Fair Trade Ch 37 - Storm of Suspicions

Fair Trade BGM Playlist

Xinhua hadn’t seen Yuliang’s office before. Anytime Yuliang asked Xinhua about any of her work as a guard in the comfort of Shizhe’s garden during their weekly breakfasts. Admittedly, Xinhua was a little nervous. She was still wrapping her head around her new position.

“Are you alright?” Yuliang asked, picking up on Xinhua’s unease.

“Yes, Lady Shanfeng!” Xinhua said far too quickly. 

“You can call me Yuliang when it's just us,” Yuliang offered sweetly. “The upper court can be present as well.”

“Honestly still not sure I'm ready for that,” Xinhua sighed. 

“You still feel like you don't belong, understandably so,” Yuliang sat at her desk. “You jumped to the highest of ranks so suddenly. Honestly many of us felt the same when we first took the palace.”

“Really?” Xinhua sat across from her. She found it so hard to believe. “You all made the transition seem so smooth, like you were ready for it.”

“Well when we weren't fighting we were figuring out our future roles and what immediate changes were needed. We had a plan but that didn't make it any less strange. The majority of us came from nothing. Only Lord Wen was affluent. He trained us in the ways to act among the clans. It still wasn't easy. I used to be a hunter that rarely dealt with others. People started thinking I am cold and uncaring but I just found it was an easier way to keep people at bay.” She giggled softly. “It allowed me to focus on my work, I needed to back then. Implementing the reforms was a lot, the justice that was necessary after the fact had mounted quite the case load on my desk. It was overwhelming.”

“I see…” Xinhua sighed. “I guess I was still too young to fully understand back then. Just how did you manage it all?”

“The rest of the upper court helped at first,” Yuliang smiled. “I relied a great deal on them. We helped each other. Just as we'll help you.” 

Yuliang pulled out a small wooden token with a unique carving of a dragon holding a plum blossom branch. She set it on her desk and pushed it across the surface towards Xinhua.

“This token will grant you all the authority of the upper court,” Yuliang explained. “Until it becomes more widely known, use this to gain access to everything on palace grounds or inform any guards or staff that have yet to realize. Keep it safe and hidden on your person. Only take it out if you need it.”

“Understood,” Xinhua tied it to her belt and tucked it inside so it wasn't visible. 

“I figured that continuing with my initial idea to borrow you as an investigator would be a nice way to ease into utilizing such authority if you don’t mind.”

“What is it you want me to look into?” Xinhua asked.

“There's a few cases on my desk here,” Yuliang picked out the more sensitive cases. One file was stacked much thicker than the other two. She placed a hand on that one. “This one many of us in the upper court are working on together. Spies have wormed their way into the palace countless times. Many of them are from Elia.”

Xinhua narrowed her eyes. She recalled Shizhe explaining the danger they posed to Xueye’s safety.

“Shizhe informed you already,” Yuliang could see the recognition in her eyes. “You are free to look into this at your own discretion. If you suspect someone, inform Shizhe and then either I or Riluo will take care of the rest.”

“Are you sure I should be involved?” Xinhua knitted her brows. She wasn't sure she would be able to keep her emotions out of it.

“Do you think you can handle it?” Yuliang asked with a level expression. “It's alright if you can't, we've been handling it fine.”

Xinhua took a deep breath, really thinking about it all. She hadn't lost control of her emotions with her father in all the years. She'd always wanted to expose him properly. This wasn't that different in the end, it was for Xueye’s sake. 

“I can,” Xinhua nodded. “It's not just my brother's safety on the line after all.”

“I'll still assist but you can take point on this then.” Yuliang smiled softly. “It will allow you to get familiar with all the palace personnel as well as the other members of the upper court.”

“What of the other two?” Xinhua asked, glancing at the other two folders curiously. 

“These are less urgent.” Yuliang couldn’t help but smile at her interest. Even one of these alone was more than enough to adjust to. She was more than willing to have Xinhua work on one case as she adjusted but she knew of Xinhua’s usual work mentality from their past discussions and learning about her from the General. “They are more inquiries, one may lead to nothing and the other you are quite familiar with.”

“My father…” Xinhua closed her eyes.

“From what I've heard from Shizhe recently, you have been working on this case much longer than I have.” Yuliang voiced solemnly.

“Most of my life,” Xinhua nodded slowly. “He's a terrible man. All I wanted was for Xueye to have what rightfully belongs to him but father stole the company right out from under us when mother died.”

“Tell me everything you have,” Yuliang urged gently. “I want to know more about what he’s really like. My other investigators have reported any associates of his think he’s wonderful. His Highness suspected otherwise as he dealt with him. His instincts are rarely incorrect.”

“He’s right to have been suspicious. The face he shows to the public, that’s all fake. Anything he does out of the supposed goodness of my heart is all just to either boost his image or some twisted well guised secret,” Xinhua sighed. “Unfortunatey he covers his tracks. I’ve not found a shred of evidence damning enough to bring to the court.”

