"How did it go Princess?" asked Xiao Meng.
Yamato winked with an 'ok' hand sign, and of course Xiao Meng got no slightest idea about what that means.
The crown prince lived in two place. It consisted of his residence which Ren Xiu currently lived in, and the imperial palace. In order to introduce Ren Xiu to Qing Youya and Qing Lian, Ren Xiu was summoned to the imperial palace to Qing Rui's living quarter.
Yamato loves strolls especially in a warm clear day like today, it even terrifies Xiao Meng in case the princess would suddenly declare that she wants to take a nap here given her overly carefree behavior. However as the distance from Qing Rui's living quarter to the gate was quite far, Yamato didn't dare to sightsee much. In case he forgot the time by dawdling around too much, it would be night already, he was very scared with night in ancient time as it was very dark and quiet.
Reaching the gate without much trouble on the way, Xiao Meng let out a breath of relieve. However they didn't expect to find a certain girl sitting in a tea shop accross the street. It was An Xiao, the crown prince's pampered lover.
Not only did Ren Xiu noticed her, An Xiao noticed Ren Xiu as well. In fact, everyone whose eyes still capable to see noticed Ren Xiu that some even halted their activity to stare and enjoy the captivating sight of an ethereal goddess.
"Xiao Meng, let's use this rare chance to shop. I want to search for some ingredient, how about you? Do you want some sweets? Or accesories?" Ren Xiu walked away naturally, totally ignoring An Xiao who was still gazing at her from afar.
Xiao Meng ran up to Yamato with her small steps, "Are you sure to leave that wretched bitch alone?" she glanced reproachingly towards An Xiao.
"Hahahahahaha! Despite having a cute face you curse so naturally! I'm impressed!" the maids usually refer to An Xiao with any curse words possibly exist, despite being a meek rabbit who would tremble each time when faced with Qing Rui.
"Princess!" the maid pouted.
"What do you want me to do? I have no slightest interest to see her face, and i dislike using my time for something meaningless. Let's just shop."
Xiao Meng finally agreed, she felt better when Ren Xiu subtly regarded An Xiao as plain and meaningless. She followed suit with a rather excited face, afterall it was also a rare chance for Xiao Meng to shop in the capital.
It was warm and bustling with people. Some stall promoted their stuff by shouting like a desperate pigs which were not convincing, and some have the professional salesperson skill it made people splurge. The shops are all very vintage and authentic in Yamato's eyes, it was all very classic for a modern person who usually visit shops filled with factory mass produced stuffs. The place resembled a shopping district but without pollution, and Yamato found it pleasing in it's own way.
The area was quite crowded yet Xiao Meng insisted on walking behind Ren Xiu like a proper maid, "Come, let's hold hands, in case we got separated in this crowd," Yamato hold out his hand.
Xiao Meng shakes her head hastily, "No no no no no how could i be escorted by-"
"Shut up" Yamato cutted in and hold her hand without her consent, he knew Xiao Meng would only spout nonsense like statuses for excuse, "This is an order," he smiled playfully.
In his previous life, usually girls would fall straight in love once he did something like this. Like a typical popular male in shoujo manga, everything he did attracted cupids to pull their bow in a frenzy, even Xiao Meng was not immune as her heart beats faster. He was the type who were gifted with both iq and eq, popular with everyone with very few people disliking him. However he still lost to Yuuki, although that guy didn't possess much eq with his cold demeanor and sharp tongue, Yuuki was still the one who got to be loved by someone he loves.
Strolling around hand in hand, they found several of the ingredients Yamato needed. Yamato bought Xiao Meng a cute hairpin, as he saw the girl gazed at it with sparkling eyes, there's no way he wouldn't gift it.
"Is it really okay??" Xiao Meng was very excited.
"Of course, why not." Yamato snickered then pulled her hand gently for another stroll.
However Xiao Meng halted, her cheeks were red and she seemed shyly excited, Yamato found the girl currently resembled a monkey, thus he giggled, "You're so cute" like a little excited monkey, and he pinched her tomato cheek.
Previously only her cheeks blushed, but now her whole face and ears turned beet red and hot, she looked like an iron which were still in forging process. She feels her eyes spin, her heartbeat reached a certain high bpm, "Eh- um- master- princess- are we not, going to buy a hairpin for Xiao Ming as well? As a- as a souvenir?? Maybe?" ever since becoming Ren Xiu's maid, she always got the same thing equally with Xiao Ming, thus if it's only her to get something, she felt quite strange and unsettled.
"Why? That hairpin's only for you, let's go."
Xiao Meng almost exploded in overheat, that sentence made her feel very special, a feeling so nice she had never felt before.
IF PEOPLE TREAT THEIR COUPLE LIKE THIS, THEN HOW COULD THEY SURVIVE AND CONTINUE LIVING?! THIS KIND OF THING IS SO BAD FOR THE HEART I MIGHT DIE ANYTIME NOW! WAIT WAIT WAIT I'M NOT EVEN A COUPLE!!! NOT IN MY FUCKIN WILDEST DREAM!! IF NOT BEING A COUPLE IS ALREADY THIS DANGEROUS THEN WHAT IF I EXPERIENCE REAL ROMANCE?? WOULDN'T I GET A STROKE OR HEART ATTACK BY TWO DAYS!? THEN HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO MARRY?? CAN I EVEN SURVIVE!? Like this Xiao Meng's mind was in a total mess.
