ShuîYuê woke up the next morning with a dull ache in her body, she squinted her eyes at the delicate light flashing the room before Yìfēi's sleeping figure appeared in her hazy vision, she gulped feeling pain in the back of her throat, sitting up slowly she drank some water placing the empty cup on the table groggily which fell waking up Yìfēi who immediately bombarded Water Master with questions.

"I am fine, just tired," ShuîYuê assured in a soar voice.

"We are leaving tomorrow, you'll lay here and rest all day, got it?" Yìfēi asked with a serious tone.

"Hmmm," Water Master hummed closing her eyes.

The next morning they left Lord Ping's house and reached the Capital city in the afternoon. Water Master was excused from greeting the Emperor since she was sick. ShuîYuê was better than yesterday. Her body was still aching, but she was feeling better than before; lying on her bed, she stared up at the ceiling, deep in thought.

She thought back to why she fainted suddenly; surely she had weakness from blood loss and a fever from the sudden climate change, but she couldn't figure out the reason for fainting so suddenly; she received a letter informing her of visiting Eastern Palace in two days.

Side hall of Eastern Palace

The Crown Prince sat on his seat reading through scrolls when Song Yan rushed inside, "Delegates from North borders are here," Song Yan informed, bowing his head; GuānYû gestured for him to let them inside.

Lord Gao's man entered the room bowing his head, "A hundred peace to His Highness, Crown Prince," he wished.

"At Ease," GuānYû said, going back to reading the scroll; Lord Gao's delegate furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he stood up straight. The Crown Prince of Heaven was sitting at the back of the room reading some scrolls.

"We brought some small gifts for His Highness," the delegate spoke as his servants handed the boxes to Song Yan and some attendants.

Song Yan smiled brightly, "I thank you from His Highness's side."

"I would like to present our letter," the delegate spoke with a bow.

"Go ahead," Song Yan urged.

"But His Highness seems to be occupied with scrolls," the delegate said with a crossed look on his face, they travelled so far only to receive this sort of treatment.

"Other officials are here; they are not occupied," Song Yan informed, pointing over to the Crown Prince's right where an ebony-tall lady stood; the delegate observed her; she was speaking to the Crown Prince.

"Bu-"

"There are four officials, I am sure they'll listen," Song Yan insisted as he left with the gifts, the servants who had followed the delegate from North borders gave each other annoyed looks from the lack of attention they were receiving.

The delegate sighed, noticing a blonde man sitting on a seat while dusting his orange robes, "We come from the North border-"

"Tea," the blonde man interjected as a maid served him tea, the delegates shot each other crossed looks before they turned to the lady waving a fan in front of her face.

"We hope to present the letter personally written by Lord Gao, we hope His Highness wi-"

"It's so hot," the lady with the fan waved her fan harder, "Draw the curtains, will you, YueYue?" She asked a lady behind the curtains, moving them away as a fresh breeze caressed their faces; the lady with the fan sighed in relief, "So much better."

"Your Highness! Will we be heard?" The delegate asked, losing his calm; GuānYû looked up from the scroll he was reading.

"Present it," the Crown Prince ordered; a servant brought the letter to GuānYû, who read it before holding it up to Earth Master, who took it from his fingers, "Lord Gao is making unreasonable demands; they can't be fulfilled; you can leave."

The delegate glared at the Crown Prince; his Master had told him to end him if they didn't agree to his demands; he signalled his servants standing behind him, who rushed forward with swords drawn out.

Wind Master waved her fan with a flick of her wrist, "Shoo dust," she said, frowning at the floor; the men who had rushed towards GuānYû three of them collided with the wall due to the strong wind.

Two of the buff ones charged forward when Fire Master stood up stretching his arms and stopping them with a smile, "Your attire is not appropriate," he informed wrapping his arms around them and squeezing the air out of their lungs, they couldn't get away from his grip no matter how hard they tried.

The delegate frowned in annoyance at the failure of five of his men, he still had three of them and they were the best, two of them ran towards the Crown Prince's seat when they fell to the floor and were hung to the roof by vines, "Such nuisance," Earth Master shook her head before handing a book to Crown Prince who was busy with the scroll.

The last man jumped high in the air, running towards the Crown Prince while the ebony-skin lady stood to his side unbothered by the coming threat towards their Crown Prince; a dagger pierced his thigh as he fell with a hiss.

"My aim hasn't improved no matter how hard I try," Water Master grumbled throwing another dagger which pierced the man's shoulder.

Crown Prince sat up straight staring at the delegate, "I told you to leave."

