Chapter Text
Zhou Zishu's guan li 1 was to take place in the ancestral temple inside the Four Season Manor. His coming of age rite marked one of the most important days of his life. At the age of 20, he was to transition from childhood to adulthood and hence became a full pledge member of society.
It was a small and private ceremony since he was orphaned at a young age. His adoptive family had become increasingly smaller after his shi fu2 moved on to the afterlife not so long go. He found himself in a conundrum. The ceremony was usually performed by an honoured guest, typically the father of the initiate or a respected elder of the family. And he had no suitable candidate. To his surprise, it was Prince Jin who made the offer. And it was a privilege not to be refused.
So on the 15th day of February, a day that was deemed to be suitable through divination, Prince Jin secured an inner cap, then a cap onto Zhou Zishu's head, followed by a scarf. Finally, his hair was combed into a bun, suggesting the beginning of his adulthood life.
As tradition dictated, Prince Jin delivered a congratulatory speech. Apart from the usual well wishes, the older man wasn't frugal in his praise of Zhou Zishu's excellent service and loyalty.
Zhou Zishu plastered on his smile and thanked his superior as any good soldier would. It was a day of celebration, and yet he couldn't find any joy in him.
Little over two months ago, it was in the very same room that Zhou Zishu was made to execute one of the senior members of the Window of Heaven. He was not only a well-respected member of Four Season Manor but also a close friend to his shi fu. After being suspected of treason, he was not only to lose his life under Prince Jin's order but also to lose it in the most humiliating way possible - he was to redeem himself in the ancestral temple with his blood, at the front of all the Four Season Manor ancestors.
Zhou Zishu gritted his teeth and performed his duty as required of him. As the leader of both organisations, he had to take responsibility. Then when it was done, he had to thank Eunuch Zhang who was sent to witness the execution. The older man was the personal servant to Prince Jin. He practically grew up with His Imperial Highness. He was well respected in the Court since everyone was aware of his close friendship with the Prince. As close as a servant could to a master, that was.
The Prince was kind enough to only take his anger out on one person and spared that man's family. For that Zhou Zishu was grateful. He shuddered to think what he would have done if he was required to execute a frail elderly woman and two children who could barely walk as well, as the law dictated.
Very little blood was spilt that day, the tiled floor of the ancestral temple remained almost pristine. Zhou Zishu's White Cloth sword was so sharp that it left just one tiny cut. It was as thin as paper, and yet as deadly as the beckoning of Yanluo Wang3, the ruler of the underworld. But should anyone cared to take a careful look they would see a few specks of blood on the floor. His hands did tremble after all. But it was easily remedied with a bucket of water and a cloth.
But the memories were less easy to remove, as anger started to brew within the Window of Heaven. Zhou Zishu managed to contain the situation before any escalation could take place. It was very admirable of him, given he was still considered to be a minor by the society standard. And yet, those who were decades older than him obeyed his command. He hadn't been a child for a very long time. After all, no child had that much blood on their hands, or possess the ability to oversee such a powerful organisation.
It was likely that Prince Jin was aware of the tension within the organisation. His presence here was an olive branch being offered. The Window of Heaven remained to be useful, so he could find some generosity within himself, knowing it would be well received by Zhou Zishu and the organisation he headed.
And Zhou Zishu indeed did.
The Window of Heaven, although operated in secrecy, its presence was public knowledge within the Imperial Court. Their proficiencies in espionage and assignation didn't gain them many friends, unsurprisingly. Many were wary of them because of their growing importance in the court; while others despised them for the services they provided.
Zhou Zishu's guan li served as a platform for Prince Jin to demonstrate his continuous support of the organisation. Despite the private nature of the ceremony, Zhou Zishu had little doubt that words would soon reach the ears of many. It would save the Window of Heaven from dealing with many rampant dogs who were ready to take them down. They might not be worth much individually but collectively could pose a serious threat. Now they had little choice but to refrain from baring their teeth for the time being.
The generous Prince came bearing three gifts, a courtesy name - Zishu4, an official position within the Imperial Guards, and a concubine.
