Disclaimer: All usual disclaimers apply. This chapter was edited for some content. The unedited version can be found on AO3.
Shiny Objects: Part 1
Young Uncle Wu Jing arrived upon the Zhou Manor a week after Lady Wu's arrival. It was apparent the visit was to check on his elder sister upon Sun Jian's behalf. Beyond satisfied, Wu Jing reported what he saw and what Lady Wu had told him to the general. That evening during dinner with officers, overjoyed to hear that his wife and children were in good hands, Sun Jian exalted praises for the Zhou family.
Thus far, allowed mostly free reign of the courtyards outside his mother's quarters, Sun Ce liked the open expanse of sand and gravel. It allowed him to run around, and jump and be the usual reckless bull he was at that age, often appearing for dinner, clothes and skin pallid from all the grey and white dust kicked up from his activity.
But with Quan not yet at an age where he could keep up with him, Sun Ce started to become bored, so he began to venture further away from the courtyards in front of his mother's window. The sand and gravel continued to a rec area, where pylons and other equipment were placed for training and physical exercise that was expected of ancient prominent families. Especially those with military backgrounds.
Before Sun Ce could investigate this new and fascinating area that reminded him of a refined version of the training pits his father put together for his army, he stopped, noticing the youngest Zhou boy and Zhou Yi standing in the middle of the area. But they didn't look to be training.
Sun Ce ducked beside an empty trough, hoping no one saw him. He paused, hearing Zhou Yi's voice, stern and rigid, anger hanging at the edges of his words. His anger, controlled and even like a rolling thunder, appeared to be aimed at his son and was in the middle of a very heated speech.
Sun Ce raised his head slightly above the trough to see the scene play out, watching the young boy hang his head down towards the ground in quiet, but defiant shame.
"—I have told you more than once now to keep your emotions under control. Especially around your teachers and superiors."
The boy silently accepted his father's scolding. Zhou Yi, despite his displeasure over his son displaying emotion, was exhibiting a bit of his own anger.
The man's temper quickly waned as he sighed, features softening, "Let's take a break from studies for today. Take a moment to relax, Yu."
The boy bowed stiffly as was protocol for sons to their fathers, but his face was hardened from the scolding. Zhou Yi sighed again and nodded in response, before leaving his son's presence.
Sun Ce made himself smaller behind his hiding spot so that Zhou Yi wouldn't notice him as he passed by. The patriarch seemed deep in thought anyway, hands clasped tightly behind his back. Sun Ce poked his head a bit higher, to make sure Zhou Yi had disappeared, but then jerked back when he turned his head around, noticing Zhou Yu staring right at him. Caught, Sun Ce stood still, like a deer caught before an arrow strike.
The boy was expressionless as his eyes gave Sun Ce a once over, "Ce, right?"
Sun Ce nodded, watching as the boy followed the same path as his father towards him. "What are you doing over here? Did you need something from my father?"
"No."
That seemed to conclude their business in Zhou Yu's eyes, and the boy continued up the path.
"Why was your dad angry?" Sun Ce asked tentatively following the boy back down the causeway towards the main houses.
"He gets that way sometimes," Zhou Yu said before muttering. "I...acted out in front of a senior. I'm not supposed to do that."
"Why?"
He paused in his steps and there was a shake of the boy's head, voice going lower, almost murmuring just to himself, "The senior student wouldn't listen to me. My answer was right."
Sun Ce frowned at that. "That's not right. He can't do that. When you're right, you're right. Right?"
Zhou Yu's eyes narrowed, irritated at the boy's babbling.
"It doesn't matter. There are rules I have to adhere by if I'm to follow the path of my ancestors."
"Your ancestors? Why would they care about rules?"
The stony faced boy gave him an unreadable look. It was like talking to a stone wall, to Sun Ce, this child was so rigid and unyielding in conversation. It made him nervous for the first time in ages.
"My family has served the public and Imperial court for generations. I have to learn as they did so that I can one day serve too. What does your family do?"
Sun Ce straightened, chest puffed out as pride struck him. He would never stop at a chance to speak up and down about his father. "My father is the great Tiger of Jiangdong, Sun Jian."
"Haven't heard of him."
Sun Ce's face scrunched into a frown. How could anyone not know his valiant father's name? He crossed his arms and stared stubbornly at the poker-faced Zhou boy, "Well, then, maybe your answer to your senior wasn't right. Since you don't even know who the great Sun Jian is."
