Ling Tong tethered his steed at the gates of the castle. There was no need to stable it, if all went well he would be riding out again soon.
He rushed into the castle and to Zhou Yu's room, where he made obeisance to his lord.
"What news?" Yu said, shuffling to the side of his bed and sitting up.
"I went to see Jiang Wei as you asked, but Zhuge Liang spoke with me, seems his apprentice is missing too." Tong said.
"What?" Yu spat.
"Hey, let me finish! So, I was talking with Zhuge Liang when his little pet comes riding home, but he didn't come back for a hug. He raided his tent and attacked Zhao Yun, seems Jiang Wei is working for Cao Wei now."
"This is troubling…" Yu sighed.
"Do you get off on interrupting me? Anyway, I tracked Jiang Wei down, managed to sneak my way into the courtyard of Cao Wei's castle, where I found this." Tong finished, holding up the piece of cloth he had recovered from the carriage.
Yu took hold of it, inspecting it closely.
"This was definitely Lu Xun's" Zhou Yu said.
"That's what I thought, so, seems our boy is at Cao Wei, along With Zhuge Liang's." Tong said.
"If I know Sima Yi, he has a plan… Ling Tong, are you willing to deliver a letter?" Yu asked.
"What am I, your personal run around?" Ting laughed.
Yu kept his expression blank, leaning over and collecting his writing supplies from the table.
"I need you to take this letter to… Zhuge Liang." Yu sighed.
---
Wei awoke sprawled in an undignified position on the floor of Zhang He's room. His head pounded like he had been struck and all he could taste was vomit. He coughed, pieces of food still lodged in his throat.
So this was a hangover. He would never make fun of Zhang Fei again.
He rolled over, caressing his forehead with the tips of his fingers.
Wei hated himself for it. How dare he try and forget when it was Xun who was suffering.
"Are you alright?" Zhang He's concerned voice called.
Wei turned around to see his friend in bed on the other side of the room.
"I feel like a small animal has burrowed into my head and is eating its way out…" Wei muttered.
Zhang He laughed a little. "That'll be the wine, works the same on all of us."
"I don't remember what I did last night…" Wei muttered.
"Well, you were sick on a few people." Zhang He laughed.
Wei buried his face in his hands. "Really?" he giggled, it was pretty funny.
"I wish I could tell you I was joking." He sighed.
Wei fell silent, rubbing the palms of his hands into his eyes.
"So, Sima Yi planned this the whole time." Wei sighed.
"Yes…" He sighed.
"And… you knew about it the whole time…" Wei said.
"…Yes…" Zhang He said, turning away.
"That day, when Huang Yue Ying… hurt me… Zhuge Liang was never there was he?" Wei
"No, Zhuge Liang saw nothing of Yue Ying's treatment of you. I made that up." He said.
"Sima Yi ordered you too didn't he?" Wei said.
"His orders were to bring you to him, by any means possible, but I didn't want to hurt you… so I observed. Seeing that there were conflicts in the force, I just helped you in that direction…" Zhang He said.
"I see…" Wei said.
"But I knew nothing of Lu Xun, it seems Sima Yi thought of that twisted detail on his own." Zhang He continued.
Wei sighed.
Zhang He turned away. He felt awful about tricking his friend so. "I'm so… so sorry, please, hate me…"
"Its alright…" Wei sighed.
"What?" Zhang He said. He had been expecting his friend to despise him.
"Its alright, you were under orders, I'd do exactly the same in your situation." Wei smiled. "So, did you plan on getting captured?"
He laughed quietly. "So, is there a plan to liberate Lu Xun locked up in that little brain of yours?" He asked.
Wei looked down awkwardly. "Honestly? No. I have nothing, hence the little drinking spree yesterday."
"Recovered yet?" Sima Yi's voice growled from the doorway.
Jiang Wei sat up and looked over at Yi. Yi grinned wickedly.
Wei's brow furrowed.
"Jiang Wei, don your mask, we are getting food." Yi muttered.
Wei scrunched up his nose and turned around, looking for has mask. He saw a couple of puddles of vomit, but no mask.
"Zhang He, where is my mask?" Wei asked.
"Same place as your boot." Zhang He said.
"My boot?" Jiang Wei said confused. He looked down to see he was only wearing one boot. "Oh, not again!"
Zhang He laughed, "They are here," He said, pulling them out from under his bed and handing them to Wei.
"Thanks." Wei said. He put them on and stood up, next to his new master.
Yi grinned. "Took your time…" Yi muttered.
"Yes, sorry master Sima Yi." Wei muttered sarcastically.
Yi growled. "I don't like your tone."
Wei kept quiet. He didn't want to hurt Xun anymore, but he couldn't even pretend to be nice to such a terrible man as Sima Yi.
Wei followed Yi down the corridor until they came to the hall. They took their seats silently. Yi summoned the serving maid.
