Fair Trade Ch 36 - The Depth of Change

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Shizhe was used to the darkness. The starry night sky was her domain after all. However this darkness was different. Not a single glint of light speckled this void. There was resistance when she moved. She had to find the light. There was always some glimmer to guide her, she just had to look for it.

She felt something grab her from behind. She turned around and nothing was there but she could make out the vague form of the palace. Around her suspended and drifting were countless bodies. It was then she realized she was underwater. Suddenly she realized she couldn’t breathe.

She felt a pair of arms wrap around her shoulders and a soft voice whispered, “Wake up!”

Shizhe squeezed her eyes shut and willed the scene before her away. When she opened them, she was in her room. The sunlight filtered into through the curtains, fluttering in the breeze. Seeing the light she couldn’t help but relax.

“Is everything alright?” Xinhua’s voice was like a soothing balm to her frayed nerves.

“Just a nightmare,” Shizhe rolled over in Xinhua’s arms.

“I figured,” Xinhua flashed a worried smile. “I could tell. Do you get them often?”

“Every once in a while,” Shizhe sighed, wrapping her arms around Xinhua’s neck. “Sometimes the war, sometimes visions, sometimes just when I’m stressed.”

“What’s this one?” Xinhua pulled her closer.

“I’m not sure. I’m hoping it’s just the stress,” Shizhe buried her face in the crook of Xinhua’s neck. 

“I guess I’ll have to help relieve some of that,” Xinhua giggled.

“Just you being here is enough,” Shizhe smiled.

“I guess I’ll have to stay another night then,” Xinhua ran her fingers through Shizhe’s hair, starting to carefully work out the tangles from sleep.

“Stay as many as you want,” Shizhe said, her face heating up. She was glad Xinhua couldn’t see it.

“As you wish, my lady,” Xinhua, pressed a soft kiss into the top of Shizhe’s head.

A soft knock that Shizhe was all too familiar with tapped on the door. She knew it was Yazhu before even hearing her voice since it was a pattern only Yazhu used. 

“Lady Guangming? Lady Meigui? Lady Shanfeng is here to speak with you two,” Yazhu’s voice carried through the door.

“We’ll be down shortly,” Xinhua replied succinctly as Shizhe was starting to devolve into a flustered mess again. Shizhe hadn’t realized that Yazhu knew Xinhua was there since Xinhua had joined her in the garden last night as Shizhe was searching the stars for any dangers in the near future. Shizhe thought Yazhu was asleep at the time, given how late it was when they went inside.

Xinhua sat up and waited for Shizhe to peek at her from the pillow Shizhe’s face was buried in. She had an amused smile on her face when Shizhe finally did only to return to hiding her face.

“Do either of you need my assistance?” Yazhu asked.

“Not right now,” Xinhua replied. “I’ll be sure our lady is ready for the day.”

“Very well” Yazhu said. They could hear the smile in her voice. “I appreciate your hard work.”

“We best not keep her waiting,” Xinhua smirked as those midnight blue eyes peered out from a mess of pink hair.

“Y-yes! You’re right!” Shizhe forced herself up. She still felt a little sluggish, like she hadn’t entirely left that dream. She did just wake up though and she wasn’t as young as she used to be, as much as she didn’t like to admit it.

Xinhua helped Shizhe dress and took care of her hair the rest of the way before Xinhua even took care of herself. As Xinhua went to put on the very clothes she wore the day before Shizhe stopped her.

“You know, I might have something for you to wear instead,” Shizhe went to her wardrobe and started digging around. “I know I’m much smaller than you but this was pretty long on me.” Shizhe pulled out a dusty purple ombre skirt. “Now where’s the rest?” Shizhe started fishing around again.

“How generous of my lady to want to dress me up,” Xinhua giggled as she held the skirt to her waist. She found it hard to believe Shizhe would wear it herself given how big it was.