"Lord Gao will kill you soon!" He shouted before he was dragged away.

Crown Prince sighed loudly, rubbing his temples; Song Yan appeared with a tea tray in his hand, "Your Highness, please relax with some tea," he spoke, placing the teacup on the table.

GuānYû nodded his head picking up the teacup, ShuîYuê noticed Ling Wen standing at the entrance of the Crown Prince's side hall, she looked back and sneaked up to the tall lady, "Emperor wants you to meet him," Ling Wen conveyed, Water Master nodded her head leaving swiftly to Emperor's study.

Emperor's study

Water Master entered with permission finding Jun Wu feeding the fishes in the pond behind his study, "Your Majesty," she bowed her head.

"Water Master, do you like fish?" Emperor asked, holding out the fish feed bowl towards Water Master, who walked up to him and took it from his hands.

"They symbolise wealth and abundance, Your Majesty, so I believe I do," the Water Master answered as Jun Wu took a handful of the feed and scattered it over the pond.

"When Jīnyú was born, our officials intercepted a ship with hoards of gold; they returned with the gold and news right after he was born," Jun Wu sighed, shaking his head, "That's why his mother named him Jīnyú."

"Gold and fish for abundance, Consort Yú named him perfectly," ShuîYuê remarked with a smile.

"Is his training going well?" Emperor inquired scattering more feed as the fishes gobbled them greedily.

"He's improving slowly yet steadily," Water Master answered standing beside Jun Wu.

"That's good," Jun Wu turned towards ShuîYuê, "GuānYû hasn't failed to mention how you figured there was no ghost in Shaulon mountains," ShuîYuê didn't reply just bowing her head, "I want you to go undercover for a personal mission."

"Where? Your Majesty," she asked following after Jun Wu.

"Fu Town, it's more of a village, I have suspicion that a martial official is trying to provoke the people to demand more grains from the Royal granaries, I want you to go investigate, don't act or do anything just report to me what you find," he ordered giving ShuîYuê a rolled paper with a painting of an official, "Senior official Jing's junior official, I want you to keep an eye on his moments."

ShuîYuê stared at the painting before rolling it away, "When do I leave? Your Majesty."

"As soon as possible, Fu village to the northwest of West territory won't be a time-consuming journey," he responded, turning away from ShuîYuê, "I expect a good report, Water Maste. You haven't failed, and I won't see you fail either."

"I will work hard, Your Majesty," She bowed her head walking backwards before she left.

Wudu Palace

Water Master was taking out her things from her bag, which she hadn't unpacked yet; Jade knocked at the side of her room's opening, "Come in," she replied without looking up.

"Master, you have a letter," Jade informed placing the letter on the table, watching her Master taking out a bunch of different things from her bag.

"Thank you," ShuîYuê replied distractedly when she noticed the velvet rose pink hairpin she had bought for Jade, "This is a souvenir for you, as a thank you for your help and all," she added putting the hairpin on her divan before focusing on other things.

Jade slowly walked up to her divan and gingerly picked the hairpin; it had a beautiful velvet rose on it, "Thank you, Master," she thanked, smiling at the gift; she noticed ShuîYuê folding some simple robes into another bag, "Are you going somewhere?" She asked curiously.

"Hmmm, work," Water Master answered placing her clothes in the bag.

Jade was about to protest how ShuîYuê had just returned when she heard loud footsteps Prince Jīnyú appeared a second later, a book clutched in his arms while he skipped inside ShuîYuê's room, "Master! Master! Master!" He called excitedly.

"Yes?" Water Master asked taking a few cloaks out of her cupboard from the dressing room.

"Master, I don't understand this!" He answered, pointing to his book, which he was holding upside down.

ShuîYuê peeked at him from the other room, "What do you want?" She asked instead.

Jīnyú fiddled with his fingers, a habit Jade noticed he picked up from Water Master, "Yu Han Gege is going to South markets tomorrow; I heard him saying this to Aunt Rong Pei, who asked him to bring back some pineapples. Can I go to?" He asked batting his eyelashes at ShuîYuê's body turned away from him.

"Yu Han is going there for work I assigned him; he can't take you," ShuîYuê said, folding her cloaks.

"I wannnaaa goooooo!" He stomped his feet on the floor before plopping on her bed and grabbing her bag.

"Give me my bag, I need to pack," ShuîYuê urged patiently.

"No! Let me go with him, then I'll give this back," He said before running around her room; ShuîYuê chased after him, but Jīnyú had too much energy for a tired ShuîYuê to run after.

"It's work, I can't take you!" She cried panting from running around her room.

