Chapter 86

Chapter 86

After returning from the palace to the prince's residence, Prince Hui went to the Bamboo Garden, while Yao Huang continued to train Jinbao in the Ming'an Hall.

Now Jinbao was quite skilled at jumping over the horizontal bar. They would wait until its body grew larger before raising the bar higher. Today, Yao Huang planned to train it in the skill of finding objects. She first let Jinbao sniff its favorite meat bone, then hid the plate containing the meat bone in the study at the backyard to see if Jinbao could find it.

Jinbao circled around Yao Huang, clearly thinking the meat bone was still on its owner.

Yao Huang sighed softly. Since coming to Prince Hui's residence, the little one had been eating more and more, living a life of ease, just like her, becoming lazy with its bones. If it were still the little puppy in Lingshan Town that couldn't get enough to eat, it would have surely followed the scent to find something to fill its belly.

With no other choice, Yao Huang took Jinbao to the study, where it finally noticed another place with a stronger scent of meat than on its owner, and joyfully went to search for it.

Yao Huang thought, take it slow, teach it a few more times, and Jinbao would understand she was testing it.

As noon drew near, Prince Hui arrived at the Ming'an Hall, and Yao Huang happily talked about Jinbao's little progress.

Zhao Sui glanced towards the door. Jinbao had already eaten earlier and was now lying by the door in a sunny spot, tilting its head and looking at them with its shiny black eyes, its golden fur becoming increasingly glossy and sleek under the princess's care.

Lunch concluded with the princess's lively chatter. Zhao Sui spent half an hour reading in the study, then after another half hour of massage and wiping, he went to the backyard to rest.

Yao Huang was already reclining on the bed, as the couple's rest time was often not just for resting. Yao Huang couldn't help but recall the new tricks from the previous night.

Before the wedding, Yao Huang had been concerned that Prince Hui's physical condition would depend entirely on her, but she hadn't expected that despite his crippled legs, he could rely on his strong arms...

Yao Huang counted on her fingers: if the tricks on the arhat bed and the large wheelchair counted as one, they had already made up a handful?

The sound of the wheelchair rolling in came from outside.

Yao Huang pulled up the blanket, blushing, and turned to face the wall.

After Qing Ai departed, Zhao Sui hoisted himself onto the bed, gazing at his legs dangling off the bed, he paused, then lifted each leg up.

Once settled, Zhao Sui took something from his robe and placed it on the pillow where the princess could see.

The pillowcases of the prince and princess were a matching set, today's set featuring a light golden base, the prince's embroidered with vine patterns, the princess's with a few more peony flowers.

Yao Huang first noticed Prince Hui's hand reaching over, then saw a green bracelet appearing on her pillow, even greener than the green bracelet she had given to Zheng Yuanzhen as a meeting gift, a rich and fresh green, as if Prince Hui's green pigments had been mixed into a thick liquid and then frozen into a shell, the deep green still flowing inside without shaking.

Yao Huang quickly sat up, carefully holding the green bracelet, admiring it immensely: "Your Highness, you actually have such a treasure?"

Zhao Sui saw surprise in the princess's eyes, and also a trace of suspicion, as if blaming him for knowing she liked jewelry but only now bringing out the treasure to give her.

Zhao Sui explained: "I picked it out at the jewelry store this morning."

The prince's residence indeed had various treasures previously awarded by his father, but at that time he wasn't married, so his father wouldn't award him jewelry for women.

Yao Huang was stunned, finally fixing all her gaze on Prince Hui's face: "Just this morning? Your Highness personally picked it out?"

Zhao Sui tacitly agreed. The princess had said, only what he personally picked out counted as a gift.

Yao Huang understood. Prince Hui was afraid she would regret giving away the bracelet, so he specially compensated her with a better one. It should be better, right?

"How much is this bracelet?" Yao Huang asked casually while putting the green bracelet on her wrist.

After a moment of reserved silence without hearing Prince Hui's answer, Yao Huang looked up, observing Prince Hui's expression and guessed: "Three hundred taels?"

She didn't believe Prince Hui would give her something cheaper than what she gave Zheng Yuanzhen.

Prince Hui looked away, his lips still tightly sealed.

Yao Huang leaned in close to him, asking directly: "More? Two hundred taels?"

Zhao Sui lowered his eyes and said, "The bracelet weighs two taels, priced at one thousand taels, plus an additional one hundred taels for the craftsmanship."

Yao Huang: "..."

After recovering from her shock, Yao Huang quickly sat up straight, carefully removed the bracelet, and placed it on the soft pillow. She knelt with her knees together, lowered her head, examining it repeatedly, and worried: "Is it really worth this price? Could the shopkeeper have overcharged the prince, knowing he wouldn't bargain?"

Zhao Sui: "...This is the finest emerald, currently priced at fifty taels per qian (a traditional Chinese unit of weight). It's from a reputable old shop in the capital, fair to all, regardless of age."

The capital is full of nobles, and Prince Hui was fortunate to find this newly arrived bracelet; otherwise, he might not have been able to buy it even with money.

Prince Hui was so generous with her, Yao Huang was both happy and worried: "It's so precious, I wouldn't dare wear it outside. If it got scratched or damaged, I'd be heartbroken."

Zhao Sui: "You can wear it just for banquets, and switch to other bracelets when you're out and about."

He picked up the bracelet and put it back on the princess's wrist. The vibrant emerald bracelet made the princess's wrist look as white and smooth as jade, even more so than frost or snow.

Prince Hui was momentarily captivated, forgetting to release the princess's hand.

After admiring her hand adorned with the green bracelet, Yao Huang realized Prince Hui wasn't looking at the bracelet but at her. Her face flushed, and she nestled into his arms.

