Chapter Forty-Two: Gathering Around the Hearth, Roasting Meat and Discussing the Fate of the Nation

Compared to the official halls at the front of the county office, the residences at the back, reserved for officials, were modest and refined. At this moment, Cui Yuan himself stepped forward to greet the group, holding an umbrella over Cui Jianxuan to shield him from the wind and snow, while saying, “My lord had already planned to visit Lushi Cottage before the New Year to see the Eleventh Young Master and pay his respects to Lord Lu. By chance, he heard that the Eleventh Young Master and Young Master Du had come together—my lord could not be more delighted.”

As he spoke, he turned his head to glance at Du Shiyi, who was being attended by another servant with an umbrella, and suddenly patted his own head with his left hand. “Ah, how forgetful of me! Young Master Du, you should know that Young Lady Du was just brought here this morning by my lady’s orders. Who would have thought your lordship would arrive so soon? Is this not the most serendipitous thing in the world?”

Du Shiyi, who had been preoccupied with Wu Jiu’s request, was overjoyed to hear that his thirteenth sister was here as well. Sure enough, as soon as they entered the third gate, he spotted her beneath the eaves of the sleeping quarters, standing with Zhu Ying, craning her neck in anticipation. The moment she saw him, her eyes sparkled with unrestrained delight.

If not for the middle-aged woman beside her saying something, she might have dashed through the snow in her brocade boots to greet him. Witnessing this, Du Shiyi quickened his pace. As he drew nearer, he saw Cui Jianxuan bow deeply to the woman, addressing her as Seventh Aunt. Du recalled hearing that Cui Jianxuan’s aunt was from the noble Wang clan of Langya, and hurried forward to pay his respects, “Greetings, madam!”

With a gentle smile, Lady Wang helped Cui Jianxuan up, then quickly called for Du Shisan to assist Du Shiyi as well, before addressing them warmly, “There’s no need for formality among family. I only just had Thirteenth Lady brought over today, and now, come evening, both Nineteenth Young Master and Eleventh Young Master have arrived together—surely this is fate! The venison is already roasting on the stove; come in quickly to warm yourselves, as it is just about supper time!”

Du Shisan held tightly to her brother’s hand, and once they had followed Lady Wang and Cui Jianxuan inside, she seized a moment when no one was looking to whisper, “Brother, Lady Wang invited me many times, and it was hard to refuse…”

“It’s fine,” Du Shiyi reassured her softly, gently smoothing the small, charming lock of hair at the side of her head. “Living at the foot of Mount Junji with only Zhu Ying and the others for company is lonely enough. Visiting the Cui family is only proper. Truth be told, I had planned to visit your cottage today despite the heavy snow, rather than return to Dengfeng. Fortunately, Eleventh Cui insisted I come here—otherwise, I’d have found the house empty and regretted it sorely. So your coming here is truly a blessing!”

Du Shisan was so cheered by his words that she rested her head upon her brother’s arm. Lady Wang, walking ahead, glanced back and happened to notice that Du Shiyi still carried a heavy leather pouch in his right hand, which made her pause in thoughtful silence. Just then, they heard Cui Jianxuan exclaim, “Ah, it’s finally warm in here… Riding through the wind all the way, I’m exhausted! Seventh Aunt, where are Twenty-fifth Young Master and Seventeenth Lady?”

Though Cui Weizhi had children by concubines, he had only one legitimate son and one legitimate daughter, with the latter usually the only one to greet guests. Lady Wang, treating Du Shiyi as a close family friend, smiled and instructed a maid, and soon enough, the servants came out with the children. First was a chubby boy of seven or eight, whose round face radiated good-natured mischief. After making his bows, he immediately latched onto Cui Jianxuan, calling him “Eleventh Brother” repeatedly. When Cui Jianxuan tossed him a cheap wooden figurine, he accepted it as if it were a priceless treasure. Trailing behind was Seventeenth Lady Cui, about the same age as Du Shisan. Though she was shy compared to her brother, after bowing demurely, she hid behind Lady Wang, stealing curious glances at Du Shiyi from time to time.

As Cui Weizhi had not yet returned to the sleeping quarters, supper could not be served. Lady Wang therefore ordered the maids to bring out cheese, milk, and four kinds of milk cakes. Though Du Shiyi was famished, watching Cui Jianxuan tuck in heartily made him feel full by mere sight, so he only took half a cup of milk and spent most of his attention on responding to Lady Wang’s questions, which, though seemingly casual, were in fact laced with subtle scrutiny. Fortunately, this uncomfortable interval did not last long. Soon, a voice announced, “The master has returned.” Before long, Cui Weizhi, clad in a plain robe, strode into the room.

“I was just thinking of visiting Lushi Cottage myself to ask you, Eleventh, when you’d be returning to the capital for the New Year, and here you are, arriving with Nineteenth Young Master Du,” said Cui Weizhi, helping Cui Jianxuan up and gesturing for Du Shiyi to be seated as well. Once seated at the central place of honor, he glanced at his own son, who was sitting upright and proper, and then smiled. “Today we are all family; there’s no need for rigid formalities—let everyone relax and be at ease.”

