LFHYB -Chapter 135 I Wish to Live as Long as Civilization

Li Xuanba sat on the couch, head lowered, hands resting on his knees.

Li Shimin knelt before him, eyes cast downward, staring at the top of his brother’s hair bun.

The two were silent for a long while.

Unable to bear the quiet, Li Xuanba raised his head and forced a smile. “I thought you’d wail your heart out, brother.”

Li Shimin, lost in thought, replied, “I… I can’t cry.”

Li Xuanba moved his lips, then pounded his legs with his fists, eyes red. “I tried really hard!”

Li Shimin reached out, then withdrew his hand. “I know… I know… A-Xuan, you tried… really tried…”

Images of his brother as a child flashed through Li Shimin’s mind.

Back then, Xuanba’s heart and lungs were weak. Even running a few steps would make him clutch his chest and cry out in exhaustion. The imperial doctors all said he might need rest for life.

But Xuanba exercised diligently and took medicine. He could ride freely across the grasslands, making Li Shimin almost forget how frail his brother had been.

Li Xuanba wiped his face and forced another smile. “I don’t know how long this dream will last. Let’s make the most of it.”

Li Shimin nodded repeatedly. “Alright… alright… make some room.”

Like when they were children, Li Shimin squeezed onto the couch and sat close to Li Xuanba.

“Brother, first I need to apologize. I schemed against Li Yuangji behind your back, which caused all this trouble.”

“Huh? Why did you scheme against Li Yuangji?”

“Because that guy had to die!” Li Xuanba’s eyes gleamed with a fierce determination. “If we didn’t use Yang Guang’s influence to kill him, once Father raised his army, we wouldn’t have been able to act.”

Li Shimin said, “Well… maybe that’s true, but why hide it from me?”

Li Xuanba folded his arms. “Because you were too young, brother… couldn’t bear the pain of brothers fighting… oh…”

Li Shimin reached out and tapped Li Xuanba. “I’m not that fragile. Start from the beginning… explain everything in detail.”

Li Xuanba nodded.

He began with a move that seemed minor but would ultimately play a critical role.

He had originally thought Father would strictly discipline Li Yuangji. If that failed, Father would lose all hope in him. Without Father’s support, Li Yuangji posed no threat to him or you.

But Father’s “strict discipline” was so harsh that Li Yuangji became even more dangerous, and Father was deceived by his outward appearance.

Seeing Li Yuangji develop increasingly antisocial tendencies, Li Xuanba spent many years preparing mentally before finally deciding to leverage the situation to eliminate him.

This was the first time Li Xuanba had deliberately taken a life.

“My plan relied on an information gap. Our family sees us as close to our second cousin, and we’ve always valued loyalty. If he confided in us, we would help. But in Yang Guang and the court ministers’ eyes, once he became Crown Prince, no minister failed to flatter him. Only we kept our distance. After so many years as Crown Prince, we’d met him only twice, and both times he came to us.”

Li Shimin said, “So in the Emperor and ministers’ eyes, we are actually the least close to the Crown Prince.”

Li Xuanba nodded. “Furthermore, they didn’t know that while he was Prince Qi, his household had already been infiltrated by Yang Guang almost entirely.”

Li Shimin sighed. “After being named Crown Prince, he was even more strictly monitored. Royal heirs are precious, every child is recorded, and illegitimate children are no exception. No one would know better than the Emperor whether the Crown Prince had a seven- or eight-year-old illegitimate child. But A-Xuan, how did you know Li Yuangji would really try to accuse him?”

Li Xuanba said, “I didn’t. I just set the bait. If Li Yuangji didn’t take it, he was not meant to die; if he did, it proved he harbored ill intentions first. I was acting in self-defense.”

Li Shimin lightly tapped Li Xuanba’s head. Helplessly, he said, “If you had told me, we would have agreed. Never hide things from me again.”

Li Xuanba said, “Alright… next time I won’t hide anything.”

Next time…

The brothers’ eyes darkened at the same moment, and they tacitly skipped over the words.

Li Shimin said, “With your plan, you should have been safe. What went wrong?”

Li Xuanba pressed his brow. “The first mishap was when Li Jiancheng, questioned by the magistrate Ding, lost control of his words and blamed everything on me. Ding Rong released him to Taiyuan and placed me under house arrest.”

Li Shimin clenched his hands on his knees. “Is he crazy? Isn’t the first move supposed to be denial?!”

Li Xuanba said, “Ding Rong used our uncle’s story to motivate him to ‘sacrifice family for justice.’”

