LFHYB -Chapter 133 Li Wulang’s Scheme to Hide

Li Xuanba woke to find the ground beneath him unstable, making his head spin.

He was dazed for a moment before last night’s memories returned.

He had been sleeping soundly when Luo Shixin suddenly came with men to wake him, saying someone had set fire.

Although Li Xuanba was certain that neither Yang Guang nor Ding Rong would truly harm him, he had his household keep weapons and armor at hand, including the women.

Li Xuanba quickly got up, barely thinking, when someone shouted, “By the emperor’s order, kill Li Sanlang!” and rushed in.

Fortunately, Luo Shixin and the guards were skilled, and Li Zhiyun was an excellent archer. Together, they protected Li Xuanba and Yuwen Zhu as they fled the burning residence.

Li Xuanba’s temporary villa was in the suburbs, next to a forest.

The forest was engulfed in flames. Fortunately, Li Xuanba, somewhat paranoid, had hidden a boat in the river. They jumped in, swam to the boat, and used the smoke as cover to flee into the Yellow River.

After escaping the pursuers and the fire, Li Xuanba, still unwell, plunged into the icy autumn river, quickly developing a high fever and falling into a deep sleep.

“Third Young Master is awake, finally awake!” exclaimed a servant guarding him. “I’ll call Madam; she just went to rest!”

Li Xuanba grasped the servant’s sleeve, his voice hoarse: “Do not disturb Zhuniang. Let her rest well.”

The servant said anxiously, “But if Madam doesn’t wake up, who will treat Young Master?”

Li Xuanba said, “Call Xiao Wu in.”

Although the servant’s heart was anxious, he could only obey.

Li Zhiyun was dozing at the bow of the boat, hugging his bow, and when he heard that Li Xuanba had awakened, he ran over crying.

Li Xuanba stroked Li Zhiyun’s head and said, “Don’t cry. Listen to me.”

Li Zhiyun wiped his tears and nodded.

Li Xuanba said, “From the medical box that Zhuniang carries, boil me a dose of the medicine labeled ‘reduce fever.’”

Li Zhiyun sobbed, “Before resting, Sister-in-law already instructed that if Third Brother wakes up, this medicine should be prepared. It’s already done.”

Li Xuanba’s eyes glanced outside the cabin. “Where is Zhuniang resting?”

Li Zhiyun replied, “At the stern of the boat.”

Li Xuanba sighed. “My boat is too small.”

Li Zhiyun shook his head. “It’s not that the boat is too small to hide; otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to escape. Third Brother, you just keep resting. Leave the next steps to me.”

He rubbed his eyes hard, forced a smile, and patted his chest: “Leave it to me!”

Li Xuanba looked at Li Zhiyun’s anxious expression and said, “Good. But I still need to ask something. How many people left with us?”

Li Zhiyun replied, “Most of them scattered and ran away. Only two servants and maidservants remain, and aside from Shixin, there are ten guards left.”

Li Xuanba’s heart sank.

So few people remained—not because they had scattered, but because this boat could only hold so many.

He closed his eyes for a moment, suppressing his emotions, and when he opened them again, his gaze had regained its calmness.

“The attackers were likely not Ding Rong, but a third party we don’t know about,” Li Xuanba said. “Although I can’t think of their purpose for now, if they forged the Emperor’s order to kill us, they certainly wouldn’t leave us alive. Our escape was hasty, so they will surely discover our trail. We need to get ashore quickly and find a city to hide.”

Li Zhiyun asked, “Which… which city?”

Li Xuanba rubbed Li Zhiyun’s head again. “I’m a bit delirious from the fever, hard to think clearly. Discuss with Zhuniang and Shixin. Zhuniang often follows Doctor Sun in his medical rounds, and Shixin has experience traveling west alone—they can help you decide where to go.”

Li Zhiyun asked, “Shouldn’t we go to Taiyuan to find Father and Second Brother? Or should we just return to Zhangye?”

