LFHYB -Chapter 20 Even Severe Illness Can’t Be Avoided

Li Xuanba drifted off to sleep as he thought.

Li Shimin, after finishing his archery practice, returned to find Li Xuanba to take a hot bath together.

The winter in Jiangdu was warmer than in the Daye era, but the cool wind mixed with moisture still made hands and feet icy. Li Shimin didn’t care, but Li Xuanba might have trouble sleeping at night.

Seeing that his younger brother was already asleep, still frowning, Li Shimin reached out to smooth his brows, but hesitated for fear of waking him.

After a moment, he withdrew his hand and muttered to himself, “I wish I could grow up faster.”

How could he not see that his brother was hiding something in his heart? But his brother was stubborn—if he didn’t want to say it, no amount of questioning would work.

Li Shimin looked down at his own hands, already calloused.

The bow he practiced with was now called a “toy bow” by his younger brother.

If he could pull the strong bow that Father used, perhaps his brother would tell him all his worries.

Li Shimin had someone bring a fur-wrapped hot water container to Li Xuanba’s feet before going to bathe, change, and sleep.

The next day, Li Shimin felt an unusually hot source beside him, and his heart skipped a beat. Sleepiness vanished instantly, and he opened his eyes immediately.

“A-Xuan? A-Xuan?” Li Shimin shook his brother gently.

Half-asleep, Li Xuanba struggled to open his eyes. “Brother… cough, cough.”

He covered his mouth, unable to stop a series of coughs.

Li Shimin’s eyes immediately welled up with tears, but as soon as they appeared, he rubbed them away forcefully, putting on a mature expression that didn’t suit a child’s face.

“Don’t be afraid, A-Xuan. Brother is here,” Li Shimin shouted while dressing rapidly. “Call the imperial physician! Inform the Empress—I’m going to see her! Don’t be afraid, A-Xuan. Brother will get the best doctor right away.”

“Cough, cough, cough.” Li Xuanba covered his mouth, small body curling up, his face flushed, like a boiled shrimp.

He bitterly smiled in his heart. Yesterday he was worried about avoiding Yang Guang’s teachers, and today he was sick.

The avoidance he had in mind did not involve getting sick.

With medicine in ancient times, even a minor illness could be fatal for a child, especially one as weak as him.

Although he hadn’t been seriously ill for nearly a year, just a mild cough during seasonal changes, he had endured when Second Brother got sick from the Zheng family. He had even survived sleepless nights on the dragon boat without a fever. Why did just a little worry now lead to a high fever?

Li Xuanba quickly became feverish and dazed, unable to think clearly.

The imperial physician had his clothes loosened and wiped his body with warm water to reduce the fever, and used silver needles to bleed his earlobes and fingers.

After nearly an hour of treatment, Li Xuanba’s fever subsided slightly, and he regained consciousness.

“A-Xuan, it’s all right now. After taking the medicine, you’ll be fine,” Li Shimin said, helping him sit up and lean against him.

Li Xuanba tried to take the medicine bowl, but his hands were weak and unsteady, almost spilling it all over himself.

Li Shimin quickly steadied the bowl. “Drink slowly. I asked Uncle to get plenty of your favorite honeyed peaches—finish the medicine first, then you can eat as many as you like.”

The wet nurse said, “Second Young Master, I’ll feed him.”

Li Shimin shook his head. “I’ll do it.”

The imperial physician was about to remark that the medicine was very bitter, and that Li Xuanba might take a long time to finish it, making it hard for Li Shimin to hold the bowl. But Li Xuanba lowered his head, and Li Shimin raised the bowl from underneath. With a gulp, Li Xuanba drank the entire bowl of medicine in one go. The brothers worked together so smoothly it was as if they had done this countless times before.

Li Shimin handed the empty bowl to the wet nurse and pulled a piece of peach from the cloth pouch in his sleeve.

Li Xuanba took two bites of the peach and immediately gagged.

Li Shimin patted his back, and only after Li Xuanba forced himself to finish the peach did he feed him warm water from the wet nurse’s cup.

After finishing one piece of peach and drinking the tasteless warm water, Li Xuanba finally suppressed the urge to vomit.