On the eve of Yang Xian’s usurpation, Li Zhang, the governor of Liangzhou, allied with Prince Zhao Yuwen Zhao to try to kill Yang Xian and save Northern Zhou.

Li Zhang’s nephew Li An reported him to Yang Xian, sacrificing family for justice. Li Zhang died, and Li An and his brother Li Zhe were promoted.

Li Zhang and Li An’s father, Li Wei, were brothers to Li Yuan’s father, both sons of Li Hu, the Grand Duke of Western Wei.

Ding Rong persuaded Li Jiancheng to “sacrifice family for justice” using this old family precedent.

Hiding a Crown Prince’s illegitimate child was not considered rebellion; the Emperor was magnanimous and would not punish family. If Li Jiancheng had done so, Duke Tang and Li Jiancheng might have even been rewarded, just as Li An and Li Zhe were honored by Emperor Wen of Sui.

Li Shimin remembered this old family precedent only after Li Xuanba reminded him.

He sneered, “If he values justice over family, not only would he come out unscathed, he could also get rid of the two of us, the thorns in his side. Then no one in the Tang Duke’s mansion could challenge him.”

Li Xuanba didn’t respond. He didn’t know whether Li Jiancheng actually had such intentions, or if he simply got scared out of his wits—but the fact remained that Li Jiancheng had abandoned him and fled.

Ding Rong had told Li Jiancheng that he could reveal this matter to him, but Li Jiancheng kept it even more tightly hidden.

Perhaps Li Jiancheng thought Ding Rong was testing his “loyalty” to the emperor.

Li Xuanba said, “In history, Li Jiancheng also abandons his brothers. Father wasn’t supposed to become the Comforting Envoy of Taiyuan and Hedong until a few years later. Yet even now, he leads you in Taiyuan to suppress bandits and guard the borders, while letting Li Jiancheng take Li Yuanji and Li Zhiyun in Hedong to make connections with the talented.”

Li Shimin raised an eyebrow. “He left Fifth Brother behind?”

Li Xuanba said, “Yes. History says he didn’t take Fifth Brother because he was still young. Fifth Brother was only fourteen when he was killed.”

Li Shimin snorted. “Fifth Brother and Li Yuanji are the same age—what ‘young’ are we talking about? Fifth Brother showed skill in riding and archery at an early age. A fourteen-year-old boy could already join the army. Just give him a horse and a bow, and he could have escaped back to Taiyuan on his own.”

Li Xuanba replied lightly, “Perhaps Fifth Brother happened to be sick at the time?”

Li Shimin mocked, “Who knows? Maybe he handed Fifth Brother to Sui officials just to get himself out. No wonder you’ve always tried to curry favor with him. You were afraid he’d abandon you. If you’d told me sooner, I’d never have let you be alone with him.”

Li Xuanba thought to himself: Isn’t it more that he’s afraid you wouldn’t be able to handle it?

He changed the topic: “Although it was somewhat unexpected, I had made contingency plans. With my influence in Hedong and the goodwill I built with the Ding Prefect, he wouldn’t move against me, only await Yang Guang’s orders. And Yang Guang’s orders would certainly favor me. The Four Nobles of Daye all are friendly with me, and Pei Yun has taken quite a bit of money from me…”

Li Shimin interrupted, “The emperor has taken countless gold, silver, horses, and hunting falcons from you. He certainly trusts you, not Li Yuanji without evidence.”

Li Xuanba nodded.

He sighed. “I thought I had everything planned, but who would have expected a group pretending to be Yang Guang’s men to show up, set fires, and try to kill me?”

Li Shimin’s body shook.

Li Xuanba reassured him, “Don’t worry, I’m fine. You know how cautious I am—I never put all my hopes in others. Even though I was sure Ding Rong wouldn’t kill me, I still prepared an escape. I successfully escaped by boat with Zhuniang, Fifth Brother, and Shixin, and now we’re at Wagang Village…”

Li Shimin slammed both hands on his legs. “Wagang Village? I’m coming immediately!”

Li Xuanba said exasperatedly, “If something happens to me, everyone will be watching you. If you go to Wagang Village, would that confirm a treasonous connection? If I’m fine, once I recover I’ll return to Zhangye to find you myself. If I do die, I’ve already told Zhuniang and Fifth Brother to take my ashes to Zhangye to find you. Right now, go clarify things with Yang Guang, then return to Zhangye and wait for me.”

Li Xuanba touched his chest. “I’ve been unlucky. I barely survived all the mishaps, thinking I could escape death, but who knew after the fire subsided my heart would fail… sigh.”

