Chapter Sixty-Nine: Qianqian's Resolve

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Leaving the elegant study, Wu Jiu noticed that Du Shiyi didn’t speak to him, but instead walked directly toward his mount, his heart filled with unease. Wu Jiu hurried after him, grasping the reins and preparing, as usual, to hold the stirrup and offer his service. Yet he realized Du Shiyi stood by the horse, not mounting, but gazing thoughtfully at the departing figure of that stonemason.

“Master, since arriving in the Eastern Capital, I’ve had no fixed abode. At first, I didn’t know you and Lord Lu had arrived, and just now I was careless...”

“It’s nothing. In fact, your timing today was remarkably fortunate.” Seeing Wu Jiu fumbling for words, Du Shiyi waved him off. “No need to explain further. Follow that stonemason and see where he stays. Make note and report back to me.”

Wu Jiu was momentarily surprised, but, seeing that Du Shiyi bore him no grudge for failing to report upon reaching the Eastern Capital and had even entrusted him with another task, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He agreed at once and hurried off. Meanwhile, Cui Jianxuan, having seen Wu Jiu arrive and then depart in haste, rode over in puzzlement and asked, “Du Nineteen, what’s that fellow up to, coming and going so quickly?”

“I just sent him on an errand,” Du Shiyi replied offhandedly. Seeing Cui Jianxuan’s obvious skepticism, he smiled and added, “In any case, if there’s work in the future, you’ll never be left out. You’ll have your share, so stop worrying!”

“You’re always so mysterious—always the same!” Cui Jianxuan grumbled, but asked no further questions.

Behind them, in the carriage, Cui Lady Fifth thoughtfully drew back the curtain and watched for a long while before gently letting it fall again. She glanced at Du Thirteen Lady, sitting beside her in a daze.

Their party left through the southern market, turned from Jianchun Gate Avenue toward Quanshan Ward, and after about half an hour, reached their inn. Cui Lady Fifth alighted, went in to pay her respects to Lu Hong, conveying the Cui family’s gratitude and apologies. As she was about to board the carriage again, she suddenly paused, turned, and addressed Du Thirteen Lady: “Thirteen Lady, consider carefully what I said. Just give me your answer before you leave the Eastern Capital. Remember, though you and Du Nineteen have an uncle, you can’t count on him for now.”

“I understand.”

Though Du Shiyi was troubled by this exchange and by what had occurred earlier in the elegant study, arrangements for the evening, made by Lu Wangzhi and Pei Ning, left him no time to dwell on these worries. Amidst the drinking, he could barely fend off the toasts from Lu Wangzhi and Cui Jianxuan, and failed to notice when Du Thirteen Lady, accompanied only by Zhuying, quietly returned early to the inn from the downstairs tavern. It was not until the following morning, as he awoke once more from a hangover, that he found himself helplessly massaging his aching head and temples.

Cui Jianxuan was one thing—always wanting to see him make a fool of himself—but with the eldest senior brother fanning the flames, it was no surprise. Lu Wangzhi’s carefree, unruly manner always concealed a mischievous delight in making trouble for his juniors. Yet Pei Ning was the worst of all! Not only had he quietly switched the wine for a far stronger brew, but with his frozen, expressionless face, he’d tricked Du Shiyi into drinking more and more. Last night blurred in memory; he recalled being coaxed into playing tune after tune on the pipa!

It took him quite some time to sit up and call for assistance, holding his throbbing head. This time, for whatever reason, he waited longer than usual before anyone came. Finally, Zhuying appeared, bearing the basin and towels. But as he looked at her bowed head, something seemed amiss. When he finished washing and changing, she silently gathered her things to leave, but he suddenly reached out and caught her sleeve. Instantly, Zhuying trembled, her hands slackened, and the basin and water crashed to the floor.

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Thud—

As the basin fell and water spilled across the floor, Zhuying froze in place. Though a lowly maid, she had accompanied the young master and his sister from Chang’an to Mount Song, and from there to the Eastern Capital. Being the eldest, she felt closer to them now than she ever had at home. Perhaps that was why, as she stared at the spreading pool of water and her drenched skirts, she made no move to clean up, standing dazed for a long while. Suddenly, she turned toward Du Shiyi, forgot the water at her feet, and knelt down.

“Master... I beg you, please, please go persuade the young lady not to stay in the Eastern Capital!”

