As Suo Han employed all of Shan Si's orders, Tao Hua merely stood by watching his servant go about each task as if it were a checklist hovering before him. Given all he'd known about this fumbling small servant, it was unbelievable how efficient he was when managing direct orders.
Though it was likely that most of the efficiency involved him feeling like he had to prove himself more than ever before. Suo Han obviously and absolutely did not want to lose his position as Tao Hua's personal servant, and he was willing to do anything to keep it.
Say less, Tao Hua mentally made a note and would ensure this man never had to "be put out there" ever again. Even if he didn't know where "out there" was.
But just how much agency did he have in his own requests? Tao Hua let out a light sigh amid this thought, and he wasn't exactly sure what he was to Shan Si anymore.
Granted, there was a mix of emotions when thinking about this, all ranging from his anger toward Shan Si's approach when dealing with Weng Jing's intrusiveness, to the ache in his chest that pounded each time he recalled the image of that sad look.
Rather, the second dominated his mind more than the first, and it made his anger all the harder to maintain. It really appeared genuine, as if Shan Si was labouring between anguish and obligation.
Why?
Everyone made it seem like this was only half the typical punishment exuded in Chuhen Palace, and that more should have been expected of Shan Si as the Palace leader. But if that were the case…why would he have such a dispirited look on his face? Was it always this way when he had to exact discipline?
All of that made it difficult for Tao Hua to focus, even between the exchanges of the servants.
Suo Han brought him to the supposed Qian Jue, reluctantly sending him to her side. To Tao Hua's surprise, this woman unexpectedly turned out to be the frantic lady they'd seen earlier that day, chasing after the muddy child.
Not Fang Jian, nor a consort, or anyone of high-lineage for that matter.
She was Shan Si's personal servant, and this poor servant of an old woman just happened to end up getting caught between two duties it seemed. Luckily, Li Zhou was still with her, and the young boy over his shoulder was now sleeping soundly after his fits of rage.
As Tao Hua observed this, his chest stabbed with a large welt of guilt. Thinking back to his earlier thoughts on this woman, and on how he assumed she was Fang Jian, Tao Hua couldn't make out what it was he was feeling. This woman devoted her life to standing by Shan Si's side, loyal to her oath of servitude.
She was to Shan Si how Suo Han was to Tao Hua, and there was nothing more to the situation than that.
Therefore, even when she glanced over at him, Tao Hua found it difficult to look her straight in the eyes. He kept them on the ground, rolling up the sleeves that nearly reached the calves of his legs, looking no better than a spoiled child being told it was time for bed.
During the brief exchange, Suo Han had repeated Shan Si's exact instructions, word-for-word, with impeccable care. But comparing this lowly servant boy to the palace's high lord maidservant was like comparing the seed of a peach to the actual, fully grown one.
Even in his best, it got outshone by the other.
Qian Jue was an utterly impressive woman, and every movement made was done with pure elegance. Not once did she have to ask follow-up questions, nor did Suo Han have to run on his usual tangents—and it wasn't out of pure laziness either.
This woman understood Shan Si to a tee, and she was right about everything without doubting herself once. She was professional, nonchalant, and stood with the utmost poise. Even the way she bowed off Li Zhou and Suo Han made Tao Hua feel like he'd never once initiated a proper courtesy in his life.
The problem with this situation, compared to Wan Mie's blabbering care, was that Tao Hua stiffened on their journey through the outer courtyard and toward the Palace of Heavenly Purity. He wasn't sure what to say, and overthought every single step taken. Qian Jue was quiet, also, and didn't strike up conversation once.
Was this Qian Jue also feeling just as awkward as Tao Hua, or her merely performing the lowly duty of a palace servant?
Was Tao Hua supposed to strike up a conversation for her to speak? The idea of saying the wrong thing numbed him into silence, and all he could do was sneak a few glances in her direction.
This remained the status quo until they finally made it to Shan Si's palace and only shifted a bit when Qian Jue had to prepare Tao Hua for whatever it was that Shan Si had planned.
There were a few times she'd ask questions, but as soon as Tao Hua responded, she nodded, bowed, and continued assisting Tao Hua in silence. Even worse, Tao Hua was a fumbling mess of flustered cheeks and ears, and in the temperate waters that bath, he would curl into himself shyly.
It was embarrassing for an isolated neet such as Tao Hua, especially on his level of innocence.
Never once has a woman seen him in such a position, but even if his discomfort was poorly discernible, Qian Jue never stumbled once and continued washing, drying, and dressing him. None of this seemed to bother her.
The silence finally broke the moment she was brushing out her hair and gently reached her weathered fingers along Tao Hua's scalp, tying up his hair with a white ribbon.
Tao Hua froze, before jolting forward and sinking into his shoulders. "I-I'm sorry…what is that?"