Li Shimin grabbed Li Xuanba’s arm. “What death?”

Li Xuanba smiled wryly. “Brother, you should have guessed by now. In the future I saw, I don’t survive to see the founding of the Tang. Historically, I was supposed to die of illness this year anyway.”

Li Shimin asked, “Why didn’t you tell me? If you had, I would never have let you go alone to Hedong.”

Li Xuanba tilted his head and smiled. “If heaven didn’t insist on killing me, I wouldn’t die with my caution. But if heaven insists, I want to use my death to the fullest to pave the way for our future. Brother, even if I can only live fifteen or sixteen years, I want to leave a name in history, one that future generations will admire.”

Li Xuanba patted Li Shimin’s hand off his arm, signaling him to let go.

“I want to live,” Li Xuanba said. “Once I knew my fixed lifespan, I never stopped fighting fate.”

“If I can survive this year, even better. If my body is destined to die this year, then my name must live in history, long and lasting. As long as future generations remember the Tang, they will remember me.”

“That too is a way of living on.”

Li Xuanba sighed. “But brother, you surely wouldn’t want me to use myself as bait in my schemes.”

Li Shimin’s voice was unnaturally calm. “Yes, I wouldn’t.”

Li Xuanba shrugged. “So I didn’t tell you.”

Li Shimin said, “You’re asking for a beating.”

Li Xuanba laughed, “If we meet again, I’ll let you beat me. This time I won’t tattle to Mother.”

Li Shimin raised his hand and struck Li Xuanba’s head hard.

Li Xuanba held his head. “Anyway, right now we’re safe at Wagang Village. Wei Zheng and Wang Bo are hiding our identities. Once I’m no longer a burden to Zhuniang and Fifth Brother, they can leave immediately for Zhangye. So don’t come.”

Li Shimin said, “You’re not a burden.”

Li Xuanba shook his head and smiled. “I am a burden right now.”

Li Shimin insisted, “You’re not a burden.”

Li Xuanba said, “If you say I’m not, then I’m not. Brother, don’t come. Think of Father, Mother, Fifth Brother, think of Guanyin, think of my Zhuniang. If you are recognized as associating with a rebel commander, all our plans fail, and they will be in great danger. You are my lord; please don’t act rashly. Right now, the Sui’s mandate isn’t yet spent…”

Li Shimin interrupted, “I know the Sui still have their mandate. The Sui have hundreds of thousands of elite troops, surviving generals from Northern Zhou, and countless grain stores. If the emperor didn’t insist on two or three campaigns against Goguryeo, he could plow through the Central Plains with the troops sent to Goguryeo and easily crush all rebel commanders.”

Li Xuanba sighed. “Yes. Actually, even when the Sui fell, their mandate wasn’t exhausted. Pei Shiju, Su Wei, and others advised Yang Guang to return to Daxing with the Xiaoguo army, reorganize the troops, and sweep away the chaos. But Yang Guang himself lost his mind; he went south again to Jiangdu, imposed labor to build a new palace, wanting to live out his life there instead of returning to the Central Plains or Guanzhong.”

Li Shimin said, “Most of the Xiaoguo Army are from Guanlong; they would never want to stay in Jiangdu.”

Li Xuanba replied, “Yes. The Xiaoguo Army rebelled, and Yuwen Huaji joined forces with its commanders to kill Yang Guang and declare himself independent.”

Li Shimin said, “The Sui Dynasty is still strong. Taiyuan Commandery isn’t far from Zhuo Commandery. Even if the army that campaigned against Goguryeo turns back to attack us, we would hardly be able to withstand it. Not to mention Hedong and Qi Commanderies, which are still defended by fierce generals.”

Li Xuanba said, “So, brother, don’t come. You need to stay put.”

Li Shimin said, “Even so, I want to come and fetch you.”

Li Xuanba said, “Don’t come to fetch me. I’ll come to you. Wait for me in Zhangye, my lord.”

Li Shimin lowered his head and was silent for a long while, then couldn’t help but laugh.

His smile was the same as when he was a child with Li Xuanba—helpless yet full of affection: “A-Xuan, I really don’t want to be this lord right now.”

Li Xuanba said, “Then consider it a request from your younger brother. I want my name remembered in history. If you don’t become emperor, how can I be remembered? If the Tang Dynasty isn’t strong, how can I be remembered? Physical death is only temporary; true death is being forgotten. I don’t want to be forgotten. I want to live for thousands, even tens of thousands of years, alongside Chinese civilization.”

