Staring straight ahead, Tao Hua was left in a daze. Dumbfounded, really, and questioning exactly how he'd gotten into the precarious position he was currently in.
Running around him with the energy of a squirrel, Fang Jian held up multiple pieces of fabric, all flying in every which way and all with a mind of their own. Deep reds, shimmering golds, peach pink—every colour a person could imagine!
There was really no shortage of decisions in her bedroom.
Fang Jian's space was completely submerged in girlish galore. Stylized, filled with plenty of things that screamed, "Look at me, I'm cute." It was warm and terrifying all at the same time for someone like Tao Hua.
Gui Chang wasn't ever this intense.
"Hmph!" she happily exclaimed, proudly tossing them onto Tao Hua's lap with one heavy heave. "We can test each colour and see if it compliments Gugu! Oh, this is so great! Fang Jian, you're a genius! Oh, thank you, I know!"
As Tao Hua blankly picked through the pieces of fabric, Fang Jian dashed toward her vanity, gathering up multiple pots, brushes, and tins.
"I knew it! I did! I knew the moment I saw Gugu that day that we'd be likely friends! Best friends, even! Would Gugu like that? Huahua sounds cuter, but apparently I'm not allowed to use that." Fang Jian knitted her brows, unnaturally pursing her lips. "Hm…since when have I ever been scared of Lord Shan Si?"
Tao Hua opened his mouth to respond, but Fang Jian beat him to it. So, he just closed it and listened, staring at her.
"Bah! Many times! Do I have to be scared this time? Are feelings an option? Ugh, he sucks!"It seemed she came to a decision all on her own. Loudly, she insisted, "We're best friends, anyhow! I'll use it when he's not around!"
Dreadful and speechless, Tao Hua turned his head to find her holding up various makeup-related items, and a wide smile on her face. He then turned his head toward Li Zhou, who merely had his arms crossed, leaning against the door of her bedchamber.
All he offered Tao Hua was a half-hearted shrug, leaving Tao Hua to fend for himself.
The thing with Fang Jian that Tao Hua had quickly understood was that this woman did not match any of the rumours whispered about her through the palace servants. She wasn't some crafty witch able to crawl her way into any man's bedroom, nor was she a genius capable of womanly charm; it was the opposite.
This woman hadn't a single clue what she was doing, but pretended to all the same. She was clumsy, fast, and barely understood the concept of "think before speaking."
In fact, Tao Hua had actually wished that it was the former! Had it been that way then he wouldn't be able to sympathize with her woes and potentially could have said no. But that face of hers...it was as innocent as his, and she honed a loneliness louder than the nightly gales that rattled the buildings of Chuhen Palace.
To think that at first, when she arrived in the library and greeted Tao Hua with a bargaining piece, he was initially terrified.
Ha, that was quick to change. It dissolved into something Tao Hua wasn't even aware he could offer someone else other than himself: pity.
But looking at her was as if he were staring into a mirror. A desperate woman crying for attention in the least productive ways possible, and someone to call a friend.
Thus, it was impossible to say no, leaving Tao Hua in the position of playing the doll to her dollhouse.
──── ୨୧ ────
The Day Before
──── ୨୧ ────
Setting down the object in her hand, supposedly wrapped in what looked to be a muted green leaf, she deeply sniffed.
Then it started.
Fang Jian slapped her hands onto the library's daybed, nearly flinging the book out of Tao Hua's hands had he not gripped so tightly onto it. Then a cheerful exclaim that could have shaken the entire room. "So CUTE! Gugu is so cute!"
Gugu…? Tao Hua was struck into a dumbfounded haze. What kind of name…?
"Does Gugu know who I am?!" she asked, without acknowledging her surroundings. She abruptly patted her own chest over and over, stating, "Fang Jian! But Gugu can call me Jianjian! Jinjin, too! Oh…or Jiji."
"Eh…" Tao Hua awkwardly hesitated, his lips crookedly flipping upward. "Tao Gu is fine."
She ignored that.
"Oh, oh! When I heard we had a newcomer in the palace, I simply had to meet them. But also to be so cute? Augh!" Hands indenting the sheets, she leaned in closer with a beaming smile that practically lit up her vibrant, pale eyes. "I never once expected it! What an exciting turn of events for this stupid place!"
"Um…" Tao Hua's voice trembled, and words felt impossible. He lifted the book further up and leaned back, away from the energetic woman.
"Oh…shoot! Wait!" Immediately sitting straight, she partly twisted her body and reached for the object, before thrusting it straight toward Tao Hua, nearly shoving the book flat into his face. "I brought Gugu some food so he doesn't have to fear me like everyone else! They're buns—not my work, but Auntie Jue's! For some reason people don't like my food, but that's okay. Is Gugu hungry? I can always get more!"
Brows pinched, Tao Hua just stared at her before looking down at the wrapped food. It was actually…an extremely kind gesture and something he hadn't expected out of Fang Jian.
Now, thinking about it, did he even eat? He'd been so caught up in his own thoughts he'd completely neglected it.
Pressing his lips together and glancing away for a moment, Tao Hua finally set the book down on his legs and reached for the food.
"T-That's…really nice of you. T-Thanks."
Excitement welled up in Fang Jian. Just before Tao Hua could grab one, she pulled it back and happily shouted, "Let's share!! Here."
She jumped back, fully crawling onto the bed and sitting on her legs. It wasn't at all proper, but the likelihood of her caring was next to none. She placed the food down on the bed between the pair and ripped it open.
Within it sat a few regular steamed buns.
"…" Tao Hua let out a small sigh and offered her bright complexion a weary smile. He reached in once more, though reluctant to another outburst, and whispered, "Thank you, Consort Fan—"
"Jiji!"
