Yamato was woken up by the light that goes through his closed eyes. He had spent the night inside the running carriage with Qing Lian on top of his lap, hence his whole body felt stiff and numb, causing him to wince after blinking. Luckily his back already healed, although the new wound on his neck had caused him a whole day of dizziness, he could still bear it.
Long journey by carriage felt like hell compared to cars. The seat wasn't as comfortable. The}wheel often shakes roughly upon encountering rugged ground or stones. Either the wheel or the clopping sound of the horse were both loud. There's no music player in carriages, and it goes only 20 miles per hour. Yamato was really irritated because he usually drove his car like a madman accompanied by supporting bgm from his media player.
This kind of situation when everyone in the carriage was still asleep, and the warm light slightly hit his skin in a cold temperature, while he was alone in such unusual morning makes him felt melancholic. How he missed his family and friends. How he missed his city. How he missed Chizuru. While in here he was situated in someone else's dead body, trying his best to blend to his surrounding, to this world, without no one to lean on, trying to be tough without rest.
"You awake sister-in-law?" Ever since his mother and sister died in his previous life, Qing Youya was unable to get a good night sleep even to this day. Everyday, all night he was only half asleep, waking up each single time by the slightest movement or sound. Currently he woke up by the rustling sound Ren Xiu made.
"Yes, i'm sorry did i wake you?" Yamato didn't realize it himself but his eyes were slightly teary.
"No, it's alright.." Qing Youya saw Qing Lian who was still sleeping comfortably inside Ren Xiu's warm embrace, feeling a bit agitated. "... Sister-in-law, why are you so doting?" he had found it strange from the start.
"Eh? Why am i.. So doting?" Yamato closed his eyes, trying hard to figure out why. Then he recalled his father's words when he was little..
Yamato is an empathic boy, you would do to others like you do to yourself. But by the same theory, it means Yamato would like others do to him like he do to others. Because Yamato had cooked daddy a meal, daddy will play with Yamato on the next free day, how does that sound hm?
Because he was still feeling slightly fuzzy, Yamato had yet to gain full control of himself, thus leaving him blushed in embarrassment. If he applied what his father had said a long time ago, then the answer for why was he so doting, is because he wanted to be pampered himself. Those embarrassing answer left him speechless.
"B-because i like pampering?" he blurted an obscure answer.
The answer left Qing Youya dissatisfied, although he doesn't really care, hence he only replied back with his mild fake smile.
When Qing Youya was about to close his eyes once more, Yamato uttered quietly, "I want to dote on Youya as well."
Closing his eyes, Qing Youya replied with an equally quiet voice, "No."
***
In a dark spacious room, Lu Zhen was rummaging through the paper on his desk. He stamped on some of it until an exquisite letter squeezed under some stack of paper entered his peripheral vision. He took the letter and slightly knitted his straight bushy brows.
A beautiful enchanting woman, with lithe body swathed in red suddenly emerged from behind Lu Zhen. The both of them have already saw through the letter, and just remembered the content. "Minister Ren Yuan's daughter, the crown princess will pass and rest here for a few days says the letter.. Dear, isn't she famous for her beauty?" Rong Qin circled her long and smooth arms unto Lu Zhen's strong neck, her eyes glistened meaningfully.
"Regardless of the rumour, we must prepare to welcome them.." Lu Zhen kissed and licked Rong Qin's arms, then sank his teeth unto the tender flesh til it bled, radiating lust anyone could sense.
Rong Qin giggled coquettishly with her intoxicating sensual voice, "It's still morning husband."
"Do time even matter?"
***
At noon, the party arrived at Zhuxin city, which were in the southern region of jing province. The city were lively and bustling like a festival. Children were playing everywhere without care, with their high pitched giggling as though the world were their's. The city was clean with very few beggars, indicating how prosper and peaceful the place was.
"This city isn't less than the capital.." Yamato muttered.
"Yes, Zhuxin is one of the most prosper city in the country!" Qing Lian chirped happily, she always longs to go on trips however it was impossible with her weak and sickly constitution. If not for medication, she would never be allowed to go on a journey like this.
"Is that so.." Yamato smiled and patted the girl's head.
The carriages and soldiers eventually halted in front of a gate of a magnificent luxurious mansion. It was dark in color, releasing an imposing and antique feeling that left Yamato speechless. He was amazed by the intricate craftsmanship of carvings on the pillars.
Under the gate, stood five figures equally elegant befitting the residence. On the center was duke Lu Zhen, with his charming wife and concubines on his sides.
Baili Haoyue opened the carriage's door and helped the prince and princess to get down. While later the moment Ren Xiu got out from the carriage, it left Lu Zhen's eyes widened in pleasant surprise.
Rong Qin who stood beside Lu Zhen could already sense her husband's hunger over the crown princess. She completely understood why, because Ren Xiu was very bewitching, gorgeous, and captivating, even she herself was momentarily stunned. However she narrowed her eyes the moment Yun was out, she realized the thick ominous yin energy inside his eye socket.
