Chapter Thirty-Five: With What Shall Success Be Repaid

The will of the people is formidable... but it is even more useful! After a night spent pondering which poem to use today, and considering how Gongsun Mistress might dispel any looming crisis or schemes, coupled with the exhilarating drum performance just now, Du Shiyi wished nothing more than to collapse upon the ground. Yet he had not anticipated that someone in the front row would suddenly shout, "It's Du the Nineteenth," and immediately thereafter, Cui Jianxuan—who had spent the morning seeking people, and had only moments before sat idly fanning himself without a trace of handsome demeanor—was also recognized by the villagers entering the city. If not for the crowd clamoring for Gongsun Mistress to dance again, and his own desperate effort to rise and drag Cui Jianxuan into the tavern behind them, who knows what turmoil might have ensued outside.

"Finally, it's over!" Du Shiyi exclaimed, relieved.

"So soon? Why is it over already?" Cui Jianxuan complained, dissatisfied.

Especially as the three songstresses, their faces adorned with bright makeup, returned to the inner room—one brought cool towels to wipe their faces, another fetched grapes chilled in well water, peeled and delivered them to their mouths. Even though Cui Jianxuan was accustomed to such treatment at home, he felt that his efforts this morning had not been wasted. Lazily popping another grape into his mouth, he mumbled, "Du Nineteen, you truly have talent. That poem was exactly to my taste! 'Laugh aloud among scholars, what does a classic matter? The ancients missed this, often growing old in vain.' Next time during the monthly exam, if Third Brother tries to make things hard for me, I'll use this to block him!"

"Don't get any funny ideas—this poem isn't meant for that sort of occasion!" Du Shiyi replied, exhausted, then placed the cool towel over his face. "I can't even begin to count how much effort I spent thinking... A single misstep leads to eternal regret; looking back, a century has passed. Impulsiveness is the devil—how true that is."

No sooner had he spoken than someone yanked the towel off his face. Seeing Cui Jianxuan’s bright gaze, he waved him off irritably. "Stop it. I’m nearly spent. Let me rest!"

"In this heat, even lying down is uncomfortable," Cui Jianxuan said, smiling, as he picked up the fan and fanned Du Shiyi several times. Listening to the cheers outside, uncertain whether it was Gongsun Mistress or Yue Fifth Lady performing, he sat cross-legged beside Du Shiyi, his face beaming. "Little Brother, after seeing your dominance today, you must help your senior during the monthly exam. I promise you won’t regret it..."

Du Shiyi rolled his eyes and said nothing. Cui Jianxuan glanced at the three kneeling songstresses, whose beautiful eyes were fixed not on him but on Du Shiyi, and he chuckled, "For instance, these three sisters who admire you today—I’ll redeem them all and gift them to you, how about that?"

The startled cries from the three immediately made Du Shiyi furious. He sat up, saw Cui Jianxuan’s earnest expression, and snorted, "Cui Eleven, this is the first time you’ve called me little brother, isn’t it? Studies are studies. If Teacher Lu hears you say that, he’ll be disappointed; Third Brother will thrash you with the ruler! Drop this idea. If you’re struggling, I’ll teach you, but loafing around under Teacher Lu? How could you even think of it!"

Cui Jianxuan grew anxious. "But I still want to learn swordsmanship from Gongsun Mistress!"

"Learning swordsmanship must not interfere with your studies."

With that, Gongsun Mistress entered, sword in hand. She still wore the blood-stained armor from earlier, and after another round of sword dancing, her face glistened with sweat. Passing the Feng sisters, she nodded gently, causing them to beam with joy. Standing before Du Shiyi and Cui Jianxuan, she paused, then bowed deeply. Seeing this, both Du Shiyi and Cui Jianxuan hurriedly stepped aside in surprise.

"Gongsun Mistress..."

"Today’s success is thanks to Gentleman Du and Gentleman Cui."

"You flatter me—I only ran errands and helped a little," Cui Jianxuan replied with a laugh, glancing meaningfully at Du Shiyi, who looked back knowingly. "Besides, Du Nineteen insisted on no drum, so I couldn’t find a drummer; he had to do it himself. Any credit goes to Du Nineteen’s clever ideas—all his schemes."

"Who are you calling schemer?"

