Yushi sat at the table in the back room of Dr.Jingji's shop, sipping the tea that the doctor had made to help him calm down. The shop was closed for the day with Lingyao spending time with her family and Dr.Jingji taking care of Qingkong, who was still resting upstairs. The doctor had set about gathering herbs for another remedy as Yushi was explaining his more recent concerns, eyes lingering on the snowdrop flowers growing from a small pot in the window. Their drooping white petals brought his thoughts back to Xueye.
"Did you know that Xueye was having the same dreams as Shizhe?" Yushi asked quietly.
"He hadn't told me any specifics, just that the dream root wasn't quite working the same," Dr.Jingji had stopped searching for whatever herb he was searching for and looked at Yushi with concern. "Dream root was the first thing I recommended to Shizhe as well but she said it didn't help at all. I was thinking that perhaps the root was a different strain considering where it was found, but after having it myself, there was nothing different from how I've experienced it in the past. It's odd, considering it's magical as well as medicinal. I've never heard of it not working."
"I haven't had any issues with it either," Yushi's brow knit in worry. "Unfortunately our leading expert on such matters is long gone."
"Be sure to light some incense for her," Dr.Jingji smiled sympathetically.
"I already stopped by the palace temple to do just that," Yushi closed his eyes. "How can I not pay respects to those that fell to get us to where we are today…"
"I figured you would," Dr.Jingji's normally stern face softened around the edges. "You've always been quite sentimental about that sort of thing."
"How have to be," Yushi started running his thumb back and forth along the edge of the cup. "I'd be long gone by now if it weren't for all the sacrifices they made for me."
"They'd be proud to see how far you've come, just as I am," the doctor's words filled Yushi with a warmth.
"Truly?" Yushi had often wondered what his Master or his Father would think if they saw him now. Hearing Dr.Jingji say that they would be proud meant a lot given how well the doctor knew them both.
"Without a doubt," the doctor nodded. He then chuckled softly under his breath, "It's funny, I actually had to convince Qingkong of something similar, not long before you arrived."
"Well, we all crave the approval of our parents," Yushi shrugged. "Is he doing alright? I know his siblings have been quite worried since you brought him here."
"He's improving, but his condition is still a little unstable. I'm worried that he may never recover entirely the way Xueye did," Dr.Jingji sighed, he tensed briefly realizing his mistake but having not gone into the full details he didn't expect Yushi to realize anything about the poison just yet. Yushi wasn't as well versed in the subject as Jinse was.
"Xueye also was sick?" Yushi raised a brow.
"It was when he was much younger." Dr.Jingji explained. "He didn't inherit his mother's weak constitution like Qingkong had so Xueye managed to recover quite a while ago. Xiulan was also in much worse shape when she had Qingkong, so it likely contributed to the fact that Qingkong has experienced it much worse through his life."
"They've been through so much," Yushi felt such a weight as he heard more about their past. He closed his eyes. The image of Xueye laid up in bed all day really didn't suit him. "I wish I could have helped them sooner."
"You almost met Xueye and Qingkong sooner, you know?" The doctor smiled gently, trying to make light of the matter.
"What?" Yushi blinked up at the doctor, truly stunned that it was even a possibility.
"I've been treating them since long before I met you and your father," the doctor was faintly amused by the flabbergasted expression on Yushi's face. "Recall when I brought you with me to the capital to treat some patients? Unfortunately it was shortly after your father passed so you had chosen to go for a walk that day instead of coming with me when I went to meet them."
"I can't believe that," Yushi sighed bitterly, recalling it was a time he was in turmoil. "I wonder if being around him back then would have brought me clarity much sooner."
"If I had known then what we do now then I may have insisted you meet them," the doctor said with a wistful smile. "Still, you found the resolve you needed on those little outings."
"I almost wish you had forced me," Yushi huffed. "Maybe Xueye would have been living a better life by now."
"At the company, or in the palace?" The doctor teased.
"Whatever he wanted," Yushi shrugged. He had to admit he liked the idea of Xueye being safe in the palace. All the years of misery that could have been bypassed for the lavish mundane life behind the palace walls. Then again it likely could have led to trouble for Xueye while Yushi was waging war on the previous regime. After all, Xueye was much younger than Yushi. When Yushi finally stormed the palace Xueye was still in his early to mid-teens.
"Doctor?" A weak yet gentle voice called out from somewhere upstairs. Yushi heard cautious steps shuffling around.
