Chen Zixi

The Chen Manor was unusually busy today. Servants hurried in and out, packing everything from underclothes and outer robes to wine cups of every material. Each cup was wrapped snugly in fine hemp cloth, carefully stacked in a wooden chest, and carried out to the carriage. Gone were the days when a small bundle was all anyone needed for a journey. Uncle An, the head steward, stood in the courtyard, calmly directing the preparations. The man responsible for all this bustle was in the thick of it, poking about and inspecting whatever caught his eye. One moment, he was gesturing with his folding fan. "An, don't forget to prune the pines while I'm away." The next, he had snatched a cake from a passing maid's pastry box and popped it into his mouth. The green-robed steward walked past with a chest in his arms. Without looking up, he said, "If you're so short of things to do, you could help us pack." A small head pushed between them. The child with the red dot between his brows looked utterly serious. "Master isn't well. He mustn't tire himself out." Chen Zixi nodded solemnly. "Quite right. Mustn't tire myself out." Uncle An said nothing. He simply changed direction and deposited the chest in Chen Shen's arms. "Then perhaps our young master can carry this outside." "Oh. Alright." The boy obediently took the chest and staggered away, huffing with effort. Chen Zixi watched him go, laughing. Uncle An consulted his packing list, then spoke without looking up. "This sudden journey to fetch someone from so far away... It's that child you rescued, isn't it? The one you're always talking about." Chen Zixi paused, then grinned. "Yes, that's the one. Such fun. Believes every word I say. Always gives me a good audience." "And what do you plan to do once you've brought the child back?" "Nothing in particular," said Chen Zixi. "Show the child around Hangzhou. Take in the sights. Shen spends all day memorizing medical texts. They could have some fun together. Or they could have some fun at Shen's expense. That works too." Uncle An studied him for a moment, then lowered his head a little. His voice grew quiet. "I don't mean to pry. But if you're planning something, tell the household. Give us time to prepare." Chen Zixi's smile slowly faded. He tapped a finger twice against the ribs of his fan. Tap. Tap. "I mean to do nothing. Don't look for hidden meanings in what I say." He hadn't raised his voice. The courtyard fell silent. A breeze from West Lake stirred the pines, their needles rustling softly. Beyond the courtyard, servants' footsteps and the faint sounds of packing carried on. The steward in dark green bowed without another word and turned to leave. Then Chen Zixi smiled again, rubbing his chin. "Or perhaps I should send the child to school? Pinglan Academy is rather good."

Chen Zixi opened his eyes to pitch darkness. He couldn't have seen his hand in front of his face. Not that he could raise it, both arms were pinned behind his back in heavy iron shackles. Their captors clearly thought highly of the pair. Rope hadn't been enough; only iron would do. He quietly tested the bonds. Nothing moved, apart from the chains, which gave a loud rattle. The sound drew a voice from somewhere beside him. "I can hear water. We're in a cave underground." "With ears like that, how did you miss them poisoning us?" Chen Zixi teased, though hearing the familiar voice was a relief. "I didn't hear it. I wasn't careful enough." Jiang Yan sounded close by, as calm as ever. Chen Zixi laughed. "Oh, come on. If you could actually hear someone using poison, those ears of yours would be a miracle." He sighed. "I knew charging straight in would end badly. Every time we get into trouble together, any hope of tactics goes out the window. Out comes your sword, and in we go. If I weren't so quick on my feet, always finding us a way out... Never mind. How long have you been awake?" "Not long. About half a stick of incense." "Half a stick? Long enough to come up with an escape plan, surely?" "I haven't." "So you've just been sitting here?" Chen Zixi took a deep breath and stared into the darkness, thinking. "They won't leave us here forever. We wrecked the Blood Judge's operation and freed everyone he'd abducted. He won't let that go. He might even feed us to the crocodiles. Anyway, someone will come. When the door opens, hold your breath and play dead. As soon as he leans in to check your breathing, jump up and bite his ear!" After all that, Jiang Yan still hadn't said a word. "Well? What do you think?" ... "Jiang Yan?" ... "Hey, what's wrong? I can't see you..." A quiet voice came out of the darkness. "You told me to play dead. Like that, right?" "Huh?" Chen Zixi paused, then burst out laughing. "Not bad." "...When we get out," Jiang Yan said suddenly, "let's get braised duck. That place on the east side of the city." "Now there's a man who knows how to enjoy himself." Chen Zixi's grin widened. "How about a plate of Citrine Delight as well? With some Spring's Bounty to wash it down." "Your brother's wine smells good too. I've wanted to try it ever since Silkworm Manor." "Then I'll ask him for a couple of jars. We'll take a boat onto West Lake and drink ourselves silly. Then we can just drift. That's what my brother does." "Isn't there a turtle spirit at the bottom of West Lake?" "What, the great Jiang Yan is afraid of a turtle spirit?" "You'd pick a fight with a turtle spirit too?" "You'd let a turtle spirit stop you?" In the darkness, warmth began to spread through Chen Zixi's palms. He shifted his wrists a little inside the shackles behind his back. "...We'll get out. We always do," he added. "Always a way out." As ever, Jiang Yan spoke as though that settled it. Heavy footsteps sounded outside the cave. He and Jiang Yan looked at each other, though neither could see a thing. The footsteps drew closer.