Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Noticing that her daughter’s bond with Prince Hui had deepened since their initial return home, and the prince appeared less distant and more approachable, Luo Jinhua didn’t bother hiding her husband’s wine jar under her skirt during lunch.

Yao Zhenhu was thrilled. After finishing the first bowl, he picked up the wine jar and poured a second bowl for his son-in-law, Prince Hui, before serving himself and his son.

By then, Yao Zhenhu had already loosened up, chatting about the East Camp’s preparations for next month’s imperial military review while drinking.

The Great Qi Dynasty had stood for over a century, and Emperor Yongchang was the eleventh emperor.

The founding emperor had secured the empire through military might, using his powerful army to bring neighboring states to heel. The next two emperors inherited his strategic wisdom and martial skills, ushering in a golden age for the Great Qi Dynasty. However, as the moon waxes and wanes, so do dynasties. Due to various reasons, the subsequent emperors of the Great Qi Dynasty were less capable than their predecessors. As one waned, others waxed, and neighboring states gradually provoked conflicts of varying scales. By the time the throne passed to the late emperor, the Great Qi Dynasty was already in shambles.

The late emperor toiled relentlessly, dedicating twenty years to reforming the bureaucracy and strengthening the military, making modest strides before passing away in his early forties. Emperor Yongchang, carrying on his father’s legacy, employed capable ministers to improve the people’s livelihood and skilled generals to train and defend the borders. It wasn’t until last summer, when he dealt a decisive blow to the U country’s cavalry that had repeatedly invaded the north, that the Great Qi Dynasty restored the prestige it had enjoyed under the founding emperor.

The elite troops of the Great Qi Dynasty today owe their strength to the annual minor reviews and triennial grand reviews.

The minor reviews are conducted by imperial envoys and regional commanders, while the grand review is personally overseen by Emperor Yongchang. From the rosters submitted by twenty regional commanders, ten thousand soldiers are drawn at random from each, amassing a total of two hundred thousand troops for the grand review at the North Garden. The top three regional commanders are honored, while the bottom-ranked ones face demotion.

Additionally, because of their proximity to the capital, Emperor Yongchang personally reviews the four major camps in the suburbs every year.

With just a month to go, training in the four major camps has grown increasingly grueling. The emperor has placed pressure on the four regional commanders, who in turn distribute the pressure to the camp commanders, battalion commanders, and company commanders. Yao Zhenhu, tasked with training over a hundred soldiers under his command, had stayed in the camp for seven consecutive nights and only returned home today because his daughter and son-in-law were coming to deliver gifts.

Yao Zhenhu: "I’m holding up fine. The soldiers under me are all common folk, and they train hard because they fear losing their military pay. But many of the young masters who pulled strings can’t handle the grind. Their superiors’ orders go in one ear and out the other. If they’re not kept in line, they could drag everyone down during the review. It’s a headache dealing with them."

After saying this, Yao Zhenhu took a big gulp from his bowl.

Luo Jinhua knew her husband was just blowing off steam, but she feared that Prince Hui might think he wanted to make life difficult for some young master. She said, "You don’t have such soldiers under you. How do you know they all got in through connections? Maybe they passed the exams legitimately but are envied by ordinary soldiers who spread rumors about them."

Those who can pull strings usually have connections, possibly even involving imperial relatives. If her son-in-law, who might not tolerate such behavior, asked her husband to provide a list of names and then reported it to the emperor, the emperor might punish them. But if the imperial relatives suffered losses, would they let it go? Unable to confront the prince, they might resort to countless ways to make her husband suffer without recourse.

Yao Zhenhu put down his wine bowl and said to his wife, "Legitimate, my foot..."

Luo Jinhua swiftly picked up a piece of spare rib and stuffed it into her husband’s mouth: "Eat. I hate hearing this kind of gossip."

Yao Zhenhu: "..."

Nonsense! His wife clearly loved hearing about the happenings in the military camp!

Yao Huang saw the grievance in her father’s eyes. She also knew he was telling the truth. For instance, one of Li Tingwang’s maternal cousins had entered the East Camp through his father, Battalion Commander Li’s connections. Yao Huang had met that cousin. He was about her height, round and chubby. Although he had slimmed down after being trained by Battalion Commander Li, without that connection, he would never have met the strict selection criteria for the four major capital camps.

Battalion Commander Li still cared about appearances, requiring his relatives to train alongside ordinary soldiers under the sun and rain. But for those with higher-ranking officials, they simply wanted their unremarkable nephews to get a minor position in the military and collect a salary. What could others do about it?

Of course, this was an old practice in officialdom. Yao Zhenhu couldn’t interfere, and Yao Huang didn’t need to worry about it either.

She didn’t want these matters to ruin Prince Hui’s appetite, so she calmly served him some food: "We didn’t hire a chef from a restaurant this time. It’s all cooked by A Ji’s mother. See if it suits your taste."

Zhao Sui tasted it and found it a bit salty, but he didn’t show it.

As for the issue of nobles and high-ranking officials placing their people in the military, Zhao Sui was well aware of it, including his father, who had always placed great importance on military strength.

However, this matter involved too many people, and it was difficult to achieve significant results by addressing it. The best they could do was punish a few obvious incompetents as a warning, reminding those who truly wanted to freeload to at least develop the physique and combat skills expected of a soldier. They also needed to carefully verify the promotions of military officers to prevent such individuals from claiming others’ military achievements.

After drinking two bowls of wine, Yao Zhenhu wanted to pour a third for his son-in-law, but Yao Huang glared at him.

Yao Zhenhu reluctantly put down the wine jar.

