'If it 's actually safe here, maybe take some time to actually sort that out, ' she put a hand on his and asked simply, honestly, 'Who is Jinshi without his title of Moon Prince? '

***

A sobering question that Jinshi desperately wanted an answer to, but he had always been drowning in paperwork and politics and scandals and assassination attempts.

She perked, 'Oh, we have access to medicine now! '

Bolting back out the back door like a cat after a laser she zipped back through the garden into the apothecary. Again Jinshi followed with a candle and wooden sword on his belt, still not really trusting the surroundings. In his defense 24 hours ago he was still in a cell eating food that pushed him farther than he was comfortable. It may just be made of wood, but the bokken was a comfort.

Opening the door, he heard glass tinking on itself as she scoured the completed liniments. The candle light danced reflectively off the shelves. Though

now

his mind was caught on the one 'benefit '? Maybe 'positive ' of their extreme misadventure, but was there any possibility of pursuing her without an aphrodisiac?

'Where is it? I know I saw it earlier.

There!

Zheng gu shui! ' She came back to a

very

red Jinshi.

Her hand was immediately checking his cheeks, forehead and neck, 'Are you okay!? Did I miss something in the tea? '

'No, no. It 's okay. It 's just been a '

weird

24 hours. '

The apothecary set the liniment down and started loading some onto cloth, 'Not the first time, and knowing you, probably won 't be the last. Now take your robe off. '

Not helping.

He obeyed but definitely looked as uncomfortable as when she first started disrobing behind the waterfall in the cave. She was -of course- oblivious to all this as she was

finally

getting to do something about his bruised ribs. Most of the muscle bruising had faded from their first day but the ribs had definitely cracked, and the intercostals were still dyed in unfortunate colors. Maomao rubbed the pungent brown liquid onto the deep bruising. It was cold to the touch but the skin began to heat, 'Is it supposed to tingle? '

She looked at the bottle impressed, 'wow, that usually doesn 't happen 'til the second or third application. This is good stuff! I think I also saw dit da jhou for bruising, did you want that anywhere? '

He did. But he was not about to ask for her help on the hip and upper thigh, 'You know we can probably bring these in the house. '

She snapped her fingers, 'Oh! I should also make you a tea, actually- would you prefer tea or a pill? '

'What 's in the tea? ' He asked cautiously, he didn 't doubt her remedies but some of her combinations were mortifying to the palette.

Bouncing around the shelves she started searching, 'anti-inflammatory and bone nutrients so I was thinking gu sui bu, tumeric and ginger. '

They brought the supplies back in the house and she steeped another round. Jinshi 's robe was hanging rather loose as she kept wanting to check now that she could do things and gave a second application of zheng gu shui. He watched her check on the tea for the fourth time, testing a sip before pouring him a cup, 'I 'll make a stronger one tomorrow but I also know your body is still recovering from lack of nutrients. '

Jinshi took a small sip and added some honey, dialing it down to a palatable flavor. 'So remind me, how do we want to handle tomorrow? '

'The more people we talk to, the better grasp we can get on the truth. If Huo is lying it will be difficult to get everyone 's story to match, especially the kids. If he 's not lying, we 're getting to know our temporary neighbors, no harm, no foul. '

'I 'm not particularly comfortable leaving you alone in the apothecary or out with Huo. '

'That 's fine. We go back to

if

it 's safe here

then

self discovery. '

He took another sip of his tea, sighing 'Okay, let 's explore together tomorrow and go from there, but that does leave one last question this evening. '

'Oh? '

He rubbed his temple, 'there 's not a single lock on any door or window ' where do

you

want to sleep? '

Maomao choked on her cold tea, coughing for a moment. He handed her a napkin and waited.

She cleared her throat and processed, finger to her chin. It was several long beats before she replied, 'I ' agree with you. '

'I haven 't said anything. '

'No, but in presenting the question your concern is clear, and we 've already been in the same space for a week. This time I 'm finally not dressed for a performance, you're not being tortured with aphrodisiacs and there are blankets. I don 't fully trust this group yet either. Can I ' stay with you? '

He heaved a sigh of relief, 'Yes, I 'd be much more comfortable with that. '

When his mind replayed her reply he stumbled over the images rising of their time together, specifically last night. Watching her address it calmly, calling it like it was, it happened, no change in her tone, no blush on her face, and somehow she didn 't get shy until the last sentence.