“Do you also think he could be involved somehow in the recent attack on your brother?” Yuliang placed a hand on her chin. “His Highness seemed to think he may have had a hand in the matter with Jianhong. I worry he’s been a little rash about protecting your brother but as I said before he’s rarely wrong about such things. In fact, this other case is related to that. Jianhong died the very day Jinse bought out that debt. Those under Jianhong’s employ that witnessed it said it was an accident but recently some other group has been dismantling their operations one by one.”

“My father’s not so ambitious enough to mount such an ordeal himself but I wouldn’t put it past him to try and set up Xueye for failure. He’s been doing it even before Xueye had any control in the company.” Xinhua’s expression turned dark and bitter. “Its how he orchestrated the events that led to Xueye being sent to Vual that made me realize just how little he cared for Xueye.” 

“Tell me more,” Yuliang wanted more details to fill out the profile that was slowly forming in her mind.

“He practically sold him off when he was young, it may have seemed like an arranged marriage that none of us were privy to. The head of the family he was promised to was a lecherous man and when Xueye was left alone with him at one of Father’s charitable galas, Xueye lashed out to escape him and made a scene as he found mother. Father thought Xueye would just keep quiet about it in a public setting. Normally he would but something made Xueye uncomfortable enough to reach a breaking point. Even if I don’t know all the details of what happened behind closed doors, it was clear Xueye was deeply affected. After that father felt humiliated and had him shipped off to the Vual Academy instead like it was a solution he had at the ready. Mother was livid over the whole thing, she always wanted us to be with one we loved and not end up stuck in an arranged marriage. After that her illness worsened and when she died, father didn't bother to wait for Xueye to return. He didn't even send Xueye a letter. It wasn't as though father knew that Xueye was recovering from an injury. The very day that mother died, father took the company over when it should have gone to me, well Xueye technically but he had yet to learn that he had more right to it than I according to family tradition. Father was even smiling at her funeral. I knew he didn't care about her, or us, but that was my breaking point. I could no longer look him in the eye.”

“Xinhua, when did your mother’s illness start?” Something occurred to Yuliang as she processed it all. The quick method of takeover, disregard for tradition despite knowing that he seemed to favor it from Yushi's business with Lord Meigui, and the demeanor in regards to the late Lady Meigui’s death. 

“I was quite young,” Xinhua thought aloud. “Dr.Jingji would know more but it was sometime between mine and Xueye’s birth. If I remember what she told me correctly.”

“I remember you saying that your youngest brother was also ill and remains at the Meigui Estate, correct?” Yuliang’s brows knitted as she continued to put pieces together. “Is it the same?”

“It is…” Xinhua’s eyes widened as she also started piecing her line of thought together. “Xueye was also a bit sick before he left for Vual but it cleared up completely after about a year…” She stood and started pacing, panic filling her heart over Qingkong's safety. Rage started to swell in the back of her mind once more, one she was so used to keeping buried in order to keep herself in check. “He's been poisoning them? I didn't even put the pieces together! I should have-!” Xinhua couldn't contain a sob. “Why didn't I see it until now!”

“Easy, it's just a theory,” Yuliang stood up and wrapped her arms around Xinhua, gently rubbing her back in a comforting motion. They hadn't been this close before, Yuliang rarely offered such comfort to those around her but Xinhua was in such an uncertain time of transition and Yuliang brought her to such an emotional state. Yuliang couldn't help but offer comfort to one of the few she saw as a friend. “I'll speak with Dr.Jingji about it. He would know best.”

“I want to go too…” Xinhua took a deep breath, trying to regain control of her emotions. “If it's true I have to get him away…!”

“Let's just hope it doesn't tip off Lord Meigui,” Yuliang held Xinhua’s hand. “Evidence is key here. On the off chance it is true, we can’t have him disposing of the evidence.”

“You're right… caution…” Xinhua nodded, trying to reign herself in again.

“We'll find a way to get him away if the doctor agrees the theory is plausible,” Yuliang stated resolutely. “If there's anything we are good at, it's coming up with clever excuses.”

“Thank you, Yuliang…” Xinhua smiled meekly. It still felt strange to say but she felt she could get used to it.

“Come,” Yuliang said with a small smile. “I cleared my morning to assist you so let’s head over to see Dr.Jingji.”

“Did you really?” Xinhua’s eyes widened as she followed after her. 

“Yes, I didn’t know how long it would take to go through everything but this is a more urgent matter so we can continue later.” Yuliang locked her office door. “My tasks for the rest of the day are pretty light as well since His Highness has returned. I turned over less sensitive matters to those that work under me to handle for now as well.”

“You probably should do that more often,” Xinhua lightly teased.

“I probably should, but I prefer to keep busy,” Yuliang stated. “With all the upper court needs us to look into I may have them take care of more soon.”

“Hopefully my assistance will prove useful in it all,” Xinhua voiced a little nervous about such pressure. 

“You already have,” Yuliang glanced up at her. “Just your testimony alone may have given us a potential lead. Even if it doesn’t pan out then it’s certainly given me better insight so far into his real personality.”

“I’m glad,” Xinhua smiled. “I hope to continue to be of help.”

The two walked down to Dr.Jingji’s shop. Thankfully it wasn’t busy at all. He brought them both into the back and started making tea.