“You picked my clothes today, so I should pick yours too!” Shizhe giggled as she finally fished out the rest of it. She held it out for Xinhua to take. “This should do, right?”

“It’s lovely,” Xinhua laughed as she shed her inner robe to dress. Shizhe’s cheeks matched her own hair when Xinhua glanced back. “Why the face? It’s nothing you haven’t seen,” Xinhua teased. 

“I know!” Shizhe placed her hands on her cheeks to cool them down. Her palms were quite cold so it helped. “Ah, I’m such a mess around you. I can’t help it.”

“I don’t mind. It’s cute,” Xinhua giggled as she leaned down and kissed the top of Shizhe’s head. She left the blushing mess to calm herself down as she dressed in the robes Shizhe presented her. 

It had been quite a while since Xinhua had worn such a dress of high caliber. Xinhua rarely did since she left the Meigui Estate. She had on the rare occasion for any events Shizhe had invited her to. Even so she had only purchased more simplistic dresses than she used to wear when she was heir to the Meigui Trading Company. Xinhua just found she preferred her uniform or more masculine clothing as it was just easier to move around in and was less of a hassle to put on. 

Still the one Shizhe presented, while elegant and high quality, it was almost as simplistic as she preferred. Light weight and not too many layers or accessories, it was perfect. It even fit her perfectly. She was beginning to suspect it was meant for her.

“Shizhe, was this intended to be a gift for me?” Xinhua smiled over at her.

“M-maybe…” Shizhe squirmed under Xinhua’s gaze. “Okay fine. Yes. I did get it for you some time ago, it just got a little mixed in with my clothing when I was putting away everything else I had shopped for. I was also a little nervous to give it to you.”

“Thank you,” Xinhua smiled warmly. “It’s perfect.”

“It looks good on you!” Shizhe grinned, clapping her hands together. “Now, let me do your hair!”

Shizhe put her hair up fully, tying it off with a thin ribbon before she grabbed one of her hair pins and tucked it in as the perfect little touch. 

“I do want this one back, it’s my favorite but I think it looks good with this,” Shizhe kissed Xinhua’s temple and admired her work. 

“I’ll take good care of it today,” Xinhua giggled. 

They both ventured downstairs and saw Yuliang leaning against the wall near the door. She looked at them when she heard their steps and her stern expression softened a little. She wasn’t entirely surprised when she didn’t find Xinhua in her place this morning. She was delighted to see them spending more time together.

“Isn’t the regularly scheduled breakfast tomorrow?” Shizhe was rather confused. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d forgotten but Xueye was supposed to join them so she made sure to keep track of the days.

“Yes it is,” Yuliang nodded. She noted Shizhe’s words were a little dragged out and as the two got closer Yuliang noticed that ever so faintly the face powder couldn’t entirely hide the hint of dark bags under her eyes. “I simply need to borrow Lady Meigui from you. I was hoping to utilize her aid in some investigating as we discussed in recent days.”

“You don’t need my permission,” Shizhe let out a weak laugh. “His Highness himself approved of her promotion to the upper court.”

“Wait…” Xinhua was stunned. She looked at Shizhe absolutely baffled. “You didn’t mention that!”

“You think I would tell our secrets to anyone?” Shizhe giggled. “Even if you are my beloved I wouldn’t share any of his secrets without his permission.”

“I figured that but I thought I was just assisting you in planning for the future,” Xinhua pressed a hand to her head. “Me, a part of the upper court? Forgive me if that sounds crazy.”

“It’s a fair assessment, we don’t just let anyone join us,” Yuliang couldn’t help but smile ever so slightly. “Only Lady Mingmai has joined our rank in the past ten years, before you.”

“She had family connections to one of ours though,” Shizhe stated. She looked up at Xinhua and beamed, “You earned your place here.”

“She’s right,” Yuliang nodded. “I was trying to borrow you from the General before this was decided because you have shown nothing but exceptional investigative prowess in the field. He’s always been so hesitant to let you go.”

