Chapter 5: Shiny Objects: Part 2
Returning to Shouchun, Zhou Yu did not yet realize how fast word had spread about Sun Ce's latest victory. Specifically he could hear excited whispers and stares in his direction as he trotted on his horse down the streetways.
It could have been his new cape flashing a deep crimson against the black navy of his clothing and the white of his skin. He was already rather fond of this new article of clothing, bequeathed as a gift to him from Sun Ce, taking his mother's advice on the color. It wasn't any old cape, though. Sun Ce had already amassed enough fame to earn him in good standing with other merchants, including those who had managed to gather articles from the Far West. Through them he got his hands upon capes worn by the Roman Legion. He purchased himself one and included another in his gift to Zhou Yu.
The new cape was longer than his previous ones, and heavier, but it was a comforting weight as the fabric dipped around his collar to fall gracefully behind his back. He would get used to the weight. And gaining a few extra pounds of muscle never hurt anyone as Sun Ce would say.
He spent his days observing court carefully, wanting to glean any details on Yuan Shu's current mechanizations on the southern territory and their generals. So far the discussions were trivial, nothing that Zhou Yu or Zhou Shang had particular interest in.
As usual, however, the only time they could discuss things in private, Zhou Shang met up with his nephew out by the privy, Zhou Yu in the middle of relieving himself in the trough after Yuan Shu's court recessed for break.
"Gongjin."
Zhou Yu turned to look over his shoulder at Zhou Shang, careful to keep the aim of his stream steady. "So I heard that Yuan Shu has ordered you to replace Wu Jing in Danyang after he failed to maintain it."
Zhou Shang scratched his well groomed beard, eyes shifting in guilt, "Yeah, I don't feel good about it, taking a coveted position from a friend."
"On the contrary," Zhou Yu said lightly. "I heard Wu Jing was practically ecstatic to hear you would take over. Better a friend he could trust than one of Yuan Shu's usual fare of administrators trying to prove something is broken by breaking it themselves."
The older man's fingers stopped their playing on the hairs of his chin. His eyes narrowed at Zhou Yu in suspicion. What was his nephew trying to get at? "Yeah...What are your thoughts now?"
"Do you trust me, uncle?" the younger man asked, giving a final shake in the trough before folding his robes back over himself.
"Of course you ask me that nephew, but I get the terrible sense you are up to trouble."
Zhou Yu flashed a smile at Zhou Shang's exasperation. Both entered the Yuan court, ears meeting the din of lower warlords and officials here to pay tribute and flaunt their accomplishments to their lord. They hung back, making soft comments to each other but eyes attuned to anyone who might have been paying too close attention to them. At some point, Yuan Shu and his close attendants had entered and engaged a few of the officials as they fawned over him.
Neither of the Zhous escaped Yuan Shu's notice.
"Young Zhou Yu, you handsome son of a bitch, how are you?!" Yuan Shu called, his voice much grander than his stature would imply.
Zhou Yu gave a weary smile as he bowed courteously, "I am well, Lord Yuan Shu. As I hope you are."
"Look at that, hair like a stallion, heavens bless you." Yuan Shu heaped his praise and gestured to the line of advisors behind him. "These are my associates and they have very interesting connections within Liu Yao's forces."
"I see. A pleasure, honored elder statesmen," Zhou Yu gave a humble nod to the lines of advisers at Yuan Shu's side. Yuan's voice lowered as he began to scrutinize the young man, "I heard you had a great amount of success fighting against Zu Lang with Sun Ce. Most impressive."
"It was nothing, my lord. I only did what I could."
"Ah, so modest. You will be a great asset to my plans for the Southlands. After the meeting today, I hope I can tear you away from your uncle to join the banquet this evening. Consider it a celebration of yours and the Sun clan's success."
Later that evening Yuan Shu held his extravagant party, but in her suite, his favored wife, Lady Feng was preparing for bed, not one to partake much in such affairs. She found her husband's officials and allies to be too sycophantic for her tastes. She would rather not endure the fake crowing of tall-hatted officials throughout the evening. All wanting something or another from her husband.