"I'm downstairs. I'll be right there," Dr.Jingji called up. He looked at Yushi and smiled apologetically, "Give me a moment."
"By all means," Yushi waved for him to go.
"Oh, you have company?" Qingkong heard Yushi's voice and grew delightfully curious as he met the doctor at the top of the stairs who wore a worried expression. "No need for the face. I'm doing much better after your medicine has kicked in. If it's another patient you should take care of them."
"It's just an old friend, he's in no rush," the doctor sighed. "You should still be resting."
"Weren't you the one who told me I should get up and walk around a bit, here and there?" Qingkong giggled softly.
"When you improve more," Dr. Jingji huffed. "You are just like your mother sometimes."
"I know," Qingkong closed his eyes. "Don't mind me, it can wait. Spend time with your friend."
"Please tell me what you wanted me for. I'll just worry even if you tell me not to," the doctor grumbled soflty.
"I'm just starting to get a little bored, I already finished all the reading I had brought," Qingkong shrugged. "I was hoping we could get something else. I suppose it can wait until later, if I'm still feeling alright."
Yushi heard this and thought to bring it up to Xueye for later. After all, it would make them both happy on such a day. He also wondered if he could arrange for Qingkong to stay with Shizhe and Xinhua once he improved. Surely Shizhe's garden and library would be much more enriching for Qingkong. Considering the two women's concerns earlier he thought he might suggest it later. Supervising moving some of his possessions could also give Xinhua an opportunity to investigate the Meigui Estate.
"Just give me a little longer," the doctor sighed. "In the meantime you are free to pick something from my collection. Nothing terribly entertaining I'm afraid, it's more tools of the trade. It's downstairs, in the backroom of the shop."
"Oh, thank you," Qingkong beamed. "Do take your time though. I can wait, really."
"Why not come downstairs," Dr. Jingji stepped aside to let Qingkong go first. "He'll likely be by later anyways with your brother."
"Oh?" Qingkong lit up as he glanced down the stairs, placing one hand on the wall to steady himself on the way down. After a tentative, shaky step down as his other hand went out, Dr.Jingji's arm was there to support him. It was a slow and steady walk down the stairs. The doctor did not let go of Qingkong until he settled in a chair at the table.
From the moment he came into view, Qingkong stared in fascination at the handsome stranger sitting across the table. Qingkong smiled warmly, "You must be Shujing."
"Indeed," Yushi was impressed that Qingkong was able to deduce that from such limited information. What was even more intriguing was that Qingkong looked much different from his siblings. Qingkong's hair was much darker than Xinhua's and though their eyes were the same color the shape was very different from either of his siblings. Xinhua's were sharp like their father's and Xueye's were soft around the edges, but Qingkong's were slanted and if his expression were stern rather the warm yet worn would be strikingly similar to the doctor's. Yushi was starting to realize the doctor's attachment to the Meigui siblings was much more than that of the caring family physician. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Your brother and sister speak of you often."
"So you've already met Jiejie?" Qingkong giggled softly. "Since she's let you remain around Gege then you must be everything he makes you out to be. He often thinks you are too good to be true."
"Then I hope to live up to their expectations," Yushi let out a soft laugh.
"I'm sure you will if even Dr. Jingji considers you a friend." Qingkong smirked over at the doctor. "I can't say I've met many. I was starting to wonder if he had any outside my family."
"I have plenty," the doctor sighed in exasperation as he resumed preparation of the remedies Yushi requested. "They are quite busy these days from what I've heard."
"I'm surprised you haven't visited the others when you visited Lady Guangming," Yushi flashed an apologetic smile, worried the doctor might think Yushi was overworking them when he usually had to order them to take a break.
"I thought about it but I've had another patient to worry about," the doctor smiled fondly over at Qingkong.
"I usually sleep while you are out, you know," Qingkong shrugged. "The longer you're out the more rest I'll likely get."
"I just don't feel comfortable staying out too long if Lingyao isn't here just in case you need anything." Dr.Jingji shook his head. "Your condition is still a little unstable."
"I know," Qingkong sighed. He glanced over at Yushi voicing in a hushed tone, "Try and visit him every once in a while. I've found he could use the company."
"I'll try my best," Yushi chuckled.
"By the way, Shujing," Qingkong rested his chin in his hand. A truly delighted smile on his face. "I'm curious, what is it about my brother that had you so taken with him from the start?"
"You don't pull your punches do you?" Yushi was starting to wonder if it really was so obvious if Qingkong could pick up on it in a matter of moments.
