After much insistence, Suo Han finally yielded to Tao Hua's request of using the imperial baths over his own private bathing area. It didn't take much convincing, however. For some odd reason, Suo Han was weak to Tao Hua's every small demand.
What depravity did at the first taste of liquor—Tao Hua couldn't handle being caged up any longer. Therefore, he had no other choice but to use what resources he had available.
Which just so happened to be Suo Han, who was proving to be Tao Hua's greatest ally and resource.
Thanks, Shan Si!
The imperial baths were often used by countless people in the inner court of the palace, sitting smack dab in the middle of the Martial Hall. Now, the problem with its location, however, was that it sat on the outskirts of Chuhen Palace, within the Outer Court.
Near the gate that led to the city with the outpost.
The place that Wan Mie sat daily—Shan Si's loyal uncle-master-thing.
AND the exact place Suo Han was told NOT to bring Tao Hua! Well, he was told not to bring him anywhere outside of the Palace of Great Benevolence!
Yet, here he was, outside the walls of the Eastern Gate, wearing layers too thin for the weather, leading the way for a bundled-up, red-nosed man he'd call his Young Master.
Day three and he was already failing. Great!
Suo Han let out a sigh, his breath steaming up before his face and fogging his view past the wall he was peeking over. Uncertainty crowded his face as he scanned the Ancestral Gardens.
"I-I don't think he's here…" he mumbled exasperatedly, double-checking with a few more quick checks. "Yeah, no, he's not. Good. What a relief. I…I'm so…sooooo relieved."
He wasn't at all relieved, and such could be noticed in how his face shadowed, and the surrounding air became melancholic.
Blowing air into his hands, Tao Hua dipped under Suo Han's to find that sitting in the middle of the Ancestral Gardens was a large, one-story temple, lifted rather high. Surrounding it were mountains of snow, packed densely, with many being tall enough to cover even the trees. So much so that the weight of the freshly fallen fluff snapped many branches, causing Suo Han to jump each time.
All Tao Hua could do to help him was simply pat the poor man's arm, just as he hovered it over Tao Hua's head.
This temple was commonly known as the Ancestral Hall. It wasn't too far from the Palace of Great Benevolence. In fact, it was separated by a wall and a narrow, locked gate. This gate was rather insignificant and only accessible by the servants, using it to quickly make their way through the palace to uphold efficiency.
But today? That gate was being used for anything but chores.
Suo Han made it clear that in order to successfully make it to the Martial Hall, they'd have to make a detour.
In any normal circumstance, they'd just leave through the Eastern Gate; however, that was risky. Had they used it, then it would land them right in front of the Palace of Earthly Tranquillity.
Which was fine; that wasn't their issue. Nobody lived in the Palace of Earthly Tranquillity, so it was nothing more than a quiet, lonesome building.
The issue was that if they wanted to leave the inner court, they'd have to move through the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Which was exactly where Shan Si was resting.
And if there was one thing Shan SI was known for in the palace, it was that he was hypervigilant to any movement or noise. Not worth the risk, despite Tao Hua somewhat wanting to risk it.
But regardless, even if they somehow tiptoed through without waking up Shan Si, they still had to deal with the hurdles BEFORE they even made it to that obstacle.
In order to make it to the gate, they had to run past the Palace of Celestial Favour; which was apparently home to another concubine named Wu Mi.
She never left her chambers, so Tao Hua rarely saw her in the three days he was in the palace. But according to Suo Han, she usually sat by the window of her palace all day, staring outside. Not typically an issue, except that this window was stationed in the view of the Eastern Gate. Suo Han didn't know why she did it—it wasn't often she made an appearance around the palace, and talking to her was as rare as witnessing a blood-red moon.
And most importantly, Wu Mi apparently despised Shan Si and most people in the palace, and she especially despised those whom Shan Si favoured. What would she think of Tao Hua knowing that Shan Si made the rational choice to bring him to the palace?
Neither wanted to test her patience, and Suo Han was convinced she'd snitch him out sooner or later had they tried to sneak through the gate. It was better not to risk it, and Tao Hua didn't want to put that burden on Suo Han, either.
