CH extra 11

[Zixu] «Pure Serenade1» 01 - The Eldest Young Master was once also controlled by a younger brother.

The Eldest Young Master of Zhongli Court felt that his life had been turned upside down, and it all began on the day when a seriously injured, bloodied man broke into his room in the middle of the night.

Before that, he was just a nobody, a small Young Master from an unknown place. He wasn’t a core figure by any means, but he also didn’t have to worry about food or clothing.

During their childhood, his Second Brother had been sent far away for some reason, and at that point it had already been six or seven years since he’d returned home. The first year his Second Brother came back, his father had gone to the mountain alone for some reason, saying he was retiring from the world. At first he visited often, but his father always spoke vaguely, later, he suddenly got angry, saying he was disturbing his peace until he closed the door and wouldn’t see him.

The Eldest Young Master ate a few closed doors2, until he gradually stopped going. It was only during New Years and other festivities that he would send a few seasonal delicacies but, without exception, it was like throwing a stone into the sea and watching it disappear, he never received a reply.

As for his Second Brother Zhongli Zixi, his temper had greatly changed since he came back, becoming gloomy and depressed, locking himself inside his room and refusing to see him. The Eldest Young Master anxiously waited outside of the door, hoping to see him, trying to talk to him, but the person inside was too miserly to even give him a response, so over time his heart also gradually became cold.

That tightly closed door never opened, but the air was always filled with the vague smell of medicine and blood, which could even be smelled from very far away. Rumours spread amongst the servants that the Second Young Master was possessed, that he tinkered with demonic methods from the crooked sects, and that one could hear shrill wails and howls from the rear court in the middle of the night.

Every time the Eldest Young Master bumped into this, he always firmly reprimanded the servants. But one night when he couldn’t sleep, he wandered unconsciously outside the courtyard where his younger brother Zixi resided, and really heard groans of pain. He was about to approach to confirm what it was, but he was seized by the collar by a young man wearing black clothes and carried away.

The young man in black clothes was wearing a mask which covered half of his face, so he couldn’t clearly see his appearance, he could only make out that his looks seemed gentle, like a just-tender peach. He admonished him in a soft voice, saying he must not come too close to the courtyard, then turned around and left.

Before when Zhongli Zixu often wanted to see his younger brother, he’d been stopped by him, so he knew he was the only person who was allowed to go into the secluded room. Zixu blankly watched as he alone went back inside his brother’s room, somewhat envious and unable to conceal his dejection.

Second Young Master Zhongli Zixi shut himself away for half a year, and finally stepped foot outside that confined, secluded room.

When the Eldest Young Master learned of this, he was exceptionally happy. He had not seen his younger brother for over ten years, he had endless things he wanted to tell him, and he also had countless questions he wanted him to answer, so he went bouncing happily to see him.

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1 《清平乐》lit. pure peaceful joy/music. Could also be translated as ‘Clear Peaceful Music’ or ‘Serenade of Peaceful Joy’. It’s same name as a Tang Dynasty poem structure, and it’s the name of a historical period drama also called ‘Held in the Lonely Castle’ but I haven’t watched it so idk if it’s a reference or not. Top.

2 lit. eat closed door soup, when sb. closes the door on your face and refuses to see you. Top.

3 Euphemism for going to brothels. Top.

4 To take advantage of a crisis for personal gain. Top.

5 《陽關三疊》A real guqin piece, better translated as “A parting tune with a thrice repeated refrain” but I felt that was too long lol. Top.