From Wan Mie to Shan Si, Tao Hua repeatedly shifted his eyes, but he couldn't understand why they looked so concerned. His grandfather's surname wasn't commonly known? It was an insignificant backwater town name, rather, and held little to no weight on the world.
So, just why did these two seem to care so much?
"Was your grandfather known for anything…?" Asked Wan Mie. "Famous?"
"…no?" Tao Hua's answer raised Wan Mie's brows. "He was born in Siyue Town."
"Siyue Town…Siyue Town…" Wan Mie mumbled, straightening his back. He pressed a finger between his lips and his thumb against his chin. "I don't recall there being a Siyue Town on the map, My Lord."
"There isn't," answered Shan Si, an unreadable expression glued to Tao Hua. "I found it by complete accident."
Tao Hua's eyebrows furrowed at the new revelation. So he was in Siyue Town simply by accident, and Tao Hua was standing in this unknown palace by mere happenstance? That made the entire situation all the more strange.
When Tao Hua first met Shan Si, he acted like someone who knew where he was going and why he was there, except that wasn't the case at all!
This man was pretending as much as Tao Hua was surviving. There was so much about Shan Si that he really didn't know—such was the curse of only being acquainted for only a day.
And yet, there was still more to unpack than anyone Tao Hua had known all his life.
"Hmmm…" Wan Mie side-glanced Shan Si. "I thought she died?"
"That's what mother said," said Shan Si. "It might just be a coincidence."
Rubbing his lips, Wan Mie shifted his attention back to Tao Hua, studying him. It was awkward and made Tao Hua think twice about any of his movements.
"What's your mother's name?" Wan Mie asked. "Don't say mother."
"Um…Zhuan Hua." Tao Hua answered, his voice shaking slightly. Using every ounce of courage, he asked, "Is this really important? Who is she?"
"It's not. Quit it," said Shan Si, glaring at Wan Mie. However, despite his aggressive stance, something in him also seemed to stir at his mother's name. "There's a difference between a title and a surname. They're not the same. Don't worry about it."
Obliging, Tao Hua nodded and turned away for a second, as if not to give away his innermost thoughts. Wan Mie, however, didn't and continued to fan the flames. He held up his hand, waving it at Shan Si. However, he kept his focus locked on Tao Hua, his eyes squinting.
"What killed her?" Wan Mie nudged his head toward Shan Si, looking rather odd with each thrust sideways. "You said she was dead, right? How is this possible?"
Shan Si was the first to react, his body moving before his mouth, and it looked like the man was about ready to lunge at his master; however, Tao Hua just painfully smiled and lied instead.
"I-I don't know. Could we move on?" Tao Hua asked, but immediately retracted it by saying, "Sorry! I swear I'll answer anything else!"
Unimpressed, Wan Mie stared at his fuming nephew, completely ignoring Tao Hua. He placed a hand on his hip and said, "Calm down—is this not important? You made the choice to bring him back, but for what reason? What is it about this "nobody" that has you so worked up? This isn't like you, My Lord."
Shan Si, at this, hadn't a response—it was like he was caught in a trap laid out specifically for him. So, he lifted his chin, glared at Wan Mie, before looking away, meanwhile, Tao Hua held up his hands and tried to ease the tension, but failing miserably.
There was no way he could find the room to speak!
"Fine. Figure it out, but don't involve me when it falls apart," said Shan Si, to Tao Hua's complete horror.
"Oh my, oh my." Wan Mie shook his head, lowered his lashes, his laughter hiding behind a knowing smile. "Can't say it's not a nice look on you, finally seeing a spark of care. Anyway—child, look here. I want to get a better look at you."
Swallowing, Tao Hua looked at Shan Si, as if begging, but Shan Si refused to look in either direction. Instead, he placed his hand back on the hilt of his sword, staring ahead at a few of the weapons on the wall.
From Tao Hua's angle, Shan Si looked entirely unbothered—all except for the way his knuckles whitened, but given it was Tao Hua, and he was already spiralling, he'd most likely think nothing of it.
So, he just pressed his lips together, lowered his head, and nodded. Help from Shan Si was entirely a lost cause, not worth wasting effort on. Heartbreaking, truly.
Some people really needed to read a book on how to care for a hostage in this day and age.
"Wow! Much better of a listener than him! I'm impressed!" Wan Mie said, pleased. He got closer to Tao Hua, staring down at him. "What an unlikely duo to be fatefully paired. I do hope my dear nephew can learn a thing or two. Perhaps I should take you on as a disciple."
Shan Si's hand clenched tightly over the hilt, and his jaw tightened. "Shut it. Ask your questions before my patience runs out."
"Oh, fine, fine," Wan Mie shot Shan Si a look before turning back to Tao Hua. "Are you adopted? Bastard child? Whore mother? You look nothing like your father. What's the catch? What did your grandfather do for a living? Did you ever meet any other relatives? What was your mother's position in the household? Was she a consort of any? Answer, child—don't be shy."
There were so many questions shoved at Tao Hua all at once, he felt as though his eyes would spin out of his head. How was he supposed to open up? Don't be shy? Ridiculous.
