deepestbluesky

i've been losing my gourd over zhou zishu and jing beiyuan AGAIN today, so here, have some fic recs. i've read. uh. basically everything tagged with them on ao3 that actually has them as a significant part (and a lot that don't lol but they're not in this rec list). both platonic and non-platonic relationships in this list! i won't be separating those things tbh but i will note what is tagged on the fic.

note: i've decided to keep updating this! idk how often i'll remember to do that or how much will get added, but it is a thing i'll give a try.

The Best Part, Distilled For You
timetoboldlygo
https://archiveofourown.org/works/36442549
15,237
Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu, Jing Beiyuan/Zhou Zishu (past)

The first thing Beiyuan did upon arriving was kiss Zhou Zishu senseless. A good kiss too, with tongue. It was almost nice, except—
“Beiyuan!” That wasn’t supposed to happen. He hadn’t seen Beiyuan in years. Lao Wen was standing behind him. None of this was supposed to happen. “Are you trying to kill me? I'm married!"
Beiyuan’s expression transformed into one of extreme glee. “Zishu! Are you really?”
-
Beiyuan and Zhou Zishu had always understood each other. They were not good people. So it was easy to sleep with each other, depending on the other to be a bad man. They always knew one of them would betray the other in the future, only that day never came to pass.
Everyone, even Wen Kexing, kept telling Zhou Zishu that meant it was love. Zhou Zishu didn't buy it.

Sapere Aude (series)
OrchisAilsa
https://archiveofourown.org/series/2564485
27,252
Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu, Jing Beiyuan/Wu Xi, Jing Beiyuan & Zhou Zishu, Jing Beiyuan & Wen Kexing & Wu Xi & Zhou Zishu, Jing Beiyuan/Zhou Zishu/Wen Kexing
Summary from the first fic:

Following the events of Word of Honor, Zhou Zishu and Jing Beiyuan finally sit down for that drink together.
Jing Beiyuan talks a lot. When he drinks, he talks even more. Zhou Zishu is absolutely not ready for the sort of heart to heart his oldest friend has in mind. Being immortal does not, apparently, keep one from dying of embarrassment.
I wrote this because I always wanted to be a fly on the wall when these two degenerate drunkards finally sat down to raise a glass together. Because I'm obsessed with the idea that Jing Beiyuan is utterly delighted to discover that his longtime friend shares his sexual proclivities, and obviously wants to dish about it. SHL unequivocally robbed us of the depth of his verbal savagery and I didn't even realize it until I had the chance to read Qi Ye, so I had to write some of my own.
This takes place in the Word of Honor universe, but is inspired by That One Extra from Faraway Wanderers wherein Jing Beiyuan casually comments that Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu are fighting so much because they haven't figured out yet who's going to top whom. The events of Qi Ye are mentioned, but I don't think it's essential to have read the book in order to enjoy this fic.

together in life and death (series)
qingxuans
https://archiveofourown.org/series/2404624
3,245
Jing Beiyuan/Zhou Zishu

The night before Jing Beiyuan's first death, Zhou Zishu pays him a visit.
or: a retelling of the day zzs tries and fails to save beiyuan, except he doesn't walk away.
---
Beiyuan is alone. Zhou Zishu just happens to be, too.
or: as their goal of getting helian yi to the throne starts to solidify, jby and zzs get together to celebrate it with a drink, and a few things more.

Old Souls
anonymous
https://archiveofourown.org/works/32541304
2,351
Jing Beiyuan/Zhou Zishu

When Zhou Zishu kisses him it feels like gratitude.

curative
Shadaras
https://archiveofourown.org/works/32603365
2,364
Jing Beiyuan/Zhou Zishu

Zhou Zishu arrives at Jing Beiyuan's palace late at night, and Jing Beiyuan can't help but try to find out why.

Grace
Cerch
https://archiveofourown.org/works/31420241
1,234
Jing Beiyuan & Zhou Zishu

The emperor grants the Prince of Nan'ning death by the white cloth. Zhou Zishu warns his oldest friend.

