Qing Xiashu stood from his seat when the conversation lulled toward the topic he was directed to add.

"The North has been berated by an influx of Western beasts, primarily those that are winged and not highly intelligent. There are of course outliers but the general consensus is that the winds over the wilds have been growing in intensity as of late and are throwing winged beasts off course. We request to know if this is a situation mirrored in the South."

"It is indeed." Shi Qin, the woman seated at the front of the Southern section said calmly. "The South has also seen an uptick in Western interference. The winds should be attributed to the upset of Feng Xianshen. Our suggestion is to increase offerings across the board."

With a soft twitch in his lips, Qing Xiashu took a soft breath. "That is an amicable first step, but one must suggest a follow up plan to teach the citizens about these new threats. Lu Tian has a wide collection of Western bestiaries in their archives which could be copied and distributed across the borders. With the Citadel's blessing of course."

"That isn't necessary. Our Ying Citadel has its own resources to support its citizens."

Xue Huayu gritted her teeth at Qing Xiashu's side. "Very well, our information will remain our own." He decided, settling back down into his seat.

Xuelu was tapped against his knee as if a gentle scolding for his short conclusion, but Xue Feiyi neither turned to face him, nor made a sound.

The youngest Eastern prince finally spoke up from his seat, a fan lackadaisical waving before him. "In addition to confined transfer of information, the East will be implementing a new policy on trade at our borders. From here on out there will be a higher taxation on merchants entering our territory." The boy, hardly having passed the age of ten, spoke easily and smoothly with a sly manner that presented itself in the entirety of the Eastern royal family.

"The South accepts this, but will require a returned taxation at all of its own borders."

"That is amendable. And what of the North?" The young prince turned violet eyes on Xue Feiyi, judging his response before it had been voiced.

Xue Feiyi took a lingering sip of tea before meeting the gaze of the child as if he were a bug under his boot. "The North will cease trade with the East. Your borders will remain closed to all but diplomatic officials. Few Eastern products are so necessary for merchants to return with. Eastern merchants will not be taxed."

The young prince's brows furrowed, mouth tucked under cover of a now motionless fan. "Very well."

The Southern sect-head chuckled softly behind her hand. "The North will still not implement trade taxes?"

"No."

"You will be the only ones. This is going to be observable in your finances you know."

"The North relies on trade through the borderlands to sustain its citizens. Unlike other more wealthy nations with easy access to the sea and other resources, the North sees no point in debilitating its citizens for the benefit of inflating the short term wealth of a few nobles and royals."

The sea krait of the South simply chuckled again. "On another brighter note, I hear there is a new addition."

"There is." Xue Feiyi admitted, gesturing behind himself for Qing Xiashu to get on with it.

The head disciple grimaced harder than he likely needed to as he stood again. "An addition to the royal family has been made. I have taken in a child to replace whatever position I hold upon my death or disablement. Hei Xianying, is as of now a child, influence on the political state of being will be minor for another decade at minimum."

The Eastern Princess turned her nose up. "Have you all such fertility issues that anything but adoption is impossible?"

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Not every royal family sees the value in having more offspring than citizens." Qing Xiashu said gently before seating himself down once more.

The Eastern princess bristled at her table while Shi Qin chuckled. "That does beg attention to the subject, I am surprised that we haven't had any new additions to the Eastern royal family as of late."

"We cannot speak to that." The princess muttered through a clenched jaw. Even her little brother bristled and snapped his fan shut and then open again like a nervous tick.

"This needn't devolve into baseless gossip." Xue Feiyi decided just loudly enough to demand obedience before taking another long sip of tea.

•••

Qing Xiashu heaved a long sigh as Xue Huayu fumed. "What's wrong?" He finally asked.

"I can't believe they're forcing the trade tax! That isn't fair! It isn't fair!" The princess ranted.

Xue Feiyi took a slow breath. "We will do our best to offset the change with the security and health fund."

"Then that isn't fair to the people!" Xue Huayu snapped before she stormed away.

