LFHYB -Chapter 137 Whoever Hurts My Mother Will Die

The moments when Li Xuanba’s consciousness drifted outside his body were becoming shorter, but the physical pain he felt was intensifying.

The supply of good medicine at Wagang Village was limited. Li Xuanba’s body needed a lot of medicine just to stay alive, so Sun Simiao and Yuwen Zhu came up with another method: using cheap, common herbs to extract their essence and treat Li Xuanba.

Their inspiration came from Li Xuanba’s own essential oil experiments.

Flowers, leaves, and other raw materials could be distilled or soaked in strong alcohol to extract essential oils or hydrosols. These oils and hydrosols represented the essence of the raw materials. By the same logic, herbs could also be distilled or soaked in strong alcohol to extract their medicinal essence.

All medicines are somewhat toxic. Taking large amounts can overwhelm the stomach and cause other toxins to accumulate in the body. If one could extract just the medicinal essence, perhaps these side effects could be avoided.

In truth, Sun Simiao and Yuwen Zhu’s idea was rather naive.

Distillation or alcohol extraction doesn’t necessarily yield the “essence”—it could simply be the oily substances in the raw material. Even if it were the essence, it might still contain toxins, so taking too much would still cause side effects.

But when science couldn’t reach the microscopic level, traditional medicine was a “black box.” Early prescriptions were based largely on intuition, tested on animals and humans to confirm their effectiveness.

Since the medical skills that Sun Simiao and Yuwen Zhu had learned couldn’t cure Li Xuanba, they had no choice but to try desperate measures, gritting their teeth as they experimented with bold ideas.

After all, the worst outcome was death.

Li Xuanba suffered greatly while being treated.

Regular herbal medicine had a strange taste, but he could tolerate it by pinching his nose. The medicinal essences extracted by Sun Simiao and Yuwen Zhu, however, were so pungent and intense that even someone with iron will couldn’t help but feel nauseated.

For example, the duo’s most cost-effective medicinal essence—distilled oils from ginger, scallion, and garlic—was so harsh it felt as though his tongue, throat, esophagus, and stomach were all on fire simultaneously.

Yet Li Xuanba didn’t understand medicine. He only knew that nitroglycerin could relieve angina and heart failure because an old headmaster who had helped him took it. Discovering that the medicine shared a name with explosives prompted him to look up some information.

Although he vaguely remembered reading somewhere that myocarditis required antibiotics, he had no idea how to make antibiotics himself. Helpless, Li Xuanba’s only choice was to endure whatever medicine Sun Simiao and Yuwen Zhu concocted, no matter how painful the process, and cooperate fully.

He vomited and retook the medicine repeatedly. Even drinking water made him want to throw up. Within half a month, the flesh he had painstakingly built on his cheeks over the years had hollowed out, leaving him thinner than in his childhood.

Sun Simiao realized that his “concentrated medicines” were too harsh on the stomach, so he adjusted the formula to be gentler.

But no matter how he tried, the intense taste couldn’t be fully neutralized. With enough honey, the flavor could be somewhat masked, but Wagang Village lacked such resources. Li Xuanba could only rely on sheer willpower to endure.

After all this torment, Li Xuanba felt that simply surviving was a miracle.

During the trials, he also asked Sun Simiao about nitroglycerin.

The formula for black powder was simple but weak. The black powder he used now was more for show than actual power.

He had once tried to develop modern gunpowder to change the course of battles but could never figure out the precise formula.

If he attempted a literal approach, like mixing glycerin and nitric acid, it could easily be fatal. So he gave up.

Sun Simiao might have accidentally produced nitroglycerin. Li Xuanba, while warning him about the medicine’s danger, hoped to obtain the correct formula from him.

But Sun Simiao was utterly clueless.

“Nitroglycerin?” Sun Simiao wracked his brain. “I did add saltpeter, but I didn’t use the strong acid you described.”

Li Xuanba sighed, rubbing his forehead.

It seemed that Sun Simiao producing nitroglycerin was purely accidental, much like historical alchemists producing black powder.

Reproducing it safely would require many dangerous experiments.

Perhaps one day, with enough time and proper safety measures, he could attempt to replicate Sun Simiao’s process—but not now.

Li Xuanba instructed Sun Simiao to preserve his notes on the glycerin-based medicine and had Li Zhiyun, who had little else to do, make several copies for future reference.

