LFHYB -Chapter 186 You Are Only of the Hongnong Yang Clan

With no second brother around, Li Xuanba could only pick up his long-forgotten gentle, elegant, frail-noble-young-master persona and chat pleasantly with the Sui royal clansmen who claimed descent from the Hongnong Yang family.

Since Li Xuanba didn’t like going onto the dance floor himself, and he was the highest-ranking person in Hongnong Commandery, he finally changed the banquet format.

Instead of hosts and guests dancing together, it became: everyone holding wine cups, smiling while watching others sing and dance, occasionally quoting poetry and lyrics from songs that Yang Guang had once promoted—and which had now been completely wiped out.

Refined. Elegant. Classical.

This—this was aristocratic taste.

Listening to the Hongnong Yang clan flatter him with their eyes closed, Li Xuanba thought:
No wonder people say power is intoxicating.

After one banquet brought the two sides closer, Li Xuanba prepared to break camp and leave.

He was leading an army of ten thousand. Every day consumed huge amounts of grain. Even though Hongnong had done its best to supply them, he couldn’t wait until his soldiers ate the place empty.

In peaceful times, Hongnong could have supported such an army.

But since Yang Guang ascended the throne and imposed heavy taxes, this commandery—situated between the western and eastern capitals—had been drained dry.

Even without mentioning the three campaigns against Goguryeo, just the canal construction and palace building in and around the eastern capital had already caused population decline and abandoned farmlands.

In other places, powerful families might have seized land and used servants to farm it.
But in Hongnong, the biggest “local power” was Prince Cai, Yang Zhiji.

Yang Zhiji was so frightened by Yang Guang that he wanted to die but didn’t dare. On the surface, he showed eagerness to live, while secretly pouring out his medicine when sick, relying on his own immunity to survive. He finally died of illness in the twelfth year of Daye.

With his overly cautious personality, he took nothing beyond what a prince was entitled to.

If even Yang Zhiji was like this, other distant royal relatives dared do even less.

So the fertile lands of Hongnong weren’t farmed even by officials or powerful families. They all became wasteland.

Supplying the small remaining population was manageable, but feeding over ten thousand fighting men was simply too much.

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When leaving Hongnong, Li Xuanba rearranged the official posts.

He placed several of his own clerks in key positions and promoted some local scholars.

The Sui royal clansmen who claimed to be of the Hongnong Yang clan cooperated fully. They didn’t fight for power at all and let Li Xuanba manipulate things as he wished.

After everything was settled, they secretly sighed that the nickname was well deserved.

Prince Jin Li Xuanba truly lived up to “Virtuous and Benevolent.” He treated them extremely well, never suppressing them for being Sui royalty—he only treated them as members of the Hongnong Yang clan.

When Li Xuanba heard about this attitude, he was speechless for a long time.

He said to the young man opposite him—who was devouring rice, steamed cured meat, and pickled vegetables: “Are Sui royal clansmen really living that badly? Is this considered treating them well? I stripped most of their official posts!”

The young man put down his bowl, wiped the greasy corner of his mouth, and said, “Uncle, my life isn’t good either!”

Li Xuanba rubbed his forehead. “I can see that. Eat slowly. Don’t choke.”

The young man smiled and buried his head in eating again.

Pei Xingyan, feeling tempted, also ordered a pot of rice.

But Li Xuanba refused to give him cured meat, saying there wasn’t much and Pei Xingyan would eat him into poverty.

Pei Xingyan looked pitifully at his father’s bowl, which had meat.

Pei Renji gave him a disdainful look and protected his bowl.

Li Xuanba laughed helplessly. “No cured meat, but there’s fresh meat—chicken, duck, fish, pork, and lamb. Why are you fixated on my jar of cured meat?”

Pei Xingyan sighed. “I haven’t eaten your cooking in so long, Li San. I really miss it.”

Pei Renji said sternly, “You should call him Prince Jin!”

Li Xuanba said, “Shoujing and I don’t need so many formalities. If he suddenly calls me ‘Your Highness,’ I’d start worrying he’s caused trouble again.”

Pei Xingyan widened his eyes. “How can you slander me like that? When have I ever caused trouble?”

Li Xuanba sighed. “When you were in Longxi, all of you copied Second Brother. I told you to slow down because supplies couldn’t keep up, but you insisted on charging forward. Even the Turks didn’t want to fight anymore, yet you pretended to be bandits and robbed people—sometimes even other nomads. Every few days, I had to clean up your messes. And you say I’m slandering you?”

