Act 2
Chuhen Palace
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"Enough of this already." Shan Si glared up at the man above. "Open the gate already, Wan Mie. I'm in no mood to play around."
"Right, sure. When are you ever?" Wan Mie slowly started to fold up the paper, soon shoving it into the lapels of his robe. Once it was comfortably tucked away, he leaned back onto the railing and said, "How about a deal?"
Shan Si's eyebrows furrowed. "Excuse me?"
"Not only do you look like a complete disaster, but you've also gone deaf! How age becomes of you, Little Sisi."
Tao Hua watched the two bicker, completely bewildered. Their entire trip, from the Tao Esate, through the woods, and past the ghost city, he feared pissing this man off, yet here Wan Mie was, pushing every possible button. He even sounded utterly entertained!
It was a truly astonishing sight for Tao Hua, and his only response was to mouth the words: Little Sisi…
"Open the gate; I'm in no mood to play your games today." Shan Si demanded once more.
"Incorrect. The gate will remain closed," Wan Mie replied, straightening himself. Though it was clear he was teasing, he acted as though he were prepared to turn away from the balcony and leave. "For shame, for shame. What did I raise?"
"Of all days…" Shan Si grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. After rubbing along his lids for a bit, he finally spouted, "Fine!"
"Hmmm?"
Shan Si inhaled sharply, exhaling with the force of typhoon-based winds. He finally lowered his hand from his face and pressed it against his sword. From Tao Hua's point of view, it almost looked like he was ready to unsheathe it entirely.
Whether or not blood would be shed…that would remain unknown. Tao Hua just stared wide-eyed at the whitened fingers, curled tightly around the hilt.
Lowering his lids, Shan Si slowly enunciated each word carefully. "What's your proposal?"
Wan Mie was halfway twisted when he finally realigned himself with a snap!
"Oh! I'm so glad you asked!" Wan Mie cheerfully exclaimed, as if he wasn't the one who initiated this. He propped an elbow against the railing and his fist to his cheek. Judging from the way he sounded, the man was having the time of his life teasing Shan Si—he hadn't a single worry about his own.
With his other hand, he started to twirl circles in the air with his finger. "You see, here's the thing…it saddens this old, humble servant of yours when you address me so formally. Wan Mie? Bullocks. Say it right. If you do, then your wish will be my command, Lord Sisi."
Each time Wan Mie uttered the nickname Sisi, Tao Hua could see a small part of Shan Si die—he wasn't sure if it was out of rage, embarrassment, or both. So, he just awkwardly side-shuffled behind Shan Si and out of both man's view.
He had to prevent himself from smiling uncontrollably and choked back the laughter. Anytime before this encounter, had anyone told Tao Hua that Shan Si would meet his match from a whimsical man atop an outpost, Tao Hua would have called them senile.
But watching it in real time?
Unbelievable.
Even more so, knowing that it wasn't Tao Hua who was the butt of the joke this time. Suddenly, it wasn't as hilarious, forcing a frown on Tao Hua's lips.
"Oh, don't give me that sour look. You've gotta preserve those young features of yours. Youth is fleeting." Wan Mie slapped his hands against the wood. "Well, maybe not for you. Actually, maybe soon! Who knows! Hurry, child. I don't have all day, y'know?"
Shan Si's muscles tightened, and his hand came close to shattering the hilt of his sword. Any more pressure, and Tao Hua was convinced he'd crush it into dust.
"You're the one wasting time here," Shan Si warned. "Open the damn gate! My patience is running thin."
"Oh—No. I don't think I will," Wan Mie said simply, without a trace of hesitation. "That wasn't our deal."
Shoulders drooping, Shan Si gritted his teeth, eyes locked on Wan Mie. Tao Hua wondered what exactly had him so up in arms, or what their relationship was for Wan Mie to so easily tease a man who always seemed desperate for control. He wanted to intervene, but each time he thought about it, he'd just shrink into his shoulders and hide away.
It felt like he was failing all that was his past self, but what could he say? The possibility of further pissing off Shan Si and also the man above was a lot more terrifying than the Buzhi Forest ever could be.
First the note, and then this? Shan Si was clearly the eye of scrutiny thus far.
Tao Hua knitted his brows, peeking past Shan Si's arm and up at the silhouette of Wan Mie.
Could he be the one who wrote the note? Does that mean he's above Shan Si? Tao Hua looked away, toward the stone on the ground. No, that can't be it. He called himself a servant while addressing Shan Si as lord.
Court politics weren't anything Tao Hua was versed in—he was just as bad at understanding that as he was with socializing. So, he just glanced up at Shan Si's scowling expression, watching as it darkened each time Wan Mie spoke.