"I thought I'd ask since he wasn't here," Qingkong giggled. "Usually people think he's bad luck and steer clear or think he's an easy target to get in father's good graces. However, you wanted the opposite from the start. Xueye said you protected him without hesitation even though you barely knew each other. So I find myself curious as to what you saw from the start."
"I admit I'm curious as well," the doctor chimed in. "I know you are exceptional at reading people, nor do you judge someone based on appearance, but you rarely do you invest this much interest in someone new so quickly."
"I sometimes wonder, myself," Yushi shrugged. Since Xueye has been at the forefront of his mind as of late he's started slowly considering this himself. "When I first saw him, the first thing I noticed was the darkness he carries with him. It lurked behind those eyes and tarnished his sweet smile. I couldn't help but think it just wasn't right. During our first couple conversations, the more he spoke of himself and his father, it became less about someone more amenable to do business with and more about wanting him to smile without that shadow dimming it. He's smart and talented. He works hard and not for himself either. He's faced unfathomable hardships and yet he still smiles and helps those around him. Very few people would do the same for him and that is a true shame."
"I'm glad you think so," Qingkong seemed almost relieved to hear it. "It's true many people in our family's circle are in it for themselves. Father only cared about success and those that could bring more. It never mattered if they were twisted underneath. Mother taught us to always be kind, that a smile is your greatest weapon against misery, especially when it's inflicted by others. After she passed I realized that Xueye never had a smile he truly meant. Not until his recent visits, when he spoke of you."
"Really?!" Yushi's eyes widened. Yushi had noticed during their time together that Xueye's smile was much brighter. He seemed truly happy when they met again after so much time apart. Hearing that Xueye was talking with such joy about him, filled him with a warmth so rapidly he felt light headed.
"Is it really so hard to imagine," the doctor teased.
"No, it's just nice to hear," Yushi's fond smile broadened the more he thought about it. "I wasn't sure how long it would take."
"You've reached him in a way only one other has ever dared to try," Qingkong giggled.
"Jinse…" Yushi recalled he had yet to ask the doctor's opinion on the man. "I can tell he cares for Xueye but for some reason I get so unsettled when he's near him."
"Is it because you're jealous?" The doctor smirked, placing a couple packets of remedies on the table next to Yushi.
"I'm more than capable of determining such emotion from the sense of distrust I can't shake," Yushi huffed, though he wouldn't lie to himself, there was a bit of jealousy mixed in there. "I've been told I can, even Lady Guangming has said as such, but something has been bothering me."
"Well you can always trust that he has Xueye's best interests at heart," Dr.Jingji sat at the end of the table. "Perhaps the feeling you can't shake is that the secrets he holds aren't unlike your own. It's interesting you instinctually picked up on that…"
"What kind of secrets?" Qingkong tilted his head in curiosity.
"That's for them to tell should they feel up to it," Dr.Jingji closed his eyes. "I may have a tendency to speak more than I should on matters, but some secrets are not mine to tell. Some hide parts of themselves for the safety of those around them, I understand that well."
For Yushi, it finally clicked what Dr.Jingji meant. Considering Jinse in the light that he wasn't entirely human made more sense the more he thought about it. At first Yushi thought he was just some powerful cultivator that masqueraded as a normal person, given the brief spell that had planted Jinse's voice in Yushi's mind. If that were the case, he felt he could have normally left it at that with Shizhe's expression of trust. The uneasy feeling that he couldn't shake nor place was starting to click into place.
He thought Jinse was dangerous, even a part of Yushi wanted to fight him and not just out of the more primal form of his jealousy. Their years of research into the dragon blood that ran through his veins had brought a basic understanding of divine beasts. Divine beasts often fought each other to grow stronger, often killing and devouring the other to absorb their power directly. The deeper Yushi thought about that desire to fight was also a desire to test his strength. After all, no one he knew could rival him in a fight.
"Thank you, doctor," Yushi sighed, trying to calm the dragon that was thrumming beneath the surface. He would have to rely on Xueye's calming presence to quell the beast. "You as well, Young Master. This visit has given me much to think about."
"I'm not much of a master," Qingkong smiled warmly. "Feel free to call me Qingkong."
"Just like your brother in that aspect, hm?" Yushi returned the warm expression with his own as he rose up. "I hope you feel even better, Qingkong."
"You try to take it easy today, Shujing," the doctor's smile held a little concern.
"I will," Yushi tried to reassure him as he left but even Yushi expected he might need the doctor's help more frequently in the near future.