Why do I do this to myself,

he moaned internally,

Tea finished, dishes cleaned and put away, (yes Jinshi helped despite protest). They went to his room. Maomao went straight for the sheets climbing under and shivering slightly against the cold blankets. Taking the wooden bokken from the wall, he leaned it against the corner of the bed by his head and was a bit more cautious on entry. As previously stated, this wasn 't Jinshi 's bed, there was not great sprawling space and oversized blankets. If they stayed apart the blanket had a great cavern for the night air to chill them.

After a couple of attempts to stay 'not touching ' Maomao sighed, 'I appreciate the attempt at courtesy, but I 've been in your lap for the last week. You can make contact for heaven sake. '

'I- I know, it 's just that last night- '

Her hand found his cheek, 'Do I look mad? '

'It 's dark. '

'Okay, do I

sound

mad? '

'Well

now

you sound annoy- '

Her finger was on his lips, 'Shush, stop worrying. '

As a cat rubs against your leg and flops for attention, so Maomao snuggled up to his torso flopping her back against his stomach. His arm was lifted, frozen in shock. After a couple beats she sighed and he could feel her roll her eyes as she pulled his arm around her, 'Go to

sleep

Jinshi. '

It took a good three beats before she felt his arm squeeze her gently and he settled in behind her, tension easing. It was a good thing her eyes were closed or she would have been lecturing him about sparkles.

***

Maomao stirred predawn, gently attempting to move away from her adoring heater. Even his knees had pulled up behind her legs in the night. Scooching away, the cool air rushed between them causing him to stir. There was a sleepy grumble and he pulled her closer like a teddy bear.

Childish indeed.

She rubbed his sleeve, 'Master Jinshi, I 'd like to help with breakfast. '

He gripped tighter, though the knock on the front door echoed through the hall and she felt the vice release grumpily. She stepped out and re-tied her disheveled robe, padding around to the kitchen. Opening the door the apothecary whispered, 'Good morning Shu. '

The assistant had a small basket full of meat and eggs with vegetables and fruit, 'Good morning Lady Maomao, I brought these from the communal garden and the butcher, I know it 's not the same as the palace- '

'These look great, ' Maomao replied honestly, 'Let me get some herbs from the garden to add in, I 'll be right back. '

By the time she was back veggies were being cut and in the wok with some meat and oil. Shu watched her break down the herbs, asking quietly, 'What are those for? '

'Bone repair and recovery from malnutrition. '

Shu looked surprised, 'Did Lian do something wrong? '

Maomao looked off into the distance, 'Sounds like not intentionally? '

The woman 's color drained, 'What was wrong with it? '

'Well, '

do I tell her?

'Huo was ' temporarily utilizing his skills, and then got called away for a week. '

'Does this have something to do with the ingredients in the locked cabinet? '

'Um ' yes. '

She ran a hand through her hair and blew through pursed lips, '

PPPPpppppppphhh,

Okay on a scale of one to ten how doomed are we? '

'The Moon Prince is probably one of the more forgiving leaders I 've seen, ' Maomao attempted to reassure her.

'You didn 't answer my question, ' Shu countered nervously.

'I also don 't want to terrify the village over a rumor mill, will you keep this to yourself? '

'Should I be fleeing with my daughter? '

'Look, Huo asked us to stay for a couple weeks and see what he 's doing here. We are trying to come at it with a fresh slate and look at it objectively. '

'Is everything okay Maomao? ' a sleepy Jinshi wandered in, stretching.

Shu kowtowed in a panic, forehead on the floor, they exchanged a look and Maomao dragged her up, 'I think the point of us being here is getting a

break

from

all

that. '

'Great Moon Prince I don 't know what ingredients Lian added but I

swear

she was just trying to follow what Huo did, ' her voice trembling.

