Jade couldn't fall asleep; last night, her Master had sneaked off to sleep in Wind Master's room, but today, she hadn't returned yet.

Jade tossed and turned in her bed, unable to fall asleep; she threw aside her blanket and left the room, quenching her thirst in the kitchen. She walked out to find her Master sitting near the well, staring inside it, "Master?" Jade called, ShuîYuê turned her head to look at Jade,  "Are you hungry?"

ShuîYuê shook her head. Jade stared at the red stain on her lips and the residue of eyebrow powder on her eyebrows; it seemed her Master did that horrible makeup today as well, "Did you get recruited?" She asked curiously.

"What do you think?" ShuîYuê asked instead.

"You would have come running to tell Miss Yú if you had," Jade answered softly; ShuîYuê smiled bitterly, shaking her head.

"I don't know what I am doing half the time, Jade, or why I am doing it," ShuîYuê confessed out of the blue, which caught Jade off guard.

"I am sure there's a reason," Jade assured.

"No one in their right mind kills people for convenience," ShuîYuê stated staring at her hands.

"That doesn't make you a bad person," Jade said decidedly.

"I am not good Jade, I am anything but good," ShuîYuê spoke in a self-deprecating voice, "I am a bad person, who doesn't deserve all the things that I have, I don't deserve Yìfēi's lovely company, I don't deserve Jīnyú's innocent admiration, I don't deserve any of it."

"You are not a bad person, Master," Jade sat near the lower step of the well, "You are not good either; you are just a complicated person, and you deserve much more than just Miss Yú's lovely friendship and Prince Jīnyú's respect."

Jade's words dug a hole in ShuîYuê's heart,
unbeknownst to the poor maid her Master had done far worse things in her life.

"Jade, you don't know me," Jade was surprised to hear the crack in her Master's usual calm and creamy voice, there was something about Water Master's voice that Jade yearned to hear more of, she couldn't pinpoint if it was the calmness it was spoken in or the depth in her Master's words, or was it ShuîYuê husky voice when she didn't speak for a long time, straining her throat dry and leading to the more deep and raspy voice.

"You haven't seen the things I have done, you haven't witnessed my cruelty."

"You don't want to be this way, Master," Jade said suddenly, "No one is so hard on themselves when they do your kind of job; you know you have to kill for protection, and you do without fail Why does it hurt you so much when you do it?" Jade asked, tilting her head to look into ShuîYuê's downcast eyes, "I can see yourself loathe in the tasks you do; why don't you refuse? Why do you continue to torment yourself?"

"Because that's what I deserve," Water Master stated blankly, "I choose this path; I must take full accountability for what it brings my way; it's my punishment for being greedy."

"Greedy for what?" Jade asked, worried; her Master was not greedy for money, luxuries or pleasure; Jade had been in Wudu Palace long enough to know this.

"You see that lotus growing in that muddy water?" ShuîYuê asked staring at a small pond nearby, Jade nodded her head in response, "Not all of those adorn the head of a person, some of them are chopped and used in cooking for their exquisite taste, some are crushed for oils and perfumes for their intoxicating scent, some are decorated in vases for their lush petals and beauty," Jade stared at ShuîYuê face which was neutral.

"And some of those lotuses are thrown away because they possess no useful quality. Not everyone gets the same things, and not all things have everyone. Some of them are bound to be used and thrown, their bruised petals no longer desirable for any use, and such lotuses return to the mud they grew in."

"Lotus grows in mud and dirt, Master, but never does that stay on its petals or leaves; it remains clean of the dirt and filth around it," Jade replied, looking right into ShuîYuê's eyes. "So even though those lotuses don't adorn heads, they still don't have dirt on them; no matter how bruised its petals are, it will always be pure because that is its nature, to stay clean even in the dirt."

"You should be a poet Jade, will do your words some good," ShuîYuê remarked after a while, no trace of the vulnerability in her eyes any longer.

Jade's Master was difficult to understand and Jade knew that well, but she was happy her Master shared something like this with her and her only, not Miss Yú, not Prince Jīnyú, just Jade and only Jade.

Jade was filled with a new kind of intimacy, the kind that tickled her heart which was beating against her chest harder, the kind which made her lose her mind, the kind which filled her with pride that ShuîYuê shared something with her for the first time, she was lost in her giddy feelings and didn't notice when her Master left.

