Fair Trade Ch 39 - Root of the Cause

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“Ah, how frustrating,” Xueye mumbled as he read the letter from Guiying. It was a report on how things were progressing with the growing of rarer herbs. Most of them seemed to be doing well after a bit of struggle, however some just weren’t taking very well no matter what she tried. She assured that it was still early so it could take time but Xueye couldn’t help but worry. The negotiation with Mingmai he’d put off scheduling the last few days was starting to sound like a nice idea, if anything for the peace of mind.

“What’s the matter?” Jinse asked, looking up from the old manifests he was perusing. He was taking advantage of the opportunity to determine any peculiar dealings made by Lord Meigui. He’s hidden enough suspicious dealings of his own that he knew what to look for.

“That investment is running into a snag,” Xueye huffed. “I might have to consult Dr. Jingji, provided nothing else is going on…” Xueye wouldn’t put it past his father to sabotage something Xueye was working on even if it would bring great profit to the company. If it wasn’t Lord Meigui’s idea it may as well be useless to him.

“I can’t say I’m an expert but which ones are the problem?” Jinse asked with a curious look in his eyes. Xueye just handed Jinse the letter, considering his knowledge of dream root, Xueye suspected as usual Jinse was just being humble about his wealth of knowledge again.

Jinse read it over and was actually surprised to see some of the names on the list. He knew there were quite a few rare ones but he’d yet to look over that shipment’s manifest. Some of the names he hadn’t seen or heard of in over a century. 

“Quite the finds, these are,” Jinse hummed thoughtfully as he tried to recall anything that he’d known about them. He knew for certain there would be a few that would be nearly impossible on a regular farm. “I can make note of the ones I know and you can have the doctor verify if I’m correct. However a handful of the ones that aren’t doing well are likely because they need a spiritually rich environment. These came from the wildlands, right?”

“Correct,” Xueye nodded. “Do you think they are a lost cause?”

“Not necessarily, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up,” Jinse stated. “Without the assistance of a spiritual cultivator, it could be a slim possibility that if they try and grow it in the confines of a shrine, it may work. Likely the best chances would be one of the Earth God, for obvious reasons.” The Earth God was a master of medicinal herbs, having created the most extensive guide to herbs medicinal and poisonous in his mortal life having tried each one personally. Often shrines of his would grow some herbs even if they weren’t natural to the area, such is the nature of his blessings to mortals. However he wasn’t the only option. “The River Goddess could work as well since she also presides over the harvest. The soil in their official shrines are usually quite rich in nutrients and spiritual energy. Still, there’s no guarantee they can be grown outside the wildlands since I doubt some of these have ever been found outside of it.”

“Just what is it about the wildlands that makes it possible for so many of these to flourish anyways?” Xueye wondered aloud.

“It’s something to do with the congregation of divine beasts, I suspect,” Jinse hadn’t been there in a long time considering not many of the beasts there cared for others. They often preferred to remain true to their vicious natures and got territorial. He recalled there was such a strong power that permeated the area that he could never quite place the origin. He didn’t linger long enough to find the source, even as curious as he had been in the past. He felt like he too would slip back into a more beastly nature if he stayed too long. He valued the humanity his own spiritual power granted him too much. “Maybe it’s something about the land itself or perhaps the gods themselves have blessed it and we just don’t have a record of it. The wildlands are quite full of mystery that no one has been able to unravel due to its dangers. It’s a wonder that you managed to get your hands on such a large shipment. I can’t help but wonder who it was that got their hands on all of this?”

“I haven’t a clue,” Xueye shrugged. “Guiying made it sound like it was quite remote when she and her husband found it in the past. She was injured and when her husband went to find it again, he never came back. It can’t be easy to find.”

“Hmm,” Jinse considered asking Shizhe or Xinhua if they knew whenever he next spoke with them. Not many could handle not only traversing the wildlands but making it out with such a big bounty. Such a person could likely be an actual threat to Jinse were he to ever be deemed an enemy to the empire. It was admittedly a little nerve wracking and made him rethink pestering the emperor so much. “A mystery we may never know the answer to,” Jinse shrugged it off.

