From CEO to Concubine-Chapter 169: Nine Heads
"Honoured Patron, please come this way."
The plain black robes that Wu Zhong wore were at odds with the lavish interior of the famed Meiyue Tower but there was not a trace of snobbery on the face of the pleasant attendant that led him towards a private chamber. Those in the know were aware of the sort of patrons one could expect in Meiyue Tower, after all, and none would be more cautious to refrain from offending than those who served politely and watched all that passed with silent, sharp gazes.
The fragrance of the south seemed to cling to Wu Zhong’s skin, like the scent of fresh grass after a drizzle. He had just returned from a trip to Lin Nan City on behalf of the brocade guard, his steed swift like the wind over endless terrain after receiving an emergency summons the night before. There hadn’t been anything in the letter apart from a lazily drawn three-headed tiger, traced out in strokes so whimsical it had looked more like cursive calligraphy than art.
He was aware of just who was responsible for it. The same man who had sent him to trawl through brothels in this most beautiful of water cities in search of the missing Young Mistress Yan. Wu Zhong had been surprised that his master had been willing to pull him out of the Wu Household to facilitate this hunt, especially given how terse the situation was at the moment with the old noble clans. But Captain Yao had made it clear that this was the course of action to prioritise.
After rescuing Mingyue, Wu Zhong met with some complications when Xiao Ma had been sent away to the fourth prince’s household before he could put his second plan in place. But that was no longer his concern, which was just as well.
He’d rather go to Lin Nan on business for Yan Yun.
But that hadn’t gone smoothly either. Whoever had sold Prime Minister Yan’s daughter had gone to great lengths to cover their traces, which in and of itself was suspicious; as a convict’s daughter, the girl had fallen naturally into the slave registry and no one would have blinked twice at the idea of bartering her. The level of secrecy attributed to her sale was on par with the illegal human trafficking trade that kidnapped young women and men of virtuous status in society and forced them into becoming the hapless denizens of the flower streets and willow alleys.
Wu Zhong’s job wasn’t to try and figure out what was going on though. He served as his master’s eyes, going into the darkest, dirtiest nooks and crannies of society, places that his master alone couldn’t reach. He had done as ordered, had sought out any hint of Young Mistress Yan to no avail until a casual conversation between the pimp and an elderly courtesan of Huanwu Tower, Lin Nan’s most notorious brothel, caught his attention.
"Hai, the new girls and boys are getting plainer as the seasons turn, when will we get better stock? The gentlemen have been turning their attention next door, at this rate how can we expect to compete..."
"Isn’t that just so, Big Sister? If you ask me, you shouldn’t have agreed to sell Shuo Er to that lord—"
"Hmph, as if your mother I 1have a choice. These rich, powerful folks don’t have any consideration for us...I will never forget when that most precious of pearls was snatched right away from me all those years ago..."
"Aiyo, Big Sister, who knows, that could have been a blessing in surprise! Now that that person has curried so much favour up above...if he searches for her, there is no saying whether we will become collateral damage for his wrath! Why, maybe she might even join him and fly up the branches to become a phoenix—"
"Shh! Don’t let anyone hear you discussing the distinguished persons!"
This had been the biggest lead Wu Zhong had managed to find in a whole month of scouring Lin Nan. He hadn’t been trained in the art of interrogation though and had no choice but to report it back to the brocade guard, lying low while awaiting a response to guide his next move. But instead of receiving any definitive instructions, the ugly three-headed tiger had pounced on him instead.
"Honoured Patron, your companion awaits within."
Setting the events of the past couple of weeks out of his mind, Wu Zhong knocked and entered.
Unlike the spacious banquet halls that Meiyue Tower had available for entertainment purposes, this room was cosy, lit dimly by the soft glow of paper lanterns. There were only two low tables arranged, each with a veritable feast upon them.
The one by the window was already occupied, its user slouching lazily back onto the backrest of a low chair, untied hair pooling on the floor, the lapels of his blood-red robes so loosely fastened that the firm musculature of his abdomen was on display.
Wu Zhong remained impassive. The colour of the robes was as close as Captain Yao of the brocade guard ever got to matching the eye-catching uniform of his men. Wu Zhong had never once seen him attired appropriately.
And yet, this lackadaisical man was the Third Official of Kaiming.
The brocade guard. The eastern depot. These were the two departments of Kaiming whose existence was confirmed for the front court. Those that headed them represented Kaiming as its Second and Third Official.
The rest of them resided in the shadows. Wu Zhong wasn’t privy to who the rest of them were, just had a vague idea of who some of his comrades were. Eyes, ears, mouths, swords, shields. There was no telling just who was what; the beggar asking for alms on the corner of the street or the knife lurking in the alleyways just out of the touch of the sun. The dancer with the winsome smile half-hidden behind her veil or the kindly old schoolmaster telling the children to slow down as they run helter-skelter out of his courtyard.
Wu Zhong had once thought that he would end his life nameless and faceless, a simple pair of eyes gazing silently at his master’s enemies and dogging their every step. He hadn’t dreamed that one day his master would know of his existence...and ask for him.
The Kaiming Beast. Legend1 told of an ancient godly beast that guarded the foot of the mythical Kunlun Mountain2 where the river current ran the weakest. The mountain was the axis of the celestial realm and the pillar of the world and perhaps the Kaiming blocked the passage to heaven from earth. Many believed it to be a godly creature but in actuality, it was a demonic beast instead, chosen as sentinel due to its vicious, ruthless nature.
