Speaking of which, this era really restrict women's rights.
Yamato stroked Fang Lihua's head then carress her cheek, he smiled so very tenderly with a hint of bitter comfort, lamenting the girl's fate in silence.
Stunned, Fang Lihua was at lost for words, however she felt tears welled up to her eyes. The willpower to avoid disgracing herself aided her to suppress the pain, she closed her eyes and bit her lip. The beautiful brows unavoidably scrunched, truly a bitter face inviting pity.
Yamato knew when someone's so sad and depressed yet the situation was hopeless from the beginning, it's better to just stay beside the person in silence, lest he hurt the person even more by uttering empty words of comfort. By the constant soft stroke on Fang Lihua's back, she successfully managed to calm her heart and suppressed her tears. "... Thank you, princess."
He gave another tender smile then held her hands to help her stand. "Let's have a tea, do you like sweet pastry?"
Having no idea about the exact reason, Fang Lihua felt extremely pleasant being with Ren Xiu, she was even questioning herself regarding why did the actual princess differ extremely with her previous image and reputation. "It's a pleasu-"
"His highness crown prince has come to visit!"
Her words and her comfort were immediately torn down to smithereens the moment a guarding maid announced. Fang Lihua couldn't even feel safe nor maintain her calm composure that she was flustered instead. She looked at Yamato with a terribly panicked expression.
Responding to those fidgety behavior of Fang Lihua, Yamato couldn't help but giggled a bit. He patted Fang Lihua's stiff shoulder, "It's alright, calm down."
Everyone in the residence knew Qing Rui treated people indifferently. Except for An Xiao as he was especially gentle, and except for Ren Xiu as he was especially hostile. Of course Fang Lihua was also well aware of this fact, thus she was worried that Ren Xiu might be abused again because she couldn't think of any reason for the prince to visit. Fang Lihua liked Ren Xiu, in fact she came to admire her, she wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her well being right now.
As Fang Lihua regained her outer composure, the prince made his entrace. She was unfavored as well thus the prince never bestowed his presence upon her. She used to feel unlucky by those treatment, however she couldn't help but to feel grateful at those fact right now. She was terrified at the sight of his figure. Reading the atmosphere and reading people's mood is something Fang Lihua was good at, and she was particularly terrified by Qing Rui's terrible hidden bad mood. He was as always dignified, calm, and graceful, yet his face were dark and cold it basically lowered the room temperature.
"This humble servant greets his highness crown prince."
Everyone greeted simultaneously in unison and kowtowed, except for Ren Xiu, she didn't even bow and Qing Rui had already expected it.
"You may rise" Qing Rui answered coldly.
"Good afternoon your highness. Wanna have some tea? Do you like sweet pastry?"
Every servant on Ren Xiu's courtyard knew about her carefree behavior and it was practically asking for the impossible to change it. They could only bow, stay silent, and bask in cold sweat while expecting their death by anytime. Contrary to those maids who was already mentally prepared, Fang Lihua was currently dumbstruck at a loss she couldn't even make out even the slightest movement.
Qing Rui narrowed his eyes, showing his displeasure by lowering the temperature even more, if sight could freeze then the room would have frozen with ice. He intended to make Ren Xiu afraid and respect him dutifully, however he was cruelly betrayed by his expectation as Ren Xiu actually ignores him.
Yamato contemplated something while peering upon the open door of the side garden, he nodded and smiled, "Your highness, Hua'er, come here, let's have a tea in my garden," he beckoned with casual friendliness, something no one would ever eternally do to a crown prince.
"Tsk" Qing Rui clicked his tongue and furrowed his brows, however to everyone's surprise, he approached Ren Xiu and followed her to a table on the garden.
Fang Lihua was literally frozen, she dehydrated right away as every inch of her skin exuded cold sweat. She couldn't make head or tail with the current situation. Her brain failed to process anything as she drowned in fear, however she understood one thing. If even the crown prince comply, then she have to abide as well. No matter how scared she was, she still have to come, she would not refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit.
Thus with a stiff posture and steps, Fang Lihua also followed Ren Xiu towards the side garden.
By the help of the maids and gardener, Yamato tended and redesign the beautiful medium garden himself. It was proportionally filled with trees, bushes, and flowers. He setted a garden table with stone floors on the side, especially designed for his usual tea time. It was a fresh and slightly naturally fragrant place to be. The place calms the mind, to Yamato's surprise, even the frowns on Qing Rui receded bit by bit.
The three sat around the wooden table. The atmosphere was quite strange yet Yamato exceled in paying it no mind.
As though just realizing Fang Lihua's presence, Qing Rui scrutinized her, "You are?"
Startled, Fang Lihua bowed her head, "Answering to his highness question, this concubine's name is Fang Lihua, daughter of General Fang Wei" Fang Lihua mustered all her strenght to introduce herself without tripping on her words.
Qing Rui displeased frowns came back. He was not too fond of all the concubines his parent prepared him. Afterall he already have someone he love. However he didn't bother much as he indifferently asked again, "What are you doing here?"
Fang Lihua sweated buckets.
"She came here to play with me, i was inviting her to have a tea when his highness came." Yamato answered instead, saving a damsel in distress.