“Well, thank you for your insight,” Xueye beamed. “I should stop by the doctor’s anyway. Apparently Qingkong is staying with him now as they adjust his treatment. I’d like to see how he’s doing.”

“I’m sure he’ll be doing quite well under the good doctor’s care,” Jinse smiled. He was always grateful for how well Dr.Jingji took care of Xueye and his siblings. “If you go now you might be able to send out a reply today.”

“I suppose you are right,” Xueye still looked conflicted. He wasn’t sure how long he would want to stay once he saw Qingkong. He missed his younger brother terribly, but he rarely could get so much time with Qingkong given it usually meant he had to return home. His father always seemed to interrupt them, even if Lord Meigui wasn’t home at the time, and Xueye’s visits would be cut short. There was still work to be done if he wanted to take an extra day off this week.

“It won’t be that long,” Jinse closed the record book and stood. “Come on.”

“You don’t have to come if you still want to look through that still,” Xueye flashed a defeated smile. He really didn’t need too much convincing.

“I think a little fresh air sounds nice right about now,” Jinse held his hand out. “Especially with how much you’ve been stuck in this office lately, you could use it too.”

“Okay, you win,” Xueye shrugged. He took Jinse’s hand and let himself get dragged out of the office before his father could say anything.

By all appearances the apothecary shop itself was closed given how it was almost mid-day, it seemed odd to Jinse since he’d rarely seen the place closed.

“Is it normal for him to be closed this hour?” Jinse asked.

“Not usually, but it probably is since he's taking care of Qingkong.” Xueye speculated. “My guess is Lingyao isn’t here yet. It seems he’s taught her enough to run the place on her own. It’s funny considering he was so resistant to having her around at first.”

“Quick learner then?” Jinse chuckled softly. 

“Yeah, I think it hasn’t even been three years yet,” Xueye smiled. “I remember her coming around a lot during my recovery. Anytime I saw her after that he finally took her on, she was either studying or learning hands on. She knew what she wanted to be and realized there was no better person to learn from.”

“Indeed,” Jinse followed Xueye as the young man led them to the side door. 

Xueye knocked succinctly on the door. It wasn’t long before the door opened.

“Xueye?” Dr.Jingji opened the door with a surprised expression that quickly shifted to worry. “Are you alright? Come in.” He waved them both inside.

“I’m fine,” Xueye couldn’t help but flash a placating smile considering he was always quick to worry whenever he arrived. “I’m just here to ask for advice about the herbs from that shipment. Also to see how Qingkong is doing.”

“He’s upstairs right now. He’s awake, but I told him to take it easy,” Dr.Jingji gestured for them to follow.

In the backroom of the shop, a staircase led to the upper floor apartment in which Dr.Jingji now lived. It was rather spacious for how small the shop below was. It certainly extended over the shop that was next door.

“Make yourselves comfortable,” Dr.Jingji said as he walked over to the door of his guest room. He knocked gently but before he could say anything there was a soft mumble from within.

“Come in,” Qingkong called out, barely audible.

Dr.Jingji opened the door and Qingkong noticed the familiar head of white hair looking worried behind the doctor. His face lit up with as bright a smile he could muster in his current condition.

“Gege!” Qingkong waved him over, closing his book. Xueye eagerly rushed over to sit on the edge of his bed. Qingkong reached out and Xueye wrapped his arms around the thin frame of his younger brother. “I missed you!”

“I missed you too,” Xueye said as he pulled back but kept hold of those boney thin hands. Guilt tugged at his heart at seeing how thin Qingkong had gotten since they had last seen each other. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit lately.”

“Nonsense, don’t worry about it,” Qingkong giggled softly. “The doctor told me what he knew of your situation. I’ve read your letters. I understand. Honestly, I’m shocked you even have time to write to me.”

“I’m surprised they even get to you at home,” Xueye huffed, half expecting his father to have burned anything sent to the house from Xueye.

“That would imply father bothers with the mail,” Qingkong snickered. “The servants would never toss something for me.”

“Glad to know you still have them wrapped around your finger,” Xueye laughed.

