Fair Trade Ch 40 - The Warmth of Snow

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“It would seem the Styliani’s have returned to the city,” Riluo reported. It was one of the last few things on his list of subjects to update Yushi upon as they spoke in Yushi’s study.

“Does she really think that will come without consequences?” Yushi practically growled. Recently, Riluo has noticed he sounded more beastly than he used to as he got irritated. Normally it only sounded like that when it rained but it was coming to the surface even on the clearest days.

“Apparently their ship was severely damaged in a storm. They had no choice but to return as this was the much closer port.” Riluo sighed. He didn’t like it either but they had no choice but to tolerate it.

“Mmhmm,” Yushi rolled his eyes. “How tempting it is to loan them a ship to send them back.” Yushi sighed in frustration. The last thing he wanted to do was lend them any more assistance than necessary. “Ensure they leave as soon as their ship is repaired. Have they sought an audience?”

“No,” Riluo stated. “I found out from Lady Meigui who stumbled across the information while in the midst of her own investigations. She started looking into it further since the details reported with the port master were vague. I went to verify the ship in the repair yard and it is definitely the one I saw them off on. It was indeed quite damaged, it’s a wonder they didn’t sink.”

“The problems that would have been solved,” Yushi sighed before his expression soured further. The fact she wasn’t trying to worm her way into the palace again bothered him. It meant that she was up to something and she didn’t want their attention. “Where are they staying?” 

“It’s uncertain at this time,” Riluo huffed. “We have been trying to track them down but they seem to be laying low. No one in the port seems to know where they went nor have they been seen in public.”

“Either she’s trying to not anger me or she’s up to something,” Yushi crossed his arms. “Knowing her it’s the latter.”

“My thoughts as well,” Riluo stated. “You must be careful when you head into town.”

“I’m not sure I should until we know where they are,” Yushi practically pouted as his finger tapped the desk impatiently.

“It’s not bad to air on the side of caution but I know you haven’t spent time with the Young Master in recent weeks,” Riluo smiled sympathetically.

“I know…” Yushi sighed wistfully. “Trust me, I’d love to, but with things as they are…”

“You’ve caught up on paperwork. I think you can afford a break,” Riluo laughed softly. 

“Once we verify the Stylliani’s location, I will,” Yushi sighed looking rather depressed. “Unlike most envoys, they know my face. I can’t risk having a chance encounter with them. I can’t risk him.”

“I’ll look into it personally,” Riluo bowed and started towards the door. 

“Thank you,” Yushi let out softly. He couldn’t bring himself to return to working right away. It was all mundane things that didn’t need his immediate attention anyways. 

Yushi wished to see Xueye so badly but he was still hesitant. As the recent storms have hit with the rains the spring brings in, Yushi felt the beast trying to claw to the surface more. He was getting concerned about how drawn he was to Xueye, especially when it rained.

Yushi savored every letter from Xueye that was fetched from the Crystal Estate. Often in brief, dull moments like this, he would read them again, imagining Xueye was there saying those written words to him. It was rare that Xueye wasn’t in his thoughts. It was quickly growing into an obsession and he wasn’t sure how much longer he would be able to resist the draw.

A gentle knock pulled him out of his thoughts. The steps that approached were different from what he was used to hearing, so he assumed it was just one of the maids that was walking down the hall. He was admittedly a little startled by the knock, having expected the person to just keep moving on.

“Come in,” Yushi called out as he closed the drawer that was slowly becoming dedicated to those letters.

The door opened and Shizhe walked in. She looked incredibly worn out. Not even her makeup could hide the dark bags under her eyes. She shuffled over, forgoing her usual prim posture as she sank down into the seat across from him at his desk. 

“Shizhe? You should be resting!” Yushi knitted his brow in concern. He’d heard that Shizhe wasn’t sleeping well in the past week or so but he didn’t realize the true extent of it. Seeing her like that was heart wrenching. 

“I can’t…” Shizhe voiced listlessly. The lack of her usual cheer hurt all the more. He was surprised Xinhua could even function as efficiently as she has been since her appointment with Shizhe like this. If Xueye was in such a state, Yushi knew he wouldn’t be able to focus, let alone complete all that Xinhua has accomplished recently.

“You should still try,” Yushi voiced softly. “At the very least you should be taking it easy at home.”

“A lone snowdrop blooms…Crack! The frozen dew shatters… Spring might not yet come…” Shizhe recited with a worried expression, hoping that Yushi would understand. She’d seen Xueye alone and in tears in front of his mother’s grave when she checked on his near future this morning. 