I wonder why he addresses him as lord…could it mean—
"…" Shan Si let out a loud sigh, bending his neck and looking away from Wan Mie. This made Wan Mie hum, tapping his fingers along the railing. After a few more moments of rather pleasant tunes, Shan Si finally said, "Master. Open it."
There were two things in this question that had Tao Hua shocked. The first was that this obnoxiously playful man above was the one who nurtured Shan Si's impressive skills, but also how quickly Shan Si folded.
It was so uncharacteristic. At least Tao Hua now understood where Shan Si's jester side came from, given master was such a heavy title for someone like Shan Si.
"Not good enough," Wan Mie said, popping his lips. He pressed both his hands to the railing and pushed himself up again. "Try again."
"What more do you want?! How am I supposed to know if you don't tell me?!" Shan Si raged, whipping his head back up to Wan Mie, who didn't seem bothered in the slightest. "Open the gate, or I'll force it open!"
"If I had my way, I'd want plenty. Alas, I'm bogged down by a brooding prince who refuses to show even an ounce of love to his dear old man. Again! Try again!"
Said like a true showman, Wan Mie didn't seem hurt in the slightest.
As Tao Hua was watching this, his eyes would jump from each speaker. It was truly the first time he'd seen Shan Si in such a vulnerable position that he hadn't clocked into anything either were saying, nor did he notice the subtle glance in his direction. The raging pale eyes hesitated, just as his thumb grazed along the red string on his pommel. After a moment longer of contemplation, he closed his eyes, turned his head to the gate, and forced out an unimpressed, "Uncle Mie."
So he's older? Tao Hua thought, though he had to shake his head. Maybe related? They are kind of alike, and it makes sense. It's like he's dangling a carrot over Shan Si's head—only an elder could do that.
Except Shan Si wasn't some harmless, hungry animal. He was a creature who'd bite, and Wan Mie seemed fully aware of this.
This elder was a daring old man.
"Nice!" Wan Mie shouted, finally pushing himself up tall. "Very good, Little Sisi! My heart is jumping jacks, hopping with jo--"
"Open it!" Shan Si seethed. "NOW."
"Ah, ah, ah—is that any way to treat Uncle Master?" Wan Mie let out a long, playful breath. "The things I do for family."
With a shrug, the silhouette left the balcony. His footsteps echoed until a door slammed, and before Tao Hua knew it, the doors were slowly opening, scratching at the bottom of the stone.
Dipping his head back, Shan Si stared up at the sky as if contemplating his entire existence. Tao Hua wasn't sure what to do, so he just waited for Shan Si's command.
"The worst. We should have stayed in the forest," Shan Si mumbled before snapping his head back into place. One foot backward, he moved out of the way and held his hand up to Tao Hua before saying, "After you."
Shan Si had the look of a man who'd just escaped war. He was utterly exhausted.
Reluctantly, Tao Hua toyed with his fingers a bit. He wasn't sure if it was his place to check in on Shan Si, the same way Shan Si—kind of—help him. Alas, his mind would get the better of him, and he'd only nod in response before and darting past Sahn Si and into the screeching gate.
As he flew past, he tried to organize each question, savouring them for when Shan Si was rested. There was much he wanted to ask him, but given how eventful his first few minutes just outside Shan Si's supposed home, he couldn't muster up any courage. Nor could he stomach looking at how exhausted Shan Si looked, and because of him.
So, he just squeezed his eyes shut, running into the main gate as his steps echoed, with Shan Si casually following behind him.
The room was rather empty, enough that even their breath could bounce off the walls, had it not been for the weapons that hung en masse. Countless types, yet all varying in design, each with its own unique pattern. They were expensively crafted, and a treasure trove of gold for any daring bandit who dared try their hand at theft.
Tao Hua's eyes followed each bow, sword, and spear, completely struck with wonder. Given his isolation, he was often treated as fragile as a baby bird, and never came into contact with anything dangerous. In a way, it almost felt illegal.
In the midst of Tao Hua's curiosity, he'd significantly slowed down, allowing Shan Si finally to catch up and stroll at his side.
"They're old. I can tell you about each later, if you're curious," Shan Si said. Tao Hua turned his head to look up at him, noticing how any of the earlier resentment toward his uncle seemingly faded into something softer.
It was odd—Tao Hua didn't know what to make of it. But that would soon come to an end, and pitifully so.
The two would halt at the shout of a voice coming from the stairwell nearby.
The voice belonged to Wan Mie.
"Hold it!"
Chapter end.