After a bit of dallying, Tao Hua filled them in on what had happened in the outpost that day, and all that he'd been keeping from Shan Si.
He had a bad habit of retracing what he said, getting confused, or stuttering so much that it was hard to tell how credible his recollection of the situation was. But fortunately, even if his head felt hazy, he still managed to have the poultice on his arm.
And somehow, whatever it was, it was helping tremendously.
During all of this, Shan Si's expression seemed to fall further and further into a state of disarray, unable to believe much of it. He just stared down at nothing, and Tao Hua couldn't quite tell what was going through his head.
Even more, his jaw clenched at Wan Mie's prior comments about the heavens and Zhuan, and the worst being the hammer that smashed the glass.
Shan Si couldn't quite comprehend why Wan Mie would suggest Tao Hua was causing him trouble. He was even retracing his own interactions with his uncle, seeing if he'd ever complained about it.
Wu Mi, however? It was as if she had long prepared for this moment, but her expression still darkened at each mention of Zhuan.
"It doesn't make sense…" Shan Si frowned. "None of this sounds like the Wan Mie I knew for the last two hundred years. Even when Zhuan fell, he mourned her regardless of his feelings. And since when was he ever a religious man?"
Wu Mi just shrugged. "What do we know? Outside, a person is who we perceive; inwardly, that's who they are, but we can't see that; we can only trust it."
"…" Shan Si squinted, staring down at his whitening knuckles. "How do we know he's not under something himself?"
"Your Highness, be serious," Wu Mi scoffed, her lips tugging into a mocking smile. "You can only trust one. Which is it? Your uncle or the boy?"
Tao Hua frowned. It was already a difficult choice for Shan Si, and the very thing he was terrified of if bringing it up.
So, he interjected. "I didn't mean to blame Wan Mie, all I can do is tell you what happened.
Wu Mi's eyebrows rose. "He has a point. None of what was said can be proven."
"What do you mean by proven? I…I swear that's what he did. I'm not lying!" Tao Hua whipped his head toward Shan Si, a pleading expression in his eyes. "I'm being honest this time, Shan Si! I promise it's not lies this time!"
Shan Si, glancing down at Tao Hua, frowned, and it was as if listening to Tao Hua distressingly try to explain himself pained him more than anything else.
That's not what he wanted, and goodness, how times had changed.
So, Shan Si straightened his back, inhaled a bit, and pushed his hand back on the mat a bit, behind Tao Hua.
"I understand."
At Tao Hua's head dipping in defeat, Shan Si discreetly leaned his body toward him, wiping any and all expression from his face. He was calm in his words, a stark contrast from before when he found out about his uncle, and it was enough for Tao Hua's anxiety to dissipate slightly
"What you're saying is Tao Hua's account is the first step toward proving things, right?"
Wu Mi nodded. "That's correct. Implicate the wrong person, and we're down a soldier. Understood?"
Shan Si reached his hand up, patting Tao Hua's back, and turned with a smile—one that felt kind and genuine. It was jarring to see on Shan Si, to say the least, and utterly confusing Tao Hua and causing Wu Mi to snarl in disgust.
"See? Without you, we wouldn't be able to figure this out. How lucky."
Tao Hua just stared up at him, struggling to understand what he meant. Why wasn't he mad? They were supposed to talk later. This isn't what he was used to, nor was it playing out how he was told it would.
All Tao Hua could do was look away, lost in every which way his eyes wandered.
Wu Mi just rolled her eyes and looked away from the pair. "As far as we know, he could be hallucinating as well. Once the elixir is given, have a conversation with him, Shan Si. It's already ridiculous something as simple as this has got so far."
Shan Si's smile weakened until it fell into a frown, and his hand stopped. After a moment of silence, he simply admitted, "You're right—I was careless. This is equally my fault, Tao Hua."
Both Wu Mi and Tao Hua couldn't believe their ears when saying it. Once was a dupe, but twice taking responsibility? Neither could understand who was sitting next to Tao Hua.
But after a bit, Tao Hua could feel his chest ease up and tense all at the same time. Easing up at having someone soothe him enough to not spiral, but tensing up in not understanding anything of it.
During his daze, he subconsciously his body leaned toward Shan Si.
"Anyway…" Wu Mi immediately cut off this moment, snapping for both of their attention. "Back to the important details already! Stop!"
Tao Hua straightened his back, swinging his body to the side and away from Shan Si. "S-Sor—"
But before Tao Hua could utter the word "sorry," Shan Si pinched the side of his waist, enough for Tao Hua to flatten his mouth and shut up.
"What else is there to figure out? We have a lead," Shan Si said.
"Yet nothing makes sense. Does it? We're still left with a few things to consider before wrapping up this meeting. For one, I still don't know why they're so hellbent on Tao Gu and what use they'd get out of it, and we don't even know how the poison entered the system. You said he extracted blood before pouring the substance over it? That's….not very effective."
