Chapter 165

Chapter 165

Between the Bamboo Demon and the Crown Prince disturbing her, Yao Huang could have slept until nearly noon if she’d had her way. However, the Crown Prince, who was on leave, woke her at 8 a.m.

Yao Huang, who had tried and failed to hide several times, peeked out from under the blankets and shot a resentful glare at the Crown Prince by the heated kang. "Your Highness is so full of energy—why not go to the bamboo grove to deal with the Bamboo Demon instead of disturbing my sweet dreams?"

The Crown Prince wore a composed look, as if he neither understood nor cared to entertain her rambling, and simply explained, "The day before yesterday, I sent a formal note to your mother, stating that I would accompany you back home today. I also asked her to invite your grandfather’s family over for a small gathering. They should already be waiting by now."

Only then did Yao Huang notice that the Crown Prince was wearing a jade crown—usually, when resting at the residence, he only tied his hair with a jade hairpin.

Her resentment turned to delight, and she wriggled out from under the blankets to hug him.

Zhao Sui promptly stopped her at the edge of the kang, glancing at her bare feet dangling below, and reminded her, "The carriage is ready. Hurry and get dressed."

Yao Huang stretched out her right foot to rub against the Crown Prince’s leg.

The Crown Prince quickly wheeled away.

By the time Yao Huang was ready, A Ji had brought her breakfast. Sitting at the stone table in the bamboo courtyard, listening to the crisp chirping of birds outside and watching the handsome Crown Prince beside her, who held a book while keeping her company during the meal, she finally saw the charm of its quiet beauty.

As she pushed the Crown Prince’s wheelchair to leave, Yao Huang whispered, "We’ll move to the palace on the 28th—that means we still have eight nights left at the princely residence. Why not stay a few more nights in the bamboo courtyard when Your Highness doesn’t have court sessions?"

The Crown Prince kept his gaze ahead, ignoring her. Yao Huang was about to blow on the top of his head when she noticed his earlobes had turned red.

Yao Huang: "...I just like the peacefulness here. Your Highness, don’t misunderstand."

The Crown Prince remained silent.

Yao Huang grumbled, "Fine, even if Your Highness invites me, I won’t come anymore. Innocent people don’t need to explain themselves."

As the Crown Prince watched the bamboo grove gradually recede on either side, he very much wanted to tell the Crown Princess that while the bamboo grove stayed in one place, the Bamboo Demon was not confined to the bamboo courtyard.

The Yao family’s new residence was nearby, so the Crown Prince and his wife, along with Yun Er, arrived quickly.

As expected, the Yao and Luo families were already waiting, and the Crown Prince spared them the formal kneeling greeting.

Zhao Sui had arranged this trip so the Crown Princess could have one last good visit with her family before moving into the palace. He was there out of courtesy, but if he stayed the whole time, it would only make everyone uncomfortable. So, after chatting with Yao Zhenhu and the others for about half an hour, Zhao Sui left first, agreeing to return at 3 p.m. to escort the Crown Princess back to the residence.

After the Crown Prince left, Li Fuwei also excused herself using the excuse of getting a gift for Yun Er. It wasn’t that she disliked her husband’s relatives—it was just that, apart from her husband Yao Lin, her mother-in-law Luo Jinhua, and the Crown Princess, the others acted just as stiff and deferential around her as they did around the Crown Prince.

Some relationships were better left as they were. Maintaining a respectful distance was often more comfortable for both sides.

After her daughter-in-law left, Luo Jinhua explained Li Fuwei’s goodwill to the grandfather, grandmother, and others.

Grandfather: "Why make a fuss? Even if she did look down on us, we wouldn’t care, as long as she and Lin Er are happy together."

The Duke of State Stabilization’s household—a first-rank noble family passed down since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty—was as lofty as the imperial family. Their daughters were as precious as princesses. His son-in-law and grandson were at least officials, while he, his wife, and their two sons and daughters-in-law were just farmers from a small town. They had already benefited greatly from their grandson’s marriage—how could they afford to be picky?

Besides, apart from holidays when their daughter and son-in-law invited them, they rarely visited the capital. The city might be wealthy, but it wasn’t as comfortable as their small town, where neighbors and friends all spoke the same rustic dialect, and no one judged anyone else.

The women all turned to look at Yao Lin.

Yao Lin: "...Why are you all looking at me? We’re doing just fine."

Many young couples in Longevity Lane quarreled, but he and Li Fuwei hardly spoke, so there was nothing to argue about. During the day, he was on duty, so he rarely saw her anyway. At night, once it was dark, they just went to sleep—no need for conversation.

Yao Lin knew he wasn’t eloquent, so he was happy with a wife who didn’t expect flowery words.

After briefly discussing whether Yao Lin and his wife got along, the conversation returned to Yao Huang, who was about to move into the palace.

They didn't need to worry about affairs within the palace, nor would they trouble the Crown Princess Consort with matters outside. They all assured her they would remain law-abiding, neither bullying others with their influence nor accepting favors from schemers that might cause trouble for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort.

Yao Huang was well aware of her family's character. Though they had the minor flaws common among ordinary folk, they were steadfast in their principles and would never covet ill-gotten gains. Moreover, with her mother and sister-in-law keeping an eye on things outside, any issues could be swiftly addressed.

Before the move, Yao Huang visited both the Grand Princess’s residence and Prince Kang’s mansion.

The Grand Princess was both delighted for her second brother and sister-in-law moving into the Eastern Palace and reluctant to part with the latter: "When I lived in the palace, I always felt it was inconvenient to visit you since you were outside. Now, just three months after I left the palace, before I’ve even had my fill of sightseeing around the capital with you, you’re about to move back in!"

