Chapter 137: A Stark Awakening

After the mourning garments of last year’s twelfth lunar month had faded, the Cui residence in Yongfeng Lane of the Eastern Capital was once again shrouded in a pall of white. The successive funerals had rendered the household solemn and silent; even the servants whispered in hushed tones. Yet, despite the quiet, the matter that weighed heaviest on everyone’s hearts remained the most whispered-about secret behind closed doors.

Though young master Cui Jianxuan was known for his ill temper and even harsher tongue, his emotions were always plainly visible; displeasure often brought sharp rebukes, but joy was met with generous rewards. Since returning from his studies at Mount Song, he had shown great improvement in conduct and had dedicated himself to rigorous horseback archery training over the past months. His loyal household servants observed this with quiet satisfaction. None, however, expected that the sudden death of Cui E—the master’s son mourning his mother—would provoke the most profound reaction not from the somber and dutiful, but from the usually carefree and boisterous eleventh young master, Cui Shiyi.

Within the funeral chamber, Cui Jiuniang gazed at the gaunt figure of Cui Jianxuan, seated cross-legged and motionless. Having tried every method over these past days, already brokenhearted, she was overcome with sorrow, tears silently tracing down her cheeks. Knowing full well that no entreaty could reach him now, she made no move to wipe them away, biting her lip tightly as she stood there.

The gentle love of their grandmother, the stern authority of their father, memories played before her eyes like vivid scenes—but now, in the blink of an eye, these were things forever out of reach. How could she not feel the pain of loss? Yet her elder brother was a man, a true gentleman—how could he be so utterly defeated? Their eldest brother and youngest sibling bore their grief silently; their sister stood beside their equally heartbroken mother. How could he care only for himself?

Just as Cui Jiuniang bit down so hard her lips began to bleed, a sudden commotion erupted behind her. Flustered and angry, she whipped around and sternly commanded, “This is a place of mourning—who dares to make noise here… Ah!”

Seeing the dust-covered figure rushing in, she gasped in disbelief and instinctively covered her mouth, almost certain she must be seeing things. Only when the man brushed past and entered the chamber did realization strike; outside stood Cui Chengxun and Cui Qi side by side, their faces mirroring her own shock and disbelief.

After a long moment, she drew a deep breath and turned back, only to see Du Shiyi bowing deeply before the ancestral tablet in the funeral chamber, then turning to look at Cui Jianxuan. Hoping Du Shiyi might speak some words of comfort, she was instead stunned to see him seize Cui Jianxuan by the collar and begin dragging him forcibly toward the door.

“Elder brother… Du Shijiang, what are you doing?” she cried out in shock, only to feel a heavy hand press down on her shoulder. Turning, she found Cui Chengxun and Cui Qi standing behind her; the eldest brother shook his head decisively, while the youngest, still a child, whispered softly, “Sister, we have tried everything. This time, let us leave it to Du Langjun.”

“But…” Watching Du Shiyi haul Cui Jianxuan out the door, despite the young man’s fierce resistance as he crossed the threshold, he took a brutal punch from Du Shiyi and was stunned senseless. Cui Jiuniang could not help but blurt out, “Elder brother was only able to drink some gruel under mother’s desperate pleading; his body is already frail—how can he endure this treatment?”

“Better such turmoil than to see him starve himself here while we stand powerless!” Cui Chengxun sighed deeply. Seeing the young master vanish from sight, he managed a bitter smile. “I never imagined that with the capital examination so near, Du Shijiang would abandon a near-certain success to race all this way back to the Eastern Capital! If Shiyi doesn’t appreciate it now… I’d almost want to give him a good punch myself!”

Having resided three months in the Cui residence’s rear quarters, Du Shiyi was well acquainted with the layout. Dragging Cui Jianxuan by the collar, heedless of the servants’ gazes, he led him straight to the back garden and released him there. Cui Jianxuan, ignoring his battered collar, half-open shirt, and the heavy bruise marring his face, sat there with vacant eyes. Anger flared in Du Shiyi’s chest; his gaze swept the garden and then fell upon the silver water flask still fastened to Cui Jianxuan’s waist. He twisted open the lid and splashed the cold water straight onto the young master’s face.

Splash—

As the chill of the water struck, Cui Jianxuan shuddered violently. When Du Shiyi’s hand seized his collar once more and his face loomed close, Cui Jianxuan could no longer contain himself. He screamed hoarsely, “Who told you to come back? Go take your capital examination and leave me be!”

“Looking at you, a useless wretch, if I hadn’t come back, were you planning to sit by your grandfather’s tablet and die with him?” Du Shiyi retorted harshly.

“I’m willing! Mind your own business whether I live or die!”

Though Cui Jianxuan struggled fiercely, after a day and night of relentless travel, Du Shiyi’s agility far surpassed his own weary strength. With a cold sneer, Du Shiyi released his grip, letting him fall heavily to the ground.

“Whether you live or die is your concern, but have you ever thought of your siblings? Your mother? A man worthy of the name dies in countless ways, but starving yourself to death in a funeral hall is foolish filial piety. You’d only bring shame upon your grandfather in the afterlife and drive your living family to despair!”

“Shut up!” Cui Jianxuan roared, struggling to rise, but Du Shiyi took a deep breath, stepped forward, and pinned him down with a cross elbow. Fixing him with a steady gaze, he spoke slowly and clearly: “Your grandfather, the direct heir ofI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.