'And she did a

great job

, ' he responded tactfully, 'for all our sakes, stay out of that locked cabinet? '

'Of course Moon Prince. '

He waved a hand as if swatting the title away, but with a very sweet eunuch Jinshi expression, 'Regardless of how we sort out this mess, I see this village interacts 'casually. I ask you to give me that same courtesy. '

The assistant was still very unsure, 'How would you like to be addressed, your Majesty. '

He looked to Maomao who shrugged, he was breaking etiquette,

of course she wouldn 't know what to do here, she was one of the more strict ones

. It had taken

years

just to get her to drop his title occasionally, but turnabout's fair play. It 's not like he constantly called her by her name, certainly not the nickname his household adored (as much as he wanted to). With the assumption that word would get out of their visit he considered name choice. Kousen would travel as fast as Jinshi or Jinka as they were strongly associated with him, obviously Ka Zuigetsu was completely out of the question as that would get everyone beheaded.

'... Yue, just call me Yue. '

'Sir? ' Maomao asked, surprised. There 's only one person who 'd ever called him that, and she knew why, but this was also a question of-

me too?

'Are we not 'exploring who I am without titles '? ' he countered her inner questions, though the way his own lungs were squeezing, this was a bit unnerving for him as well. Stepping up to the edge of a precipice he had avoided for a

long time.

'Certainly Mr. Yue, ' Shu said, jumping back to a sizzling wok. Maomao worked in her ingredients and helped with the last of the cutting. Jinshi tried to help but Maomao chased him out with the kitchen knife in hand, much to Shu 's astonishment. He found himself in the garden, with the wooden bokken from his room. Testing the weight and balance in his hands he did what he always did to center himself, his martial forms.

'Yue! Breakfast! ' The name sounded very foreign on Maomao 's tongue, Jinshi chuckled at the attempt and started heading in, waving his now damp robe against his chest. He heard a rustle in the plants and whipped around to the noise, bokken ready.

Gasp.

A small boy no older than 8 froze crosseyed with the bokken hovering in front of his nose. Jinshi blinked and relaxed and the child bolted without a word, his tightly curled black hair bouncing against his deep mahogany skin.

Must be from beyond Shaoh.

He ducked back inside, sitting down as they were setting the last steaming plates down. Maomao had also set a tea at the place he sat yesterday along with water. In the center was a breakfast stir fry of eggs, meat, veggies and herbs and several plates of sliced fruit.

'Care to join us? ' Maomao asked Shu.

'Oh no, my daughter is probably up and wondering where I am, or at least where breakfast is. But before I go ' how concerned should I be, honestly? '

Maomao sighed, 'We 're listening and not running. Can you ask me that in a few days? We 've been in a cell for a week and we 're both recovering from the ' 'special ' ingredients. '

Jinshi eyed her careful wording and backed it, 'If you can help your fellow villagers not be terrified of us, we 'll try not to be overly concerned about you ' fair? '

Her lips pinched in concern but she nodded, still offering the best bow she knew before

departing.

The pair sighed, Maomao commented first before popping an orange slice in her mouth, 'Well that made for an interesting start of the day. '

'I suppose careful interpersonal relationships are necessary in any community. '

'It 's not her fault we were kidnapped, imprisoned and poisoned. '

'Which leads me to my first suspicion. There 's a good chance the people in this town are more innocent than malicious. Their communication seems very ' open. '

'If we 're comparing the blacksmith, our fire-happy friend and her I 'd agree thus far. '

'You mean

Chao? '

he asked, amused. She shrugged, he served himself a hefty helping before adding, 'There seems to be children running around as well. '

'Yeah there was a group running about when Huo showed me around the first day. '

'I 'd like to see how they interact with the adults, ' Jinshi said before taking another bite. He looked remarkably content, 'It

is

nice to just eat food hot off the fire. '

Maomao nodded in agreement. They took their time enjoying the meal, Shu had left a slop bucket in the kitchen that they made use of when it was time to clean up. Jinshi was allowed to dry dishes after a debate ' It was shorter than last night 's argument.

Jinshi had his hair tied back in a low ponytail to do a few more forms in the garden, suspecting she would be exploring the contents of the space more thoroughly. He stepped outside, 'Hey Maomao, ' he called back.