It stood facing east, a majestic nine-headed tiger that reigned supreme in its territory, ready to feast on all mortals who dared approach the realm of the gods. It was said that when it turned its wrathful gaze upon one, lightning and thunder would soon accompany the destruction it rained down upon its prey.
Wu Zhong had taken a long time to understand why the Kaiming had been chosen as the symbol of the emperor’s closest subordinates and confidantes. With His Majesty as the First Official, wouldn’t a creature nobler, more just serve as a better representation?
He’d learnt the truth over the years. To protect the people, the land, this country, being righteous was sometimes not enough.
That was where the Kaiming came in.
"Why has Captain Yao summoned me?" Wu Zhong asked. He took a perfunctory sip of the wine. It was light and refreshing, not enough to go to his head but sufficient to quench his thirst and keep his hands occupied.
Captain Yao yawned and slumped over even further. "You’ve outdone yourself," he said tiredly. "I can’t stay outside for more than one or two nights so I thank you for returning in a timely fashion."
Wu Zhong inclined his head in acknowledgement but didn’t reply. There was no need to exchange pleasantries, he was here for his orders.
"You would not have heard but the capital is in a state of unrest."
Wu Zhong’s brow furrowed. Indeed, he had caught no wind of such turbulent news in the south. His master must have commanded interference.
It didn’t take long for Captain Yao to bring him up to speed about the murders that were puzzling even the brightest talent of the Court of Judicature. Their uncharacteristic inefficacy resulted in the entire department receiving censure from the literary officials during morning court, a first in the history of the dynasty.
From the sounds of it, things were pressing. But Wu Zhong wasn’t certain why he had been recalled to investigate this matter. He was just one of countless pairs of eyes.
Captain Yao’s drawl was as insouciant as Wu Zhong remembered from their past conversations but the sharp glint in his eyes was dead serious. "Our master’s birthday is soon upon us," he explained. "Some dirty rat lurking in the shadows thinks it can reach out now and rock the boat in these sensitive times." He was referring to the unstable relations with the north, Wu Zhong was certain. This he had heard about in the taverns and inns of the south; the undercurrent of unease washing over the country at the prospect of war wasn’t something that could be ameliorated easily. "Our master is taking no chances and has placed much faith in you."
For the first time in a long while, Wu Zhong felt his heart skip a beat. Although he told himself not to think about it, he couldn’t help but wonder...was there a different sort of hand behind the precious opportunities that had made themselves available to him in recent times? Pale, slender, gentle, still capable of strumming across the strings of his heart just at a mere memory.
He retreated from the table and dropped to one knee.
"This subordinate has received his orders and shall obey at once," he said solemnly.
Captain Yao chuckled, the smile on his face sincere for the first time this evening. "Ah, it is always such a pleasure dealing with one as frank and straightforward as you." He reached into the robes practically falling off his broad shoulders and pulled out a round token before tossing it to Wu Zhong. "Here, our master has decided that you’ve earned this."
Wu Zhong caught it by reflex and looked at it. By candlelight, the smooth black wood was polished to a gleam, the pattern carved into it shining mysteriously as though it wasn’t just a simple tablet but some mythical sigil of sorts.
A tiger with five heads. He felt his breath catch in his throat.
He had never thought that anything could evoke strong emotions in him anymore, having had it trained out of him as a child, but tonight he stood corrected.
He lowered his head and saluted Captain Yao—or rather, who Captain Yao represented as messenger today.
"This subordinate thanks the master for his favour. I shall not disappoint his expectations."
Captain Yao waved expansively. "No need for these stifling formalities," he said. "From today onwards, Fifth Official, you’re our master’s biggest, brightest, prettiest pair of eyes." Before Wu Zhong could stiffly protest his choice of words, Captain Yao clapped twice and the doors to their chambers slid open, revealing a smiling young man in waiter’s garb.
"Here you go," Captain Yao said. "Your right-hand man."
The waiter’s grin widened. He took a step in and closed the door behind him. As the corridor disappeared out of sight, he straightened up from his deferential pose and presented Wu Zhong with a respectful but carefree salute.
"Xiao Er is pleased to meet you, Boss!"
"..." The waiter’s name was literally ’waiter’.
As though he could read Wu Zhong’s unimpressed thoughts, Xiao Er’s eyes crinkled with a hint of mischief. "Does Boss like it? Our master was kind enough to bestow it upon me when I asked. But not to worry. Xiao Er assures you, I can do a lot more than wait tables and serve customers."
As recorded in the Shanhai Jing (The Classic of Mountains and Seas), an ancient grimoire of sorts that records mythical beasts and monsters of legend such as the nine-tail fox, a whole range of phoenixes and a whole assortment of dragons. This is a really bizarre term of self-address to translate LOL. The original for it is ’laoniang’, which is an offensive way of addressing onself as the mother of anyone listening. Basically elevating the speaker’s social status to one of a higher generation. The male equivalent is ’laozi’. If used with anyone who isn’t a friend, could have a very unpleasant result hahaha just a warning! This is also an actual mountain and it appears unclear whether it is the same one as those in the myths.
