Chapter 167

Chapter 167

The lamp remained lit as the Bamboo Demon pressed against the Crown Princess’s back. At this moment, if Yao Huang were to tilt her head slightly and glance backward, she would see the disabled legs her husband of three years had never shown her.

But her self-conscious husband believed his frail legs were unworthy of display, so he had always hidden them. Yao Huang would never disdain them, yet she respected his modesty and thus refrained from turning her head, burying her face instead in the disheveled strands of her hair, letting out soft whimpers.

Earlier, during the banquet, Yao Huang hadn’t been all empty praise when speaking to Emperor Yongchang. The prince’s residence was her and the Crown Prince’s domain, where they were in complete control and could indulge freely. The Eastern Palace, however, was part of the imperial palace—Emperor Yongchang’s territory. Though the Eastern Palace was far from the Qianyuan Hall, the palace walls between them were patrolled by guards at night. In the dead silence, what if one eagle-eyed guard truly overheard something?

Yao Huang remembered her days in Longevity Lane, especially in spring, when the midnight air was often filled with the mating calls of stray cats drifting through the windows.

Now, she and the Crown Prince had become two such cats.

“Why is it so quiet tonight?”

The Crown Prince, having transformed back from being the Bamboo Demon to his human form, lay beside her, pulling up the blanket and drawing the exhausted Crown Princess into his arms. He kissed her shoulder from behind.

Yao Huang weakly grasped the hand he had placed over hers. “Isn’t quiet good? Before, Your Highness always reminded me to keep my voice down.”

Zhao Sui didn’t respond. There was merit in unrestrained cries, just as there was in silence.

While the Crown Princess needed time to recover, Zhao Sui went to the bathing chamber to clean up. When he returned, he had changed into a fresh set of inner robes. Apart from a faint flush on his face, as if he had just bathed, his refined features showed no trace of having been the Bamboo Demon for nearly half an hour.

The Crown Princess remained in the same side-lying position as when he had left. Sitting in his wheelchair, Zhao Sui reached out and turned her toward him. Her eyes were closed, nearly asleep, a strand of hair clinging to her flushed cheek. From her forehead down, a faint sheen of sweat still lingered.

A bucket of warm water stood nearby. Zhao Sui dampened a cloth and gently wiped her down.

As he did, the Crown Princess’s face grew even redder. Her eyes fluttered open slightly, casting a languid glare at him.

Zhao Sui wondered how such a woman could exist—radiant as spring by day, yet soft and pliant as water by night.

The Crown Prince's family moved into the Eastern Palace on the 28th. The very next morning, they experienced the first benefit of their relocation.

Previously, when court assemblies were held in the palace, the Crown Prince had to rise at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), hastily eating something to take the edge off his hunger, and rush to the palace. Now that they lived within the palace walls, he could sleep an extra quarter or half-hour before setting off in his wheelchair.

Since the Crown Prince had indulged only once the previous night, Yao Huang also woke early. After breakfast, she took her nurse and Yun Er to the central palace to pay her respects to Empress Zhou.

Empress Zhou said gently, “Just like last year at the summer palace, you only need to come on the 1st, 5th, 11th, 15th, 21st, and 25th of each month. There’s no need to visit daily.”

Though palace rules were numerous, they weren’t inflexible. The empress had the authority to decide how often consorts, princes, and princesses paid their respects. Empress Zhou, who disliked excessive formality, had reduced the frequency. Before her, there had been empresses who demanded daily visits.

Yao Huang felt increasingly fortunate—she had married a good-tempered prince, had a kind and approachable father-in-law the emperor, and a gentle mother-in-law in the empress. The only slightly difficult figure was her foster mother-in-law, Noble Consort Du, who wasn’t particularly skilled in schemes.

On the first day of the eighth month, their fourth day in the palace, Yao Huang unexpectedly encountered Nanny Fang, who had once taught her and the other court ladies etiquette and rules in the Eunuch's Selection Hall.

