Four Seasons Brocade – CH 220

Chapter 220 ☆、

“Can I not even sit in the bathing room for a bit?” Chu Mao blinked innocently, mimicking Ah Wu’s blink.

Ah Wu burst out laughing at Chu Mao’s gesture and naturally could not do anything about it, so she turned her head away and ignored him.

Chu Mao wrapped his arms around Ah Wu’s waist, his hands restlessly kneading her waist.

Ah Wu slapped Chu Mao’s hand away, her voice sharp but weak, “You promised yesterday, and I even fell into the water.”

Chu Mao sighed inwardly. He naturally wanted to keep his promise, but this girl insisted on putting on a pitiful act of outward strength but inward weakness, which itched with desire, making him yearn to immediately pin her down and have his way with her.

“Yes, I will show you something.” Chu Mao sighed again, his pity ultimately prevailing. He pulled Ah Wu into his arms, and they sat down together behind the large painting table.

Ah Wu watched as Chu Mao took several sheets of paper from a black lacquered box inlaid with mother-of-pearl on his table. Looking closely, she saw several designs of clothing drawn on them.

“When did you draw these?” Ah Wu had initially thought Chu Mao was just joking, but she had not expected him to actually draw her undergarments. Although His Highness Prince Qi’s painting skills were exquisite, Ah Wu still could not appreciate the clothes depicted. They were more like rags than clothes.

“When I was on official business, I had nothing to do at night,” Chu Mao said.

“Your Highness, when you are on official business, do you not have any social engagements at night?” Ah Wu did not believe him.

“Social engagements are all about drinking and carousing. You want me to go?” Chu Mao gently rubbed his nose against Ah Wu’s sideburns.

Frankly, Ah Wu really wanted Chu Mao to go drinking and carousing. That way, she would not have suffered so much yesterday afternoon, and she would not have fallen into the water last night because of her aches and stiffness.

“What do you think? I will order the embroiderers to finish them quickly. They will be perfect for summer,” Chu Mao said.

Ah Wu glared coldly at Chu Mao and said, “I do not care what you think of these clothes; I am definitely not wearing them.”

Chu Mao thoroughly enjoyed Ah Wu’s haughty, aloof demeanor. “Oh, why?”

Ah Wu frowned, trying to break free from Chu Mao’s embrace, but he held her tightly, and something below her began to slowly rise. Ah Wu quickly stopped. “What does Your Highness take me for? Even brothel prostitutes would not wear such indecent clothes.”

“Even if you wear it in private, no one will see it. How is that indecent?” Chu Mao feigned ignorance.

Actually, the undergarments Chu Mao designed for Ah Wu were all made of light, thin silk or damask, not gauze, and frankly, they were just plain undergarments without any trousers. However, he seemed to have put some thought into the upper garments; one had a slightly low neckline, another was fine except for the high opening under the armpits, and one was a bit outrageous—it did not even have sleeves, just a robe tied with a gold chain like those used for bellybands.

“I am just not going to wear them,” Ah Wu said stubbornly, even though Chu Mao was clearly just teasing her.

Chu Mao carried Ah Wu to the couch. “Have you ever seen a courtesan?”

Ah Wu shook her head.

“They do not wear undergarments like this. Their clothes are far more vulgar than this,” Chu Mao frowned slightly, as if recalling some unpleasant memory. But seeing Ah Wu’s interested expression, he added, “Some of them do not even wear a bellyband when they are drinking with men.”

Ah Wu gasped. She could not imagine men drinking with women, but hearing Chu Mao’s words, she realized what those men were like in private. Then she remembered Chu Mao’s behavior in those situations. Since it was a social event he had to attend, he naturally would not sit idly by and spoil the fun.

Ah Wu smiled smugly. Such a scene was hardly enjoyable for Prince Qi.

Chu Mao naturally knew what Ah Wu was smiling about. He pinched her nose and said, “You are so smart.”

Ah Wu laughed and dodged away.