In a split second the passive if not lightly frustrated expression of Zhou Yu dissolved into a dark scowl. Fierce enough to cause Sun Ce to back slightly, who was not used to seeing such severe expressions in children his age.
Quickly wanting to avoid getting into a fight with the only peer he's seen thus far, he changed the topic.
"If your seniors are giving you trouble, Zhou Yu, you can come hang out with me!" he exclaimed with a broad smile. He let his hand drop on the boy's shoulder. Zhou Yu stared at the hand as if it were something offensive that landed on him .
Sun Ce tentatively removed his hand, and nervously rubbed the back of his neck, finally sensing that this kid really wasn't in the mood for company, "Well...I better get back to Mama. See you really soon, Yu."
As the morning turned to a cloudy afternoon, Sun Ce was on the floor on his stomach in his mother's parlor, playing with wooden toys as his legs kicked behind him idly. He thought a bit about what the young Zhou Yu kid would be doing. Was he in another class? Learning another lesson? He didn't see the boy out and about much in his little adventures around the Zhou mansion.
Sun Ce got the impression Zhou Yu wasn't one to be playing anyway. He gave a disdainful sigh at the thought, his hopes at finding a like-minded peer dashed.
"You're a bit quiet today, Ce," Lady Wu commented, not looking up from her work patching up a blanket that was Sun Quan's ever since he was an infant.
Sun Ce paused from his wooden figurines and glanced up at his mother.
"Something the matter?"
"No," was the boy's abrupt reply. His mother smiled to herself, knowing he was lying and was terrible at hiding it.
Sun Ce's eyes glanced momentarily out the window, where he had witnessed Zhou Yi admonish Zhou Yu. "Do...do I have to learn things that Zhou Yu does?"
His mother paused from her work, and turned her head. "Whatever do you mean?"
"If I want to be like dad...you know...would I have to go to school and study all day like Zhou Yu does?"
The boy sat up and gave a pout, "It sounds awful."
His mother chuckled warmly, resting the blanket in her lap. "Your father was not educated in the same manner as Zhou Yu, I assure you."
She too glanced out her window distantly, thinking of her husband. Sun Jian was not learned in the traditional sense. Still his father, Sun Ce's grandfather, was not going to let his family be defenseless against more learned lords' predatory natures. He encouraged Sun Jian to do whatever he could to protect himself, even if it included modestly finding ways to educate himself.
Sun Jian wouldn't want his son ignorant, but Sun Ce already was a perceptive boy. He could even be clever if pushed to learn in more traditional ways.
But she knew the Zhou family had certain expectations, and Sun Ce would quite quickly want to combat those. A peer like Zhou Yu to guide him, however, might make it work.
"However," she glanced down at him, reaching over to stroke his hair idly. "It would be a waste of an opportunity for you to stay in the Zhou mansion and not at least benefit from going to school under them."
Sun Ce visibly soured at the idea. Much like he did when Zhou Yu had given him a hint of what schooling was like.
"Don't make that face, Ce. And I have yet to speak with Lord Zhou Yi about this."
He crossed his small arms, refusing to look at his mom.
"You've wanted something to do, is this not something?" his mother teasingly questioned. "Perhaps it will not be so bad, with someone your age with you?"
"The others sound like bullies," Ce explained with a huff. "I don't like bullies."
Lady Wu chuckled, gently pinched his rounded rosy cheek. "Since when did my little Ce become so intimidated by bullies."
She saw her son's ears go red with frustration, his temper fuming, evident in the whine he gave to his mother.
"If it is expectations you fear," Lady Wu reached over and gathered her petulant son into her arms. "I know your father values freedom above all else. The freedom to forge your own path. But it is for you to decide, Sun Ce. If you truly do not want to go to these lessons, we can find an alternative."
Sun Ce huffed and was soon engulfed in the sleeves of his mother's robe as she embraced him.
Sun Ce would grow up not satisfied with simply 'ordinary'. As plain as their origins were, his father and mother were hardly ordinary in his opinion. Still, his mother drove away the fear that day that he would not be able to control his destiny; that he would be shackled to whatever fate he was expected to be in, no matter who he learned under.
He followed his father's footsteps by want, and his siblings had their own paths. His sister, rambunctious tomboy that she was, took to holding their mother's skill in defending herself, and Sun Quan, the 'smart one', was often holed with the various tutors Lady Wu had found for him.