Li Xuanba said, “Although I suspect the attackers weren’t Ding Rong, I have no proof. If it really was the Emperor’s order to kill me, revealing ourselves would be death. Even if it wasn’t, those pursuing us will surely guess we would go to Taiyuan or Zhangye and have set traps.”

Though multiple roads could lead to Taiyuan or Zhangye, Li Xuanba’s body couldn’t endure crossing mountains. And what if we ran into the pursuers?

Hiding for now and waiting to see how the situation develops is the best course of action.

After giving a few hurried instructions, the medicinal decoction was brought over.

Yuwen Zhu, still lightly sleeping due to the shock, woke at the noise and diagnosed Li Xuanba’s pulse while giving him the medicine.

She comforted him, “Now that you’re awake, everything will be fine. Don’t worry—this small illness will definitely be cured with me here.”

Li Xuanba smiled, “I’ll leave my health in your hands, Zhuniang.”

The medicine took effect, and Li Xuanba fell into a deep sleep again.

Once Li Xuanba slept, the forced smile on Yuwen Zhu’s face collapsed, and she covered her mouth and cried silently.

Li Zhiyun worriedly asked, “Third Brother’s illness…”

Yuwen Zhu choked back tears, “If we had enough medicine, I could have suppressed Third Brother’s condition, but…”

There wasn’t enough medicine.

Li Zhiyun took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. “Perhaps… perhaps there is a place we can go, though it’s risky…”

Yuwen Zhu said, “Wulang, speak. Third Brother is ill now—you’re the one in charge.”

Li Zhiyun shook his head, “The ones in charge are you, me, and Shixin. We decide together. I’ll wake Shixin.”

Luo Shixin had fought fiercely through the night and hadn’t slept yet.

After waking Luo Shixin, Li Zhiyun told him and Yuwen Zhu a secret known only to a few:

“The strategist Wei Zheng by bandit leader Wang Bo’s side is connected to Second Brother and Third Brother. A few days ago, while helping Third Brother organize intelligence, I heard Wang Bo heading to Waganzhai to discuss an alliance with another bandit leader, Zhai Rang, to intercept the Sui army’s supplies. Now the Yellow River is swift, and we’ve drifted all night—we’re not far from the Yellow River channels controlled by the bandits at Waganzhai.”

Luo Shixin frowned, “By seeking refuge with the bandit leader in Third Master’s name, isn’t that treason? Second and Third Masters have said it isn’t yet the right time to rise up.”

Yuwen Zhu asked, “Can Wei Zheng be trusted?”

Li Zhiyun said, “Although I haven’t met him, Third Master says he is trustworthy, so he must be.”

Yuwen Zhu asked again, “Do the bandits have enough herbs?”

Luo Shixin said, “I’ve heard of Wang Bo’s reputation. He’s different from other bandit leaders—after taking territory, he farms it, not just relies on looting. Their supplies should be sufficient.”

Yuwen Zhu said, “You two don’t go. I’ll disguise myself as a woman from Wei Zheng’s family to seek him out. Wulang, tell me everything about Wei Zheng’s household. Third Brother must have told you. Find a chance to go ashore and buy some women’s clothes and veils.”

Li Zhiyun hesitated. “Won’t we all have to dress as women?”

Yuwen Zhu said, “Third Brother and you must both dress as women. Shixin will pose as my younger brother. Because of conscription and forced labor, our family was ruined. Hearing that my cousin serves under Wang Bo, Shixin has some martial skill, and so we bring the sisters to join him.”

Luo Shixin said, “Alright. Wang Bo and I are both from Qijun; we can claim old-town connections.”

Li Zhiyun said, “Then you have to teach me and Sister-in-law the Qijun accent.”

Luo Shixin rolled his eyes at Li Zhiyun, “You’re going to dress as a woman—how much can you even talk?”

Li Zhiyun pinched his throat and instantly switched to a female voice: “Piece of cake~.”

Luo Shixin’s expression turned shocked.

Li Zhiyun beamed proudly, “Second Brother can do it too. We learned from the mimics in the household!”

Luo Shixin said, “……Why is the lord learning this?”

