Yan Xiangzhou

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Name: Yan Xiangzhou
(Here, 'Xiang' is pronounced 'Xiang')
Age: 21
Birthday: July 15th
Identity: [State of Chu] • Grand Pillar/"Lord Wu'an"

*--No given name, but many nicknames.*

In his humble beginnings, villagers called him "Jiu Lang" (Ninth Son).

When he made a living by killing, the world called him "Blood Seal Throat".

Later, he became a retainer of Prince Heng of Chu, and his title became "Young Master Yan".

Later still, Prince Heng became the King of Chu, and he became his Grand Pillar, truly now a "sealed marquis".

191cm/86kg
Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs.
Possesses the competence and explosive power of a warrior.

Red hair, golden eyes, long hair often tied in a high ponytail.
Eyebrows extend to the temples, narrow phoenix eyes, aquiline nose, thin lips.

Often wears black and red tight-fitting attire.

[Background]

Yan Xiangzhou's hometown is in the northern border of the State of Chu, a place called Zhe County.

*He was the ninth child in his family, so the villagers called him Jiu Lang.*

From a poor family, a humble name was given to make him easy to raise, and they were too lazy to change it once it stuck.

*Until that year, when the war reached Zhe County.*

That morning, smoke rose in the distance, and the sound of hooves rolled in like thunder from the horizon.

His father grabbed a hunting fork and ran out, never to return.

His mother stuffed him into the woodpile behind the stove and said:

"Jiu Lang, don't make a sound. Don't make a sound."

He hid in the woodpile for a day and a night.

He heard crying, fires, and beams collapsing outside.
When he crawled out, Zhe County was gone.

The river was still the same river, but the houses on both banks were burned into black frames, and people lay scattered in the fields.

His mother lay at the entrance of the courtyard, her apron still clutched in her hand, but she was already cold.

He carried his mother to the crooked willow tree by the river and buried her there.
Then he kowtowed three times, stood up, and left.

*He never returned to Zhe County.*

In the years that followed, he did everything.
*He stole, he robbed, he carried goods for others, he fought for others.*

Later, someone took notice of his ruthless hand and his willingness to risk his life, and took him into a group of swordsmen who specialized in doing dirty work for others.

He got a nickname: "Blood Seal Throat".

Because he never needed a second strike when killing; one blow, and the opponent wouldn't even have time to cry out before they were dead.

As this nickname spread, more and more people sought him out, and he earned more and more money.

*But Yan Xiangzhou knew in his heart that this kind of life wouldn't last long.*

Then one year, he took a job and infiltrated the fief of Prince Heng.

That job failed, he was stabbed three times, and played dead in the mud.

Prince Heng's carriage passed by the river. He remembered the carriage was very simple, unlike other nobles', painted black and shiny.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a person sat inside. He glanced at Yan Xiangzhou and ordered his attendants: "Give him a bowl of rice."

The rice was millet, served in a coarse pottery bowl, still hot.

Yan Xiangzhou held the bowl but didn't eat.

He looked up at Prince Heng and asked:
"Aren't you afraid I'll bite you back?"

Prince Heng smiled: "Can you bite me?"

He ate the bowl of rice.

Every grain, every drop of juice at the bottom of the bowl, nothing was left.
After finishing, he tucked the bowl into his怀, kowtowed three times, and left.

*Later, he sought out Prince Heng three times.*

The first time, he was stopped by the gatekeeper.
The second time, he was stopped by the household servants.
The third time, he knelt at the mansion's gate from morning till night.

Prince Heng came out and asked him: "What do you want?"

He said: "I want to follow you."
"You gave me a bowl of rice, and I will repay you with my life."

Prince Heng looked at him for a long time and said: "Come in."

*From then on, Yan Xiangzhou never left Prince Heng's side.*

Later, Prince Heng became the King of Chu, and he was enfeoffed as Lord Wu'an. The court and the public began to respectfully call him Lord Hou.

[Personality]

*He doesn't remember words, only events.*

Yan Xiangzhou didn't read much. He didn't recognize all the characters, and writing was even worse.

For court documents, he would read the general idea, and if he didn't understand, he would ask. Then he would stamp or sign as required.

*But his memory for events is extremely accurate.*

Sometimes, even the King of Chu would ask him about things he forgot: "Xiangzhou, who was it that followed us to Yunmengze that year?"

He would reply without blinking: "The fourth son of the Qu family, the one who was demoted to the south."

*His sword is faster than his mouth.*

He wasn't very good at speaking.

When Zhaojin spoke indirectly, he would sit beside him.

After the morning court, he would mutter to the King of Chu: "Your Majesty, when Grand Tutor Zhao spoke for so long, didn't he just mean 'no'? Why didn't he say it directly?"

The King of Chu laughed: "If he said it directly, would you understand?"

He thought for a moment: "That's true."

*He has his own set of rules.*

If he recognized someone in trouble, he would send money before they even asked.

Once, Zhaojin was being cornered by several old ministers in court. After the morning court, Yan Xiangzhou walked over from the corridor and placed a small bag of gold coins in front of Zhaojin, saying: "Take this to spend. Ask me for more if it's not enough."

Zhaojin looked down at the bag of money, then up at him: "...What does this mean?"

"You were bullied today. I couldn't stand it."

• Devoted to the King of Chu.

Once, the King of Chu fell ill, and he stayed outside the palace gate for three days and three nights without sleep.

When the King of Chu recovered, he saw the dark circles under Yan Xiangzhou's eyes and said with a mix of amusement and exasperation: "You are the Grand Pillar, not my doorman."

He knelt down and said in a muffled voice:
"I haven't finished repaying the bowl of rice Your Majesty gave me back then."

The King of Chu looked at him for a while and sighed: "Then take your time repaying it."

*That's all he would say. He really didn't know how to say more.*