Bai Yuan had a scissor and Wang Yiheng revealed a scissor too.

Bai Yuan, "....Ah, it's a Tie."

Wang Yiheng, observing the hand signs and again studying the rules in mind, " ..then, what now, did I not win?"

Bai Yuan gave an awkward smile and thought, if you win then how am I supposed to bring the topic up? Who knows what you'll make me do if you win? I can't let that happen!

But he replied, " Tie means we're on equal points, 1:1 , Let's have a tie breaker. It will have 3 more rounds. Ok?"

Wang Yiheng just nodded in reply. He was not interested in such childlike games but more than that he wanted to spend time and slowly decrease the cliff of misunderstanding between him and Yuan. This game was like an opportunity for him.

Bai Yuan, "Let's begin the Tie breaker round."

Round 2

Bai Yuan counted from one to three and both showed their hands at the same time.

Bai Yuan: Rock

Wang Yiheng: Scissor

Bai Yuan gaily said, " Yay, I won!"

Wang Yiheng said nothing but a soft line of smile appeared on his face. Bai Yuan mischievously asked, " Hey hey, did you just copy my previous move? Hahaha"

Wang Yiheng shook his head, "I'm just out of luck maybe."

Bai Yuan, " Let's move on to the next round."

Round 3

1…2…3…

Bai Yuan: Paper

Wang Yiheng: Rock

Bai Yuan threw his fist in excitement ,"I won again!"

Wang Yiheng pretended to be hurt having lost the second round but actually he was not that worried about losing. He was the Emperor, what wishes could not he fulfill for Bai Yuan, let it be expensive jewelry, new manor, silk, clothes, food, etc what not. He replied with a soft smile, "We still have another round, wife."

Suddenly being addressed as wife, Bai Yuan's heart skipped a beat. A slight red hue appeared on his cheeks, ugh I'm still not used to it, why does he call me that.

Bai Yuan said as he straightened his back, "Your majesty, I would really appreciate it if you could call me Bai Yuan."

Wang Yiheng just sat there silently for a while then replied with a nod.

Round 4

Bai Yuan was mentally prepared to win tonight's every single game. He was totally hyped up. They were at a score of 3:1 including the first round. Bai Yuan had already won but still wanted to play the last game. Both hid their hands behind their back and counted to three.

1..2..3…

Bai Yuan: Scissor

Wang Yiheng: Rock

Bai Yuan, " Ah, you won this round but technically I won tonight's game."

Wang Yiheng stayed seated and calmly kept looking at the youth in front of him who was now brimming with joy after winning a game of Rock-Paper-Scissor.

Wang Yiheng then asked the winner, "So, what do you want?"

Bai Yuan cried happy tears in his mind, Finally the moment.

But his stomach didn't support him and growled loudly and disappeared after leaving a bright red evidence of embarrassment on Bai Yuan's face. He again gave his signature awkward smile as he continued,

"Let's continue talking while having dinner. I'm starving after running so much all day."

Wang Yiheng stood up first and headed towards the table before ordering a few maids to clean the mess he made earlier and serve the dinner as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Bai Yuan took out the paper he had written on earlier that day and carefully ran his eyes over the words. It was a draft contract he had written to remind himself about what conditions he wanted to have and not to forget or leave out any such condition which would make him regret later.

Soon the dinner was served on the big dining table in Bai Yuan's chamber. The dining room was right beside the bedchamber and it was quite easy to directly enter there through a slide door from the bedchamber. Beautiful fragrance of freshly made dinner was floating and dancing in the air. Bai Yuan inhaled with an ecstatic expression on his face, "Ah, Heaven!"

There were so many dishes that Bai Yuan got lost in making a decision about which one he should eat first. Wang Yiheng on the other side was having quite a good time, enjoying such expressions on his face. He smiled and with his right hand lifted up a bowl and scooped some warm fish soup from a pot, then pushed it towards Bai Yuan.

"Wife, drink the soup first to warm your stomach."

Bai Yuan thanked him and tasted the soup with a spoon, "Woah, it's delicious. Did the cook change?"

Wang Yiheng paused while deboning a steamed fish and asked, "Why do you ask that?"

Bai Yuan replied after he finished licking his spoon crystal clear, "Because it tastes 10 times better than the previous soups. I feel really energetic after drinking this soup but speaking from previous experience, I would feel weak and sleepy after dinner every night."

Wang Yiheng didn't say anything for a while and passed the steamed fish he finished de-boning to Bai Yuan. Bai Yuan again thanked him and took the plate. As soon as he took a bite of the fish, it melted inside his mouth, spreading a warm sensation of delight, "Yumm~"

Wang Yiheng had other thoughts. Bai Yuan was right, the cook was changed. To be more specific, every single employee in the blue sky manor was changed within a week after Xu Ying confirmed that Bai Yuan was getting poisoned with meals. Surely few of the maids were involved in this. So to have more convenience, Wang Yiheng changed the whole group and took the previous ones under his 'Special Care'.