Deep down Qing Rui didn't believe she just came to play or visit, afterall what he learned from his imperial father's harem was that most women were hateful scheming foxes. There wouldn't exist something simple or heart warming between women, that's why he loved the pure and innocent An Xiao. However not caring much, he hummed, "What did you two play?"
"It's the board game i had previously made, using the woods i asked Sir Huang to cut. Speaking of it, let's play it your highness!" Yamato casually answered and decided, he requesting Xiao Ming to bring the game.
Normally no one would dare to decide anything without asking for the prince's consent, this clearly stated that Yamato was undoubtedly abnormal. Qing Rui understood this and no longer presenting futile resistance, he decided to just comply as long as it wasn't outrageously rude command.
The chess came and the tea also came. Qing Rui and Fang Lihua were surprised at the pastry accompanying the tea. It was an apple pie and both of them have no idea what it was.
Yamato's distinct talent was he's good with his hands. He got a real knack on crafts and cooking as he was deft in movement and meticulous. The apple pie was something he made in the morning, with a long prepared ingredients he had collected and made. The taste was top notch.
"This is an apple pie, i made it myself and i guarantee it to be delicious." Yamato glanced at Qing Rui and flaunted a good natured smile, "I also guarantee that it's free of poison."
Qing Rui frowned, as a prince he was actually immune to most poison and didn't mind much, however Yamato's sentence reminded him of the accident with An Xiao and it made him glare at Yamato. He clicked his tongue and spitefully took a bite of the pie, he was silent for a while that even his one bodyguard started to suspect Ren Xiu, until he said, "Delicious."
Yamato beamed, "Right? Now now let's eat, Hua'er don't be shy and eat won't you, Sir guard do you want to try as well?" Yamato sliced one more piece and gave it to the guard, then he poured the tea to four cup. "Have the tea as well sir guard."
Qing Rui was surprised at how cheerful and friendly Ren Xiu could be, it was as though the previous scheming her was a lie.
Mustered her strength, Fang Lihua took a bite, and she clearly liked the taste as her face became free of restraints, her blushing cheeks fell apart with eyes closed, she was savoring the dish pleasantly that Yamato could even see the blooming flowers on her background.
Yamato made a sweet laughing voice while covering his mouth, it captivated everyone present, "Hahahaha, your serious image in my head have melted to a funny liquid, haha, so cute.. If you liked it that much then shall we make it together sometime?"
Flustered, Fang Lihua immediately covered her face and bowed, a second later she raised her face and presented an obvious flat poker face. "It's a pleasure," she answered with a gentle and dignified voice.
"Hahahahahahaha! What a quick recovery! Hahahaha" Yamato hardly supressed his laughter and just freely go with the flow.
Qing Rui didn't find Fang Lihua especially cute, however her image on his head has raised to an 'okay' degree. Meanwhile he didn't know how to evaluate Ren Xiu at all, the woman was too free that he couldn't bother with her every conduct anymore, in fact he kept being swept by the pace she brought and being confused at how and when to retort. He was always in a condition where he could burst into rage anytime but ended up finding no space to even get angry it frustrated him.
Finishing the delicious pastry, Qing Rui gulped his tea. Glancing at the board game, curiosity won him over, "Are we going to play that?"
Yamato suppressed his urge to giggle, never he expected Qing Rui to cease frowning by feeding him sweets, it was kinda cute, "Yes! To make it more exciting, how about we gamble something?"
Realizing Ren Xiu's mischievous smile, Qing Rui decided to go along, as he expected women really do plot and scheme in every occassion possible, "What do you propose?"
"If i win, i want a permission to read books on the library with concubine Fang Lihua.. If his highness win, what is it that you want with equal value?"
Fang Lihua startled, never did she expect Ren Xiu to fight for her request, it almost brought her to tears.
Meanwhile Qing Rui was confused at Ren Xiu's true objective, there's no important files on the library, she would basically gain nothing by requesting it. He found no harm and believed that his wife wouldn't win anyway, "I have a mission i want you to do, you will do that if you lose, you cannot complain."
"Deal!" Yamato gave a salute then he setted the chess board. He gave Qing Rui a brief explanation about the rules, and as expected of a crown prince he absorb the information like sponge to water.
Yamato sat across Qing Rui while Fang Lihua watch from the side like a referee.
Yamato didn't go easy at all, because he knew Qing Rui was smart and he would come to crush him, thus he decided to go all out. Unlike his previous relaxed expression when he played with Xiao Ming and Fang Lihua, to everyones surprise Yamato presented a solemn and focused demeanor he very rarely revealed. He raised one leg to the chair and propped his chin up his knee as though he was even refusing to waste energy by supporting his own spine. It was supposed to be a great chance to burst into rage, however Qing Rui was just as focused he barely noticed anything around him and inadvertently let the chance slip through his fingers.
All his life he had never played a game this fierce. He never encountered an opponent strong enough. When he make a move by calculating several steps ahead, the opponent shows that she had calculated even more. Every trap he set never works the way he wanted. He had to rack his brain to its full capacity to counter Ren Xiu's every moves and plots above the chess board. He never knew that the wife he had belittled was this strong. The wife he had always hated actually have the capability to ignite the competitive flame in his heart, he was so excited that he subconsciously lifted the corner of his lips.
Fang Lihua was dumbstruck with eyes riveted on the board. She couldn't make head or tail with the situation above the board, it was far too complicated for her to get. However what she knew was that the two were equal.