The next morning, Water Master left the house late; Jade's Aunt gave her an annoyed look but didn't comment on anything. Yìfēi was exploring the markets, and Jīnyú was practising in the river.

ShuîYuê was walking around the trade market carelessly when a group of royal guards went past her; she followed after them to the alley she had been in yesterday; they had caught Dong Che and his group.

A brawl began among them, and all Water Master could do was stand and watch it quietly; Dong Che was eventually captured and taken away by General Zhou, who was the one in charge of the Crown Prince's safety.

ShuîYuê watched blankly as they took Dong Che away; her mission was accomplished; she could go back now, shaking her head to dismiss her unimportant thoughts, and she left the trade market.

When she returned home, it was empty; neither Jade nor anyone else was in sight; ShuîYuê spent the time by herself doing nothing, just staring at the sky, her mind filled with the conundrum.

'He was bound to be caught sooner or later, there's no need for you to feel guilty, his thoughts and revenge have got nothing to do with you ShuîYuê, don't get yourself in trouble with the Emperor over some stupid feelings of righteousness, you know it never works that way,' she told herself and the time passed.

Water Master failed to acknowledge it was late afternoon, loud footsteps bringing her back to the present; she looked up from her position on the stairs to notice Jade's younger brother bouncing with glee; Jade entered right behind him.

"Chao! Stop running around," Jade scolded placing the things she bought on the table.

Chao only chortled in response, "JîeJîe! This is the best birthday ever!"

Bao appeared a few seconds later with a neutral expression on his face, "Don't jump, Chao; Aunty will scold us."

"Gege! It's my birthday! JîeJîe bought me so many gifts, and we ate meat after so long! That chicken mushroom soup was delicious!" Chao licked his lips rubbing his hand over his bloated stomach.

Jade shook her head finally noticing her Master's presence, "You returned?" She asked, eyeing her brothers; ShuîYuê nodded her head slowly, "Do you want lunch?"

"No," Water Master replied, turning away. Jade ran after Chao, who was taking out the new clothes his elder sister had brought him. Bao took a seat beside ShuîYuê, looking at her, "What?" She asked after a while.

"You are not a maid," The boy stated; ShuîYuê kept her expression neutral, "No maid leaves her Master alone; Lady Yi is always by herself; you are never around."

"I am not a maid; I am your sister's Master," ShuîYuê admitted, tired of keeping fake facades.

"That Master who's rude and aloof?" Bao asked indifferently, ShuîYuê nodded her head in response, "My JîeJîe had a hard time in Wudu Palace during the beginning of her job."

"Am I to be blamed?" ShuîYuê asked turning to the boy who shook his head.

"Not everyone is kind, and not all are evil; some people are just complicated," Bao stated; ShuîYuê noticed the wisdom in his eyes; a smart boy he was.

"It's your brother's birthday today isn't it?" Bao nodded his head, "Do you guys like cold rice shrimp with brown sugar water?" Bao stared at her, confused, "I'll make it for you," ShuîYuê proposed, standing up; Bao stood up as well, gesturing for her to follow him.

They reached the kitchen where he handed her all the ingredients required for the dessert. ShuîYuê mixed the pea starch and rice flour with water while a saucepan was put to boil with water, once the water began to boil she slowly poured the mixture into it while constantly stirring it, once the mixture was cooked properly she placed a colander over the bowl of ice water scooping some paste she put it over the colander where the paste began to drip off like rain.

Bao prepared brown sugar water. In the meantime, he added a few cubes of brown sugar to the boiling water. ShuîYuê placed the shrimp-shaped rice paste in four bowls before pouring the brown sugar water over it, a cool summer dessert.

It wasn't summer anymore, but ShuîYuê figured they would like it since they had just returned from outside, and this cold dessert was her way of wishing Chao a happy birthday; carrying a tray to the room Jade was in, Chao ran around staring at his new clothes with starry eyes.

Bao knocked on the door, catching Jade's attention, who stood up hurriedly, seeing her Master carrying a tray, "Why did you trouble yourself?" She asked with a frown.

ShuîYuê placed the tray on the lap table gingerly, "It's Chao's birthday today, we should eat dessert."

Jade looked at her brother for confirmation who nodded his head, " You made this?" She asked staring at the mouth-watering dessert.

"Why? Do you take me for a bizarre cook?" ShuîYuê asked feigning to be offended.

Jade immediately shook her head, "No- Not, I mean no."