Pei Xingyan: “…”

He started feeling guilty.

Pei Renji’s gaze grew sharper.

Sweat broke out on Pei Xingyan’s forehead. He hurriedly defended himself:

“My lord is Li Er, so of course I copy him! If anyone made messes, it was his. I’m just a subordinate—how can I take responsibility for my lord? Besides, since you returned from hardship, how much work have you done yourself? Isn’t it all Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui handling things?”

Li Xuanba sighed and clasped his hands to Pei Renji.

“Uncle Pei, I think Shoujing’s temperament still needs polishing.”

Pei Renji replied, “From now on, my son and I will serve Prince Qin. Your Highness may rest assured.”

Pei Xingyan was dumbfounded.

He suddenly remembered how Changsun Wuji had once complained to him that Li San had been a little tattletale ever since childhood. Most of the beatings Changsun Wuji received when he was young were because Li Xuanba had gone to General Changsun to snitch on him. At the time, Pei Xingyan had only laughed loudly.

Now, with a bitter face, Pei Xingyan said, “Li San, do you know that Changsun Laosi calls you a little tattletale dog?”

Li Xuanba smiled. “I’ll report this to Teacher Changsun.”

Pei Xingyan gave Li Xuanba a “you’re awesome” gesture, then lowered his head under his father’s threatening glare.

Pei Renji wasn’t angry. Instead, he was quite pleased.

Seeing how freely Li Xuanba interacted with his son made him realize that his son and Li Xuanba were very close, and that his son was likely a core member of the Qin Prince’s faction.

Still, he sighed inwardly. No wonder the late emperor’s favored ministers treated others with cold hostility, yet all praised Li Xuanba highly—some even praised him more than Li Shimin, who appeared more outstanding and cheerful.

Old and shrewd, Pei Renji was not fooled by Li Xuanba’s outward appearance. At a glance, he could tell that Li Xuanba had deliberately tattled on Pei Xingyan in front of him to show his closeness with Pei Xingyan.

Yet this “deliberateness” was reassuring.

Li Xuanba was truly a considerate and good child.

“Cousin, I’m full,” the young man said, putting down his bowl and chopsticks.

This youth, dressed as a common soldier, was naturally Yang Tong, the young Sui emperor who was rumored to have immolated himself.

After Pei Xingyan rescued him, he fled to Hongnong Commandery and reunited with Li Xuanba.

Looking at Yang Tong’s rosy complexion, which looked nothing like that of a deposed emperor forced into “self-immolation,” Li Xuanba felt complicated emotions.

Were all members of the Sui royal clan a little strange?

“Yang You is already in Zhangye, studying under Fang Xuanling. Your second uncle’s posthumous son has also been sent out by loyal followers and is now in Zhangye,” Li Xuanba said, his eyes dimming slightly. “This was jointly planned by Yu Jian and Xue Deyin. Not only did Second Brother and I not know, even Second Cousin himself didn’t know he had another child before he died.”

Without hesitation, Yang Tong blurted out, “It must be Second Sister-in-law’s child! When she died of illness, I already thought something was strange!”

Li Xuanba coughed. “Cough, cough—no! It was a common maid in your second uncle’s household who happened to become pregnant.” This kid really spoke without thinking—though he was indeed perceptive.

“Oh.” Yang Tong’s eyes were sincere. If Cousin says so, then I believe it.

Pei Renji looked at his young emperor with worry.

Had the little emperor become overly lively? Even before becoming emperor, Yang Tong had never been this energetic.

Li Xuanba also found it strange.

After Yang Zhao’s death, apart from Yang Guang’s favorite eldest grandson Yang Tan, Yang Guang paid no attention to his other children.

Although Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had to avoid suspicion and could not openly help, Yang Xian had always taken good care of them. Through him, the two brothers quietly kept an eye on their young cousins.

Because of this long-term attention, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were able to devise a plan to smuggle them out in a short time. People they had arranged through Yang Xian had long been stationed beside Yang Tong and Yang You.

When Yang Xian decided to carry out a desperate military remonstrance, he handed over his secret network to Li Shimin and Li Xuanba.

Yang Zhao’s three sons were all precocious, perfectly inheriting his talent and temperament. But perhaps because of being neglected, Yang You and Yang Tong had both become quiet and reserved.

Especially Yang Tong.

Although Yang You was not favored by Yang Guang, he was still Yang Zhao’s only legitimate son. While staying in the Western Capital, he had support from Consort Wei’s family and lived fairly well.

