Chapter 115: Zhu Po, Duke of Jingzhao

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The "Old Master Du" that Du Thirteen referred to was none other than Du Siwen, the retired Duke of Jingzhao. He was called the Duke of Jingzhao not only because he hailed from the Jingzhao branch of the Du family, but also because he once served as the magistrate of Jingzhao early in the Kaiyuan era, shortly after the emperor established the position. Although his tenure lasted little more than a year before he retired to his hometown, he was still the first among the Jingzhao Du clan in two decades to reach the third rank officialdom, with the potential to become prime minister. Du Siwen had four sons and three daughters, all of whom were already parents themselves. His sons entered officialdom either through inherited status or by passing the imperial examination, while his daughters married into families of equal standing. Notably, his youngest daughter became the consort of Prince Han, and among the royal consorts of the imperial family, she was considered one of the most virtuous and capable.

Moreover, Du Siwen was approachable and fond of gatherings with younger generations. Since retiring to his Zhu Po villa, he frequently hosted literary salons, inviting talented members of the Du clan. Even prominent families from Jingzhao and visiting scholars often came uninvited, turning these ordinary banquets into grand occasions.

Though today Du Siwen had only formally invited Du Shiyi, Du Shihan insisted on accompanying him enthusiastically. Du Thirteen had nowhere else to go, was concerned for her elder brother’s well-being, and wished to meet this elder of the family. Along with several stonemasons like Tian Mo, Zhu Ying, and Yang Zongwan, plus attendants from the Cui household, they gathered with a convoy of carriages and horses numbering nearly twenty. Only Qiu Niang repeatedly declined to join, saying she wanted to return home. Du Shiyi wanted to assign a servant to escort her back but was ultimately refused. Despite such a large party, the messenger sent by Du Siwen showed no sign of surprise and quietly led them along the way.

As they traveled, seeing Du Shihan’s genuine warmth and care in his words and demeanor, Du Shiyi gradually shed his initial reserve and began to engage in lively conversation. When the topic turned to Du Shihan’s distinctive beard, an answer came that was both amusing and endearing.

“I dress to impress, and a monk needs his robes. People used to mistake me for a noble young master and respected me for my status, not my skills, which was quite dull! So I deliberately grew this beard. It makes me look ten years older, and others treat me with tenfold respect!” Du Shihan said as he slapped the treasured sword at his waist with a hearty laugh. “Since the Nineteenth Young Master is back, if you run into trouble, just look for me! Any matter solvable by fists or sword, I’m your man!”

Such goodwill, of course, Du Shiyi did not refuse. He smiled and nodded, “Then I shall rely on Brother Thirteen from now on!”

Zhu Po, originally named Zhu Bo Village, was so called because it was the ancestral home of the prime minister Zhu Bo during Emperor Ai’s reign of the Han dynasty. Over time, people called it Zhu Po rather than Zhu Bo. Zhu Po was not located in Du Qu of Fan Chuan but southeast of Wei Qu, near Shaoling Plain’s southern edge. It lay three li from the Du ancestral temple, north of Huayan Temple, overlooking Fan Chuan. Every day, the sounds of Huayan Temple’s bells and chimes filled the air, while the beautiful scenery of Fan Chuan stretched as far as the eye could see. The place was famed for its many villas and estates, and since the reign of Empress Wu, numerous nobles and ministers built summer retreats there. The finest spots among the mountains often hosted clustered mansions, where richly clad gentlemen gathered like clouds.

Du Siwen’s estate was situated halfway up a hill in Zhu Po.

Upon arrival, whether high officials or commoners, all had to halt their carriages at the estate’s lower courtyard and ascend the mountain path on foot. Of course, the elderly or esteemed guests could be carried in sedan chairs, but today no one was so frail as to refuse the short climb. Especially Du Shiyi, who had grown accustomed to mountain climbing during his time at Song Mountain, ascended the steps with ease and leisure. Du Shihan, originally worried about possible aftereffects from his brother’s recent illness, finally relaxed and, smiling, placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Well done, Nineteenth Young Master. You were once brilliant but frail. Now after three years, you’ve returned robust... I see you’ve taken to wearing a sword? Whether for show or skill, we should spar sometime soon.”

“Brother Thirteen!”