Water Master chuckled at Jade's flustered attitude, "Come here, boys, let's have some dessert," ShuîYuê called, handing them the bowls; Chao smiled brightly at the sweet taste.

"Wahhh, Miss, you are so good at making this!" Chao complimented generously; Jade tasted the dessert, surprised by its brilliant and nostalgic taste.

"It tastes like the one mother used to make," Bao whispered to Jade, who nodded her head; she glanced back at her Master, who was listening to Chao and his story of an evil Aunt; it didn't take a genius to guess who the boy was talking about.

Jade stared back in her bowl, her eyes glassy as she smiled, "Your Master isn't that bad, JîeJîe," Bao added with a small smile; Jade ruffled her thirteen-year-old brother's hair.

"She's just complicated to understand, Bao, a mystery your sitter can't figure out," Jade mumbled, looking at her ten-year-old brother, who was delighted at his new listener's enthusiasm to hear his story.

The next morning, they left Fu village; Bao cried a lot as Jade bid farewell to her brothers; once inside the carriage, Jīnyú stared out the window bored; they had crossed the boundaries of Fu village and had entered a town.

Nothing to keep him entertained he watched a bunch of young ladies dressed in bright attires stepping out of their carriages and entering a house, "Luo Residence," he read out loud before turning his head to his Master, "Why are those ladies going in that house, Master?"

ShuîYuê cocked her eyebrow in response, surprised that Jīnyú didn't know of this,
"What were your teachers doing before you came to Wudu Palace?" She asked sternly.

He scooted closer to Yìfēi and tried to hide behind her, the carriage rocking with the hoofs of the horse moving it forward, "Fēi JîeJîe," he pouted hugging her arm.

Yìfēi melted at his adorable face, "YueYue, stop scolding him all the time!"

"Those ladies are going for a usual get-together between rich families; how can you not be aware?" Water Master questioned, eyes narrowed in a scrutinising gaze.

"I- I skipped my classes at the Royal study a lot," Jīnyú confessed rubbing his nape as he prepared himself mentally to get a good scolding.

ShuîYuê pursed her lips in a thin line; Jade watched her internal struggle of scolding or not scolding the prince; in the end, her Master sighed loudly before she closed her report shut and leaned back in her seat.

"I find it hard to believe that you don't know of this, but ladies, married or unmarried, visit other families which they are friends or acquaintances with for formalities," Water Master explained, looking at Yìfēi for further explanation.

"Yes! You see young unmarried girls often visit other families with their mothers or a married female figure of their family, on occasions, banquets, get-togethers, it a simple way for elders to find a match for the children in the family," Wind Master smiled brightly as she mentioned the details to Jīnyú.

"Like royal gatherings and banquets?" Jīnyú asked with furrowed eyebrows.

Yìfēi nodded her head, "Yes, like them, but the women of the royal family only attend formal banquets by their relatives or influential families only, noble women who are a part of royalty or royal descends have more freedom."

"GuānYû Gege sometimes attends banquets; I never knew they had this purpose," Jīnyú pouted, upset that he didn't get to go along with GuānYû and play fun games with delicious food.

"Young kids are not taken along; boys are busy learning schoolwork and other activities like archery, horseriding, sword fighting, etc," ShuîYuê informed indifferently.

"Girls get to go?" Jīnyú asked in disbelief at the inequality.

"No, they study and learn needlework, painting, instruments, and housekeeping," Water Master answered, gesturing for Jade to pass her some almond cakes to munch on.

"So all the fun for the adults!" Jīnyú pouted stealing the almond cake before it was served.

"It's not fun; that's how connections are made; by introducing people to each other through a common friend or family, it's all just business," Water Master stated, picking up an almond cake.

"It's not all business, it's nice to meet your friends and family outside of work, it's good to interact with new people, but your strict Master is going to disagree," Yìfēi directed the last part at ShuîYuê, Jade chuckled at the words but covered her mouth once her Master shot a glare in her direction.

"Whatever, it is all business. Do you have more questions?" ShuîYuê asked, eyes fixated on Jīnyú, who shook his head; with a sigh, Water Master picked her report back and read it carefully.

Wudu Palace

ShuîYuê leaned back as Jīnyú advanced towards her; she smiled as she turned around, lunging towards Jīnyú as she showered a sequence of beats on the Prince who used quarte as his guarding position to avoid Water Master's tricks. He had to retreat to avoid losing his sword.

"Sweep your sword Jīnyú, it makes your opponent move back!" She advised as the Prince did as told.

