Chapter 174 Stood Up!

Chapter 174 On His Feet!

This winter seemed warmer than previous years. It wasn’t until the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, after a mostly overcast day, that snowflakes finally drifted down from the sky.

The Crown Prince was still on duty at the Ministry of Works, while Yao Huang took a midday nap in the heated inner chamber. When she woke, the courtyard was already blanketed in white, and the still-falling snowflakes had grown to the size of copper coins.

Nanny Liu brought Yun Er over, the little one bundled in a cloak over thick silk-lined cotton garments. Once the cloak was removed and he was placed on the couch, Yun Er didn’t need his mother’s beckoning—he expertly crawled toward her, quickly clambering into her lap.

Yao Huang recalled how, on New Year's Day, her mother and sister-in-law had come to court to pay their respects. During their brief visit to the Eastern Palace, her mother had watched Yun Er’s nimble movements and remarked with a smile that he took after her as a child.

Yao Huang had no memory of herself at just a few months old, but she too felt Yun Er’s liveliness mirrored her own. After all, the Crown Prince she knew was far too quiet—his temperament had nothing to do with his legs. According to Eunuch Cao and Nanny Liu, even as a child, the Second Prince had always been reserved. Aside from martial arts and horsemanship, his three lifelong passions remained reading, calligraphy, and painting.

Mother and son played on the couch for half an hour before taking a short break. Yao Huang then placed Yun Er into a toddler pushcart newly made by Master Deng, designed for children around a year old. She set up a leather chair by the main hall’s entrance, and the two sat side by side, watching the snow fall.

This was Yun Er’s first time seeing snow. The sky was so full of snowflakes that his wide eyes darted everywhere—no sooner had one flake landed than more tumbled down after it.

Yao Huang stepped under the eaves, caught a snowflake in her palm, and returned to show it to Yun Er. The child stared intently at it, and when the snowflake melted into a droplet, his awed stare mirrored his reaction to fireworks vanishing into the night.

Just as Yao Huang was amused by her son’s fascination, Yun Er, still seated in his pushcart, suddenly pointed outside and laughed.

Yao Huang asked, “Do you want more snow?”

Yun Er shook his head and kept pointing.

Only then did Yao Huang turn and see, through the fluttering snow, the Crown Prince slowly pushing his wheelchair along the covered walkway to the right.

Overjoyed, Yao Huang stood up, about to step out and meet him halfway. But remembering how happy Yun Er would be to see his father, she lifted the child from the cart and carried him along the walkway instead.

Before she could ask why the Crown Prince had returned so early, he first scrutinized their attire and asked, “If you’re watching the snow, why aren’t you wearing cloaks?”

Yao Huang replied, “It’s not cold here—the doorway is even warmer. Don’t believe me? Feel for yourself.”

With one arm holding Yun Er, she extended her other hand toward the Crown Prince.

Yun Er leaned over from her arms, as if curious about what they were doing.

Zhao Sui fell silent.

Seeing this, Yao Huang deliberately planted herself before the wheelchair, making it clear she wouldn’t let him pass unless he touched her hand.

Under Yun Er’s watchful gaze, Zhao Sui had no choice but to give a fleeting squeeze to the warm, soft hand of the Crown Princess.

Only then did Yao Huang pass Yun Er to him. She pushed the wheelchair bearing both to the main hall’s entrance, rearranged the leather chair and pushcart, and soon the family of three was cozily squeezed together by the doorway.

Zhao Sui explained, “The snow is getting heavier. His Majesty issued an edict allowing officials to leave duty an hour early today and arrive an hour later tomorrow morning.”

Yao Huang remarked, “It’s clear His Majesty has been in high spirits lately. Those ministers wracking their brains would never guess this favor is due in part to Your Highness’s efforts.”

The imperial physicians were always cautious in their words. Even if they were certain of a cure for their noble patients’ ailments, they never gave definitive assurances, fearing punishment should anything go wrong. Imperial Physician Liao, who treated the Crown Prince’s legs, was no exception. But three days prior, he had suddenly given a definitive prognosis: the Crown Prince’s legs would fully recover to their pre-injury mobility.

Yao Huang had wondered why Imperial Physician Liao was suddenly so confident. The Crown Prince had provided a lengthy medical explanation, but Yao Huang found it all rather confusing—she was simply glad for the good news.

Zhao Sui said, “It may have nothing to do with me. Auspicious snow heralds abundance, and His Majesty has been waiting for this snowfall all winter.”

Knowing he disliked taking credit, Yao Huang could only shoot him a fond, exasperated look.

As Zhao Sui chatted with the Crown Princess, he glanced outside and said, “While it’s still light, I’ll visit the Deer Garden.”

Yao Huang's heart clenched: "Do you really have to go out in this heavy snow?"

Zhao Sui: "The snow's heavy, but it's not that cold. Fei Quan has already gone to wipe the snow off the railings. I’ll be careful—it’s fine."

Seeing she couldn't talk the Crown Prince out of it, Yao Huang fetched a box of hand cream recently gifted from the palace. She took his hand, which he offered without turning toward her, and applied the cream herself. As her fingertips brushed over the thick calluses on his palm, she glanced up to see the Crown Prince turn his face away, maintaining his composure.

Yao Huang whispered, "Once Your Highness can walk again, these calluses will fade. I should take the chance to touch them a few more times while they’re still here."

Zhao Sui: "...Watch what you say."

Yun Er was right there, listening.

Yao Huang immediately dropped his hand.

Zhao Sui reached out again. Yun Er’s stroller was turned away, so the little one couldn’t see what his parents were doing behind it.