Now, fully grown, lips pursed in a haughty grin, Sun Ce glanced down the valley towards the walled fortress surrounding Zu Lang's headquarters. He shifted in his saddle, a little restless as he heard clashing and roars of fighting. He was itching to join the fight. But he had to wait until he was given the clear by Zhou Yu.
Having known Zhou Yu for a long time, Sun Ce never had a question in his mind about his skill and potential. He was awash with relief to hear that Lady Wu and her advisers had agreed, by advice of Zhou Shang, to bring Zhou Yu as this extra force.
That said, Sun Ce was eager to see what exactly his friend can cook up on a moments' notice. Already, he could tell Zhou Yu valued speed and haste above all else and it was confusing and overwhelming the enemy.
Beside Sun Ce, Cheng Pu noticed the same thing, the speed and relentlessness needed in Zhou Yu's commands. And he frowned at that. It all seemed reckless. Effective, yes, in this regard, but bumrushing Zu Lang right out of the gate seemed to point that this young new recruit had very much the same recklessness that plagued Sun Ce.
Still, the execution and timing of everything thus far had been exceptionally precise, there was no doubt in Cheng Pu's mind that they would win this day. Zu Lang was in a terrible position anyway, pushed into a corner he could no longer escape from strategically speaking. Short of finding a last minute ally several territories away, his defeat was inevitable either today or sometime in the near future. The question was how many Sun warriors would be wasted in taking Zu Lang down.
Sun Ce and Cheng Pu turned their heads when they noticed the young man in blue and white approach them on horseback.
Zhou Yu looked calm, his breath slightly quickened from riding his horse in haste to Sun Ce's position. He nodded, "Sun Ce, our south vanguards have breached the fortress."
"Excellent, Zhou Yu," he complimented. "Let me know what is next."
"What happens next is accepting a formal victory from Zu Lang. You just need to ride through the city and accept the surrender from the captured troops."
Sun Ce was expecting some instruction on sending troops to assist a weak area, or...something involving fighting. He was the General after all. For a moment, he didn't think he heard Zhou Yu correctly.
"Ummm," Sun Ce leaned over in his saddle. "Run that by me again?"
Zhou Yu pointed toward the walled city, "Just trot your horse down there and accept Zu Lang's defeat."
"Just…?"
"Ride down there..." Zhou Yu patiently began explaining, as if to a five-year-old. Certainly Sun Ce currently had the comprehension of one.
"Okay?"
"And take Zu Lang's sword of surrender. And then we would have officially achieved victory."
Sun Ce simply stared at his friend, who looked legitimately concerned that Sun Ce didn't understand a word he was saying. Glancing up at the sun, taking in the estimate of the time, he finally said, "So we literally won and before dinner time, is what you're saying."
"In most ways yes, but technically no. Not until you formally accept the defeat."
To the surprise of the generals sitting beside him, Sun Ce started giggling, smile as broad as can be, making him seem almost boyish. He nudged Lu Fan next to him, "See, I told you this dude was good."
He then reached over his saddle and grabbed the collar of Zhou Yu's cape, pulling the man gently towards him and he said in a low voice, "Hey, but seriously pal, don't make it so easy next time. I want to have a little fun too."
Loudly did Sun Ce's army return to their base, met with cheers and sighs of relief. Zu Lang was finally defeated. With the exceptions of straggling bandits and allied tribes, the area was pacified. Their victory was swift this time, and they hadn't lost a man, only enduring some albeit harsh injuries.
The army seemed rather full now. Taking on captured troops and a surprise contingent from a friend of Sun Ce. Village people were impressed, feeling more and more they had strength comparable to the Imperial Army to defend themselves against bandits and warlords.
Sun Ce and Zhou Yu returned to headquarters chatting excitedly. They hadn't had time to catch up with all the planning and troop movements, but now with victory at hand, they were free to discuss other leisurely things. Sun Ce showed his friend around, discussing the feats and conquests of some of the officers they ran into.
"All these valiant warriors. You sure you need me around, Bofu?"
"Uh, yes," Sun Ce said flatly. "It was mother's and your uncle's idea by the way, and a sorely needed one at that. The battles before...were getting tougher."