Back then, Nanny Fang had been a terrifying figure to most court ladies—strict and intimidating. If this arbiter favored a court lady and showed leniency, she could pass the evaluation and have a chance to appear before the emperor and empress, possibly becoming a princess consort and enjoying wealth and status. But if Nanny Fang took a dislike to someone and found fault with her, she could eliminate her, cutting off any chance of marrying into the imperial family.

Yao Huang had also feared Nanny Fang. Now, upon seeing her again after over three years, before she could even take a good look at her, Nanny Fang knelt and kowtowed respectfully. “Your servant pays respects to the Crown Princess.”

Yao Huang quickly signaled A Ji and Lark to help her up, smiling. “It was only through Nanny’s careful guidance that I had the chance to be chosen by the Crown Prince as his consort. Today, Nanny has come by Her Majesty the Empress’s decree to instruct me on the ceremonial etiquette for the investiture. In my eyes, Nanny is something of a teacher to me. There’s no need for such formality.”

Fate was truly mysterious. Back then, Yao Huang had desperately hoped Nanny Fang would find fault with her and send her home to reunite with her family. Yet after three attempts, Nanny Fang had refused to let her go, ultimately leading to Yao Huang’s marriage to the Crown Prince. Had Yao Huang’s life turned out poorly, she might have resented Nanny Fang. But since she was happy now, she naturally felt grateful.

And Nanny Fang was indeed the first in the palace to understand Yao Huang’s temperament. Recognizing the sincerity in the Crown Princess’s words, she relaxed slightly and smiled. “Your Highness flatters this servant. I dare not accept such praise. Truly, Your Highness was born with unmatched beauty and grace. Three years ago, no matter how I looked at you, I only saw excellence.”

A beauty like Yao Huang, with peerless charm, would have been claimed by the emperor himself even if none of the consorts had selected her as a principal or secondary consort for the princes. That was why Nanny Fang had been especially indulgent toward her. Yet even she hadn’t foreseen that Yao Huang would marry Prince Hui as his primary consort and rise to her current exalted position as Crown Princess.

After catching up, Nanny Fang began explaining the complex rituals of the investiture ceremony to the Crown Princess, each step governed by strict protocol.

Yao Huang studied with enthusiasm. Only pointless drudgery was demoralizing. A few days of hard work in exchange for prestige and wealth? Such effort, she believed, would delight even her crippled Crown Prince.

By the fifth day of the eighth month, the coronation ceremony officially began.

Zhao Sui, wearing the ceremonial crown prince robes, sat in his golden nanmu-wood wheelchair, pushed by Qing Ai, while Yao Huang, wearing the ceremonial crown princess robes, walked beside him.

As they passed through the crowd of ministers, Yao Huang caught a glimpse of Prince Qing (Qing Junwang) standing behind Prince Kang.

Since the coronation of the Crown Prince was a national ceremony second only to the emperor’s coronation, had Emperor Yongchang temporarily released Prince Qing to kneel before his second brother?

It was just a passing thought, gone as quickly as it came. The heavy crown forced her to focus on walking steadily.

After bowing to Emperor Yongchang, they then received the bows of the imperial clan and officials. Next, they went to the central palace to bow to Empress Zhou, followed by accepting the bows of the inner and outer court ladies. Having already seen Prince Qing earlier, Yao Huang was no longer surprised to spot Zheng Yuanzhen standing behind Chen Ying. She only felt a pang of sympathy for Chen Ying, who, far along in her pregnancy, still had to go through this. Fortunately, Empress Zhou had arranged everything in advance—Chen Ying only needed to kneel, not kowtow.

Yao Huang’s heart remained on edge until Chen Ying rose without trouble. Seeing Chen Ying smile at her, Yao Huang smiled back.

After the palace ceremonies, Yao Huang had to accompany the Crown Prince to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to bow to the imperial ancestors.