'Yes Sir? '

'You may want to see this. '

She was adjusting her collar on her usual clothing as she stepped out the back door. There was a pause, the pair looked at the several families waiting politely in line outside the apothecary, and they looked back curious and expectant. They looked at eachother and his bokken raised up to rest on his shoulder, 'I 'll be there in a couple minutes, let me change. '

A grandma with a skin condition, a boy with a strange smelling gash, a widower with an ear infection. Family after family came through, after a couple patients it was clear they had their own files in that front room with notes and remedies of incidents past. Jinshi was finding himself greeting them and finding their files in the front room. When an exam room opened up he would help them get settled. Shock of shocks, his charm made the conversations very easy. With the small talk he was already creating a mental web of families and relations amidst the town. A grandma had escorted her granddaughter into the room behind Jinshi. He offered a hand to help her up on the table, smoothly sliding a single step block out. She blushed and accepted his assistance, 'What brings you in today? '

The blush deepened quickly and she looked off, 'Are you the apothecary 's assistant? '

Grandma caught his more subtle blush, 'I suppose you could say that, I 'm here to help since there 's so many of you and she 's new here. '

'Yeah- how come Uncle Huo gave you

this

house? '

'Uncle? ' He made a mental note.

'Oh Young Man, they aren 't actually related. Instead of 'Sir ' or 'Ma 'am ' the children refer to older generations as 'Auntie ' or 'Uncle '. '

Well that may have ruined his mental map. Wait, that was an interesting question.

'What 's so special about

this

house? '

The grandma stepped in on this one, 'Huo built it for Min, his late wife. With him working late into the night more often than not he wanted a special place for her and their child. '

Jinshi pondered out loud, 'Where is the child? '

'Oh, Min died treating a village before she came to term, ' the prince 's gut twisted, the grandma looked him up and down softly, 'the child probably would have been about your age. '

'And no one has stayed here since? '

'Huo kept it clean and maintained, but no, every once in a while a highly valued client would recover here, close to his most prized local herbs so he could have tools nearby. '

His voice was quiet, 'I see. '

'So what makes you so special? ' the pre teen asked as bluntly as that age does.

'That 's ' a good question. '

Maomao walked in and scanned the situation, 'Hello young lady, what 's going on? '

The girl 's hands gripped and her knees pinched, Maomao glanced sharply at Jinshi, 'Room 2 needs a wipe down, here 's some distilled alcohol on the workbench. '

Jinshi couldn 't remember the last time she ordered him to do ' anything. Certainly not with

that

tone, he blinked, his tone bewildered, 'Yes ma 'am. '

The apothecary watched him go, mentally promising to explain later, she turned back to the girl, 'Is this your first moon cycle? '

The girl 's jaw dropped, 'How did you know? '

Maomao didn 't hear the question, it just registered as 'yes ', there were too many other thoughts in her head, she turned to grandma, 'I am not familiar with your customs, what does she know? '

'The basics, but both the cramping and bleeding was more intense than anticipated. '

'Do you have the necessary supplies? ' she asked the postmenopausal woman.

'We have some, but it 's difficult to keep up. '

'I 'll need a few minutes, I don 't know where everything is yet, ' she bowed and stepped out.

Drawers were sliding open and shut as Maomao muttered to herself, Jinshi came in, 'Do I want to know what that fluid was on the table and floor? '

'Nope. Put the cloth in the laundry over there. '

'What are you looking for? '

She shoved another drawer shut and paused, debating what to share. On the one hand most men were weird about moon cycles. On the other hand, as the manager of the Rear Palace he may be better read on the subject.

There was a hand on her shoulder, 'Is everything okay? '

'Yeah I ' ' she sighed, 'I 'm looking for menses supplies. '

'Oh, ' his tone was chill, he too started looking, 'if you need to get back to her I can keep looking. '

That would be helpful,

'When you find it, set some on the workbench and get the next patient settled in room 2 and come tell me they 've arrived. '

Ah, so the girl isn 't embarrassed,

he concluded quickly, nodding. For as much as he lacked in plebian skills, he made up for in social prowess.

