Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Two days later, word spread among the palace concubines and some officials' households that the Emperor had ordered the Armory Workshop to craft a new wheelchair for Prince Hui.

Consort Xian told Prince Kang, who had come to greet her, "Previously, Prince Hui kept to himself, and as his elder brother, it was not appropriate for you to disturb him. Now that Prince Hui is becoming more cheerful, if you have some free time, you could visit Prince Hui's residence to play chess and discuss official duties with him. There's no need to go too frequently; once a month is enough to maintain brotherly affection. Going too often might seem deliberate."

Prince Kang replied, "That's fine for me, but I'm afraid he might not want to see me."

Since childhood, his second brother had been a bookworm, only appearing at the academy, palace banquets, or when summoned by the Emperor. Even though they were brothers, Prince Kang felt he and his second brother weren't close at all. If he didn't start a conversation, his second brother might never say more than a few words to him.

If his second brother hated him, Prince Kang could simply act as if he didn't have this brother. But his second brother harbored no resentment towards him; he was just a loner. So, when the Emperor praised his second brother, Prince Kang didn't feel any jealousy. After his second brother lost the use of his legs, Prince Kang felt even more compassion for him. Helping his second brother with his wheelchair wasn't just to impress the Emperor.

Consort Xian said, "You build affection by spending time together. As long as you are sincere, Prince Hui will surely feel it."

Prince Kang understood.

Consort Xian looked at her son's honest but somewhat lacking in political savvy face and sighed silently in her heart. With Prince Hui incapacitated, if her son had even half her cunning and the advantage of being the eldest son, would the Crown Prince position even be a contest?

Now that his military and literary skills, along with his looks and demeanor, were all worse than the third prince's, her son could only play the emotional card, hoping the Emperor would reward his kindness to his younger brothers with the throne.

At Consort Rou's place, the mother and son also mentioned Prince Hui.

Prince Qing said, "Second brother used to be very quiet, but this year he has made quite a splash."

First, the Emperor ordered wooden planks to be prepared at all palace gates to facilitate Prince Hui's wheelchair, and then he personally took officials from the Armory Workshop to Prince Hui's residence to prepare a new wheelchair.

Consort Rou smiled and said, "What happened to him on the battlefield made the Emperor feel both pain and guilt, so he could only try to make up for it in these small ways. Don't try to outshine him over this. Even if you're right, the Emperor would blame you just for standing tall while he's in a wheelchair."

Prince Qing replied, "Don't worry, mother, I'm not that foolish."

Consort Rou asked, "The day after tomorrow is your wedding day. How are the preparations at your residence?"

Prince Qing showed a genuinely happy smile and said, "Everything's ready, just waiting for my cousin to walk through the door."

Consort Rou said, "Look at you, so eager. Since you like Yuan Zhen so much, after she enters the household, you need to tone down your flirting. The late Emperor was diligent in governance, and your father was also devoted to state affairs in his youth. A ruler's indulgence in women is a weakness. You've finally become the most outstanding among the princes; you must not let a few women make your father dislike you."

Prince Qing said, "I know, mother. Please don't worry about these things, or you'll go gray."

On the 23rd of August, Prince Qing's wedding day took place.

The banquet at Prince Qing's place kicked off early in the morning. Among the guests were the royal family members Yao Huang was already familiar with, as well as Consort Shen's family—the Minister of Personnel, Minister Shen, and his family.

After arriving, Yao Huang separated from Prince Hui and joined the group of women, who also brought along unmarried girls and young boys.

Yao Huang thrived in such lively settings. Prince Hui was handsome and capable at night, but during the day, he was too quiet and not suitable for keeping her company. The wives of officials were different; Yao Huang enjoyed chatting with them about anything, and the best part was that few dared to offend her. When Yao Huang showed interest and asked a few more questions, they had to obligingly answer.

Breakfast was quickly finished. While Yao Huang was chatting with someone, A Ji came over and whispered in her ear, "Prince Hui has finished eating; we can leave now."

The banquet at Prince Qing's residence would last the entire day. There were guest rooms for male and female guests to rest, and the women could also stroll in the garden. However, some, like Prince Hui, would return to their own residences to rest after eating and come back before the noon and evening banquets.

Yao Huang also whispered, "Tell Fei Quan to let Prince Hui go back by himself. I've made plans to enjoy the flowers with someone."

A Ji noticed the sparkle in the Princess Consort's eyes and smiled as she retreated.

She relayed the message to Fei Quan, who then reported it to the prince.

Zhao Sui knew his wife's personality and wasn't concerned she'd face any trouble by staying.

Prince Kang, who was at the same table, saw that his second brother was leaving and helped push the wheelchair onto Prince Hui's carriage.

Zhao Sui: "..."

The Grand Princess and the Second Princess took Chen Ying to the residence of Grand Princess Fucheng's husband, the Marquis of Jining, to send off Zheng Yuanzhen. They stayed there for half the morning before coming to Prince Qing's residence.

By then, Yao Huang had already gotten to know Prince Kang's two concubines. When Chen Ying arrived, Yao Huang smiled as she introduced them to each other. Although the three had met in the palace before, they had always adhered to the rules and had no time to develop a private friendship.

Concubine Gu and Concubine Ruan, both in their early twenties, treated Chen Ying like a younger sister. Concubine Gu was particularly good at teasing: "While you're still Miss Chen, let us call you 'little sister' a few more times to take advantage. Once your good news with the eldest prince comes to pass, we'll have to treat you with the respect due to a princess when we meet again."

Chen Ying's cheeks turned red from their teasing.

The Second Princess snorted softly from a distance. Hearing this, the Grand Princess glanced at Chen Ying with a hint of sympathy.

After the selection process, her mother had specifically tested her, asking if she knew why the Virtuous Consort had chosen the daughter of a County Magistrate from a remote area as the eldest prince's new wife.