"Speaking of, is your mother around?" Zhou Yu asked. "I would like to greet her. If she wouldn't mind seeing me…"
Sun Ce scoffed, "Oh, please, Gongjin, of course she would love to see you. She likes you better than us most days."
They entered the 'Calm Winds, Brilliant Heaven' Pavilion of the manor the Sun family was borrowing as headquarters from an allied lord, to which Sun Ce remarked, "You know, we may need to rethink how we name things. 'East Wing', 'West Wing', and 'Mistress Shack' are just fine."
They found Lady Wu under the gazebo by the pond, stirring her tea absently in her cup. She seemed caught in her thoughts, because at first she did not see her eldest son come across the bridge with a familiar young man at his side.
The young man's eyes were smiling, not hiding his glee at seeing the matriarch of the Sun family. Lady Wu, whose eyes were often piercing with wisdom, shone as well, lips pulled up as she gave a coo of surprise when she saw him.
It was of no surprise to anyone that Zhou Yu had grown tall, strong, and very handsome, features angular and refined, like a carefully crafted blade, with a long healthy mane of silky dark hair that ran well past his sturdy shoulders. He was almost the spitting image of his father, but age and sullenness had not yet pulled on Zhou Yu's smooth features.
"Zhou Gongjin!" she called with whispered excitement, watching as Zhou Yu made the usual protocol given to one's own mother. "I am so glad that you have come to see me!" She reached out and tentatively embraced Zhou Yu.
"Heavens curse me should I fall by your path and not visit you, my lady," Zhou Yu laughed lightly.
"Laying it on a little thick there, Gongjin," was Sun Ce's snide remark. Lady Wu took in the state of her son and his friend, finding them very healthy and not a touch of weariness. "You must forgive your uncle for dragging you away from your work for Yuan Shu…"
Zhou Yu gave Sun Ce a rigid sideways glance at that.
"..but I am glad to see you have come."
Zhou Yu bowed to the woman again. "I was feeling antsy in court, truly. It is so far a pleasure to fight alongside Sun Ce again."
"So far…?" was Sun Ce's offended squeak.
Lady Wu reached up and pulled lightly on a lapel of Zhou Yu's blue and white robe underneath his armor. She arched a disdainful brow, tutting, "Bofu, be sure to grant him some new armor, the finest there is. He'd look much better in Sun colors."
Zhou Yu's eyebrows rose in surprise bemusement at her backhanded comment on his choice of uniform, but he still held an appreciative humored smile at the woman's presumption. Sun Ce chuckled beside him and nodded eagerly, "Consider it done, mother."
"I apologize to bring this up," Lady Wu addressed Zhou Yu again. "We had heard of your father's passing. A great loss. Our family owes him our lives. We regret not being able to make it to the mourning procession, but-"
Zhou Yu politely held up his hand, to pause the older woman, "Madam, we did receive your placard. A most kind gesture and we thank you. How goes the rest of your family, my lady?"
With an eager look Lady Wu gestured behind them, and both men found Sun Ce's younger brother, Sun Quan, crossing the bridge to meet them, his hair as red as his robes. Zhou Yu could've sworn his hair had gotten redder over the years. It was far more vibrant than Sun Ce's brown locks, and Lady Wu's auburn red. The young man seemed taken by seeing Zhou Yu again, his expression full of awe when he finally recognized him. Quickly, Sun Quan's feet carried him faster to meet up with them. "Zhou Yu, you are here..."
He stopped in his tracks, as if catching himself. Sun Quan straightened and bowed, "Brother, Zhou Yu, I am glad to see you well."
"Gross," Sun Ce said at the stiff display. "He's been learning under Zhang Zhao and now the very concept of fun is lost to him."
He should've known that Zhou Yu would not find that a negative one bit.
"Zhang Zhao, eh?" Zhou Yu replied coyly, recognizing the name as one of the premier senior students that his older brother, Zhou Yan, had encountered. "He's a tough tutor. To keep up with him, you must be doing well Sun Quan."
The younger Sun brother's face went as red as his hair.
Another of the Sun Ce family followed not far behind Sun Quan. A tall, athletically built young woman, with hair as coppery auburn as Lady Wu's, crossed the bridge with much less patience.
The young woman's green eyes widened before her face lit up in recognition. "Zhou Yu!" she squealed, skipping forward, and, with much exuberance wrapped her arms around Zhou Yu's middle in a very tight hug.