Tao Hua nodded. "Suo Han described this before—Wan Mie usually punishes this way. Um, I guess I just thought I'd be exempted—"
"And you should have," Shan Si stated plainly. "Wu Mi, would you consider Suo Han to be of great resolve?"
"Absolutely not, which makes this harder to understand," she replied, leading both her and Shan Si to sit in silence, contemplating. Not once had Suo Han returned feeling the same as Tao Hua, yet his mind was easier to mould than his.
"You said he extracted blood as well…why?" Wu Mi muttered to herself before shaking her head. Decisively, she held up her hand, and with each point made, she ticked up a finger. "We're left with a few things to consider. One: Someone is poisoning Tao Hua's food and wants him out of the palace. That's the simple version, which I find unlikely for a few reasons. The first is that who'd want Shan Si? No offense. Second, Saying such would put Qian Jue to shame, as she is a meticulous woman in her duty and takes full pride in managing the Palace of Heavenly Purity."
Shan Si just shrugged indifferently at the comment about himself, but a part of Tao Hua begged to differ. It was most likely just bias on his end.
"Two: Tao Hua is becoming impacted by the curse we're all under. Three: there is more to Wan Mie that needs to be surveyed. I know the last one troubles you, Your Highness, but it can't be ignored."
Shan Si's jaw clenched. First, he looked at Wu Mi, scowling, before turning his head down to look at Tao Hua. There was fear written in his eyes, and a fear he couldn't place.
So in that moment, he decided to set aside old pals for something else entirely—or something he wanted more than familial standing.
"Why would he start now?" Shan Si asked sternly. "He's been at my side since the fall of Jianlai and the loss of Mother."
"It's something we won't know unless we look into, Your Highness." Wu Mi sneered, "Master was always worried about how easily you grew attached to things. Now I see why."
Shan Si just shot her a glare in response.
Thinking back during his conversation with Wan Mie, Tao Hua recalled him mentioning Zhuan's association with the curse. Tilting his head to the side, he hummed a bit, opened his mouth, closed it repeatedly, as if to say something.
"What do you want to say, Tao Hua?" asked Shan Si, his head tilted toward him. "It'll stay between the three of us."
Awkwardly smiling, Tao Hua lifted his hands to his chest and picked at his nails slightly.
"Um…it's just that with everything, I don't understand why we're not looking at Daoist Master Zhuan suspiciously." Tao Hua could feel Shan Si's fingers tighten around his waist, almost stiffly, just as Wu Mi turned her head toward Tao Hua.
She was inexpressive, but with a touch of fire in her eyes. "Go on."
Each time her expression changed, Shan Si would tug Tao Hua closer by an inch, his own feral gaze intently locked on Wu Mi.
"S-Sorry, it's just, um…it's just that she's associated with so much and is the only name we know from Shendi. Wan Mie mentioned her involvement in the curse, blaming her, and then for some reason I'm inheriting her dreams, and—"
"Excuse me…?" Wu Mi stood up angrily, holding up her hand as if ready to slap Tao Hua exactly how she had Fang Jian. Instinctively, Tao Hua jerked back, holding up his hands in preparation, but before she remotely got the chance, Shan Si immediately rose to his feet, shoving Tao Hua behind him.
Glaring up at Shan Si, Wu Mi seethed with a ferocity stronger than Tao Hua had ever seen in anyone, even Shan Si.
"Are you serious, Shan Si?! Protecting him after that bullshit?! What gives him the right to say that about her?!" She lowered her hand and balled them into fists, enough that her long nails dug into her palm and drew blood. "What, suddenly someone can waltz into a two hundred year dead palace, become the lord's favourite concubine, and then suddenly—"
"Don't," Shan Si ordered, pointing his finger at the door. It was uncharacteristic just how cold his voice had become, and he didn't waste even a word, emphasising them clearly. He'd been here many times before with Wu Mi, it seemed. "How many times have I told you, Wu Mi? Do not touch the boy. Do not slap him; leave a mark on him, nothing. He's already gone through that enough in his lifetime, and you help nothing. Leave."
Gritting her teeth, Wu Mi's entire face contorted, and then suddenly, it smoothed out. Now? She was smiling bitterly.
"Hilarious, Shan Si. It took you two hundred years to finally feel a bit of empathy—exactly how Master Zhuan wanted it. This is how you repay her kindness? Fine."
She turned away from him and swiftly made her way to the door.
"If the problem ends up being that bastard uncle of yours, don't expect my help."
And with that, she left, leaving Shan Si standing, staring at the shaking books and furniture, all impacted by how hard Wu Mi had slammed the door.
Tao Hua, however…he was on the brink of another panic attack. Lifting up his hands, he stared down at them, watching as they shook uncontrollably.
"I…I swear I didn't mean it like that."
Chapter end.