The sheer number of shelves, drawers, and cabinets was staggering. It took him far longer than he appreciated to find what he was looking for. Finding it impressive that Maomao probably knew what to do with most, if not every herb, tincture and tool he came across. Just as he was setting the supplies down and preparing to fetch the next patient he heard the door slam open.

His muscles tightened and then relaxed at the unfolding scene. Though with the door hanging open he spotted the line was extending a fair way down the street.

'No, no, no! Come

on,

you guys! You have Ying for this, she has 3 assistants and is over at the clinic with the Western doctors, go, SHOO! ' Jinshi was coming in just as Huo was scrubbing his unkempt salt and pepper curls and mumbling, 'this is what I get for being a night owl. '

Maomao poked her head out of room 1, 'Something wrong? '

Jinshi came up behind her, 'Not sure, but I was about to 'go to Room 2 ' when he came in. '

The apothecary ducked into the workshop and back into room 1 while Jinshi stepped into the waiting room, 'Everything okay? '

Huo was herding the last of the disappointed villagers out; he shut the door with a groan.

'Yes your Ma- ' he caught the title, 'Moo- Your Hi- okay

what

am I supposed to call you now? '

Jinshi still didn 't really like this guy, regardless of his entertainment factor, 'Sir? '

'Great, yes Sir! Do I get a name or just a 'Sir ', sir? '

'For now you get what you get, '

You poisoned me and locked me up with drugs, you can stumble over words for a bit,

Jinshi mused.

'Everything okay Uncle Huo? ' the girl was exiting room 1 with her grandma.

'Yes sweetheart, but you know how we have some special doctors that do super hard and risky procedures really well? '

'Yeah? '

'It would be sad if they were just putting bandaids on scratches all day would it not? '

The preteen looked down thoughtfully, 'I suppose ' is that why you put them in Min 's house. '

Huo looked like he was punched in the gut, his voice wavered a bit, 'Yeah. '

'I 'll make sure to spread the word young man, ' the grandma patted Huo 's salt and pepper beard.

He smiled softly, 'Just because you 're ancient doesn 't mean I 'm young. '

Grandma chortled as she shut the door behind her. The drug lord stared at the door for a minute before clapping and rubbing his hands together, 'Okay, I haven 't eaten yet. Can I interest you in some lunch? '

They looked out the window and realized it was -in fact- midday. Maomao nodded and to her surprise he started walking them back towards the house. Immediately they could smell the roasted meat and spices in the air, caressing the nose like a courtesan as they opened the back door. Shu was just setting the last plate down and bowed, and stepped out. Huo motioned them to sit and waited for them to serve up. Maomao served but Jinshi waited patiently as she began her proper ritual of tasting.

Huo on the other hand, served up and dug in, 'So I 've started by checking all the cabinets that could use locks, I 'll drop the order with Lang the blacksmith later. '

'Can we add to that order? ' Maomao asked.

'Oh, the villagers are good about staying out of the apothecary supplies, I 've never had anything go missing. '

'More for the house, ' Jinshi expounded.

Huo stopped chewing, swallowed and took a swig of water. 'I suppose, but people are going to find it very strange. '

The pair glanced at one another, Maomao gave the signal that Jinshi could eat. She didn 't wait quite as long as she usually would, but if Huo was poisoning himself he wasn 't being shy about the amount he was intaking.

Jinshi debated, 'Even a gesture as small as a lock would give us room to build trust. '

Huo scratched his beard, 'Considering everything I 've put you through, that is a pretty small concession, ' he shrugged, 'okay. '

'I 've got a question. '

'Fire away Lady Maomao. '

'Well, two now. Why did you send the patients away, and why call me 'lady '? '

'Whether you like it or not you come from fancier places than most, regardless of how you look at it. This one over here, ' he pointed his chopsticks at Jinshi, 'thinks it 's funny to bind me up verbally. We all know I should be addressing him by titles at best, but now I 've got no name and only get to play with 'Sir ', so

challenge accepted

Sir. '

'And the patients? ' Jinshi reiterated, slightly amused.

The tips of Huo 's chopsticks touched his plate, 'Let 's talk about why I wanted to contact you in the first place. The women of Li need your help Sir, hers too, ' he pointed to Maomao.