17⚫Rest Area (2)

Yamato caressed the skinny pale boy and turned solemn, ".. But i'm not your mother.. I cannot take care of you with no reason forever."

Pursing his lips, Yun closed his eye while knitting his brows. A second later he blinked his bright eye as though a light bulb had shone upon his brain, "Then Yun will become a servant! Or a guard? If Yun work Yun can eat, and can stay with kind Jiejie, isn't that right!?"

After being stunned for a few second, Yamato chuckled, "Are you sure? Work is hard! It's suuuper tiring, and could you even do it?" he found him endearing and couldn't help but to tease.

Yun was flustered, he did saw how slave with bad masters work, the work was indeed hard and was almost impossible for his small built, "Uh - uh.. Yun will.. Yun will.. Uh.. Oh no jiejie, what should Yun do??" he sat up as panic filled his eyes.

Yamato burst into laughter and pulled Yun down into his embrace.

"J-jiejie??"

"You will become jiejie's guard okay? So you don't need to work but instead practice and study til you become strong and big enough, sounds good?" Yamato's eyes were so gentle and sincere it repelled any doubt and insecurity the boy has.

As his eyes glimmers brightly like a crescent, the boy smiled with his sunken cheek, "Yes!"

Nodding, Yamato still has things in his mind. Such as why Fang Baihe previously looked at him with lust? If he was still in his male body, it was no surprise, however he was currently a full fledged woman, thus it makes no sense. Unless, Fang Baihe was bent.

Yamato couldn't comprehend the concept of love in this era, as one male could normally have several wives. He couldn't accept it as love, however he could accept it as lust and like. This concept might allow Fang Baihe to marry a man, because Lu Zhen didn't desire her heart, but only coveted her body. Realizing that he was pondering about the relationships on the Lu household, Yamato immediately snapped himself, feeling rude to be so nosy.

In relationship aspect however, Yamato respected Qing Rui to stay loyal and loved only one woman. He perhaps would respect him more if only Qing Rui wasn't such an unreasonable virgin tyrant. Thinking about love and relationship, Yamato involuntarily came to remember Chizuru, the girl he loved. Once her visage lingered on his mind, he couldn't help but feeling weak and lonely. He suddenly felt isolated to this strange new world, feeling detached and different.

"Jiejie?"

Yamato snapped from his stupor, "Yes? Oh, Xiao Meng! The bath are done?"

"Yes Princess, it's ready," there was a hint of slight confusion. Xiao Meng had called Ren Xiu for five times, yet she didn't respond until Yun tugged on her collar.

Yamato stood up and began to undress his outer robe, "You just got yourself bandaged yesterday, so you can't take a bath today. While i bath, you stay there and be obedient alright?" he told the boy while taking off his hairpin, scattering down his long silky raven hair, lustrous akin to obsidian.

The boy has yet to enter puberty, however he understood what beauty was as he got captivated by the breathtaking sight Ren Xiu displayed. "... Jiejie is so beautiful!"

Yamato widened his eyes in surprise, but immediately chuckled, "Well thank you! Now, what's your answer?"

".. Oh, yes! Yun will be obedient! And stay!" the boy sat straight and prim, looked determined to obey the command.

"Good boy," then he left to enter a small side room with a tub full of warm water which Xiao Meng had just filled.

In the spacious room, Yun were left with Xiao Meng. They were awkward. Compared to the first time they met however, Xiao Meng was already not as repulsed at Yun as before. Furthermore after getting bathed, treated, changed, and fed, the boy was not as repugnant nor as ghastly as he previously was. She also heard how Ren Xiu intended to make him one of her men, causing Xiao Meng to feel more familiar for their same faction.

Xiao Meng approached Yun in a haughty manner, flaunting her seniority as Ren Xiu's personal maidservant, "What's your name?"

Surprised and flustered, Yun replied timidly, "Y-yun'er."

"Your surname?"

"S-surname?" the boy only know what his parents called him, while he didn't even recognize his parents name.

"You don't have one?"

"Don't know.. Sorry," Yun drooped his eye apologetically.

"Hmm.. Then you're temporarily Xiao Yun."

The boy's eye glimmer, "Xiao Yun.. Yes! Thank you Jiejie!"

Xiao Meng puffed in satisfaction, feeling more favorable of the obedient boy.

Meanwhile soaking inside the tub, Yamato was giggling listening to their conversation. Didn't know Xiao Meng's haughtiness was kinda cute. He then shouted with a stern voice, "Xiao Meng! How dare you be presumptuous and decide things on me!"

Yamato couldn't see the maid's reaction yet his imagination more or less fits the reality as Xiao Meng was plastering a pale panicked expression, "T-t-this servant apologizes princess! Please have mercy! I didn't mean to step on my bound!" Xiao Meng immediately kowtowed in fear as her forehead hit the floor.

"You too Xiao Yun! Don't easily obey people's proposition!"

Xiao Yun was startled thus stuttered, "S-s-sorry jiejie..."

However Xiao Meng immediately raised her head dumbstruck, ".. Huh?" She realized how Ren Xiu casually called Xiao Yun by the name she had suggested. "Princess!!" she burst in restrained anger and embarrassment, causing her face to blush uncontrollably.

Yamato burst into a hearty laughter, "Hahahahaha! Stupid Xiao Meng got a bump on her forehead! Hahaha!" the previous bumping sound from the maid's kowtow was after all loud enough to travel between walls.