Li Shimin said, “Your expectations are really high.”

Li Xuanba raised an eyebrow: “Just tell me whether you agree or not.”

Li Shimin raised both hands: “Fine, I agree. I’ll agree to anything.”

Li Xuanba relaxed his brow and smiled lightly: “It’s settled.”

He reached out his hand.

Li Shimin also reached out, clasping his brother’s hand: “It’s settled.”

Li Xuanba looked up at the fractured sky: “Time is almost up. I still have something to tell you.”

Li Shimin said, “Hmm, go ahead.”

Li Xuanba said, “After father became emperor, he couldn’t tolerate you, the Qin Prince, whose merits overshadowed him. You launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, killing Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji at Xuanwu Gate, forcing father to abdicate.”

Li Shimin’s expression was calm: “Oh.”

Li Xuanba continued, “Your crown prince would have originally been called Li Chengqian, though he probably would have been renamed in this lifetime. He was a perfect heir before sister-in-law passed away, but after her death, for some reason, his leg became lame. Meanwhile, you spoiled your second son Li Tai excessively…”

Li Shimin said, “Li Tai must have gathered many who wanted to seize the succession. The two sons contend, huh?”

Li Xuanba said, “Yes. Then, to protect both sons, you made your third son Li Zhi crown prince. Li Zhi was young, and in your later years, you began killing innocent meritorious officials. This turmoil continued. You originally considered making the third son, Li Ke, born of one of your consorts, the crown prince, because Li Zhi was still young and weak.”

Li Shimin said, “Changsun Silang certainly wouldn’t agree, nor would other senior ministers. If I made the consort’s son crown prince, what about the Empress’s son? Even if I wavered, I would ultimately insist on making Li Zhi crown prince. I’m not a selfless man.”

Li Xuanba said, “Exactly. So after Li Zhi ascended, Changsun Wuji and some ministers falsely accused Li Ke of rebellion, forcing his death.”

Li Shimin sighed: “A continuation of the succession struggle, huh?”

Li Xuanba said, “Afterward, Li Zhi forced to death the ministers who had fabricated Li Ke’s rebellion. Although this was also tied to the struggle for empress and succession, at that time Li Zhi held absolute power. Making the empress’s son crown prince was a move to wrest power from the Guanlong nobility, so indeed, Li Zhi wanted to force his uncle’s death.”

Li Shimin bitterly smiled: “It seems that the ‘historical’ me you saw misjudged this son. He actually seems suited to be emperor.”

Li Xuanba said, “He was called the ‘Gatekeeper of the Wise Emperor.’ Though he fell short of being a wise emperor himself, anyone less than him couldn’t even be considered one.”

Li Shimin held his forehead: “I really don’t know what to say. But I’m no longer the Tang Taizong you know from ‘history.’ The future has already changed.”

Li Xuanba said, “Yes. Sister-in-law is in good health now. As long as you are a little more considerate, even if you can’t teach your son, she will.”

Li Shimin said, “Then I’ll be entirely relying on Lady Guanyin.”

Li Xuanba smiled: “Hmm.”

Li Shimin asked, “Anything else you want to say?”

Li Xuanba thought for a moment: “Hmm? Let me see… take good care of Zhuniang for me.”

Li Shimin said, “Survive, and you take care of her yourself.”

Li Xuanba said, “I’ll try my best.”

Li Shimin said, “Anything more?”

Li Xuanba thought again and said seriously: “Brother, I’m glad to be your sibling. Thank you.”

Li Shimin patted his brother’s head, half-irritated: “Silly A-Xuan. Are you thanking me to make me mad?”

Li Xuanba smiled: “Not at all. Ah, time’s up.”

The sky collapsed.

Li Xuanba and Li Shimin’s figures slowly faded.

Li Xuanba said, “Brother, goodbye.”

Li Shimin said, “We will meet again.”

The dream crumbled.

…

Li Shimin opened his eyes.

Changsun Kangning anxiously said, “My lord, my lord, what’s wrong? Why are you crying? Did you have a nightmare? I couldn’t wake you!”

Li Yuan also said anxiously, “Daxiong, what happened?”

The physician wiped his cold sweat: “He’s awake, he’s awake… Second Lord, don’t move, there are still needles in your head!”

The physician hastily but skillfully removed the silver needles from Li Shimin’s head.

Li Shimin sat up, wiping his face.

His expression was cold, but tears flowed uncontrollably.

“Father, A-Xuan is in trouble.” Li Shimin’s voice was remarkably calm, so calm that even he found it strange.