"Meimei-" The king took after her to ensure she wouldn't behave too rashly.

Qing Xiashu chose not to pursue them... Instead taking to haunting the darkening streets, he found the listless movement among empty roads relaxing.

Familiar.

The head disciple began drifting towards the towering tiers of rice patties.

Perhaps Yin Liming was having better luck...

He spotted the hero long before he reached the patties, the shrouded form was knee deep in the lowest tier of overgrown patties, gently conversing with something hidden in the foliage.

"How is it going?" Qing Xiashu asked softly when he reached the edge of the rice patty.

Yin Liming straightened and turned to glance over his shoulder. "The conference is over?"

"Mm, it ended a little while ago." Qing Xiashu hummed, seating himself on the lip of the small reservoir.

"Didn't go well then I take it?" Yin Liming dropped his attention back to the quivering foliage, crouching down to urge the cowering beast out.

"No. The economy will probably suffer. But we'll make do."

"That bad?"

"Very, distract me, if you will."

Yin Liming laughed softly and turned to face the head disciple again. "It's very small, the chitang long. You should come see, it isn't really showing aggression."

"I don't think that would extend to me, serpentine creatures seem more fond of you than me."

"Are you including yourself?"

"Excuse me?" Qing Xiashu laughed, cocking his head.

"Beifang Gongzhu called you a viper. So are you one of the serpentine creatures?"

"Mm, you could say that. But I'm fond of many people."

"Is that so?" Yin Liming was moving closer to the creature tucked in the rice stalks now, slowly creeping in to scoop it up like nothing more than a rowdy kitten.

"Don't count yourself too special yet, Liming Yingxiong."

"I'll keep that in mind." The hero chuckled, pulling a long blue body from the patch of rice, letting it loop itself around his shoulders. The chitang long even plucked a rice cake from the offering hand to devour. "So do you sit in rice patties at near midnight for just anyone?" He asked as he settled down beside Qing Xiashu.

"Ah, no, I suppose I do not." The head disciple admitted, legs swinging off the edge of the patty wall. "Where do you plan to take that?" He asked, gesturing to the young chitang long feasting on snacks.

"Eh, just the river beyond the dam I figured. Won't that do?"

"It should, just be careful on your way. The guards probably won't let you back in, so you should collect your reward before you leave."

The hero nodded lightly and hoisted himself up again. "I'll head off now then."

"You never do quit moving do you?"

"Not really..."

Qing Xiashu just chuckled. "Then I'll see you around."

"Oh, yes you will. I've had way too many commissions sent to me personally from your side of the border lately." Yin Liming laughed, scooping up a few bags from the ground where they'd been safely stowed. "See ya."

"Mm." Qing Xiashu was again left watching Yin Liming vanish into the distance with a snakelike creature twisting around him.

Maybe all draconids liked the rogue...

The thought didn't stick around long. He stood himself and wandered back towards the inn. It was expected to find Xue Huayu and Xue Feiyi at the inn. It was even expected to see them both still wide awake, sipping tea in the courtyard while they awaited him.

Qing Xiashu released a soft breath. The two of them looked the perfect picture of elegance. Xue Huayu's personality may be harsh and just a tad crude... but her appearance betrayed none of her sour behavior. The moon lit highlights in her hair and made her and her brother both seem to glow.

Sometimes Qing Xiashu wondered where she learned her aggression... Especially given the reservations of her brothers.

Though they were also both more dangerous.

Xue Feiyi was, of course, one of the best cultivators of their age.

And Qing Xiashu was trained and active in arts thankfully unused by most of Chaoting's resident sect.

She snapped and snarled because she had yet to be faced with a situation in which she was out of her depth. All because her world was carefully curated to her ability.

Xue Feiyi hadn't had that privilege. Neither had Qing Xiashu.

But they built it for her...

The head disciple huffed a breath through his nose, finally approaching the stone table, where he would let Xue Huayu pick his brain for all her curiosities.

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