ShuîYuê moved back as Jīnyú thrust his sword towards her, She locked her sword with his before disengaging their blades, "Your footwork is sloppy; you need to know where you are stepping so you can use your legs to push forward your sword," she said as Jīnyú panted.

ShuîYuê placed her foot right behind Jīnyú's who didn't realise what his Master was doing. She raised her sword, and his grip on the hilt tightened as he prepared a defence technique called parry.

His Master, however, was faking an attack, ShuîYuê thrust her sword towards Jīnyú's foot who held his sword in an inverted grip, the hilt towards his abdomen and the blade towards his foot as he tried to guard himself only to realise it was a feint, she jabbed him in his back with the hilt of her sword as he tried to turn around only to lose balance and fall to the ground due to her foot tripping him.

ShuîYuê pointed the tip of her sword to his cheek as he breathed harshly, his sword had been flung to the other side of the ground right before he had fallen.

"You need to read your opponent's mind in battle, try to learn their fighting style in the beginning few seconds of your duel and then trap them in their technique," she advised moving his hair out of his face with the tip of her sword as she stepped away Jīnyú sprawled on the floor, staring at the blue sky.

ShuîYuê grabbed a towel wiping her face as Jīnyú tried to catch his breath, "Master... when will ... I last more than... a few seconds... against you?" he asked in between breaths.

"You need to train your body a lot, you lack a lot of skills, and your brain isn't effective during duels," She said as Jade, who had been standing by, handed ShuîYuê a cup of water, who instead reached out for the kettle and poured water on her head.

"You are too tough, Master," Jīnyú complained as he sat up; ShuîYuê brought the half-empty kettle and poured it on top of his head; he shook his head with a frown on his face.

"For the heat," ShuîYuê said at his frowning face before she placed the kettle down and threw a towel on his head.

She took off her vambraces and started unknotting the strings of her armour, "How does one become an immortal god?" He asked as ShuîYuê cocked her eyebrow at his question, "I forgot," he added in a mumble.

"Cultivation of years and after killing a Supreme Ghost King or an Emperor, does someone manage to gain immortality through sacrifice," she reminded, struggling to untie her upper knots.

"First ranked Ghost King?" Jīnyú questioned puzzled,

"There are four ranks of ghosts: Fierce/ Malice, Severe/Menace, Wrath/Savage and Devastation/Supreme. The one who had bit Mei's daughter Xioaxin was a fourth-ranked ghost that is a fierce ghost," she answered as Jade began to unknot the remaining strings of her armour.

"So unless you kill a Supreme Ghost King you can't gain immortality as a god?" He questioned as ShuîYuê nodded her head, "Then does killing the lower-ranked ghosts not count?"

"It does; fourth-ranked ghosts are just bullheaded ones who are impulsive; killing them doesn't increase the merits of any officials. Third and second-ranked ghosts are, however, a lot more difficult to kill and fight since they are smarter and furious," she replied as Jade took off her armour, her eyes counting the number of moles on Water Master's neck.

"You killed a second-ranked ghost once," he reminded as he crossed his legs.

"He wasn't that difficult to kill."

"What about that Ghost King Jin whom Fēi JîeJîe, Fire Master and you killed?" He implored crossing his arms.

"He wasn't a Supreme Ghost King," she turned to Jīnyú as Jade frowned she was just about to be done counting the moles on ShuîYuê's arm.

"How was he a Ghost King if he wasn't Supreme?" Jīnyú questioned confused.

"Look even a fourth-ranked ghost can become a Ghost King in their territory unless someone more powerful than them kills them or seizes their territory. They can announce themselves as Ghost King, Ghost King Jin was a First ranked Ghost King but he wasn't that Supreme"

"So their level of Supreme also differs?" He asked wiping his face.

"Yes, there are plenty of Ghost Kings around Hell, but there's only one Supreme Ghost King," she answered as she opened her hair to tie it back in a bun more properly; it had come loose during the small duel.

"Chéng Huá is the only remaining Supreme Ghost King, at least since Father began to rule," Jīnyú stated feeling a shiver run down his spine.

"He is, Emperor Jun Wu, had killed any Ghost King who claimed to be Supreme; he's the only one Emperor hadn't fought yet," ShuîYuê remarked, sitting down.

"How do ghosts die?" Jade asked curiously.