Li Yuan looked puzzled: “What?”

Li Shimin, expressionless as if wiping sweat, said coldly: “Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng falsely accused A-Xuan of rebellion. After he was placed under house arrest, his residence was burned by bandits. His fate is unknown.”

Li Yuan’s face twitched: “Daxiong, do you know what you’re saying?”

Li Shimin got down from the bed.

No matter how he wiped, the tears wouldn’t stop, but strangely, he felt neither pain nor sorrow.

Tears welled up in his eyes and flowed freely, like rain falling naturally, beyond the control of his will.

If they couldn’t be wiped away, then so be it.

Li Shimin lowered his hand, tilted his head back, and said to Li Yuan, “Father, I must go immediately to Zhuojun to clarify things to His Majesty. Make sure to inform Li Jiancheng—he should be returning to Taiyuan soon.”

“I… will… kill… him!”

Li Shimin enunciated each word slowly, then turned and left.

Li Yuan was shocked and scolded, “Li Shimin! How can you speak such blasphemous words!”

Li Shimin walked on, with Li Yuan following behind.

“Second Son, calm yourself. It was just a nightmare. How could Third Son possibly be in danger? Li Yuanji may be mischievous, but how could he suddenly frame someone? And Eldest Son isn’t that kind of person.”

“If such words of yours spread, how would the world see you? Brothers fight within the family, and you would be the target of everyone’s scorn!”

“Even if Third Son truly were in danger, we must consider our actions carefully. If you aren’t calm and something happens, wouldn’t Third Son be the one to suffer?”

Li Shimin didn’t respond; he simply instructed his attendants to pack, preparing to depart.

He asked Changsun Kangning, “Can you ride a horse?”

Changsun Kangning clutched her skirt, frowned, and said solemnly, “Yes! My lord, don’t worry—I can keep up! I will definitely keep up!”

Li Shimin nodded. “Good. Come with me.”

Li Yuan shouted angrily, “Li Shimin!”

Li Shimin looked back, tears streaming, and said, “Father, I am a general of the Right Army of the Yellow River. I answer only to His Majesty. You have no authority to command me. I am going to clarify the alleged rebellion to His Majesty—if you stop me, are you attempting to rebel against the Sui yourself?”

Li Yuan: “…?!”

He couldn’t react immediately.

Weren’t they… planning to rebel against the Sui eventually anyway?

Li Shimin lowered his voice: “The Sui’s mandate has not yet ended. Goguryeo has deployed hundreds of thousands of troops, countless generals. I have no confidence in rebelling now. Do you, Father?”

Li Yuan frowned and pondered.

He was no fool and naturally knew this was not yet the time to rebel against the Sui.

Not to mention that the Sui army was still powerful—if the forces sent to campaign against Goguryeo turned against him, he would not be able to hold. He was not yet prepared for rebellion.

If what Li Shimin dreamed was true, he must immediately clarify matters to Yang Guang and prevent any misunderstanding of treason.

Li Yuan said, “I will go with you.”

Li Shimin shook his head, and tears fell like beads of sweat from his motion: “This matter has nothing to do with Father. It is better for you to stay in Taiyuan to maintain a clear conscience. I will handle it. Besides… Father, won’t you wait for Li Jiancheng to return and properly ask him about this?”

Li Shimin laughed—a laugh half mocking, half self-deprecating.

Li Yuan froze in place.

Li Shimin turned again, wiping his face.

Damn it! His vision was so blurred he could barely see the road!

“Leave the baggage behind. Travel light. Guanyin, I’ll be relying on you.”

Changsun Kangning lifted her skirt and jogged to keep pace with Li Shimin.

She shook her head vigorously, teeth clenched: “It’s not hard!”

Third Brother, Sister Zhu… you must be safe!

Li Yuan watched Li Shimin’s departing figure. He took a step forward, then paused.

He sighed, then cursed those around him: “Hurry and help! Send someone to search… no, I’ll go myself to the Prefect of the county and open the city gate. My son must go see His Majesty tonight!”

Li Yuan clenched his fists, turned back to change his clothes, and prepared to meet the Prefect of Taiyuan.

Although he was the Taiyuan governor, opening the city gate at night still required the Prefect’s joint order.

Li Yuan’s heart raced.

Could it be? Could Dade really be in danger?

But Daxiong and Dade, the twin sons, had been able to communicate intuitively since childhood. Daxiong’s reaction didn’t seem false.