“These clothes would definitely look good on you,” Chu Mao whispered softly in Ah Wu’s ear.

Ah Wu’s neck itched from Chu Mao’s warm breath. “Why should I wear one? I have undergarments!” she protested.

“It’s about the romance between husband and wife. Is it not said that a woman dresses up for her lover?” Chu Mao chuckled.

Ah Wu blushed at the word “lover” and spat, “What romance? Nonsense!”

“How is that nonsense? Tell me, what do you women expect from your husbands?” Chu Mao pulled Ah Wu close, leaning against her side.

Ah Wu thought for a moment and said, “Considerate, respectful, and most importantly, never acting against our wishes.” Ah Wu’s words were pointed.

Chu Mao chuckled, “Your standards are quite high. So, since you have so many requirements, what do we men expect of you?”

Ah Wu replied, “Naturally, you expect her to be a good wife and mother, obedient and gentle.”

Chu Mao shook his head, “That’s secondary. The important thing is that he can let go of his facade when he’s home.”

Ah Wu paused, then understood the implication of Chu Mao’s words. No wonder he seemed so two-faced; his facade was all an act.

“Ah Wu, let me see you wearing these clothes, and I will grant you one request,” Chu Mao began negotiating with Ah Wu.

These were Ah Wu’s favorites. Her eyes darted around, and she quickly assessed the situation. Such a request was unlikely to be enough to reconcile Chu Mao with the Imperial Princess; it probably would not work on that matter. As for Shuangjian Tower, Ah Wu was confident that Chu Mao would let her in without her even needing to negotiate. But Chu Mao’s request was truly difficult for her. Ah Wu, not wanting Chu Mao to succeed, said, “Fine. I will dress up for Your Highness, but for six months, Your Highness, you are not allowed to touch me, not even my body.”

Chu Mao widened his eyes in apparent surprise and said, “That’s outrageous! Five days, no more than that.”

Ah Wu remained silent, indicating there was no room for negotiation.

Chu Mao whispered in Ah Wu’s ear, “If you do not agree, I have ways to make you wear it.”

Ah Wu was startled. Chu Mao was privately savage and domineering; his threat was undeniably effective. Ah Wu had no choice but to say, “Three months, no less than that.”

Ah Wu had miscalculated, cutting the price in half at the very beginning, practically laying her mind bare before Chu Mao.

“Half a month.”

In the end, the two reached an agreement of twenty-one days. Ah Wu did not know why it was twenty-one days; in short, as the bargaining progressed, Chu Mao was slowly adding days, almost like cutting off her flesh, which Ah Wu found amusing, unknowingly falling into Chu Mao’s trap.

Ah Wu thought back on it; twenty-one days was not much more than half a month. A real miscalculation.

The next day, Chu Mao went to the palace. When he returned, his face was stern as he said to Ah Wu, “This time, the Emperor has ordered us to accompany him to the Western Garden.”

“Me too?” Ah Wu was somewhat surprised. Although there were precedents, it was the first time in the Longqing Dynasty that the Fourth Prince, Chu Mao, had been ordered to accompany the Emperor to the Western Garden, especially since Ah Wu was included.

Chu Mao nodded.

“Was it Consort Yuan’s idea?” Ah Wu could not help but guess.

Chu Mao glanced at Ah Wu before slowly speaking, “You do not understand the current Emperor. Although he appears old and frail, very few can actually influence his decisions.”

No one had ever spoken of the Longqing Emperor like this before. Ah Wu recalled her past life, and Chu Mao’s words seemed to make some sense. Because so much time had passed, Ah Wu could not recall whether the Longqing Emperor had summoned Chu Mao to the Western Garden to accompany him that year in her previous life.

“Then, Your Highness, what does the Emperor mean by this?” Why would the Longqing Emperor, who usually ignored Chu Mao and even considered meeting her superfluous, suddenly summon her to the Western Garden?