Hearing that heavy cough from behind, Du Shihan hurriedly turned to see Du Thirteen puffing up her cheeks and glaring at him. He was instantly reminded of the little girl who, though small in stature, was fiercely protective of her brother. Remembering how she had journeyed thousands of miles to accompany Du Shiyi to Song Mountain for treatment, he blushed and raised his hand apologetically. “I misspoke... Thirteen, if I hadn’t just traveled to Ganyang before, I should have escorted you all to Song Mountain myself. But, well...”

“Let bygones be bygones,” Du Thirteen gently bit her lip, then looked up with a radiant smile. “If not for this journey, how could I have known that true sincerity could move the Lord of the Underworld and grant my brother added years?”

“Eh?”

That old excuse, once used to brush off countless doubts, sounded awkward now coming from Du Thirteen. Clearing his throat, Du Shiyi suddenly said, “I only arrived in Chang’an yesterday evening and stayed in the city for one night before coming home. Thirteen, you arrived just as the commotion at my doorstep was drawing attention. If you’d been caught by your patrol, how would Old Master Du have known I was back?”

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“Old Master Du was once a magistrate of Jingzhao. If he paid attention, how could he not know what stirs in Chang’an?” Du Shihan replied without hesitation. Just then, from a mountain path branch came a loud, booming voice mocking, “Du Thirteen, your habit of gossiping behind others’ backs only grows worse!”

Before seeing the speaker, Du Shiyi looked toward the voice’s direction. Soon, an elderly man in a rough robe and cloth shoes ambled over. Compared with the slender old men Du Shiyi had met before, this one was slightly plump, with a ruddy face and bright eyes, though most of his hair had turned white. A child of about seven or eight trailed behind him.

Stopping before a stunned Du Shihan, the old man cheerfully waved his hand in front of him. As Du Shihan hurriedly bowed, the man turned to Du Shiyi and Du Thirteen with a half-smile.

“Well? Nineteenth Young Master, Thirteen, after three years, don’t you recognize me?”

“Uncle...” Du Thirteen burst into tears, ignoring the dusty mountain path as she knelt and bowed. “If it weren’t for you lending me your driver, carriage, and attendants, and writing to Dengfeng County to arrange a cottage beside Songyang Temple for me, I…”

Before she could finish, she felt steady hands supporting her arms. Looking up to see Du Siwen smiling warmly, she shyly wiped her nose and smiled through her tears. “Thankfully, my brother has recovered, his learning surpasses the past, and his bones are strong!”

“That last part is what you really wanted to say, isn’t it?” Du Siwen released her and turned away without looking back. “Heaven entrusts a great responsibility to a person, first to test their resolve, to toil their muscles and bones, to hunger their flesh and skin, to leave them empty and confused, but never to stray from their path. This tests endurance and increases abilities. Nineteenth Young Master, now three years later, returning to Fan Chuan, have you gained anything?”

Returning to Fan Chuan stirred up a torrent of old memories, and familiar yet strangely distant faces emerged one by one. Du Shiyi felt unsettled, but this elder reminded him of his revered teacher Lu Hong. Though Du Thirteen called him “Old Uncle,” the blood relation was distant, tracing back five generations without connection. Yet Du Siwen had once brought him into noble households, making his youthful reputation soar. He was closer than his own uncle Du Fu. After a moment of surprise, Du Shiyi bowed deeply.

“Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. This return home has truly been enlightening. Without near-death experiences, one cannot appreciate life; without seeing myriad landscapes, one cannot grasp the world’s vastness; without meeting the master Sima of Mount Tiantai and teacher Lu of Song Mountain, one cannot recognize true scholars or find kindred spirits… Most importantly, if not for this illness, I would have forgotten that I still have a sister who depends solely on me. So, I thank you, Old Uncle, for lending me your carriage, driver, and attendants, and for writing letters to help me see the daylight again.”

Du Siwen laughed and looked at Du Thirteen. “Thirteen, your brother used to be good-natured but bookish. Now he’s wise beyond before! I thought you blamed me for sending you alone to Song Mountain for treatment—really harsh!”

“You flatter me, Old Uncle. Your generous help as a namesake elder is deeply appreciated.”

Even help from relatives was kindness, not obligation, much less from a senior of the clan. Du Shiyi understood this well.

“Hahaha!” Du Siwen clapped his hands and laughed, then nodded. “Enough talk outside the gate, come on in!”