Though the words were abrupt, Du Shiyi immediately understood. Without hesitation, he pulled Zhuying to her feet and strode out. The aftereffects of his hangover left his steps unsteady, but he had no time to care. Arriving at Du Thirteen Lady’s door, he knocked. Receiving no response, he knocked harder, the pounding so loud it roused the neighboring rooms. Cui Jianxuan, who had also stayed here, poked his head out and grumbled, “It’s early morning, Du Nineteen—are you trying to tear the place down?”

What surprised him was that Du Shiyi, usually so even-tempered, said nothing, but kept pounding the door as if he would never stop unless answered. Sensing something was wrong, Cui Jianxuan stepped out to inquire, but felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning, he saw it was Lu Wangzhi, which only deepened his suspicion.

“These are matters for the siblings to resolve. We outsiders had best not get involved,” Lu Wangzhi said, and without further ado, dragged Cui Jianxuan back into his room, shutting the door. Bewildered, Cui Jianxuan opened his mouth to protest, but saw Pei Ning sitting inside reading—a thread-bound book held upside-down as he strained to listen to the commotion outside. At this, Cui Jianxuan fell silent.

No one knew how many knocks it took before the door finally creaked open. There stood Du Thirteen Lady, her eyes red and tear-stained. Du Shiyi immediately understood why she had refused to answer. He stepped inside without a word, pressed her to sit, and closed the door. Seeing her lips clamped tight in silence, he sat cross-legged before her.

“If you won’t say anything, I’ll wait here until you do.”

“Brother…”

“Thirteen Lady, whatever you decide, I only ask that you discuss it with me. Don’t force yourself to bear it alone! If not for Zhuying’s uncharacteristic accident in my room, I’d still be in the dark.”

“I… I…”

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Looking at her stern-faced brother, Du Thirteen Lady’s throat constricted and she could not continue. Suddenly she collapsed to the floor, sobbing in anguish. Seeing her like this, Du Shiyi froze. After a moment’s thought, he moved beside her, gently stroked her back, and finally spoke softly, “If you truly don’t want to say, I won’t force you. But remember, you have only me as your brother, just as I have only you as my sister…”

He had not finished speaking when he felt his left hand, resting on the edge of the couch, seized tightly. Turning, he saw Du Thirteen Lady looking up at him through streaming tears, her eyes and nose red. He sighed, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped her face, saying nothing more. Soon the handkerchief was nearly soaked, yet she clung to his hand, unwilling to let go. He asked in a low voice, “Did Lady Cui Fifth say something that made you decide to stay in the Eastern Capital?”

Du Thirteen Lady trembled, then lowered her eyes. After a long pause, she said softly, “Lady Cui Fifth told me that with you studying at the Academy, I, being a woman, cannot join you there. If I were to remain in the cottage at the foot of Mount Junji, you would be constantly coming back to check on me, and even if more people were assigned to look after me, it would still be remote. Should anything happen, help would come too late. For your peace of mind and my safety, it’s better to stay in the Eastern Capital.”

So it was Lady Cui Fifth’s idea. Du Shiyi raised an eyebrow. “Did you forget I meant to take you back to Fanchuan? If you must stay, why here instead of returning home?”

Du Thirteen Lady bit her lip even harder. Only when the taste of blood brought her back to herself did she reply, “In Fanchuan, the great and the noble are everywhere, but our old home is ruined, our uncle’s career stalled, and you bear the reputation of a failed scholar. I don’t want you to return to such a sorrowful place for my sake. And as a young girl, I would only be lonely or, at best, taken in by pitying elders—still no better than living under another’s roof. Besides, if I stay with Lady Cui Fifth, I can learn skills to help you in the future. I refuse to let you work so hard while I contribute nothing!”

Her earlier reasons sounded forced, but at the end, Du Shiyi was moved. Seeing his sister in tears again, his voice grew hoarse. “So, you listened to Lady Cui Fifth and decided to stay in the Eastern Capital—or rather, with the Cui family? And she will teach you what you wish to learn?”

“Yes!” Du Thirteen Lady nodded firmly, her tone resolute. “Just as you study the classics with Lord Lu, I will learn from Lady Cui Fifth all that may be useful in the days to come.”

Du Shiyi fixed his gaze on her and asked, word by word, “Did Lady Cui Fifth say why she wants to help you?”

Caught off guard, Du Thirteen Lady was speechless. Du Shiyi couldn’t help but smile wryly, running his hand through her hair, still tousled from her crying. As both brother and sister fell silent, a gentle knock sounded at the door, followed by Zhuying’s voice.

“Master, my lady… Someone has delivered an invitation at the door of the inn!”