"Please watch your step, Young Master…" Suo Han said, stepping aside to free the path for Tao Hua. Though each of his steps was minuscule and reluctant. "Elder Brother Zhou hasn't yet cleared this area of the palace. There's bound to be ice under some of the snow."
That name again…
Tao Hua glanced up at the snow that fell, despite the sky being brightly clear and blue. Each night it stormed with the howling winds banging against the thick palace walls, and each morning he'd wake up to a sunny day peeking through his lattice windows, blinding him awake.
Which means whoever this Li Zhou person is doesn't have a day off… Tao Hua felt a pang of guilt. While he lounged around for three days, doing almost nothing, most of those within the palace were run off their feet ragged with this storm.
The odd storm that seemed to leave and come back often.
At the thought of Li Zhou, Tao Hua's mind immediately ventured straight to "Fang Jian." His stomach twisted, and the urgency to explore felt heightened. Perhaps there was an innate desire to find out more about this character—maybe she'd be similar to Wu Mi, who wanted nothing to do with Shan Si.
Tao Hua was unsure what it was about her that made him feel this way. It was a new experience, one he hadn't the vocabulary to describe.
Offering Suo Han a smile, he carefully sidled past him and started through the garden. Suo Han followed closely behind, but his eyes weren't paying attention to the path ahead. They were stuck on Tao Hua's feet, his hands spread out as if ready to catch him if he should slip and fall.
In no way did Tao Hua make this any easier on Suo Han, either. As he made his way through that garden, he'd carelessly hopped over a few odd bundles in their way, causing the poor servant's heart to nearly seize.
Both were so focused on the tasks at hand that neither seemed to notice the fresh footprints that seemed to make their way toward the temple.
"You know, Young Master!" Suo Han wheezed, his hands shakily positioned only a few inches away from Tao Hua's arms. "We don't have to do this…there's plenty you can do back in your palace. You know? The place with your bed? Safe and sound? We could practice poetry, calligraphy, or even games! Games are fun—I know plenty of games you might like. Oh, if you don't like games, then maybe we could paint? I can't paint. Oh! You enjoy reading! Why not tur—oof!"
Suo Han ran straight into Tao Hua's back. Before he could even register what had just happened, Tao Hua grabbed his arm and pulled him behind a tree. Confused and disoriented, Suo Han rubbed the side of his face and asked, "W-Wh—Is there something wrong?! Do you NOT like rea—"
"Shhh!" Tao Hua pressed a finger to his mouth and nudged his head past the tree.
Pressing his lips together, Suo Han's shoulders deflated, and at Tao Hua's command, he stood on the tips of his toes. Hands firmly placed on Tao Hua's shoulders, he peeked over his head.
Then he paused, his eyes widening with a tremble.
"Shoot!" He nearly pinched Tao Hua's shoulders, his teeth gritting. "I knew it! I knew it! Let's go back! This is too risky!"
Flinching slightly, Tao Hua reached up to the hands on his shoulders and pushed them off. He just shook his head, leaning in closer to grab a better view.
They were already this far; why turn back now?
Ahead of the temple where two men of similar height. One was draped in black with a bow and quiver on his back. A familiar spectacle sat on the left side of his face, loudly announcing exactly who he was.
Wan Mie.
He was facing their direction but hadn't yet noticed them. Judging from the expression on his face, it was clear this gatekeeper was in the middle of another amusing argument with whoever it was that entertained him so.
Unsure who, Tao Hua's eyes pinched, narrowing on the stranger.
"Who is that?" he asked Suo Han, who looked rather defeated.
The man in question had long, light brown hair that fell down to his knees, making it hard to see his robe or anything else for that matter. But, from the way his hands and what looked to be a whisk each time it was his turn to speak.
And from the sound of it, he had a lot of chances to speak.
"…That's the Daoist Master of the Palace." Suo Han groaned, his head dipping past his shoulders. "I…I was really hoping we wouldn't run into him."
Chapter end.