Seeing the two glare at each other, Gongsun Mistress couldn’t help but laugh, her radiant smile mesmerizing even the three songstresses. She then addressed the three, "I have a few words for Gentleman Du and Gentleman Cui. Would you three excuse us?"

The Feng sisters exchanged glances, and the eldest, Feng Yuannian, stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Gongsun Mistress, it is a blessing beyond measure for us to have accompanied you today. We are but humble floating weeds, with nothing to offer but our voices, which are barely passable. We hope you might allow us to stay and serve by your side, to add splendor to your sword dance."

Du Shiyi’s expression changed at this opportunistic plea, but Cui Jianxuan immediately shouted, "Is this your way of extorting by merit?"

"We would never dare," Feng Yuannian replied, prostrating herself, joined by her sisters. This morning, when Cui Jianxuan found them and had his follower drop a string of coins, and the name of Cui from Qinghe, they dared not disobey. Who could have expected such a heavenly opportunity? As unofficial courtesans, if they continued in the dust, even marrying into merchant families would be uncertain, but if Gongsun Mistress accepted them as chorus, they would at least avoid a more tragic fate.

"Then get out if you dare not!" Cui Jianxuan snapped, watching them rise awkwardly before adding, "Common powder and rouge, how dare you dream!"

"Wait! If not for their voices lending power to the heroic lyrics, today wouldn’t have been so effective. Don’t be so harsh, Gentleman Cui."

The tavern behind the stage, like the one opposite where Cui Weizhi and Liu Zhao watched the sword dance, had been cleared out by Cui Jianxuan, so only Du Shiyi remained to witness his sudden change of demeanor after Gongsun Mistress’s words. Looking at the three ecstatic sisters, Du Shiyi considered and said, "Their voices are complementary—one rich, one deep, one high, and as sisters, their hearts are attuned. Perfect for accompaniment. But as outsiders, whether to accept them is up to Gongsun Mistress."

"Let them stay for now; if they don’t suit later, they may leave," Gongsun Mistress said, bringing joy to the sisters. She then pondered aloud, "Why is Gentleman Du’s sister absent today? Is it because of yesterday’s incident..."

"Not at all. My sister is sensible. Yesterday was my own impatience; once explained, all was well." Thinking of Du Thirteen, Du Shiyi regretted she had missed the recent musical performance. "She feared some mishap might distract me, so she stayed home. She must be thinking of you, having missed your heroic dance."

"It’s no loss if she missed my sword dance. It’s missing Du Gentleman’s drumming in earnest that she should regret," Gongsun Mistress said, seeing Cui Jianxuan nod in agreement. She smiled, "If Gentleman Du wishes, I could perform especially for her."

"That’s too much!"

Du Shiyi had barely declined when Cui Jianxuan exclaimed, "Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! I was too busy watching the crowd’s reaction and didn’t see clearly—my heart is itching! Gongsun Mistress, you must keep your word!"

With the matter settled, Du Shiyi recalled how excited Du Thirteen was seeing Gongsun Mistress dance yesterday, so he decided to fulfill his sister’s wish, thanking her sincerely. After Gongsun Mistress performed again as the finale, the sword dance concluded. Though the crowd lingered unwilling to depart, county officials soon restored order and the commotion faded. Du Shiyi’s party and Gongsun Mistress’s party, now changed, quietly slipped away through the alley behind the tavern.

Ever since Du Shiyi left early in the morning, Du Thirteen had waited by the door, even picking at her lunch absentmindedly. As the sun set, hearing voices down the path, she ran out without hesitation. Pushing open the gate by the fence, she hurried forward and saw Du Shiyi leading the group, relief flooding her face. Then she noticed those behind him.

"Gentleman Cui... ah, Gongsun Mistress?"

Seeing Du Thirteen’s confusion, Du Shiyi affectionately tapped her smooth forehead and smiled, "You alone missed that stirring sword dance, so Gongsun Mistress offered to return and perform just for you."

"Is it true?"

Du Thirteen exclaimed, unable to contain her joy. She invited everyone into the courtyard, summoned Bamboo Shadow to announce Gongsun Mistress’s arrival, and soon both the Tian household and the Cui family servants gathered. Though the courtyard, filled with vegetables and fruit, could not accommodate galloping horses, once the singing, drumming, and pipa music began, and the peerless sword dance unfolded, Du Thirteen felt herself the happiest person in the world—bar none.