Yang Tong, however, was born of a lesser consort. After being brought to Luoyang by Yang Guang, he was practically forgotten there. Even Empress Xiao paid little attention to him. He was a transparent, pitiful child, so quiet he could be called withdrawn.

Li Xuanba studied Yang Tong’s expression and suddenly felt it was familiar.

Then he realized.

Wasn’t Yang Tong’s gaze somewhat similar to the look he had seen in himself, in dreams of his previous life, when gazing into a mirror?

Had this child been pushed too far? Now that he was suddenly free—even with an uncertain future—was he starting to “let himself go”?

Li Xuanba pretended not to notice Yang Tong’s improved mental state.

“Do you plan to take your mother to Longyou, or have her go to the Western Capital?” Li Xuanba asked. “For your future freedom, your identity cannot be exposed. If she goes to Longyou, she’ll also need to disguise herself.”

The strange excitement in Yang Tong’s eyes faded. He shook his head.

“Of course I wish to travel with my mother, but she wants to go to the Western Capital. She says that since Grandmother didn’t follow Third Brother away, she probably believes staying in the Western Capital is better for him. She doesn’t know much, so to protect me, she must learn from Mother.”

The “mother” Yang Tong referred to was naturally Crown Princess Wei.

Li Xuanba didn’t try to persuade him. He simply nodded.

“Since your mother has decided, follow her wishes. Life in the Western Capital is better than in Longyou. It’s good that she won’t have to suffer hardship with you. Fang Xuanling is very strict with his students—Yang You has complained in letters several times. Now that you’ll suffer with him, he’ll probably be happier.”

Yang Tong laughed wryly. “Is it really that strict? Since my brother and I can’t enter officialdom anyway, wouldn’t it be better to wait until we marry and have children, then educate our sons strictly?”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Li Xuanba replied. “Since you’ve hidden your identities, you can completely enter officialdom under those identities. There are many descendants of the Hongnong Yang clan. You two would just be ordinary members among them.”

Yang Tong looked strange. “That works? Many officials recognize us.”

Li Xuanba said firmly, “My second brother says you and Yang You are just ordinary Hongnong Yang clan members. I also say you’re just ordinary Hongnong Yang clan members…”

He turned toward the stunned person at the door.

“Cai Prince’s heir, Yang Daoxuan, also says you were born in Hongnong and are ordinary aristocratic sons, unrelated to Crown Prince Yuande’s lineage. Right?”

Yang Daoxuan, who had been brought in by Zong Luohu, stood there in the wind, utterly bewildered.

When he gave up on supporting Luoyang, he felt no guilt at all.

The rotten, cowardly Sui Dynasty—better for it to collapse sooner so everyone could have peace of mind. This was a unanimous decision of the Hongnong Yang clan.

When he heard that the young emperor had burned himself to death in martyrdom, Yang Daoxuan sighed with emotion and even shed a few sincere tears of sorrow.

Yang Tong had lived a miserable life, yet still chose to die for the Sui. What a foolish child.

Now, that pitiful young emperor who had been abandoned by the Hongnong Yang clan was standing alive before him, looking especially lively and cheerful.

Cold sweat broke out on Yang Daoxuan’s back.

But having endured many trials alongside his father under Yang Guang, he quickly recovered and said, “Prince of Jin is right.”

Putting on a stern face, he said to Yang Tong, “Your father died early. I recommended that you and your younger brother study under Lord Fang Xuanling. You must study diligently and must not disgrace the name of the Hongnong Yang clan.”

Yang Tong: “…”

As expected of the Cai Prince’s line—the only branch that had never been punished under his great-grandfather and grandfather. Their adaptability was truly admirable! I must learn from this!

Yang Tong stood up, bowed deeply to Yang Daoxuan, then bowed deeply to Li Xuanba.

“This junior will never disgrace the name of the Hongnong Yang clan.”

Li Xuanba helped him up, feeling both amused and unable to laugh.

He sighed. “Life will be easier from now on. Zhangye is remote, but you can laugh freely there, ride horses on the grasslands, and hunt. Yang You gets scolded by Fang Xuanling because he’s too playful and can’t focus on studying. As the elder brother, you must educate him well.”

When Li Xuanba held his arms, Yang Tong suddenly felt his eyes grow hot. Though nothing particularly touching had been said and the scene itself was not emotional, his voice still choked.

“Yes, Cousin.”