Li Zhiyun replied earnestly, “To make the third brother, who’s sick, laugh.”

Luo Shixin’s face registered shock once more.

Yuwen Zhu covered her mouth, showing her first genuine smile since the attack: “This is exactly what Brother Li would do.”

Luo Shixin stammered, “You’d better just keep pretending to be mute. I’m afraid you’ll scare me otherwise.”

Li Zhiyun said, “There will always be a time to speak. So, is it settled then?”

Yuwen Zhu said, “My medicine will only last for two more days. We need to speed things up.”

Even knowing that Wei Zheng was someone loyal to Brother Li and Third Brother, Yuwen Zhu was still very afraid of going to the bandits’ hideout.

In her mind, bandits were nothing but evil-doers.

But she couldn’t show fear.

Third Brother was sick, Wulang was still young—she had to hold herself together.

When Li Xuanba woke again, Yuwen Zhu told him about the plan to seek out Wei Zheng.

Li Xuanba nodded drowsily in agreement, then quickly fell asleep again.

Three days passed like this. After one day’s supply of Yuwen Zhu’s medicine ran out, they finally located the Yi Army of Wagang Fortress.

…

The fire in Hedong Commandery had thrown the entire region into panic.

Ding Rong immediately posted notices everywhere, stating that he had not started the fire; it was bandits attacking Li Sanlang under false pretenses using his name.

While calming the people, he also sent messengers to Li Yuan and Yang Guang.

Ding Rong was nearly going mad with anxiety.

After Li Yuanjí’s betrayal, Ding Rong acted discreetly to avoid forcing the Duke of Tang’s hand.

Even if the accusation were true, it had nothing to do with the Duke of Tang. The Emperor might not blame him; moreover, with Sui forces still attacking Goguryeo, if the Duke of Tang, stationed in Shanxi and Hedong, were forced into rebellion, the Emperor would have to return, and Ding Rong himself would likely face punishment.

So Ding Rong quietly summoned Li Jiancheng. After Li Jiancheng worked hard to distance himself from the affair, Ding Rong let him leave Hedong quietly, to ease the Duke of Tang’s mind and show that he did not believe Li Yuanjí’s slander.

He only detained Li Xuanba—not only because Li Xuanba was the one Li Yuanjí accused, but also because he was merely a sickly Third Son of the Duke of Tang’s household.

Although Li Sanlang was gifted, he had been weak since childhood; court doctors had predicted he wouldn’t live to adulthood. And indeed, he often fell ill.

Ding Rong knew that although Li Xuanba’s parents cherished their sickly child, they had likely already prepared themselves to let go of him. Detaining Li Xuanba appeased the Emperor while releasing Li Jiancheng comforted Li Yuan.

Moreover, he wouldn’t mistreat Li Xuanba.

Most officials understood the principle of leaving room to maneuver. Ding Rong had to deal with the Emperor but didn’t want to offend Li Yuan—softly confining Li Xuanba was the perfect solution.

Li Yuanjí accused both Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, but Ding Rong did not send anyone to question Li Shimin in Taiyuan, clearly showing his stance on the matter.

However, Ding Rong hinted to Li Xuanba when Li Jiancheng left, so Li Xuanba would be aware—yet he hadn’t expected Li Jiancheng to flee outright.

It was precisely Li Jiancheng’s extreme panic that made Ding Rong, who had believed in the loyalty of Li Er and Li San, alert. After ordering his men to seal off Li Xuanba’s residence, he went to question him.

Now, whether it was Li Xuanba’s calm demeanor or the unknown attack, Ding Rong was certain that Li Yuanjí had indeed slandered them.

It seemed Li Jiancheng’s panic stemmed only from being scared by the idea that “the Emperor has already killed thousands of noble youths close to the Crown Prince.”

Or perhaps he simply didn’t care about Li Sanlang’s life at all.

Ding Rong’s lips twitched in frustration, silently cursing the incompetence of the Hedong Eagle Squadron, which had been infiltrated by bandits to such an extent!