LFHYB -Chapter 16 Performing for Rewards Is Nothing to Be Ashamed Of

Lady Dou accompanied Empress Xiao for a while, smiling on the surface but constantly worried about the children.

Empress Xiao knew Lady Dou’s concern, but since the emperor hadn’t allowed her to release them, she dared not act.

Yang Guang had disguised himself for over a decade and could fool Emperor Wen of Sui and Empress Dugu, but he could not fool the one lying beside him.

Even if Yang Guang lavished favor on Empress Xiao to please Empress Dugu for over ten years, she knew he was not Emperor Wen of Sui, and she dared not be Empress Dugu.

So although Empress Xiao had mild reservations about Yang Guang’s large-scale construction projects after he ascended the throne, she only dared to offer gentle advice.

Yang Guang, however, probably did not understand or pay attention to her suggestions.

Yet Empress Xiao was not dissatisfied with her current situation.

Empress Xiao was the daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of Western Liang, who had been destroyed by the Sui. Though Western Liang was gone, the Lanling Xiao clan still survived. When Empress Xiao entered the palace, her relatives instructed her that the revival of the Lanling Xiao clan depended entirely on her.

During Yang Guang’s struggle for succession, Empress Xiao had exerted every effort, contributing significantly to his success.

Now, even though Yang Guang had returned to his true nature—no longer favoring her exclusively and not heeding her advice—he still respected her, and the Lanling Xiao clan continued to enjoy imperial favor. “Those above the rank of ‘Si Ma’ were appointed according to their abilities, and thus the Xiao brothers were all placed in the court.”

The Lanling Xiao clan was restored, and the emperor’s sons were all hers. All of her life’s wishes had been fulfilled. Moreover, being three years older than the emperor, she was now thirty-nine; there was no point in competing for favor—being respected by the emperor was enough.

Empress Xiao lived comfortably, her brow smooth, still showing glimpses of her youthful elegance.

Seeing Lady Dou anxious, she gently held her hand and said, “I heard that Erlang and Sanlang were affronted by the Zheng family of Xingyang. Why didn’t Lady Dou come to me? If the Zheng family did not wish to arrange a marriage, let it be, but they spoiled them!”

Lady Dou gave a bitter smile. “The Duke had long arranged this marriage with the Zheng family, but no suitable candidate was found. It’s not that they refused. Alas, my Erlang and Sanlang are straightforward and cannot tolerate provocation; they were somewhat rude.”

Empress Xiao smiled. “Since the Zheng sons provoked first, Erlang and Sanlang were merely defending themselves. How is that rude? I think the Zheng family was the rude one. I see that Erlang and Sanlang are very likable.”

Lady Dou sighed. “They are indeed lovable, but their health is poor, which worries me.”

Empress Xiao frowned. “Poor health? Children are often sick when young; Lady Dou need not worry excessively.”

Lady Dou shook her head, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. “I cannot help worrying. It’s all my fault. Normally, children are prone to illness when young, but I had twins. From the womb, they were weak. Since birth, they have been on medicine constantly. The more lively they are, the more anxious I become.”

As she spoke, recalling Li Xuanba’s frailty and what Li Shimin endured this time, tears streamed down her face.

Choking back her sobs, Lady Dou said, “I shouldn’t have taken them to Xingyang! The two boys’ health had slightly improved, and they insisted on seeing their father. I thought it would be fine, but I… sob…”

She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, crying uncontrollably.

Empress Xiao gently comforted her and provided medicinal herbs to ease her worries.

She sighed inwardly.

She had heard of Li Erlang and Li Sanlang’ intelligence and began to consider arranging a marriage between the Lanling Xiao clan and these twins.

Although the Lanling Xiao clan had no twin daughters, there were cousins of similar age. Using the excuse of “sisters marrying twins” could create an opportunity for two Xiao daughters to enter the Tang Duke’s household.

If the sisters worked together, they could possibly help one of the twins attain the rank of Tang Duke.

Even if that failed, Li Erlang and Li Sanlang, as the emperor’s nephews, were capable and could support the Crown Prince. When the Crown Prince ascended, the twins would surely hold high positions, benefiting the family.

Unexpectedly, Li Erlang and Li Sanlang were in poor health?

Empress Xiao slightly suspected that Lady Dou, noticing her intention for a marriage, might be making excuses.

But Lady Dou’s tears were sincere. The boys’ frequent illness was something not easily fabricated, so Empress Xiao believed her.

Indeed, Lady Dou had noticed Empress Xiao’s intention for the marriage.

The “Five Surnames and Seven Families” were leaders among Shandong gentry, but the world’s noble families were not only in Shandong. There were four main types of noble families—“Qiao Surnames,” “Wu Surnames,” “Commandery Surnames,” and “Hu Surnames.”