"Where are you going?" He asked from the corner of her room.

"Fu village, I won't be gone for long, now give me my bag," ShuîYuê responded trying to catch her breath.

"Fu village? Northwest of West territory?" Jade questioned gaining the attention of the Master student duo.

"Yes, that one, why?" ShuîYuê inquired.

"That's my hometown," Jade answered with a smile.

The gears in ShuîYuê's head began to turn, 'Jade's hometown? She would know the locals there, I need a place to stay to spy on that junior official, inns are not a good option due to time restrictions, and with Jade, I'll have an upper hand in the situation, she might be able to convince the people too,' Water Master thought with a smirk.

"Does it have a lake too? From snowy mountains?" Water Master inquired suddenly, Jade nodded her head, "Perfect, Jīnyú, Jade, we are going on a mission, both of you along with me, so pack your things," Water Master clapped her hands.

Jade and Jīnyú gave each other confused looks, "But Master?"

"No ifs and buts, Jīnyú will train in that water; Jade, you will help me with your knowledge of the village," the Water Master announced, interrupting Jade. Jīnyú squeaked at the idea of a trip, while Jade was glad she could see her siblings.

Ruyi Pavilion

Jade placed a plate of stir-fried bamboo shoots on the table, as Water Master slowly took sips of chrysanthemum tea, she decided to have dinner in Ruyi Pavilion as the breeze this evening was particularly refreshing and soft, Jīnyú would soon join her for dinner, ShuîYuê's eyes glanced around the Pavilion she sometimes worked inside of.

Flowers beds surrounded Ruyi Pavilion and sheer curtains cascaded down the four columns of the Pavilion, a white carpet covered the wooden floor keeping its dignity from otherwise bare wood which would shy away whenever someone stepped on it as it creaked bashfully, the addition of some flower vases didn't escape ShuîYuê's eyes and she wondered who placed them here, they were perfuming the soft breeze that swayed the sheer white curtains.

"Master, today's dinner was prepared by Mei JîeJîe herself, she prepared buckwheat noodles in chilli oil with sour papaya vinegar, dumplings with minced onions, beetroots, cabbage, garlic and seasoned with lemon, salt and black pepper, she also prepared smashes of cucumber salad with sesame seeds and oil with red chilli powder, for dessert I prepared coconut and mango jelly," Jade finished as she placed the dessert tray on the table.

"Why so much for a simple dinner?" ShuîYuê questioned, confounded by the many dishes, not that she wasn't grateful, but it was no special day today.

"You'll leave tomorrow, and I don't know if we'll be able to eat good food in my hometown since we'll be undercover," Jade answered explaining the amount of dishes.

"So you urged Mei to prepare so many dishes?" ShuîYuê asked with amusement dancing in her eyes.

Jade turned a bright shade of red blinking her eyes rapidly, "N- no, she prepared it on her own accord."

"All right then, I'll be sure to thank Mei for her own Accord," ShuîYuê enunciated the last part mainly to tease Jade, she saw Jīnyú and Yìfēi walking towards them and gestured for Jade to place more plates and bowls for them to dine with.

"YOU ARE GOING ON A TRIP! WITH JĪNYÚ AND JADE!" Yìfēi yelled, narrowing her eyes at Jade in annoyance, who lowered her gaze.

"A mission, not a trip," ShuîYuê rectified putting some dumplings in Jīnyú's bowl.

"Whatever but how could you not tell me!" Wind Master fumed as she plopped to the other side of Water Master.

"Jīnyú's going for practice and Jade is going to help me with her knowledge of the area since Bai Yan and Yu Han are both away," Water Master explained indifferently.

"I am coming too!" Wind Master announced adding more servings of buckwheat noodles she couldn't possibly digest.

"No, this is an undercover mission," Water Master denied in a firm tone.

"So? Who said I was going as Wind Master," Yìfēi sassed slurping her noodles.

"Yìfē-"

"No, I am coming along and that's final," Yìfēi interrupted ShuîYuê's long speech about how it wouldn't be safe and blah blah blah before Water Master could even start.

ShuîYuê huffed loudly and before she could speak to portray her annoyance Jīnyú began listing out the things he had packed for the trip/undercover mission, " - and cloaks! Don't forget cloaks Fēi JîeJîe," Jīnyú reminded as Yìfēi chortled at the prospect of going on a work-free trip.

"Yes! And we have to go to the market!" Wind Master beamed excitedly, Jade noticed how her Master didn't touch any of the coconut jelly and only ate the mango ones.

