11⚫A Carefree and Gentle Guy

▪️ Qing Youya ▪️

In my previous life, that An Xiao had brought so much trouble on this journey. I had intended to ignore her existence all the way, however as though she was some undisciplined pet, she kept producing troubles enough to keep me irritated till the end. She even has the capacity to invite bandits by just wandering around. I wouldn't want any of that  now that i already know how her mechanism works. In this journey she was beyond useless, she would be an immensely heavy useless luggage of junk. I don't want her to tag along at all cost, thus i would drive her out myself, even brother couldn't unreasonably slip her in if i complained. Or so i thought, until this madman offered me her mad deal.

Ren Xiu's madness really exceeded my wildest expectation. What the fuck up with that deal!? Just why!? How do her mind works!? How could she casually brought up that kind of idea!? What true motives did she holds!? However it's interesting! Truly interesting! Is she a real pedophile? Or did she want to punish my brother and trouble An Xiao to another level? And looking at her playful giggles, did she intend to tease them hard?

I also have grudge towards the both of them, be it teasing them or getting the throne, both are interesting, it's a win-win condition for me, i wouldn't want to decline such delicious deal. Thank you madman.

"What do you mean by that!?" brother snapped, he walked up towards Ren Xiu and squinted coldly from above, looking down emitting utter disgust.

The madman revealed a clueless leisure smile, clearly ignoring the freezing atmosphere brother had brought, it was as though she's oblivious to the concept of fear, "It's just as i said your highness."

Seething in silent rage, brother revealed his darkest, coldest expression brimming with nerve-wracking wrath. Upon looking at his perfectly carved face, everyone immediately became weak kneeled as chills ran up through their spine, even Lian'er whom brother had doted upon had been rendered into a trembling little rabbit desperately seeking shelter behind my small back.

Brother's intimidating aura was no joke, even the unrelated soldiers shed massive cold sweat, however seems like it didn't work on that particular madman.

Becoming even more irritated at Ren Xiu's little to no fear, he inadvertently glanced towards An Xiao's. The flame of deep rage instantly burnt like hell, because the girl he loved dearly made a difficult sad expression with moist eyes in the verge of tearing up. Blinded by rage, brother unsheathe the sword which hung upon his graceful waist and swung it towards Ren Xiu.

The madman didn't dodge, she still smiled very casually even when the blade almost slayed her throat down. The sharp blade was slightly embedded into Ren Xiu's side neck, causing blood to trickle nonstop down her swan like smooth neck, fading away when it reached her pitch black robe. Brother actually stopped in time, however he indeed attempt an impulsive murder towards his wife in broad daylight. Everyone was too shocked and bewildered, even i couldn't help but skip a beat at the sight.

The madman pouted, with blood gushing down her neck, she sulked and complained with deliberate cuteness, "I already offered her the greatest assistance given our statuses, all would end well as long as she don't make trouble, she even promised this herself.. Are you that confident regarding this average girl trouble-making ability? If she's the one about to cause trouble, then why am i the one about to be murdered!?"

While she sulked casually, one of her maid was desperately trying to stop and wipe her bleeding in panic, meanwhile the other one had ran hastily in search of the imperial physician. Everyone was still stupefied except for Haoyue who were already offering cloths to Ren Xiu's panicked maid. Lian'er were also trembling in worry behind me.

Brother Rui was silent, his brows arched, his face seemed conflicted.

"Why do you always imply injustice upon me? Why can't you be reasonable with me? Are you aiming to become an emperor in order to justify your selfishness like this? Hmph!" in order to humiliate brother Rui in public and to rob him off of his favorability as an emperor candidate, she thrusted most fatal words in disguise of a wronged sulking girl. What a sly madman, what an extreme way of teasing.

Damn, she's too funny and daring. I'm afraid that my giggles would come out. Everyone really looked at brother with a conflicted eyes indeed.

Ren Xiu's maid got slightly relieved when the madman's blood finally cease to flow, however her face was pale as sheet it was literally drained off all her blood, i bet she's beyond dizzy yet she still managed to smile calmly. "So? Is she going with us or no?" the madman asked.

Brother recoiled, he seemed confused, i've never seen brother make a face this troubled. He glanced towards the trembling An Xiao, gently he walked up to her and gathered her shoulders, with soft breezing words he asked, "Can you manage to stay still and obey them properly? If not, i would arrange another journey, but it might take a really long time." and he coaxed his girl.

Truly, brother is really cruelly partial, the one he likes he would pamper, the one he dislike he would abuse.

Being asked like that, An Xiao faced brother with an expression full of disbelief, she looked quite depressed, though i have no slightest idea why.

▪️ normal pov ▪️

An Xiao was greatly disappointed, she thought that no matter what, Qing Rui wouldn't want to divorce Ren Xiu. Thus he asked her to either comply or took another party. She was wavered by the thought that Qing Rui loved his beautiful wife after all. She felt like Qing Rui wasn't loyal, and that she should've known that. She felt greatly ashamed about overestimating herself although she was clearly far more inferior even to his concubines.

While in fact Qing Rui really just couldn't afford to lose a big support for the throne over this small ordeal.

Bearing all the depressing feelings inside, An Xiao nodded weakly. She also have ambitions, she wouldn't stop right here just because she wasn't as loved as she had thought.

