LFHYB -Chapter 14 The Two Sons of the Li Family Pay Homage Alone

It was now early August.

This year was the first year of the Daye era. Yang Guang was busy rebuilding Luoyang, the western gardens of Luoyang, the Xianren Palace, and the Tongji Canal… a huge number of projects were underway.

After millions of laborers worked themselves to exhaustion — with four or five out of ten dying and corpses lined up along the roads — the only major project not yet complete was the new city of Luoyang.

Xingyang was right along the Tongji Canal.

Yang Guang’s envoy came via the Tongji Canal. Though ordinary people were not yet allowed to travel the canal, Li Yuan was a cousin of Yang Guang, and Lady Dou was bringing two young children, so Yang Guang specially permitted them to travel by boat along the canal to Luoyang, sparing them the hardship of the journey.

Li Yuan was extremely pleased and couldn’t help but smile at Lady Dou, saying she had been overly suspicious of her cousin.

Lady Dou gave an embarrassed smile and admitted she had misjudged.

Since Li Yuan had official duties, he could not accompany them. Nervously, Lady Dou led Li Shimin, Li Xuanba, and the servants to travel by boat along the Tongji Canal to Luoyang to pay homage to the emperor.

On the boat, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba crammed to memorize their family connections, learning a long list of names and the lives of the people behind them, so that they would be able to answer the emperor if he asked.

The two children yawned as they memorized.

After a while, Li Shimin collapsed onto the carpeted deck and rolled around, perfectly illustrating boredom.

Li Xuanba bit his lip and tried to persist, but he too could not continue.

He lay flat on the deck, letting his elder brother roll over him once, then again, without moving a muscle.

In the past, when Li Xuanba had read Western fantasy novels about noble families, he had thought it ridiculous that nobles needed to memorize genealogies. Who knew that in his next life in the Sui dynasty, he would have to do the same?

Ah, this nonsense started with us, thousands of years before the West — can’t blame them.

Li Shimin rolled once more, flattening his younger brother again, then lay down beside him.

Yawning, he said, “So we have so many cousins? Why do I always hear people say that Father is the emperor’s only cousin?”

Lady Dou sat on the carpet, watching the two children slacking off, and smiled at Li Shimin’s words: “Your father is indeed the emperor’s only cousin on his mother’s side. Your grandmother is the only surviving elder from the emperor’s maternal family.”

Li Shimin, still young, did not grasp the implied meaning.

Li Xuanba helped interpret: **[Yang Guang is naturally cold and indifferent. If the elders are still alive, he would recognize them to display filial respect to Empress Wenxian.]**

Li Shimin blinked.

So the other elders of the Dugu family had passed away, causing the younger generation to lose touch?

At home, he had never seen Father interact closely with the other cousins, so he could never remember everyone in the Dugu family. Apparently, the Dugus were somewhat estranged from his family.

But if grandmother was so dominant, why would she be distant from her siblings? Strange. Would the genealogy hold the answer?

Li Shimin sat up and said, “I’m going to keep memorizing! A-Xuan, don’t slack off, get up!” He shoved his brother insistently.

“Mm…” Li Xuanba yawned and sat up.

The two brothers leaned against each other for support, stretching their short legs, and forced themselves to continue memorizing.

Lady Dou wanted to fetch brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to sketch the two children studying.

Before their formal schooling, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had been taught to memorize the family genealogy, so though they had forgotten parts, they could quickly pick it up with effort.

They spent a full day on the boat, then another day waiting at a villa arranged by Yang Guang in Luoyang. By the time the emperor summoned them, both had memorized the genealogy thoroughly.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba also discovered from the family records why their grandmother had not been very close with the elder cousins.

Under their blankets, the brothers whispered about their ancestors’ anecdotes, “reviewing” for their audience with the emperor the next day.

It turned out that their great-grandfather, Dugu Xin, had three wives. His first wife, Lady Luo, bore a son Dugu Luo; the second, Lady Guo of Taiyuan, bore six sons and two daughters; the third, Lady Cui of Qinghe, bore Empress Wenxian, Dugu Jialuo.