Li Xuanba continued, “Your cousin is called Yang Min—‘min’ as in compassion. He lost his parents at birth and is temporarily adopted by Xue Deyin. If blood relatives care for him, he may grow up happier. Your father and his father were very close. You and Yang You must treat him as a real brother.”

“I will take good care of my cousin,” Yang Tong replied.

“I trust your character and ability,” Li Xuanba said. “Now I’m at ease. You’re still young, and it pains me to place such a burden on you. But you are already the eldest brother. Only you can bear it.”

He patted Yang Tong’s shoulder.

“You will become a good elder brother and make your father and second uncle proud.”

Yang Tong unconsciously raised his voice, “Yes!”

Li Xuanba then said to Yang Daoxuan, “Brother Yang, please arrange the identities of these three Hongnong Yang descendants.”

Yang Daoxuan cupped his hands respectfully. “I will do my utmost.”

Inwardly, he sighed.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had actually left heirs for both crown princes? They had even saved Yang Min, the unborn son of the deposed crown prince, and Yang Tong, who had become a puppet emperor?

These two brothers were truly beyond words.

Yang Guang didn’t care. The imperial clan didn’t care. Even the Sui court barely cared. Yet amid their struggle for power, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had gone out of their way to save these three troublesome people.

Yang Daoxuan believed Li Xuanba’s words about letting them enter officialdom.

After all, hiding their identities now was far more troublesome than allowing former imperial descendants to serve later, after Li Shimin became emperor. Since they had taken on the greater trouble, they wouldn’t mind the smaller one.

Li Shimin had conquered the realm himself. He truly had the confidence to do such things.

Yang Daoxuan’s urge to resign and flee weakened a little.

If he hadn’t met Yang Tong or heard about Yang You and Yang Min, he would have continued thinking only of himself.

But after seeing and hearing of them, he couldn’t help softening.

It wasn’t just softness.

If even the sons of two crown princes were treated generously, then someone as distantly related as him would certainly not be suspected by the Li brothers.

In the future, he might truly be just an ordinary member of the Hongnong Yang clan.

Still, Yang Daoxuan shot Li Xuanba a resentful look.

Li Xuanba smiled gently. “Brother Yang, is there something wrong?”

Yang Daoxuan gave up and said, “Prince of Jin truly lives up to being Teacher Gao’s prized student. I admire you greatly.”

Li Xuanba returned the salute with a smile. “Thank you. Speaking of which, Brother Yang can be considered my senior fellow student.”

Yang Daoxuan waved his hands frantically. “I wouldn’t dare! I really wouldn’t!”

Who would dare be your senior? Even Gao Biaoren—a Prince of Bohai and Imperial Son-in-law—was thrown by you into Wagang Village to be a bandit chief!

Li Xuanba said, “There is indeed something I’d like to ask Senior Brother to help with.”

Yang Daoxuan: “…Prince of Jin, just give your orders. But I’m really not your senior.”

Li Xuanba continued, “The supplies in Yao Junsu’s city were originally sold to him secretly by Wagang, pretending to be merchants, at my instruction. Now that Wagang’s main force has left with my second brother, even though some troops remain at Xingyang and Luokou Granary, they can no longer support him. Hedong Commandery may soon run out of grain.”

“To avoid human tragedies, please help me persuade Yao Junsu to surrender.”

Yang Daoxuan fell silent for a long time, then sighed.

“Yao Junsu owes the late emperor a great debt of gratitude. He may intend to die with the Sui.”

“I don’t care whether he lives or dies,” Li Xuanba said coldly. “But if he keeps defending Hedong while there’s no food, the people will end up eating each other. If he wants to die, he should slit his own throat quickly instead of dragging the civilians and soldiers with him. Yang Guang may have treated him well, but the people of Hedong never received any favor from Yang Guang.”

Yang Daoxuan was speechless.

Watching Li Xuanba manipulate Yang Daoxuan, Pei Renji—who had been smiling—lost his smile and felt a headache coming on.

He recalled how his distant clansman Pei Shiju often showed the same expression when mentioning Li Shimin and Li Xuanba.

What kind of persuasion is this?

“I don’t care if he dies,” “Hurry up and kill yourself”—are you trying to persuade him or not?

Li Xuanba continued, “You are a member of the Sui imperial clan. If you go alone, he won’t block you from entering the city. Once inside, tell him exactly what I said and let him decide.”