"By crushing their ashes, their ashes can be in anything, an earring, dagger, a pot, a ring, just about anything," ShuîYuê responded as Jīnyú immediately inclined against her, finding the perfect support to rest his back on.

"Then they must be very clever where they hide their ashes," Jade commented as she cleaned her hands.

"Locating a ghost's ashes is more difficult than battling against them; if you destroy their ashes, even the most powerful ghosts perish," ShuîYuê remarked, showing Jīnyú how to unfasten his vambraces with a single hand.

"Then how about officials like you?" Jade questioned wiping her hands.

"We can be tormented very badly, shall I say, but to completely kill our souls, we need to be pierced by our spiritual weapon in the heart," ShuîYuê replied as Jīnyú kicked his shoes far away.

"So ghosts die when their ashes are destroyed and cultivators like you die when killed by your spiritual weapon," Jade summarised.

"Precisely, immortal gods like Emperor can also be killed completely by his spiritual weapon the one which had been bestowed to him once he had finished his cultivation," ShuîYuê revealed as Jade handed her a fresh towel.

"Spiritual weapons for cultivators and immortal gods and ashes for ghosts?" Jade asked to make sure she hadn't got it wrong.

"Yepp," ShuîYuê replied dabbing her face with the towel.

"It's quite cruel to kill someone by the weapon they had fought with their entire life," Jade commented as Prince Jīnyú continued to bug Water Master by tugging her arm.

"It's also cruel to kill someone through the last remains of their ashes," ShuîYuê remarked, making sure that Jade didn't have a bias towards cultivators and immortal gods; ghosts didn't have it easy either, and ShuîYuê wanted to remember that to Jade.

"Why is our world divided into Heaven and Hell?" Jade questioned finding this as the best opportunity to ask questions which were bothering her.

"It's on the same plane just different parts, All the criminals for unforgivable crimes are sent to Hell and their souls are more revengeful than normal people's souls, If their souls are not freed or their soul doesn't feel satisfied to go to the afterlife they turn to ghost fires which slowly turn to four ranks of ghosts based on their level of revenge, they possess innocent people so they are kept in Hell at the borders, Ghost King rules people sent there and also controls those ghosts fires from entering Heaven," ShuîYuê explained ignoring Jīnyú tugging on her sleeves.

"So it's the same place just good people in Heaven and bad people in Hell," Jade repeated as ShuîYuê rolled her eyes.

"No one is good or bad; it's grey-" she said as Jīnyú interrupted her.

"Master look!" Jīnyú pointed his hand to the sky; ShuîYuê squinted her eyes, trying to see what he was pointing at, "A purple star!" He beamed as ShuîYuê finally noticed it.

"Purple stars are signs of serendipity and true love," Jade spoke staring at her Master.

"You can't be sure it's purple; refraction and reflection change colours of things quite easily," ShuîYuê remarked, being the smart ass she was.

"How so?" Jīnyú questioned not liking the idea of that star not being purple.

"Refraction changes wavelength as light travels through different mediums from the universe to our eyes; reflection makes it appear brighter," ShuîYuê answered, flicking him on his head.

"You are too smart for your good, Master," Jīnyú said as he rubbed his forehead, ShuîYuê tackled him to the floor, pulling his cheeks as he tried to pry away his Master's pincer-like grip.

"Whatever Master believes, I think it's a purple star, too," Jade remarked as her words went unheard by the two in front of her, who were busy trying to pull each other's cheeks. She shook her head ignoring them as she stared at the sky lovingly.

______________________________
A/n: Hey guys~ I hope the Heaven and Hell parts are clear now, I figured I didn't do a good job of explaining them in the earlier chapters so I decided to do it here,

And I wanna know what part of the story is your favourite? Examples are: Is it Wind Master's banter with Water Master or Crown Prince's silly attempts to impress Water Master, Prince Jīnyú and Jade's banter? Or the ghosts? I know they have been absent for a while they are returning, don't worry!!

For me, I love to write deep conversations with the characters. It doesn't matter who it is. Most of the time, it's Water Master with someone, but these conversations are my favourite, I get to express the characters' beliefs and views while trying to leave a positive impression on those struggling,

It's my way of offering some help or encouragement I hope you don't mind the long conversations even if it helps one person I'd be glad, if you don't like it skip them, I'd still be writing them anyway because I like them( Bad bunny mode activated) that's all next chapter is for those who are waiting for the ghosts things are picking up slowly but surely see you in the next update take care bye bye!!

Word count: 4300