“Is everything alright?” The doctor asked as he chose herbs for the tea as he waited for the water to boil.

“We might have great reason for concern,” Yuliang sighed as she glanced at Xinhua with worry. 

“Might be better for you to start," Xinhua shook her head. She was worried she would get too emotional again to explain it properly. “You thought of it first after all.”

“Very well,” Yuliang nodded and returned her attention to Dr.Jingji. “You are most familiar with the sickness that has ravaged more than one member of the Meigui family. Is it possible it could be poison?"

“Poison?” Dr.Jingji froze, his eyes wide at the implication. He thought it was just hereditary, all the symptoms had lined up with the illness he’s been treating them for years. The previous lord had also died from it long before Xiulan. Qingkong had experienced it all his life and Xueye had it in his younger years. Xueye stopped exhibiting symptoms when he’d returned from Vual. He should have started to suspect it then. “Xueye no longer has it… How did I not even consider that?!” The doctor sat down as the wave of regret consumed him. “If it’s true, then I could have saved her…”

“If it really is true then you can still save Qingkong!” Xinhua grabbed his hand and squeezed it comfortingly.

“It’s just speculation but it’s the only reason I can think of that the Young Master no longer has it,” Yuliang stated. “Perhaps there is another reason if I am wrong but if it turns out to be the case you can try and investigate the reason he improved again. I’m sure you have before.”

“Yes, I asked him about his time in Vual and even wrote to the doctors that treated him there. They just treated his symptoms much like I have. I thought perhaps the Moon Goddess’s blessing might have been at work.” Dr.Jingji seemed so dazed that he didn’t even notice the water boiling. Yuliang got up to take care of it as he continued to process everything. “I should have started suspecting something then… It manifested at such different ages for all of them.”

“Don’t blame yourself, I didn’t even think about it until Yuliang brought up the possibility,” Xinhua sighed dejectedly. “Now what matters is trying to convince Qingkong to stay away from father. We need to get him out of there.”

“You’re right,” Dr.Jingji took a deep breath to collect himself. “The only way to know is for me to adjust his treatment. I was already considering adjusting him to the new herbs that Xueye had gotten in. Doing my research on them, it's possible there may be better symptom relief with those. I was considering having him stay with me through the adjustment. With how weak his constitution is, I have to slowly adjust his treatment else he may react badly. As I do that I can research whatever this poison might be. I suspect a more specific treatment will be needed given how long he’s been exposed. I can administer something a little more generalized for poisons in the meantime and see if there is improvement.”

“Should he improve in his time here we should pursue a means of securing whatever poison he’s been using or evidence of him acquiring it.” Yuliang stated as she started pouring them all tea. “We need to do this in a way he can’t slip out of it in accordance with the laws we’ve set. We also should keep this from Shujing. Should he find out about this he may lose control of his temper.”

“I agree,” Xinhua nodded. “We should get Qingkong over here right away. If we are right about this then the longer he is under that roof then the more of a chance he’ll get worse.”

“I’ll visit Qingkong right away,” Dr.Jingji rose up, preparing to grab a few things he might need to help ease the move.

“Should I go with you to help you convince him?” Xinhua asked. “I know he’s quite stubborn about staying. What is it he says? ‘A Meigui by blood should always be staying in the estate.’”

“I should be able to convince him. I’ve done similar things for adjusting his treatments before,” Dr.Jingji stated. “Keeping him away once he improves is the hard part.”

“I know Xueye has always wanted him to move in,” Xinhua sighed. “Qingkong is just more stubborn than us. Even if he learns about this I can’t say if he’ll still want to remain.”

“If I find this to be true, I won’t let him return,” Dr.Jingji stated firmly. “He’ll just be putting himself in danger. He’s suffered enough.”

“For now we still need to maintain the belief that he will return even if we don't intend to let him,” Yuliang stated.

“Yes, father would get rid of any stores he has,” Xinhua sighed. “If only we could find a legitimate reason to search…”

“He'll slip up eventually,” Yuliang placed a hand on her shoulder. “Patience, just as you have all these years.”

“You're right,” Xinhua sighed. “Bringing Qingkong here will be much easier on my mind.”

“I'll retrieve him. I won't give him a choice,” Dr.Jingji smiled reassuringly. “I'll send my assistant with word once he is settled.”

“Assistant! You mean that?!” A cheerful voice came from the doorway as Lingyao beamed brightly. 

“Yes,” Dr.Jingji chuckled. It was the first time he referred to her as such out loud so her excitement was understandable. “Would you go prepare my spare room for him?”

“Right away!” She practically dashed past them for the stairs in the back.

“Lingyao!” Dr.Jingji called after her and she poked her head around the corner. “It goes without saying, everything you heard is to remain a secret.”

“I already figured, doctor,” Lingyao nodded before disappearing once more.

“Can she be trusted?” Yuliang asked. 

“I would have sent her home already if I didn't trust her,” Dr.Jingji smiled softly. “She's proven quite capable and I won't be around forever. I may as well train someone who can take my place.”

“Don't talk like that,” Xinhua huffed. “You aren't going anywhere anytime soon.”

“You're right, I still have a lot of work to do,” Dr.Jingji laughed.