The Duke of Tang’s old matriarch was also born of Lady Guo of Taiyuan.

When Dugu Xin fled to Western Wei, he abandoned his parents, wives, and children in Eastern Wei. Dugu Luo was imprisoned as an infant and was not released until over twenty years later, after Northern Zhou was established, living in poverty among commoners.

Both Dugu Xin and his other sons believed Dugu Luo had died long ago, so they recognized the sons of Lady Guo as legitimate heirs.

Empress Wenxian had Dugu Jialuo locate Dugu Luo. The six sons of Lady Guo disdained and insulted Dugu Luo, and because his mother’s family was of low status, they did not recognize him as their elder brother.

After Yang Jian established the Sui Dynasty, Empress Dugu recognized Dugu Luo as the legitimate head of the Dugu family through Yang Jian and gave him an important position.

Dugu Tuo, the fifth son born to Lady Guo of Taiyuan, harbored resentment and used witchcraft to curse Empress Dugu, resulting in his demotion to commoner status.

After that, the surviving sons of Lady Guo of Taiyuan became cautious and careful.

Li Shimin said, “Actually, Empress Wenxian treated her other half-brothers well too. Every great-uncle who lived to see the Sui Dynasty had high positions and wealth. Great-great-grandfather’s actions were really improper.”

Li Xuanba reminded him, “Great-great-grandfather was Empress Wenxian’s half-brother, not her half-brother in the other sense.”

Li Shimin was surprised: “When great-grandfather married Cui of Qinghe, was great-grandmother still alive, and then they had another son? That’s not right! Although great-grandmother was a second wife, she was still the principal wife!”

Li Xuanba said, “Both great-grandmother and Empress Wende’s mother were principal wives. Great-grandfather later married a second wife.”

Li Shimin: “……”

Li Shimin held his head. “Ah! I just questioned the family traditions of the Zhengs of Xingyang, and now the Guos of Taiyuan and the Cuis of Qinghe are the same? And the Cuis of Qinghe are top among the five great surnames and four famous families! I heard Father wanted to seek a marriage with a Cui daughter for his elder brother, and even after the Cui family politely declined, although Father had friends in the Cui family, he had no choice but to give up!”

Li Xuanba shrugged: “Our family is just too weak.”

Li Shimin rolled his eyes. He used to think his family was particularly strong… now, look at our great-grandmother!

Li Xuanba said, “Now the maternal grandfather has passed away. After the current emperor ascended the throne, he posthumously awarded high positions to even the previously demoted great-great-grandfather to show respect for Empress Wenxian. But looking at the genealogy, perhaps the emperor and we aren’t that close. Mother’s concerns were correct.”

Li Shimin sighed: “But grandmother and Father still think they’re very close to His Majesty.”

Li Xuanba said, “They are them, we are us. Listen to mother—being cautious is never wrong.”

Li Shimin nodded: “Right, listen to mother.”

At that moment, Lady Dou called from the doorway: “Erlang, Sanlang, are you asleep? Or were you secretly chatting instead of going to sleep?”

Without thinking, Li Shimin shouted, “Mother, we’re already asleep! No secret chatting!”

Li Xuanba took a deep breath and covered his eyes with both hands.

Ah, how can I save my foolish elder brother who’s about to get spanked by mother?

…

The next day, dressed like jewelry stands, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were led into the palace by Lady Dou.

Li Shimin sat in the carriage, wiggling his bottom left and right. Yesterday’s spanking still hurt!

Li Xuanba covered his mouth to stifle a laugh.

Li Shimin looked extremely aggrieved. A-Xuan is truly mean—he immediately pretended to sleep. Mother is biased too, knowing Xuanba was faking yet only spanked him.

Li Shimin’s aggrieved expression lasted all the way to the audience with the emperor.

To avoid impropriety, the emperor generally did not meet with external wives.