Though Du Siwen still owned a mansion in Chang’an, he mostly resided at this Zhu Po mountain estate now, leaving the city house to his descendants. Leading the three young members of the Du family along a mountain path, he arrived at a pavilion perched on a cliff’s edge. He instructed the child to lay down mats and invited them to sit. At that moment, maids brought trays of porcelain dishes holding only fresh seasonal fruits, the most eye-catching being a plate of cherries.

“This year, the forbidden garden’s cherries ripened early, so before the Cherry Banquet begins, nobles have already divided them. This plate was sent by Lady Ba,” Du Siwen said, holding the small white porcelain dish with about a dozen cherries, smiling at Du Shiyi. “Nineteenth Young Master, would you be interested in attending next year’s Cherry Banquet?”

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“I am interested,” Du Shiyi replied succinctly, then bowed slightly and said, “Please, Old Uncle, instruct me.”

Seeing Du Shihan and Du Thirteen remained silent, Du Siwen stroked his beard thoughtfully and spoke calmly: “I won’t comment on the late Lady Qi’s family affairs. Back then, the political situation was perilous; grudges were tangled and hard to unravel. Besides, she later made efforts to mend things. Some younger Du family members overstepped. After Du Wenruo and Sixth Young Master returned from the Eastern Capital, they exaggerated many unfavorable things about you, so their clan leaders came to see me and naturally criticized you. This year, many Du youths are taking the provincial exams. The Jingzhao prefecture exams have always been about ranking in the top ten. Only by achieving such distinction, or even topping the list, can one hope to pass the imperial examination. Yet over all these years, no local peer of the same surname has ever ranked in the prefecture exam in the same year!”

Du Siwen paused, then continued slowly, “At the Wan Nian county exam, the elders of these examinees have come to see me, hoping I would intervene with Guo Quan. I have refused all such requests. As for the Jingzhao prefecture exam, I am long retired and have no authority to interfere.”

Du Shiyi’s heart brightened immediately. Du Siwen was telling him that many contenders among the Du family were vying fiercely to succeed in this year’s exams, including his own branch. Thus, Du Siwen, to remain impartial, had to stand aside, leaving Du Shiyi to rely on himself.

“I understand what you mean, Old Uncle!”

“No, you don’t yet!” Du Siwen’s eyes gleamed as he looked sharply at Du Shiyi and spoke deliberately, “Though Fan Chuan Du Qu is your hometown, it is not suitable for you to live there for now. Besides the twenty li distance from Chang’an, which makes coming and going inconvenient, the complex relationships within the Du clan are hard to manage quickly. The Cui family sent people to escort you back, right? They surely suggested you stay at the Cui residence in Pingkang Lane. You might as well live there.”

Suddenly standing, Du Siwen’s gaze was piercing. “Like the annual imperial selection, both the county and prefecture exams require pedigree and reputation. I cannot help you for now. Each branch of the Jingzhao Du family has its own candidates and selfish interests, which are harmful to you. In that case, the renowned Cui family of Qinghe can assist you when you present your credentials. But since everyone submits credentials, to stand out, you must find other means. I hear your uncle bought a house in Luoyang but hasn’t visited the old home in years. You can only depend on yourself for now.”

Seeing Du Shiyi silently nod, Du Shihan looked displeased while Du Thirteen’s face darkened. Du Siwen continued, “If anything happens, send word to me. I cannot help with the exams or the imperial selection, but I can assist with other matters. By the way…”

He waved for the child, whispered instructions, and after the child left, returned with a smooth, polished name card inscribed with “Respectfully presented by Du Siwen of Jingzhao.”

“Keep this card. When the time comes, it will help you gain an audience.”

After the Du siblings finished their meal and Du Siwen promised to ensure their local support for the exams, he had the steward escort them out. Returning to the pavilion overlooking the main road, he watched Du Shiyi’s group descend the mountain. A faint, bitter smile emerged at the corner of his mouth.

Since the Han dynasty, the Jingzhao Du family had been a prominent and respected clan. Du Ruhui once assisted Emperor Taizong in founding a great empire, securing a lasting place in history. Yet in recent years, although many still served in government, outstanding figures were few. The mere fact that others worried about the unprecedented lack of local peers with the same surname ranking in the prefecture exam, simply because Du Shiyi hadn’t returned, spoke volumes. Alas, Du Nineteen was not his direct descendant, so he could not intervene openly. Otherwise, if future troubles arose within the clan, he would lose his standing to speak.

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