“If he causes the tragedy of people eating each other in Hedong, later generations will not praise his loyalty. Instead, they will tarnish the reputation of the late emperor as a benevolent ruler.”

Yang Daoxuan: “…” Did the former emperor really have that kind of reputation?

Yang Tong: “…” No wonder my cousin is Grandpa’s favorite junior—his ability to lie with a straight face is impressive, tsk tsk.

Pei Rengi: “…” Looks like Li Xuanba really is Pei Shiju’s disciple.

Yang Daoxuan sighed. “Fine, I’ll give it a try.”

Once you’re on the pirate ship, there’s no getting off. Even if Li Xuanba told him to enter the city alone to persuade them to surrender, he could only accept it.

This matter seemed dangerous, but given Yao Jun’s blind loyalty to the former emperor, things were different now. The Sui dynasty had already fallen. One imperial grandson was missing, another had burned himself to death. There was no hope left for Sui.

Yao Jun would never ruthlessly kill members of the imperial family. Even if the persuasion failed, he would probably just politely escort him out of the city.

Pei Xingyan, who had been watching the drama for a while, finally spoke up: “I thought you’d keep Yao Jun and Li Yuan locked in a stalemate, blocking Li Yuan from getting out. Aren’t you worried he’ll escape?”

Pei Rengi clenched his fist. This son really hadn’t been educated enough. He deeply regretted it!

Even if everyone could see that Li Shimin and Li Xuanba weren’t on good terms with Li Yuan, you couldn’t just say it out loud so bluntly!

Li Xuanba said: “Father may not be as capable as Second Brother, but he’s still decent at leading troops. Now that the Sui dynasty has fallen, his status as the former Duke of Tang and as my second brother Qin Prince Li Shimin’s father allows him to gather power quickly.”

“Once Luoyang falls, Yao Jun’s subordinates will be in panic and won’t be able to stop him from leaving Taiyuan and heading west to Daxing. So before he leaves Taiyuan, I might as well go and rescue him.”

Pei Xingyan asked, “Does your second brother know you’re going to face Li Yuan directly?”

Pei Rengi smacked Pei Xingyan on the head.

Pei Xingyan cried out, “Father! What are you doing?!”

Yang Tong spoke up to support Pei Rengi: “You must not address the Qin Prince by name!”

Pei Xingyan was speechless. It’s fine if my father scolds me, but why are you sucking up too? Do you still remember you’re an emperor? So flattering—how embarrassing.

Li Xuanba didn’t mind his tone.

“My second brother definitely doesn’t know. If he did, he’d probably grab a knife and rush into Taiyuan to kill Li Jiancheng himself.”

“He still hasn’t gotten over the time when Xiao Wu and I were almost ambushed to death in Hedong.”

Pei Xingyan rubbed his head.

“Still? That’s something you’ll never get over in a lifetime. Just wait—Li Er… I mean, just wait for the lord to beat you up.”

Li Xuanba narrowed his eyes and smiled mockingly.

“Once I meet Mother, do you think he’ll still have a chance to hit me?”

Pei Xingyan fell silent for a moment, then gave Li Xuanba a “you’re awesome” gesture.

Pei Rengi rubbed his forehead.

“Your Highness the Prince of Jin, do you know the expression Pei Shiju makes when he mentions you?”

Li Xuanba said, “I don’t know. But I know the Sui dynasty is gone, and Teacher Pei has no more worries. It’s time for him to come out and help me.”

He looked dissatisfied.

After Pei Shiju left Jiangdu, Li Xuanba had thought he would come help him and his second brother. Even if he didn’t, he should have returned to the Western Capital as Yang Guang ordered.

Then, when he and his brother arrived there, Pei Shiju would have no choice but to help them.

He had many teachers, but having one more veteran official meant less burden for his second brother. He even called Pei Shiju “teacher”—how could Pei Shiju be so lazy?

But Pei Shiju actually hid in the Pei clan’s estate near Hedong and refused to come out. Li Xuanba decided to drag him out personally.

In another ten years, Pei Shiju would pass away. There was no time left for him to rest.

Pei Rengi laughed.

“I happen to be returning to the clan. I’ll bring him out for you.”

“Thank you, Uncle Pei,” Li Xuanba said.

Pei Xingyan asked, “What about me?”

“You’re coming with me to Taiyuan,” Li Xuanba replied.

Pei Xingyan laughed. “Great! Don’t worry—if Li Jiancheng gives you trouble, I’ll beat him until he’s crawling, even if Li Yuan tries to stop me!”