Figuring her husband would be too inebriated to come calling to her, she set about getting herself in more comfortable clothing, and having her maidservant prepare her evening tea. Lady Feng was not expecting a sharp knock at her door. Frowning, she watched her maid glide over to her door, while she began tying up her robes to protect her modesty. She half-expected that she was wrong about her husband, and that he had indeed come calling on her for company. She and her maid did not expect to see a tall young man leaning against her door frame, a sloppy grin on his face.
The maid nearly reeled at the sharp stench of alcohol coming from his person. He clearly wandered from one of Yuan Shu's banquets. His eyes were flashing in a way at the young maid.
"Good evening, miss. Lovely night isn't it?"
The maid bowed her head down in submission, but did not make a move to let him in. "That is enough. Who're you to come in and harass my maid, and how did you get past guards?" Lady Feng hissed from her spot. The young man's head snapped up, as if he just now noticed her.
Oh she knew who this man was. He was another of Yuan Shu's noted up-and-coming talents. He had introduced her to Zhou Yu when he first became a junior official in court, and Yuan Shu's most favored wife found the man's demeanor around elder statesmen to be too easy, too free with his words. Not that the young man had anything offensive to say, but other junior statesmen tended to rather nod and follow the lead of their older peers. The youth, Zhou Yu, however tended to fit right in with Yuan Shu's most experienced and valued men.
And there was Zhou Yu's uncle, a disarming man, who could not be flustered in the slightest. He was rather proud to see his odd and rigid nephew grow into a man who could display his abundance of intellect and skill with charm and grace.
Whatever the case may be, Lady Feng could not shake the feeling that the Zhou family was up to something and she did not trust whatever designs they may have had would at all be beneficial to Yuan Shu.
And seeing Zhou Yu drunk on her doorstep after hours, edging himself to enter her chambers–the scoundrel–did not help that impression.
She was not naive about her husband. She was well aware of his faults. And yet she did not think to dwell on them when they always felt close to each other. She knew what worried him daily, he would speak to her quietly about how much things bothered him. What people said about him bothered him. That they constantly had to compare him to his older brother bothered him. All Lady Feng could do was to make sure he was not taken advantage of by wandering minds in his own court.
"Madam, I needed some fresh air. It was getting stuffy with all those people in one space. Unfortunately the night air is a bit chilly."
Zhou Yu's eyes lingered over the comfortable furnishings in Lady Feng's room, "Your space here looks warm enough. And not so loud."
Lady Feng, arms still crossed, shook her head, "Shouldn't someone like you be more interested in our Lord's festivities?"
"Honestly? The music was terrible," was the young man's deadpan reply. "'Terrible' might be too harsh, but one of the musicians–or two–kept hitting the wrong note."
At the woman's blank look he tapped the side of his head, "I have sensitive hearing, madam. I tend to notice, unfortunately."
"And you seem…" his eyes wandered from her head down to her toes and Lady Feng fought to cover herself up even more from his predatory gaze. "Like a good listener. Like someone who can hold secrets."
"I assure you, you have no secrets I wish to hear from you," she bit out, backing away as she noticed Zhou Yu was inside the threshold of her suite. Before she knew it, she was staring up at his tall frame. "And you can't be interested in sharing with a woman years your senior."
"I do have a thing for older women," the bold young man said through slits of eyes. It was hard to say if his hooded eyes were because of misplaced lust or drunkenness.
Still Lady Feng put a stop to any further thought, "Not this older woman, you don't. And I should have you made into a eunuch for insinuating such a thing. Now please, I think I've humored you enough. Get your wits about you and leave before I bring my husband into this."
"Now lemme tell you a secret I know…" he grinned as he leaned in closer to her, her scowl deepening as his stench of alcohol became more pungent.
"As I said, I'm not interested."
