Qing Rui was so confusedly raged, he was angry, but didn't know what to do. He had flogged her, and he felt guilt when she almost died, he wouldn't do it again if the matter was not suppressing. Annihilating her whole clan was also a simple raging threat that time. In fact, without the help of her family, it would be nearly impossible to ascend to the throne. His arrogant self resisted hard from the bitter reality, however he must accept it, he needed Ren Xiu.
Ren Xiu was very spoiled, annoying, coquettish, and simply so unappealing that he had lost his will to even treat her properly. Moreover there's An Xiao, the pure, cute, and hardworking little sunshine.
Qing Rui decides to sort his mind up. Separating his goal and the way to achieve it. His goal was definitely leading a country with An Xiao as his only empress. As for the way, Ren Xiu was the answer. He decides to use her until he achieved his goal. He would need to suppress his anger and disgust from now on, he realized Ren Xiu would no longer comply silently, thus he needs to control it. Ren Xiu had wanted his love as a proper husband, he definitely needed to grits his teeth everytime he tries but he must do his best. All for the sake of his future with An Xiao.
At this time, Yamato already knew everything that goes through the yandere crown prince's head. In addition, he had already planned to retaliate his plans as well. Yamato would definitely humiliate him! He would take a free fall into Qing Rui's bottom line!
"Are you.. Are you alright your highness?" An Xiao peered nervously at Qing Rui's dark solemn face. She rarely seen this side of Qing Rui as he was always smiling and gentle beside her.
Qing Rui's cold eyes soften the moment he glanced to An Xiao's worried face, "I'm alright" he smiled.
Her eyes was glancing right and left, not knowing where to see while her brows slightly furrowed, "S-she, the princess consort are so beautiful.. why are you- why are you not treating her with better treatment?" she was feeling jealous although Qing Rui treated his wife so coldly. In fact, even she herself was awe-struck and her heart skipped a beat when she catch sight of Ren Xiu earlier. She was really that bewitching. Meanwhile An Xiao herself was just cute above average.
Pulling An Xiao into his embrace, Qing Rui whispers beside her ears, "She's just a pretty vase. I don't like her at all while i like you most. How does that sound?" He realized his lover was jealous and he found it adorable.
An Xiao's face flushed and she hugged him back, feeling happy.
***
In Ren Xiu's courtyard.
The three people had just arrived. Xiao Ming and Xiao Meng still trembled and drenched in cold sweat, their miss's conduct was too rude they practically suspected that she was intentionally opening the gates of hell. However, the cause of the lingering rope in their neck was laughing so heartily instead that she even held her stomach.
"Hahahahahaha!! Did you- did you see that!? I would definitely do something worse next time!" Yamato laughed and wiped the crocodile tears that formed in the corner of his eyes.
"No! Nonononono! If Princess do something worse than that then even if we have nine lives it wouldn't be enough!" Xiao Ming and Xiao Meng pleaded in dismay, they don't want to have anymore near death experience. Their miss was becoming weirder and weirder each day she's practically a whole different person now.
Revealing a playful smirk, Yamato ruffled those maid's heads, "Sorry, sorry, i won't involve you two next time!"
The maids pouted dejectedly, feeling helpless towards the recklessly unstoppable princess consort. However deep in their hearts, they also felt satisfied, they felt that Qing Rui deserved to be disrespected for his unreasonable cruelty, hence in the end they could only heave a sigh.
"Hey, could you buy me some woods, chisel, carving and sculpting tools please?" It was really random and out of the blue.
The maids were already used to this new trait of their miss, "What for?" they were also getting used to her friendliness thus they dared to question her from time to time.
Yamato scratched the back of his head, appeared to be thinking of some proper excuse, "Well, i'm bored, i want to make something, is that a no no?" he tilted his head adorably.
Presuming that their miss might only want to try to sculpt some art, the maids looked at each other and nodded, "It's alright princess, we will order and prepare, and the tools will be ready by tomorrow morning" they finally managed to form a smile.
"You two are the best!" Yamato smirked cheerfully and gathered the maidens by their shoulders, "Let's have some tea!"
***
What did Yamato want to make with all those stuff? It's chess board and guitar. He knew this place must have a few similar board game, however he want something more familiar. The same goes for guitar, he planned to make the body firts and he will take care of the strings later. Unfamiliar place, unfamiliar custom, unfamiliar people, it all made Yamato felt very lonely and alienated thus he had wanted to make some familiar things as his solace.
In the garden, Ren Xiu, Xiao Ming, and Xiao meng were struggling with a problem.
He was adept at crafting stuff because he was close with his grandfather who was a famous craftsman. However he couldn't help but curse at the current situation. The wood he requested come as a whole uncut trunk! He couldn't figure out how to chop a big block of wood using an axe with a girl's strength even after racking his brain, not to mention there's no man in his courtyard. He swore to train Ren Xiu's body til it develop scary muscles.
The moment he felt despair, a maidservant shouted, "H-his highness has come to visit."
Yamato's eyes which were almost void immediately glimmers in anticipation. Smile appeared on his face as he approached the reluctant-looking crown prince.
"This servant greets your highness!" Yamato still didn't bow, however the grin which stretched from ear to ear was enough to reveal his utter happiness.
Qing Rui pardoned him. Today he visited Ren Xiu to be a good husband. Even though he was so disgusted and reluctant, he had to do it for the sake of his goal. However he setted a bottom line, he would talk, but no kissing and no sex.
Paying no mind to Qing Rui's indifferent demeanor, he plastered a pitiful puppy eyes, Yamato blinked adorably, "Your highness, may i ask for a favor?" when Yamato was a child, no one could bear to refuse him when he begged this way.