Cui Jianxuan, who had barely managed the formal kneeling posture, promptly swung one leg out and sat carelessly at the low couch, setting the example for the plump young Cui, who followed suit. Du Shiyi was only too glad to sit cross-legged, while Lady Wang, Du Shisan, and Seventeenth Lady Cui remained gracefully kneeling, as if they had not heard the call for informality. Presently, the maids brought in food trays, each set with white porcelain bowls and plates, and small dishes of seasonings such as peppered salt, but no vegetables as yet. Then there was a commotion outside, and three or four serving women entered, carrying a rack with a whole roasted deer.

The aroma immediately filled the room. In keeping with the relaxed atmosphere, Cui Jianxuan sniffed deeply, his eyes lighting up. Du Shiyi noticed the young, plump Cui imitating Cui Jianxuan by closing his eyes and inhaling deeply, oblivious to the fact that Cui Weizhi at the head of the table was frowning. After a few more exaggerated sniffs, Cui Jianxuan grinned at Cui Weizhi. “Seventh Uncle, you don’t mind if I pick first?”

“You really are something—don’t you know to let Nineteenth Young Master Du and Thirteenth Lady choose first?” Seeing Du Shiyi and Du Shisan both smiling, he shook his head helplessly. “Very well, pick your favorite piece.”

“Cut off the deer penis first!” Cui Jianxuan demanded shamelessly, causing everyone to stare at him in shock. Then, with a mischievous grin, he added, “And present it to Seventh Uncle!”

“You rascal!” Cui Weizhi burst out laughing, then sighed. “I thought your time with Lord Lu would have taught you refinement, but you’re still as irreverent as ever!”

“Master Lu teaches us to follow nature and not to fuss over empty formalities.”

Cui Jianxuan gestured triumphantly, and a maid dressed as a cook, after glancing at her master and mistress, gingerly cut off the offending piece and presented it to Cui Weizhi on a porcelain plate. Yet, having been made the butt of his nephew’s joke, Cui Weizhi had no interest in consuming such a thing in public and set it aside discreetly.

Fortunately, Cui Jianxuan next asked for a slice of leg meat, as did his young cousin, while Du Shiyi requested a piece of rib. Lady Wang, with the dignity of the hostess, carved small portions for Du Shisan and Seventeenth Lady Cui, just enough for a taste. Cui Weizhi then indicated he would take a cut from the forechest and had the remainder of the deer removed. At this point, a variety of vegetables were served—many rare for the winter—along with a small pot of fresh fish soup, various pastries, and a bowl of white rice, making the meal complete.

Although the old rule was to eat in silence, the Cui household did not strictly abide by such ancient customs. The company ate and conversed freely; the women mostly listened while the men talked, and the little plump Cui, too young to join in, gazed adoringly at Cui Jianxuan. Du Shiyi, not wishing to outshine Eleventh Cui in his own home, spoke only when addressed by Cui Weizhi. Yet when Cui Weizhi casually mentioned a certain name, Du Shiyi’s attention sharpened.

“Minister Lu passed away in the eleventh month. Minister Yuan has just been appointed, but Minister Yao is ill and has been convalescing. Minister Yuan is running himself ragged between the Secretariat and the Royal Ceremonial Office. Meanwhile, the draft of the general amnesty from the Bureau of Astrology was submitted, and the Emperor, with a single stroke of his brush, singled out Zhao Hui—causing a great stir throughout the court,” said Cui Weizhi, all the while observing Cui Jianxuan’s reaction.

Cui Jianxuan frowned, then replied impatiently, “Seventh Uncle, why bother with these court affairs? You’re not one of the ministers yourself, and I’m not even in office yet!”

“Haha, perhaps I read too much official news during the day and forgot I wasn’t among subordinates now.”

With a self-deprecating pat to his head, Cui Weizhi dropped the topic. As evening deepened, he cheerfully arranged for Cui Jianxuan to stay in his old guest room, while thoughtfully placing Du Shiyi and Du Shisan in two side rooms facing each other in a small outer courtyard. Once the maids had led his own children away, he rubbed his forehead, deep in thought.

Lady Wang, after dismissing the maids, asked in puzzlement, “Why did you bring up state affairs just now?”

“Eleventh is just that kind of person… But it seems I misjudged the matter,” Cui Weizhi sighed, speaking softly. “The Cui family has flourished through ten branches, six from Qinghe and four from Boling. Eleventh’s father and I share the same grandfather, and we both belong to the Yancheng line in Xuzhou. In Eleventh’s generation, the family is thriving. Each generation has a patriarch, but the true power rests elsewhere. In my father’s day, Eleventh’s grandfather held sway. In my own, Eleventh’s uncle, Taizhi, should have led our branch, but Eleventh’s father rose to prominence during the purge of the Wei clan—yet lacking successors, his high title as Duke could not match Fourth Brother Taizhi’s steady hold at the center. Now, in Eleventh’s generation, whoever our branch chooses to support early on will shape the future, and for Twenty-fifth, it could spare him many detours.”

When Lady Wang’s eyes brightened at this, Cui Weizhi sighed again. “But there’s no need to rush. Unlike those perilous times, the realm is now at peace. I ask only that Twenty-fifth finds a smooth path in officialdom and many descendants. Besides, nothing is set in stone. Did not Sixth Brother E Zhi nearly surpass Fourth Brother? By the way, when Eleventh was in the capital, all the noble heirs avoided him, and yet he befriended Nineteenth Young Master Du. That shows Nineteenth Du is no ordinary man. He may well be destined for greatness. Did you know, Cui Yuan just reported something to me?”