Eastern Palace

ShuîYuê looked around the place with awe as she walked beside Xiàn Fèng who was following the Earth Master to the Crown Prince's study. Eastern Palace was where the Crown Prince of the empire resided. ShuîYuê, like all the other junior and unimportant officials, had never seen this place.

Central Palace was where Jun Wu held court meetings, banquets and everything else, including where he stayed, so there was no reason for anyone to visit Eastern Palace. Aside from the Earth Master and senior officials, no one had been to the Crown Prince's Palace in the Central Palace.

This Palace was just as luxurious and dazzling as the Central Palace, but there were noticeable differences between the residence of the Emperor and Crown Prince. Martial Hall had golden curtains, whereas Eastern Palace had red-netted ones. The maids here were also wearing light pink robes, unlike the maids of Central Palace, who were dressed in magenta; the gardens and pavilions were just as beautiful as ShuîYuê's eyes stared at the many flowers growing around while maids tended to them.

"You have never been here?" Xiàn Fèng asked, noticing the surprised look on ShuîYuê's face, who shook her head at his question; they reached the Main Hall of Crown Prince's Palace, where the head maid greeted them.

"Good afternoon, elemental masters; the Crown Prince is arriving shortly. Please wait till then," she said before bowing her head and leaving; Earth Master took to sitting by herself as Xiàn Fèng bugged her about something while ShuîYuê looked around the garden with sparkling eyes.

Flowers here were even more beautiful than they had been at Wudu Palace. A few maids bowed their heads as she passed by them, only to stop at an orange tree; her eyes stared at the round-looking orange before she looked around for anyone watching and plucked it hurriedly before hiding it in her sleeve.

She walked back to the Main Hall eating her orange finding Earth Master and Fire Master speaking to each other, they stood up when a servant entered the Main Hall, "His Highness is in his study, please follow me," he bowed his head as the three elementals followed after him.

They entered the study to find the Crown Prince already at his table reading some scrolls; his hair was damp like he had just got out of the bath, "Good afternoon, Your Highness," Earth Master bowed her head, followed by Xiàn Fèng and ShuîYuê.

"Good afternoon come closer," GuānYû smiled as Earth Master and Fire Master walked to his desk stopping a few centimetres away, Water Master only took two steps forward as GuānYû furrowed his eyebrows, "Water Master come closer I need you three to look at this," he added as ShuîYuê reluctantly walked closer to his desk.

"Wind Master?" Crown prince asked staring at Fire Master.

"Wind Master is at Senior official Jang's Palace, she's presenting scrolls from our side," Fire Master explained as GuānYû nodded his head.

"Look at this," The Crown Prince held out a scroll towards Earth Master, who took it from his hand and unrolled the scroll, showing it to Xiàn Fèng. ShuîYuê's eyes were wandering from all the bookshelves lined behind the Crown Prince reading their titles. Xiàn Fèng nudged ShuîYuê, giving her a stern glare, who pouted in response before she leaned against him to peep at the scroll, "What's your opinion? I want to know."

Earth Master shoved the scroll in Xiàn Fèng's arm, "I believe we should eradicate these rebels, they are lotting supplies for the citizens they deserve to die," Shù Zìrán put forth stepping away from Xiàn Fèng.

"Fire Master, what do you think?" GuānYû asked politely.

"I believe we should dispatch troops in the areas to make sure loot isn't possible for rebels," Xiàn Fèng answered, noticing the Crown Prince looking at ShuîYuê, who was still reading the scroll.

"I received the same responses from second-ranked senior officials when I asked for their opinions," GuānYû mentioned as the servant boy poured tea into four cups.

"Their opinions are justified," Earth Master remarked.

"Not that cup!" The maid cried as ShuîYuê flinched back at her loud cry, "I mean, that cup is for His Highness," she added, bowing her head.

ShuîYuê nodded her head, stepping back so the maid could place the cup on the Crown Prince's desk as GuānYû gave her a stern glare for shouting at Water Master for taking his teacup, "Please have some tea," the maid spoke, stepping back.

"Here," Xiàn Fèng held the cup for ShuîYuê, who shook her head; he placed the cup on the tray before paying attention to what Earth Master was saying.

"There shouldn't be any discussion over this, Your Highness; your decision is wise," Earth Master spoke, bowing her head as GuānYû raised his finger to dismiss the formalities.

"I don't want to make any wrong decisions; that's why I called you all here today," the Crown Prince said, drinking his tea and gesturing for others to have some as well.

"Your decisions are never wrong," Earth Master told decidedly as GuānYû smiled.

"Still, Earth Master, it's for the people's betterment; impulsiveness is not in question while making decisions for their welfare," GuānYû replied, noticing Water Master still standing where she was when she had stepped back to let the maid place the tray on his desk.