In a futile attempt to keep up, Tao Hua desperately looked at Wan Mie's wholly amused face. He couldn't tell if the man was playfully joking or serious—like Shan Si, if this man wasn't joking around, he was difficult to read.
"…huh?" Tao Hua finally mustered, followed by a few high pitched, and rather questionable noises. Somehow, Wan Mie understood.
"You don't look like him. Tao Ci's an ugly little bastard, isn't he? This one looks as delicate as a woman."
Wan Mie's comment about his father sent mixed signals through Tao Hua's body. Sure, he didn't feel much for his father other than discontent and fear, but he was his offspring—Tao Hua genuinely thought his father was tall and handsome. Well, taller and more handsome than him, at least.
Was he wrong, and what did that say about him? This would mush his mind dumb, completely disregarding any and all the compliments previously stated, and to come.
Better put: his confidence was shot, and repairing it would take more than a few comments. Alas, he was a small-town man ahead of two royally fitted people, so there really wasn't any fair comparison to offer.
That was the beast he was competing against.
"Stop running your mouth," said Shan Si. "How the hell is he supposed to answer your questions if you don't give him time to answer? This is why you're stationed here. Useless."
Ignoring Shan Si's statement, Wan Mie crept forward, bending toward Tao Hua and studying him. Unsure how to react, Tao Hua took another step back, swallowing and pressing his hands to his chest.
"You really are looking to die today." Shan Si sneered at Wan Mie, who just shoved his hand in the air, waving off the threat. Nothing about his nephew seemed to phase this old man, and the longer he scrutinized Tao Hua, the more his smile grew dangerously.
"You see this? Allow a child to grow a few inches taller and suddenly he thinks he can threaten whoever he wants?" Wan Mie shook his head. His smile softened, almost becoming entirely inviting and paternal. "Children! Can't live with them, can't live without them. I'm sorry if my questions were a bit too forward. Let's start over, okay? I'll leave the curiosity to the one wishing to court you."
Glaring at him, Shan Si's lip lifted, and he almost rolled his eyes. This was enough for Tao Hua to slightly drop his guard, lowering his hands.
Compared to Shan Si, Wan Mie actually understood responsibility. Perhaps this had to do with being so socially starved for most of his life, but Tao Hua actually appreciated it.
"Really, it's uncanny. I've never seen a man rival even a concubine's beauty. Consort Fang will be happy." Lifting his hand, Wan Mie ruffled Tao Hua's hair, causing him to flinch. "She could use an actual lady-in-waiting. All week, she's been targeting Li Zhou, using him as her little plaything. What made you think he'd satisfy her, My Lord?"
"She's bored—anything will keep her entertained at this point, even if it's for a short while."
"But Li Zhou?" Wan Mie shook his head. "Although I can't say he cares. He was clearing the snow all day dressed in her rouge. It doesn't look good."
"If you think you can do better, be my guest," Shan Si said, staring at the exit and looking rather bored and ready to evacuate his master's talkative ways.
"You think so?" Wan Mie jokingly looked up, acting as if he were considering the absurd idea. "I am quite the artist after all."
But despite the jokes and Shan Si's impatience and Wan Mie's hand still in his hair, Tao Hua couldn't seem to get a single word out of his mind as his eyes slowly opened, and he stared down at his scuffed shoes.
Consort…?
He slowly started to piece things together, and then his stomach twisted in a way he couldn't seem to understand. Trying to control his expression, Tao Hua thought, Lord…consort…palace. Does that mean?
Helplessly, he looked up at Shan Si, who didn't seem fazed by the mention of whoever this "Consort Fang" was. Why?
"Regardless, he's not here to mess around. Fang Jian will just have to suffer a while longer," said Shan Si, turning toward the door.
First name basis? Tao Hua thought, unaware of how much that showed on his face. Every possible scenario regarding whoever this Fang Jian person was coursed through his mind.
But he couldn't understand why it mattered, or why he cared. That didn't change anything, and the thoughts only hurt him more.
Just as Tao Hua was lost in his ruminating thoughts, a hand gently knocked against his head, breaking him out of the overthinking spell. Whipping his head up, he saw Wan Mie wave his hand.
"Yoo-hoo? I was wrong! He's just as bad as you, My Lord! A daydreamer! I see why you fancy him so." Wan Mie's statement didn't help his situation more, and it was like rubbing salt into a wound that neither were fully aware of—well, all three of them. With a laugh, Wan Mie continued and asked, "Do you have a name? Don't say 'A Man.'"
Tao Hua opened his mouth, but before he could answer, Shan Si interrupted him, leaving him in the dust of his slightly surprised complexion.
"No, he doesn't. Not one you can use."
Promptly, Tao Hua shut his mouth.
"Treated like a true pet," said Wan Mie, crossing his arms and letting out another delighted laugh. "Hm. Now that I think about it, maybe this is a good omen after all. So many connecting paths…yes, I can see it as our ticket out of this mess, My Lord."
Loudly, Wan Mie whipped his finger into the air, enough to startle not only Tao Hua but Shan Si as well.
"I've decided!" He declared. "Since I'm not privy to this beauty's name and you've arrived when we needed it most, I'll have to be creative with my titles. From here on forth, you'll be known as Rabbit's Foot."
Chapter end.
SKETCH OF WAN MIE.