The “Qiao clans” were prominent families who moved south with the court, with “Wang, Xie, Yuan, and Xiao” as the main surnames. The “Wu clans” were the original gentry of Wu, led by “Zhu, Zhang, Gu, and Lu.” The prestigious families of Shandong and Guanzhong were called “jun surnames,” with Shandong gentry ranking above Guanzhong’s; among them, the “Five Surnames and Seven Prominent Families” were especially respected. The northern Hu aristocracy was called “Lu surnames,” and besides the descendants of the Eight Pillar Dukes, the most illustrious were “Changsun, Lu, Yuan, and Dou.”

Liufang of the Tang dynasty wrote in Treatise on Clans that before the Sui and Tang, “Only the Four Surnames were eligible for xiucai, prefectural clerks, or county functionaries.” This shows how prestigious they were.

Although Emperor Wen of Sui later founded the Sui dynasty and relaxed restrictions on background for appointments, officials from outside the Four Surnames still dominated the court.

In the competition for the leading families of the Central Plains, the “Wu clans” and “Guanzhong jun surnames” were slightly weaker, while the “Qiao clans” and “Shandong jun surnames” were more evenly matched.

Because the North eventually won out in the conflicts between North and South dynasties, the “Shandong jun surnames” gained the upper hand over the “Qiao clans.” But the “Qiao clans” would not simply admit defeat.

Lady Dou did not want her family dragged into disputes among Han gentry at all.

If a household had daughters-in-law from both a “jun surname” and a “Qiao surname,” peace would be impossible.

Li Xuanba was indeed weak. Li Shimin stayed with him constantly. When Xuanba didn’t go out, Shimin didn’t either. Lady Dou worried that differences in their health might cause friction between the brothers, so she never mentioned Shimin’s robust health to outsiders. She wasn’t afraid that Empress Xiao would investigate.

Lady Dou had not originally planned to arrange marriages for the twins so early, but Empress Xiao had taken an interest in the two children. For the sake of family stability, she had to quickly find suitable matches for them. Yet Sanlang’s health… sigh, Lady Dou didn’t know if she could find a suitable candidate for him.

She cried and fretted anxiously.

Meanwhile, the two sons she worried over were happy as fledglings, chirping excitedly around the little colt.

Li Shimin was calling; Li Xuanba was performing.

Some things seemed destined.

When Li Shimin first learned to ride and shoot, he rode a gentle pony. He liked horses but had no special attachment to them.

But the colt selected for him by Yang Guang made him immediately fall in love. He clung to its neck, holding it so tightly that even the struggling colt could not break free.

Li Xuanba wanted to imitate his elder brother’s horse obsession, but when he approached, the horse “snapped” at him, and he immediately stepped back three times, giving up.

He simply didn’t have the strength to persist like his brother.

Whether it was Shimin cuddling the colt frantically or Xuanba stepping forward and then retreating, Yang Guang couldn’t help but laugh.

Today, his laughter exceeded what he had experienced in the entire past month.

Since deciding to renovate Dongjing and the Grand Canal, the court had been filled with endless noise, which annoyed him. It had been a long time since he had laughed so freely.

“All right, Erlang, let go, or the horse will kick you.” Yang Guang affectionately ruffled Li Shimin’s hair. “Stay in the Western Garden for a while and tame the horse, then your uncle will take you hunting.”

Li Shimin happily said, “Yes! Thank you, Uncle! Xuanba! Say thank you!”

Li Xuanba: “…Thank you, Uncle.”

Inwardly, Xuanba screamed: **[Brother! What thank you? Think fast! The Emperor wants us to stay in the Western Garden!]**

Li Shimin pretended not to hear.

Xuanba kept trying to reason: **[Brother, I know you love fine horses, but haven’t you already been given one? If we stay in the Western Garden, Mother will worry.]**

Li Shimin buried his face in the colt’s neck. *I’ll struggle a bit longer.*

Before Xuanba could continue, Yang Guang had already ordered rooms prepared for the two children near Empress Xiao, so she could help care for them.

As for Lady Dou, Yang Guang’s resentment toward Li Yuan had slightly eased because of the children, and he wanted to give Li Yuan a chance. Naturally, he would not cause misunderstandings with him, so Lady Dou was not allowed to live in the Western Garden, avoiding gossip.

Yang Guang thoughtfully arranged for someone to escort Lady Dou out of Luoyang and asked whether she preferred to return to Daxing or stay with Li Yuan.

As for the two nephews, Yang Guang planned to keep them close, following the precedent of past emperors.

He had already decided to tour Jiangdu on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, and he intended to take the children along.

This was an immense honor.

Li Shimin looked up in shock; Li Xuanba mentally shouted, **[Oh no.]**

When Lady Dou heard this decree, her tears paused, her face brightened, and she kowtowed in gratitude.

Her fingernails dug into her palms.

