Chapter 95

Chapter 95

On the tenth day, the craftsmen from Prince Hui's residence went to the Ministry of Works again to move in and arrange all the items Prince Hui needed. Once the work was completed, the office was ready for use.

The office had two locks. The key to the outer southern door was managed by Qing Ai, who would unlock it upon Prince Hui's arrival and lock it upon his departure. The key to the small door on the northern wall of the inner restroom was managed by Fei Quan. Prince Hui would use this door for washing or cleaning the chamber pot to avoid the officials in the south courtyard.

With these two locks, along with the personal service of Qing Ai and Fei Quan, it ensured that others could not peek into the private areas Prince Hui wished to keep from outsiders.

On the same morning, Prince Hui also entered the palace sitting in the newly made four-wheeled red sandalwood wheelchair with metal large wheels.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Zhao Sui will use the new wheelchair with metal large wheels for his movements both inside and outside the residence from now on. The old all-wooden wheelchairs were all stored in the prince's residence for backup. The three-wheeled wheelchair is suitable for indoor use, but the wicker chair lacked dignity and was reserved by Zhao Sui for private use in his residence. The red sandalwood one had already been transported to the office by the craftsmen to serve as Zhao Sui's official seat for handling business and receiving officials.

With Qing Ai pushing, Zhao Sui entered the palace via the West Gate. At this time, a fixed ramp had been installed at the center of the West Gate's high threshold, both inside and outside. The top of the ramp was level with the threshold and would not hinder the opening and closing of the palace gate.

The lightweight red sandalwood wheelchair, equipped with smooth, labor-saving metal large wheels, was expertly maneuvered by Qing Ai, resulting in only a slight pause when the wheelchair ascended and descended the ramp. Apart from that, there was no other inconvenience.

Master and servant thus navigated several official gates and ascended and descended various white marble steps, arriving effortlessly at the Qian Yuan Hall.

By mid-October, the incoming north wind had already turned cold. Emperor Yongchang was seated in the west warm chamber, where the floor heating had already been activated, observing Qing Ai and his son in the wheelchair enter alongside Eunuch Wang. He noted the redness in Qing Ai's eyes and the faint pink hue on his son's thin eyelids.

Emperor Yongchang suddenly averted his gaze, fearing his son might be moved to tears, which could also bring out his own.

With a wave of his hand, Emperor Yongchang dismissed Eunuch Wang and Qing Ai. He then rose and walked around to the rear of his son's wheelchair, carefully inspecting the two red sandalwood-colored metal large wheels dusted with a thin layer. He inquired with concern, "Is the new wheelchair comfortable to use?"

Zhao Sui turned his head respectfully to glance at his father's robe hem, saying, "It's comfortable to use, far more convenient and labor-saving than the wooden wheels. Regarding the thresholds and steps in the palace, I am at a loss for words to express my gratitude, Father."

Emperor Yongchang gently turned his son's head back, paused, and then smiled, "What's there to thank? Modifying a few thresholds costs little. I grant you brothers an annual salary of five thousand taels and spend tens of thousands on your dowries, yet none of you have come to thank me."

Before his son could reply, Emperor Yongchang wiped a finger on the metal large wheel of the wheelchair, looked at the dust on his fingertip, and shook his head, "What kind of job is the weapons workshop doing? This color of the large wheel looks good when clean, but it gets dirty as soon as it rolls on the ground. Better use the golden wheels with the red sandalwood chair body; that color is more dirt-resistant."

The red sandalwood-colored metal wheels are more lustrous than the red sandalwood wood but also more prone to showing dust.

"I'll have the treasury allocate a batch of red sandalwood for you. Use it as you should, don't be polite with me."

Zhao Sui: "...Thank you, Father."

Emperor Yongchang pushed his son to the chess table. Knowing that his son didn't like to talk, this time Emperor Yongchang had prepared the chessboard in advance.

Once the chess game started, neither father nor son mentioned the thresholds along the way again. Emperor Yongchang asked while looking at the chessboard, "Is the office ready?"