Once his hands were properly moisturized, the Crown Prince pushed his wheelchair to the moon gate leading to the deer garden in the backyard. Qing Ai was already waiting there. Before leaving, Zhao Sui glanced toward the main hall and met the Crown Princess's eyes—full of worry.

Zhao Sui nodded to Qing Ai to move forward.

The deer garden lay quiet. Qing Ai pushed the wheelchair to the railing entrance before retreating outside with Fei Quan, closing the wooden gate behind them.

Zhao Sui looked at the hardwood railings, already lightly coated with fresh snow despite having just been wiped. Bracing his hands on the wheelchair, he slowly stood up.

Once fully upright, he still didn’t touch the railings within reach. Instead, he moved forward slowly, deliberately.

After about ten steps, he gripped the railing to rest his legs, waiting for the tingling to pass before continuing.

The deer garden, converted from a side courtyard, appeared spacious but was actually quite small. The Crown Princess could leisurely stroll two laps in the time it took to drink a cup of tea, but the Crown Prince, stopping often to rest, took nearly half an hour.

When he reached the railing exit on the left side of the garden’s main gate, Zhao Sui rested a while longer before finally stepping beyond the railing’s bounds. Step by step, he made his way to the wheelchair waiting at the opposite entrance, turned it around, and got into bed.

He dropped into the chair with more force than usual. His legs trembled uncontrollably as he lifted them onto the footrests.

Zhao Sui let them shake, leaning back in the wheelchair and closing his eyes.

In this relaxed posture, his head tilted slightly back, allowing snowflakes to drift onto his flushed, handsome face.

.

In the backyard, Yao Huang had the nursemaid take Yun Er away. She sat alone by the main hall’s entrance, gazing absently at the moon gate through which the Crown Prince had left, watching the snow pile up inside and outside the gate, leaving only a narrow strip of snow-free stone beneath the overhanging wall.

As dusk fell, the snow’s pale light deepened the chill.

Just as A Ji was about to fetch a cloak for the Crown Princess, the sound of wheelchair wheels crunching through snow came from the moon gate, making her quickly step back.

Yao Huang also withdrew, entering the inner chamber, loosening her hair, and quickly combing it before slipping into bed and pretending to sleep.

Qing Ai pushed the Crown Prince past the window, noticing the unusual quiet—no laughter from the Crown Princess, no babbling from the little prince.

After wheeling the Crown Prince into the main hall, Qing Ai collected his discarded cloak and respectfully withdrew.

Finding the side chamber empty, Zhao Sui made his way to the bedroom. Seeing the Crown Princess lying with her back to him on the bed, he wheeled himself over to the washstand. As he washed his hands with the prepared water, he asked, "Dinner will be served soon. Why are you resting already?"

Yao Huang: "It’s cold by the door. It’s warmer here."

Zhao Sui smiled, wet a cloth, and wiped his face. Afterward, he looked at the wheelchair's hand rims and wiped them down as well before wheeling himself over to the bed.

Removing the outer robe, boots, and socks he had changed into earlier in the front courtyard, he got into bed, lifted her covers, and lay down beside her.

His arm reached over, and took her hand in his.

Yao Huang sensed a dry warmth, like the kind that radiated from her palms after building a snowman.

She turned around, without looking at the Crown Prince, and slipped her hand beneath his inner robe—everywhere she touched was dry and warm.

Zhao Sui had excellent self-control; earlier, while practicing his walking, he hadn’t pushed himself to the point of sweating.

Once the Crown Princess had finished checking, Zhao Sui also checked how cold or warm she was.

The calluses on the Crown Prince’s palms seemed made to torment the Crown Princess. Without even needing to exert force, Yao Huang flushed in his embrace.

Some daylight still lingered outside, the inner chamber’s door remained open, and neither curtain of the canopy bed had been closed.

Yet as long as the Crown Prince was present, none of the maidservants or matrons serving the Crown Princess in the rear courtyard dared to enter without permission.

The Crown Prince knelt on the bed, pressing the Crown Princess between himself and the headboard. Yao Huang, facing him in such a position for the first time, felt his gaze roam over her body and, overwhelmed with shyness, covered his eyes.

Zhao Sui caught her wrist with his left hand—now that his legs were functional, he had even more ways to restrain her.

By the time their sweat cooled, outside had gone completely dark.

Pressed tightly against the Crown Prince’s chest and buried under an extra layer of blankets, Yao Huang suddenly felt desperately thirsty and pushed at him to get water.

Zhao Sui first turned her over, then sat up and methodically put on his inner robe and trousers.

Once dressed, he returned to his wheelchair.

Only then did Yao Huang turn to watch as he skillfully guided the three-wheeled chair to the table, poured water from the teapot, and looked back toward the bed, teacup in hand.

Impatient, she urged him, “Hurry, I’m dying of thirst.”

In the past, he would have simply placed the teapot and cup on the wheelchair and wheeled it over—why the delay now?

The parched Crown Princess was genuinely annoyed, but with her flushed cheeks and pouting lips, even her annoyance was captivating.

How could he deliver the tea to her lips the fastest?

Zhao Sui rose from the wheelchair.

Yao Huang: “…”

She stared in disbelief at the suddenly much taller figure of the Crown Prince—so familiar yet now so much higher—as he walked toward her, each step slow but steady. By the time he reached the bedside, she had already shifted from her lazy sprawl to craning her neck upward.

With his usual composure, the Crown Prince sat down, one hand holding the teacup, the other supporting her shoulders as he brought it to her lips.

Yao Huang drank stiffly, stealing sidelong glances behind him.

Was this man truly still her disabled husband?