zhao Sui patted her hand: "Sleep."

Perhaps because she had been petting Jinbao for too long, Yao Huang, half-asleep, held the prince for a while and then went on to feel his chest. Under the thin silk robe was a noticeable muscle bulge, not as exaggerated as the blacksmith's in the shop, but solid enough that it could be slightly pressed down with some force.

Prince Hui, who was being touched: "...Not sleepy?"

Yao Huang, now wide awake from her touching, quickly turned away.