The imperial physician felt a bit emotional. He was skilled at treating children. Since children’s bodies and minds are fragile, administering bitter medicine is always difficult, and children like the Li family’s Third Young Master were truly rare.

After taking his medicine, Li Xuanba fell into a deep sleep again.

The physician specifically instructed that Li Xuanba’s sweat should not be covered.

He advised covering Li Xuanba with a thin quilt to allow heat to dissipate, and to wipe his body with warm water every half hour. If he felt cold, do not thicken the quilt—simply soak his feet in hot water until he was warm.

These instructions were similar to those previously given by Physician Sun, whom Lady Dou had personally invited from Taibai Mountain in the outskirts of Daye City when treating Li Xuanba’s health. Li Shimin, though already familiar with them, went over the instructions carefully again and took notes.

Physician Sun had said that each illness could present differently, so one should not blindly follow a “miracle doctor”—it was best to trust the physician who examined the patient directly.

Li Shimin specifically marked the points where the imperial physician’s instructions differed from Physician Sun’s, to avoid mistakes.

The imperial physician said, “Second Young Master Li, you should rest too. I’ll write down what needs attention afterward.”

Li Shimin said, “I’m not tired. If I get tired, I’ll sleep. Don’t worry, Doctor. I still need to take care of my brother—I won’t fall sick myself.”

The physician said, “I’ll also prescribe some warming herbal tea to prevent you from catching cold.”

Li Shimin put down his pen and paper, cupped his hands, and said, “Thank you, Doctor.”

After the physician left, Li Shimin instructed the wet nurse to always have hot water ready.

He sat nearby reading a book, and whenever Li Xuanba woke, he would feed him hot water.

Empress Xiao visited three times, and Yang Guang came once.

Li Shimin apologized to the Emperor and Empress on behalf of his brother.

Empress Xiao smiled wryly, “Why apologize? How is falling ill your fault?”

Princess Nanyang also came to visit Li Xuanba, bringing greetings from her husband, Yuwen Shiji.

Yuwen Shiji was anxious upon hearing that his friend’s son was ill. But since Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were cared for under the Empress, surrounded by the Emperor’s consorts, even as a son-in-law, it was difficult for him to visit directly.

At that moment, Li Xuanba was awake, having just wiped his nose, his voice muffled.

Princess Nanyang took out a box of mutton tallow ointment and showed Li Shimin how to apply it to Li Xuanba’s reddened skin from wiping his nose.

“How did he get so sick?” Princess Nanyang frowned as the imperial physician came again to bleed Li Xuanba to reduce his fever.

When Li Xuanba awoke, he carefully told his brother to “bribe” the physician, saying he was just unaccustomed to the local water and soil and secretly missing his parents, which was why he fell ill.

Hearing this, the imperial physician guessed that Li Xuanba and Li Xuanba’s older brother might want to use the illness as a reason to return to their parents.

Although many envied them being raised in the palace, compared to others’ envy and their promising futures, the children perhaps just wanted to be with their mother.

Princess Nanyang felt a pang of sympathy upon hearing this.

She touched Li Xuanba’s still-feverish forehead and tenderly asked, “Missing Mother?”

Li Xuanba forced a smile. “Uncle and Aunt have treated me very well, but I still worry if Mother is thinking of me and Brother.”

Princess Nanyang chuckled, “Alright, it’s not that you’re missing your Mother, it’s that you’re worried your Mother is missing you. Reports from Luoyang say that the Eastern Capital will be completed next month, so Father will soon return to Luoyang. Then you’ll be able to see your Mother.”

Li Xuanba lay in bed and cupped his hands, “Thank you, Princess.”

“There’s no need to thank me,” Princess Nanyang said with a smile. “Get better quickly. If your body isn’t fit for the boat trip, be careful not to be left behind in Jiangdu.”

Li Xuanba immediately said, “I’ll recover quickly!”

Princess Nanyang nodded and shared some amusing stories of the Emperor’s visit to Jiangdu and the grand preparations for his arrival.

Li Xuanba’s expression became one of longing.

When he yawned, covering his mouth, Princess Nanyang reminded the attendants caring for Li Shimin and Li Xuanba a few more times before leaving.