Qingkong glanced over at Jinse who was just lingering in the doorway as the doctor went to go get tea. He smiled sweetly, “Jinse, right?”

“Yes, I’m honored you would remember me,” Jinse hadn’t really interacted with Qingkong very much at all considering he couldn’t leave the house much with his poor health. They really had only seen each other in passing when Xueye still lived at the Meigui Estate. 

“Flattering, but I’m not much of an honour in this state,” Qingkong smiled meekly. “Still I’d like to thank you for helping my brother.”

“Of course, I’ll do anything for him,” Jinse smiled warmly at Xueye specifically who quickly looked away, a faint dusting of pink blossoming on his cheeks.

“I’ll have to ask you to keep taking good care of him,” Qingkong smirked at Xueye’s reaction.

“It’s what I live to do,” Jinse said in a sweet tone.

“Enough you two,” Xueye huffed with a pout.

“I’ll let you two talk on your own,” Jinse snickered, closing the door behind him. 

Jinse’s smile quickly fell away. He’d caught a brief whiff of Qingkong's scent. The peculiar sickly scent was familiar. It was faint but there was a musty yet fruity scent that wasn’t any perfume, oils nor herbs that were familiar to him, certainly none he’d picked up on in the shop below as mixed as they were. It was very distinct, very different, and he’d picked it up once before from Lady Meigui and briefly from Xueye in his younger years.

“Something’s troubling you,” Dr. Jingji noticed the dour expression as he set the table in the living room with some tea. 

“Doctor, what you're treating Qingkong for, it's the same as Lady Meigui, isn't it?” Jinse asked tenderly, almost afraid of the answers he already knew.

“It is,” the doctor nodded solemnly. 

“Didn't Xueye have it for a time as well?” Jinse’s expression was tense. He hoped he was wrong but when Xueye was younger he did carry the same peculiar scent that Jinse picked up on Qingkong and Lady Meigui before she died. After about a year in Vual it vanished. 

“Why is it you ask when you already know?” Dr.Jingji knew exactly what he was driving at.

“I'm worried,” Jinse looked at the door that the two brothers were chatting behind. He hoped it was happy chatter. “Has Xueye ever expressed the same symptoms since he came back from Vual?”

“Briefly,” Dr.Jingji hummed softly. It seemed that Yuliang and Xinhua weren’t the only ones who realized. “There was a short time as he was recovering from his injury that those symptoms returned. He stopped needing it rather quickly after he left the Estate.”

“You didn't think it was strange?” Jinse suspected that was the time as well even if he didn’t recall when exactly it stopped. He’d long since suspected Lord Meigui of poisoning his wife in the few times he’d met her. It was the main thing he was looking for  in those old records after all.

“Of course I do,” Dr.Jingji crossed his arms and his brows furrowed. “You aren’t the only one that brought this to my attention. What I don’t understand is how is it you know?”

“Just a hunch,” Jinse said, tapping his nose a couple times. He didn’t really want to reveal his true nature aloud with Xueye on the other side of a door, occupied or not. Even so, judging by the doctor’s expression, he figured Dr.Jingji suspected. “Unfortunately there's no proof. Just circumstance.”

“Well, I am already adjusting his treatment. Is there something specific you would suggest?” Dr.Jingji didn't know just how much Jinse knew of whatever could be poisoning Qingkong. If Jinse had more information than the others then he was more than willing to take a suggestion, he wouldn’t implement it until he researched it more anyways.

“Don't let him go back,” Jinse stated coldly, drifting towards the stairs.

“I certainly don't want to but I have no way to stop him once he improves,” Dr.Jingji huffed bitterly as he followed Jinse downstairs. 

“Treat him slowly,” Jinse wandered over to the drawers of herbs. “Clearly you can manage the symptoms well enough. Especially with these rare, more effective strains of herbs that I'm guessing you are transitioning him to.”

“Yes, the process is already slow. He's so weak now, too much and he'll react negatively,” the doctor sighed. “It's been a trying couple of days as is, trying to ease him off some of the old ingredients and onto the new ones. He was especially weak when I brought him here.”

