7⚫Hate

However equal the two were, there's no such thing as a tie in chess. Yamato who usually presented a relaxed smile and behavior all day was nowhere to be found, he was currently very focused and solemn, eyes riveted to the pieces, with no expression present. Xiao Ming had anxiously alerted Yamato with low voice several time from his side, reminding him of his raised feet which was exceedingly rude, in case the crown prince realized and gave a heavy punishment. However Yamato didn't hear anything, he completely shunned his surrounding except for the chess board, and fortunately the same goes for Qing Rui.

Three hours had passed, Fang Lihua couldn't keep up and were in a bind of an awkward situation. She could only sit still waiting for the game to finish.

Qing Rui furrowed his straight brows, he was cornered. Just a moment ago the meticulous roundabout plan he launched worked and he was in an advantage, however a moment later he realized it was all a trap when it was already too late, suddenly the table has been turned and he was at a big disadvantage. Anxiety, fear, respect, disgust, adrenaline, excitement, inside Qing Rui were in a weird high tension. He always thought of scheming foxes as disgusting, but never did he thought of them as scary, yet right now, for him, Ren Xiu is scary. His wife actually pretended to be smart while she was actually a genius. She made him alerted to a certain degree to predict and read his moves. She made him assume her strength, while in fact it was her who were actually evaluating him. Subconsciously Qing Rui made a sinister excited smile which terrifies everyone who peered upon him.

"It's a checkmate," Yamato heaved a long sigh and smirked, he stretched his stiff body and immediately assuming a relaxed position.

Looking at the chess board, Fang Lihua couldn't see the checkmate at all. She peered upon Qing Rui who were frowning at the board, afraid that Ren Xiu might be wrong and angered the prince.

Staring at the board, he grasp the situation of the entire piece. With his fast brain, he played every move possible inside his head, and he found that however he moves from this point onwards, everything's futile, he'll lose. That every moves, strategy, and pattern he calculated amounts to hundreds, and the moment he looked at Ren Xiu, he realized it was all her plan all along.

Qing Rui bowed his head, looking all depressed. Everyone except Yamato panicked at the sight, thinking that the prince would rage and murder her right here right now.

However Yamato knew it wasn't the case, hence he giggled.

Even before everyone got to shut that giggling mouth, the bowing prince also giggled, and he eventually raised his head and burst into laughter, inviting Yamato to laugh along. Everyone was dumbstruck and stupefied, having no idea about what was going on.

"Hahahahahahaha! Since when did you plan that one?" Qing Rui appeared so satisfied.

Yamato holds his laughter, "Since around his highness move your rook to get my queen," Yamato was currently genuinely happy, he sips his tea and realized it was all cold, "Xiao Ming bring me a warm tea."

Finally ceased to laugh, yet unexpectedly the smile were still plastered on his handsome face, Qing Rui gazed upon Ren Xiu and uttered, "It was a great game."

Yamato returns the smile, "It was indeed. I might be unsuitable to be your wife, however it would be a pleasure to be your playmate."

Inside, Qing Rui was startled. The words Yamato had just said made him contemplate. He knew nothing about his wife. Before he flogged her, Ren Xiu was just an ordinary noble who wanted to suck up to his feet, her constant coquettish conduct disgusts him, her ulterior motives disgusts him, her every effort to make him look at her disgusts him. All he knows about her was that she disgusts him, he spare no slightest glance at her well being, he almost killed her when she was desperate, he cursed her very status as his wife, she was only a total annoyance to his life.

However it was all because he never pay her any attention. He never knew if she truly loved him, he never knew how much effort she puts only to gain some attention, he never knew how desperate she was, he never knew what kind of person she was, he knew literally nothing. Now that he recall, the doctor who tended to An Xiao had said that the poison wasn't deadly, even the antidote was easily located. He did wonder why would Ren Xiu attempt something so futile, however he didn't spare the effort to think further as he was overwhelmed with thoughts of An Xiao's well being. Now that he think about it, maybe she was just jealous, maybe she only wanted to make An Xiao suffer, and even in that desperation, she didn't kill her. In the end there was little to none damage on An Xiao, yet Ren Xiu suffer for a whole month that she nearly dies.

Ren Xiu was a sheltered girl, she must've never experienced any pain in her boudoir. Yet suddenly she was scarred with a wound so painful to the extent of losing her memories. No wonder she no longer afraid of death, no wonder she no longer made the effort to even respect him, afterall revering him only made her suffer the feeling worse than death.

By Yamato's words, he finally understood that she no longer wanted him. She no longer harbor hope. She had gave up on him. It made Qing Rui felt quite guilty.

Qing Rui made a solemn face, "I want to ask. What do you think about An Xiao?"

Everyone was dumbfounded. It was such an inappropriate and rude question. How could someone asked for an opinion about one's mistress to one's own wife. Even Fang Lihua was raged inside.

Yamato was startled but he washed it immediately with a light laugh, "You see.. if you love someone, and that person love you as well, it's called a miracle, and it's such a precious thing, people will naturally treasure it,

"Sometime a person should obtain their own happiness by their own hands.. And obtaining or achieving something, means sacrificing something in stead. This kind of happiness is selfish, only to satisfy themselves, they wouldn't mind sacrificing anything, be it one self, or other people.

"Your highness, you are very selfish. I understand everyone wanted to achieve and treasure their happiness. However, understanding do not equal forgiving. I hate you, and this 'hate' was born from one of the sacrifice you pay for your own selfish happiness, so you must accept it.