Li Shimin looked at his sleepy brother. “Will we really be able to go home soon?”

Li Xuanba thought: **[The Emperor is someone who demands perfection in all things and cannot have a flaw in his image. Seeing me get sick so easily would cool his enthusiasm for raising the ‘Champion Marquis.’ If I die here, that would be extremely unlucky.]**

Li Shimin leaned close and quietly asked, “You really weren’t doing it on purpose?”

Li Xuanba helplessly thought: **[Brother, you know how afraid I am of dying.]**

Li Shimin snorted twice, then gently bumped his head against his brother’s, “Don’t get sick again. Don’t scare your Second Brother.”

Li Xuanba thought: **[Is getting sick even something I can control…]**

Li Shimin snorted unhappily.

Li Xuanba surrendered: **[Fine, I’ll try my best.]** If he didn’t agree, his brother Li Erlang would keep snorting, turning into Li Erzhū.

…

Once Li Xuanba’s condition improved slightly, Yang Guang, to show the foreign ministers that his nephew raised in the palace had recovered, specifically allowed the ministers to come visit him.

Yuwen Shiji was the first to arrive.

He actually grabbed Li Xuanba’s hand and cried, saying that if anything happened to Li Xuanba, he wouldn’t know how to explain it to Li Yuan.

Both Li Shimin and Li Xuanba looked completely baffled.

Li Xuanba: **[We’re just being taken care of by the emperor for our illness. What does that have to do with him? What does he need to report? So strange.]**

Li Shimin nodded silently.

Unexpectedly for Li Xuanba, Gao Jiong, Yuwen Bi, and Yu Shinan also came to visit him.

After seeing Li Xuanba, Gao Jiong and Yu Shinan simply sighed at the thin connection between teacher and student. But Yuwen Bi actually brought a small box of medicinal herbs and a prescription for treating coughs.

“My grandson has been weak since childhood and often coughs without stopping. Drinking this medicinal tea will make him feel better,” Yuwen Bi said sternly, “When a child is sick, it pains the elder as if it were their own body. You must take care of yourself, or it would be unfilial.”

If it were any other child, they would probably have been frightened by Yuwen Bi’s cold expression and tone.

Even Li Shimin was a little angry. My brother is already sick, isn’t that enough? And you call him unfilial!

Li Xuanba: **[Don’t be angry, brother. He’s speaking to me, but thinking of his grandson. He’s worried about his grandson’s health.]**

“Yes, I will take good care of myself and not make my elders worry,” Li Xuanba said in thanks.

Yuwen Bi’s expression softened slightly.

He then carefully explained how to prepare and drink the medicinal tea, listing each herb to Li Xuanba’s wet nurse.

Even though Yuwen Bi brought the prescription, he still went over it in detail.

Listening to him, many of the herbs needed to be collected at specific seasons and times, and even the water used for brewing the tea was best chosen from morning dew.

Although Li Xuanba, being a time-traveler, thought this was overly mystical and unnecessary, Yuwen Bi believed in it, and his herbs were indeed collected this way—showing how precious they were.

Yuwen Bi had not brought his grandson with him, so these herbs should have been at his residence in Luoyang. Did he send someone rushing to deliver them?

Li Xuanba suddenly felt the gift was far too significant.

After finishing his instructions, Yuwen Bi told Li Xuanba to continue resting and took Li Shimin aside, pulling out a scroll to give him a lesson.

Li Shimin: “???”

Though puzzled, Li Shimin listened attentively to Yuwen Bi, taking careful notes.

Yuwen Bi taught him for half an hour, left some assignments, and said he would return the next day to check Li Shimin’s work.

Li Shimin furrowed his round face as he told Li Xuanba about it.

Li Xuanba: “……”

He rubbed his forehead. “I’ve heard that Secretary Yuwen is extremely pedantic… cough… extremely stubborn. He probably thinks that since we kowtowed, we are now his disciples.”

Gao Jiong and Yu Shinan understood it was just a passing whim of Yang Guang, and it was fine to miss it due to illness.

Why must you be so pedantic, Secretary Yuwen! We just kowtowed!