While in fact, Yamato bought her that hairpin because she looked like she wanted it so bad. He didn't buy one for Xiao Ming because he didn't know what she currently wanted or her preference, in case he gave her something she dislikes. He decided to just buy several kinds of sweets for Xiao Ming to choose.
After walking for awhile, Yamato felt thirsty. The pair of master and maid entered a luxurious looking restaurant. Yamato's entrance caught the sight of everyone inside, he was gorgeously breathtaking that everyone practically halted what they were doing. Having the same face in his previous life, he was used to this kind of reaction he grew indifferent.
A capable looking waiter approached them, "Would you like to sit here or in the private room respectable guest?" the boy was staring intently at Ren Xiu, wasting no time to enjoy the rare view.
Yamato presented an approachable smile, "Here, can we sit on that table by the window?"
"Certainly, this is the menu, please call us when you made the order, excuse me."
The pair sat on the table Yamato had mentioned. He liked the view outside the window, it was a beautiful garden with a pond filled with kois. He found bonsais there, Yamato liked bonsai he even took care of several in his previous house it gained him the nickname of 'grandpa' used by his schoolmate.
"Have you decide what you want to order?" Yamato asked.
"Yes Princess" Xiao Meng passed the menu to Ren Xiu, she felt relaxed hanging out with her master as though she was just a friend.
▪️ Qing Youya ▪️
In my previous life, Brother's wife was dead even before i got to meet her. I heard she was punished to death for messing with An Xiao.
Everything repeats exactly like my previous life, except for sister-in-law. Not only she's not dead, the woman was far too eccentric. Being rude to royalty by behaving the way she wants, it was as though she didn't fear death, like a madman. A madman who couldn't be controlled by power or death is the most troublesome to deal with. However she's fresh enough to keep around, the woman wasn't rude in a hostile way, instead she was very friendly and doting. The good side of a madman is that they are straight forward, they wouldn't scheme to harm us. Moreover she's slender with only a thin layer of muscle, she wouldn't be able to attack me. It might be good to keep a fresh madman who is friendly and doting around me and Lian'er.
On the other side, i was never too fond of An Xiao. The girl was indeed innocent and sincere, however she was too naive, spoiled, and stupid to the point of being utterly useless. Putting her heart in front of her brain have made the girl impulsive it led her to invite countless trouble and blunder. She was a first class trouble maker. I have always thought that her sincere and innocent cuteness couldn't make up for every trouble she caused one after another. I even saw my brother as a masochist who enjoyed overworking himself by taking care of her every mess, he really was just a stupid slave of love.
Knowing Ren Xiu for the first time, i have yet to know whether the madman was as useless as An Xiao or not though. If she turns out to be one, i would certainly distance Lian'er from her.
"Brother Haoyue, please take care of us from tommorow onwards, we are counting on you" i know i was cute in my childhood, thus i revealed a sweet smile towards Baili Haoyue.
As a well known playboy, the guy was carefree, however not to the point of being a madman as he properly bowed down to us, "Understood, this humble servant, Baili Haoyue, will certainly live up to his highness expectations," with a cool and crisp voice he replied respectfully.
In my previous life, this guy was a few of the reasonable people i've met. He wouldn't accuse nor judge people without evidence, nor would he obey his superior blindly. This guy's death was indirectly caused by me, and it was one of my regrets. I swear i wouldn't let him die this time.
Tomorrow we would go to the goddess mountain, seeking help from Shen Yang. However i already know how it would end up, in my previous life Shen Yang rejected us without a clear reason, yet he have the nerve to accept An Xiao as his disciple. Even until now i still held him in contempt, because if only he was willing to heal Lian'er, she wouldn't die and i wouldn't need to go down that demonic path. But however i loathe him, i resolved to make this one a success, all for the sake of Lian'er.
"Your highness, prince Youya, is there something troubling you?" Baili Haoyue woke me up from my stupor.
"Ah, no.. Brother Haoyue, have you meet with Ren Xiu, brother Rui's wife?" i dodged the question with a question.
Be it a random question, it seems like it piqued his interest, "I haven't, have his highness met her?? How was she?" the playboy's eyes sparkle, afterall minister Ren Yuan daughter was famous for her beauty.
In fact i only remember how she coveted me like a hungry pedophile, "She was very beautiful and kind" and i spouted a statement i didn't really mean.
Haoyue's eyes beamed with glitters, it seems like i have raised his expectations sky high. My statement wasn't necessarily a lie thus it would be his own fault if he got disappointed later. Afterall who would expect the wife of a crown prince to be a pedophile madman like Ren Xiu.
"I'm looking forward for tomorrow!" he announced. I wasn't cruel enough to crush his joy, hence i leave him be with his own imagination.
For tomorrow's journey, i will make sure it succeed. I will definitely make Shen Yang heal my sister, even if i have to pay with my life.