Date: 2008-02-10 22:35 Subject: Woxin fic Security: Public Tags: fic, woxinchangdan

Theme for Feb 10 of 31_days: "And are for ever damned with Lucifer"


the importance of being earnest

He arrives in Wu in the early hours of the morning, alone and dishevelled after several days’ riding at night through unfamiliar territory and taking refuge in the meanest inns that he could find, and congratulates himself on having reached his destination after losing his pursuers some time ago. It does not occur to him that they have simply deemed him unworthy of their attentions, being the young son of a criminal who was executed by orders of the highest authority in Chu.

When he asks the city gate guards where he might find the Chancellor Wu Zi Xu’s residence, their response (laughter, and incredulity that such a beggarly person would have the temerity to address the great man by name) teaches him his first lesson about how to act when one has come down in the world and needs a favour. His second lesson is paid for with his last silver piece. The few coins remaining are sufficient to buy him a room for the night, next to the stable. He would have sold his horse, but he has to keep his options open, as he had always kept a low profile in Chu, and he had heard that there were currently many foreign talents in Wu.

It is past sundown when Chancellor Wu’s attendant draws back the sliding doors, motioning the shabbily- but neatly-dressed youth to enter, and tells him to be quick about his business, for the Chancellor has been too busy with affairs of state to take his dinner. Wu Zi Xu has never seen the young man before, but welcomes him warmly when he is introduced.

“I knew your father; he was a good and honest man. Many are the upright officials who have fallen victim to that cruel king and his evil cronies. Truly, Chu will repent of its iniquities!”

The young man raises his eyes, which are brimming with tears, almost to the level of the great man’s, and prostrates himself again as he cries,

“Bo Pi has heard that the lord Chancellor suffered greatly from their cruelties; please, sir, give me a chance to avenge our shared wrongs and contribute to building the great nation that Wu will surely become with our gracious king Helu at its head!”

“Has His Majesty granted you an audience?”

“The Chancellor was the first person Bo Pi thought of.”

It is King Helu's habit to entertain foreign visitors on certain days of the month. Bo Pi has been placed at the foot of the table as befitting his youth and lack of position, but has contrived by a series of well-timed whispers to his immediate neighbours to move himself somewhat nearer to the King; this has not escaped Chancellor Wu’s attention, but he approves of the young man’s ingenuity. Besides, it will be interesting to see how Helu reacts to the lad’s fastidious manners and slightly overdone gestures, notwithstanding the intelligence and common sense that Bo Pi had earlier shown when discussing Wu’s strengths and weaknesses with himself.

His observation of Bo Pi’s animated re-enactment of the scene in his house is interrupted by High Constable Bei Li murmuring at his ear,

“Do you trust that young man, Chancellor?”

“Bo Pi and I bear the same grudge towards Chu; has the Constable not heard that those afflicted by the same illness must offer assistance to each other in times of need?”

Bei Li shakes his head slowly. “Has Bo Pi? I fear that he is as ambitious and ruthless as an eagle watching a tiger’s movements. You and I will be much afflicted, sir, if we assist that young man in his ambitions!”

It is almost the third watch of the night; Wu Zi Xu attributes the sudden chill to the lamps burning low in the great hall, now empty of all save themselves, the guards, and the King and Bo Pi deep in discussion at the head of the table. Bei Li leaves, though the King hardly notices. Wu Zi Xu clears his throat, and both men look up at him: Helu surprised at the interruption, and Bo Pi’s earnest eyes shining in the candlelight.

“It is getting late; Your Majesty needs Your rest for tomorrow’s early court session. “

“Ah yes, of course. This young man is your protégé, Chancellor Wu? Most interesting things he’s been telling me. He must attend me tomorrow!”

“I humbly thank Your Majesty for deigning to listen to my unworthy ramblings-”

Helu holds up his hand. “That will do, Bo Pi. Good night, good Chancellor.”

Wu Zi Xu pretends not to notice Bo Pi’s smirk concealed by his bowed head as he trots merrily along after his acknowledged mentor to his quarters, and waves him off to bed when he again expresses his profuse thanks for the Chancellor’s kindness. He looks in on Bo Pi sleeping with a smile on his face (on a soft bed and after a square meal, probably for the first time in days), and his expression softens. Still, he is unable to sleep, and decides to work on that problem of the marshes on the border with Yue.

The sun rises early in summer; Wu Zi Xu blinks at the light streaming in through the blinds which Bo Pi is pushing back. He looks on in astonishment as a basin and a tray are set before him and his work is put aside.

“Bo Pi did not want to wake the Chancellor earlier since you must have had a busy night from the looks of it, but there is just enough time to wash your face and eat. I took the liberty of making breakfast, but please excuse me as I only know how to cook in the Chu style, sir.

Whatever Wu Zi Xu might have said (forty years later, he will still be uncertain if he would have replied) is stopped by Bo Pi’s sudden yelp of surprise at a small boy cannoning into the backs of his legs and falling over. The morning calm is shattered by a strident female shout of, “Your Highness, don’t go so fast!”

The child stares fearlessly at the Chancellor as Bo Pi sets him on his feet and dusts him off with a kindly smile, admonishing him gently for being so excited; Wu Zi Xu wonders which of Helu’s sons this is (and who let him in), and notes with no small surprise that Bo Pi seems to like children. The nursemaid (followed by a boy of about the same age as the first, also carrying a wooden sword) gasps when she sees who her young charge has disturbed, and prostrates herself, stammering as she castigates herself for her negligence.

“Bo Pi, see the prince home.” The gleam in the young man’s eyes does not escape Wu Zi Xu; he watches Bo Pi take the two boys by the hand and lead them out, their fascinated faces upturned to him as he talks to them about the great man they have just unwittingly disturbed, and he looks away only when the sun hurts his eyes.

EDIT: WTF there is WZX/Bo Pi (written in WZX informal first-person, WTF) out there >_