A mocking smile played on Chu Mao’s lips. “I suspect his health is failing again; this is a precaution. The Sixth Prince has gone to Western Mountain.”

The Western Mountain Camp and the Five City Garrison Commands, which guarded the inner city, were the two strongest forces in the capital. Controlling either one was enough to control half of the capital. The Longqing Emperor’s decision to send the Sixth Prince to the Western Mountain Camp was a clear indication of his intentions. Furthermore, the commander of the garrison, Min Hong, was the Longqing Emperor’s confidant. Therefore, if the situation were to truly change, even if Chu Mao possessed extraordinary connections, he could not defeat the Sixth Prince, who commanded two armies.

Such suspicion between father and son was truly chilling.

Ah Wu gently placed her hand on the back of Chu Mao’s hand. “What is Your Highness thinking?” Ah Wu asked naturally. Now that they were physically close, their conversation seemed much more casual.

“Do not worry; although Sixth Prince has gone to Western Mountain, he might not be able to mobilize the Western Mountain Camp.” Chu Mao gently covered Ah Wu’s hand with his other hand.

Ah Wu felt calm and at peace seeing her small hand held by Chu Mao’s. She had never doubted Chu Mao’s abilities. However, she was still surprised. From Chu Mao’s words, he had somehow managed to establish influence within the Western Mountain Camp without anyone noticing. It seemed he had played a crucial role in the last western expedition to Luobei.

However, Ah Wu knew that her uncle, the Longqing Emperor, was fine in the thirty-fifth year of his reign, because there was still the thirty-sixth year of Longqing to come.

“Your Highness need not worry either. Since His Majesty still has the intention to go to the Western Garden for summer retreat, and all the arrangements are proceeding smoothly, I suspect that even if His Majesty is feeling unwell, it will not be anything serious.” Ah Wu did not address the Longqing Emperor as “Father Emperor”, following Chu Mao’s lead.

“How do you know the arrangements are proceeding smoothly?” Chu Mao asked with a smile.

Ah Wu raised her chin, giving Chu Mao a disdainful look. “If something were wrong, Your Highness would not have time to chat with me here.” Chu Mao seemed like a leisurely prince, but in reality, he was busier than the Emperor. Ah Wu immediately recalled that before they consummated their marriage, Chu Mao would often be away from home for three to five days at a time, and even when he was at home, he was always in Xu Xian Hall. Now, Ah Wu felt like Chu Mao was always around her.

However, Ah Wu also understood that this was only the first month or so; everything was new and exciting. Once Chu Mao got over this, her days would be easier. These past few days, Ah Wu suspected her bones were about to break from the pressure.

“Our Ah Wu is so clever,” Chu Mao said, giving Ah Wu a kiss on the cheek as a reward.

“That’s right,” Ah Wu said haughtily. “But this time, having seen through the Emperor’s intentions, Your Highness should prepare accordingly. Compared to the distant resources of the Western Mountain Camp, the Five City Garrisons Command should be put into more effort. If we could also…” Ah Wu did not finish her treasonous words, but Chu Mao would surely understand.

“Ah Wu is truly my female Zhuge Liang,” Chu Mao laughed.

Ah Wu’s face flushed. She knew she had spoken out of turn. Did Chu Mao not understand these principles? She did not need to say anything; she was merely throwing out a pretext to get Chu Mao to elaborate.

“You are making fun of me!” Ah Wu said coquettishly. Coquetry was indeed a useful tactic. “You are probably laughing at my womanly words.”

“Your womanly words are clearer than most men’s,” Chu Mao said.

“Should I go back and find my second brother? My sister-in-law’s father is Grand Secretary Tang. If the Emperor needs a regent, he will most likely be chosen,” Ah Wu said.

T/N:
The Five City Garrisons Command – responsible for security, fire prevention, night patrols, and street management in the capital. This organization was divided into five garrisons: East, West, South, North, and Central. In other novels, they are usually called the City Guards or Metropolitan Guards.