For now… all that remained was enduring the trials of the medicine and striving to recover as soon as possible.

Sun Simiao, realizing he had inadvertently produced an extremely dangerous drug, was filled with fear. But knowing it could alleviate heart failure, he couldn’t bring himself to destroy the records of his experiment.

In the end, he chose to trust that Li Xuanba would handle the dangerous medicine responsibly.

Even if he destroyed the records of its creation, others might still produce this perilous drug. Moreover, Li Xuanba knew the medicine well; perhaps abroad, there were already people skilled in its use.

Sun Simiao understood how vast foreign lands were. Since other nations had mastered this dangerous medicine, it was only prudent for the Central Plains to possess it as well, to avoid being at a disadvantage.

As for the fact that this medicine could kill many, Sun Simiao could only keep it hidden in his heart, carrying a lifetime of guilt and fear.

Li Xuanba knew that telling Sun Simiao about nitroglycerin would inevitably place psychological pressure on the physician. Yet after careful thought, he chose to explain the matter in detail.

Even under such pressure, Sun Simiao would surely want to understand the consequences of his alchemy, so that neither he nor those around him would perish unknowingly.

While Li Xuanba struggled for survival, Li Shimin arrived in Zhuo County.

As they neared Zhuo, Yu Shinan hesitated for a long time before pulling Li Shimin aside to teach him how to handle Yang Guang.

“I know you hope His Majesty will deliver justice for you, but His Majesty is unlikely to act as you wish. If you insist on punishing Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng, His Majesty may even suspect you,” Yu Shinan said. “Do not see His Majesty as an elder who will support you, nor as a wise ruler who will avenge you.”

Li Shimin bowed his head, clenching his fists. “Then I must watch Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng harm A-Xuan without paying any price?”

Yu Shinan replied, “Li Jiancheng merely failed to protect Sanlang. Even if you complain to His Majesty, in his eyes that reflects Li Jiancheng’s loyalty.”

Li Shimin took a deep breath. “I know, I know, I know my father would protect him too! I cannot have His Majesty punish him! But what about Li Yuanji? He falsely accused A-Xuan…”

Yu Shinan patted Li Shimin on the shoulder, calming his disciple. “You cannot let His Majesty punish Li Yuanji, but your parents can. As a brother, you cannot blame Li Yuanji for his false accusation, but your parents can sue him for filial impiety.”

Yu Shinan analyzed Yang Guang’s character for Li Shimin. This was the first time he had described the emperor’s flaws to anyone.

Yu Shinan’s elder brother, Yu Shiji, had become a favored minister of Yang Guang. Yu Shinan himself was no less capable and was skilled at reading people.

He simply did not wish to become another “Yu Shiji.”

Yang Guang once told Yu Shinan that he disliked remonstration, so Yu Shinan had never offered counsel to him. He understood the emperor’s words to be true, knowing how to avoid risk while upholding his principles.

Although Yu Shinan never rose in rank and only served as a court attendant to Yang Guang, his ability to remain close to the emperor without being reassigned or exiled demonstrated his skill.

Originally, Yu Shinan had only taught Li Shimin and Li Xuanba calligraphy. This was the first time he shared his official experience with Li Shimin.

“His Majesty values face above all. He himself is unfilial, unrighteous, and unkind, and cannot tolerate unfilial, unrighteous, or unkind behavior in others. But this ‘intolerance’ is selective. For instance, Li Yuanji is beneath his notice, but you hold command over the He–You military and political power. Therefore, Li Yuanji’s false accusation of you is merely supervision. If you seek to punish him for it, that is unfilial, that is disloyal.”

Seeing Li Shimin look confused, Yu Shinan sighed. “Do you recall how Pei Yun conducted the household registration review?”

Li Shimin thought for a moment and muttered, “He had the people report on each other.”

Yu Shinan said, “It wasn’t only the household registry. After Yang Xuangan’s rebellion, His Majesty required officials to report on one another. Whether there was evidence or not, suspects were imprisoned. Officials turned on each other, implicating countless people.”

Li Shimin replied, “It wasn’t just Yang Xuangan’s rebellion. When civil unrest erupted, His Majesty also had the populace report on each other. Thieves were executed on the spot. Local elites colluded with officials to accuse anyone they wished, leading to countless families destroyed and their lands seized.”

