Fair Trade Ch 57 - Where a Flower Calls Home

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Xinhua was pacing her office in the Department of Justice, reading over the report she’d just written up. Knowing more about what Jinse was, she had a better idea of what actually happened to Jianhong. She was starting to think about the other unfortunate accidents that happened to those that horribly wronged Xueye. The only one she recalled being truly fatal was the one time their father tried to arrange a marriage for Xueye without anyone in the family knowing.

Back then, when Xueye found out, he was truly distraught but Xinhua could never find out why. Something about meeting with the Ju family head at the time had truly scared him. Lord Ju and the young mistress meant to marry Xueye died a week later as they were travelling on the road. She certainly wasn’t looking forward to inevitably facing the family in the court as they were one of the major clans that used to have more sway in court affairs. Some clan lords were a part of the upper court back long before Yushi and the current court completely restructured everything. It was still hard to believe she was a part of the upper court now.

She also couldn’t help but wonder what happened to Melina. She vanished after Xueye was injured in Vual. Did she face the same fate or did she just run like the coward she was? Part of her hoped it was the former considering he told her back then that she would never bother Xueye again. Even if she didn’t agree with Jinse’s methods morally, as Xueye’s sister it was pleasing to know that karma for those that wronged Xueye came in the form of their family’s possessive guardian.

Xinhua sighed, setting down the report. She wasn’t sure if it was ready yet, even if everything was sound on paper. She was going to try and close the case before she left but it didn’t feel right yet. At the very least she couldn’t implicate Jinse with all that was going on. No one else they knew could stop the Water God from coming after them and even if Wuye took him back to the heavens to be sealed again, their descendants would be in danger, provided their bloodline didn’t end with them given the two older siblings current love life and Qingkong’s lack there of.

There was a quiet knock on the doorframe that drew Xinhua out of her thoughts. She glanced over and saw Riluo in the doorway. It was a relief that she didn’t have to try and track him down. It was almost impossible last night, he was always gone by the time she arrived at his next destination.

“Good. I was just going to look for you,” Xinhua flashed a weary smile.

“I apologize. I heard you were trying to find me last night,” Riluo stepped in and closed the door. “Lady Guangming gave me a brief rundown and both she and His Highness want me to accompany you and the Young Master to Vual.”

“Thank the heavens,” Xinhua let out a breath in relief. “I really wasn’t sure if I could go over everything. There is a lot I’m still trying to wrap my head around.”

“Do you know when we intend to depart? Lady Guangming seemed uncertain.” Riluo couldn’t help but smile at her relief. Even if he wanted to know more details than what Shizhe revealed he knew there would be more time soon enough.

“I’m not sure. I was going to head over and discuss it with Xueye once I spoke with Lady Mingmai,” Xinhua explained. “He is worried about father sabotaging the herbs. He was going to meet with Mingmai to negotiate a contract with her in order to secure the project’s safety, but with the way his body had been reacting negatively, I figured I could ease the arrangement today so he can rest. Hopefully he likes the contract we draft up so he can just sign it and put his mind at ease.” 

“I agree. Securing that investment of his is quite important,” Riluo nodded. “Honestly, I’m surprised His Highness hadn’t tried to urge him to do it as soon as it was decided.”

“I think then he was more fascinated in watching my brother work than intervening more than necessary,” Xinhua giggled. “Xueye might not have done it immediately anyway. It took a lot of convincing from me and Yuliang once Xueye started suspecting father might be up to no good, even then he was resistant. He really only caved when father seemed too excited for him to take leave.”

“He’s quite independent, right? Are you sure he’ll be alright with me accompanying you two?” Riluo crossed his arms.

“I’m not giving him a choice,” Xinhua shrugged. “He’s in so much danger and he doesn’t even realize it. I hope we are able to make it so he can remain ignorant to it. He has enough to worry about…”

“We can try our best,” Riluo huffed. “Let’s pray that it will stay that way.”

“Did Shizhe tell you about Maque perchance?” Xinhua was trying to stifle her amusement, knowing a god would be with them.

“Only his name and that he helped her break free from this new threat,” Riluo tilted his head in confusion. “Why do you ask?”

“He will be joining us,” Xinhua informed him. She figured that Shizhe didn’t tell him about his true identity. They did promise after all, but she’d already come up with an idea to cover for him. “The sect he’s from is quite strict on rules about helping others oddly enough. So if he acts a little odd on the off chance we encounter humans trying to attack us, that is why.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Riluo raised a brow. “Is it possible to expect non-humans then?”

“From what I hear the divine beasts in the seas to the north are quite active as of late,” Xinhua shrugged. “Even the Jing Tian Sect has been struggling with it apparently.”

“That is concerning…” Riluo placed a hand on his chin. “I’m not sure just the three of us could handle the sea serpents, though I’m not familiar with how skilled Maque is. I still think we should arrange for someone from Jing Tian to join us if they can even spare anyone.”

“We won’t know until we reach Port Yuanwei,” Xinhua shrugged. “Since that’s the only place we can find an escort on such short notice.”

“I won’t keep you any longer then. It’ll be easier to plan when we know when we are leaving.” Riluo sighed, he hoped this would be a simple trip but nothing was ever that convenient. “Oh, I’m not sure if I ever mentioned it to you but the Young Master knows me as Luoshi. I think it best that we stick with that. My face may not be the most well known in the Court of Frost, but my name is, as it was mostly His Highness and Lady Guangming who has visited them in the past.”

“Got it,” Xinhua nodded and started towards the door. “I’ll try to be quick.”

“Lady Meigui,” Riluo called to her before she could get far. Xinhua stopped and turned around. “I know my suggestion may seem like I’m trying to expedite this but please, no need to rush. If your brother needs you then stick around. I have my own arrangements to make around the palace so we can reconvene at your home this evening if we need to.”

