A Wuxia Tale: Twins of Trouble

Birdcage

(WANG HUA)

Dao, my twin, is in a predicament.

He hates studying outside of the estate and into the Lecture Halls with sons of the other noble families in the Capital.

"They are a bunch of slow witted fools," he said while we are practicing our archery skills one afternoon.

I winced. They must be really stupid then. Dao is truly disgusted with his lecture mates. I cannot blame him if he is this disappointed. Dao is widely read. He can store informations is his mind fast and memorize text from books and scrolls easily.

Dao is smart, like Father. Even I who is studying with him until now cannot keep up with his intelligence, I can just imagine how bad those other boys are in his lessons at the Lecture Halls.

"They couldn't even add up numbers properly. And almost half of them doesn't know what an abacus is. Can you believe that? That's how stupid they are!"

Oh boy.

"And some of them thinks that China is the only place in the planet. That the sun and moon set and rise according to the Emperor's whims. I..." Dao is lost for words. "Frankly, I don't want to associate myself with those kinds of kids and I wonder what their parents are teaching them at their home."

Probably nothing. Or more nonsense like what he just told me.

"That is why we are lucky that we have Father and Baba to teach us." I said before I took a deep breath, eye my target and release the arrow on my bow.

"A hit, my lady!" The target checker waved a red flag signaling that I hit my target.

"I know that," Dao stepped on the marked spot to take his shot. "I know we are lucky to have wise parents that is why I don't understand why I have to get out of the estate to learn things from lecturers that are far inferior than Father?"

"It's because of your dream to become a general like Baba. Dao, do you really think that strength is the only reason why Baba is a prized general in the Imperial Army?"

Dao frowned before releasing the arrow on his bow. "A hit, Master Dao!" The target checker wave another red flag. Dao turned to me, "Is it not?"

I sighed. For all his intelligence, my brother can be a moron too. "You need connections to be able to get to Baba's position. Politics also plays a part in the Imperial Army. Don't you know that?"

Dao shook his head, "No. Why did you know that?"

I smiled, "It was on my last lesson with Father..."

Dao was devastated. "See! See! I would have known that if I got the chance o study with you! But no! I have to be on that wretched Lecture Hall studying with sons of the other families that are more stupid than gorillas!"

"Gorillas are smart animals, Dao ah. Don't insult them this way," I calmly said.

"Exactly! Fine. Studying together with the other kids who are more stupid than brainless fishes!" My twin stomped his left foot on the grassy ground before walking to the seatings under the shade of a huge tree where a table was also placed where our refreshments are awaiting.

I wave at our target checker, "Let's take a break and have some refreshments, Master Checker!" I shouted. I smiled. I can shout now. Because I am not sickly anymore. My lungs grew stronger everyday, thanks to my Father's diligent training and my hard work.

While the estate helpers went to clean up our arrows and bows, I walked to my brother and sat on the chair opposite from his.