"Ah…thank you, Jiji." Tao Hua apprehensively smiled.
Surprisingly, however, the following half-hour passed with ease, and the two engaged in legitimate conversation. Well, it was mostly Fang Jian blabbering while Tao Hua slowly munched on the bun.
He was shocked, finding it fascinating just how easy it was to talk to her, and it helped tremendously that she easily led the conversation. Though sporadic with her topics, it was actually fun! Tao Hua actually found himself interested in listening to her.
Fang Jian was a woman filled with more information about the inner workings of the palace than Suo Han's servant gossip, while knowing absolutely nothing at the same time. There were countless times Tao Hua clocked her information as incorrect, but let her get away with it.
Tao Hua also learned through their conversation that although Fang Jian was chosen for Shan Si, she had little to no interest in him. In fact, this woman was less interested in anything within that regard, and the idea made her face twist with disgust, mouthing, "euck!"
All said with earnest; Fang Jian was sincerity incarnate. It somehow hushed any and all of Tao Hua's doubts.
"I placed a robe for the day Lord Shan Si brought home a woman…finally," She said, referring to the outer robe Tao Hua was given in exchange for Shan Si's back upon his first arrival, and the one he'd been reaching for when heading out into the cold.
"I never imagined it would be a man! How exciting!" She smiled, and Tao Hua returned the gesture despite not understanding the intentions behind her words. "Jiji is great at choosing colours, huh? I can do it again! Would Gugu like Jiji to do it again?!"
"…"
"Okay!" She nodded. "I will!"
Tao Hua's heart dropped. Not only was Fang Jian a considerate person in the questionable sense, but she was also desperate to make others happy despite her inability to succeed.
Pressing the bun against his lips, he slumped slightly.
The fact that he thought so low of her initially…that quelled his appetite, making chewing feel like a chore; as if swallowing pebbles. He placed the half-eaten bun onto the sheet, just as his eyelashes fell.
Was he really deserving of such kindness?
Blinking, Fang Jian watched as Tao Hua set it down and worriedly asked, "Are you done?"
"Ah…yeah, I think I'm full. T-Thanks." Tao Hua slowly started to move off the bed. "I should probably get ready—"
"Oh. W-Well! We can always enjoy it another time, right?!" There was a desperate tone in her voice, just as she set her own down onto the sheet. "Right! Tomorrow! How fun! Colours and buns."
With determination, she picked up the terribly folded sheet of buns and nodded. "Yes! Tomorrow! We'll have so much fun!"
"Ah—But—"
Before Tao Hua could speak, Fang Jian interrupted helplessly.
"Oh, won't you join me tomorrow, Gugu?! Screw Lord Shan Si's orders, we're going to have tons of fun!" she declared. Slapping her hands together in a cute gesture, she pressed them against her cheek. "There's still so much I want to do that I never get to do! Won't you allow this powerless consort to play with you?!"
Tao Hua nearly choked on his own spit. Worried, Fang Jian lifted her hands and hovered them around Tao Hua fretfully.
"S-Sorry?!" Tao Hua asked, covering his mouth with his forearm. "P-Play?!"
"Yes! Gugu is cute as a button—pretty as a woman!" She said, rubbing Tao Hua's back amid his choking hazard. "Other than Mimi, there isn't anyone in the palace pretty enough to play with! And Mimi doesn't let me!"
Mimi…does she mean Wu Mi? Tao Hua thought, only to arrive at a single realization. What does looks have to do with anything?!
It all sounded so ominous!
"I, um…there's a lot I have—"
But one look at that begging expression, Tao Hua completely crumbled into Fang Jian's wishes, and more so at her quiet plea dressed like a begging dog.
"It's been two hundred years since," she beseechingly said, her expression helpless. "Won't you, Tao Gu…please?"
And thus, that's how he ended up in the position he was in, all out of sympathy for someone as lonely as he once was.
──── ୨୧ ────
Current Day
──── ୨୧ ────
Two hundred…why do they all always mention two hundred years? Master Weng is two hundred years old, but he's a cultivator. Is Consort Fang one? No, its not possible.
But also…wasn't Fang Jian chosen for Shan Si?
Tao Hua let out a slight sigh before wincing slightly. None of it made sense, but there really wasn't much time for him to ruminate, and most of what he questioned had been written down the night prior.
As for his morning, it was filled with chores, and after chores, he was hunted down by Fang Jian, leading him back to her chambers in the Western Wing of Chuhen Palace.
She threw Feifei at Suo Han and cheerfully declared Tao Hua's afternoon officially occupied.
Ahead of him, Fang Jian bent forward, lathering his cheeks with a generous amount of light pink rouge, and then moving onto his lips. Her fingers smoothly glided along them, applying more and more as she spoke.
"I think lighter colours suit Huahua best."
It was humiliating, to say the least. Had Tao Hua not been dressed in a layer of makeup, his cheeks would have flushed a bright shade of red.
Thank the gods it was only him, Fang Jian, and Li Zhou—though preferably he wouldn't want him around; this man had also been once subjected to her chaos, so who was he to judge?
While applying more of the rouge, Fang Jian stretched out her arm toward the vanity, flapping her hand wildly. Li Zhou lazily lifted his eyes, watching the display, before grabbing a mirror from the vanity and passing it to Fang Jian.
"Storytime!" Holding it up to his face, she asked, "So, how did Huahua end up in Chuhen Palace? Many say he was saved, others say he demanded Lord Shan Si take him. What an exciting tale! Jiji must know."
Tao Hua merely stared at the face he barely could recognize in the mirror, shuddering in embarrassment.
Chapter end.