The chess board was simply too classy. Yamato had always has a good sense of aesthetic. The chess was of simple design with several delicate carvings on the sides. The lacquer was shiny and dark, and he didn't paint it black and white like the typical chess board, instead he just carved the supposed-to-be-white squares to a lighter color than the rest. The pawn was very beautifully carved with a little unbalance which only emphasize the handmade authenticity. Yamato was satisfied with his handiwork.
"Is that a board game, princess?" Xiao Ming asked curiously, she had seen several board game but this one seemed kinda peculiar for her, the pawn was too unique.
"Yes, let's play it!" Yamato beamed.
The maid was startled, "I-i've never played board game before, i don't know how to play it" feeling nervous and embarassed, Xiao Ming stepped back wearing an apologetic smile.
Yamato lifted the corner of his lips, "Don't worry i'll teach you, come here" he beckoned softly.
As a maidservant, Xiao Ming have no choice but to obey. Trotted up to Yamato's side, she was invited to sit across him on a table beside the window. Yamato was patiently explaining the rule of chess while Xiao Ming were listening intently, she felt her head heated up but still forced herself to comprehend the explanation. There's not much to remember yet not too few at a same time, as a laborious maidservant who couldn't even read, she scarcely need to use her head, causing Yamato to repeat the explanation for several times more very patiently.
Yamato has an excellent temper, all his life he almost never snapped nor yelled at anybody, he was also the type to stay silent when he's really angry, he has an unbeatable composure beside his mischievous trait.
Finally managed to cram all the rules in her head, Xiao Ming was feeling quite proud, it made Yamato giggled at the sight.
"Smart girl!" he ruffled the maid's head playfully, "let's give it a shot."
Thus Xiao Ming managed to play for four rounds before her brain exploded from overheat. She could only stare into nothing while staying still like a dead tuna. Yamato didn't bully her, instead he had deliberately played like an easy mode game to train Xiao Ming little by little, nevertheless she still didn't won even once.
"Concubine Fang Lihua has come to visit!" suddenly a maid announced from outside the residence.
Yamato was taught that concubines initially obligated to visit the main wife from time to time to pay respect. However he was also told that Ren Xiu was disrespected as she was unfavored by the crown prince. The concubines didn't visit as they thought Ren Xiu has no position powerful enough to worth their bootlicking, and even though they disrespect her the prince wouldn't mind one bit, making them belittle Ren Xiu even more. Hence Yamato immediately understood that Fang Lihua must certainly have ulterior motives to come.
Yamato was born into a prestigious wealthy family called Hitotsuyanagi. The family was basically an old and big conglomerate with many family branch. He had seen his relatives scheme for shares and positions ever since he was a child. He was even plotted against several times by his own family, however he could always turn the table as he was a very bright child. Thus he was not afraid by whatever Fang Lihua might bring.
"Let her come in" Yamato replied with a loud yet stable dignified voice, he was putting on air to new people that even Xiao Ming widened her eyes in surprise.
Yamato walked towards the living room while straightening his slightly dishevelled outfit and hair. He was already sitting straight with most elegant posture when Fang Lihua entered.
Dark purple dress, elegant and moderate jewelry, neat up styled jet black hair, elegant posture, snowy jade skin, with a beautiful and calm face, Fang Lihua totally looked like a well mannered nobility. However there's something odd about her in Yamato's eyes. He couldn't really grasp it, she looked somehow irritated, frustrated, and her eyes somehow dead.
Arrived in front of Yamato, Fang Lihua kowtowed, "This concubine greets crown princess."
Yamato scrutinized, sizing up the cold and calm girl, "You may rise."
Fang Lihua sat up, her eyes met Yamato's. At first her irises widened, she looked surprised, however a second later it became a glare filled with utter disgust and belittling. Everyone in the room could sense it, Xiao Ming had her skin tingled with irritation, she didn't like the fact that a mere concubine could blatantly insult her miss with her expression. The other maid present were also angered, the current Ren Xiu is a caring and friendly person who treated them very well, although they practically could do nothing, they knew Fang Lihua had broken the rule of the residence and that she deserved punishment. If only the crown prince cared even a bit for their miss, if only that repulsive An Xiao didn't steal him from their miss, was what they were thinking, resulting in all of them detesting An Xiao even more.
However contrary to the maids, Yamato himself was smiling gently while narrowing his eyes to Fang Lihua, "Mind your manner little girl."
It was cold, it made Fang Lihua startled and shuddered. She was belittling Ren Xiu too much, the woman was not a coquettish sucker, she didn't even saw Fang Lihua as an enemy, she saw her as completely nothing. The thought of being seen as nothing sent shivers down her spine, she was raged inside that the veins on her forehead practically popped, yet she still muster the effort to reveal a calm flat face. Fang Lihua bowed her head, avoiding the cold yet gentle gaze Ren Xiu emitted, "This concubine offers an apology to her highness crown princess."
Yamato smirked, "I accept your apology. So, what business do you have to come here?" he was still putting on airs while in reality he was just trying his best to hold his laughter. He was amused at how Fang Lihua's expression stayed flat yet the emotion kept changed and blatantly revealed.
Fang Lihua herself wasn't fond of beating around the bush, hence she gulped, "Crown princess is the main wife who manages the residence. This concubine wanted to ask permission to enter the library."