Now that Prince Hui no longer resisted going out, Yao Huang decided to take him for a good tour around the outskirts of the capital.

There are also beautiful landscapes in the capital, not just the bustling four main commercial streets. After touring one day and resting the next, it was already the end of August in the blink of an eye.

Early that morning, Yao Huang suggested: "Prince, how about we ride horses to the outskirts to enjoy the autumn scenery today?"

Riding in a carriage has its conveniences, but riding horses offers joy and freedom.

Zhao Sui instinctively avoided the princess's bright eyes. After getting used to traveling in a wheelchair, riding a horse might seem like he was trying to hide his condition.

However, this concern was fleeting. Whether in a wheelchair or on horseback, it was his own business, unrelated to others.

"Alright."

Yao Huang, of course, had other arrangements in mind: "We'll ride horses, with two carriages following behind, carrying pastries and tea, so we can roam outside all day."

Zhao Sui nodded.

After giving instructions before the meal, everything including the horses and carriages was ready after the meal. Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui to the first courtyard of the prince's residence. The accompanying plainclothes guards were waiting outside, and only the prince, princess, Qing Ai, Fei Quan, and the obediently waiting Prince Hui's mount, Startling Mist, were on this side of the screen wall.

Yao Huang let go of the wheelchair and said to Prince Hui: "I'll go check if we've forgotten anything in the carriage!"

Zhao Sui watched as the princess briskly walked around the screen wall and exited the main gate of the prince's residence.

After several months of marriage, Zhao Sui had already felt the princess's considerate care for his dignity, just as she would not turn around abruptly when he was putting on or taking off his pants, and just as she did not stay to watch when Qing Ai and Fei Quan assisted him onto the horse.

Qing Ai carried the prince to the side of the lying Startling Mist, and Fei Quan helped lift the prince's legs to straddle the horse.

Once seated, Startling Mist stood up.

Qing Ai and Fei Quan then helped the prince adjust the small mechanism connecting the riding boots to the stirrups, ensuring that even slight bumps would not cause the prince's feet to slip from the stirrups, making it look as if he was riding like a normal person. This was an improvement made by the craftsmen in the residence when the prince decided to personally go to Longevity Lane to welcome his bride.

Ordinary horses are easily startled, but Startling Mist is a warhorse that has accompanied the prince through life and death on the battlefield. Even if it meant getting injured itself, it would protect its master on its back.

Zhao Sui stroked Startling Mist's mane, gently tugged the reins, and Startling Mist walked outward.

Outside the prince's residence, Yao Huang had just mounted her horse. Seeing Prince Hui riding out, Yao Huang smiled and urged her horse forward to ride alongside him.

Given that Startling Mist and Ni Guang were clearly magnificent steeds, today, the couple no longer deliberately wore plain clothes. As they rode to the south city gate to join the queue for exiting the city, some nearby citizens curiously glanced over. Yao Huang, wearing a dust-proof veil hat, was not clearly visible to the crowd, but the man who looked like a celestial being...

"Is that Prince Hui? I saw him from a distance a few years ago when he went on an expedition."

"Ah, isn't Prince Hui... Is it really safe for him to ride a horse? I'm afraid he might suddenly fall off..."

The speaker's voice was not loud, but those nearby heard it, and the word spread like ripples. Amidst the buzzing discussions, the name "Prince Hui" became distinct.

Zhao Sui had anticipated this. In Lingshan Town, no one recognized him, but in the capital, apart from the civil and military officials and imperial relatives he might encounter, the citizens had seen him twice: when he led troops on expeditions and when he went to marry his princess. There were always those with good memories.

Suddenly, the princess edged closer to him, and even through a layer of veil, Zhao Sui could feel her scrutiny.

Zhao Sui slightly tightened the reins, then heard the princess say, "Handsome men invite trouble. Should I prepare a veil hat for you the next time we go out?"

Zhao Sui: "..."

Looking at the white veil that the autumn breeze gently brushed against the princess's cheeks, Zhao Sui couldn't imagine himself shrouded in a white veil and had no desire to try.

Yao Huang: "Don't like the white veil? Then let Chun Yan make you a black veil."

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

Yao Huang turned around and noticed that the line had started to move.

When it was their turn to be checked by the city guards, Yao Huang presented the prince's waist token she had prepared in advance.

The guard's expression changed dramatically, and he immediately knelt down with several other guards behind him towards Prince Hui on the horse: "Your humble servant pays his respects to the prince!"

Zhao Sui calmly said, "Rise and continue your duties."

After speaking, he left the city with the princess.

Yao Huang turned her head and saw that the nearby citizens and merchants, who had quietly speculated about Prince Hui's identity, all looked stunned.

Yao Huang smiled; she had done it on purpose, deliberately showcasing Prince Hui's identity, deliberately making the guards or citizens get used to the fact that Prince Hui would often leave the palace. Once they were used to it, no one would make a fuss when Prince Hui appeared again.

Retracting her gaze, Yao Huang kissed the waist token through the white veil before tucking it into the saddle bag.

The sky was blue and cloudless, and the sun was not yet high.

Yao Huang hung the white veil from the front of her hat on the brim and asked Prince Hui, who had been watching her, "Would you like to try a slow trot?"

Zhao Sui did not answer directly: "You go first."

Yao Huang glanced at Startling Mist and urged Ni Guang to go ahead.

She did not look back, but soon the sound of horse hooves followed. Shortly after, Startling Mist, like a wisp of black mist from Prince Hui's brush, passed by her peripheral vision, moving forward at the normal speed of a horse, with Prince Hui's back on the horse steady and relaxed, showing no strain.

Yao Huang confidently followed.

Ahead was a straight official road bathed in bright autumn sunlight, stretching far beyond sight.