Pei Rengi was speechless.

Your loyalty is nice, but can you act a little more like a nobleman? Has life in Longxi been so hard that you’ve started acting like a barbarian from the steppes?!

Li Xuanba nodded.

“Beat him as much as you want. No one will stop you. All the capable generals in Taiyuan belong to my second brother and me.”

Pei Xingyan whistled.

He hadn’t known before, but now that Li Xuanba said it, he realized it was true.

Li Er had stayed in Taiyuan for so long, made so many friends, and fought the Turks alongside Li Yuan’s generals. There was no way he hadn’t gained anything.

Li Yuan’s inability to break through wasn’t just because Yao Jun, Wei Dao’er, and Liu Wuzhou were strong.

Pei Rengi took a deep breath, stood up, and clasped his hands to Li Xuanba.

“Your Highness, I have a personal matter to deal with.”

Li Xuanba pulled up the confused Yang Tong and said to Yang Daoxuan, “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Zong Luohu and Chen Tieniu, who had been acting as guards, left as well. Only Pei Rengi and Pei Xingyan remained in the room.

Before leaving, Li Xuanba thoughtfully closed the door for them so they could talk freely.

Yang Tong asked in confusion, “What private matter does Lord Pei have? Why does it have to be now?”

Pei Rengi was the only former Sui official he truly cared about. He was worried.

No matter what the matter was, how could he kick his cousin out?

Li Xuanba smiled.

“What else could it be? He’s finally had enough and is about to beat his son. Haha. With Pei Shoujing’s personality, he deserved a beating long ago.”

Yang Tong: “Huh?”

Yang Daoxuan reminded him, “If you don’t understand, observe more and think more. Ask fewer questions.” What he really meant was: ask fewer questions—you don’t even need to think.

Yang Tong shut his mouth.

Soon, Pei Xingyan’s miserable screams rang out from inside the room.

Li Xuanba waved for Yang Daoxuan to take Yang Tong away to settle his identity and teach him what to watch out for when he went to Zhangye alone.

He had Zong Luohu and Chen Tieniu bring stools, then sat happily in the courtyard listening to Pei Xingyan scream.

“Serves him right,” Li Xuanba said cheerfully.

“He’s always trying to coax Second Brother into dragging me out to dance at banquets.”

Chen Tieniu said gloomily, “Sir, is it because of this that you’re taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune?”

Li Xuanba countered, “Isn’t that reason enough?”

Zong Luohu began to recall whether he had ever done the same thing himself.

Then cold sweat broke out—apparently, all the commanders under the lord had done similar things; even Qin Shubao, usually the most cautious, was no exception.

Dancing together should have been fun, right? So why is Third Young Master angry?

Li Xuanba didn’t care what Zong Luohu thought. He continued enjoying the increasingly pitiful screams of Pei Xingyan, his smile growing ever wider.

“Being arrogant, huh? Showing off by lifting me while we danced to flaunt your strength. Now your father, Pei Renji, is here. Let’s see how I tell your father, so he’ll beat you every day!”

When Pei Xingyan had followed Li Shimin to Yanmen County to meet Li Xuanba, he had whispered during the tearful handshake between Li Shimin, Li Xuanba, and Yang Guang—and afterward, Pei Renji had beaten him until his head was covered in bumps.

Li Xuanba remembered it all too well. He had long known who could control Pei Xingyan, and now he just waited for Pei Renji to appear.

“Ah, that’s satisfying.”

Li Xuanba stood, flicked his sleeves, and strode away.

Zong Luohu followed him, his head slick with sweat.

Chen Tieniu sighed, feeling that his lord’s behavior was a bit excessive.

Pei Xingyan opened the window and poked his swollen, bruised head out, then turned to Pei Renji: “I said Li San would be happily watching me get beaten in the courtyard. Now, Father, can you rest easy? Even if Li San becomes the Prince of Jin, whether in the Sui Dynasty or the future Tang Dynasty, he’s still the same Li San—unchanged.”

Pei Renji, fastening his son’s belt again, asked, “What about Li Erlang? Li Erlang is meant to be emperor. Will he also remain unchanged? You can treat Li San as you like, but Li Erlang is the emperor!”

Pei Xingyan smiled: “Father, you’ll see when you meet Li Erlang. As long as Li San remains unchanged, Li Erlang won’t completely transform toward us old friends. Li San is more perceptive than all of us.”

Pei Renji was silent for a long while, then let out a small sigh: “That’s good enough.”