Wei Xiu had always been an orphan. When he was five, his mother passed away after suffering through an illness for quite some time. Just five years later, his father died in battle taking an enemy general to the grave with him.
His father had been known for his generosity and modesty. He would send much of his salary as comfort and compensation to the families of injured and fallen soldiers. Thus, he did not leave his son with much. The general’s residence granted to Wei Xiu housed only himself, one housekeeper, and one old maid in charge of washing clothes and making food.
He was only 14 years old; the noble sons his age enjoyed playing games, and wandering about. They have even been to the red-light district a few times.
Only he stayed home either practicing martial arts or reading military books, living like an old general. Whenever he did go out, it was either to the training grounds or to the palace.
The old emperor took special care of him on behalf of his father’s life of labor and diligence to the country. He even would even mention wanting to treat him as one of the princes.
Although Wei Xiu knew those were simply empty words, the emperor did often show concern for him and encourage him to play with the princes.
But he hated those people.
*
It was the dead of winter, so the emperor summoned Wei Xiu into the palace to eat Laba porridge.
This time of the year was usually the coldest, but this year was several degrees colder than past years.
He had intended to claim sickness and stay home, but he saw the blanket of white outside and remembered the words of his housekeeper: “When the winter is frigid and frosty, the spring will come warmly and brightly.”
The coming spring was sure to be magnificent.
He sprung up and headed outside to admire the snow, finally, he headed for the palace.
*
The day’s banquet did not only promise Laba porridge, the emperor also intended to review the princes’ recent martial arts progress. Because of this, all were dining in the palace hall near the military grounds.
However, the emperor soon needed to excuse himself to discuss official business and left in a hurry after just two bites, leaving the princes and young noblemen to themselves. A group of unsupervised young men will quickly begin roister about. A few of them got their hands on a bow and started shooting arrows at a targets in the distance, others sent eunuchs to fetch prey for them to hunt.
“Oi! I have something that would be a worthy target!” the third prince says, excited.
Wei Xiu did not like to roister with the others, he simply stared silently at the expanse of snow on the grounds.
Until he heard pained gasping.
*
It was a child.
On this snowy day, the princes were each snugly dressed in marten coats, but this child wore nothing but thin rags from head to toe. A rope was fastened around his neck, allowing the third prince to pull him, dragging him along.
The boy didn’t even struggle, he only grabbed at the rope tightening around his neck, gasping for air. The little one’s body was riddled with bruises and injuries from beatings of the past. As the third prince dragged him, a long trail of blood was left on the white snow.
Someone inquired about him and a nearby eunuch explained that he was an orphan from outside the palace. An old eunuch had wanted to adopt and raise him as a son, but as soon as he entered the palace, he was snatched up by the third prince. Ever since then, he became a plaything left to be berated and beaten at will.
“Who can shoot this creature?” the third prince snickered.
Wei Xiu knows not to offend the princes, so he steers his gaze away, believing that freeing his view of the events would free him of grief.
*
The third prince pushed the child onto the ground. The others grab their bows and aim their arrows like vicious predators at the sight of prey. The child understands that he will die on this day if he doesn’t run, yet all he can do is tug along his broken body in an attempt to run.
The crowd is unable to hit him for some time, they get all the more excited.
In the distance, Wei Xiu stood to the side silently observing the snow. The snow is wonderful.
A roar of laughter erupted. After a moment of running, the child had fallen to the ground, his body finally running out of stamina.
The boys are joyous at the sight of their prey, they hurry to point their arrows at him. Within a moment, arrows are fired.
The child’s eyes were wide open, the clarity of his pupils reflecting the arrow heads coming straight towards him. He was about to die.
*
Suddenly, the sound of three other arrows pierces through the air and shoots the initial arrows down. Arrows all fell around the child, but not even one struck him.
In the distance, Wei Xiu let down his bow. He wasn’t some good samaritan, he just remembered how beautiful the coming spring would be and thought it would be a shame for the child not to see it.
It would be such a shame.
*
Upon seeing Wei Xiu’s interference, the third prince frowned, eyes wide: “Wei Xiu! What insolence is this!”
Wei Xiu didn’t cower: “My residence is short of servants. I humbly request your highness grant this slave to me.”
The third prince: “You dare request my slave?”
Then, the crown prince says: “Third brother, it’s merely a slave, why not grant it to him.”
The crown prince was quite benevolent, he had long been unable to bear the sight of the others’ abuse of the child. Unfortunately, he was also cowardly in nature, so could not dare ruin the others’ “fun”, and could only watch at the side anxiously. Now that Wei Xiu had stepped in, he hastened to get a word in.
The third prince frowns, obviously displeased.