“My home?” Xinhua blinked. She didn’t really have a place of her own. At most she had only moved maybe half of her things from her room in the barracks to Shizhe’s. It was then she realized what he meant and her cheeks were dusted with pink. “Oh, of course!”

“Appologies I shouldn’t have assumed,” Riluo smiled sympathetically. “You have always been there since you two got together.”

“No, it’s alright!” Xinhua waved her hand in front of her. “You aren’t wrong, I just haven’t thought of it like that until now. She has made sure it’s home for me as well, and it is. I just haven’t stopped long enough to think about it just yet.”

“You really do fit in well here,” Riluo couldn’t help but chuckle. “Only those in the upper court are too dedicated to the job to realize something so important about one’s self.”

“I’m starting to realize that,” Xinhua let out an exasperated sigh. She was a bit curious about just how aware Riluo was about his own missing piece. Though she suspected he did, she couldn’t be certain. She would have plenty of time to inquire about it on their trip. “Anyways,” she smiled warmly, “I’ll see you later then.”

“Yes…” Riluo nodded as a wistful expression filled his face. Xinhua’s smile shifted to sympathetic as he no doubt was thinking of just what she was curious about. Unfortunately she had business to attend to so she couldn’t speak with him about it further just yet, as much as she’d like to give him the nudge he needed when it came to Yuliang. Those two were more hopeless than her brother.

⬦◈⬦

The economics wing has always been a busy place, especially in this season. The very rain pattering the rooftops was a big part of it, thus it didn’t deter those buzzing about, if anything they moved around faster. The rain brought its fair share of problems in logistics and infrastructure, so even those in the offices had a lot of paperwork to fill out to help fix things officially with as little delay as possible. That was Mingmai’s goal anyways. It was easier said than done but it was why she had the largest workforce in the palace next to the army.

“Mingmai! Meigui is here to see you,” Mingmai’s assistant, Ruoxi, called in from the doorway in a rather tired and flat tone.

“Really?!” Mingmai lit up and practically slammed the brush she was holding onto her desk. She jumped up and practically sprinted to the door. Ruoxi slipped back behind his own desk and out of her way. The tiny woman was so full of energy and he was used to dodging her over eager motions.

Mingmai caught herself on the doorframe to slow herself down. Her excited expression quickly faded to a pout upon seeing Xinhua there, watching with an amused smile. 

“Not the Meigui you wanted to see, I know,” Xinhua giggled. “I know you were looking forward to seeing my brother but it may be a while.”

“Awe, really?” Mingmai’s shoulders slumped. She waved Xinhua into her office. “What are you doing here anyway? Someone I should be keeping an eye on?” 

“No one new,” Xinhua shook her head. “Actually, I’m here on my brother’s behalf.”

“What? Stealing my excuse to meet him?!” Mingmai huffed childishly.

“He’s in a rough spot right now, his life might be on the line,” Xinhua exhaled. “I’ll be going with him to Vual in search of a cure for what ails him. He’s worried about the protection of the cultivation of the herbs found in the east that he’s been investing in. I think it would be a good idea to get this arrangement sorted before we leave. My father seems like he may be plotting something Xueye and I both worry that he may try to sabotage this project just to spite Xueye.”

“Okay, deal!” Mingmai nodded resolutely.

“I haven’t even shown you the contract I drafted,” Xinhua chuckled.

“Gimme,” Mingmai held her hand out, opening and closing it. Xinhua handed over the rolled up little scroll. Mingmai didn’t even read the thing like Xinhua expected. She reached out and stopped her from grabbing her seal. “What?”

“You aren’t going to read it first?” Xinhua raised a brow.

“You have a background in both business and the matters of the palace by now. You are a part of this family of ours so I trust that you drafted this in favor of both parties.” Mingmai leveled her with a stare and a coy smirk, “Is there a reason I shouldn’t trust this?”

“Humor me, it’s been a few years since I’ve done anything like this,” Xinhua chuckled. “If there’s something I missed it would be good to remedy that now.”

“Okay, okay,” Mingmai waved her hand. She started skimming through the contract.

“You don’t just sign everything that hits your desk right?” Xinhua couldn’t help but ask.

“Of course not.” Mingmai scoffed. “Just the ones from the upper court. Unless of course they ask for help on it.” She wiggled her eyebrows a little when she stole a glance at Xinhua.

“I’m new here, can you blame me for being cautious?” Xinhua shrugged.

“Well you shouldn’t worry,” Mingmai’s smile widened. She set the contract down and reached for her stamp once more. “Everything seems to be in order to me. Honestly, it's nicer work than even the ones Lord Qiuji has drafted before.” Mingmai stamped it and handed it back with a smile. “Have a little more confidence in your work, silly. You wouldn’t be here if we didn’t trust you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Xinhua smiled. “When we get back you could always join us in Shizhe’s garden at the end of the week for breakfast to meet him. He has been joining us quite often.”

“Oh! I’ll have to take you up on that!” Mingmai beamed. “Since you stole my chance today.”

“Appologies,” Xinhua smiled. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“Take care of your brother so I can meet him alright!” Mingmai giggled sweetly. “I really want to know what the buzz is about.”

“I promise, you’ll have your chance,” Xinhua carefully rolled the contact up once more so as to not disturb the ink, even though it seemed dry already. She wrapped it in the leather casing she had in order to keep the rain from getting to it, even if she was using an umbrella. Better safe than sorry. “I best be off. I’ve taken up too much of your time already.”

“I’ll always have time for anyone in the upper court,” Mingmai’s smile softened. “Do take care in your travels, okay!”

“I will,” Xinhua nodded and set off to her next destination.

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