Yu Shinan nodded sadly. “So you should understand that, even though His Majesty trusts you and Sanlang, you cannot expect him to punish Li Yuanji for falsely accusing you and Sanlang. His Majesty supports false accusations. If he punished Li Yuanji, officials and commoners would not continue turning on each other as he desires.”

Li Shimin’s breathing slowed, and the anger and resentment on his face hardened into cold composure. “I will not request His Majesty to punish Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng. I will avenge my grievance myself.”

Yu Shinan felt a tremor in his heart.

He had intended to persuade Li Shimin to abandon hatred. Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng were his brothers; how could he bear to see fraternal bloodshed? By his moral sense, he could not hear such words from his disciple without advising against them.

Yet even a gentleman harbors personal feelings, just as he had preserved himself before Yang Guang.

Thinking of Li Xuanba and the deep brotherly bond between him and Li Shimin, Yu Shinan could not bring himself to scold.

Ultimately, he offered no admonishment, merely shifting the topic. “You need not worry about being too restrained. You cannot touch Li Yuanji, but the Duke of Tang surely will not let him go. If Li Yuanji is left unchecked, next time he would target the Duke of Tang. His Majesty dislikes Li Yuanji and will not grant him office; all Li Yuanji relies on is the Duke. Your priority is to ensure His Majesty understands that even though Sanlang…”

Yu Shinan sighed bitterly. “Even though Sanlang’s fate is uncertain, you hold no resentment toward His Majesty. You should find another target for your anger—rebels, Yang Xuangan, or the Turks—and let His Majesty know your hatred is directed elsewhere. Given His Majesty’s temperament, blaming the Turks for this incident may even please him more.”

Li Shimin said, “The arsonists are likely either rioters or Yang Xuangan.”

Yu Shinan replied, “But His Majesty does not wish it to be rioters or Yang Xuangan. Even amidst turmoil in the Central Plains, he insists on conquering Goguryeo. He deceives himself into thinking the Sui dynasty is untroubled; rioters and Yang Xuangan have already been crushed and are not to be feared. In His Majesty’s eyes, the only enemies are foreign tribes yet unconquered.”

Li Shimin’s lips twitched. “Teacher, I understand. I must guard against the Eastern Turks. They hate us and have seized the chance to harm A-Xuan with fire. I wish to return to Zhangye immediately to reorganize the border defenses and avenge A-Xuan.”

Yu Shinan sighed. “This way, His Majesty will be pleased. He’ll agree to let you return to Zhangye at once and won’t strip you of your military command.”

Li Shimin said softly, “It’s so humiliating.”

Yu Shinan hesitated, then raised his hand and gently ruffled the head of his now‑grown disciple. “It is humiliating. Remember this humiliation. Accumulate strength from it. Your teacher knows you have great ambitions.”

Li Shimin replied with a nasal sniff, “Mm.”

Yu Shinan said, “Let this be a lesson as well—never become someone like His Majesty. Encouraging officials and commoners to accuse each other, or ignoring facts and only seeing what one wants to see… those are not the acts of a wise ruler.”

They are the acts of a ruler who destroys his own country, Yu Shinan added silently.

Li Shimin nodded heavily. “I’ll remember.”

Yu Shinan patted his disciple’s shoulder again. “I know you’re miserable right now and can’t cry. Go use ginger juice to steam your eyes and have a good, hard cry. If you don’t vent now, you won’t be able to control your emotions in front of His Majesty later.”

Li Shimin clenched his teeth and forced a smile. “All right.”

When Yu Shinan told Li Shimin to use ginger juice, he had already prepared a cloth soaked in it.

He led Li Shimin to a place a little distance from the camp, patted a rock beside him for Li Shimin to sit, then handed him the cloth.

Li Shimin wiped his eyes with it, and the sting of the ginger juice immediately forced tears out.

As the tears began to fall, the emotions that had been locked inside his heart burst forth like a breached dam.

He buried his face in his knees, wrapped his arms tightly around his legs, curling into a ball as his whole body trembled.

Yu Shinan gently patted his disciple’s shaking back. His own eyes reddened, and tears slipped down as well.

Cry. Cry it out. Afterward it may not feel better, but at least sorrow won’t crush you.

Feeling the warmth and gentle motion of his teacher’s hand on his back, Li Shimin bit down hard on his lips until his mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood.

Since childhood, A‑Xuan had always teased him for being a crybaby.