However as an infatuated loyal boyfriend, Qing Rui was only getting even more disgusted with Ren Xiu and instead imagined him as a walking sack of wheat to bear with it. He have no slightest idea about what the walking sack was up to but he came prepared. "What favor?" the voice was incredibly cold and reluctant.
Yamato laughed in his heart, Qing Rui appeared like a sulking five year old in his eyes, it would be cute if only he didn't flog Ren Xiu. Ignoring the blatant reluctance, he pointed towards the laying tree trunk, "Could your highness help me chop it?"
"Huh?" Qing Rui was dumbfounded. He was plainly confused, he came to visit and yet instead of servicing him, she asked for him to cut a trunk? Why? After racking his brain in a light speed, he thought it might be her way to catch his attention, hence he snorted at Ren Xiu's request, "Know your place."
Yamato knitted his brows, disappointed at how Qing Rui was never tired of acting arrogant, "I offer an apology for my rudeness for crossing the line, however.." he rolled his eyes, "Just, for god's sake, your guards is also alright, help me chop the woods."
The corner of Qing Rui's phoenix eyes twitched, his outlook was calm but his heart was shaken. He couldn't believe that Ren Xiu acted as though she was tired of his farce. He could clearly see 'yeah yeah whatever just help me and get it over with' from her eyes. He had a hard time believing it until he woke from his stupor to find Ren Xiu personally asking his guard for help.
"I'm sorry crown princess, we need permission from his highness." Qing Rui found his guards bowing in a bind and Ren Xiu were staring at him, waiting indifferently for his permission.
Receiving no response even after frowning in displease for one minute, he concede defeat and heaved a sigh, "You may help her."
He could clearly see Ren Xiu's face brighten with her slight pleased smile, he was quite startled as it was lacking the mocking element she usually use.
"I thank his highness" Yamato nodded in gratefulness and immediately instructed the guards to chop his woods accordingly.
One guard stepped up and unsheath his sword, Yamato was surprised yet he let the guard not request for a proper axe. He already marked the trunk horizontally and got the guard to cut it into several pieces of slabs. The movement was swift and precise. Astonished at the nimble and skillful swordmanship the guard had performed, Yamato whistled, "Wow, you're good! May i have your name?"
Xiao Ming and Xiao Meng facepalmed at how brazen and unreserved their miss has become. Even Qing Rui would knit his brows even harder if possible at how ill-mannered Ren Xiu is with her lack of decorum, however he reluctantly let it pass as he recall the cause of her memory loss.
The said guard face flushed, he had never seen a noble lady as carefree and beautiful as Ren Xiu. "Yes" he kneeled, "this humble servant surname is Huang, and given name Yu."
"Nice to know you sir Huang" Yamato smiled cheerfully. Although he had transmigrated to a female body, Yamato is still a man inside. There's only girls in his courtyard and he felt quite lonely without any male friend to joke with. "Would you be my friend sir Huang?" he squatted to match Huang Yu's eye level, smiling mischievously as he lightly laughed. Really, in this age such an awkward introduction.
Qing Rui immediately reprimanded him with a deep and cold voice, "How improper! Did you really forget all manner Ren Xiu!?" no matter what Ren Xiu is still his wife, if she behaves wildly he would be the one to lose face.
"What's improper? Why can't i have friend? It's boring here" Yamato pouted.
"If you refuse to reflect and learn i will lock you up!" Qing Rui's eyes were bloodshot, the current Ren Xiu is very talented at riling his temper.
Hearing the words Qing Rui had dictated, Yamato immediately laughed heartily, the voice sounded so entertained and crisp it should have brought smiles to people's face. "Hahahahaha! Am i grounded? Hahahaha!"
No one present could understand what's so funny, instead of feeling funny they were feeling so oppressed that cold sweat had start to seep instead because Qing Rui's face has darken.
The laughs finally ceased, still with a playful tone Yamato said "Here, his highness, am i not locked up right now? This courtyard is basically a cage! Do you think that punishment would make me suffer somehow? Hahahahaha! You jest!" he stood and walked up to Qing Rui, building a more oppressing atmosphere he himself could not feel.
"Are you no longer afraid of death?" Qing Rui gnashed the words through his gritted teeth.
Yamato snorted at the words, "If the choice is only between caged and ignored my whole life or death, death is much more easier. In addition there's other concealed choice called 'running away'. If that's my choice, then you know who would be at a real disadvantage once i died don't you?" he smiled and glanced mockingly at Qing Rui, "Now i ask your highness, are you not afraid of death?"
With his dark sullen face, Qing Rui was dumbstruck. The competition for the throne is ruthless, brothers will have to kill each other for it. The choice was only to win or to die, and he knew all too well what's Ren Xiu was implying. He actually felt chill down his spine at Ren Xiu's mischievous belittling smile.
"Now, now, you won't lock me up, you won't kill me, and you will allow me to have friends, isn't that suuper easy? You just need to ignore me like you usually do. Don't worry i will use proper manner against nobilities thus you won't lose any face, that sounds fair?" Yamato threaten him while revealing his trademark carefree smile.
Everyone present was stupefied. Ren Xiu was way too rude yet Qing Rui was unable to refute her, it was just too shocking, including Qing Rui himself.
The crown prince clears his throat, "alright." He really have no choice.
"Yay! His highness are very good aren't he!" Yamato squealed as though he was praising an obedient pet, he would like to squeeze Qing Rui's cheeks however he knew he would be slapped that way thus he managed to stop in time. "I will let you play with me once i finished making this board game."
"Hmph" Qing Rui snorted and left with a flip of his sleeves.
However Yamato couldn't possibly forget, "Huang Yu! Play again here next time!"
Huang Yu was already scared shitless he couldn't respond with anything proper except for a helpless forced smile and left following his master.