At first, the Grand Princess hadn't given it much thought, but after her mother's question, she reflected and soon understood.

The eldest prince's two concubines either came from high-ranking families or had extensive connections. Although the eldest prince's wife had passed away, she had left behind a young heir. With the young heir, the late wife's family, the Duke of Zhenguo, would continue to support the eldest prince. Instead of choosing a high official's daughter and risking the emperor's suspicion of ambition, the Virtuous Consort chose a new princess with no connections, ensuring she wouldn't threaten the young heir or the concubines, thus maintaining the status quo.

If the eldest prince stayed a prince, Chen Ying could at least keep her position as the primary wife. But if the eldest prince ever became emperor, would the two concubines really not compete?

Reflecting on this, the Grand Princess observed Princess Hui, who was chatting amiably yet diplomatically with the concubines, and concluded that she was the one among the three sisters-in-law who could live the most comfortably.

By dusk, Prince Qing had finally brought his princess back.

Yao Huang, holding Chen Ying's hand with her left and the Grand Princess's hand with her right, went to the front to watch the excitement. She scanned the male guests in the front courtyard but didn't see her own prince. Turning back to look at the main hall to the north, she finally spotted Prince Hui sitting solemnly at the head table. Their eyes met, and Yao Huang smiled at him before continuing to walk out.

Prince Qing, dressed in a grand red ceremonial robe, had a handsome face despite his annoying speech. When he led the bride down from the sedan chair, he smiled with the same foolish joy as a commoner's groom.

Seeing this, Yao Huang quietly asked the Grand Princess, "Did your second brother smile like this when he led me down from the sedan chair?"

The Grand Princess: "...We were waiting in the backyard and didn't go to the front to watch the ceremony."

Yao Huang: "...Then are you happy that I brought you here to watch the excitement today?"

The Grand Princess quickly glanced at the surrounding guests, her face turning red without saying a word.

The Second Princess stood behind the three, watching Yao Huang holding hands with Chen Ying and the Grand Princess, and gritted her teeth in anger. Yao Huang had left her out, making her seem so unlikable!

Prince Qing and his wife had already performed the wedding ceremony in the palace, so the couple could go directly to the nuptial chamber. Yao Huang and the others followed, watching Prince Qing gleefully lift the veil.

Prince Qing couldn't hide his joy, while the bride Zheng Yuanzhen was shy and reserved.

After Prince Qing left, Yao Huang, Chen Ying, the two princesses, and the Minister's wife and daughter-in-law would accompany the bride for the feast.

Yao Huang served Chen Ying several dishes, sympathizing with her long wait in the palace before her marriage. However, the princes' wedding gifts were too numerous and varied, and the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works needed time to prepare. Organizing a wedding every three to four months was already quite efficient.

The Second Princess, seeing their intimacy, deliberately asked, "Tonight we are here to accompany the third sister-in-law. Why is the second sister-in-law only serving Miss Chen?"

Yao Huang smiled and said, "Although we are here to accompany, the third sister-in-law is the true lady of the house here. Why would she need me to encourage her not to be shy? Third sister-in-law, don't you agree?"

Zheng Yuanzhen smiled.

After the feast, the newlyweds retired for their wedding night, and Yao Huang left with the Grand Princess and the others.

After waiting for a moment in the first courtyard of the residence, Prince Kang helped Prince Hui out. Besides taking care of his brother, he also had to escort his sister and fiancée back to the palace.

Yao Huang got into the carriage with Prince Hui. Once the door was closed and the curtain drawn, Yao Huang sniffed and only detected a faint scent of alcohol. It seemed the male guests didn't dare to force the prince in the wheelchair to drink.

Zhao Sui noticed the princess's rosy cheeks, a clear sign she had enjoyed the banquet.

"Ah, I truly envy my third sister-in-law," Yao Huang suddenly murmured with a hint of melancholy, casting a resentful glance at him.

Zhao Sui: "...Why?"

Yao Huang: "When Prince Qing brought her into his home and removed the veil, he smiled like a fool, obviously delighted with his bride. On the day you married me, you likely didn’t smile much, did you?"

Zhao Sui: "...I’m not used to showing my emotions."

Yao Huang: "So, you smiled inwardly?"

Prince Hui: "Prince Qing and his bride grew up together. We had only met once before we married, and at that time, I didn’t know what kind of person you were."

Yao Huang: "And now, if you were to remove the veil again, how would you smile?"

Zhao Sui lowered his gaze.

Yao Huang took out a handkerchief, held one corner to the top of her head, letting the rest of the handkerchief cover most of her face, and said, "Come on, lift it again."

Zhao Sui looked at the corner of her lips that the handkerchief couldn’t hide, at her cheeks dusted with rouge, paused, then took her wrist and pulled the veiled Yao Huang onto his lap.

Just as Yao Huang thought Prince Hui was finally going to lift the handkerchief, he leaned down and kissed the side of her neck with his cool lips.

Yao Huang’s hand loosened, and the handkerchief fluttered to the floor of the carriage with the jolts.

Forced to tilt her head back, Yao Huang clutched the collar at the back of his neck, biting her lip hard.

Prince Hui’s mansion was located to the west of the imperial city, while Prince Qing’s was to the east. The carriage rattled along for over three quarters of an hour before turning into the alley where Prince Hui’s mansion was located.

Yao Huang still leaned limply against Prince Hui’s shoulder.

Zhao Sui, holding Yao Huang with one hand and lifting the curtain with the other, whispered, "It’s time to get off."

Yao Huang: "I have no strength, I don’t want to move. Let them push me in together."

Zhao Sui: "..."

He insisted on helping Yao Huang to her feet, making sure her dress was properly arranged, before seating her in the side seat.