Once all the rituals were completed, there were still two palace banquets to attend. It wasn’t until nightfall that Yao Huang finally returned to the Eastern Palace. Shedding the cumbersome ceremonial robes and taking a quick bath, she flopped onto the daybed in the eastern chamber.

The Crown Prince was still tidying up in the front courtyard, while the nurse brought Yun Er to the Crown Princess’s side, allowing her to spoil the little prince she hadn’t seen all day before resting.

Busyness belonged to the father and mother, but the little prince of the Eastern Palace spent his day eating and sleeping as usual, living the good life.

Yao Huang tweaked Yun Er’s chubby hand and whispered, “Everyone says I’m blessed, but I think you’re the luckiest one.”

Even luckier than his father, the Crown Prince.

Five-month-old Yun Er couldn’t understand what his mother was saying. He rolled over with a wiggle, lifting his little head and babbling up at her.

When Zhao Sui arrived, before even entering the chamber, he first heard the Crown Princess’s playful challenge from inside: “If you’re so capable, crawl over here.”

Pushing his wheelchair in, Zhao Sui saw the Crown Princess lying at the far west end of the daybed, while Yun Er was sprawled in the middle, frustrated, unable to crawl even a step toward his mother.

Zhao Sui stopped his wheelchair by the daybed.

From his position, he was closer to Yun Er than the Crown Princess was. Yun Er babbled up at his father, wanting to be held.

Yao Huang obligingly closed her eyes, waiting for the Crown Prince to move onto the daybed.

But Zhao Sui didn’t move, because Yun Er was gazing fixedly at him.

In another two or three months, Yun Er would gradually learn to crawl. Zhao Sui didn’t want the sight of his father lifting and shifting his legs to throw Yun Er off, making him different from other children.

“I won’t come up. Hand Yun Er to me,” Zhao Sui said calmly.

Yao Huang assumed the Crown Prince was also exhausted from the day’s events. Smiling, she picked up Yun Er and handed him over.

Zhao Sui held Yun Er under his arms. The little one, used to lying down all day, loved this position, his tiny feet stomping excitedly on his father’s legs.

Zhao Sui let him wiggle to his heart’s content.

His own legs might be paralyzed, but he adored Yun Er’s strong little legs.

Yao Huang watched as the Crown Prince played with Yun Er until it was time for the baby to sleep. Only then did Zhao Sui summon the nurse to take Yun Er away.

Still lying on the pillow, Yao Huang teased the Crown Prince: “Your Highness is truly something else—after such a tiring day, you still had the strength to hold him for so long.”

Even she, a woman with considerable strength, couldn’t bear holding the ten-plus-pound Yun Er for long.

Zhao Sui held the Crown Princess’s gaze, placed his hand on the edge of the daybed before him, and said, “Come here.”

Yao Huang glanced out the window—indeed, it was time to rest.

Moving to the edge of the couch, she deliberately sat facing the Crown Prince and placed her bare feet on his legs, playfully mimicking Yun Er by alternating playful presses.

Zhao Sui lowered his gaze, waiting patiently until her fair feet had finished before wrapping one arm around her back and the other beneath her knees. With a firm lift, he effortlessly carried her from the couch into his arms.

The unlocked wheelchair rolled backward, but his swift movements ensured their safety.

Even so, Yao Huang’s heart raced as she hastily looped her arms around his shoulders, clinging tightly.

Once she was secure, Zhao Sui released his hold and gripped the slender wooden push-rims on either side of the wheelchair.

Carrying both their weight, the three-wheeled wheelchair slowly advanced toward the inner chamber.

Yao Huang had long known of the Crown Prince’s impressive strength, yet she was still astonished by the power he displayed now.

Seizing the moment while his hands were occupied with the wheels, she boldly—and slyly—slipped her right hand beneath his collar, pressing her palm against his broad, firm chest.

With each forward push of the wheelchair, his shoulders and torso flexed with effort.

The Crown Princess, who had planned to collapse straight into bed, found herself easily heated up by his motions.