Iron and Stone
bladedweaponsandswishycoats
https://archiveofourown.org/works/33819046
5,669
Jing Beiyuan & Zhou Zishu, Liang Jiuxiao & Zhou Zishu, Jing Beiyuan & Liang Jiuxiao

“This commoner is fine, Prince, but thank you for your concern. It’s nothing that a jar of wine won’t help,” Zhou Zishu says, which brings a skeptical look to Jing Beiyuan’s face. He really is fine, though, despite everything.
“Ah, so I’m just here to enable you?” Jing Beiyuan asks drily, closing the folding fan in his hand decisively and approaching.
Zhou Zishu raises an eyebrow and glares a little. “Do I seem like I need to be enabled?”
***
With his eyes shut and Zhou Zishu wrapped softly around him, Jing Beiyuan realizes that it’s not even a human lifetime that he remembers this feeling from; it’s the one where he’d been a fox. That life had ended rather ignobly, of course, but before that—he had blurry memories of being a kit, safe in the circle of warmth with his siblings and mother, waiting out the winter in their den. Thinking about it that way, he suddenly feels that this is not so bad; it might even be...pleasant. Amused, a little, at this, he smiles silently into the dark, thinking about the absurdity of that and stroking Zhou Zishu's hair gently.

Unvarnished
bladedweaponsandswishycoats
https://archiveofourown.org/works/34461085
3,751
Jing Beiyuan & Zhou Zishu, Liang Jiuxiao & Zhou Zishu, Jing Beiyuan/Wu Xi (pre-relationship)

“Zishu? I know you’re in there. Liang Jiuxiao told me what happened. We need to talk. I’ve brought wine and dinner, too.”
Zhou Zishu goes still when he realizes who it is. Jing Beiyuan is, at least, one of the few people who knows some of his secrets. Not all, of course, not even most—but the things he doesn’t know are unlikely to shock or anger the man. He’s also, however, the most ruthless person Zhou Zishu knows, and if Zhou Zishu can barely endure himself in this state, Jing Beiyuan is unlikely to be willing to do so either.
So that means he’s come...well.
Zhou Zishu takes a deep breath. He could flee, or fight—Jing Beiyuan is no match for him, physically—but he won’t. Because the thing is, Jing Beiyuan is just doing what he would, if their positions were reversed. And...it’s probably the right thing to do, if there really is no cure.
(In which Jing Beiyuan learns he can trust this life's version of Zhou Zishu.)

In Every Form, a Friend
bladedweaponsandswishycoats
https://archiveofourown.org/works/35347648
1,134
Jing Beiyuan & Zhou Zishu

Zishu heard him pouring tea and twitched, amber eyes opening to look up at Jing Beiyuan. Not really asleep, of course. (Ah, well, Jing Beiyuan understood that. He would wager that he was at least as good at sleeping as the cat. Not in terms of actual hours slept during the day perhaps, but to be fair, Jing Beiyuan did not spend most nights terrorizing the neighborhood's small mammal population, either.)
"Zishu, even if you are a cat now, you should try to commit fewer immoral acts, and take care to repent in the future. So much killing, how will you ever gather enough merits to gain a human birth again? Have you considered that? You owe me five bottles of nu'er hong wine, still, you know. And it had better be a good vintage," he said sternly.
(In which I attempt a joke about Zhou Zishu as an actual cat for the clowns in the dzzs server, but since I am the actual clown, accidentally get emotional about Zhou Zishu and Jing Beiyuan being friends through multiple lives. Ah yes, it must be Tuesday.)

Nor Quarrel with Others
bladedweaponsandswishycoats
https://archiveofourown.org/works/37377013
2,718
Jing Beiyuan & Zhou Zishu

His Highness seemed quite pleased. Even more pleased, if possible, was the furry (and bloody) menace perched proudly on the Prince's shoulder, chittering proudly about its feat—it was the little sable, it turned out, that had attacked the spy and saved their Prince. A-Mei looked at it with more respect, a little impressed. They'd been warned it was venomous, but she'd had no idea its venom could be that lethal and fast-acting.
Ordered to disperse, A-Mei turned away and began to follow the others, but then remembered the third thing—that shadowy figure. Without really considering it, she turned back, looking up, only to see a man leaping down. The excitement of the morning initially had her ready to panic—was this another attack? She jumped back, looking for a place to hide, but wasn't fast enough.
"Ah, ah, I don't think so—" the grip on A-Mei's elbow was light but unbreakable, even as she twisted to get away.

okay this one is actually WKX & JBY but whatever the VIBES are right!!! also i'm soft.
Glitter & Gold
AiyexAyen
https://archiveofourown.org/works/37612714
Jing Beiyuan & Wen Kexing, established Jing Beiyuan/Wu Xi, established Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu | Zhou Xu, Jing Beiyuan & Wen Kexing & Wu Xi & Zhou Zishu

Beiyuan knows how to deal with an angry Zhou Zishu: don't. He grabs Wen Kexing's dramatic, overwrought ass and drags him out clubbing. Everything will be better in the morning, he promises. And Jing Beiyuan is always right.

Hidden Dragons
chiiyo86
https://archiveofourown.org/works/38335426
Jing Beiyuan & Zhou Zishu