The word 'Zuo' and 'Yue' forms part of the Chinese character 'Sui'. Therefore, it was natural to assume that it had something to do with the Sui Empire.
After Yang Jian succeeded the throne, he made the title he used to own as the Prime Minister of the county and named the era 'Kaihuang'. On the second year of the Kaihuang era, after the Jiejian Bureau was established for half a year, another agency by the name of 'Zuoyue' appeared.
They were similar to the Jiejian Bureau and wielded a power outside of the Three Departments and Six Ministries; however, they were not under the orders of the Emperor. They were under the command of the Empress.
This Empress contributed to the country, as well as shared the burdens with the Emperor, who was loved and respected: Empress Dugu. She made something her predecessors never did, that was to establish a system to work under her orders.
Sometimes called Her Holiness, this was not utterly an empty name. The power Empress Dugu held surpassed any previous Empresses before her time, including Empress Lu. What made her different from Empress Lu was that Yang Jian both feared and respected this Empress.
Ever since the establishment of the Zuoyue Bureau, their power was no less than the Jiejian Bureau. Their mission was the same: trading and sending coded messages across the Northern and Southern Dynasty. There were no restrictions for them. However, since both Emperor and Empress were loving and respectful of each other, Empress Dugu knew her place and would not surpass the Emperor's authority. So she gave the Zuoyue Bureau a slightly different duty: they will take care of anything related to the Jianghu province.
The Zuoyue Bureau had one Commander and two Vice-Commanders. Their ranks were fewer and thinner, but they carried out their tasks in secrecy, often not appearing in front of the public eye. Even the most trusted advisors of the Emperor only knew of the Zuoyue Bureau's name, yet did not know who its members were, or what they were doing.
However, during their missions, they would sometimes clash with the Jiejian Bureau. Although they held no animosity towards each other and belonged respectively to the Emperor and Empress, they often wanted to fight for the achievement of claiming the glory.
Because of a few cases in the past, Pei Jingzhe crossed paths with the Zuoyue Bureau; he knew how difficult it was to determine who they were.
Pei Jingzhe worked under the Jiejian Bureau, so he knew a little about the Zuoyue Bureau. He never saw the alliance's Commander, but he saw both its Vice- Commanders. One was delicate and slim, like a wealthy man's daughter; the other was silent and quiet, like a monk in mediation. Although the Jiejian Bureau and the Zuoyue Bureau were agencies hiding incredibly skilled people, people like those two Vice- Commanders were rare to see in a place like this.
That also went for the Commander of the alliance who never showed himself. Pei Jingzhe never saw him with his own two eyes, but regardless, it was difficult to link him with a sickly man like Cui Buqu.
Women may be skilled in martial arts. And quiet people may be capable of claiming one's life with only a single move. However, this Cui Buqu who could not even pick a fight, how could he be a spy of the Zuoyue Bureau? Since his health was not good, and him using the identity of a Daoist to back himself up, would it not be convenient for him to lay low?
Pei Jingzhe contemplated out loud, "Are you considering that the Zuoyue Bureau placed spies among those who attended the Linlang Guild's auction, where all the pugilists would gather? If he indeed is someone from the Zuoyue Bureau and knew that we are people from the Jiejian Bureau, why did he not say so?"
Feng Xiao, "The old Zixia Daoist Temple might be allying with Qin Miaoyu, but this man only came to the Zixia Daoist Temple two months ago. The time interval between the time of his arrival and when Qin Miaoyu left the City of Six Crafts is four to five years. I had never assumed he was related to the case, but two months before now, the Imperial Court seemed to be determined to make a move against the Göktürks."
Pei Jingzhe suddenly spoke, "So, since the beginning, you merely desired to find information regarding his background? If he is genuinely from the Zuoyue Bureau, did we not just make enemies out of our people?"
Although both agencies often bickered, they were still subjects of the crown and the Imperial Court. To go all out like this towards one of their own, surely that was not a wise course of action?
Feng Xiao looked indifferent, "If we become enemies, then so be it. There are more than a handful of those that despise me. Adding him into that category does not affect the situation much. Did you think that they were not thinking of getting involved in this case of the Khotan ambassador's murder?"
Although their existence was faint, they had eyes and ears spread out all over the capital and were updated with all kinds of news and happenings that were going on.
A few days ago, the Emperor and his officials had just moved into the new capital, Daxing City, and preceding that, the citizens had already moved into it. The old capitol had been there for many generations and had become incredibly stuffy; when it rained, drains and sewers were flooded everywhere. So after Yang Jian ascended the throne, he ordered the old capital to be set aside for a new one to be built. Two years later, the new capital was built. The Sui Emperor made orders that the scrolls and manuscripts which had been forgotten and scattered due to the war, to be recollected and relocated in the imperial library, so that they would not be lost again.
