Yamato scanned his surrounding, trying his best to make sense of everything. He could make sure it was no prank, no props could be this authentic, no unknown actor could look this genuinely grieved.
Everything was on ancient setting, even the fresh unpoluted air could be identified. Anything he could accept, except his hurting back. He felt a sting so powerful it throbbed so acutely. Yamato has a strong resistance to pain hence he could manage to prop himself up and sit, making the crying man and woman in front of him hastily rushed to lay himself back down.
"I'm sorry but who are you?" he asked apologetically.
Everyone was startled, it was so visible that Yamato couldn't help but recoiled as well. The woman with wet cheeks burst into tears once more. He have no slightest idea about what was going on, he could only peer through everyone present with an evident questioning clueless eyes.
"You don't remember us Xiu'er?" the wet eyed man revealed a skeptical, disappointed, yet soft looks.
Yamato propped himself up once more and tilted his head, "Xiu'er? Who?" he glanced down his body and found a pair of round snowy breasts attached to his body, making his already pale complexion worsen beyond sheets. Yamato was a calm and open-minded person, nothing have really shocked him, but this clearly go beyond his limit that he practically lost any words or motion to react.
"Seems like she has lost her memories" the imperial physician deducted.
"Why?" Qing Rui was confused.
"Memory loss can be caused by a wide range of condition, including severe illness, high fever, emotional stress, and anaesthetics" the imperial physician peeked a bit to Qing Rui, he knew it was all caused by this prince, "Allow this humble servant to check on her symptoms once more and write a prescription."
Ren Yuan and Qin Yixue could only make way and wait for the physician to check on their stupefied daughter. Feeling both sad and relieved, thinking that at least their daughter had managed to escape the door to the other world. None of them realized that the real Ren Xiu was already nowhere.
Yamato was still stupefied, staying still and letting the physician check on his body. He was utterly shocked, even his mouth was slightly gaped, staring blankly at nothing and refusing to believe that the breasts was reality.
The physician finished and were writing a prescription when Qing Rui approached Ren Xiu. Realizing a strapping figure beside his bed, Yamato looked up to him and made an apologetic questioning face. He has no recollection of this male-god.
Qing Rui, "Ren Xiu."
Yamato low laughed, "Ren Xiu? Is who?" he was simply blank and confused, feeling so helplessly clueless.
Qing Rui narrowed his eyes, "It's you."
Yamato felt as though he was struck by lightning. He stood up and hastily skimmed the room, he looked so shocked and panick stricken, "M-mirror! Is there any mirror!?"
Qin Yixue immediately ran up to her daughter who looked like she had just seen a ghost, "Xiu'er you are still sick! Lay down we will bring you mirror."
Yamato yielded and sat down, nonetheless still looking panicked, "Who are you?"
Qin Yixue held her tears at those words and mustered her strength, "I'm your mother Xiu'er," she bit her lower lip.
Surprise could be clearly seen on Ren Xiu's widened eyes, then it shifted to disconcert as she narrowed her sight. At this point Yamato already have several speculation. He assumed he had become a sickly girl called Ren Xiu. Not exactly sickly, Yamato could feel the scorching pain on his back, it was definitely a fleshy physical wound. If this body had encountered an accident, then the wound would be distributed all over the place, however the distinct pain only came from his back, he could deduct that it was definitely torture or abuse. Even after racking his brain, Yamato couldn't find the reason why this body was tortured, making him afraid to even ask.
As though realizing Ren Xiu's fear and worry, Qin Yixue hugged her while still being careful of her bloody back. With a slightly rasp trembling voice, she consoled, "It's alright Xiu'er, it's alright, mother's here."
Yamato gulped, "Can i.. Could you all please leave me alone for a while? I'm dizzy."
The distressed parents could only comply, followed by Qing Rui and Ren Xiu's personal maidservants.
"Ah no! That girl! That little girl! Could you accompany me here?" Yamato beckoned Xiao Ming who was about to leave.
Two wet faced girls immediately ran up to her eagerly. Those girls were revealing a relieved smile accompanied with wet sparkling red eyes and red snotty nose. looking at them made Yamato felt helpless he practically sighed. He planned to interrogate these harmless looking girls about the current setting and situation. He needs to understand the condition he's in.
~~~
Being naturally confused, Yamato let those girls blabber their mouth thus he could capture a candid outline of this situation.
Apparently, i've become an ignored princess consort, and that person earlier was my husband who loved other person to the point that he dared flog his own legal wife, wow. He's smitten.
Yamato tried to use his empathy. In the past, there was several people who wanted to harm Chizuru. That time Yamato was also distressed and he gave those people a lesson. However those people just got what they deserved. But Ren Xiu, did she deserve this? Isn't it common sense for a wife to demand justice from her husband? Yamato decides to put the blame on Qing Rui. How dare he flog a woman! his own wife to boot! A slap is enough for a woman! And isn't his lover ended up just alright!?