Yamato bursts with crisp delightful laughter. Apparently this Fang Lihua wanted to ask permission for something forbidden and throw all the responsibility unto Ren Xiu. However she didn't even have the attitude to do so. Yamato couldn't hold his laughter at how unreasonable and naive Fang Lihua was.
This time Fang Lihua didn't bother hide her startled expression, "Is there something wrong princess?" she was angered inside, her instinct told her that the laughter was meant to ridicule her.
Yamato was well aware at how everyone saw Ren Xiu as a coquettish sucker who wasn't even favored for a tiny bit. He found the situation to be actually interesting. Refusing to get involved in all the dirty sly scheme filled with sickening distrust, Yamato had resigned himself a long time ago from profit seeking competition inside his family. The current situation was really similar to his past, it brings forth a bunch of hilarious nostalgic memory upon him it made him entered a good mood.
"Very well, i'll give you permission-" he lifted the corner of his lips.
Fang Lihua was startled once more. When she just revised her view of Ren Xiu, the princess actually acted like a sucker again.
"If you beat me in a board game."
Ren Xiu has become a person full of unexpected moves inviting surprise one after another, Fang Lihua was basically dumbstruck this time with her slightly gaped mouth. She regained her composure a moment later, "What kind of-"
BAM!
Yamato slammed the chess board on the table in front of him, cutting whatever it is Fang Lihua was about to say. "I'll explain the rules, we play three rounds, i'll cut you some slack on the first round, you won twice i'll let you visit the library" he smirked gently.
Fang Lihua was recoiled by two consecutive strike. Ren Xiu was giving her no space to even take a breath. Being a smart educated girl, Fang Lihua racked her brain so hard yet she still have no slightest idea about what Ren Xiu was aiming at. The concubine had come to pressure Ren Xiu yet she was being played instead. The situation makes no sense to her, everything was out of her expectations and plans, however she could only comply at this point, "This concubine accept her highness offer with pleasure."
"Deal! If you lose you should come accompany me for a whole week!"
"Wh-!!"
"Is there anything you're unsatisfied with?" Yamato already setted all the pawns, teasing Fang Lihua deliberately.
Albeit flat and calm, the corner of Fang Lihua's lips slightly twitched, "No, princess." She was very frustrated as she couldn't even bite her lip nor grit her teeth to vent due to how noticable it would be.
However Yamato was surprised at Fang Lihua's unexpected fast comprehension, he didn't even need to repeat himself. She was even smarter than Yamato had expected, she could actually manage to apply on tactics on her play in her first time. She played very carefully and meticulously, calculating the placing of every pawn, not blindly moving her pawn simply to places that seem to have chances, reading the enemy's movement and predicting it's possible offenses, Fang Lihua actually played smart, betraying her image as an unreasonable bully of a concubine. Yamato could see how concentrated Fang Lihua was as her sight were nailed to the chess board. The beautiful concubine actually looked more alive, Yamato had intended to tease her but who knew she would actually enjoy the chess.
Twenty minutes passed and Yamato was defeated. It shocked Xiao Ming that she gaped wide eyed. The concubine looked proud and satisfied with a slight smile and glimmering eyes on her refreshed bright face.
Yamato giggled, he was very happy looking at an excited girl. "Shall we proceed to the next round?"
"Yes please!" Fang Lihua nodded softly, even her calm composure couldn't hide the excitement she subconsciously emitted.
As promised, Yamato only went easy on the first round. The next two round only needed fifteen minutes with Fang Lihua completely defeated. Making the once excited girl into one motionless lump with eyes riveted on the chessboard.
Fang Lihua heaved a long sigh and lifted her face, "Thanks for the game, princess." To Yamato's surprise, Fang Lihua didn't seem as depressed as he had expected, instead she was smiling so warmly.
"It's not much. You played great for a first timer," Yamato smiled while leaning back to his chair, relaxing his stiff straight posture.
"... If this concubine counted as great, then her highness is simply beyond amazing. Her highness really keep the word of going easy only on the first round, now that this concubine evaluate, i realize i have made too many stupid reckless moves, heaven and earth from her highness brave offenses," Fang Lihua looked genuinely bitter. She revised her view of Ren Xiu completely, she vowed to never look down on the crown princess ever again.
With his relaxed pose and slightly dishevelled hair and outfit, Yamato smirked playfully, his whole figure were charming and sexy, "Do you remember the deal?"
Fang Lihua who was stunned at the sight before her smiled bitterly, "Yes her highness, i shall accompany her highness for a whole week."
Yamato stood and stretched like a cat, he walked to behind Fang Lihua, "You like playing games?"
"I like chess and this board game."
Ah, she meant chinese chess or igo eh. "I see, you like games that involves brain and tactics maybe. Smart girl," he petted Fang Lihua's front head softly, completely treating the concubine as a little girl.
Fang Lihua flushed, having no intentions of rejecting Yamato's pleasant advances, afterall the crown princess image on her head was already drastically changed. "I- i have always respected my father, he's a great general, he's so good at leading the army and playing chess."
The shy image of a daddy's girls before him warmed Yamato's heart, "You like him so much eh. Do you want to become like him?"
Fang Lihua flinched a bit, she bowed her head, "I can't."