"This?" Qian Jue blinked, holding up the ribbon. Tao Hua nodded as she continued, sorely. "This maidservant apologizes profusely—is this not sufficient? Would the Young Master prefer a higher quality silk instead? Lord Shengkai mentioned you often have your hair tied back, therefore had this prepared in advance."
"…" Tao Hua didn't want to seem ungrateful. He was already dressed in a robe well above what he typically wore. It was still blue, but the blue was thicker and flowed beautifully, like a gentle brook. But Tao Hua was also a creature of habit, and none of it felt familiar; at least he could keep that agency with the one thing that mattered to him.
To be exact, that blue ribbon of his, though old and tattered, was gifted to him by his grandfather at a young age, said to originally be his mother's. Tao Hua treated it exactly how he had his book: like gold and jewels.
Yet, he couldn't find it in himself to respond with importance; the idea made him feel more guilt when thinking about his earlier treatment of Qian Jue. So, glancing away, he clumsily placed his hands on his lap and stuttered, "N-No it's fine. That's fine. Sorry…"
Without moving, Qian Jue watched as Tao Hua brushed his hands along the silk of his robe. She watched as the fabric tightened around his thighs, soon releasing as he picked up the white sash, fumbling his fingers along the embroidered flowers.
As said, Qian Jue was a capable woman, said to have eyes on the back of her head. Nothing escaped her.
She finished tying back Tao Hua's hair, and after another moment of silence between the two, she said, "If the Young Master permits it, this maidservant would like time with the old ribbon."
Tao Hua still seemed to hesitate before slowly nodding his head, and Qian Jue took that as his final answer. Taking a step back, she fluffed Tao Hua's hair outward, watching as it slowly fell and clung to his back.
It was the neatest his hair had ever been. Soft, with the black shimmering against the low light.
"Please relax, Young Master," she said politely, positioning her hand toward the exit. It glowed with a soft gleam of warm light, accentuated red. "It'll still be awhile before Lord Shengkai returns."
As Tao Hua got to his feet, she directed him toward the room. It was large—much larger than Tao Hua's. There were two lanterns dangling from the high ceiling, both offering an absorbent amount of light to the room, while in one corner there was a decently sized study tucked neatly against the wall, piled with a messy amount of paper, scattered quills, and three empty pots of ink.
None of it was tidy, and one of those pots were tipped over. Tao Hua could only blink, staring at the mess before vacating and glancing elsewhere.
To the right were two square nooks in the wall, both loudly designed with a complicating latticed frame, clearly arranged for someone of importance.
One was a bed, spread with red and gold sheets, hung with curtains of the same design, and nearest to Tao Hua was a small throne, furnished with wood antiques of the highest quality, scrolls on the wall, and a stepping stool to ascend.
Though Tao Hua had to look away and press his lips together. There wasn't any reason for someone as tall as Shan Si to need something like that—his legs were inhuman, after all. At least when Tao Hua compared them to his own.
Best put, Shan Si's bedchamber was as lavish as the word lavish could offer. Everything within it felt delicate, and Tao Hua didn't dare lay his hands on any of it.
Qian Jue moved toward a small closet, pulling out what looked like a low table. She was quick when placing it on the ground, pairing it with a pillow.
Placing her hands one over one another, she announced, "Please, take a seat. If the Young Master needs anything, this maidservant will acquire it. But Tao Hua, taking his seat, just shook his head, to which Qian Jue merely bowed in response before moving to light some incense and go about her duties.
He glanced around the room more, finding himself growing in shock as he examined it. His eyes fell on the bed before Tao Hua lowered his lashes and shot his head away.
He wasn't sure what it was about it that made him feel so awkward. Wasn't he supposed to be mad at Shan Si? Not admiring his personal life? A few more times, he would look at the bed before shaking the improper thoughts away.
Not good!
Gripping his knees, he reminded himself, Think of everything he just did! Not his bed!
During this, Qian Jue couldn't seem to help herself; she glanced up at the floundering guest, the wrinkles around her mouth becoming more and more defined, revealing a frown. So, for the first time that evening, she spoke against her betterment of duty.
"Young Master," she began, catching Tao Hua's rattled expression as he turned his head to face her. "Please, excuse this lowly maidservant of stepping outside her boundaries, but could the Young Master offer a bit of leniency—for a moment."
"…"
Tao Hua didn't know what she meant! He just fumbled with his hands a bit before nodding.
"You have my gratitude." She bowed once more before approaching Tao Hua ahead of the low table. Tao Hua just stared up at her, as if ready to hear what it was he did wrong—perhaps she could read minds, and knew that he wasn't thinking appropriately.
However, to his shock, she lowered herself to her knees, fluffed out her robe's skirt, and neatly sat ahead of him. With a small smile, she spoke in a voice as gentle as the midnight breeze, and did something no servant in the Tao Estate ever offered Tao Hua.
"There seems to be something that's bothering you. Would you care to discuss it?"
Chapter end.