These actions were noble and modest as expected of an exemplary ruler. Right now, Emperor Yang Jian decided to push his forces towards the Göktürks to solve the issue once and for all. Nobody would question the determination of the Emperor. The Three Departments and Six Ministries immediately got busy; bringing both the Jiejian Bureau and the Zuoyue Alliance, both of them received respective orders and began working. Whoever could achieve the most conquests in this mission would be the ultimate winner. The Zuoyue Bureau had always wanted to surpass the Jiejian Bureau, so of course, they wouldn't have let such an opportunity to slip by.
Cui Buqu stirred in his dreams and coughed a few times.
Pei Jingzhe looked at him. Before this, he was oblivious that he might be a member of the Zuoyue Bureau, so he did not feel anything, but right now, he could not help but feel a bit of sympathy.
"Then, should I neutralize the poison in his body?"
Feng Xiao looked at him like he was the stupidest person in the world, "Why should you? If he refused to admit anything, it would be a good opportunity to make him work with us. Even if he admits it, you should keep pressing that it is a lie so he would do our bidding. In the City of Six Crafts, whatever I say is the law."
Pei Jingzhe twitched his lip and nodded.
He knew that his master was not a person who was soft and empathetic.
…..
Feng Xiao and Pei Jingzhe were discussing Cui Buqu right in front of him — the one who lay on the bed in pain and agony and having no idea what was going on.
Cui Buqu had been walking on a very long road, and this road was endless. However, this road would sometimes grow thorns so he would quickly withdraw his legs. He wanted to continue walking forwards, even if he had to bend down to pluck those thorns away with his hands. However, even with both his hands stained by blood, those thorns did not grow lesser; instead, it had multiplied.
Those thorns hurt to the bone and left deep scars. His mind reflected all kinds of pain, but Cui Buqu continued pulling those thorns away with an expressionless face.
Since he was little, whatever he wanted to do, he would achieve it no matter the price, no matter how difficult it was. Nothing could stop him. If he wanted to move forward, he would move forward to see the end.
Those thorns could not hinder him, and after that, it wilted and faded away. Cui Buqu did not stare at his bloody hands, because before him, a grand mansion had appeared.
This mansion possessed a history that went back to thousands of years.
Before the Sui Empire established its rule, the Northern Dynasty was in a mess, yet the mansion's owner was unyielding. Its house blossomed and thrived, becoming a place no one was able to forget.
Cui Buqu finally stopped walking.
The doors of the mansion were locked, but atop the stage stood two people. One had long white hair and looked grim; the other had short hair and looked much younger. He spoke to the old man, his hands carrying a baby wrapped up in a blanket.
"Father, please, give him a name!" The young man said.
The old man responded coldly, "Whatever. A-Da or A-Er1 would be fine. Then be over with it."
The young man begged, "Considering that both his parents had died, could you spare some sympathy?"
The old man, "He is weak, and I fear he might not even survive for the next few days, so what if he has a name?"
The young man, "…even if it is true, in the future, would it not be part of a memory?"
The old man snorted, "Since his parents are dead, who will remember him in this world?"
The young man, "I would."
As the two spoke for a long time, the old man finally said, "Let us name him something simple, like a stepping stone — something that everyone steps on. It would be easy to raise him like this."
"What about the genealogy —"
"He is not worthy."
He is not worthy.
These three words had always been in Cui Buqu's mind, refusing to leave, repeating itself in his mind like clouds and mist.
Cui Buqu laughed bitterly.
His laugh startled the old man and the young man. They turned, but the fog thickened and spreads around them.
Everything turned dark.
The abyss was hidden within peace, and had never left; but after so many years, he had already walked into a place even more dangerous than the abyss.
His chest radiated a sharp pain, blood gathered at his throat. He wanted to laugh, but he only let out a bitter, raw taste in his mouth.
Then, he woke up.
Through puffed up eyelids, even a little bit of sunlight could cause his eyes to water. Cui Buqu adjusted to the brightness for a while, before he could clearly see the gauze blanket in front of him.
It was replaced by a face that was handsome and beautiful, moving into his central vision.
You woke up." Feng Xiao looked at him, "How do you feel?"
Cui Buqu was too lazy to reply to him, so he closed his eyes and rested.
Feng Xiao continued talking, "You have the Naihe Xiang drug in your body, earlier on, and the poison took effect. In two days, it will take effect once more, if you would work alongside me and cooperate, I can consider neutralizing the poison for you. What do you say?"
Cui Buqu blinked slowly and answered with a hoarse voice, "Do I have a choice to refuse?"