“Second Brother, you’re way too emotional. You burst into tears over everything—you even howl after reading history books. If you’re going to cry, fine, but must you be so loud? You make my ears hurt.”

Li Shimin had always cried that way—shouting at the top of his lungs to vent his emotions. He might not shed many tears, but his wailing was always deafening.

Once he was done howling, his mood would be wonderfully light. No matter how hard, bitter, or infuriating things were, he could dust himself off and run forward again with a smile.

A‑Xuan always mocked his tears as nothing more than emotional trash disposal—cry it out and it’s done, never lingering on it.

Now, however, Li Shimin pressed his face tightly into his knees and arms, biting his lips as he sobbed so hard he could barely breathe—yet not a sound escaped.

Even Yu Shinan sitting beside him could not hear a single whimper.

Yu Shinan said with aching tenderness, “Erlang, you can cry out loud. We’re far from the camp. Your men won’t hear you.”

Li Shimin hugged his legs and shook his head fiercely, wiping his tears onto the hem of his robe and his trouser legs.

Yu Shinan sighed and could only continue gently patting his disciple’s back.

He didn’t know whether this could truly comfort Li Shimin, but it was better than doing nothing.

After crying for a while, just as Yu Shinan had predicted, Li Shimin’s emotions settled a great deal.

Now he could act sad and pained, instead of wearing a blank, cold expression.

That should be enough to pass muster in front of Yang Guang.

After Li Shimin submitted his report, Yang Guang—who in name was leading the imperial campaign but in reality was waiting in Zhuojun for news of victory over Goguryeo—summoned him in confusion.

Li Shimin knelt before Yang Guang, his forehead pressed to the ground, and sobbed as he told of how A‑Xuan had been harmed by the Turks.

“Your servant begs leave to return to Zhangye to prepare for war against the Turks and avenge my brother!” Li Shimin cried. “I know Your Majesty must now campaign against Goguryeo and cannot move troops against the Turks. I only ask to go back myself and fight them! They killed my brother—I will exterminate their entire clan!”

Yang Guang asked in surprise, “The Turks actually entered Hedong Commandery and burned Li Sanlang to death?”

Li Shimin’s body trembled. The words to deny his brother’s death stuck in his throat, and he forced them down with great effort.

Yang Guang asked Pei Shiju, “The Eastern Turks are really so bold?”

A strange light flickered in Pei Shiju’s eyes. He glanced at Li Shimin, then said respectfully, “The Eastern Turkic Khagan has already refused to answer Your Majesty’s summons, and while Your Majesty is personally campaigning against Goguryeo, they have repeatedly sent troops to raid our Sui borders. Their wolfish ambitions are plain for all to see. They cannot defeat the Tang Duke and Li Erlang on the frontier, so they took revenge on Li Sanlang instead. That indeed fits the ways of barbarians.”

Yang Guang frowned. “They truly have no regard for Great Sui. When I have conquered Goguryeo, I will personally lead the army to attack the Eastern Turks!”

Li Shimin said, “When Your Majesty marches against the Eastern Turks, please appoint this subject as your vanguard!”

Yang Guang sighed and said, “Rise. You have truly suffered a calamity through no fault of your own this time. Still, it also stems from your own lack of caution. Take this as a lesson.”

Li Shimin replied respectfully, “Yes. I will engrave it upon my heart.”

Just as his teacher had said, Yang Guang did not believe Li Yuanji, but he also was not angered by Li Yuanji’s false accusation.

In Yang Guang’s eyes, it was convenient—it gave him an excuse to give the Tang Duke’s household a warning.

Even though he currently trusted the Tang Duke’s family, and even though he had no intention of stripping them of their military power, he would still seize any opportunity to discipline them, like training a hawk or a hunting dog.

Li Shimin clenched his fists tightly inside his sleeves. Now he truly understood the “imperial arts” of this muddle‑headed emperor. Hah.

Seeing Li Shimin’s respectful demeanor, Yang Guang was very satisfied. “You’ve been wronged in this matter. I hereby appoint you Pacification Commissioner of Hexi and Acting Governor of Zhuojun. Make good preparations against the Eastern Turks. When the King of Goguryeo submits, I will certainly avenge you.”

Li Shimin said, deeply moved, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s great grace! Your servant will give his life and soul for you!”