"Over tea then?" he still had that wolfish smile plastered on his face, and Lady Feng felt very much like a helpless goose, "I need to sober up, and I think, pardon me, my Lady, that you could relax."
"There's a strange man in my room, trying to seduce my maids, of course I can't relax!"
Lady Feng huffed in annoyance, but she still couldn't help be intimidated by young Master Zhou. His rumored reputation was one thing, but here, even drunk, he seemed so well put together...just more daring. Like now, breaking uninvited into his employer's favored wife's quarters.
But perhaps this man's state could be taken advantage of. Perhaps he knew secrets the court kept from her husband. Gossip could be a boon. And say what you want about women, men of court were the gossipiest creatures in existence. She backed away towards her tea set, eyes searching to see if Zhou Yu would make a sudden and rash move, "Fine, Master Zhou. Tea first and you must keep your distance. I will call for the guards if you break that rule."
The young man grinned, and nodded, "Duly noted, madam."
After a restful sleep, Zhou Yu found himself to be one of the first to rise attending the morning meal provided at the Yuan's main hall. The other guests apparently were still sleeping through their hangovers. He quickly caught his uncle's eye and set about to sit with him.
"You disappeared last night," Zhou Shang accused, not looking up from his breakfast.
"It wasn't how you think," Zhou Yu said, picking up lotus roots from a plate. He didn't feel the need to elaborate further.
"I just hope you didn't make a fool out of either of us," Zhou Shang grumbled before carefully eating his porridge.
"I won't, Uncle," was Zhou Yu's distant reply, eyes pouring over guests who bothered to arrive for breakfast. Not to his surprise, Yuan Shu had yet to make his appearance this morning.
When the warlord did eventually make an appearance, with his usual entourage, Zhou Yu kept glancing over, hoping to find the appropriate time to approach Yuan Shu alone. Impatient Zhou Yu stood up with his cup and approached the banquet table, standing near Yuan Shu and pouring himself some water from a cistern, when the latest advisor to bend his ear finally left, he struck.
"Busy morning, my lord?"
Yuan Shu scoffed light-heartedly, "As ever. Did you enjoy the banquet last evening? I seemed to have lost track of you after our talk."
"I did. Though I must confess, I tend to wander and get restless after a few cups. So some of my memory is foggy."
Yuan Shu gave the younger man a wary stare, "I see…well, I had been meaning to see you. Speaking with you last night had me realize that I could use your talents and intellect in my administration. I have big plans for the future, and you are one of the few I see that has the gumption to pull it off. What do you say, Zhou Yu? How would you feel to serve directly under me?"
"Actually, my lord, I think you may overestimate my prowess a little. I am neither equipped nor deserving of such a title."
Yuan Shu cocked his head in confusion. "Surely, you jest. After all you have just proven yourself on the military field. A man like you with so much potential going forward, you need to do more than just remain your uncle's sidekick."
"Actually, my Lord, there might be a position I'm better suited for. I would take on a leadership role, but in a smaller capacity. Juchao, for example, is a small town, not terribly detrimental to you should I prove to be unworthy. I hear they are in need of a new Chief. Their current one is aging and is looking for a suitable replacement. Perhaps I can make a start there, and then we'll see if I can match your expectations, my Lord."
The whole time Zhou Yu was making his case, Yuan Shu seemed to be listening intently, stroking his beard in thought.
"It would give me the opportunity to become my own outside of Uncle Shang's shadow," Zhou Yu continued, hoping to provide one more morsel of reasoning that might appeal to Yuan Shu. There was a growing disdain Yuan Shu had towards Zhou Yu's uncle, primarily brought on by his own paranoia over the older Zhou's popularity in both Shouchun and Danyang. And Zhou Shang had a certain cheekiness that drove the warlord crazy. Zhou Yu sensed all of it.
"You might have a point, young Master Zhou," Yuan Shu nodded after a few moments of thought. "You are sticking around in Shouchun, yes? I shall have what you desire at the end of the day."