Chapter Thirty-One: The Bond Between Siblings

Du Shiyi had nearly turned the entire Songyang Temple upside down, yet still could not find any trace of Du Thirteen. At last, he suddenly recalled the thatched cottage at the foot of Junji Peak. After confirming with the gatekeeper that she had left, he hurriedly took his leave from Song Fuzhen and rushed back. The sky was already growing dim as he made his way, and by the time he entered that familiar path, darkness had almost fully descended.

At this moment, the faint glimmer of light from the bamboo grove seemed like a beacon, guiding him through the night. He arrived before the fence and indeed saw a lantern glowing inside the cottage. As he pushed open the gate, a sudden barking broke the silence, and someone seemed to peer out from the shed, followed by Tian Mo's voice.

"Don't worry, it's the young master returning!"

In front of the cottage, Zhu Ying watched Du Shiyi approach at a brisk pace. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke in a low voice as he reached her, "My lady has locked herself in her room since she returned."

"Thank you for your trouble," Du Shiyi nodded and entered the house, adding quietly, "Keep watch outside. Make sure no one tries to pry into what's happening."

"I understand!" Zhu Ying, who was always informal before the Du siblings, nodded vigorously. Once Du Shiyi closed the door behind him, she stepped forward, her gaze fixed intently on the shed and the path outside.

The three spacious rooms, renovated since, had replaced their crude seating with low couches in the main and guest areas, and the flimsy paper screens dividing the east room had given way to plain carved wooden partitions. The lampstand in the central room was lit, but the east room was pitch black, utterly silent, as if it were empty. Du Shiyi paused briefly upon entering, then strode directly to the east room. The bamboo bed by the window, where Du Thirteen used to sleep, remained unchanged. Upon it lay a small figure, turned toward the wall.

"Thirteen," he called softly. Seeing no response, Du Shiyi simply sat with his back to her and began, "Earlier at Songyang Temple, I was too anxious—I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. After all, if not for your tireless care and your journey to find doctors, perhaps your brother would have long since passed away, never to enjoy these days of health and vitality."

"Nonsense!" Though Du Thirteen did not turn over, she could not help blurting out her protest. Immediately, she realized she'd spent her time since returning in sorrow and anger, yet with her brother so near, she wanted to say more sharp words. But none would come to mind, let alone find their way out. She could only bite her lip and fall silent again.

"Uncle Nine is far away in Xianzhou Xiping; I have only you, my sister, to rely on. So I always fear you might inadvertently fall into danger. But hearing Zhu Ying's account, I realized my Thirteen is not only unspoiled by wealth and unshaken by poverty, but also wise and resilient—I underestimated you. Indeed, if not for you, how could I, once little more than a living corpse, have survived so many days? How could you have carried me all the way from Jingzhao Prefecture to Mount Song, and knelt before Songyang Temple in the rain, refusing to move even a step?"

Du Thirteen was shaken to her core, the despair she once felt facing her brother's grave illness flooding her anew, blinding her with tears. She sensed Du Shiyi's hand gently resting on her shoulder; she did not know how much strength it took, but she managed to keep quiet, her jaw clenched.

"So, it was I who erred. Knowing the bond of blood and the depth of sibling affection, knowing you would worry for me even from a safe place, I still sent you away. Knowing you were clever and would never recklessly seek help from Sun Taichong, I still blamed you. Knowing you are not swayed by others' favor or by gold and jade, I still treated you as a child..."

"Brother, please, don't say any more, don't..." This time, Du Thirteen's low voice finally broke through. The bamboo bed creaked as she turned at last, her face streaked with tears, eyes swollen and red. She pushed herself upright, her voice choked, "Brother, you're not at fault. It's me. I shouldn't have lost my temper before Gongsun, nor should I have sneaked back alone... It's all me... I thought you hated me for acting on my own, thought you hated me for being a burden..."

As she spoke, her words dissolved into sobs, and Du Shiyi, startled, quickly gathered her into his arms. He reflected that he'd spent these days at Lu's Cottage copying texts and attending lectures, with his senior brothers looking after him, while Du Thirteen, though cared for by two servants sent by Cui Jianxuan and with the county office watching over her, still endured a loneliness all her own. He rarely returned home, and though he took her once to the county town for a stroll, he had scolded her harshly when trouble arose—it was only natural for her to feel aggrieved.