"His Highness is wise and caring in his thoughts for the common people, I am sure your decision is right," Earth Master commented pointedly.

"Thank you for your faith in me, Earth Master, but I would still like to know all of your thoughts on this topic," GuānYû thanked with a smile at Earth Master while Xiàn Fèng nudged ShuîYuê, who was staring again at the bookshelf.

"Tell him what you think," Fire Master whispered to ShuîYuê.

"May I speak Your Highness?" ShuîYuê asked as GuānYû nodded his head, turning in his seat to listen to her, "I think we should dispatch some martial officials secretly to the villages, they'll be able to find out who these rebels are who are most likely common people who have turned into rebels due to the relief fund money not reaching them thanks to some greedy officials if we know what's in their minds we'll be able to figure how to console them and provide better help."

"You did not collect tax from the southwestern Coast; I wonder who exactly are these greedy officials," Shù Zìrán commented out loud.

"Is that right Water Master? You did not collect tax?" Crown Prince questioned interlacing his fingers. ShuîYuê shivered under his stern gaze, and Earth Master smirked in victory. She had been wanting to bring this tax fraud to the Emperor's attention, but now that she had this perfect opportunity, she was going to get ShuîYuê in trouble.

"I did not, Your Highness," ShuîYuê responded with her eyes stuck to the floor, Xiàn Fèng looked at her worried, he knew Yìfēi and one thing was certain Wind Master would never associate with anyone who was a bad person, she was known for her righteous nature and Xiàn Fèng highly doubted Yìfēi would let ShuîYuê's tax fraud pass if she knew about it.

"Why not?" The Crown Prince asked sternly; ShuîYuê bit her lips, hesitating to answer, "I asked you something, Water Master."

"The southwestern coast had a flood this monsoon season, and people are struggling to fulfil their daily necessities; I don't think we should collect tax in this condition," ShuîYuê put forth nervously; not collecting tax was a grave offence and was punished with half a year's salary seized and fifty beatings.

ShuîYuê had been lying about it for two whole months, but today, when Earth Master exposed her, she was sure Wudu Palace wouldn't be eating any nice dishes for the next six months, and ShuîYuê was certain Doctor Wen was going to quit his job if ShuîYuê showed up with one more injury.

"Your salary comes from that very same tax, how about you sacrifice six months of your salary since you feel such kindness and generosity towards those people?" Earth Master asked sharply.

ShuîYuê honestly would have but Wudu Palace had been struggling for half a year already since West territories port had been damaged from thunder last year and Senior official Wu Yu had denied any help from Central Palace which officials had a right to ask when they were struggling, so for the reconstruction of port ShuîYuê had been emptying her vault since last year.

She had given up on asking Central Palace for help as Senior official Wu Yu was the one who passed requests for money-related issues and he hated ShuîYuê with a burning passion, she couldn't afford to lose her salary of six months since a lot depended on her income, she had her parents, herself, Yìfēi and other thousand things to take care off.

"I am guilty of my offence, but I humbly request that the salary wouldn't be seized," Water Master bowed her head as Earth Master scoffed.

"How will you atone for your offence if you don't take the punishment?" Earth Master asked crossing her arms.

"I'll take the beatings," ShuîYuê replied; Xiàn Fèng frowned at her. If she was struggling, she should have asked him or Yìfēi for help.

"Then you'll be resting for a whole month, leaving more work for your fellow elementals like you have been since you were injured on Ghost Festival Day," Earth Master remarked, shaking her head.

"Water Master," GuānYû leaned in his seat,
"I understand your thoughts but collecting tax is compulsory."

"They don't have anything to eat, Your Highness; how will they pay tax?" Water Master asked shocked at his statement.

"Did they ask for help?"

"Senior official Wu Yu denied any help," Water Master informed quietly.

"I'll see to this matter; there are no punishment charges on you for your generous thoughts; however, in the future, if something like this occurs, you must inform Central Palace before making your judgement," the Crown Prince concluded, standing up.

"Thank you, Your Highness," ShuîYuê bowed her head sighing in relief as Earth Master eyed her with distaste before following the Crown Prince.

"You are messing with Senior official Wu Yu?" Xiàn Fèng asked in a whisper.

"He's messing with me," ShuîYuê corrected simply as Fire Master groaned in annoyance.

"You'll be dead messing with him," Xiàn Fèng foretold like ShuîYuê didn't know that already, she gave him a cheeky smile before following Earth Master to the other side of the study.

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Author's note duty on Earth Master today :

" Good afternoon, i won't speak much. My surname is Shù which means tree, and my name is Zìrán which means nature. I am twenty-seven years old, that's all,"

Word count: 1800 for chapter and 60 for Author's note, in total, around 1900ish. Thank you for reading. Have a great day. Here are some oranges 🍊 they are yummy 😋Bye-bye!!