"I vaguely recall that Chief Clerk Yu wasn't an only child?"
General Chu Yao's question left Chief Clerk Yu utterly baffled. Unable to guess what the other man was up to, he could only take things as they came and answer, "Yes, I have an elder twin brother."
Chief Clerk Yu had a twin brother.
With the level of medical care available in this era, it was rare for both twins to survive. Either the mother died in childbirth along with both children, or one or both infants died young for one reason or another. Twins had always been regarded as ill omens. Chief Clerk Yu and his brother were fortunate enough to both survive, but their mother had been left unable to conceive again after a difficult labor. Their Biological Father then devoted all his energy to the two brothers.
Chief Clerk Yu's elder brother had a mild, quiet temperament.
He had never aspired to anything great.
He only wanted to manage the family estate in peace and care for their parents.
Chief Clerk Yu, however, was different.
Unwilling to be confined to a small world with no chance to make something of himself, he knew that if he didn't venture out and take a chance, the most he could ever become was a minor local official. Still a young man, Chief Clerk Yu had packed his bags and set out to make his way in the world with a friend from his hometown. At first, he had been able to keep in regular contact with his family. But then the world fell into chaos, Family Letters became precious, and trouble befell him. His father and brother moved to escape the fighting, and the two sides lost contact for good.
Trying to get in touch again was like searching