On their way to the Imperial Baths, they first had to cross the outer courtyard of Chuhen Palace. As expected, it was quiet without a soul in sight. Nothing but clacking branches, shuffling snow, and the distant hymn of wooden chimes.
It was such a peaceful scene, filled with serenity, and would have remained so had it not been for two people specifically.
Weng Jing and Suo Han.
Both kept getting into occasional arguments, overrunning the silence with echoes of their raised voices. If it wasn't Weng Jing constantly bombarding Tao Hua with boundary invasion touches, then it was Suo Han calling him indecent and tugging him away, and both getting into a kerfuffle over the issue.
And it was done right next to Tao Hua. Suo Han on one side, and Weng Jing on the other.
The other two merely strolled ahead and acted as if none of it was happening. Li Zhou was focused on the path, ensuring its safety with the might of his shovel, and Wan Mie was, well, Wan Mie. He seemed indifferent and unbothered by every insult, cry, and groan.
Instead, he had his hands placed behind his head and was casually enjoying the scenery of what he's seen many times over.
And perhaps, just maybe, there was a small part of him that enjoyed listening to the bickering. Chaos then and chaos forevermore, the very definition of Wan Mie.
Letting out a light sigh, Tao Hua's entire body stiffened, and the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. As they got closer to the bathhouse, the arguing got worse, and it stood loud and clear being Tao Hua.
"Listen here, Servant Boy," started Weng Jing. He had his arms crossed, the strands of his horsetail whisk flying freely in the light, snow-filled breeze. "I'm saying it's convenient, the options. You guys go to the men's side of the bathhouse, and Master Zhuan and I will use the women's side. I don't see an issue with that decision."
"There's plenty of issues with it!" cried Suo Han, his hands balled into fists, trembling. "Plenty! First off, the Young Master isn't a woman, nor is his name Zhuan! I think…"
"I don't make the decisions."
"No one decided anything!" Suo Han turned to look ahead, straight at Tao Hua. "Young Master!"
This was a repeat of their earlier argument, and the repetition was about to drive Tao Hua insane. His head dipped, and tightly he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ward away an oncoming headache.
For so long he wanted friends—pleaded and cried! Someone, anyone who he could speak to and actually wanted him around.
Well, he got it. Now what?
None of it was how he had imagined it, and he was beginning to understand why some people deemed themselves introverts.
The exhaustion was too real, enough to make Tao Hua wish he could crawl under his sheets and turn off the world.
But if that were the case…
Tao Hua slowly opened his eyes, somewhat pouting amid his thoughts. I never felt that way when it was me and Shan Si talking back in Siyue Town.
Sure, there could have been a reason for such an emotion, but Tao Hua was nonethewiser to whatever it meant, nor did he have the tools to decipher it. But even someone as socially inept as him was capable of differentiating how Shan Si made him feel against everyone else.
Little puffs of cold air clouded around him amidst his contemplation. Lifting his hands towards his mouth, he redirected his breath to the freezing limbs.
I wonder… he thought, staring at each reddened tip of his fingers. Will he come to see me when he wakes up?
The comfortable thought seemed to warm him up immensely.
I really hope so…
"Implications," Weng Jing plainly said, without care. He unfolded his arms and rudely shoved Suo Han aside. In a single and swift swoop, he eagerly rushed next to Tao Hua. For a man deemed blind, he was quicker than any able person.
Bending forward with a smile, Weng Jing poked Tao Hua's cheek, snapping him out of his fervent daze.
"Not getting sick, are you?" he asked, reaching a hand up to his outer robe. "The spirits say you're as red as human blood. We can not have that."
Tao Hua made a small noise of confusion, lifting his hand to his forehead. It didn't feel hot—so maybe it was just the cold? Tao Hua didn't really seem to notice it, as his minder continuously kept wandering.