It wasn’t hard to understand that it would be happening tomorrow. Shizhe would be offering to accompany him since Xinhua would be following more time sensitive leads most of the day, but she couldn’t muster the energy. She had heard that Qingkong was too unwell. There was no family to keep him company. She could tell that those tears she saw him with were from the weight of such isolation.

“I don’t want to push you but are the Stylianis a threat if I go to him now?” Yushi asked as his expression darkened. Even if he didn’t understand the full scope of what she had seen, he trusted that he needed to go to Xueye. All his hesitation disappeared if she deemed it was necessary. His concern for her and Xueye’s safety was the only thing keeping him from marching out right away.

“The snakes are sleeping…” Shizhe huffed as she was struggling to come up with anything else to continue her poetic words. “Ah, whatever you get the point.” She waved away the notion, just giving up. She was just too tired to bother. It had taken her most of the morning to come up with what she was going to tell Yushi in the first place. “Would it really matter?”

“Well you aren’t wrong about that,” Yushi stood up and walked around the desk. “I’ll go, but first I’m taking you back home and you are not to leave until you are feeling better.”

He picked her up. She didn’t even have the energy to protest. She was practically falling asleep as he carried her through the halls of the palace.

As he crossed the courtyard with her in his arms a concerned voice called out, “My Lady!”

Xinhua quickly dashed across the courtyard with a couple of guards following after her. When the two guards realized Yushi was the one carrying Shizhe they immediately stopped, bowed deeply and remained nearby. 

Xinhua also looked a bit tired as well but not nearly as much as Shizhe. It still was troublesome to Yushi. He couldn’t abide by this either.

“Xinhua…” Shizhe tilted her head towards the voice of her lover. She had hoped to slip out and back without Xinhua’s notice. 

“Lady Meigui, come with us,” Yushi ordered and continued on his way.

“Can I trust you two to execute what we just discussed without me?” Xinhua asked the two guards with her. They were a part of her squad before this promotion and she had been having them assist her with investigating people around the palace. They were the only ones outside the upper court she felt she could trust with it.

“Yes, ma’am!” They both said in unison and parted ways. 

Xinhua swiftly closed the gap between to fall in step with Yushi, “What happened?”

“Nothing to worry about. She’s just exhausted,” Yushi stated calmly. “I can tell you are affected as well.”

“I’m fine, I promise,” Xinhua assured. She knew Shizhe already felt bad about also waking Xinhua up with her nightmares. The last thing she wanted was for Shizhe to feel guilty over it and send her away at night.

“Leave things to the rest of the upper court,” Yushi ordered. “I want you to look after Shizhe for the next couple days. I’ll send for Dr.Jingji to see if there’s anything else he might suggest.”

“Y-yes, Your Highness…” Xinhua wanted to protest but she could tell he left no room for argument. She was also terribly worried for Shizhe. Being able to take care of her personally for a few days was a bit of a relief. Yazhu was doing her best to do so while Xinhua was away but she still was worried.

“Don’t worry,” Yushi flashed a reassuring smile. “I just want you two to take it easy. You will be informed if there is anything urgent, but otherwise I would prefer it if you two don’t bother with any palace business during this reprieve. You both work hard and I appreciate it but you must rest. Better a short break than a long recovery."

“You’re right,” Xinhua nodded. “Of course…”

Yushi could still hear her uncertainty about taking a break. She really fit in rather well with the workaholics of the upper court. “You’ve already proven yourself, Lady Meigui. You did a long time ago.” 

“And our lady here says I’m the observant one,” Xinhua giggled. She glanced at Shizhe seeing the small woman had fallen asleep. Xinhua’s voice fell into a whisper, “She’ll be okay, right?”

“She will be, I assure you,” Yushi stated quietly but the resolute look in his eyes was the most reassuring to Xinhua. “This isn’t the first time she’s ended up like this. I just wish she could share more without hurting herself.”

“She hasn’t had any clarity yet,” Xinhua sighed. “She doesn’t understand what’s coming yet.”

“We just have to wait then,” Yushi voiced a little disappointedly. “This happens from time to time. Something major is brewing. She will guide us through it, as she always has. Times like this are rough on her, but she has you now. Take good care of her for all of us.”

“I will,” Xinhua nodded with a reassuring smile.

Yushi left the ladies to rest in their home and went to Yuliang, informing her of Xinhua and Shizhe’s mandated rest and the fact he would be out to check on Xueye. He asked her to inform Riluo when she had the chance. With that settled he dressed in something more suited to that secret identity of his and departed the palace.

The late afternoon sun was quite warm, it was rather relaxing to say the least. Being on the way to see Xueye was putting him at ease. A tension that he didn’t know had built up was slipping away. Stepping up to the Meigui Trading Company he felt quite relaxed and he wasn’t even under the influence of Xueye’s abilities. 