Right then, someone says: “How about the third prince and Wei Xiu make a wager? If Wei Xiu can best his highness, then his highness can grant the slave to him.”
The person who spoke up was the son of the chief minister. Wei Xiu never liked him. On the surface, he displayed a playful demeanor, but his intentions were much deeper and hidden than anyone else’s.
While inciting a martial arts match between the two, he knows that the third prince prides himself in great martial arts skills, yet Wei Xiu’s martial arts skills are slightly better. All the more, Wei Xiu is quite prideful, so, naturally, he will be unwilling to admit defeat and be forced to offend the third prince.
As expected, the third prince’s spirit ignited at the mention of a martial arts duel: “Magnificent! I was just starting to get restless!”
The child had already been snatched back. Hearing that the two were to have a duel, he let out a nervous whimper.
Wei Xiu didn’t spare him a glance, and simply said: “May his highness enlighten this humble retainer.”
*
The third prince’s swordsmanship was unrivaled, yet the two agreed on a sword fight.
The spirits of the crowd were quite high. The unaware reveled in the excitement of watching a duel, the aware reveled in the excitement of witnessing Wei Xiu’s fate.
Wei Xiu was too proud, the crowd could not stand the sight of him. When he beats the third prince into a sorry state, the third prince will surely not let him off easy.
The crowd knew Wei Xiu was tunnel-visioned, as soon as the fight started he was just as unrelenting as expected. The third prince barely evaded, furious, he launched a series of fatal attacks. Wei Xiu blocked everything, completely unfazed.
The two took turns blocking the other’s attacks. The third prince got more and more panicked as he continued to attack. Finally, he let out a yell, launching his final blow. Wei Xiu raised his sword to receive the attack, the crowd heard a metallic scrape. One of the swords had been sliced in half.
The winner had been determined.
Wei Xiu’s sword was split in half, the third prince’s blade pointed in the direction of Wei Xiu’s throat from a fair distance away. Wei Xiu’s split blade reached right in front of the third prince’s chest.
Wei Xiu retrieved his weapon and kneeled immediately.
“May his highness please bestow the slave onto me.”
The third prince lost. But he was absolutely enraged, he was about to give Wei Xiu a kick when he saw fresh blood drop onto the snow.
The third prince: “Raise your head.”
Wei Xiu raised his head, showing half his face tarnished with blood. A striking red cut sat on his brow.
The crowd, who had yet to see him look this pitiful, and the third prince staring at his bloodstained sword all burst into sudden fits of laughter.
“You can have that vermin. Don’t even think of returning it even if you regret it.” The third prince snickered, “The little vermin must be a natural born curse to the lives of his parents and guardians. Look at you. You haven’t even taken him in yet, but already you’re left with such a considerable injury.”
Wei Xiu showed no reaction and simply said: “I thank your highness for this gift.”
He walked over to the child and took him by the hand. Wei Xiu’s blood drips and drips falling into the trail of blood previously left on the snow by the child.
The two’s blood came together melting away the winter snow.
*
Wei Xiu took the child back to his residence and called a physician to treat him. The child’s body was riddled with injuries, there was no telling how long he may have suffered under the hands of the third prince.
The boy, however, was particularly well-behaved. While the physician treated him, he neither yelled nor cried. Wei Xiu almost believed he was a mute.
Until he pulled on the physician’s sleeve, and suddenly uttered: “Eyebrow!”
The physician: “Eyebrow?”
The child was quite panicked, he looked in Wei Xiu’s direction: “Eyebrow!”
Wei Xiu immediately understood what he meant and addressed the physician: “It’s alright. You may leave.”
After the physician left, the child was timid yet still anxious: “Eyebrow hurt…”
Wei Xiu shakes his head: “I cannot treat this injury.”
The child didn’t understand.
“This injury must remain, otherwise no one would know that, in reality, I lost.” Wei Xiu explained, “Understand?”
The child pretended to understand. Wei Xiu, helpless: “There’s no need for you to understand. It has nothing to do with you.”
*
Wei Xiu had the housekeeper wash the child. Afterward, his heart still wasn’t quite at ease, so he washed the child himself one more time.
“Young master.”
The housekeeper instructed the child to call Wei Xiu in this way; as Wei Xiu washed him, he politely called for him.
Wei Xiu typically didn’t like children, he thought they were noisy and dirty. But this child was quiet and well-behaved. When he said ‘young master’, it was somewhat pitiful, Wei Xiu thought it was nice.
More importantly, this child is one he fought hard for himself.
Wei Xiu asked: “What is your name?”
The child answered: “Little vermin.”
Wei Xiu’s hand paused for a bit, then it continued: “You’re not a little vermin, you are a child.”
The third prince hadn’t seen the child as human, but now this child was his, he must have a good name.