"And food! We have to try the food and all the games!" Jīnyú gushed, unable to contain his enthusiasm, which bubbled up and spilled all over the table; Jade couldn't wait any longer to see her siblings.

"Yes, yes, now go pack and mind you undercover, so normal clothes," ShuîYuê directed the last part mostly at Yìfēi, who ignored her entirely, "And get back to your room now, Jīnyú."

"Good night, Master; I'll walk Fēi JîeJîe to the Palace gates," Jīnyú stood up, followed by Yìfēi; ShuîYuê sighed in defeat as Jade cleaned the table.

"Master, have you thought about where we would stay?" Jade asked suddenly.

ShuîYuê nodded her head, "If you don't mind I'll prefer to stay at your house."

Jade bit her lips hesitatingly, "My house has been sold, Master; my siblings live with my uncle and aunt."

ShuîYuê made an O with her lips, "Is it fine if we stay with them? I don't want to use an Inn. They have time restrictions, and you don't know how long I'll have to spy."

"My uncle would be happy to have you at his house, but what will we say about you three?" Jade queried.

ShuîYuê thought about it for a while, " We could say that we are all maids and your Master has sent us to Fu village to get something in person," she suggested uncertainly.

"Master, I don't think Prince Jīnyú or Miss Yú will pass as a servant or maid," Jade pointed out; ShuîYuê cocked her eyebrow at Jade's words, "I- I don't mean that you'll pass, but they won't look poor even with the ragged clothes."

"That's a good point," ShuîYuê tapped her chin, "Maybe we could present them as some small Lord and lady? They'll pass as that, and we can be maids?"

"That's a good idea," Jade smiled clearing the table.

"Go tell them this; they shouldn't be too far off," ShuîYuê instructed, and Jade left at a quick speed; Water Master sighed, wondering how bad this undercover mission could go.

Fu village

Bao and Chao were drawing water from their aunt's backyard, carrying the heavy buckets over their shoulders and filling the large pot for water usage, it was their duty to do all the laborious tasks and finish them before nine in the morning, then they would go help with their uncle's farm, ploughing the fields, sowing seeds, watering them, and would return in the late evening.

Chao froze in his steps as he stared at a familiar face he hadn't seen in three months; tears welled up in his small eyes as he dropped the bucket and ran forward; Jade stumbled backwards as her younger brother hugged her waist.

Jade's Aunt emerged from inside the house when she heard a loud thud from the bucket falling to the floor, "What are you doing you idiots!" She yelled from the entrance, and as she neared, her eyes narrowed at the sight in front of her.

"Jade?" She asked in shock, "What are you doing here? Did they throw you out of your job?" She questioned the last part with a horrified look on her face.

Bao placed the bucket down and hugged his sister, who tightened her hold on them; Yìfēi watched them with sad eyes, "JîeJîe, are you fine? Did those rich people treat you badly?" Bao asked, pulling away as  Jade wiped her younger brother's face, who was sniffling.

"Aunty, how have you been?" Jade asked, turning to her aunt, who scowled at Jade.

"How could I have been! You shoved these burdens on your uncle and me; how could we be fine? Don't you know how troublesome they are!" Jade's aunt yelled glaring at her younger brothers.

Chao hid behind Jade, who placed her hand atop his head; Bao got in front of her protectively, "He's showing me attitude!" Jade's aunt fumed picking up a thin stick from the floor and thrashing Bao with it.

"Aunty! Forgive him!" Jade cried, trying to protect her brother; she received a thrashing to her shoulder.

"He's glaring at me!" Jade's aunt shouted, thrashing them; Yìfēi gave a worried look to Jīnyú, who shared the same look with Wind Master; she noticed ShuîYuê speaking to the driver of their carriage and returning, Yìfēi gripped Jīnyú's hand who gulped seeing his Master walking towards them.

"Madam, why don't you have some water and calm down?" Yìfēi asked in hopes of diffusing the situation, Jade had covered both Bao and Chao while Bao kept trying to cover his older sister.

"These insolent bastards! I'll teach them a good lesson!" Jade's aunt bellowed, thrashing them harder; Yìfēi tried to get a hold of the older woman's arm to stop her.

Jīnyú grabbed her other arm; Jade's Aunt struggled in their firm hold as she glared at Jade and her brothers, "Calm down, madam, please calm down," Yìfēi spoke softly, flicking her fan so a soft, cool breeze would blow.

Jade's Aunt took sharp breaths to calm down, Jade pushed her brother away to check if he was injured, Chao was fine as he was protected by Jade, Bao had received a good blow from the thrashes and had marks all over his arm and back, Jade was about to say something to her aunt when she saw Water Master walking towards them.

