Rising to his feet, Li Zhou dusted off the clinging sleet from his robe. He grabbed his shovel and slammed it into the snow, folding his arms over the handle and resting his chin on his knuckles.
"You guys are terrible at this game," he said without even a wince of emotion.
"Ugh…It's not a game, Elder Brother Zhou!" Suo Han just grumbled, burying his face into his hands. "If it were, none of this would have happened. Why couldn't we have just stayed at the palace? Not only will I get reprimanded, but so will Young Master. That's worse!"
The last of his sentence was said with such mournful passion, it practically tossed his own self-worth out the window. Tao Hua couldn't help but frown, knowing he was the cause of Suo Han's misery. Sucking in his lips, he lamented what possibility his servant would face.
Neither man had any concern for themselves.
"Aaaah, understood." A hint of a smile twitched at the corner of Li Zhou's lips, and his cheek squished against the back of his hands. With a breathless laugh, he sang, "You guys are in trouble."
Suo Han nearly broke down, his neck bent and the loose strands of his messy hair dangling amid his turmoil.
"Hum. I see now," said Weng Jing.
Holding up his hand, Wan Mie folded his fingers over his palm and casually looked at his nails. "Shocker."
"Shut your vile trap, Guard Dog." Weng Jing held up his whisk and pointed it toward the tree, and not at all at the actual issue, which was Tao Hua.
Looking over at the tree and then back to the Daoist Master, Tao Hua wondered how someone who never seemed to open his eyes knew of their surroundings. At least, he assumed he hadn't once opened his eyes during the few minutes they stood there.
Did he really not notice him?
Turning back to the Daoist Master, Tao Hua examined him once more.
Weng Jing wasn't hard on the eyes—he was rather handsome and youthful. But that was expected of a person esteemed enough to earn the title Daoist Master, especially in an imperial palace. Though he expected him to look a bit more stern for someone who seemed rather uptight and angry.
That couldn't be far from true, however! Weng Jing had considerably feminine features: lashes any woman would die for, and cheeks that lit up red in the cold.
It was befitting for someone deemed the "Messenger of the Heavens."
But the novelty would soon wear off the moment this messenger opened his mouth.
"The whiny servant boy. I hear him beyond the whispering bark." Weng Jing raised an eyebrow, tilting his head and positioning his ear closer to the tree. "Why hide beyond our view? Reveal yourself this instant and speak! Did your master put you up to this?!"
Instantly, Weng Jing turned to look at Wan Mie, who was more than pleased to be the object of this thrashing man's scrutiny. "What did you do to him?! Why does he radiate such immense energy?"
Master…
Tao Hua assumed that by master, he meant him. That was the only plausible explanation he could think of for someone as timid as Suo Han.
But that didn't quite make sense, either. Earlier, Weng Jing hadn't a clue Shan Si had brought back someone from the outside, so how would he know this lowly servant had a master to look after?
Maybe there was another young master? Confusing, Tao Hua was beginning to loathe court politics.
Glancing back and forth, from the trembling Suo Han to the indignant Weng Jing, Tao Hua continued jumping heads until his eyes landed on Wan Mie. He half-expected this elder to do something about the situation, but there was much left to be desired for a man who found enjoyment in other's suffering.
Frozen at Weng Jing's words, Suo Han peeked through the slip of his fingers. His breath loudly bounced off his hand, sounding like how moving a mat on stone ground would.
In a small whisper while staring at nothing, he pleaded, "Help me."
But all either could do was simply stare at him. Li Zhou was completely unfazed, intently watching the show as an innocent bystander.
Tao Hua, however? He was stricken guilty, painted in a messy smile. Awkwardly fumbling with his fingers, he placed them against his chest, feeling along the cold sweat that coated each.
"Um…" Tao Hua started, his voice shivering. His sudden wave of courage was cut short by another voice.
So, he sealed his lips shut, staring at the culprit.
"I give you more credit than you deserve," said Wan Mie. He pushed past Weng Jing, stood in the middle of both groups, and held out his hand toward Tao Hua, as if Weng Jing could see him do so. "This is the rabbit we've been speaking of. Seems he was set loose from his cage and wandered lost. How lucky it was he found his way to us."
"Lies. That is not a rabbit," said Weng Jing. "That is a man and a tree. Why do you refer to your disciple as a 'Rabbit's Foot?' Dogs eat rabbits; are you insinuating something repulsive?"
Disciple…?
Once more, Tao Hua looked over at Suo Han. His hands flopped at his sides, and the poor servant looked utterly defeated for the umpteenth time that morning.
At least that answered his earlier question, while raising many more.
In what way did Suo Han compare to Shan Si if both were Wan Mie's disciples? Shan Si was tall and built, with a menacing scowl on his face, permanently stuck.
Suo Han, on the other hand…well, he wasn't skinny, but he wasn't built either. Average at best, and he ran at the first sight of trouble. Not to mention that he was a servant.
It was best to assume Suo Han had failed and got demoted to a mere servant boy. He'd have to ask him later when it was just the two of them.
"How many times must I tell you? Opening my eyes leaves me blind to my surroundings. I can only see when they are shut," replied Weng Jing, matter-of-factly. That was another thing Tao Hua would have to ask Suo Han—it didn't quite make sense to him.
"And I'm doing perfectly fine without them," continued Weng Jing, turning his attention back to the Tao Hua. "Now, I'm not sure what you're up to, Servant Boy, but you must vacate this instant. You are provoking the spirits, and it's exhausting."
"I don't think the blame falls on Suo Zong." Mumbling, Wan Mie playfully rolled his eyes. He was a rather informal person, so Tao Hua had to guess Zong was Suo Han's birth name.