*
“He can simply take your last name.” Wei Xiu said to the housekeeper on the following day.
The housekeeper had no descendants, if the child took his name, then he would no longer be a parentless orphan.
“Last name, Xu, first name, Yunchun.”
After a night of consideration, Wei Xiu had finally decided on the name ‘Yunchun’ for the child. The day they met was especially cold, heavy snow fluttered about ‘allowing for a beautiful spring’* in the coming year.
*
With an additional ‘Xu Yunchun’ in the residence, Wei Xiu felt as if he was raising a dog. With just one call of his name, Xu Yunchun would come running to his side responding with ‘Yes, young master’, awaiting orders.
Sometimes, Xu Yunchun would perform chores with the housekeeper and the old woman, but with one call of his name, he would rush away with sweat on his brow and no care for anything else.
However, Xu Yunchun was not a dog. A dog would not be so cowardly as him. The residence is only inhabited by four people, Wei Xiu gave Xu Yunchun his own room to sleep in. But, that night Wei Xiu was unable to sleep, and heard the light sound of crying squeeze through the whispers of the wind. He followed the sound and saw Xu Yunchun on his bed covered in bedsheets, crying.
“What’s the matter?”
“Young master…dark…”
“If it’s dark, then light a torch.”
“…the torch has ghost shadows.”
Wei Xiu was speechless. Was the child really this cowardly? There was nothing else he could do, but to have the little one come to his room and sleep on a cot beside his bed.
“I am right up here, if any ghosts come, I will slay them.”
Wei Xiu shows his blade to Xu Yunchun, then he places it at the side of the bed., and finally, Xu Yunchun is able to get to sleep.
*
Yet, two days passed and Xu Yunchun was still crying in the night. He was extremely afraid of rousing Wei Xiu, but the kittenish sobs found their way into Wei Xiu’s ears anyway.
“What’s the matter, now?”
“The rats…the rats eat people…”
Wei Xiu reasoned with him: “There are no rats here.”
But Xu Yunchun was still sniffling: “The rats nibble at Chunchun’s feet…”
There was a drowsiness to his voice that made it obvious he had had a nightmare.
“My feet got nibbled on a few times…” Xu Yunchun pointed to his legs.
Wei Xiu lit a candle, intending to explain to Xu Yunchun that it was only a nightmare. But with the light of the candle, he saw that Xu Yunchun’s toes were covered in little scars. He’s not sure where the third prince could have had him locked up that allowed rats to bite him in such a way.
Wei Xiu was saddened, but he knew he couldn’t let this little servant make such a fuss without reason. He must understand order from young.
Unexpectedly, Xu Yunchun spoke up again: “Can I sleep with the young master…”
Wei Xiu’s resolve weakened at the sight of the cry marks on Xu Yunchun’s face: “Then you must not rustle about in your sleep.”
Xu Yunchun hurriedly nodded his head: “Chunchun won’t rustle, and will leave when the rats are gone!”
*
Xu Yunchun slept at Wei Xiu’s side.
Wei Xiu loved everything clean, he would have Xu Yunchun bathe everyday, and if the other couldn’t wash himself properly, he would do it for him. Thus, when Xu Yunchun laid beside him, not only would there be no stench, but even a fragrant smell would waft.
Wei Xiu was quite pleased.
But, Xu Yunchun would always snuggle into Wei Xiu chest at night in order to escape from the cold. Wei Xiu pushed him away a few times, but he was a heavy sleeper. He was nothing, more like a little pig. Wei Xiu was left with no other choice but to embrace Xu Yunchun as he slept.
*
They slept like this for many days. It was not that Wei Xiu never wanted to shoo Xu Yunchun away, it was just that the minute he opened his mouth, he remembered the scars on Xu Yunchun’s body, and held himself back.
At the time, Wei Xiu was only fourteen years of age. Although he was more mature and stoic than others his age, his heart was not quite as resolute as that of adults.
Furthermore, Xu Yunchun was quite warm, it felt nice to sleep while embracing him. Wei Xiu silently approved of Xu Yunchun sleeping with him.
He thought, “I will wait until the first warmth of spring, then I will have him go back to sleeping on his own.”
Naturally, he was unaware that the seasons would come and go, and after eight springs, Xu Yunchun would still be sleeping at his side.
*
Wei Xiu sent someone to inquire and discovered that Xu Yunchun was approximately 10 years of age. It was just that he was so skinny and small that he looked no more than seven or eight years old.
“You must have him eat more,” Wei Xiu ordered the old maid in charge of the meals, “He has weak bones and muscles, if he doesn’t correct it now, there will be hope for his martial arts practice.”
The old woman followed Wei Xiu’s instructions. From then on, she gave Xu Yunchun more to eat. However, Xu Yunchun’s stomach was quite small, at every meal he only ate a little bit. Wei Xiu would stand behind him to monitor him, and noticed that he always left back half of his portion.
