Ahead of the stall, the two stared down at the array of options with signs displaying their names, cultivation periods, and usages. There were many to choose from, all colourful and all fragrant.
Tao Hua's eyes skipped along each flower, tree, and seed, just as Shan Si discussed matters with the stall owner. She was a middle-aged woman, but could have been confused for someone in their twenties from a distance.
Compared to the other merchants, this woman was dressed elegantly, with an air about her that exuded tranquillity. In Tao Hua's eyes, she was someone worthy enough to stand behind a stall of beautifully blossomed flowers.
"The Madam certainly knows what she's doing," Shan Si addressed her, setting the books down on the edge of the stall, his hand reaching over and tenderly rubbing along Tao Hua's fingers. In between them rested the flower gifted to him, gently held and protected. "A peony is worth its weight in gold while retaining its lighthearted beauty. Dare I say this madam is aiming to catch the eyes of nobles and scholars alike? Perhaps even royalty?"
The woman behind the stall simply smiled, one hand over the other, pressed to her light pink skirt. Next to her, her daughter sat on a stool, watching as the conversation took place.
When in her mother's care, it was as if she blended in perfectly among the flowers. Nothing like the child that dared challenge someone like Shan Si.
And win.
Resolute against Shan Si's words, the woman replied, "A wood craftsman who buys their supplies from an ironsmith is nothing but an ironsmith in training."
"Heh. Right." Shan Si let go of Tao Hua's hands, yet his other arm still remained snugged around his waist. He pointed between the seeds and the already grown flowers, asking, "Most of these can't thrive in colder climates…are you looking only for the blossomed flowers?"
In truth, Tao Hua didn't really understand much about flowers; he just enjoyed looking at them. During his time back at the Tao Estate—typically after a big event—he'd take a few of the flowers used as decoration for his own amusement, turning them into keepsakes or crafts.
Who knew that there was more to them than just beauty. It made him think of the poem, Drown the Gold in Peony. Perhaps each had more meaning than he'd once given it credit for.
However, before he could reply, the woman spoke up.
"Northern folk?" she asked, her eyes now enlightened with curiosity. "This one humbly apologises, but neither the Madam nor the Young Master read like people from the North. Perhaps I judged the eye colour before understanding its source."
Shan Si smiled at her. This woman definitely thought him blind like everyone else. Ode to joy. "The world is vast. We're from a land you've likely never heard of, here to see the lanterns the entire country has been raving about. Nothing more."
"Ah." She immediately understood and bowed. "Then this measly merchant dare not disturb the Young Master and His Madam's precious time."
As the lady went off with her daughter to seek more clients, Shan Si watched Tao Hua scan each option, his brow twitching with uncertainty, and hand hesitating over each.
Then, finally, he reached in for a clipping of bright green, pointed leaves, pressed between his thumb and index finger. It looked as if it were drooping downward, ready to cry.
"Willow," Shan Si answered. Tao Hua twisted his head curiously. "Any reason you chose it? You never did answer my question, Madam."
"I want the seeds."
Shan Si looked at the clipping, then at Tao Hua. "Why? The willow needs optimal sunlight and riverbanks. It's fine in cold climates, but not ours. Trees also need more care; it be easier to get it as a sapling. You know we can't bring many things back."
"That's okay," Tao Hua said, placing the willow back down and reaching for a bag of seeds. "We'll have plenty of time after we free you and the palace of its issues."
Eyebrows raised, Shan Si followed Tao Hua's hand as he placed it on an empty part of the stall. A warm smile crossed his face, though small and gentle. "I want whatever we choose here to be the first things planted when that time comes."
The tension in Tao Hua slowly drifted as he immersed himself in the flowers. Regardless of Shan Si's concerns, he was weak to watching this man find joy in even the smallest details.
He couldn't confirm if that day would come—the day the curse broke—but if it meant watching Tao Hua smile, then perhaps playing along wasn't so bad.
He reached for the willow seeds and put them back in their place.
