That day, You Miao brought the dog-rong slave named Li Zhi Feng back home. His uncle was at home throwing a fit, so You Miao didn't dare make a fuss. He instructed the servants to place the half-dead man in a room, behind a screen, and laid a few things underneath him, making a crude bed that resembled a dog's nest. He warned them not to speak of this to anyone and treated it as though it never happened, then went back to his own room to sleep.
That night, heavy snow began to fall. Lying in bed, You Miao recalled a wild dog he had once rescued as a child. He couldn't sleep, and in the middle of the night, he quietly got up to check whether the dog-rong slave was still alive.
Around midnight, from behind the screen, came the sound of labored breathing, like someone blowing into a bellows. Unable to sleep, You Miao quietly got up, tiptoeing past the maids, barefoot on the wool carpet, dressed in white like freshly fallen snow. Holding a small five-colored glass lantern, he walked toward the screen.
The dog-rong slave was panting intermittently, gasping for breath. He was probably dying, and You Miao couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for the two hundred taels he had spent. He pulled back the quilt and examined him under the light of the lantern.
Earlier, in the icy cold, the man had turned purple, his body soaked in a mixture of blood, urine, sweat, and bile that had all frozen into ice. Now, after half the night under the quilt, the ice had melted, and a foul, sour odor filled the air. His limbs were well-proportioned, his feet large, fingers long. He stood at least eight feet tall, his strong legs like wild horses, and between them, his genitals were impressive, resembling that of a horse or donkey—well-formed and striking.
As You Miao looked at his face, the slave suddenly opened his eyes, and You Miao jumped, almost knocking the lantern into his face.
The slave's eyes were unfocused, staring at the glass lantern.
"Why did you save me?" His voice was low and hoarse.
You Miao, still stunned, stammered, "You... you're still alive?"
The slave didn't respond. You Miao thought about how to answer. Was he supposed to talk about his sordid encounter with Li Yan? He certainly couldn't say that out loud.
You Miao sighed, "I was just feeling impulsive. You're... fine, right?"
He waved the lantern in front of the slave's face, and after a long moment, the slave's gaze finally shifted to You Miao's face. The multicolored light from the lantern shone through the screen, casting rainbow-colored reflections on both their faces.
"You cost me two hundred taels of silver. You can't die now. What's your name?" You Miao asked.
The slave stared at him for a long time, not blinking. Finally, he replied, "Li Zhi Feng."
You Miao confirmed his name, then said, "I went against Li Yan for you, so you better behave yourself. Tomorrow, I'll have a doctor come to see you. For now, just rest."
Li Zhi Feng didn't respond. You Miao placed the lantern beside the screen and went back to bed. All night long, he kept worrying that his two hundred taels might go to waste. He kept getting up to glance at the screen, straining to hear anything. By the time the first light of dawn broke, he sneaked over again. Li Zhi Feng's eyes were closed. You Miao checked for a pulse.
Li Zhi Feng spoke, "I'm not dead. Go back to sleep."
You Miao nodded and returned to bed. But Li Zhi Feng called out again, "I'll always remember the life you saved me."
You Miao smiled softly, "Just don't die, and that'll be enough."
At that point, You Miao finally managed to fall asleep, and didn't wake up until late in the morning. He had been tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep soundly. When his maid entered, she sniffed the air and asked, "Young Master, what's that smell in here?"
You Miao quickly dismissed her, "Out, out, all of you, get out! It's none of your business."
He ushered the maid out, then suddenly remembered something. "Bring the incense burner in."
The maid looked confused, but You Miao pressed, "Where's my uncle?"
The maid bowed and replied, "Master went to the Ministry of Personnel to visit the Minister."
As You Miao was washing his face and rinsing his mouth, a servant came to report, "Qiao'er is waiting outside the second door, ready to prepare for the Young Master's studies."
You Miao wasn't in the mood to study. He quickly said, "Not today. Go, tell everyone to rest."
Every day, the servants prepared for You Miao's studies, but since no one ever really came to test his work, they were free to relax. You Miao washed up, and the incense burner was brought in. The room filled with fragrant smoke. Breakfast was delivered to his room, and he asked for a light porridge with some fried partridge meat soaked in it. The maid shredded the meat and added it to the porridge. After sending the servants out, You Miao secretly kept a bowl for himself.
"I want to take a bath. Prepare the water and call in Shi Qi'er," You Miao said.
Moments later, Shi Qi, a servant who had always been with You Miao and had been sent by his uncle, entered with a large tub of water. He was shocked when he saw You Miao, and asked, "Young Master, you hid that dead dog in your room last night?"
"What dead dog?" You Miao replied. "It's two hundred taels, come, help me out."
You Miao couldn't let his uncle find out about this, fearing that once his uncle saw Li Zhi Feng, he'd throw him out and beat You Miao up. He had to make sure Li Zhi Feng's injuries were treated first, then he'd tell his uncle the slave had been given to him by someone else. But before he could do that, he had to clean him up first.
Shi Qi crossed his arms and stood behind the screen with You Miao. "What are you looking at?" You Miao said. "Pick him up."