"It's all right now, it's all right..." He gently stroked her back, comforting her until her sobs subsided. Then he released her, handing her a silk handkerchief. She turned away to wipe her eyes and nose, and when she faced him again, both were red. Smiling softly, he ruffled her disheveled hair, "Next time, speak your mind directly. Don't just run off, making me search all over Songyang Temple, only to learn you'd left with Zhu Ying through the main gate."

"Brother..." Du Thirteen's face flushed with embarrassment. Du Shiyi continued, "I've reflected as well. Though study is important, if I always leave you alone for ten days or more, I am truly at fault. Worrying shouldn't be mere words. When I return tomorrow, I'll speak with Master Lu and arrange to come back every five days to visit you..."

"No, Brother, please don't! Don't let me delay your studies!" Du Thirteen shook her head fiercely, pressing her brother's hand. "I only want you to be well, to have a bright future—nothing else matters. You said yourself I'm clever and capable; I can take care of myself!"

Du Shiyi took a deep breath, about to insist, when outside came a faint commotion, followed by more barking, and Tian Mo's voice mingled with it. Curious, he stood and opened the door, only to hear a familiar voice calling out.

"Du Nineteen, answer if you're home! It's so late—if Fourth Brother hadn't brought me, I'd have tumbled into a ravine!"

It was Cui Jianxuan!

Du Shiyi was startled—before leaving, Pei Ning had urged him to return early, but he'd forgotten in the midst of all that happened. He hurried out of the cottage, calling, "I'm home, I'm home! Tian Mo, bring Young Master Cui and the others in!"

He hardly needed to give instructions; the Cui family's servant, now watching over the cottage, quickly calmed the barking dog and ushered the visitors inside. Cui Jianxuan carried a glass lantern, followed by the robust Hou Xiao. Upon seeing them, Hou Xiao simply nodded, but Cui Jianxuan strode forward in a huff.

"Du Nineteen, what happened to you! You vanished as soon as you left the mountain. We waited and waited, but you never returned—I thought something had happened to you, so I begged Fourth Brother to bring me here!"

"Sorry, sorry, I took Thirteen to the city market and then met with some unexpected events."

Reflecting on how they'd walked the mountain road for his sake, and remembering Cui Jianxuan's well-known fear of the dark, Du Shiyi felt deeply apologetic and quickly invited them inside. Du Thirteen herself served them two cups of barley water, then withdrew with Zhu Ying to the east room. Cui Jianxuan drained his cup in one gulp, glaring at Du Shiyi, who had no choice but to recount in detail what happened with Gongsun's sword dance at the market and the ensuing commotion. When he finished, Fourth Brother Hou Xiao frowned deeply, and Cui Jianxuan slammed his palm on the low couch in anger.

"Damn it, damn it! Had I known Gongsun would come to Dengfeng, I'd have gone out with you today!"

As soon as he spoke, Hou Xiao shot him an unhappy glance. Cui Jianxuan recalled that without Fourth Brother's help, he'd have been paralyzed by the cries of birds and howls of wolves along the way, so he forced a sheepish smile and coughed. "But that Liu Zhao is truly detestable! Is he here to supervise locust-catching, or to indulge in frivolity?"

Speaking of locust-catching, Hou Xiao—who had always opposed it—frowned even more. Yet, recalling that it was his young apprentice who had cured the master's blindness, he opened his mouth but said nothing. At this point, Du Shiyi spoke, "Since this matter concerns me, while Gongsun lodges at Songyang Temple these next few days, I shouldn't return. Please inform Master Lu for me, Fourth Brother."

"Very well," Hou Xiao, not one for complicated disputes, nodded. "I'll go back now."

"Though you're used to mountain roads, it's pitch dark now—you mustn't take risks!" Du Shiyi quickly grabbed Hou Xiao, speaking firmly. "This cottage may be small, but there's more than enough room for you to stay the night. You can return at dawn tomorrow."

"It's fine, little brother, don't worry... Ever since childhood, I've followed my father through the hills. I'm the best hunter in the area!"

Hou Xiao glanced at Cui Jianxuan, who declared, "Fourth Brother will go deliver the message, I'll stay here. If anything happens, I can lend a hand!"