"Baozi please." Yi said, turning to Jiang Wei. "Tell her what you want."
"Wine." Wei muttered.
"No more wine." Yi muttered.
"Why? Jiang Wei asked.
"I've seen what you do with it." Yi muttered.
"Heh, seems you are as 'cruel' as Master Zhuge Liang after all." Wei mused.
Yi fumed quietly. "No more talk of Zhuge Liang, he is not your master anymore." Yi growled.
"He was, and still is a much better master than you." Wei muttered, as soon as the words left his mouth he wished they hadn't.
Yi was noticeably furious. He stood up and left.
Wei rushed after him, fearing that he knew where Yi was going.
"Stop, I'm sorry!" Wei called, rushing after Yi. Yi went to the armoury, taking Xiahou Yuan's spiked club from the wall, and then headed to the storeroom.
---
Xun lay on the hard ground huddled over in the corner. The flies had been landing on his face, attracted by the warm damp gag in his mouth. They were looking for somewhere to lay their eggs. The thought disgusted him. He tried to get rid of them by shaking his head, but he had very little energy and they didn't seem to move.
Parasites! Taking advantage of my suffering!When he heard voices outside, he strained to listen, wondering if it was something that would help him.
"Shut up!" Sima Yi's voice growled.
Xun winced at the sound of his captor's voice.
"Master Sima Yi, it's unjust to punish Xun for something I did, please… please punish me instead." Jiang Wei's voice pleaded with desperation.
"No, I know you Jiang Wei, you care not about punishment upon your own body. The only way you will learn is if I can hurt you! And this is the best way I can find." Yi cackled.
Xun heard to door creak open.
Punishment.
Sima Yi was going to hurt him.
Xun curled over as he heard the footsteps echo closer.
Sima Yi walked over to the boy, grasping his face roughly in his hand.
Xun resisted but Yi held tighter, pulling his face close.
Yi let out a low laugh.
"No... Master Sima Yi… please!" Jiang Wei pleaded.
"Enough!" Sima Yi grunted, turning his attention back to his captive.
"Now Lu Xun, since your friend can't keep his filthy mouth shut, we'll play a little guessing game." Yi laughed.
Xun gasped silently. He could smell Yi's sour curdled breath.
When Xun felt sharp metal spines press against his cheek, he suddenly realised what Yi's twisted guessing game entailed.
No… no!"So, can you guess what this is?" Sima Yi snarled, laughing bitterly.
Xun cried, suddenly terrified. He writhed slightly, but this only seemed to make Yi happier, as he laughed again.
Yi pressed the weapon close so it left red marks on its victim's face.
Xun cried again.
"Master Sima Yi, please stop!" Jiang Wei cried, the fear tainting his own voice.
Yi suddenly stopped laughing, sniffing the air. "What's that smell?" He asked.
Jiang Wei could smell it too.
They looked down to see a small puddle forming around Lu Xun.
"Oh… Lu Xun…" Jiang Wei sighed.
Yi was disgusted, jumping up and retreating as fast as possible.
"Unthinkable! You filthy little wretch!" Yi snarled, looking down at Lu Xun shivering on the floor. He was too scared to hold it in.
Yi was furious and repulsed. He drew back the club and struck Xun hard in the spine, flinging the boy into the wall.
Xun cried out in pain, then wept. He could feel the hot blood dripping down his back.
"How dare you!" Yi continued to shout.
"Master Sima Yi, leave him alone! It wasn't his fault!" Wei shouted.
"Filthy little…" Yi growled drawing back his weapon.
From the anger in Yi's voice, Xun knew he was lining up for another strike. He curled over, trying desperately to at least defend his face. He head the weapon swing through the air, and hear it collide, cracking against something, But when Xun felt no pain he realised Sima Yi hadn't hit him.
He heard someone cough, then slump before him.
"Jiang Wei, Why?" Yi's voice cried.
Oh no…
Jiang Wei had taken the hit for him.
Jiang Wei slumped to his knees, hot blood coursing down his side, staining his new silk robe black. He shakily brought his hand to the wound, surprised to see how much blood had leaked out in such a short time. He spluttered, the coppery taste tingeing his throat. He shakily tore off his mask, finding that blood was tricking slowly out of the corner of his mouth.
Yi discarded the weapon and rushed to Wei's side.
"Jiang Wei, Stupid! What did you do that for?" Yi growled, quickly inspecting the wound on Wei's side.
" I couldn't let you… hurt Lu Xun… anymore…" Wei spluttered. His vision was fading.
Wei closed his eyes and let his head fall sideways, but Sima Yi caught him, cradling the boy's head.
"Jiang Wei! Listen, don't go to sleep, stay with me, you are going to be alright!" Yi called, desperation in his voice.
Xun listened intently. It sounded like Yi was crying.
It was getting darker Wei just herd Yi cry his name again before he faded. The realisation was frightening.
Sima Yi cared about him…