Bai Yuan picked up a big piece of sweet and sour braised meat with a pair of chopsticks and put on the bowl of rice before Wang Yiheng. He was surprised but then he picked it up and ate it quietly. For some reason, Bai Yuan's actions always radiate a warm feeling in him, as if he was wrapped inside a soft quilt of fur in a misty, chilly morning. In the palace where everyone was so disciplined and only cared about power and wealth, his wife seemed unusual, as if he didn't belong to this time and place. 

Following the piece of meat, soon Wang Yiheng's platter got filled with pieces from all of the dishes.

Wang Yiheng, ".....Wife, I can't eat so much…"

Being embarrassed, Bai Yuan shyly replied, " *cough* No worries, your majesty, nothing is impossible. These dishes are so amazing and I don't know what foods you like so I picked everything."

Wang Yiheng chuckled and replied, "Thank you."

Bai Yuan then steadily brought up the real matter. "You're welcome. But, your majesty, about my reward…"

Wang Yiheng turned his head towards Bai Yuan from his meal and replied, " Ah, yes, what did you want, wife?"

Bai Yuan's lips twitched, didn't I say earlier not to call me 'Wife'? Now I've absolutely no doubt that Yeye got his unyielding character carrying genes…

Bai Yuan, "So, the thing is, as I have already told you, I don't feel safe here in the palace. I was nearly murdered with poison."

Wang Yiheng replied with a serious expression, " You knew? Why didn't you say that before?"

Bai Yuan put down his chopsticks and replied, " My physician tells me everything. After I regained consciousness, he was shocked to diagnose that there was suddenly no poison in my blood. I got a vague idea from that. Do you think I'm a fool to not notice that all my servants have changed?"

Wang Yiheng calmly replied, " It's my fault, I should've taken care of it as soon as possible. General Bai and Queen Mother gave your responsibilities to me. I let them down and couldn't be a good husband."

Bai Yuan was speechless, how is he so good at blaming himself…wow…but he's not wrong either…*cough*

"Anyways, don't worry about the past, focus on the future. I have a plan."

"What plan?"

"Your highness, I know you're quite busy with your matters so I promise I will not disturb you at all. I will continue to be your consort but you must promise to give me security."

"I'm doing my best to do so."

" But, how about we don't attack the attackers directly but make them reveal themselves?"

"How's that possible?"

"Very simple. We have to act like a real couple in true love so that they become terribly insecure and make a mistake. We'll catch them red handed."

Wang Yiheng stood up," No, I can't let you take such risks! What if they do something more terrible than poisoning you?"

Bai Yuan waved his hands and gestured to Wang Yiheng to calm down and be seated, "I'm not weak, your majesty, I can handle things myself, I just need your support to stand more profoundly. That's all."

Wang Yiheng sat down and stared at Bai Yuan with his golden eyes, they were sad and concerned, is my wife losing confidence in me?

Bai Yuan continued, "I just want a peaceful life and at this point only you can help me ensure that."

Hearing this, colors came back to Wang Yiheng's face, " Wait, this was the reward you were talking about? It's not a reward though, ask for something else."

Bai Yuan chuckled and showed him the paper, " Well that's not the reward I want actually… I've made this contract for you to sign. I want your approval."

Wang Yiheng took the paper in his hand, and looked at the dark, ink splashed odd characters on it, "Wife, you're not cursing me with black magic, right?"

"Hey, that's humiliation! I know my handwriting is bad but that's not my fault!" Bai Yuan objected in reply.

Wang Yiheng tried his best to read,"...Um- so what does this say?"

Bai Yuan crossed his arms over his chest and started speaking with puffy cheeks, " 1. Party A will help Party B with everything needed. Party A is You, Party B is me."

Wang Yiheng nodded, "Approved, then?"

"2. Party A will let Party B do anything inside the palace. I'll be careful with all the rules of the palace though."

"Ok, approved."

"Then, 3. Party A will allow Party B to go outside of the palace whenever they want."

Wang Yiheng reacted with concern, "I can't approve this one. It's not safe to be among commoners."

"Relax Relax, I'll keep Xu Ying with me."

Inside Yeye's room Xu Ying sneezed sharply.

Wang Yiheng continued to listen, "4?"

"Do you approve no.3?"

"....only on one term, I'll personally accompany you."

"....Fine…if it's convenient for you, we can do that. Moreover appearing together more often will greatly help our plan."

"Ok. I approve no.3"

"4. Party A must sleep in the same room as Party B . It'll make us look intimate to others."

Hearing so, Wang Yiheng's face brightened up instantly. But he didn't knew what was coming next.

"5. Party A will avoid touching in private parts of Party B without consent."

".......but... aren't we husband and wife?"

"Think of it as your punishment for disappearing for 2 years."

Wang Yiheng had nothing to counterattack, he was already in so much guilt but now his wife said him to stay away from him indirectly.

Wang Yiheng was speechless, "....... a-approved."

Like that Bai Yuan explained some other points he had written, both decided to appear together as much as possible and finally the contract was signed. Bai Yuan's plan was to pass his days smoothly but on the other hand, someone had other plans to come closer to him. Bai Yuan stretched his right hand towards Yiheng, "Let's shake hands! We're partners from now on."

Wang Yiheng extended his left hand to meet Yuan's right one , with a smile on his thin lips, his golden eyes brighter than the stars itself. Little did Bai Yuan know he signed with the doom himself.