"Gone deaf? Crumple that monstrosity up, it's useless," said Shan Si, just as he started down the long hall, arms tightly bound around Tao Hua's thighs. "It's an eyesore. For such a fucking old man, you'd think he'd actually give a shit about his painting skills. Scholar, appearances,—four gentleman's qualities. Give me a break!"
The last of his words weren't directed at anyone, and it was clear Shan Si had no interest in exploring them further.
But Tao Hua still frowned, looking back down at the silly art piece. He happened to like the drawing despite it being such a deplorable attempt at art; even terrible pieces had their charms. Not even charms could survive Shan Si, however, and his orders were clear.
Who was Tao Hua to go against them?
At least I now know whoever this old man is intended to draw him.A for effort? he thought, crumpling the paper up to his best of his ability, which wasn't much, but it did the job. That poor, now mangled, piece of art lay pitifully against his palm. If it's useless, why not throw it out?
It rocked a bit, and even more with how sluggish Shan Si was moving through that long stretch of a hallway. Tao Hua tilted his hand, tracing the now smudged lines of the word LATE. It made him ponder a bit, asking, "What are you late for, exactly? Is this why you had to get back?"
"No," Shan Si answered, ignoring the first question entirely. Tao Hua listened as Shan Si made his way toward the exit, stopping midway in the hall. Then, what Tao Hua feared most happened in real time.
With a long inhale of the incense-filled air, Shan Si took all of his playfulness and humanity inward and loudly exhaled it as if it had never once existed. He did this all while staring at the glaringly bright exit ahead.
It was as if he'd become someone else entirely—someone more serious and indifferent. Tao Hua couldn't tell what it was that caused this shift in him, nor could he with how well Shan Si concealed any other emotion.
"Sedan service ends here." Bent forward, Shan Si leaned closer to the floor, causing their hair to mix, just as Tao Hua tightly clung on for his dear life. Shan Si, with a jerk of his shoulder, said, "Off."
"Oh," Glancing down at the floor, Tao Hua felt a hoard of unpleasant and rather nervous emotions. But it wasn't like he couldn't reason with them this time. Compared to Shan Si, Tao Hua had the luxury of actually resting; thus, he wasn't nearly as snippy as his counterpart.
Nor were his bags as noticeable.
He's just tired. I mean…I should know; I acted out entirely when I was exhausted. Tao Hua hesitated, glancing back over at Shan Si's stern complexion. Was he always that pale? I…I should offer some grace. I think.
Certainly, that had to be it! Shan Si had carried Tao Hua through the last quarter of Buzhi Forest without a wink of sleep or a moment to rest, all while Tao Hua could.
Anyone in his position would be in a bad mood. Perhaps it was better not to mess with something he knew nothing about and leave it to Shan Si. So, he clutched onto the paper, choosing to push the curiosity to the back of his head.
Tao Hua's fingers crawled over the fabric until they tightly clutched Shan Si's shoulders. Dismounting Shan Si, he tried to control his thoughts, but nothing seemed to quell that small pang of disappointment brewing within his chest.
Before, Tao Hua was reluctant to jump on this man's back—embarrassed, even. But now that he got a taste of it, he realized it was more of a blessing than an attack against what little masculinity he had.
Perhaps he'd grown too comfortable, enjoying the warmth and scent more than he'd admit, enjoying the princess treatment. But he was a man being assisted by another; there was no reason for Shan Si to treat him any differently than he would anyone else.
I'm not a princess, and he's not a hero. Tao Hua had to remind himself of that very statement—the exact one told to him by Shan Si. It hurt more than he gave it credit for and dwindled.
Nothing shaking it out of his head couldn't do.
"If you can't reach the ground, just tell me," said Shan Si. "I can crouch."
"No, no—um, that's okay. I think I can do this."
There was no reason to trouble him further. The quicker they got back, the easier it would be for Shan Si. It wasn't much, but that was the least Tao Hua could offer him.
However, he couldn't quite seem to shake the fact that maybe he wasn't doing this for Shan Si, but for the fear of losing that version of him he enjoyed.
Selfish.
"Well, then I'll leave you to it," said Shan Si. Despite this, he still bent his knees somewhat, gripping the side of the wall in the process.
Meekly smiling, Tao Hua shuffled on Shan Si's back, one hand pressed to his shoulder, and the still tightly clung onto the paper, wrapped around his shoulder. He lowered his foot toward the ground, hovering just above it as he tried to find his footing.
With another shake, Shan Si assisted Tao Hua, who was now leaning further toward the ground. So much so that Tao Hua was convinced the tall and slender man would snap in two pieces had he bent any further! So, in order to prevent such a collapse, he quickly hopped off with a hup!
Both his blue robe and Shan Si's borrowed black and gold outer robe puffed out.
On the other hand, while Tao Hua tried to puff out the robe, Shan Si stretched straight, his hand pressed against his shoulder, and massaging it as he waited for Tao Hua.
It took Tao Hua a moment to stabilize, as his legs felt numb and light from being squeezed all morning. So, before causing any more issues, he merely stood there, patting down his robe.
But he noticed something the moment he picked up a bit of the fabric. Looking down at his blue robe, he saw just how damp and dirty it was. Terrible. It was in such disarray that Tao Hua thought it was better just to discard them.
But he didn't bring anything else, which was entirely out of his control thanks to a moody man and his indecisive orders.
He let the fabric go and held up an arm, his eyes following the way the black sleeves swayed. It was clean, and just as Tao Hua sniffed it, he noticed that it still smelled like him.
Which made him wonder…just how badly did he smell in comparison? He tried to sniff-test himself, but all he could do was smell the same thing he had smelt all morning: Shan Si.
"I'll have replacements made for you back at the palace," said Shan Si. "Let's go."
Palace…?Does he mean the Imperial Palace? Tao Hua's brows pinched. Are we in the Imperial Capital? I Thought—
But before Tao Hua could think on it any more, the echo of footsteps grew distant. Tao Hua looked up from his arm and toward the receding figure as Shan Si appreciated the blinding exit, blessed by the rays of light that surrounded him.
I guess I'll find out.
Dropping his arm, Tao Hua immediately nodded, stuffed the note into his sleeve, and darted toward Shan Si. He kept a safe distance behind him, but not too far either. The last thing he wanted to do was to provoke a negative reaction from an already exhausted beast.
As they moved past the second door and into the sunlight once more, Tao Hua lifted his hand to shadow his eyes. It was a moment longer before he could finally focus, and when he did, he was left completely speechless.
All of his worries, doubts, and fears would drop in a mere instant. Lips parting and eyes widening, he took in the beauty that was a large and glorious city sparkling in gold and ivory.
That's when he finally understood just how far he'd come from Siyue Town.
But there was one stark difference, and it was a questionable one. Tao Hua, though wonder-struck, still thought:
Where are the people?
Chapter end.