“I imagine so,” Jinse hummed thoughtfully. ”I'm not one hundred percent sure what exactly the cause is, myself. It's not something I'm familiar with. You are more likely to figure out what it is than I am.” Jinse tapped a drawer labeled Zeal Grass. He remembered it was commonly used to detox even some of the most deadly poisons over time. “From what I recall, this one was usually a widely used counter just about any toxin back when it was more commonly found.”

“That man deserves a taste of his own medicine,” Dr.Jingji voiced with such vitriol that rivaled even Jinse’s feelings towards Lord Meigui.

“I agree,” Jinse smiled coldly. His clawed fingers twitching as he looked at his palm. “I wish I could tear him to shreds.” He took a deep breath, calming his fury only by digging those very claws into his own flesh as he clenched his fists. “One day….”

“Enough of that,” Dr.Jingji reached out and snatched Jinse's wrist, noticing a bit of blood dripping. Jinse was stunned by the sudden action but he relaxed his hand as he was bid. “Sit.” The doctor ordered. 

“You don't have to worry about it,” Jinse said quietly as he obliged. “I heal quicker than most.”

“Divine or not, it's still my job to take care of it,” Dr.Jingji grabbed bandages and a bit of water and a cloth. “Besides, if you are dripping blood everywhere you will only worry the other two.”

“You sure you're not just concerned about your floors?” Jinse joked as he let the doctor clean the small puncture wounds. 

“I'm used to cleaning blood. The floors are not that much of a concern.” Dr.Jingji shook his head. 

“How did you figure me out anyways?” Jinse sighed in defeat.

“You aren’t the only Divine Beast I’ve treated,” The doctor stated plainly. His eyes drifted briefly to the claws that caused the problem, “You can't retract these?”

“No,” Jinse shook his head. “Just one thing I cannot hide.” Jinse glanced back towards the stairs. Listening carefully in case the other two were done chatting but he was reassured hearing their soft laughter and words he couldn't make out. He felt he could be a little more open with the doctor. “It's not very often that Divine Beasts can fully hide their true form completely. My claws, my eyes, they are small prices to pay. I'm still rather passable as a human, don’t you think?”

“Quite convincing if you aren't aware what to look for,” the doctor started wrapping Jinse’s palm with bandages. Dr.Jingji couldn't help but think of Yushi and how his ears were a little more pointed and his eyes also very different from normal humans. Yushi's father was very much the same. Even though they were just humans influenced by the blood of dragons, that rule still seemed to hold true.

“It could be worse. When I was younger I couldn't hide my ears or tails either,” Jinse chuckled. “It would be quite difficult to blend in if that were still the case.”

“Fortunate that you got better at hiding it,” Dr.Jingji sat back in his chair once he was finished tending to Jinse.

“Fortunate indeed,” Jinse chuckled softly. He couldn’t help but think of Wuye's words to him. Quickly Jinse’s expression softened with a fond smile. “Fortunate to be able to protect him.”

“Jinse…?” The doctor voiced softly, a concerned expression on his face. He always knew that Jinse meant well, especially towards Xueye but there was something that always ate at him and catching Jinse alone was a chance to ask.

“What is it?” Jinse voiced with a smile that urged him to continue.

“You are important to Xueye. You have been for a long time. You realize that right?” Dr.Jingji’s expression was tense as he spoke.

“I know…” Jinse nodded slowly, unsure of where he was going.

“The thing I never understood is that instead of telling him how you feel you see other people,” Dr.Jingji crossed his arms his expression getting even more stern. “Did you consider what that does to him?”

“Has he told you this?!” Jinse’s eyes were wide.

“Not in so many words,” Dr.Jingji sighed. “I can read his expressions quite well, I’ve known him since he was born after all.”

“And here I thought you would be all for another,” Jinse teased half heartedly, knowing Dr.Jingji’s alliances to the upper court.

“So you aren’t unaware,” the doctor chuckled softly. “I’ll support whatever Xueye chooses, as long as those he’s around don’t intend to hurt him,” the doctor smirked. “I know with either of you he’s in good hands.”

“You put a lot of trust in someone whose natural nature is to devour strong sources of spiritual energy like him,” Jinse sighed.