Zhao Sui: "Yes, the place you allocated to me is spacious, and I've divided it into inner and outer rooms."

Emperor Yongchang looked surprised, "That big? I only heard about it from Yan Lun; I haven't seen it myself, but since it's given to you, you can modify it as you like."

The father refused to admit, so Zhao Sui could only remain silent.

Emperor Yongchang: "Since it's ready, will you go there tomorrow, or stay a bit longer with your wife?"

Zhao Sui: "...I want to come tomorrow."

He had already been with his wife for half a year. Because he had too much free time, he had been diligent in marital affairs day and night, even earning a misunderstanding from his wife that he was a lustful prince. Starting work earlier would allow him to apply what he had learned and let his wife realize that he was not such a greedy prince.

Emperor Yongchang: "Alright, then come to the morning court tomorrow as well, including all future court meetings. Yan Lun and those old ministers in their sixties can get up; you're still young, no reason to sleep in."

The eldest and third sons have the right to attend court and listen to politics, so the second son should also have it.

As the father, he first established that the second son could attend court meetings. In the future, when the new emperor ascends the throne, he would continue to treat the second son as a normal prince.

Zhao Sui held the chess piece in his palm, glanced at his father's hand across the table, and said, "Father, I just want to focus on doing my job well at the Ministry of Works, the court meetings..."

Emperor Yongchang looked up and fixed his gaze on his son, saying, "Are you trying to shirk your duties? I’ve already prepared the steps in front of the grand hall for you, yet you refuse to come. Won’t the officials accuse me of squandering funds?"

Zhao Sui remained silent.

Emperor Yongchang continued, "The money is a minor concern. The court discussions are crucial for the governance, livelihood, and military defense of the entire Great Qi Dynasty. As a prince of the Great Qi Dynasty, how can you stay uninvolved? Let me be clear: you must attend court meetings while I reign, and you must continue to do so even after I am gone. I expect you to assist the new emperor, so he isn’t misled by his ministers and ruins the prosperous era my father and I built over two generations."

If his second son’s legs were not disabled, he would be the future emperor, and his brothers would have to follow his lead.

But since his second son’s legs were disabled and he was non-confrontational by nature, he posed no threat to the new emperor, who could confidently and boldly use his talents.

When it was time to pass the throne, Emperor Yongchang would advise the chosen new emperor to utilize his second son effectively. For now, he wanted to instill in his second son a sense of duty and unwavering loyalty to assist the new emperor, rather than fearing his brothers’ jealousy and hiding in the Ministry of Works as an unassuming prince who would let the new emperor go astray.

Emperor Yongchang fixed his imperial gaze on his son seated in the wheelchair.

Zhao Sui met his father’s gaze briefly, then lowered his eyes and said, "Father, rest assured. I have no intention of staying uninvolved."

He simply didn’t want to invite trouble by being too conspicuous, but when it came to matters of state, Zhao Sui would never hesitate to speak up.

After the chess game, Zhao Sui left the palace, politely declining his father’s lunch invitation.

Yao Huang came to the front courtyard to greet Prince Hui. Upon learning that Prince Hui would start his duties the next day and had to rise at the crack of dawn to attend the morning court, Yao Huang wasn’t sure whether to congratulate him for finally having responsibilities or to feel sorry for him having to leave his warm bed in the dark.

Whether it was the old rule of sharing the bed on the fifth and tenth days or Yao Huang’s new rule of sharing the bed on the third, sixth, and ninth days, the couple had never strictly followed these rules due to the princess’s assertiveness. Today was the tenth day, an awkward day when Prince Hui could either follow the old rule and sleep with the princess or follow the new rule and sleep alone in the front courtyard.

After dinner, Yao Huang considerately offered, "Since Your Highness has to rise early tomorrow, I won’t keep you tonight."

Sparing him the trip from the back courtyard to the front, Prince Hui could sleep a little longer.

Prince Hui, who wanted to clear his name of being "lustful," naturally agreed.