“I expressed as such to His Highness,” Shizhe latched onto Xinhua’s arm again. “Having at least three of us favor your talents, he didn’t even hesitate.”

“For now you can drift where you are needed,” Yuliang stated. “Eventually you will find the role that suits you best, even if we have to make a new title.”

“You mean I’m not assigned anything official yet?” Xinhua tilted her head, a little confused about her place.

“Nothing public but you still carry all the power one in the upper court possesses,” Yuliang clarified. “When we get to my office I will give you the official token we all carry that will show your authority to anyone in the palace unaware.”

“I’m glad you have that already arranged,” Shizhe sighed in relief. “I was going to look into that here in the next couple days but you saved me the effort.”

“You’ve been busy,” Yuliang adjusted her glasses. “Try and not overwork yourself.”

“Yes, try and take it a little easier today, my lady,” Xinhua smiled but there was still worry behind her eyes.

“If you both insist,” Shizhe sighed in defeat. She figured she could very easily do some simple planning for the Sparrow Feather Festival. It was just a celebration honoring the Wind God but considering he presided over music and the arts it tended to be a big party that spanned the city. At the very least, organizing a to-do list from her favorite lounge. “I won’t keep you much longer. If you need me I should be here.”

“I’ll stop by later to see how you are doing,” Xinhua pressed a brief kiss to Shizhe’s temple. 

“I’ll be waiting,” Shizhe smiled sweetly and waved as they left. Immediately she let her shoulders sag and she let out a yawn.

“There’s breakfast for you in the garden, Lady Guangming,” Yazhu voiced gently as she approached. “Surely it’ll help you wake up a bit more.”

“Mn, thanks,” Shizhe mumbled. She felt what little energy she had was gone now that her visitors left. “No visitors today, unless it’s an emergency. I’m too tired. Upper court and Xueye only, okay?”

“As you wish, my lady,” Yazhu chimed sweetly. She had half a mind to see if the Young Master could visit today to cheer up Shizhe, but he was supposed to join the ladies for their weekly breakfast the next day.

“Oh, I wonder if he’d return to performing during the Sparrow Feather Festival,” Shizhe seemed to brighten up at the idea as the two of them went out into the garden.

“Right, you mentioned he was considering it,” Yazhu said as she started serving the tea. “I’m sure he’d appreciate the opportunity.”

“I’ll have to ask him tomorrow,” Shizhe sat down quickly picking up one of her favorite steamed buns filled with a sweet red bean paste. “Even if it’s not this next one I would love to set up the grandest stage for him one day.”

“Now you sound like his manager,” Yazhu giggled.

“You know that’s not a bad idea,” Shizhe smirked.

“My lady, you shouldn’t give yourself more work,” Yazhu shook her head with an amused smile. “You are supposed to be taking it easy today, right?”

“I know, I know,” Shizhe shrugged with a smile still on her face. “I don’t mean me. Given how busy he is I think an assistant of sorts would be a brilliant idea, don’t you think?”

“It could double as prevention for anything similar to recent events, with the right person of course,” Yazhu suggested.

“You are right!” Shizhe beamed. “His Highness has been a little restless lately. Surely that would help ease his mind.”

“Yours as well?” Yazhu flashed a knowing smile.

“Guilty,” Shizhe let out a wistful sigh. “I admit I’m quite attached. He’s important to so many of us, I know if our enemies find out and get their hands on him it could very well bring disaster to this court.”

“That is a valid concern,” Yazhu nodded. “Would you like me to look into some candidates for you?”

“Maybe just a list for now.” Shizhe smiled at the initiative Yazhu showed, she always was looking for ways to help Shizhe. Shizhe wanted to look into any candidates personally. “I suspect he’ll need some convincing based on what I heard from His Highness about Xueye’s work ethic. I’ll ask Xinhua tonight for her opinion on the matter.”

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