Not one used to overly expressive embraces such as this, Zhou Yu still glanced down at the young woman with smiling eyes, "It certainly has been awhile, young Sun Shangxiang."
"Whoa easy there, sis. Zhongmou, go get the bucket of ice water," Sun Ce joked.
Shangxiang whipped around to face her brother, "Jerk! What? Only you and Ma get to manhandle him?"
Sun Shangxiang was born in the Zhou Family manor and spent much of her childhood years there. It wasn't long after their arrival at their hosts' home that Lady Wu discovered that she was indeed pregnant with Sun Shangxiang. It was the first time Sun Ce recalled seeing his mother so anxious and nervous. She fretted over having to tell the Zhou family that they had to accommodate yet another Sun member. It was getting to the point that the Sun family was going to outnumber the members of the Zhou family in their own home. And with Shang and Zhou Yi's older son going to Lujiang soon, it would likely be the case.
Still, Sun Ce would always chuckle at the memory of when Lady Wu calmly told Zhou Yi and Zhou Shang of her condition. The color drained from their faces, and their eyes widened, and they visibly fumbled over how to handle the news. It was like they were told they were going to be the prospective fathers. In some ways, their duties would have to be similar for the time being.
Zhou Yi made every arrangement necessary, with doctors, midwives and herbalists put on his payroll to aid his guest and the child she carried. Zhou Shang summoned his wife to give Lady Wu company and support during this time. It was more or less that Lady Zhou knew how to handle these matters better than either of the Zhou brothers, who handled her condition with astounding awkwardness.
Luckily, when word reached Sun Jian, the Tiger of Jiangdong raced to the Zhou family home to see his wife and take care of her for a few days before he was called away again. Sun Jian did give the Zhou family several yards of ever valuable wool as thank you for their continued care for his expecting wife. On Lady Wu's suggestion, he also sent the Lady Zhou ruby and white-gold earrings and several silk shawls as a special thank-you gift as well.
Zhou Yu was told, or rather ordered by his father to treat Sun Quan and little Sun Shangxiang with gentleness. As an elder should to juniors. While Zhou Yu's elders in class never treated him with anything but contempt, Zhou Yu was kind and courteous to both of Sun Ce's younger siblings. Even while Sun Ce could not resist teasing and picking on them. Because of this, both younger siblings held a preference towards Zhou Yu rather than their rambunctious older brother.
The years made no difference. Sun Ce was continuing his older brother tradition by dragging his feisty sister away from his friend, in a light headlock. "I refuse to accept you are old enough to 'manhandle' anyone, sis."
The young woman half-hearted struggeled against his arm wrapped around his neck, and Sun Ce looked up
"Ey, Gongjin. You up for a party later?"
Sun Shangxiang managed to wriggle out of his grip with a grumbled, "Rude!"
"I have not changed that much, Bofu. I still will not say no to a drink. And Heavens knows I think I could use one."
"HA!" Sun Ce roared. "You deserve one, pal!"
Certainly the Sun army knew how to throw a banquet. They had in many ways become infamous for it, but the local areas were met with fanfare, like outdoor plays, fireworks, sport, and performances, while inside the headquarters was a much more hedonistic affair. Booze, gambling, drugs, food, music, and...oh...the women were all brought in for the celebration, all flowing endlessly like a river amongst the dull roar of the activity.
It certainly wouldn't be the first time Sun Ce tied a sash around his head marking that he was in the red on his bets, staring intently at the dueling crickets in the ceramic pot. He was drunk enough that the first few times he lost major bets didn't phase him. Now, even more drunk, he tried to focus, as if his mental energy could be given to the cricket he placed his bets on. Over another gambler's shoulder he could see Zhou Yu having a good time, smiling brightly, arm wrapped around the shoulders of one of the women brought in to attend the festivities while he charmed a few of the others, impressing the ladies by downing another bottle of clear wine. Also nearby was Huang Gai, cheeks and nose beet red, arms full of his wife who foolishly decided to supervise the festivities. The loyal general was goading Cheng Pu into allowing one of the escorts to give him company...now that he was more or less a single man.
Sun Ce's eyes fell on Zhou Yu again, and he stared at his friend, wobbling in his seat, paying no attention to the roars of excitement as his cricket put it's opponent on its back. He could only smile, at his good fortune. Running an army and maintaining stability felt like a winning effort again. He was having fun.