Eyebrows pinched, Tao Hua asked, "What are you doing?"
"We have plenty already," Shan Si replied, reaching for another bag. "Willows are known for departing souls. Someone who is drifting and wandering. Lost."
"Oh."
"If this is important to you, then maybe we should choose carefully." Shan Si, holding up a bag of Peach Blossom seeds, looked down at Tao Hua. He softly smiled. "Right?"
Between the two, Tao Hua's cheeks flushed almost as light as the colour of the displayed peach blossoms. But it paired delightfully well with how tenderly his smile plumped his cheeks.
Eyes shut, he nodded and reached for the bag. "Right!"
"Ah," Shan Si held it back before Tao Hua could grab it. "Do you even know what these mean? What they even symbolise?"
"…" He didn't. So, that smile weakened as he glanced aside. "I don't."
"Perhaps a small lesson then."
Setting down the bag, he pointed to each flower. "We already understand the peony; it has multiple meanings in poetry. To nobles, it's indicative of wealth and status. I find that boring, and prefer the other meaning, which is in a beauty both divine and feminine. I'd take it from any person's hands it didn't suit."
The flower in Tao Hua's hand bent slightly, gripped by whitening knuckles aimed at protecting it, but Shan Si simply continued without a single interest in stealing it.
The notion practically made Tao Hua's heart rap right against his chest.
"This one," he pointed to a bunch of blossoms, some fully white, while others faded from pink to white. "This is the magnolia. It also has a hoard of meanings—you'll find many of the blossoms here do, actually. The magnolia is a beauty that is meant to be admired from afar. Refined and dignified."
"…" Tao Hua reached over and grabbed a bag.
"Any reason for this one?"
"It reminds me of Consort Wu."
In that moment, Shan Si had to control himself from hugging this man. The innocence was more than his heart could bear. Letting out a light breath, he said, "I see."
Thus, there was no stopping now; this reaction was like opium to him.
He moved on to the next one. "We already have plum blossoms that bloom often. I'm quite fond of these—they can survive in harsh climates and still bloom. Think of it like...these blossoms endure the most difficult of times while retaining its beauty. What does that make you think of?"
"…Fang Jian."
Shan Si smiled, grabbing a bag. "Then we'll plant some in her honour."
He then pointed to a few shoots of bamboo. "This one can maintain its morals, even under the worst of conditions. Sprouting far and wide."
"Daoist Weng."
"Exactly why we're not getting it," Shan Si sneered, moving to the next. "Invasive; it'll be too hard to manage."
Tao Hua looked over at him, trying not to laugh. However, he immediately directed his attention back at the flowers, his interest piqued more than ever.
Through the various flowers, the two ended up pairing most with the people they knew. The osmanthus was for Suo Han; its nostalgia, family virtue, and upright personality that yearned to do a good job and make his master proud.
Qian Jue got the orchid. Though difficult to maintain, he trusted someone like Qian Jue could manage it without a problem.
And as for Wan Mie, Tao Hua couldn't explain why, but he got a bag of Azelea seeds in his honour. There was something about Shan Si's explanation, a longing for home, loss, and its story of how they became red through blood loss.
It was a weird feeling, one he didn't understand it, as if he pitied Wan Mie regardless of his ill actions. Maybe it was only he who could see such sadness in someone so playful, even Shan Si's reaction was questionable. But, nevertheless, he'd adhere to Tao Hua's insistence.
Tao Hua rushed his choice for Shan Si, his cheeks a vibrant red. It made Shan Si laugh, and thus, the apricot blossom was chosen for its hope, the passage of time between feelings and lost ones, and the awakening of romantic emotions.
"Finally," Shan Si rounded back to the peach blossom tree seeds. "I think these ones have really grown on me. They resemble immortality, but also romantic escapism. They are spring's arrival, renewing all winter had taken from the land. Do you know what else they're used for, Tao Hua?"