In fact Yamato had sided with Ren Xiu, he could empathize her feelings. Initially he was also Chizuru's boyfriend, he had tried his best to own her heart by doing anything nice a man could possibly do. However it was in vain, no matter how hard he tried, Chizuru still loved Yuuki and eventually came to his side. That alone already made him feel utterly bitter, he had a hard time throwing his ego for the sake of Chizuru's happiness, and he was only a boyfriend! Ren Xiu was a wife! Being ignored and rejected by her husband for a year, while the so called husband had always treasured his little lover, which wife wouldn't bore hatred!?
Yamato decides to play the role of Ren Xiu while searching for a way to return to his previous life. If possible he would also like to get a revenge for her, by any means. A jerk like Qing Rui don't deserve to live happily. This throbbing stinging pain on his back, the scar that cannot be erased, is the prove of Qing Rui's cruelty.
"Xiao Ming, Xiao meng, could i have some water?" Yamato asked with a helpless smile.
"Certainly!" Xiao Ming immediately ran.
Yamato now knew, these two maids were Ren Xiu's personal maid which she had brought from home, they were very loyal. The two also detested An Xiao, always describing her by the nickname 'Slutty fox'. They had even took part with An Xiao's poisoning incident. Yamato didn't think that they were sly and unpure, rather, very loyal and human. They hate An Xiao in behalf of their miss. However, Yamato still planned to re-educate them.
After drinking the water Xiao Ming had fetched, Yamato braced himself to stand. He felt very weird and uncomfortable, his back aching like crazy, and he felt an unnecessary fat load in his chest. His hands and feet were beautifully long and slim, at the same time very frail, even he himself was afraid to make a move in case it breaks this body unknowingly.
The wooden classic door opened, and there stood Qin Yixue with her beautiful yet dishevelled appearance. "You shouldn't stand!" Approaching her daughter, she leaned to her ear and whispers softly, "Mother will avenge you if you want it" the soft voice were filled with cold determination, her eyes were dark when she hook her arms to help Ren Xiu walk.
Yamato gulped, he squeezed a little anxious smile, "Revenge for what?" he acted like he didn't know.
Qin Yixue furrowed her brows in worry, "You.. Have i really become a stranger in your eyes? Do you know who you are? Do you know your situation right now?"
"I'm sorry.. M-mother. Yes, Xiao Ming and Xiao meng have explained to me.. Just- just give me some time to digest all of this," Yamato awkwardly lifted the corner of his lips, "rather, i want to change clothes and bandages.. It feels kinda uncomfortable."
Qin Yixue attentively signaled Xiao Ming and Xiao Meng, leading the two to immediately fetch and brought forth a purple dress. The dress was beautiful, girly, and full of exaggerated embroidery, it made Yamato frown.
He ordered, "Bring me something light, thin, and simple."
Xiao Ming and Xiao Meng were confused, their miss used to like flashy dresses hence she almost have none of the so-called simple clothes. She only have one simple black dress, and the maids decided to bring that nearly never-used pair of clothing.
Approving the simple and elegant dress, those two maids brought her a mirror. For the second time Yamato felt like he was struck by lightning upon staring at the face reflected in the mirror. It was his face, it had some feminine touch to it but still 97% his former face. Rather than transmigrated to other person's body, he felt like he simply changed gender, he was creeped out by himself.
Yamato was good-looking, since childhood til middle school he has an androgynous charm, being more handsome than male, and more beautiful than females. He had cross-dressed several times for festivals and everyone still finds him pleasing to the eyes. Being beautiful in women's attire was simply funny to him, but becoming a real women have never once crossed his mind. Afterall he was very content of who he was, thus he could only be dumbstruck at this moment.
Even though having breasts with no cock was kinda unsettling for him, he still forced himself to accept. Hoping that he would get used to all of this, he let his maids change his bandage. He winced in pain, sneering hatefully inside at Qing Rui because the bandage was sticking to his wound due to the dry blood.
That damned prince, it hurts like fuck! How did he expect a sheltered woman like Ren Xiu to bear with this kind of pain!? Did he intended to kill her!? How hateful.
Finished with the bandages, Yamato let those maids dress him. He was not ashamed and instead observed how to wear ancient clothing and underwear. Currently his thoughts only filled with how to adapt, how to avenge, and how to return.
The wound on his back was afterall very painful, he could manage to walk and talk however it was possible by mustering all his strength. He was already tired, he prompted Ren Xiu's parents to return and convince them that he would update about his condition by letter.
Qin Yixue was still very worried, and Ren Yuan was still very angry however they complied and returned to Ren household.
Yamato immediately stuffed himself inside the quilt like a gongzi and fell asleep.
Unknown to Yamato, as though it was going to rain, a rare thing happened. Qing Rui visited. He didn't stay long, he merely stood beside him and peered upon his unconscious wife like a hawk. His mighty and silent presence resembled a god of ice, freezing everything around him.
Yamato was having a nightmare, about a dark place, a whip, and a rope, it was Ren Xiu's dreams, about when she was punished.
His breath hitched, his forehead was dripping with sweat, his brows frowned, and his teeth gritted, Qing Rui knew his wife was having a nightmare. He felt guilt, however he was devoid of any idea to comfort his uncomfortable suffering wife, nor did he wanted to. Thus he just left like that.