Shi Qi's face twitched in disgust. The smell was unbearable, and he was extremely reluctant, but he had no choice but to help You Miao carry Li Zhi Feng. The man stumbled, unable to stand on his own. You Miao asked, "Can you walk?"
Li Zhi Feng nodded, but his legs were weak. Together with Shi Qi, they carried him to the bath tub and lowered his head into the water with a splash. Water splashed everywhere, drenching them both. Shi Qi looked pained, and You Miao ordered, "Go find some clean clothes for him to wear." Afterward, he turned Li Zhi Feng over, but the man had no strength left and leaned against the tub, eyes closed.
You Miao took a loofah and weakly began scrubbing him. He lifted the man's hair and pushed it back, studying his face. "You're quite handsome," he said. "Are you alright?"
Li Zhi Feng, exhausted, slowly lifted his hand out of the water, trembling as he pressed it against the edge of the tub, brushing against You Miao's hand.
You Miao muttered, "How could a grown man not even fight off a few servants?"
"They gave me soft tendon powder," Li Zhi Feng's voice was weak, barely audible. You Miao couldn't hear clearly and leaned closer to his lips, "What did you say?"
Li Zhi Feng exhaled slowly. "Martial arts."
You Miao's eyes widened. "You know martial arts?"
Li Zhi Feng was too weak to respond. You Miao wanted to ask him more, but seeing his half-dead condition, he decided to leave him for now.
Shi Qi returned with clothes, and You Miao helped Li Zhi Feng sit up, carefully dressing him in undergarments and a robe, wrapping him in a quilt, and moving him behind the screen. Shi Qi removed the wet bedding and took it away. You Miao sighed in relief—everything had been taken care of.
---
Li Zhi Feng's hair was still wet, but his face had gained a little color. He was darker than You Miao, gaunt to the point of almost being skeletal. His cheekbones were high, and there was a scar above his brow, still not fully healed—probably from the time Li Yan hit him with a vase. The scar was about two inches long, running from his brow to his ear. A handsome face ruined by that mark.
He had his eyes closed, his brows were sharp and beautiful, his nose was high, and his fingers long. But his complexion was ashen, like that of a corpse. You Miao called out, "Hey."
Li Zhi Feng weakly opened his eyes. His irises held a faint brown tint. He parted his lips but could not speak.
You Miao took a jade pendant from around his neck and, bending down, tied it around Li Zhi Feng's neck. "This is a protective charm my mother gave me. I'll let you use it for now. Sit up and eat something."
You Miao placed a bowl of porridge in a basin of warm water, then took out a small jade whistle. When Shi Qi returned, the two of them struggled to lift Li Zhi Feng and help him sit up. At fifteen years old, You Miao was still a boy, and Shi Qi, only fourteen, was no better. The two young men struggled to feed the large man a bowl of warm porridge.
After Li Zhi Feng ate, You Miao sent Shi Qi to find a doctor. Since it seemed impossible to go out today, he simply sat in the room, flipping through books and daydreaming.
Li Zhi Feng coughed from behind the screen. You Miao hurried over to check. After eating, Li Zhi Feng's face had gained some color. His skin was darker than You Miao's and less delicate. The veins on the back of his hands were visible, and he coughed, turning his body slightly, pressing his mouth shut with his hand.
You Miao gently rubbed his back, looking at him with concern. He thought, When the doctor arrives, if they can't treat him, I'll... just throw him out. But such a big man, with the snowstorm outside, I can't just throw him into the alley; I'll have to throw him far away. It would be too pitiful. Two hundred taels of silver... If I had known, I wouldn't have done it. The thought of it made You Miao feel a pang of heartache. He reminded himself to make sure he took the jade pendant back when he threw the man out, to avoid losing it with him.
"How old are you?" You Miao asked sympathetically.
Li Zhi Feng replied weakly, "The eleventh year of Qing Shuo."
You Miao nodded. This year was the thirty-third year of Qing Shuo, meaning he was already twenty-two.
You Miao returned to the desk, warming his hands over the stove, thinking for a moment before walking over to place the stove into Li Zhi Feng's arms. He sat down beside him, behind the screen, and asked, "When were you sold to the capital?"
Li Zhi Feng replied, "Seven years ago."
He had been sold to the brothel at just fifteen years old. You Miao had an inkling of what that place was—a place where women were sold to work as courtesans. There were men there too, but this "dog-rong slave" was a first for You Miao. He couldn't figure out what kind of person Li Zhi Feng was. Judging by his looks, he didn't seem like someone who would work as a male prostitute.
"Master," came Shi Qi's voice from outside.
You Miao quickly stood up and went outside. The old doctor, covered in snow, entered holding a medicine bag. You Miao motioned for the doctor to come in, and anxiously stood by, watching as Shi Qi exchanged glances with him. You Miao raised an eyebrow, signaling him to explain what was happening.
Shi Qi whispered, "Master has returned."
You Miao's eyes shifted, then he asked, "Did he call for me?"
Shi Qi shook his head, and You Miao replied, "Don't worry about him for now."
The doctor didn't ask about Li Zhi Feng's background, nor did he question why a man was staying in the young master's room. He simply furrowed his brows and carefully checked his pulse.
Shi Qi spoke to Li Zhi Feng, "My master has hired the best doctor in the capital for you, at a cost of ten taels of silver."