"Rather than asking about what do i think about An Xiao, you should've asked about what do i think about you. An Xiao was in fact, just my love rival, i don't really hate her very person, i just hate every love you gave her. My attempt in poisoning her was one of my sacrifice to gain my happiness, however i was not selfish, as getting loved by you was originally my right as your wife. I didn't kill her even though i have the right to do so, it was my kindness. Hence, i hate you because you were being selfish and unreasonable, yet you spare me no slightest bit of kindness as a return of what i've showed her. That is my answer." Yamato sip the warm tea he just poured. He also poured three more and gave them to the prince and the concubine.

While Yamato act so casually, everyone was actually stupefied. Xiao Ming and Fang Lihua felt tears almost welled up to their eyes. The guard beside Qing Rui bowed in silence. While Qing Rui himself gazed solemnly at Ren Xiu.

"So you blame me?"

"Exactly," Yamato smiled.

The emperor's will was the heaven's will, the same goes for Qing Rui as a crown prince, thus all his life, he was never blamed for anything. He never expected such an answer, and it actually opened his eyes. He understood the fact that he was a tyrant, and the fact that Ren Xiu did nothing wrong. It all happened because he was too blinded by his own selfish happiness, his judgement clouded severely, that he missed the fact that Ren Xiu was actually a kind and smart woman.

"Your highness, i might win the permission to enter the library. But i'll give you a service by doing that mission you had proposed as well."

Qing Rui was surprised, "Why? Didn't you just said you hate me?"

"Hate do not equal not being bored here doing nothing," Yamato leaned back and crossed his arm, his smirk and posture were so relaxed it almost enticing.

Qing Rui never took a good look of his wife, what he remember was just flashy dress and nauseating perfume. But now that he was willing to look at her, he finally realized that Ren Xiu was truly a charming devilish beauty. Her current outfit was a simple black dress draping loosely over her slender and tall figure, the same goes for her long jet black hair which wasn't even tied. He had ignored the fact that she dresses inappropriately because he knew she wouldn't listen and he refused to waste a breath on her. However right now he couldn't help but frown and thought it was too vulgar.

"Just because you do nothing here doesn't mean you could dress so loosely, you should mind your manner and mind the people looking at you."

"Hua'er came when i was about to take a nap, she didn't look like she minded thus i didn't change. And when your highness came, you also didn't mention anything so i thought you also don't mind." Yamato have no idea why he brought this up right now.

Although it invited a dissatisfied frown, Qing Rui also thought that her argument was sound and valid. A normal wife or concubine wouldn't dress so uptight before their husband, and as a fellow woman with lower status, Fang Lihua also wouldn't mind much nor dared to mention anything. "I see."

"So? What's the mission?"

Qing Rui glanced at Ren Xiu, "I'll tell you the day after tomorrow."

It was already night and everyone Went back to their own respective nests. Yamato told Fang Lihua to visit him when she wanted to go to the library, and he made an appointment to go to Qing Rui's place the day after tomorrow.

Teary eyed, Xiao Ming approached Yamato and tugged weakly on his sleeve.

Noticed the sadness and frustration on the small face, Yamato caressed her cheek, "What is it? What made you so sad?"

Suddenly her tears dropping like a waterfall.

"W-what?? What happened? Why do you cry? What upsets you?" Yamato was always playful and gentle towards women, however even he would panick if someone suddenly bawl on him. "Is it because i made you wait too long with the chess game? Are you tired? I'm so sorry.. Are you perhaps intimidated by his highness? I'm so sorry, forgive me okay? I'll give you more pie, there there good girl" Yamato was very confused as he coaxed the girl while stroking her back, he really felt guilty making her wait for hours when he forgot the time playing.

Xiao Ming shaked her head fiercely, her tears and snot splettered.

Yamato became even more confused, "Then what is it? Calm down and tell me."

After a few minutes, her sobbing finally ceased, with tears and snot all over her face, she tried her best to convey, "P-princess.. Hi-His highness is so cruel.. Why- why did he have to ask about your opinion.. R-regarding that wretched woman?? And why.. Why do you talk like you forgive them?? Because- because of them, because of them your back became unsightly.. You almost die.. You suffer so much.. Why do you talk about her so kindly? Even though.. Even though they didn't show you any kindness.." and she cried again.

Yamato sighed and revealed a helpless bitter smile, "Silly girl.. I don't forgive them, i don't show any kindness either, i just acted calm, i couldn't possibly act hysteric in front of his highness right? Do you not remember my recent attitude towards his highness? Even your life was often at stake because of it right? That was precisely because i hate him and don't forgive him. You don't have to worry about me, i'm not that soft" Yamato did think lowly and disgusted by him, however he actually didn't hate him as much. It was all for the dead girl, Ren Xiu's sake. Now that he was in her body, he couldn't possibly ignore her feelings. Poor girl, Yamato wanted to respect Ren Xiu's feelings and agony, thus he would never forgive them.

He also understood why Xiao Ming, Ren Xiu's attendant who equals as her childhood friend, would bore grudge as big. The maid would not allow Ren Xiu to be so soft and let her fall in the same pit. She would rather face death herself than allowing Ren Xiu suffer the same thing all over again. At first Xiao Ming was afraid at Ren Xiu's new life threatening brazen attitude, however right now, she thought it was how it's supposed to be, although they need to put their neck at stake by each sentence, it was worth it.

"T-then.. I'll trust you.." Xiao Ming finally calmed.

Yamato gave a helpless tender smile, "Thank you, Xiao Ming."