Li Shimin’s round face relaxed into a smile. “Isn’t that great? Secretary Yuwen… Master Yuwen is a genius of the time! Mother and Father would definitely be very pleased!”

Li Xuanba sighed. “Hmm.”

Li Shimin asked curiously, “Why aren’t you happy?”

Li Xuanba hesitated a moment and thought to himself: **[I’ve observed that the emperor greatly dislikes Secretary Yuwen. If he continues advising, it might bring death upon him.]**

Li Shimin chuckled, lowering his voice: “A-Xuan, although His Majesty dislikes advice, would he really kill someone for giving it? Wouldn’t that discourage other ministers? Even if he doesn’t like Master Yuwen, at most he’d just demote him or send him away.”

Li Xuanba: “What if he does?”

Thinking of Li Xuanba’s “abilities,” Li Shimin frowned. “If that were true, it shouldn’t affect us… But would the emperor really do that? That’s not…”

He suddenly remembered the posthumous title Li Xuanba had mentioned about the current emperor and fell silent.

Li Shimin gave a wry smile: “You didn’t get sick just because of this, did you?”

Li Xuanba said, “No. Didn’t the imperial doctor say? I accumulated fatigue on the journey. Once I relaxed, it all came out at once. Don’t overthink it; I’m just speculating. I can’t see the specifics yet.”

Li Shimin nodded. “Okay.”

Li Xuanba added, “I’m really just guessing. Don’t think too much.”

Li Shimin said foolishly, “I understand.”

Li Xuanba looked at his second brother’s naive expression, half-believing him.

He must not let anything slip from his mouth in the future.

Li Shimin seemed to genuinely believe him and didn’t bring it up again.

Seeing that Li Xuanba still had energy, he picked up a book and taught him what he had learned today. In explaining, Li Shimin himself gained a deeper understanding of the material.

Listening to his second brother’s explanation, Li Xuanba felt a spark of excitement.

At this time, books were few and precious, and words were sparse. Although Li Xuanba had the reading ability of an adult from the future, able to gnaw through texts with no punctuation, being taught by a great sage was an entirely different experience from self-study.

A book annotated by a sage was priceless. Why were children from prestigious families more knowledgeable than children from humble backgrounds, even though they all read the same Confucian classics? Because they had more annotated copies. Especially those annotated by their family ancestors—family treasures rarely seen by outsiders.

Because Yuwen Bi was killed, his works didn’t survive. But the Book of Sui records that just his essays amounted to over 200,000 characters, and his annotations on the Book of Documents and Xiao Jing were highly praised and widely circulated.

In modern terms, Yuwen Bi was like the chief editor of top university textbooks, a leading expert in his field.

Li Xuanba’s only obsession in his previous life had been reading, and now he was nearly bursting with eagerness.

Knowing his brother’s interest, Li Shimin invited, “If Xuan has the energy, let’s attend lessons together! Master Yuwen teaches one or two, it makes no difference.”

Li Xuanba thought for a moment and nodded.

Yuwen Bi had already come to teach, and whether he listened or not, a connection had already formed between him and Yuwen Bi.

Although Yang Guang feared and disliked Yuwen Bi, Yuwen Bi’s power and influence were not as great as Gao Jiong’s. After Yang Guang killed Yuwen Bi’s entire family, it was unlikely he would harm anyone else.

When Yuwen Bi came again, Li Shimin requested that he also give lessons to his younger brother.

Li Xuanba said, “I can sit steadily now; I can attend lessons.”

“Focus on recovering first. Studying is not urgent; do not be impatient,” Yuwen Bi refused, scolding him: “You previously said you would take care of your health and not be unfilial. How could you forget that now?”

Yuwen Bi’s anger startled Li Xuanba.

Then, from Yuwen Bi’s face, he saw a complex mix of emotions: pain, frustration, and admiration.

He immediately understood—Yuwen Bi’s frail grandson was probably also a book lover.

Li Shimin pleaded, “Even if the teacher doesn’t teach A-Xuan, A-Xuan can’t sit still; he will read on his own and tire himself out. It would be better if the teacher assigns him a set amount to read each day. He will not disobey a master’s order and will exercise moderation daily.”