Wei Xiu frowned: “Why won’t you finish it?”
Xu Yunchun’s head tilted up: “Young master eat.”
Wei Xiu: ???
How could this brat be so audacious as to leave his leftovers for him to eat?
Wei Xiu went off in a huff.
*
Xu Yunchun continued to leave half of his meals back. Wei Xiu was severely irritated, so he had the old woman reduce Xu Yunchun’s portions by half.
But the child still left some food behind.
Wei Xiu didn’t understand what the child was thinking. He wanted to yell at him, but he knew of his hardship. He had been treated as an animal his whole life, and his speech wasn’t too fluent, so Wei Xiu was unwilling to scold him.
One day, Wei Xiu entered the palace. The old emperor saw the mark on his forehead, and inquired of the details relating to it. Noticing the depth of the scar, he naturally reproached the third prince for being too harsh.
Wei Xiu defended: “It was my skills that were not up to par. I must accept a loss if I am willing to take part in the bet, it is unrelated to his highness.”
“But this…”
Wei Xiu seized this opportunity: “I have a request for Your Majesty.”
The emperor: “Say it. I must compensate you for this.”
Wei Xiu: “May Your Majesty please rid Xu Yunchun of his slave status.”
*
That day, Wei Xiu stayed in the palace to eat, only returning to his residence in the dead of night. He inquired and upon hearing the old housekeeper tell him that Xu Yunchun didn’t finish his food, and his irritation sparked.
He had helped Xu Yunchun remove his slave status, yet this child couldn’t even be good and listen! He couldn’t understand where this picky wasteful habit even came from!
He went to his room and saw Xu Yunchun lying on the bed.
He refused to eat, yet he slept without a care.
“Get up!” Wei Xiu stirred Xu Yunchun awake.
Xu Yunchun was drowsy-eyed until he saw Wei Xiu, he instantly smiled: “Young master!”
Wei Xiu saw his foolish smile and slight irritation sparked anew, but he was yet to be fully angered: “You still aren’t eating! What is it? You grew used to the palace food and can’t stomach the plain and crude food of my residence?”
Xu Yunchun didn’t understand the mocking tone behind Wei Xiu’s words, all he understood was “food”.
He hurried over to the pillow and retrieved a plain white bun from under it, worriedly said: “Young master eat.”
Wei Xiu stared at him and almost exploded. That’s a half eaten leftover steamed bun! This boy really stored leftover food in his bed, was he testing his lifespan?
Xu Yunchun hadn’t noticed the disappearance of color from Wei Xiu’s face, he put the bun in Wei Xiu’s hand: “Chunchun not hungry, young master eat.”
Right as the little one finished talking, his stomach suddenly let out a gurgle sound.
Wei Xiu: “…”
He finally understood. It was not that Xu Yunchun refused to eat, it was that Xu Yunchun believed that Wei Xiu hadn’t eaten. Today he had spent all day at the palace, Xu Yunchun thought he had not eaten all day, so he stored a steamed bun in the bed.
Xu Yunchun always left half back because he was leaving some for him. He really was so silly.
“You eat it, I’m not hungry.” Wei Xiu placed the bun back into Xu Yunchun’s hands. He thought for a moment, then said, “…Nevermind, wait here.”
Wei Xiu picked up the cake he brought back from his trip to the palace, and handed it to Xu Yunchun: “How about you eat this.”
The cake was so colorful Xu Yunchun’s eyes were wide, his gaze gliding over every inch. He looked at Wei Xiu expectedly.
Wei Xiu said: “What are you looking at, eat it…no! Get off the bed and eat it! If you ever dare to bring food to bed again, I won’t let you get away with it!”
Xu Yunchun was elated. He descends from the bed to eat the dessert.
The half-eaten bun still sat in Wei Xiu’s hand, he wanted to throw it away, but unexpectedly couldn’t bring himself to do it. He didn’t know what came over him, he found himself taking a bite out of it, then proceeded to finish the dry bun.
A half-eaten bun, that was the first present Xu Yunchun gave him.
*
Ever since then, Wei Xiu let Xu Yunchun eat with him at the same table. Once Xu Yunchun had confirmed that Wei Xiu had food, he didn’t leave half of his meals back anymore. He would leave the plate clean. And thus, Wei Xiu discovered that not only was this boy not picky, but he loved to eat. He ate plentifully like a little pig.
Naturally, Xu Yunchun knew that Xu Yunchun was not a dog, not a little pig. He was Xu Yunchun, a person. A somewhat silly person who always worried about his young master.
*A direct translation of ‘Yunchun (允春)’ is ‘to allow for spring’.