“It must be a misunderstanding on Dade’s part. Bishamon was personally raised and taught by me—no one knows him better than I do. Even if his talents don’t match Daxiong or Dade, he would never harm his brother.”

“Yes, yes! It must be Li Yuanji! It has to be him! He framed Bishamon again!”

Li Yuan ground his teeth, eyes burning with anger and hatred.

He now deeply regretted not killing Li Yuanji! Indeed, his wife was right to abandon Li Yuanji back then!

…

“Where… where is Third Son?” Lady Dou stood amid the burned ruins, unable to believe it, and turned to ask Ding Rong, “Third Son? Where is Third Son?”

Ding Rong avoided her gaze, turning his face aside: “I’ve sent people to search.”

Lady Dou grabbed Ding Rong’s sleeve, her voice imploring: “Ding County Prefect, my Third Son is still alive… he’s still alive, isn’t he?”

Ding Rong’s lips moved, forcing a reassuring smile: “I am still searching. We will find him. Lady, calm yourself first.”

Lady Dou let go of his sleeve: “Calm… calm… yes… calm…”

She slapped herself twice hard across the face.

Ding Rong was stunned: “Lady Dou! Stop! Hold her back!”

Lady Dou lowered her hands and let out a bitter laugh: “I’m so foolish, so powerless.”

She had clearly seen that her husband was wrong, had clearly sensed that Third Son could be in danger, yet because her husband opposed it, she obediently followed—just as she had for decades.

What of being the niece of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou? What of being a Dou daughter? She was merely a foolish, obedient wife.

If, upon knowing Third Son was ill, she had firmly stood by Second Son, allowing him to care for Third Son, none of this would have happened.

Why did she retreat? Why did she obey?

Because she had done so for decades. Because she was so powerless.

Third Son… my Third Son… oh, my Third Son… I truly regret it… I really regret it…

“Where is Li Yuanji?” Lady Dou asked.

Ding Rong grew alert: “Lady, Li Yuanji is now a crucial witness.”

Lady Dou asked, “Li Yuanji is with you?”

Ding Rong said, “Lady, matters of the court are not for you to meddle in.”

Lady Dou laughed—a shrill, piercing sound. “Then what if I, as his mother, accuse that rebellious son of being unfilial and disloyal?”

Ding Rong: “……”

Lady Dou said coldly, “Prepare my horse. I am going to Zhuo Commandery to see His Majesty.”

A servant tried to stop her. “Madam, please discuss this with the Duke first—”

Lady Dou drew the ornate dagger at her waist and slashed, cutting the sleeve the servant was gripping.

The servant fell to the ground.

Gripping the dagger, Lady Dou swept her gaze across everyone present.

The servants and maids immediately lowered their heads, trembling in silence.

“Prepare the horse,” she ordered again.

Ding Rong sighed. “I will escort Madam out of the city. I… I will also go to see His Majesty and plead guilty.”

It seemed his official hat was doomed to be lost.

Just who had set that fire?!

“Li Erlang left the city overnight?” Li Mi stared in disbelief.

“How could he learn the news so quickly? Li Jiancheng hasn’t even reached Taiyuan yet!”

The messenger shook his head. “This subordinate does not know.”

Li Mi sighed. “Then persuading Li Yuan to rebel is impossible now. As expected of Li Erlang—so decisive that even the death of his own twin brother cannot shake his composure. Where is General Han?”

“General Han still hasn’t found any trace of Li Sanlang. All we know is that they entered the Yellow River.”

Li Mi said, “Tracking someone in a river is far too difficult. Sigh… let us hope Heaven is on our side.”

“Are we still going to Taiyuan?” the messenger asked.

Li Mi shook his head. “Tell General Han—the moment has passed. Withdraw.”

“Yes!”

Li Mi looked toward the direction of the Yellow River. First there was regret in his eyes, then he let out a small laugh.

“Forget it. Being able to drive a wedge between the Tang Duke’s father and sons, brothers against brothers, is already a considerable gain.”

Laughing loudly, Li Mi mounted his horse and quietly rode away, unnoticed by any other faction.

Though he had mobilized the forces he had built up in Hedong Commandery and might be discovered by Yang Guang and Li Yuan, so what? They were enemies anyway—and suspicion without evidence was all they would have.

Whether or not Yang Guang would grow suspicious of Li Yuan because of this, the Tang Duke’s household would never again have peace.

“Li Jiancheng, Li Jiancheng—since you sit in the position of the legitimate eldest son, you’d better give Li Erlang plenty of trouble.”

“Hahahaha—time to go back!”