“You haven’t so far,” Dr.Jingji shook his head. 

“Why are you pushing this so much?” Jinse knitted his brow.

“Not pushing, merely stating facts,” the doctor smiled. “Why are you trying to convince me otherwise?”

“I-!” Jinse shook his head. “It’s complicated…” Jinse glanced at the bandages over his palms.

“You’re afraid of hurting him,” the doctor recognised a hint of the same expression as the one Yushi had when he and Shizhe found him in a rough state, weeks ago.

“It’s one reason,” Jinse hung his head.

Dr.Jingj’s expression dimmed, “Take it from someone who waited too long. You’ll regret it.”

“I know all too well what that feels like,” Jinse closed his eyes. 

“Then why do you insist on putting yourself through that again?” Dr.Jingji asked.

“Even in longer lifespans, love makes you do foolish things,” Jinse shrugged. “He still needs time, besides, at the moment I cannot be the one to initiate anything between us.”

“I can’t say you’re wrong about that,” Dr.Jingji sighed in disappointment. Xueye did always have a hard time letting go of the past. “Just don’t pull away, whatever his choice is. Between the two of you constantly chipping away at him, I think he’ll be able to move on sooner than you think.”

“I’ve noticed that our mutual friend is helping a lot,” Jinse sighed defeatedly. He couldn’t deny he felt a little jealous, given how much Jinse had been working to get Xueye to break free and do things for himself. It wasn’t until Yushi started doing the same thing that it was finally taking root. 

Jinse wasn’t ready to admit defeat but he couldn’t deny Xueye anything. Much like the doctor, as long as the person Xueye was with didn’t hurt him then it didn’t matter if it hurt to see him with another. It wasn’t the first time it had happened after all. Whatever Xueye wanted Jinse would let him have it as long as they weren’t a threat. He rarely made the same mistake twice after all.

“Seeing him happy is all I care about,” Jinse smiled bittersweetly. Jinse heard the door upstairs open and close. He looked to the stairs upon hearing Xueye’s approach. His warm smile, reserved just for Xueye, returned once the young man appeared at the bottom of the stairs, “All done?”

“He's pretty tired, so I told him I still had work to do so he didn’t feel the need to push himself. It's not wrong but his stupidly sweet little face he always pulls almost convinced me to stay longer. I'm not nearly as immune to it anymore.” Xueye sank into the chair, joining them at the table. “I promised him I'd come back tomorrow. He seemed sad that he couldn't join me for the Brightness Festival, given his condition.”

“Is Xinhua joining you?” Jinse was worried given how busy she had been.

“She said that if she was even able to, she would be visiting much later…” Xueye fiddled with the hem of his sleeves. 

“When were you planning on going?” Jinse refused to let Xueye be alone that day. He would have more than enough time to spare for Xueye that day anyways since he always gave his staff the day off.

“Well I'm taking the full day off for once,” Xueye laughed softly. “I was going to head out around lunch but now I'm considering later, that way if she does end up there she's not alone.”

“I doubt she will be,” Jinse chuckled, figuring at least Shizhe would likely be there with her. “I'll accompany you, if you'd like anyways.”

“Really?” Xueye blinked. “You don't have plans that day?”

“Nothing,” Jinse smiled warmly. “I don't even know where my family is buried so not much use in doing much more than lighting incense. I mostly use it as an excuse to drink.”

“Don't you pretty much do that everyday?” Xueye teased.

“You really shouldn't,” the doctor glared at him. 

“I don't,” Jinse shrugged. “Not lately anyways.” He certainly used to since opening the Fox's Den, but since learning of a threat on the horizon he hadn't touched a drop. “I'll bring some of our favorite wine though.”

“Deal,” Xueye smiled. His mood significantly brightened from moments ago. 

“Just be careful you two,” Dr.Jingji sighed. 

“I'll take good care of him, don't worry,” Jinse reassured. Normally he would say it to tease Xueye but he came across as genuine for the doctor’s peace of mind.

“I know you will,” Dr.Jingji smiled. “Now what is it you need my advice on?”