Bang!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fang Jian continued messing with the box, frustratingly trying to pry it open with multiple slams of her fist. Meanwhile, Tao Hua had to hold his head up, pressing a hand against the side of his face. His eyes widened, and the truth glossed over the peach of his iris.
Absentmindedly, he mouthed the "no" over and over until his lips went dry. The world around him rang loudly, and it was as if Weng Jing's many arguments started to suddenly hold merit.
"Show everyone what happens when His Highness overreacts," and, "Do I have to remind you that everything that murderous monster lays his paws on shatters?"
As much as he didn't want to, that sinking feeling was far worse than having to deal with Weng Jing's company. Tao Hua instinctively reached over for Fang Jian's sleeve and tugged it. He hid his eyes behind the loose strands of his hair, refusing to look at her.
All he said was "please" in a low, desperate tone.
Then, another bang, and a fwip!
The box opened the moment Fang Jian turned her head toward Tao Hua. Although she'd been attempting this for the last ten minutes, there was no celebration to follow.
"Huahua…" She frowned, placing the box down on the desk. For once, she was pure in her tone, gentle as a mid-afternoon breeze, falling to a light whisper. "What's wrong? Look at Sister Jiji."
But the moment Tao Hua looked up at her, his eyes didn't fall on that sympathetic expression. Instead, they were attracted to the box now bustling open with items, tightly fitted.
Crafts, to be exact. All extremely familiar to Tao Hua.
Within that box were the supplies he had used to make his silly little bookmarks—the ones no one ever wanted to keep. The ones his father told him were childish and worth throwing out. And also, the very supplies used to make the bookmark Shan Si tied to his sword.
Only one person knew of this ridiculous hobby of his, and that left Tao Hua with only a single answer as to who left behind something obviously meant for him.
Confusion settled, and he felt his mind would explode the more it was tugged between left and right.
***
After his miniature breakdown, both Tao Hua and Fang Jian slipped out of the library and crept their way through the Eastern Wing. The cold was refreshing, offering just a bit of clarity and calmness to Tao Hua.
He had asked Fang Jian to assist him in meeting Weng Jing, and without question, she agreed to take him to the Ancestral Hall.
Given Fang Jian's typical schemes, she was rather masterful at sneaking along the palace walls and made for the perfect assistant. At least, a better one than Suo Han.
But this time, she had more to watch out for. She remained attentive to her new friend's well-being, all without fully understanding why he felt the way he did, or the reason as to why he wanted to see Weng Jing.
Over and over, she reassured him that whatever the issue, they would solve it without a doubt! Tao Hua merely nodded in response, but his eyes remained vacant while doing so.
It wasn't everyday someone found out the man they'd been sharing a bed with was potentially responsible for a genocide. How fun!
Despite Fang Jian's obliviousness, he could appreciate the attempt nonetheless, and given her gung ho attitude, all Tao Hua had to ask was that she made sure Weng Jing kept a respectable distance from him for her to jump into action.
However, the pair had run into a slight issue on the way, and one Tao Hua was whole-heartedly shocked about.
Walking past them in the Eastern Wing was the concubine, Wu Mi. In person, she wasn't as intimidating as the image of a downcast woman stuck behind a blurred window, fogged by frost.
She was shorter than Fang Jian, but more mature in appearance and ethereal in complexion. Sharper features, with a pair of dim, stalemated, pale eyes.
Whereas Fang Jian wore brightly coloured clothes, Wu Mi kept hers appropriately muted. Black, grey, whites, browns, es cetera, es cetera.
The moment she laid her eyes on Tao Hua, her entire expression flipped from unhappy to sour. Then, she directed that very scowl toward Fang Jian.
Without a stutter, or even a tremble in her voice, she straightforwardly asked, "I thought we weren't supposed to touch the boy?"
Tao Hua's brows indented, and he kept his eyes locked on Wu Mi.
"Uncle Mie gave me permission!" Fang Jian retorted, but immediately took a step back and away from Wu Mi. Nervously bouncing her leg, she whined, "Go ask him if you don't believe me!"
"…" Wu Mi looked back down at Tao Hua, squinting with what felt like dissatisfaction. It was as if she were loudly proclaiming to all surrounding that she didn't trust him, nor like him.
That was fine with Tao Hua, however! He'd gotten long used to such treatment, so all he did was offer a weak smile in return, rather than challenge her. Even though the air around Wu Mi felt suffocating, this was nothing to a crowd of hateful villagers.
Even more, if his hunch about Shan Si was true, then Wu Mi had all the right to feel the way she did. Tao Hua simply couldn't argue it.