Living in the Western Garden and traveling south to Jiangdu?! The children were only six! How could they endure long journeys away from their parents? Moreover, being near the emperor was like being near a tiger. If they displeased him, what would happen? They were merely sons of ministers; the title of Duke of Tang would mean nothing in the emperor’s presence. If wronged, what could they do?

Though Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were precocious and might win the emperor’s favor, it could not compare to being at home. Lady Dou did not believe they could live comfortably. And small children worrying so intensely could affect their health.

She was furious inside, unable to understand the emperor’s sudden whim.

She was extremely anxious, and could not think of any solution. She could only force a look of happiness and pride so that the empress would not see her inner reluctance.

The Sui imperial family was narrow-minded and would never understand a mother’s concern.

Fortunately, Empress Xiao had children of her own. Having just seen Lady Dou cry out of worry for the children’s health, she could understand her concerns even if Lady Dou had concealed them.

She reassured her, “The Emperor asked me to take care of the children. Don’t you trust me, sister-in-law?”

Empress Xiao even called Lady Dou “sister-in-law,” and Lady Dou could only force a smile: “I trust you. It is our fortune that Erlang and Sanlang can receive the Empress’ guidance.”

Her worry only deepened.

The Empress intended for the Lanling Xiao clan to be connected with Erlang and Sanlang. What if, after spending time with them, the children developed other intentions?

Lady Dou decided to first go consult with her husband and then immediately return to Daxing to quickly arrange marriage meetings for Erlang and Sanlang.

Although she might not immediately find suitable matches, she could first evaluate the families, and then, once the children were a little older, look for suitable girls within those families.

This was how the eldest son, Li Jiancheng, had been matched. Early on, a marriage alliance with the Zheng family of Xingyang was planned, but no suitable girl had been found, so the engagement had been delayed.

As long as the Tang Duke’s household had expressed intent to marry into a certain family, the Empress Xiao of Lanling’s own noble background would prevent her from obstructing other family alliances.

There were many “unwritten rules” in aristocratic marriages. Since the Empress cared about the prestige of her Lanling Xiao lineage, she would not violate these rules.

Having decided that the two children would stay, the Emperor’s trial should be over. Empress Xiao then led Lady Dou to the audience hall.

Lady Dou’s heart clenched, her mind filled with images of the children forcing smiles to please the Emperor.

Before she even saw them, she heard Li Shimin’s loud laughter.

“Ha ha ha ha! Uncle, remember—no backing out! I win, I win!”

“All right, all right, you win. Here you go.”

“Thank you for the reward, Uncle! A-Xuan, say thank you!”

“Thank you for the reward, Uncle. But Uncle, don’t spoil my brother too much. My brother takes any little attention he gets and thinks he can open a dye workshop and mess around.”

“A-Xuan, how can you speak like that of your brother? Uncle, ignore him. Let’s continue the competition!”

Lady Dou’s face stiffened first, then darkened slightly.

Empress Xiao covered her mouth with a handkerchief, smiling: “You said your Erlang is lively—it seems he truly is. He doesn’t look like a frail child at all.”

Lady Dou’s eyes revealed sorrow: “That’s precisely why I worry. Sigh, he loves to play and make mischief, yet just from competing with the Zheng children while carrying some books, he was ill for months.”

Empress Xiao sighed: “You’ve worked hard. But a lively child is a good thing—moving around will help his health in the long run.”

Leading Lady Dou through the winding flower corridors, the view suddenly opened wide.

Li Shimin held a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. On the large cushion above Li Xuanba’s head, three arrows without heads were already stuck.

With a “whoosh,” the fourth arrow flew out and landed firmly on the soft cushion above Li Xuanba’s head.

Lady Dou inhaled deeply, her vision went dark, and she grabbed a nearby servant’s hand to steady herself.

Empress Xiao looked at her curiously: “You say… Erlang is frail?”

Lady Dou: “…” I just want to grab him and give him a good thrashing!

*Li Shimin! Is this how you handle your brother?! You’re making him hold a target while you shoot arrows at his head?!*

A flash of grimace crossed Lady Dou’s face, making Empress Xiao shiver.

Then she realized: “You’re worried he might overexert himself and fall ill again?”

Lady Dou breathed deeply: “Y-Yes. Sigh, both Erlang and Sanlang respect their father deeply and are eager to practice archery… but… sigh.”

Hearing Lady Dou’s voice, Li Shimin immediately turned: “Mother?”

He spread his arms to show the gold, silver, and jeweled chains around his neck: “Mother, mother, look! I won so many rewards from Uncle!”

Yang Guang laughed and hung a string of turquoise Buddhist beads around Li Shimin’s neck.

Lady Dou inhaled sharply, her breath caught, and her vision went dark.

Li Shimin, what are you doing?! Performing tricks for the Emperor?! Who taught you this?!

Li Xuanba averted his eyes guiltily.

*Sorry, my idea. I taught him.*