Neither a look of hurt nor fear plastered that face of his, only further annoyance with the situation. Tilting his head up, Weng Jing faced the source of the disruption calmly.
"Looking to break the antiques, Your Highness? We both know just how valuable they are to the late emperor."
Tao Hua rushed toward Suo Han, standing next to him. There wasn't much he could do to remedy the situation, as his strength alone wasn't enough to compete with an angry beast and an obsessive Daoist Master.
Midst Tao Hua's spiralling, Suo Han brought his hands up to his face, cupped them, and in a clumsy attempt, bowed through all his fear.
"L-Lord Shengkai," he said dreadfully. "Good morning. Very early…"
Suo Han's greeting was only half-acknowledged as Shan Si. He side-glanced the fumbling servant once, watching him fumble back into his bowing and hide behind his hands.
"I'll deal with you later," he told Suo Han, turning back to Weng Jing angrily.
"Y-Yes…Lord Shengkai." Nodding, Suo Han lowered his hands to his side, tilted his head, and in a high-pitched whisper, said, "As his Highness wishes. Very angry…very mad. Ah. Not good."
Tao Hua studied Suo Han, his heart nearly dropping to his stomach as he saw the servant's widened eyes tremble, staring at the ground.
I'll have to talk to him… He turned his head to look at Shan Si before his own body slumped. If I ever get the chance.
Reaching his hand up to Weng Jing's eyes, Shan Si stretched the skin, tugging at the corner and making the Daoist Master look utterly wretched. Weng Jing tried to tilt his head away from the thumb, only pursing his lips in disgust, as if this was simply another inconvenience to him.
All Tao Hua could do was shove his head into his hands, shaking it with a loud sigh. It seemed Suo Han caught on to this, and in the midst of his despair, he took it upon himself to try to cheer up Tao Hua.
It was the least he could do, granted that he now risked losing his position.
"A-At least Lord Shengkai is awake…right?" Holding up his hands, he hovered them near Tao Hua, but not enough to touch, and said, "You've been wanting this for three days! H-How great is that?"
But even Suo Han struggled to make it sound exciting, only succeeding in revealing just how obsessive Tao Hua sounded instead. Ears pierced red, Tao Hua rubbed his hands roughly against his face.
"Do it. Rip out my eyes, open them—it's Your Highness's palace after all," threatened Weng Jing. "Show everyone what happens when His Highness overreacts. No one—"
Then, Shan Si covered his mouth, glaring down at him before releasing the Daoist Master to stumble on his feet. Still unbothered, Weng Jing brushed off any hidden remnants of Shan Si, crossing his arms. "Thought so. Only half the man he was."
Soon, Shan Si's attention fell on Suo Han, and the look on his face wasn't at all happy. Suo Han immediately jumped into place, every fibre of his being shaking as he stared up at Shan Si.
"What did I tell you, Suo Han?" Shan Si asked. "I gave your very specific orders not to let him out. This could have been prevented."
Suo Han stuttered—he wasn't sure how to respond, but it was clear he knew exactly where he had gone wrong.
"I…I understand—"
"And what has His Highness so miserable today?" Weng Jing asked, head nearly tilted to his shoulder. "I hate guessing games. His Highness and that guard dog are one and the same. Just speak matter-of-factly for once, and maybe this Daoist will offer His Highness some support."
"I don't want your support," Shan Si seethed. "Shove it where you put all of your delusions. We'll have this discussion privately; the rest of you are dismissed."
Tao Hua's face entirely fell—this wasn't how he wanted this to go, and now that he was being shoved away once more, he couldn't help but stand there feeling a bit thwarted.
"Well?" Shan Si began, waving his hand. "Leave. This isn't a conversation for the two of you. Go."
"Y-Yes, Lord Shengkai." Suo Han nodded, faltering into another bow, before he reached for Tao Hua. Leading the wilted flower of a man toward the door, he faintly smiled and said, "We can get you washed up back at the palace."
"…" Weng Jing looked up for a moment before pressing his hand to the door and stopping the two. Smacking his lips, he let out a single laugh. "Is His Highness really that attached that he'd be willing to risk even the lives of those he fucked up? I didn't think the guard dog was telling the truth, seems he's finally capable of being honest for once."
Both stopped before the door. Suo Han awkwardly said, "Let's not arouse His Highness more than necessary, Daoist Master—"
"No, I will," replied Weng Jing, fingers spread wide on the door. "What duty do I have if not to serve my maste—"
But to his complete and utter misjudgment, and before Shan Si could lunge at him, Weng Jing was almost entirely crushed by the door slamming open.
It was thanks to his good hearing that he hadn't become a summer bug, crushed to oblivion.
Jumping out of the way, he faced the face that popped in, looking oh-so familiar and wearing a single spectacle on his left eye. Tao Hua wasn't entirely sure if Weng Jing was aware of who showed up, but given how his face entirely twisted, it was better to assume he had an idea.
Glancing between each person, this man's attention landed on Shan Si, just as Shan Si returned it, seemingly questioning why he had even woken up in the first place.
"You…" Shan Si's face grimaced, and it appeared he was trying to hold back more anger than he was capable of. "This isn't coincidental, is it?"
"Mmm…" After a moment of squinting, the man's face contorted, and his head slumped forward. In a disappointed groan, he said, "Nope! Our Lord, right as always!
It was Wan Mie, and from the way his hair ruffled, he had rushed his way to the bathhouse.
Reaching for Weng Jing's arm, Wan Mie lifted it high, causing the Daoist Master to thrash at him, struggling to free himself of the grip that wouldn't relent.
"Really, Little Sisi?! This is the best you can do?! He looks pristine!" The corner of Wan Mie's lip lifted with disgust, turning to look at Weng Jing. "It's awful."
Tao Hua and Suo Han just gawked at the situation, bewildered. Was he here to help them again? Given how paternal Wan Mie acted earlier…perhaps that was the case.
Letting out a relieved sigh, Tao Hua smiled, all while Suo Han shouted, "Master! Thank God you're here--"
Holding his index finger up, Wan Mie shushed Suo Han. He returned his attention to the other two, a complete look of disapproval on his face.
"I offer you this bastard on a silver platter, and you can't even put a dent in him?!" Wan Mie puffed out a breath of air, sending his side bangs fluttering upward. Releasing the gnawing man, Wan Mie continued, "Maybe you don't care about the boy after all; my judgment must be misaligned after all these years. My hard work…this old man needs a nap."
But none of it was said with the intention of it being catered to Tao Hua. It was clear Wan Mie was disappointed that his own annoyance couldn't be dealt with.
Perhaps leaving wasn't such a bad thing after all.
Chapter end.
Sketch in the comments! (When I get around to commenting it, lol)