That inviting smile of his was ignored. She turned away from the pair, and started toward the gate they'd just entered. Without even a response to either, she made her exit, the sound of crunching snow slowly fading out of existence.
As the two watched her leave, Tao Hua hesitated for a moment before asking, "Where's she going? I don't think I've ever seen her walk around the palace."
"Mm? You don't know?" Fang Jian's expression lightened after Wu Mi made her way out of the Eastern Wing. "The three of them—Uncle Mie, Mimi, and Lord Shan Si—usually meet up by the old temple for some very important discussions…or something."
Fang Jian pointed north of the palace. "All the way back there!"
Old temple… Tao Hua glanced in the direction of her finger. Shan Si never mentioned going to a temple; was that where he was when Tao Hua didn't see him during the day? Or why he always came back later?
"Why…?"
Shrugging, Fang Jian said, "Not too sure…no one ever tells me anything. But I've seen them do this for so long! Once a week, without ever inviting me!"
Once a week… Tao Hua pressed his thumb against his bottom lip, pushing it in. And they continue doing it even without Shan Si…? No, with him as well? Why do I find both scenarios odd?
He glimpsed at Fang Jian's pout, noting that she looked genuinely hurt. If they haven't invited her, then it must be serious. What…what's going on? Why don't I have a good feeling about any of this?
Pressing his hand to his chest, Tao Hua tried to even out his breathing, but it just kept blurring his damned vision with each puffed breath.
"Bah! We don't need them, Huahua!" Fang Jian exclaimed. She knew the right thing to say, for all the wrong reasons. Tao Hua couldn't help but offer her a pained smile. "We can start our own secret organization. Name it something cool!"
"Right!" he attempted a composed reply. "I...I'd like that!"
Fang Jian's own smile faded, replaced with a frown. Toward the gate, all of her optimism crumbled.
"I wouldn't hold it against her—Mimi. Since losing Mama, it's as if she's been wandering lost through the palace, like a ghost trying to find a home that no longer exists," Fang Jian dreamily lamented. "Mimi held Mama up on the highest pedestal possible."
"Mama…? You both share the same mother?"
"Well, no. Master. But she didn't want us to call her by that title, and instead Mama." She smiled. "I really do miss her, but…Mama always said, 'Empty one's shelf of sorrow and fill it with the company of others.' So! Crying is not allowed, should it worry her Little Jiji! It's because of Mama that me and Mimi could live good lives—she even granted us our courtesy names."
Tao Hua's chest seized upon witnessing Fang Jian's calm, nostalgia-laden smile. He wondered, for the first time, if he'd grown up with his own mother, would she have been the same in moments like now?
Moments where he felt more lost than found?
The idea caused his hands to shake, shrouding him in a despair unspeakable.
"Your mother sounds amazing…" Tao Hua replied, staring down at the trodden snow. Catching a glimpse of his melancholic expression, Fang Jian immediately switched the topic.
"Mmm, enough of that, though! We have much of many to do, Huahua! Onward, to the grimy-handed Imperial Preceptor!"
She hooked her arm in Tao Hua's and sprang forward, not giving Tao Hua even a chance to acknowledge what was said.
The wind caught in her hair, and it fluttered as she energetically pranced her way to the Ancestral Grounds, Tao Hua in tow.
Unfortunately for Tao Hua, however, it just kept smacking his face, nearly choking him. But Fang Jian was as oblivious as ever, wearing a beaming grin on her face. Melodically, she hummed the phrase "problem-solving" repeatedly on their way.
Up the stone steps, under the blue and yellow eaves, and toward the red lattice door, Fang Jian spared not even a moment of breath before slapping her hand against the handle and pulling it open.
Into the air, she loudly announced their arrival with a cute pose, Tao Hua dragging sluggishly next to her, trying to catch his breath.
The main room of the Ancestral Hall was wide, representing that of a temple. Two large pillars stood in the middle, and between them a tall shrine encased with paintings, scriptures, and the subtle scent of a gentle aroma, presumably incense.
Ahead of the shrine sat a man with brown hair that fell just below his shoulders. It was tied up into a half bun, and judging by the way he was positioned, he caught in the middle of praying.
Alas, what serenity engulfed that quiet space immediately vanished.
"Big Brother Jing!"
As if used to such, Weng Jing straightened himself from kowtowing. Though his tone was apprehensive, it still echoed.
"Little Sister Jian," he said expectantly, but that quickly changed to sheer bewilderment. "Daoist Master Zhuan?"
Caught in the midst of wanting to vomit, Tao Hua exhaled loudly, avoiding moon-like eyes that bored right into him. However, the moment this curious woman spoke, Tao Hua's entire mood changed.
"Mama Zhuan?" Fang Jian asked, blinking.
Chapter end.