Lu Zhen doesn't look like he was enamored and bowed respectfully, "This duke Lu Zhen of Zhuxin greets Her highness the crown princess, his highness prince Qing Youya, and her highness princess Qing Lian, welcome to my humble city, and please let us receive you in our humble residence," Lu Zhen rises and revealed his strapping figure. The duke was tall and muscular, with broad shoulders donned in dark green exquisite robe. He was handsome with prominent high nose and cheekbones, his eyes kind and sharp framed by his straight thick eyebrows, his lips thin with neat mustache and beard. His whole figure exudes elegance and prestige.
Yamato lifted the corner of his lips and exchanged pleasantries as well, "Greetings my lord, we give our thanks for welcoming us. This truly is a prosper and peaceful city, we would love to stay here for a few days if possible."
"Certainly your highness.. Please come in, you all must be tired from the journey, let us serve you to lift your fatigue," Lu Zhen and his wives gestured the party to follow.
"Many thanks," Yamato followed.
Qing Youya, Qing Lian, Wang Li, Yun, and Xiao Meng went with Lu Zhen as well. While the remaining party were led to another place by Lu Zhen's guards and servants.
Yamato couldn't help but getting himself distracted by every single exquisite decoration inside the mansion. In fact Qing Rui's residence and the palace were grander and more gorgeous, however Lu Zhen's mansion has it's own mysterious charm which fascinates Yamato. The woods and walls were dark and elegant, it felt very cold and the halls have a slight smell of incense. It gave one's a peculiar feeling.
Aware of Ren Xiu's glittering eyes which crept on every inch of the hall, Rong Qin turned her head, "How's our mansion your highness?"
Yamato quickly regained his composure and directed his sight forward, "It's truly magnificent, i truly felt fortunate to be welcomed here."
Damn this Lu Zhen's wife has a really nice ass.
Rong Qin smiled with a narrowed eyes, "Your highness's flattery really honored us."
Yamato, "No no no i'm not flattering! This mansion truly is magnificent, you all have very nice aesthetic taste!"
Rong Qin giggled, "My! Thank you."
They walked while bantering lightly until they reached an open pavilion surrounded by pier bridges and koi ponds. Resembling the rest of the residence, the pavilion and bridges were dark and elegant in color, it also applies to the pond. However the crystal clear water revealed a lot of swimming colorfully saturated koi's, which made the whole place contrast and aesthetically picturesque.
Yamato was again agape, "I might redesign my courtyard when i get home."
Rong Qin and the concubines chuckled simultaneously. They had found that Ren Xiu was friendly thus dared behaves casually.
"I'm very honored that your highness likes this place," Lu Zhen also laughs with his low and dignified voice, "from here on my wives will show the rooms for everyone to rest, feel free to be at home, we will inform when the lunch is ready. Please excuse myself as i still have some business to deal with," Lu Zhen bowed.
"Thank you for your hospitality lord Lu Zhen," Qing Youya also bowed politely thus allowed Lu Zhen to leave.
Yamato let the wives led them. They entered a different building across the previous one, separated by the pond and pavilion. Although the design was exactly the same, Yamato felt that it was slightly different, however he can't quite put his hands on what it was.
"Her highness may use this room," one of the concubines announced while opening a large door of a luxurious room.
"Oh, many thanks!" Yamato was satisfied as he catch sight of the aesthetic interior he loves. He turned to that graceful concubine swathed in purple, "How forgetful of me! We haven't introduced ourselves to each other!" he acted as though he was surprised while widening both his eyes and mouth.
The concubine chuckled at the act while raising her fist to cover her mouth, "Yes, how forgetful of us! My name is Fang Baihe," she bowed her head, "honored to make your highness's acquaintance."
Yamato realized the faint quick glint on Fang Baihe's eyes, yet it was not a glint Yamato had anticipated, it was a glint hiding a dangerous lust. However he choose to ignore it and decided not to get too close with the concubine, "It's nice to know you."
Because of Fang Baihe, Yamato was quite afraid to make acquaintance with the rest of the concubines, hence he quickly excused himself and retreated to the room with Xiao Meng and Yun, while Wang Li and the twins entered the room just beside theirs.
Yamato heaved a deep sigh and stretched his body, the crackling sound of his joints could be clearly heard. Conducting one self after a long journey on a carriage really put a strain on his stiff body.
"Would you like to take a warm bath princess?" Xiao Meng asked with concern.
"Mmh, that might be good," Yamato threw himself on the bed while Xiao Meng quickly goes out to prepare for his bath. Yamato beckoned the awkward Yun with his hand.
Small and clumsy as he is, Yun approached and stared at him while fidgeting, "What is it Jiejie?"
Yamato pulled the boy thus causing them to plunge together into the bed. Yun was startled, however he didn't resist and lay beside Yamato.
"Do you know that children can't follow stranger?" Yamato squinted and scolded in a gentle tone.
However upon hearing the scolding, Yun smiled innocently, "It's alright."
Yamato was puzzled, "How come it's alright? It's your luck that it is i who picked you up, what if it's some person with ill intent? They will make you suffer!"
".. Then what am i supposed to do? Following or not following, Yun will feel pain either way? But it doesn't matter anymore, Yun is very happy to be picked up by jiejie!"
Hearing the childish and innocent tone, Yamato's heart ache. Wondering what kind of life the kid had experienced to have such bitter mindset.