Yao Huang: "Stop pretending to be pitiful. Do you think I don’t know how many gentlewomen and ladies visit your residence daily? All those noble acquaintances you made before leaving the palace—wherever you want to go, you’ll have a crowd following you. I’m more worried you’ll be too busy having fun with them to remember visiting Empress Dowager and me!"

The Grand Princess laughed: "They’re just for amusement. You’re my closest companion."

Yao Huang: "Say what you will. But the more noble acquaintances you know, the better—just remember to tell me all the latest tidings from their households."

As Crown Princess Consort, Yao Huang could still leave the palace, but not as freely as when she was a princess consort. So, she’d have to rely on friends and family to keep her updated on outside happenings.

The Grand Princess readily agreed.

At Prince Kang’s mansion, Chen Ying was eight months pregnant, with her due date estimated for early September.

Without family in the capital, Yao Huang—who had befriended her in the Palace of Selected Beauties—was practically her kin.

After sending the servants away, Chen Ying whispered intimately to Yao Huang: "Ever since His Majesty named the Second Prince as Crown Prince, seeing The Eldest Prince continue his duties cheerfully has set my mind at rest."

She had once assumed the heir would be chosen between Prince Kang and Prince Qing, so after marrying Prince Kang, she endured constant pressure. Grand Princess Fucheng and Consort Rou would often make barbed comments disguised as concern, while Consort Xian (a footnote explaining "Xian" means "Virtuous"), though gracious and gentle, still made her nervous—every glance seeming laden with meaning.

After Prince Qing’s downfall, Prince Kang seemed to have a chance, and Chen Ying’s anxiety shifted to whether she could ever be a worthy Crown Princess or future Empress.

When Emperor Yongchang named Prince Hui as Crown Prince, Chen Ying feared Prince Kang and Consort Xian might resent her in their profound disappointment. Fortunately, her husband, Prince Kang, was principled and broad-minded—not only accepting the Emperor’s decree wholeheartedly but even reassuring her not to envy Yao Huang’s new position...

Chen Ying wasn’t envious at all. She was happy for Yao Huang—and for herself. Having long relied on Yao Huang, she now took comfort in knowing Yao Huang would one day be Empress, ensuring stability just by her presence.

Yao Huang hugged her and smiled: "I’ll visit again after you give birth."

On the twenty-eighth of July, an auspicious day for moving, the Eastern Palace was furnished with all-new, higher-quality materials than the princely mansion. The move required only transferring treasured belongings and personal favorites, while the original Prince Hui’s mansion would remain the Crown Prince’s secondary residence, maintained by the same staff, including Chief Steward Guo Shu.

Eunuch Cao, Nanny Liu, Qing Ai, Fei Quan, and others originally from the palace would return with the Crown Prince. Yao Huang’s four senior maids and four junior maids would also be promoted to palace attendants of equivalent rank.

As for pets, Jinbao—now gelded—would move in. The stags in the deer park would stay, while the does and this April’s fawn would relocate to a new deer park designed by the Crown Prince himself.

On the twenty-seventh, Eunuch Cao and Nanny Liu led a group of servants to transport large items and the animals. By the twenty-eighth, the Crown Prince’s family went lightly—arriving to find the Eastern Palace immaculate, with fresh potted flowers adorning their chambers and halls.

The doors, windows, and pillars gleamed freshly lacquered, radiant under the sun, brightening the heart of all who saw them.

After touring the rooms, Yao Huang escorted Prince Hui to see the transformed eastern courtyard—now a deer park.

With buildings removed, the space felt expansive. Designed to mimic the transition between northern hills and grasslands, it featured a small hillock dotted with trees and a meadow bisected by a winding stone path.

Though the entire palace was walled in, the Eastern Palace’s open deer park brought Yao Huang unexpected joy.

She kissed the Crown Prince’s ear: "I love this place."

After admiring the two does, Yao Huang escorted the Crown Prince to the western garden.

Where the deer park offered openness, the garden thrived in secluded elegance. Packed with rockeries, ponds, rare plants, pavilions, and covered walkways, every step revealed a new vista. Yao Huang could already imagine playing hide-and-go-seek here with Yun Er in a few years—and how hard it would be to find him!

As they walked, a hidden clearing—about ten feet by six—emerged behind another rockery, invisible from afar, nestled between the rocks and a covered walkway.

Yao Huang stopped the wheelchair and asked curiously, "Darling, why is this spot empty? Haven't you decided what flowers to plant yet?"

Zhao Sui replied, "We could plant a couple of vegetable patches."

The Crown Princess didn’t enjoy hard farm labor, but she did like occasionally watering the vegetable patches and picking fresh greens during harvest.

Yao Huang was thrilled he remembered her little quirk but also a bit sheepish. "But this garden is so lovely—won’t vegetables ruin the look?"

It would be like the Crown Prince painting a masterpiece, only for her to add a clumsy, boring scribble across it.

Yao Huang was a down-to-earth woman, but she knew how to appreciate beauty and cherished beautiful things—she would never deface the Crown Prince’s paintings recklessly.

Zhao Sui lowered his gaze. "If it makes you happy, we can add even more patches."

Having lived in the palace for over a decade, he was accustomed to the small, single-courtyard homes of princes. Moving back into the palace after years away was no hardship for him.

But the Crown Princess was different—she loved strolling through gardens. Since the Eastern Palace had two spare side courtyards, Zhao Sui had them converted into gardens for her.

Since it was the Crown Princess’s garden, she could plant whatever she pleased.

Looking at this Crown Prince who played the Bamboo Demon to mess with her at night yet couldn’t even whisper sweet nothings by day, Yao Huang smiled, bent down, and kissed his ear again. "Wonderful. I love this place too."