Jade bit her lips and kept her mouth shut as Jade's aunt noticed Yìfēi and her beauty, she moved away to admire Wind Master's beautiful features and then turned her gaze to the skinnier boy who stood beside the beautiful lady, he had soft features but she was certain he would group up to be extremely handsome.

"Who are these people Jade?" Her Aunt asked standing beside Jade.

Jade swallowed her anger, "These are Lady Yi and her younger brother, Lord Jin; they have come here for personal business and wish to stay here with us."

Jade's aunt eyed Yìfēi's clothes with greedy eyes, "Of course, Of course, this is my humble abode; you are warmly invited," she smiled, changing her attitude.

By the time ShuîYuê reached the backyard, Jade's Aunt was already ushering everyone inside; she stopped to give a good start to ShuîYuê before she noticed her inexpensive clothes and walked away; Yìfēi gestured for Water Master to follow them.

The house was simple with a homely aura to it, baskets of nuts lined outside the kitchen, which was in a different portion of the house; from the number of doors in it, ShuîYuê guessed it had four rooms.

Her aunt was very welcoming and hospitable, which Water Master found highly suspicious given the sharp glares she would give two younger boys who looked similar to Jade, "Jade, won't you introduce us?" Her aunt asked in the sweetest voice.

Jade nodded her head stiffly, "This is Lady Yi and her younger brother, Lord Jin," she introduced again; Yìfēi and Jīnyú smiled through their fake introductions.

"Nice to meet you; I am Jade's aunt; I raised her and my nephews after my brother-in-law passed away," Her Aunt informed enthusiastically.

"Nice to meet you; we are here for some work; hope you don't mind us staying here," Yìfēi smiled as Jade's aunt shook her head immediately.

"Of course not; you are my Jade's Master; why would I have any trouble hosting you," her Aunt laughed, a fake laugh if someone asked ShuîYuê.

"Aunty, let them freshen up," Jade urged; her Aunt nodded her head, gesturing Bao and Chao to prepare water and other arrangements; ShuîYuê sat seated while Yìfēi and Jīnyú left.

Her aunt furrowed her eyebrows at ShuîYuê, "You servant! Go help your Masters," Jade panicked at her Aunt's words.

"Aunty don't say that!" She shouted before schooling her expressions, "I mean she's Lady Yi's maid, highest ranked," Jade added awkwardly.

Her Aunt scoffed, "So what she's still a maid, a slave who should abide by her Master's orders."

"Aunt, please don't speak that way," Jade pleaded, embarrassed and guilty.

"You are going to correct me now!" Her Aunt fumed, pinching Jade's arm harshly, who bit her lips in pain; ShuîYuê watched this with furrowed eyebrows.

"Sorry, Aunt, forgive me," she cried, rubbing her arms.

"Go put your things in your room! And this maid will stay with you," her Aunt added sternly.

Jade gave a pleading look to ShuîYuê, who followed her silently to a more isolated part of the house, "Master, I am so sorry about my Aunt, I apologise for her," Jade said the second they were out of hearing range.

ShuîYuê halted to look at Jade, "Is your arm fine?" She asked, ignoring the apology; Jade nodded her head slowly, "Good, now show me where we are staying; I need to leave for my mission soon."

Jade pushed open a door, it was a clean room with small windows, "Master, there's a bathroom in the back of the house, you'll have to go there to shower," ShuîYuê nodded her head taking some clothes in her hand, "I'll go prepare it a bit so stay here."

Jade returned twenty minutes later and showed the way to Water Master, who took a quick bath, "Jade, cover for me; I am leaving now," Water Master told, sneaking to Yìfēi's room to grab daggers from her bag, which was with Yìfēi, Jade nodded her head.

"When will you come back?" She asked hurriedly.

ShuîYuê thought about it for a while, "I don't know, don't wait for me though, just leave your room's door unlocked so I can get in if I do return that is."

______________________________
Author's note: We met Jade's brothers! Tbh Jade wasn't an important character when I first began this story, but slowly, she turned to be the third person, POV, she helped describe things which would have been utterly boring to read as information dumps,

I hope you guys like the various relationships characters have with each other, because I believe that one person can't be everything to someone, we have different levels of friendship and care with those around us it's not the same so Of course the relationships are different with them,

And I see that we are merely lacking some bl drama, I'll see what can be done about that. It is there, I assure you, but much later in the story, until we meet again!! Take care

From Bunbun, the bad bunny

Word count: 4300