A courtesy name bestowed by the Prince was an open endorsement, further enhancing Zhou Zishu's importance in the Court. An official title implied a promise of a political career, one that was much more open in nature when the time was right. But the concubine, on the other hand, was a much more complex matter than the others.
The concubine, of course, wasn't presented publically. After the ceremony had concluded, the guests took their leave, Eunuch Zhang came forth with another figure following close behind. He put his hands together as a greeting, which was quickly returned by Zhou Zishu. His companion kneeled, the head that was covered by a veil lowered out of respect.
It wasn't the first time that his master had tried to bestow such an act of generosity on Zhou Zishu. Since he reached adolescence, such were offered from time to time. He always politely refused them, citing his age as an excuse. He held little interests in women, especially those who were surely more adept in keeping tabs on him than looking pretty on his bed. Whether they were fragile like the first flower bloomed under the spring sun or passionate like the blazing summer heat, none of them ever held his interest.
Before he could manage a refusal, Eunuch Zhang was quick to add, "His Imperial Highness was sure this one would be to your liking."
Being cued, the gift lifted the veil that covered the face. And Zhou Zishu was quick to realise that this one was most certainly different.
Eyes that were as dark as the midnight sky was lined with bright rouge. That striking shade of red was in the same hue as those lips that curled up meekly. The long lustrous hair was brushed back. The resulting long braids were tied together to form an elaborate hairdo and secured with a series of complementary bejewelled pins, showing off the beautiful features on that face.
For a moment, Zhou Zishu was certainly startled. The gift was indeed very beautiful, delicate and perfect in every possible way. Certainly exquisite and young enough to pass as one, but he was most surely not female, judging by his Adam's apple. It wasn't very prominent given his age, but definitely noticeable.
"My preference isn't-"
"Perhaps you are to reconsider your next words wisely, no offence, Zhou da ren5," The servant kindly advised. Given his closeness to the Prince, his words were not be taken lightly.
Zhou Zishu suddenly recalled how Prince Jin had looked at him recently. His eyes were dark and intense, almost as intense as when he gazed upon a map showing all the territories that he had yet conquered. So he swallowed down any protest he might have. Prince Jin needed him to demonstrate his loyalty, and this way was surely more preferable to the alternative.
So he accepted the gift with an appropriate amount of gratitude and a vow of his undying loyalty. He slid a few ounces of gold into the servant's hands as a thank you gift to his advice. The older man had been a friend, and he wanted this friendship to continue.
As for the gift, Zhou Zishu decided to stash him away at a secluded corner of the manor, under some supervision. The boy didn't complain. He kept his head low and obediently took his leave like a sheep. So Zhou Zishu thought the matter was closed.
But he was proven wrong.
Ten days later, his subordinate came to inform him that his gift tried to end his life by jumping into a pond that was located at the centre garden that morning. He was barely breathing when the servants dragged him out of the water.
Zhou Zishu really shouldn't have cared. He made his living out of licking the blood off his sword. And yet he did. That boy wasn't one of his targets. He didn't know if he was here to serve other functions, but he remembered how young he had looked, kneeling there on that floor.
Zhou Zishu couldn't help but wondered if he was around the same age as his shi di6 Qin Jiuxiao. He made sure his martial arts brother was well sheltered against what they do professionally. So he was able to enjoy a simple life that consisted mostly of training, studying and causing havoc all over the place in the name of having fun. And yet this boy, who was around the same age, was already being stripped out of his dignity and a future.
So the older man went to his room to see the boy. He wanted to ensure that he was treated well. Zhou Zishu hated to think that those under his charge were cruel enough to torment someone to the point that he chose to end his life.
The boy was still in a set of wet clothes. He shivered uncontrollably as his soaked hair clung to his forehead and his neck. His face was pale, and it had started to take on a blueish hue. Water in February was cold enough to kill. The boy was lucky to be alive.
He became very animated the moment Zhou Zishu set his foot inside his room. He threw himself to the floor and wept against Zhou Zishu's knees.
"Please! Please!" He begged with that tiny voice, each word trembling like an autumn leaf. Zhou Zishu couldn't tell if he was that afraid or that cold.
His cold heart twisted in sympathy. He didn't know what was about the boy that influenced him so easily. Perhaps it was his doe-like eyes, so soft and innocent that they tugged at his heartstrings.