If Tao Hua wasn't trying to protect the flower in his hand, it would have been squished at this rate. He just looked down at the bag, his hands shaking, and body temperature higher than ever.
A simple shake of the head, and Shan Si was set in motion. His amusement was enormous, shown in the way his head tilted deviously. "Some say it symbolises lustful desires—"
"Buy them! It's getting late!" Tao Hua jumped away from Shan Si and pointed to the pile. "Buy them and let's go! Please!"
And thus, Shan Si agreed, laughing the entire time as he paid the woman more than was necessary. He was absolutely pleased with himself!
During the walk back to the inn, Shan Si was more obnoxious than usual, continuously teasing his dear flower. Tao Hua simply hugged the books against his chest, the flower still carefully held in his hand. The more this prince kept spouting nonsensical things, the tighter the hug.
He blabbered things like:
"If we plant this outside our bedchambers…then would my fantasies finally be answered?"
"Hey, Tao Hua, if I spread this in your bathwater, how excited would you think it would make you?"
"Maybe I should sprinkle the petals all over our bed."
Nothing ever got a response out of Tao Hua. He remained a kettle of steaming tea the entire way too the inn, up until he heard Shan Si say, "Huh. It's that time already."
He was looking back at the street, watching as it lit up red with each person setting aglow the hanging torches. Above them, strings of lanterns highlighted their faces, brightening the more the sky fell into a midnight blue, glittering with dim stars.
Every bit of embarrassment left Tao Hua, like Shan Si's words removed the squealing kettle from the fire. He glanced up at him, his bottom lip protruding and eyes wide.
"Ah, don't look at me like that," Shan Si painfully smiled. "It'll be in and out, I promise. Just wait for me here, okay?"
Placing the seeds into the sleeves of his cloak, Shan Si removed it and placed the fabric over Tao Hua's shoulders. It was a bit awkward, wearing two sets of fabric, but Tao Hua couldn't even focus on it; he just looked up at Shan Si, helpless.
The books and flower were gently removed from Tao Hua's hands, set atop a nearby table.
One hand pressed against his shoulder, and the other tipped up his head, offering enough room for Shan Si to lean down and gently brush a kiss on Tao Hua's lips.
Though they were in the middle of a busy street, no one was concerned about the intermingling couple.
These festival-goers had their sights set on the festivities, loudly chatting with one another, just as the sound of a zither began to hum off in the distance.
To the world, they were nothing, and that made what they had feel even more special and intimate.
Despite all these distractions, Tao Hua found himself evermore needy, elevating himself on the tips of his toes, hands clutched onto the sleeves of Shan Si's merchant's robe.
Under his breath, lips still close to the other, Shan Si whispered, "Maybe, when I get back…we could put that name of yours to good use—"
Tao Hua immediately tried to pull away, his face contorting with annoyance, but he hadn't succeeded. Instead, Shan Si tugged him in and pressed one more weighted kiss before separating himself.
As he took a step back, he pointed to the inn and said, "Don't leave. I'll be back to take you to the lanterns soon. I promise."
Tao Hua nodded, watching as Shan Si ran off into the distance, past the twinkling lanterns, swaying ripples of light against him, until he could no longer see him. All of his irritation slowly evaporated into emptiness of longing.
This was the first time the two would be apart since…well, a while, so sparing a bit of time watching him disappear into the crowd was worth standing out in the open. Eventually, when Tao Hua was certain he was no longer there, he turned around, reached for the book and flower, his eyelids fell as he examined the ivory petals.
He realised he didn't mind being confused for a feminine beauty if it meant he'd be confused as Shan Si's feminine beauty. All of it was meaningless next to the one person who gave meaning to the world.
Letting out a sigh, he picked them up, but just as he did, a voice called out to him. It was a woman's voice, and one that was almost trembling as if witnessing a ghost.
Tao Hua's pupils shrank as soon as he realised where he'd heard such a voice before, and when it hit him, his body drenched in a cold sweat.
"Tao Hua?"
Chapter end.