Yushi stepped into the office and smiled warmly at the woman working the front desk, “Miss Yun, a pleasure to see you again. Is the Young Master in?”

“Yes, Lord Shujing,” she replied with a smile. “He is in his office with Master Jinse right now. Would you like for me to see if the Young Master is available?”

“If you would,” Yushi nodded and she slipped away towards Xueye’s office.

“Shujing?” An older voice called out to him practically through grit teeth. Yushi had yet to see Lord Meigui in person since he sent the letter saying he would only work with Xueye, as unlikely as it seemed given Yushi accompanied Xueye for a handful of days. Lord Meigui was busy and they were often out of the office in an attempt to avoid him. It was obvious Lord Meigui was trying to hide his bitterness behind the fakest smile Yushi had seen him wear. “Here to visit my son again?”

“Yes,” Yushi stated simply. He couldn't help but find the man's thinly veiled irritation amusing.

“He's been quite busy as of late, perhaps I could give him a message for you,” Lord Meigui said as calmly as he could muster.

“Trying to win me back?” Yushi scoffed and his smile fell. He wanted even less to do with this man than before he met Xueye. Yushi's amber gaze was bone chilling as it was fixed upon Lord Meigui, “I made my terms clear!”

“H-he works under me,” Lord Meigui seemed to manage to hold his ground, though Yushi could see him trembling, whether it was with rage or fear was questionable, perhaps a mix of both. Yushi had to commend this man for being able to hold his nerve at all when even Riluo gets unnerved now by Yushi's fierce moods. “There's nothing he does in this company that I don't know about.”

Yushi understood the implication. Lord Meigui knew about the investment Xueye was working on. A wild look filled Yushi’s eyes with the faintest desire to kill that clearly was picked up by Lord Meigui given he took a step back.

“It's better I familiarize myself with the one who will inherit this place. After all, you won't be around forever.” Yushi said coldly. If Lord Meigui was going to imply threats he was messing with the wrong man.

“Y-you…!” Lord Meigui looked positively appalled but he seemed almost too scared to say anything. 

“Shujing!” The chipper voice of a clearly delighted Jinse called out to Yushi. It was obvious from his expression that Jinse heard everything and was just enjoying the show. “Are you going to keep us waiting any longer?”

“Apologies!” Miss Yun bowed. It was clear she was intimidated as well so she didn't dare interrupt them. 

“Quite alright, Miss Yun,” Yushi smiled apologetically. “I appreciate your discretion.” Yushi looked back to Lord Meigui who refused to look their way, an expression of irritation creeping in. “A word of caution, Lord Meigui, I have connections with the most influential people in this city, especially the upper court. And nothing is hidden from me forever.” Yushi walked away after that.

“Well done!” Jinse said softly when they were out of earshot. “I'm surprised you'd actually let him have it.”

“He doesn't realize who he's messing with. I just needed to remind him,” Yushi chuckled darkly.

“Indeed, such a fearsome information broker,” Jinse teased.

“Shujing!” Xueye practically jumped out of his seat when he saw Yushi. There was such a bright smile on his face that soothed the last of Yushi’s worries. “It's been a while! What brings you here today?”

“I finally caught a brief break from all my work. I wanted to see how you were doing?” Yushi smiled sweetly as he approached the desk. “I apologize that it took me so long to see you.”

“It's alright,” Xueye started fiddling with the bracelet Yushi had given him. Seeing that he was wearing it was reassuring to Yushi. “I've been quite busy. Though, Jinse has helped a lot. My desk wouldn't be so clean if it weren’t for him.”

“It's nothing,” Jinse waved his hand. “Anything for my darling Xueye!” Jinse smirked at the faintest twitch of Yushi’s eyebrow over the term of endearment. Dragons were quite possessive after all, Jinse was delighted to use it to get under his skin even more.

“I'm glad you haven't had much trouble,” Yushi pretended as if it hadn't bothered him in the slightest. “If you have time this evening I wouldn’t mind sharing a meal with you again. I'm now quite free this evening.”

“What a lovely idea!” Jinse spoke before Xueye could. “Why don't we head out now?”

Yushi was still maintaining a cheerful expression but he casted a brief pensive glance at Jinse. The fox knew full well that Yushi wanted to spend time with Xueye alone. Even though Jinse was going to spend the majority of the day with Xueye tomorrow, he still wanted more today. He was just as greedy for Xueye’s time.

“Now?” Xueye blinked as he glanced down at what remained on his desk. 

“It'll still be there for you when you return,” Jinse crossed his arms. “You already took care of everything urgent.”

“Mn, you're right,” Xueye nodded and smiled again. “I am starting to get hungry.”

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