"Come on out and explain yourself, Suo Zong—Weng Jing can't do anything to harm you if I'm here." Wan Mie lifted his hand, listlessly motioning it toward the tree and looking at Li Zhou. In an endearingly parental tone, he said, "Please help him. Gods forbid the feeble child forgot how to move again."
Weng Jing whirled his head toward Wan Mie, sneering, before turning back and looking straight at Tao Hua…maybe?
While he somehow studied him, a loud fwomp was heard, followed by an airy puff of snow. Then, Li Zhou emerged from it, dragging a begging and crying Suo Han with him.
He tossed Suo Han toward Wan Mie, watching as he stumbled pitifully. To his luck, he was stopped before falling flat on his face. Wan Mie had pressed his hand against his forehead, keeping him firmly in place and successfully preventing any accidents.
Gleefully, he beamed a prim smile down at Suo Han, overjoyed at his presence.
But none of this grabbed Weng Jing's attention; it was still on Tao Hua, and it didn't even budge in the slightest.
This was absolutely a stubborn man, and that would only become ever more apparent as they got to know each other.
"Then who is this? If that--" He pointed at Suo Han while approaching Tao Hua, slowly steering his whisk back in Tao Hua's direction. "—isn't them? Their energy riles up the spirits, I can hardly make any of them out."
"Something we can actually agree on," said Wan Mie, ruffling Suo Han's hair. Though Suo Han looked ready to collapse at any moment, he didn't appreciate the gesture. "I was hoping you could tell me, but it seems even you can't decode the problem. Peculiar."
What problem was there to even speak of? Tao Hua examined himself, but he couldn't quite see what Wan Mie meant.
"Do I look like a fortune teller? I'm only permitted whatever knowledge the spirits offer, and none of them understand what this thing is," said Weng Jing. He moved his whisk under Tao Hua's chin, forcefully tipping up his head. Brows furrowed, Tao Hua stared down at it in complete disbelief.
What was the point of this?!
At least Suo Han reacted, jerking a bit before freezing in place. He really, absolutely, and utterly did not like Weng Jing!
"Though it is odd…" Weng Jing said. "They're insistent that this creature belongs in my temple. Just what did Lord Shengkai bring into the palace, Guard Dog…?"
"Question of the week. Well, seems you're useless so who cares! The sun will rise once more!" Wan Mie shrugged with a smirk, removing his hand from Suo Han's head. Shoving Weng Jing aside, he nearly caused him to fall into the snow. Contrary to popular belief, however, Weng Jing didn't seem bothered by Wan Mie's actions—something had him captivated, and that something was standing exactly where Tao Hua stood.
Lips puckering amid his curiosity, he continued looking at him as the others moved on.
Wan Mie pressed his hands on his hips, just as the corner of his mouth tugged into a mischievous smile.
"Onto the next mystery," he said. "Tell me, where's this little rabbit hopping off to now? I thought our Lord was clear with his instructions. Care to explain?"
Suo Han swiftly turned to look at Wan Mie, his eyes glossed over with what threatened tears.
"I-It was my fault, Master!" cried Suo Han, rushing toward the two. "Young Master didn't do any of it! He just…um."
Looking away, Suo Han bashfully played with his fingers, and in a high voice, he said, "The…bath isn't working in the Palace of Great Benevolence. I...Mmm, I thought maybe we could use the Imperial Baths instead. Sorry…"
"Hm." Wan Mie looked up, his finger brushing along his lip. "The Imperial Baths, huh? How convenient."
"This lowly one isn't worthy of his master's acknowledgement and will leave post haste--"
But Wan Mie only smirked at this thought, tugging devilishly at the corners of his mouth.
"No. I think this is a splendid idea, Suo Zong. I'll join the three of you. We can bond like loyal brothers, yes? There's nothing more intimately charged than sitting in a steaming hot, giant bowl of water with other naked men--"
"Lies." Weng Jing finally straightened up. Nothing about his expression seemed impressed. "That is not a man; therefore, there is no brotherly bonding to be had."
Speechless, Tao Hua stared at Weng Jing.
Yes, he was more feminine in appearance; many back in Siyue Town made that painfully known, so Tao Hua had gotten used to it as an insult. But two things stood out this time.
First, how the hell would Weng Jing know?! The man refused to open his eyes!
Secondly, it didn't sound like an insult. Far from it, actually. The way Weng Jing said it, despite the look on his face, dripped with warmth.
Tao Hua could feel his skin prickle all over due to how slimy it came off.
Disgusted or not, the confusion still remained. Anyone could tell Tao Hua was a man just by his voice alone. It wasn't exactly deep, but he was certain it didn't sound like a woman's. That had always been his saving grace.
"Um..." Suo Han swung in immediately. Shamelessly, he shouted, "For the last three days, I've bathed him! Young Master is most certainly a man! I've seen it!"
Wan Mie's eyes nearly went bloodshot, as if holding back laughter, while Tao Hua was anything but amused. His cheeks flushed bright red, and he hung his head ingloriously.
Slapping a hand to his face, he mumbled, "It's fine. I'm fine with it--"
But his eyes, along with Wan Mie's who's iimmediately piqued, would widen at Weng Jing's next words.
The only one not exhibiting any riled-up emotions was Li Zhou. During the exchange he had retrieved his shovel and started clearing the path toward the gate.
The scraping sound of the shovel echoed, just as Weng Jing opened his mouth to speak, and for the first time that day, he presented his first smile.
"That is Daoist Master Zhuan."
Chapter end.
SKETCH OF WENG JING. (I'll comment it when it's finally done)