The older generals, particularly Cheng Pu would growl at Sun Ce's notion that things like war and conquest should be 'fun', but Sun Ce had no other way to describe what drove him to don armor and ride a horse ahead of hundreds of troops everyday.
And he wasn't lying to Han Dang and Cheng Pu that they were not going to have another embarrassment like at Danyang again with Zhou Yu around. Today only proved his point.
Sun Ce didn't hear the other officers and advisors congratulate him on his insects victory. He shoved himself away from the table and half stumbled over to Zhou Yu and the handful of women around him.
Zhou Yu didn't seem to notice him at first, another jar of win hovering close to his lips as he was speaking in his direct but charming way to the ladies around him, detailing where he was from and how he knew the Sun family. Sun Ce placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, leaning over one flirtatious young lady and murmured into his ear, "Quit poking at the women, Gongjin and follow me. I gotta show you something."
Zhou Yu sighed through his nose in feign annoyance at his crass attempt to get his attention, but smiled at the ladies before him. "Would you excuse me, ladies."
He followed Sun Ce along quiet and darkened hallways to where he assumed was Sun Ce's office. He reeled when he took in the state of the office, eyes wandering around the mess of scrolls and swords and clothes and other things strewn haphazardly about. Dust picked up from the bookshelves as Sun Ce began rummaging furiously in them for something.
"Have you converted your office into a storage closet?" Zhou Yu sounded as if the very idea of that was blasphemy. He took another swig of the wine bottle in his hand.
Sun Ce explained, tossing a collection of scrolls carelessly over his shoulder, "Before dad died, he told me of a secret. Something he found while on campaign against Dong Zhuo-now where the fuck did I put it again?"
He turned and dove underneath his desk, thumping and rustling through whatever contents were strewn underneath. "Anyway he left this to me, and it might be of some interest to you-AHA! Here it is," he shouted and popped up from behind the desk, bearing a small cloth-wrapped bundle in his hand.
Sun Ce held out the bundle further into the brazier light and let the cloth fall away, allowing the gold and jade object sparkle in the orange-yellow light for Zhou Yu to see. There was no doubt about what this was, it's square shape, the dragon resting on top, and most of all the initials of the Imperial family. This was the Imperial Seal. "What do you think of this?"
Sun Ce grinned as Zhou Yu could not bring himself to make any expression at this revelation.
"The fact that you aren't saying anything doesn't make me feel good about this." Sun Ce's grin immediately dipped into a frown.
"Sun Ce, I'm too drunk for this," Zhou Yu said in the most neutral tone imaginable.
"Oh, come on! You seriously have no thoughts on this whatsoever?"
"I do, but I'm surprised you're even entertaining...this," Zhou Yu gestured to the seal. "This wives' tale about this signifying the next Mandate...seems like something you would laugh at."
"Of course I don't believe this shit. But others... many others...do."
Immediately, Zhou Yu shook his head, and said mournfully, "If Yuan Shu finds out you have this; he'll want your head."
Sun Ce scoffed. "So? It's Yuan Shu. Don't tell me you're intimidated by that guy. Or, god forbid, you like working with the guy."
"No, but I still recognize he still has significant power and influence despite his notoriety. Your family and to some extent mine still owe him some regard for taking us in."
Sun Ce rolled his eyes and turned his head away petulantly, the way he usually did when someone said something he didn't want to hear.
Instead, Zhou Yu decided to offer him another idea, "Why not ride on the man's power and influence in the meantime. His resources are still vast. And then we can think about what the Seal means when it's time to break away."
"Ughh, I forgot you were like this," Sun Ce grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Like what?"
"This," Sun Ce gave a vague gesture with his hands in Zhou Yu's direction. "A smartass. And a too bloody patient one if you ask me."
"I'm sorry, I was to assume you wanted me here for my...smartassness."
Sun Ce groaned in defeat, "Fine." He stared at the Seal in his hand, debating, his nature battling his desire to heed Zhou Yu's valuable advice. That was what he brought him here for. "So...what? Let this shiny piece of work collect dust?"
Zhou Yu glanced around his office again, "That does seem to happen to objects thrown in this room apparently."
Sun Ce, with more care than he had shown the Seal thus far, wrapped it back inside the cloth and slid it back in it's place beneath his desk, "I trust you know to keep this between you and me."
"You needn't have to say anything, Bofu. You can trust me."