Feeling slightly helpless, Qing Rui heaved a light sigh then turns towards Ren Xiu, his brows arched, "She would be joining this trip, i will be accepting your deal. However.." Qing Rui glared, "See if you dare to deliberately give her a hard time."

Yamato lifted the corner of his lips and squinted, "Relax, i won't pay much attention to her anyway. At most, she just have to bear being glared at by some people and no one to chat with. She would be a mere luggage, and not priority at all, you understand?"

Squinting coldly at the bloody Yamato, Qing Rui nods. He turns to An Xiao and plastered the most gentle expression he got, "You have to bear with it alright? It would be a long journey.. Despite looking like that, Ren Xiu is someone you can reason with, she won't unreasonably bully you.." Qing Rui placed a jade box unto An Xiao's hands and whispered, "If you can't stand it anymore or if you encounter something too dangerous, break this, it would signal me and i'll immediately come to save you, alright?"

Soothed by Qing Rui's love and gentleness, An Xiao temporarily forgot her depression and nod with a resolute expression while grasping the box tightly.

"For me? How about me? Am i not getting any encouragement or gift eh husband? " Yamato teased.

Qing Rui glared with reproach, he was getting pretty irritated because she called him husband in front of An Xiao. However he immediately smiled though freezing, "That wound on your neck is a gift, also an encouragement for you to take extra care because anyone could easily kill you."

From the words alone you sounds like a fucking extreme tsundere, Yamato thought. He giggled and presented a joyful smile, "Thank you your highness."

'Unpredictable' were already counted as Ren Xiu's trademark trait. Qing Rui knew the girl could shook his mood up and down in a blink of an eye, he knew he couldn't possibly predict her actions, however this one joyful laugh and smile over his sarcasm not only surprised him, but also tingle something from deep within his heart which he couldn't exactly name. It was quite a foreign pleasant feeling that subconsciously made his smile shed it's ice like summer coming.

Because Ren Xiu always plastered a leisure and calm expression, Qing Rui didn't really get the feeling of wounding her, let alone screaming she didn't even wince. Even everyone in her surrounding eventually ceased to panic due to her calm demeanor though her face resembled nothing but a ghost right now.

The imperial physician came in a hurry with sweat dripping from his old wrinkly temple, he had guessed that the situation might be quite serious because Xiao Meng called him with a pale face as though she had just encountered a demon. He was quite relieved the moment he saw everyone's normal attitude, however he quickly became apprehensive once he laid his eyes on a big bundle of bloody cloth on the ground.

He quickly ran up and looked at Ren Xiu, whose face showed no pain whatsoever except for her exceedingly pale complexion. Checking on the wound, he knew it was from a blade and no one would dare to slice Ren Xiu except for Qing Rui here. Again, how much does he intend to abuse his wife, he thought with a frown. Luckily it didn't hit her throat and only sliced the veins around, still dangerous because of blood loss but less scary than actually having her throat sliced, the physician was bewildered at how Ren Xiu could manage to stay conscious while she should have felt unbearably dizzy as her brain lacked blood. Rather than medicine, he actually needs to sew a few veins, however this physician was once a disciple on the goddess mountain, making him able to complete the task quite easily with a method ordinary people wouldn't know.

The physician left with a long sigh, he had conversed a bit and actually quite fond of Ren Xiu. Yamato's neck was sewed and bandaged, however his complexion didn't get any better.

Looking at the bandage wrapping Ren Xiu's neck, Qing Rui finally felt a scrap of guilt. He walked up to her, "I'm sorry, i lost control back then."

Everyone was dumbstruck, no one expected the partial crown prince to even mind about it. Qing Youya and Qing Lian widened their big eyes in surprise, they have never saw their brother apologize even once before.

Currently Yamato classified Qing Rui in a rehabilitation stage, still in a stage where his overly cruel side could still be slowly fixed. However once Qing Rui dared to do cruel thing such as impulsively wounded a woman, Yamato sworn he would classify the prince in the punishment stage. Luckily inside Ren Xiu was Yamato, a man, thus Qing Rui escaped the judgement by a hair's breadth. Looking at Qing Rui's slightly remorseful expression, Yamato gave his shoulder a grip, "Don't be impulsive and unreasonable next time, alright?"

Qing Rui flinched, startled by the rare serious aura Ren Xiu emitted. Originally this kind of attitude towards him counted as rude, however he couldn't possibly yell right after apologizing, hence he nodded.

Entertained by Qing Rui's conflicted yet obedient face, Yamato giggled. He patted Qing Rui's shoulder several time and smiled, "Good boy."

Something sparks within Qing Rui's heart. He was reminded about his late mother, whom sometimes would pat him in the head and say 'good boy'. His late mother didn't spoil him nor cruel to him. She was a loving mother who would properly reprimand him when he was naughty and praise him when he did good. Previously she was the only person who showed him warm sincerity which he loved. It was the exact reason why he loved An Xiao, because she showed him warm sincerity.

All this time everyone either respects, fear, or loathe him. Qing Rui thought that Ren Xiu was one of the people that simply loathe him with fake smiles. However it turns out different from what he expected, it shocked him big time. He finally realized that Ren Xiu actually reprimand and teaches him about reasoning, she also praised him when he apologized after doing wrong. It was just like when he was with his mother.

No one present would expect even in their wildest dream, tear suddenly drops from Qing Rui's clear black eyes.

Still with the smile, Yamato sighed and patted Qing Rui's head, "You did well."