"Oh…I…shoot!" Suo Han said, also rushing up to Tao Hua, stood opposite Weng Jing. "I'm so sorry! I should have brought warmer clothes. P-Please forgive this lowly servant's misstep. It won't happen again, that I swear! Here, I'll give you--"
Just as Suo Han grabbed the collar of his robe, ready to undress himself, Tao Hua interrupted him. He pressed a hand on his arm and said, "N-No, it's fine!"
"Hah?!"
"Please don't make yourself sick for me." Tao Hua lifted up a part of the robe, showing it to Suo Han. "See? I still have the robe Shan Si gave me."
"Witless servant boy," Weng Jing shook his head, slapping his whisk against his palm. "Have you no shame? Offering the shirt off one's back is announcing one's love. It's a tale as old as time. Are you making your intentions known?"
Suo Han's mouth fell open, and he stared at Weng Jing, long and hard, before whipping his head in Tao Hua's direction. Over and over, he apologized, making it clear that his intentions were always based on loyalty and servitude, never frivolous.
Tao Hua understood that from the beginning and never once thought Suo Han to be the deceptive type.
Weng Jing, however?
It went, as said, 'Lips as sweet as honey, stomach filled with swords.'
He didn't trust the Daoist master one bit.
As the two droned on, speaking over one another in an attempt to grab Tao Hua's attention, Tao Hua let out a loud and strong sigh. How could he be cold when he was constantly being smothered by two people?
Maybe he was getting sick. But…Tao Hua looked down at the white, pink, and blue robe, he had in his hand. Though this wasn't Shan Si's outer robe—he was far too big for something so small—Tao Hua still felt a light pang in his chest.
The black and gold robe was still sitting in his room; the very robe given to him back in Buzhi Forest.
What did that mean? The thought made his heart race faster and faster the further he thought about it.
Suddenly, a large, heavy feeling brushed over him, removing him from his daydream. Peeking over his shoulder, he saw pure white fabric and a rather proud expression.
Weng Jing had tossed his robe over Tao Hua, neatly placing it along his shoulders, enough to make it look like a cape. Feeling along the lapels, Tao Hua couldn't help but frown.
It was warm, which wasn't bad, but the smell wasn't the same.
Scratch that, none of it was the same. Not the smell, the feeling, or even the intent. Humanely gestures were fine when done with sincerity, but something told Tao Hua this was done with ulterior motive.
Was that even what love was? When Shan Si offered his robe, it was done out of necessity for Tao Hua's well-being. This time? He couldn't seem to figure it out, and it only frustrated him to think about it.
Whatever. Tao Hua shook the robe in place, pushed his arms through the sleeves, and offered Weng Jing a faint smile. In a quiet, almost unheard whisper, he said, "Thank you" before moving ahead.
To his luck, they'd arrived just in time for Tao Hua to scurry away from Weng Jing.
Waiting for him was the grand Martial Hall gate; it looked exactly as most main gates within the palace did—large, red, with gold patterns scattered.
Li Zhou stood in front of it, his neck bent, and hand perched on the shovel. Meeting him, Wan Mie looked at him and asked, "Problem?"
"It's already cleared…how?" he asked, mumbling. But the moment would soon pass with a lazy shrug. He didn't really care, so he tossed his dear shovel off into a pile of snow. "Guess I won't be needing that. What do you think cleared it, General Wan?"
"Hmmm. Well, it's open, so someone did it. Who knows?" said Wan Mie smiled. "Let's just enjoy the delightful surprise, yes?"
He was already making his way ahead, past Li Zhou, as if he had knowingly prepared for the revelation. As for Li Zhou, he just measly accepted the response without a fight and followed Wan Mie.
No problem to be had for this man!
The grounds of the martial hall was mostly cleared of snow. It shocked Tao Hua with how spotless it was after he and Suo Han had dealt with trudging through the Ancestral Hall, which was often cleared.
Didn't Li Zhou mention this was unused?
The stone-white paths had not a trace of snow on them. Most, if not all, of the other areas in the palace seemed to be heaped with piles upon piles of never-ending snow.
But not here.
Why not here?
Chapter end.