Feng Xiao: No.
Cui Buqu: I have no knowledge of martial arts. There is nothing much I can help you with.
Feng Xiao hummed, "Do you not hail from the Liuli Academy Palace of Fangzhangzhou? I have heard that people born from that place are knowledgeable about all things in the world. For the Linlang Guild's auction, I need such a man. You can assist me in recognizing everyone on the way; tell me who everyone and anyone is."
Cui Buqu went silent for a moment, "No problem. However, I have a request."Feng Xiao responded, "Neutralizing the poison is not a valid request."
Cui Buqu coughed, "…I am hungry. You motherfucker, you would not even let me eat, and you want me to do something for you?"
He glared at the bowl of white congee and a plate of fermented vegetables, practically unable to control the look on his face.
Feng Xiao was looked at him from one side 'lovingly', "Please eat, why are you not eating?"
Cui Buqu, "Although I am a prisoner in your eyes and am free to let you do as you please, in the end you need my help. I have yet to recover from my illness, and you want me to eat this?"
Feng Xiao asked curiously, "What's not good about this? You know you couldn't eat anything heavy. I'm afraid you might have digestion issues, and then you wouldn't be able to wake up tomorrow."
Cui Buqu; I don't want any exquisite dishes; I only want fresh vegetable soup. Surely you have something like that?Feng Xiao: My apologies. I am a poor man, so there is none.
Cui Buqu: …
He really wanted to pour this bowl of congee on top of the other man's head and slap the plate of vegetables onto his face.
He was not sure what Feng Xiao was thinking about, but it was definitely nothing good. Feng Xiao was not in a hurry, and he didn't want to leave; he even thought that Cui Buqu was very interesting, he was not afraid that he would provoke Cui Buqu. He wandered here and there, looking at the windows and flowers, turning the books on bookcases around and around, as if he was waiting for Cui Buqu to slam the table and exclaim that he was from the Zuoyue Bureau.
However, after a long time, Cui Buqu said nothing. He simply took the bowl silently and drank all the congee which flowed down his throat.Feng Xiao knew that he would not have chosen the wrong person. This Master Daoist Cui had a fairly good control over his temper. The last time they met, he proclaimed himself innocent and hid a lot of secrets from him. He only could not believe that despite having a weak and fragile body, the Naihe Xiang drug had been unable to do anything to him.
A man such as this, even without the skills of martial arts, could hold an esteemed position in the Zuoyue Bureau.
Feng Xiao grew even more interested.
Cui Daozhang swallowed carefully. He used an entire hour to finish the congee. Feng Xiao was patient, waiting at his side until he put down the bowl.
"May I ask what is expected of me, my lord?"
Feng Xiao said, "No need to be so formal. I've already relayed my name to you. I am the second among my siblings; you can call me Feng-er2 or Er Lang3."
Cui Buqu did not care to respond; instead, he answered, "I have been in the City of Six Crafts for two months. I've heard of a few things. However, if you want me to assist you in the Linlang Guild's auction, surely you need to tell me a few things first?"
Feng Xiao smiled, "That is a given."After obtaining Feng Xiao's approval, Pei Jingzhe told Cui Buqu everything about the Khotan ambassador's murder, which was discovered by a travelling merchant, who fled to the city to report his discovery."
Cui Buqu listened closely. After Pei Jingzhe finished talking, he asked, "Then, the plum blossom scent in the horse carriage. Was it investigated?"
"Yes." Pei Jingzhe could not help but glance towards Feng Xiao. Despite himself, he speculated that these two followed the same trail of thoughts. Feng Xiao, too, thought that the plum blossom was a crucial clue of the case, but the truth had let them down.
"We have asked every perfume stall in the city and checked everything in their stock. In the end, we could not find the plum blossom perfume in the horse carriage. That perfume…" Pei Jingzhe thought for a long moment before he managed to say something, "It is similar to the scent of the Naihe Xiang drug. As long as you smelled it once, you will never mistake it for anything else."
After he finished speaking, only then did he realize that something was not right. Cui Buqu had just experienced the Naihe Xiang drug's torture. If he said something like this, would it not be equivalent to pressing salt onto someone else's wound?
Nonetheless, Cui Buqu showed no expression. He only nodded and coughed two times; he didn't ask more.
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[1] A-Da or A-Er: These are very common and 'simple' names. It means 'A-big' or 'A-second' like the eldest or second child. It indicates that the old man was quite apathetic to the baby.
[2] Feng-er: Feng as in Feng Xiao, and Er mean 'Second'. This can mean that he might have an older brother, thus he is named Feng-er, or, 'Second Feng'.
[3] Er-lang: Er here also means 'second' and Lang is usually used to address a male.