Lady Dou was led to see the empress, while the two children were led to meet the emperor.

Lady Dou had assumed the emperor and empress would receive her and the two children together, so she could stay by their side. She didn’t expect the emperor to meet the two children alone. Anxious but helpless, she could only hope the two children would adapt on the spot.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba knelt alone before the emperor.

They observed proper etiquette, but when Yang Guang saw Li Shimin’s aggrieved expression, his brows furrowed: “Erlang, why do you look so troubled at audience?”

Li Shimin pouted: “Your Majesty, last night I was too excited before sleep and couldn’t go to bed early. Mother spanked me, and it still hurts.”

Li Xuanba cupped his hands and explained for his brother: “Your Majesty, Second Brother isn’t troubled in the face; it’s the pain in his bottom that he can’t bear.”

Yang Guang was taken aback. He hadn’t expected this answer. He had assumed Li Yuan was unhappy with him and was instructing his sons.

He laughed: “Shall I send an imperial physician to check?”

Li Shimin quickly shook his head: “No need, no need. Just a little bruise. Medicine has already been applied. Uncle… Your Majesty need not worry.”

Hearing Li Shimin almost call him “Uncle,” Yang Guang suddenly realized something.

It seemed Li Yuan not only had no ill intentions, but privately considered himself close as a maternal relative and often boasted to the children about his closeness to the emperor.

Yang Guang, extremely suspicious, suspected his cousins upon ascending the throne. Since Li Yuan had once been favored by Emperor Wen of Sui and Empress Wenxian and had a good relationship with his brother Yang Yong, he remained cautious.

Summoning Li Shimin and Li Xuanba alone wasn’t just to see if they were the “auspicious” prodigies—he also wanted to test Li Yuan’s attitude toward him through these innocent children.

Li Shimin’s “slip of the tongue” reassured Yang Guang considerably.

Smiling, he continued his test: “It’s fine to call me Uncle. I really am your Uncle. Does Li Yuan often call me his junior?”

Li Shimin said innocently: “Father indeed always considers himself related to Your Majesty, and tells me to call you ‘Uncle.’”

Li Xuanba frowned: “Whenever that happens, grandmother scolds father for not understanding hierarchy.”

Li Shimin: “Father always retorts that Your Majesty is kind and close, and has known him since childhood.”

Li Xuanba: “Grandmother says the kinder and closer His Majesty is, the more father should observe proper rituals and not overstep.”

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba spoke in unison: “Mother says grandmother is senior. We should listen to grandmother.”

Hearing the two children answer back and forth, even finishing with a harmony, Yang Guang laughed heartily, leaning forward and backward: “Hahaha, I didn’t expect Li Yuan privately… hahaha.”

He completely relaxed.

So Li Yuan, who outwardly appeared capable, was privately a shallow man proud of his maternal connections.

Li Shimin cast a secret glance at his brother.

Li Xuanba: **[See, I told you, Emperor Yang of Sui is exactly like this. You said father is so respectful at home, he must be suspicious. By portraying father as a foolish, shallow maternal relative, he would be pleased.]**

Li Shimin stiffened his back.

*Here we go again, here we go again! A-Xuan, can you please stop saying ‘Emperor Yang of Sui’? Don’t you worry that I, your brother, might accidentally let something slip and get our whole family in trouble?! Shut up, A-Xuan!*

Li Xuanba didn’t notice his older brother’s panic and was still sighing in admiration: **[The current Emperor Yang of Sui is really vigorous, handsome, and full of charm.]**

*Stop saying ‘Emperor Yang of Sui’ already!*

Li Shimin clenched his mind as hard as he could and forced out a single word in his thoughts: **[Shut…]**

Li Xuanba looked up: “Huh?”

Li Shimin: **[…your mouth!!]**

Li Xuanba: “……”

Li Xuanba: **[Sorry, I didn’t mean it—it was just a slip of the tongue.]**

Ahem, he had accidentally used his habitual way of referring to him again. Mistake, mistake.