Yang Guang continued, “However, Li Yuan’s household discipline is lax, and he must be punished a little. Since he cannot keep Hedong in order, he will no longer serve as Pacification Commissioner of Hedong. Let him instead guard Taiyuan and serve as Pacification Commissioner of Shanxi. Sigh— I wished to give your father, my kinsman, another chance, but he always fails to grasp it…”

Li Shimin remained silent. As a son, he should not speak ill of his father.

His silence also pleased Yang Guang.

Having just endured the crown prince’s attempted coup, Yang Guang placed even more emphasis on filial piety and human propriety. Even though Li Yuan was clearly biased, Li Shimin could not show any discontent toward him.

Only those who are sufficiently filial can be truly loyal.

Just as Yang Guang was about to give Li Shimin another word of encouragement, a palace attendant hurriedly reported:

“Your Majesty! Madam of the Duke of Tang is at the palace gate, beating the drum to submit a formal complaint, accusing her son Li Yuanji of defying his parents and committing the unforgivable ‘Ten Heinous Crimes’!”

Yang Guang leapt up from his seat, unable to believe it. “Who? What crime?”

The palace attendant’s voice trembled: “Madam of the Duke of Tang accuses her son Li Yuanji of the Ten Heinous Crimes!”

The “Ten Heinous Crimes” were severe offenses decreed in the first year of the Kaihuang era. According to the Kaihuang Code, the ten major crimes—“treason, great rebellion, rebellion, heinous rebellion, impiety, great disrespect, unfilialness, discord, injustice, internal chaos”—were excluded from any general pardon.

Li Yuanji had indeed violated the charge of “heinous rebellion,” plotting to kill his brother. But with Yang Guang supporting the false accusation, how could Li Yuanji be convicted of “discord within the family”?

Displeasure immediately arose in Yang Guang’s heart as he looked at Li Shimin suspiciously.

Li Shimin’s expression was utterly confused and helpless.

Frowning, Yang Guang withdrew his gaze. “Why has Madam of the Duke of Tang come here? Could it be the Duke of Tang himself?”

At that moment, another palace attendant rushed in, kowtowing: “The Duke of Tang sent someone to take Madam of the Duke of Tang away. A conflict broke out, and Madam of the Duke of Tang was injured!”

Li Shimin leapt to his feet, furious: “Who dares harm my mother!”

Yang Guang was stunned. “The Duke of Tang… the Duke of Tang sent someone to take Madam of the Duke of Tang?”

Yuwen Shu, observing quietly until now, spoke to Yang Guang: “Your Majesty, please summon Madam of the Duke of Tang to an audience. After all, the Duke of Tang is a relative of Your Majesty. Li Yuanji’s false accusation is already a scandal within the Duke of Tang’s household, and it should not be allowed to worsen.”

Yang Guang sighed. “What a mess… Fine, bring Lady Dou in. Erlang, go fetch your mother.”

Li Shimin knelt again. “Your Majesty, please grant me the authority to execute this wicked servant!”

Yang Guang waved his hand. “How you deal with your household servants is your decision. Anyone who dares harm the lady of your house deserves death.”

Li Shimin kowtowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

He turned and walked out of the hall.

Outside the hall, the guards returned the sword that Li Shimin had removed earlier when receiving the imperial audience.

Li Shimin did not strap the sword to his waist.

He drew the sword, holding it in one hand while gripping the scabbard in the other, and moved toward the palace gate.

Outside the gate, Lady Dou, who had fallen and scraped her arm during the struggle, drew a dagger again, aiming at the strong servant trying to pull her into the carriage.

The servant dodged and shouted harshly: “Madam, this is the Duke’s order!”

Lady Dou tightened her grip on the dagger: “No matter whose order it is, dare to touch me again and see what happens.”

The servant cupped his fists: “Please atone, Madam. The Duke has ordered that, by any means, you are to be taken back to Taiyuan!”

“By any means?”

A voice, pressed to its limit, and the sound of the dagger scraping the ground rang together.

Li Shimin dragged his long sword, sparks flying as its tip struck the ground.

The servant hurriedly said: “Erlang, this is…”

Before he could finish, Li Shimin leapt, slicing upward from the ground with his sword, raising it high and then striking down heavily.

The servant had no time to react before his head rolled to the ground!

Li Shimin’s sword tip struck the ground again with a clear “clang.”

He positioned himself in front of Lady Dou, his gaze burning, yet his face was as cold as frost.

“Who harms my mother, dies.”