On the way back to the palace, Yao Huang said to Prince Hui, who was resting with his eyes closed, "My father is even more outspoken than I am. He talks about everything. Next time, if you don’t want to listen, just give me a look, and I’ll shut him up. As for drinking, you don’t have to force yourself either."

Zhao Sui looked at his consort and explained, "I’ve been used to quietness, but I find my father-in-law’s conversation quite humorous and interesting."

Yao Huang: "..."

The tenth was the day Prince Hui was supposed to spend in the inner courtyard. Due to yesterday's "punishment" and the late return today, Yao Huang thought the "afternoon rest" was exempted. She expected Prince Hui to be intense tonight, but to her surprise, he only hugged her from behind once, with a gentle and controlled touch.

It felt like he had become a different person, and Yao Huang wasn't quite used to it. She asked with some concern, "Is Your Highness alright?"

She was worried that her bold words earlier, urging him to hurry, might have affected him, or that something at her parents' house had dampened his mood.

Zhao Sui: "My grandfather's house is outside the city, and we need to get up early tomorrow."

Yao Huang breathed a sigh of relief: "You scared me! I thought Your Highness..."

Zhao Sui: "Thought what?"

Yao Huang smiled and leaned close to his ear, whispering, "I thought Your Highness was upset by my words that day and would always be so polite to me from now on."

Although it was tough when he was intense, Yao Huang actually liked the version of Prince Hui who completely threw off the rules and treated her like an ordinary, unrestrained man. Only then did she feel that they were equals, not a prince and the daughter of a military officer, but just a man and a woman. He could be intense, and she could scold him.

Zhao Sui was reminded by his consort of the memory from the day before yesterday. She was his consort, yet she suddenly called out, making it seem like he was forcing her.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Sui pulled his consort back as she moved to the bedside to fetch a wet towel.

From Prince Hui's residence to the southern city gate was about ten miles, and from the gate to the town where the Luo family lived was another sixteen or seventeen miles. At a normal pace, the carriage ride would take over an hour.

The couple set off just after dawn, but there were three carriages parked outside the residence—one for the festival gifts, and an extra carriage...

After boarding the carriage, Zhao Sui explained to his consort, "On the return trip, we'll take separate carriages."

With the experience of going to and from Lingshan, Yao Huang understood. The journey from departure to return was too long, and Prince Hui needed a separate carriage for personal needs. Yao Huang didn't have this issue; she could handle it at her grandfather's house.

Her face slightly flushed, Yao Huang picked up a book from the small cabinet beside her and found it was actually a travelogue about mountains and rivers.

Yao Huang asked curiously, "Has Your Highness finished reading all those Buddhist texts?"

Zhao Sui: "Not yet. I got bored with them, so I set them aside for a while. It helps with understanding."

Yao Huang: "I understand. When I was practicing the spear and hit a plateau, I switched to the sword. When I got tired of the sword, I went back to the spear. The newer it feels, the easier it is to pick up the techniques."

Zhao Sui was surprised: "You practice martial arts?"

Yao Huang: "Yes, I even practiced once in the residence, using Your Highness's old spear. Didn't Guo Shu tell you?"

Zhao Sui remained silent.

He had already given instructions that after the consort entered the residence, all matters, big or small, were to be left to her discretion. Unless necessary, Eunuch Cao, Nanny Liu, and Guo Shu did not need to report the consort's words and actions to him.

Yao Huang realized and was quite pleased: "So Your Highness truly entrusted the entire residence to me. I thought Guo Shu had your permission before giving me the spear."

Some husbands claim to let their wives manage the household, but the wives still have to follow the husband's lead. Prince Hui was different; he really didn't want to control her!

Zhao Sui: "...When we return to the residence this evening, I'll watch your spear technique."

Yao Huang modestly said, "Showing off in front of the maids is one thing, but performing the spear in front of Your Highness would be like teaching a fish to swim."

Zhao Sui: "...Just don't hurt me."

He was in a wheelchair and couldn't dodge easily.

The modest consort immediately bristled, glaring at the prince, "I'm not that clumsy; don't underestimate me!"

To prove her skills, Yao Huang first took the wooden spears her cousins usually practiced with and demonstrated her spear skills to Prince Hui at her grandfather's house.

The Luo family’s courtyard was exceptionally spacious, with a persimmon tree planted on each side of the east and west walls, leaving a large open area in the middle.

Her grandparents, uncles, and aunts were puzzled by their heroic girl's sudden display, but seeing Prince Hui in his wheelchair watching intently and eventually praising the princess, the whole family felt relieved: as long as the prince and princess were getting along, everything was fine!

Since her grandfather's family was very reserved, Prince Hui and his wife left shortly after the meal. Not far out of town, Prince Hui sent Fei Quan to invite the princess to his carriage.

The sky was as blue as if it had been washed, and a refreshing autumn breeze passed through the carriage window where the curtain was lifted, leaving only the subtle, elegant scent of Prince Hui's waist sachet in the carriage.

Yao Huang deftly removed the sachet and hung it on her own waist.

Once seated, Zhao Sui pointed to the low hills north of town and asked, "Is there a river at the foot of the mountain?"

Yao Huang replied, "Yes, that's the river where my brothers used to dive when they were kids. The deep parts can be up to twenty feet, and the shallow parts are just ankle-deep."

Zhao Sui said, "We don't often get out of the city, let's take a stroll over there."

Yao Huang was surprised, but seeing Prince Hui by the window, his handsome face more radiant than in the study or bedroom, she smiled and said, "Sure, I'll show you how to skip stones."