As the days grew shorter, Yao Huang returned to the back courtyard under the cover of night. After washing up, she told Chun Yan, who was on night duty, "Wake me at Yinshi tomorrow morning."

Yao Huang couldn’t wake up early every time Prince Hui went to court, but the first time was special, and she was willing to make the effort.

With the prince away and nothing to do in the dark, Yao Huang went to bed before Xu Shi.

Perhaps because she was preoccupied with seeing the prince off, Yao Huang woke up before Chun Yan came to call her the next day. Outside the window, it was pitch dark, with a chilly breeze blowing. Yao Huang didn’t comb her hair or dress up. She put on her outer robe, wrapped herself in a long cloak that reached her ankles, and pulled the hood tightly over her head, leaving only half her face exposed.

She sat on the couch by the window in the side room and sent Chun Yan to listen for any movement in the front. When Prince Hui finished washing and was about to leave, Yao Huang ran after him and managed to stop him before he left Ming An Hall.

Qing Ai pushed the wheelchair, while Fei Quan carried a lantern ahead. The areas beyond the lantern’s light remained shrouded in darkness.

As the princess approached, the trio could see her figure, completely covered from head to toe.

Qing Ai turned the wheelchair around.

Zhao Sui looked at the princess standing before him, listening to her slight panting, and asked, "Why did you get up?" He hadn’t expected her to see him off.

Yao Huang smiled and said, "To see you off, just this once. Don’t overthink it. I can’t get up every day to do this."

Zhao Sui remained silent.

With the morning court pressing, Yao Huang took over the wheelchair and pushed Prince Hui out. Qing Ai and Fei Quan walked alongside. The couple didn’t speak much, and in the dim light, only the sound of three pairs of footsteps and the faint noise of the red sandalwood wheelchair’s metal large wheels rolling over the stone path could be heard.

Master Deng was already working on the golden-thread nanmu wheelchair, but it wasn’t finished yet. The more exquisite the wheelchair, the more time it took.

Watching Prince Hui being helped into the carriage, Yao Huang looked up at him and smiled, then ran back into the palace before the carriage departed.

Zhao Sui could hear the princess’s footsteps, imagining her taking off her cloak and diving back into her warm bed. He called out, "Let’s go."

The Duan Gate of the imperial city had already opened, and civilian and military officials were gradually entering.

Prince Hui arrived at a moderate time. The lanterns held by the palace attendants cast a dim light, obscuring faces in the distance, but Prince Hui's wheelchair was the most conspicuous.

"Hail Prince Hui."

"You may rise."

Accompanied by several officials, Qing Ai pushed Prince Hui to the outside of the great hall, at the foot of the high white marble steps.

Prince Kang was invariably among the first officials to arrive. In the chilly dawn, the early-rising officials were drowsy, avoiding small talk.

Prince Kang stood at the forefront until a voice behind him hailed Prince Hui, prompting him to whirl around.

Upon seeing his younger brother, Prince Kang was both surprised and delighted. He strode over and skillfully took over the wheelchair from Qing Ai: "Wait outside. From now on, I will push your lord in and out during court meetings."

Qing Ai thought to himself, "Please ensure you do not leave our prince unattended after the court meeting."

A quarter of an hour before the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), all the officials had arrived. The palace attendants opened the main gate of the great hall, and the officials ascended the white marble steps in their court order.

On the left, Prince Kang pushed Prince Hui at the very front, with Prince Qing following closely behind.

Since the three princes had taken the ramp, the civilian officials behind them had no choice but to follow. Seeing this, the military officials on the right hurriedly changed their path to the ramp on the right.

The great hall was brightly lit, and it was only then that the officials in the front row truly got a clear view of Prince Hui's new wheelchair. The two Red Sandalwood metal large wheels, even with a layer of dust, still gleamed, much like the flawless profile of Prince Hui's jade-like face under the light.

In the early winter of the 30th year of Yongchang, the second son of the emperor, Prince Hui, who had been in seclusion for over a year due to his leg disability, once again ascended to the court.