"So tell me what's troubling you," Zhou Zishu tried to pull the boy up from the floor. Instead, the younger one used the momentum to fling himself into his arms, wet clothes, trembling body and all.
The older man froze on the spot as his entire body tensed up. Not one had dared to hug him other than his shi di after their shi fu had passed away. Even Qin Jiuxiao had grown to be more mindful of personal space since he was approaching an age that such childish behaviour was considered to be inappropriate. And yet, here he was, being hugged by a stranger. Not quite knowing what to do, but his years of experience in raising his shi di kicked in. He tentatively gave the young boy a soothing pat on his shoulder.
And it indeed worked. As if sensing his kindness, the boy lifted his head. It was the perfect angle for Zhou Zishu to see a face that was full of grief and a set of eyes that were full of tears that were about to be shed.
"Please! If I'm undeserving of your attention, please allow me to swiftly end my life! Otherwise, there will far worse fates for me!" He begged.
Zhou Zishu looked at him in confusion.
"Being ignored isn't all that different from being sent away. And the women you refused previously all ended up in far worse places. Chunxiang was sold to a low-class brothel, Qiuyue was given to Cheng da ren instead, and Hanmei took her own life out of fear before she found out about her fate."
Zhou Zishu winced. These names didn't ring a bell. He never kept any of them long enough to learn their names. In lower-class brothels, the courtesans were typically required to serve ten or more men a night, and food and water were often withheld unless they hit the targets. And Cheng da ren was very well known for his proclivity in certain sexual practices. It wasn't uncommon that his playthings ended up leaving his bedroom as corpses. He occupied a significant enough position in court that no one dared to criticise his cruelty.
He could understand why the boy was in distress. He had no doubt that Prince Jin had his eyes and ears in the manor. They were likely not in key positions to find out about more important matters, but they would surely know if his gift wasn't well received.
And he, after having all those innocent and not so innocent blood on his hands, wasn't looking to add more to them unless necessary. After all, there was still a difference between being tormented in hell for 1000 years vs. 999 after his death, however subtle it might be.
"Get up, and wipe your tears," Zhou Zishu said, "I promise to take good care of you."
He supposed he could start by having lunch with the boy, as a show of his favour. So he sent the young one to have a bath and a change of clothes while he ordered a plethora of dishes, and a pot of ginger tea to ward off the cold. He had no idea what the boy liked to eat, after all. He was pleased to see a smile breaking out on that sorrowful face when the boy returned to seat by his side.
And Zhou Zishu was happy to see the boy had a good appetite as he worked his way through the food before him. Clearly, he was so burdened by his worry that he barely ate in the last few days.
He finally lifted his head after he cleared most of the dishes, and blushed like a tomato upon realising Zhou Zishu's gaze was on him. He retracted his hands and lowered his head in shame. He was trained to have good manners.
Zhou Zishu only added another bun to his plate, after giving him an encouraging nod. Boys at that age were usually in their growth spurts, and their stomachs were typically bottomless pits. He wasn't offended at all. And yet that boy looked up at him with such gratefulness that he had to look away.
"What is your name," Zhou Zishu asked, suddenly realising he didn't even know how to address the newest resident of the Four Season Manor.
"I'm Wen Kexing." The boy answered.
Zhou Zishu raised an eyebrow. It was such an unusual name, given the social status of the boy. Names with pleasant themes such as flowers, seasons and plants were much more common for those in this kind of profession.
"It was given by my parents, who had passed away. Clearly, they had a very different expectation for me, and yet..." The boy trailed off in sadness before he composed himself. For the first time, a look of stubbornness appeared on that delicate face, "It is all I have left of them, and I refused to let it go."
It was a simple statement, but Zhou Zishu had no trouble decipher those words. The boy probably had endured numerous beatings for his defiance. His previous owner most likely only stopped once they realised they couldn't make back their investment if the boy died in their hands.
He didn't know how to comfort the boy. For him, words were always so much more difficult t to wield than a sword. So he wordlessly directed the servants to serve dessert. And he was pleased to see a plate of mung bean pastry brought a shy smile on that face.