"Ugh princess!" Xiao Meng was feeling upset due to the current Ren Xiu who would tease and play her from time to time, however each time she couldn't refute considering their status.

Yun was confused, his children brain has yet to equip the feature for a play of words. However feeling the light atmosphere, he felt relaxed and involuntarily smiled along.

The bathroom door eventually got slammed open by Ren Xiu. Walking out slightly wet and steamy with only her inner robe draping over her delicate shoulder had made the crown princess exceptionally sensual. Ren Xiu was too otherworldly that even Xiao Meng gulped and immediately turned her gaze downward, afraid of something she didn't even know.

Yamato rummaged his belonging and took out a pearl white elegant robe edged with intricate silver brocade. He line up the robe along with a light blue belt and white jade hairpin. The moment he finished dressing up, a goddess was born.

It truly blows Xiao Meng's mind as the only audience it left her mouth agape. Ever since escaping death door, Ren Xiu always wore simple robe in dark color, giving her a devilish charm. Yet now, donned in white and light blue, Ren Xiu resembled nothing but a celestial pure maiden from heaven, oozing with untainted innocence and noble charm.

Why the fuck are you suddenly changing your image???

Were the question Xiao Meng didn't let out.

Not long after, a servant from Lu's household informed that the lunch was ready in the pavilion.

Yamato didn't bring Xiao Yun with him, afraid of being rude to the host. Thus he left and locked the room with Xiao Meng who followed suit.

They arrived at the pavilion, which were currently lively. In the center, placed a long square low table crammed with all kinds of mouth watering delicacies. Yamato was the last to arrive hence he uttered some humble apology then seated himself gracefully on the soft cushion mat. All eyes was on him, however Yamato stubbornly acted as though he didn't notice.

Qing Lian who were seated beside him stared with glittering eyes full of admiration, "Xiu Jie is so beautiful in white.. Just like a fairy!"

Rong Qin added, "Yes, i was so surprised and almost didn't recognize you! 'Who is this fairy' i thought!"

Lu Zhen also commented, "Minister Ren Yuan must've been so proud to have a daughter so beautiful!" his eyes glinted with lust.

Truth be told, Yamato changed his image into an innocent one was partly because he didn't want to be seen with a coveting eyes. However all seem in vain, as not only Fang Baihe looked more thirsty, even the lust Lu Zhen had suppressed hard involuntarily shown. Guess a conservative beauty really turned some people on. Giving up on this fact, Yamato could only heaved a sigh in his heart and comply.

However he was actually quite bothered by one extra person he didn't recognize who sat beside Lu Zhen. Yamato glanced at the person, signaling people to introduce him.

Lu Zhen was quite perceptive, partly because he kept glancing at Ren Xiu though, "Oh, i was about to introduce him," Lu Zhen held the shoulder of the person beside him, "This is my only son, Lu Xuan. Xuan'er, greet them."

The boy was bigger than the twins, handsome just like his father, however he looked quite confused.

"I'm Lu Xuan, nice to meet you," the voice was flat, just like his expression.

"Nice to meet you! You're so handsome! How old are you?" Yamato asked, deliberately looking enthusiastic for the indifferent child. He recalled how his distant aunts acted towards the youngsters in family gatherings.

However Lu Xuan didn't get everything Ren Xiu had said, "I'm 13."

"Xuan'er you are 14 this year," Rong Qin added gently.

Lu Xuan gazed at Rong Qin for a little while, then shifted his gaze towards Ren Xiu, "I'm 14."

Yamato immediately understood that the boy was slow witted, however he didn't change his expression or attitude even a bit, "I see. I'm Ren Xiu, you can call me pretty jiejie."

The people around the table let out slight chuckles. Although Lu Xuan who barely understood only nodded flatly.

No one noticed how Qing Lian looked at Lu Xuan, she didn't understood why a person older than her could be so stupid as to forgot his own age thus she found him peculiar.

The lunch banquet proceeded as Lu Zhen picked up his chopsticks. Everyone ate and bantered lightly from time to time commenting about the dishes, especially Yamato who was eager to know about some recipe. However Yamato had a hard time ignoring Fang Baihe who stared at him as though he was the food.

Qing Lian though, was focused on Lu Xuan. The boy couldn't handle the chopsticks well, frequently dropping his food, he looked incredibly awkward as though it was his first time using one. Lu Zhen and Rong Qin kept filling his bowl with food, the very example of a good parent. There was a time when Qing Lian and Lu Xuan's eyes met, the girl good naturedly smiled shyly, yet the boy only stared blankly, making Qing Lian even more embarrassed and awkward. Qing Lian secretly pouted, disliking Lu Xuan for his inconsiderate response.

While talking about the food with the concubines, Yamato made a subtle considerate care towards Qing Youya who sat beside him simultaneously. Recalling that the boy wasn't a picky eater, Yamato kept filling his bowl with food according to a balanced nutrition standard. When Qing Youya stopped eating, Yamato also subtly ate his leftover without no one even noticed.

Qing Youya felt quite uncomfortable and bewildered. Such care and consideration was uncalled for him, as food actually tasted bland on his tongue. However he let Ren Xiu does as she liked, because in the end he didn't really care even if the food was poisoned. Qing Youya hated other's goodwill, for it was always his doom. Hence upon seeing Ren Xiu's goodwill, he only sneered inwardly while plastering a mild smile outward.

Ps:/ i will edit these afterward. In d early chapters i use big sister and big brother, but now used jiejie and gege. I didnt realize and pls tell me what you prefer thank you 😢😢😢