Wudu Palace

Water Master came back home as the entire palace fussed over her. Rong Pei won't let her eat anything other than what the doctors prescribed. Souxin made sure she was by her side all the time. Yìfēi visited her every day for a few hours, but she still had to go back to the Martial Hall for work along with Xiàn Fèng, who visited the Wudu Palace for the first time, saying it was very calm here, albeit too quiet but calm. Jīnyú trained hard as the Water Master instructed him from far away; things have finally started to settle slowly; officials were busy helping people who lost their homes, and the injured had been treated for the past fifteen days.

ShuîYuê wasn't asked to help with anything at all saying she needed rest, but she still helped Yìfēi with what she could. She had offered offerings to Sanbao's grave.

ShuîYuê was in her study, sitting by the lap table reading scrolls since she couldn't help with the aftermath of the battle physically, she took to helping others by doing the reading work, she couldn't write but she could go through scrolls for Xiàn Fèng and Yìfēi and ease their burdens, she was marking the correction with her left hand as Jade entered her study with a tea tray in hand, she took care of the oral medicines for her while Souxin helped her with the ointments, Jade placed the tea tray gingerly on the side table. "What would you like Master?" She asked softly.

"Lavender, no sweeteners and stepped for ten minutes," ShuîYuê responded, circling another word of Yìfēi's rescue plan for the elders.

Jade set the tea to steep as she waited, looking around the study with interest, it was her third time coming here, the room was big, with bookshelves holding many of the books and scrolls, a clean bundle of papers lying around ready to be used when needed, there was also an incense burner to Water Master's lap table's left which smelled of lavender and sandalwood, the curtains were drawn apart as sunlight lit up the room, the study was simple with less furniture, there was less furniture in the entire Wudu Palace, no unnecessary things were being hoarded in the palace, six flower vases were spreading their sweet floral smell in the study, as Water Master worked.

Jade's eyes landed back on the person in the room, who was focused on the scrolls in front of her, she had gotten thin because of losing blood and acquiring such life-threatening injuries, her head injury had healed but there was a red mark there which was covered in medicine, she no longer had to wear supports for her ribcage anymore but her wrist was going to take a few weeks to get better, she had started being able to pick up light things like paper and small flowers but nothing more than that, not to mention the huge long cut on her right arm which had to be stitched often as the stitches broke quite easily.

Jade had been unfortunate enough on one of the mornings to walk in on Doctor Wen stitching Water Master's arm. She couldn't stand the sight of so much blood and pain while her Master didn't even look bothered in the slightest. Doctor Wen, however, was very crossed about having to stitch ShuîYuê's arm for the fifth time, he had told her to be careful about her arm and this girl never slept straight, Water Master had a bad habit of sleeping on her sides and due to the heavy medicines she was having to consume she slept like a log and this lead to her sometimes changing sides in her sleep and sleeping on her right arm which caused the stitches to break and the bedsheets to be stained red.

Jade couldn't eat anything all day when she had seen the painfully long stitch on Water Master's arm that morning; since that day, she always announced her presence and asked if she could enter before walking inside the room.

Jade was frightened to the core when the battle took place on the day of the ghost festival, she had felt that strong earthquake in the Wudu Palace itself even if the palaces were far away from the Central Palace which was attacked, its impact reached every corner of the Heaven, she was even more miserable when Wind Master had come to their palace to inform them about the injuries Water Master had suffered, and the news of Sanbao passing away dug a hole in everyone's chest, she wasn't close with the chief guard but he was protective of everyone in the palace, especially Water Master.

Jade had wondered how ShuîYuê must have felt when she had heard the news of him passing away, Water Master didn't speak of him to anyone but Jade had seen her go to his grave plenty of times, Jade shook her head not wanting to think of those negative things, she looked at Water Master who struggled to open the new scroll, Jade got up from her seat and gently took the scroll from her Master's hand, who looked at her in question. "You must order me whenever you need something." Jade voiced softly as she placed the scroll on the table.

ShuîYuê stared at her for a moment, before focusing back on the scroll. Jade poured out the warm lavender tea placing it on her table gingerly. "Tea is ready," she informed standing up.

"Jade, Was everything in order, while I was at the Central Palace?" ShuîYuê asked suddenly, the maid looked at her, trying to decipher what was going on in her Master's mind.

"Yes. Aunt Rong Pei took care of everything," she answered.

ShuîYuê nodded her head. "That's good. Everything is fine as well?" She pressed on.
Jade had no idea why she was being asked such questions. She wasn't someone in authority to order others around. How was she supposed to know if everything else was fine? "I mean, around the market, common people, the staff of our palace," ShuîYuê added, noticing the confusion on the maid's face.

"I believe everyone is terrified of the battle, and our West territory had suffered a little as well, so everyone's a little worried," Jade answered, finally understanding what ShuîYuê had meant to ask.

"I see," ShuîYuê mumbled, lost in thought,
"Jade, order the kitchen to prepare enough red bean cakes and double-layer steamed milk custard for everyone in the palace and to distribute around the West territory," ShuîYuê added, drinking her tea.

Jade stared at ShuîYuê, trying to figure out if she was serious about this; preparing these dishes for the palace wasn't anything the kitchen couldn't handle, but for the entire West territory, it wasn't something she thought they'd be able to do, as well as the money it'll cost. "Master, Are you sure?" Jade asked timidly.

ShuîYuê raised her brow at her. "Yes, why would I tell you otherwise," she replied simply.

Jade nodded her head reluctantly; she didn't have the guts to ask where they'd bring in the money for buying such a large batch of ingredients. "Tell Aunt Rong Pei to take the money from the palace vault," ShuîYuê stated circling the scrolls. Jade bowed her head before leaving the room.

She walked around the palace trying to find Aunt Rong Pei. She saw her a few minutes later by the main hall ordering some maids, and she walked up to her. "Aunt Rong Pei, Master ordered the kitchen to prepare red bean cakes and double layer steamed milk custard for everyone in the palace and to distribute around the West territory. She said to take the money from the palace vault," she repeated.

Aunt Rong Pei nodded her head as Jade followed after her, they entered a room in the south chambers where mostly guest rooms were built, Aunt Rong Pei circled the a few times in the door and unlocked it, Jade followed after her looking around the room with curiosity, she opened a cupboard taking five pouches of coins which jingled, she closed the room as Jade stared at the pouches in her hand. "Jade make a list of the things we'll have to buy and purchase them from different sellers in bulk." Rong Pei commanded walking away.

"Aunt Rong Pei. this money is for the people?"Jade asked curiously; Rong Pei turned to the girl, a smile on her face.

"It's Miss Bài's money," she replied, shaking her head, amused at the young girl's question.

Jade followed after her deep in thought.
'So Master uses her own money to distribute food among the people; I thought it was the money for supporting the common people; you are so dumb, Jade. Course Master is humble and modest.' she thought, scolding herself, and so the West territory had a sweet taste of desserts the next afternoon. 'Hopefully, this will lift everyone's mood.' Jade thought as she happily ate her share of red bean cakes and milk custard.

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Author's note duty on Jade:

Hello! I enjoyed my share of red bean cakes and milk custard. They were delicious, my Master is finally back, and I could sleep without worrying about her. Hopefully, she'll get better soon. Until then, here are imaginary red bean cakes and milk custard for everyone,

Word count : 1500 for chapter and 80 for author's note, total 1580, thank you have a good day !!