Yuwen Bi sighed and muttered, “Indeed, he’s very much like An’er. Fine, lie down, and I will teach you at your bedside.”

Yuwen Bi did not allow Li Xuanba to get up. Sitting at the bedside, holding a scroll, he gave lessons to Li Xuanba.

After Yuwen Bi left, having assigned homework, Li Shimin was surprised and said to Li Xuanba, “A-Xuan, you guessed correctly again! Mr. Yuwen isn’t angry with you; he cares for you!”

Li Xuanba said, “The An’er he mentioned is probably his frail grandson.”

Li Shimin laughed, “He’s so kind to you, traveling all the way from Luoyang to get you medicine. He must see the shadow of his grandson in you. He really is a good person!”

Li Xuanba quietly said, “Mm.”

He hadn’t expected Yuwen Bi to be so good to him, which made him feel slightly guilty.

But what could he do? There was nothing he could do.

Yuwen Bi continued to teach them every other day, all the way until Yang Guang announced his return to Luoyang.

At that time, the new city of Luoyang was still called “Dongjing.” The city of Dongjing was completed in the first month of the year. Yang Guang was both delighted and anxious to immediately return to Luoyang to live in Dongjing.

Yang Guang declared that he would return before March, when orioles fly and grass grows, so he could witness the most beautiful spring in Dongjing.

Their journey had taken nearly three months. Although the dragon boats stopped frequently along the way, accepting tributes and food from local officials and residents, wasting much time, two months to return the massive dragon boats to Luoyang was still too tight a schedule.

To ensure the emperor’s dragon boats could reach Dongjing in time for spring viewing, besides the original laborers, Yang Guang recruited many more workers from Jiangdu to pull the ropes day and night, speeding up the boats.

Historical records state that Emperor Yang of Sui left Jiangdu on the 15th of August and returned to Luoyang Dongjing in February of the following year.

Although Li Xuanba had not fully recovered, he only had a cough and no fever, so he could accompany the dragon boats back to Luoyang.

The dragon boats no longer stopped for long at the shore, but the singing and dancing on the first two towered boats continued.

Empress Xiao, worried that the noise would disturb Li Xuanba, and knowing that Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were receiving lessons from Yuwen Bi, persuaded Yang Guang, at the request of Princess Nanyang, to have Li Shimin and Li Xuanba stay with her.

Yuwen Shiji was very pleased, wanting to visit Li Shimin and Li Xuanba daily.

Seeing this, Yuwen Bi scolded Yuwen Shiji severely.

Though both shared the surname Yuwen, Yuwen Shiji and Yuwen Bi were not from the same clan.

Yuwen Shiji’s ancestors were originally servants of Yuwen Qidougui, the leader of the Yuwen tribe, and were given the surname Yuwen. Yuwen Bi’s ancestors came from a non-leader branch of the Yuwen clan.

Yuwen Bi was upright and feared by all officials. Even though Yuwen Shiji’s family were Yang Guang’s most favored ministers, when Yuwen Bi scolded him, he could only listen, later joking with Princess Nanyang, “Secretary Yuwen is truly fearsome,” making her laugh and teasing him, “You deserved that scolding.”

Yuwen Shiji genuinely cared about Li Shimin and Li Xuanba. Although the two children found the daily visits annoying, as elders, they could not refuse.

With Yuwen Bi’s protection, they could finally stay in their rooms to study and practice calligraphy, occasionally going to the deck to enjoy the view.

Yuwen Bi continued teaching them every other day.

Gao Jiong originally had little interest in teaching children. With Li Xuanba sick, he conveniently excused himself.

Seeing Yuwen Bi so actively teaching the two children, he sensed something.

These two children must be exceptionally talented, pleasing Yuwen Bi!

Damn it, Secretary Yuwen isn’t telling me! He wants to keep the two gifted disciples to himself!

Gao Jiong was also a famous scholar. Great scholars enjoyed teaching talented students.

Gao Jiong was proud. The “prodigy” title of Li Shimin and Li Xuanba did not impress him.

In the Sui dynasty, officials were primarily appointed via recommendation, and even the imperial examination required recommendations from officials above fifth rank, a variant of the civil service system. Many families cultivated the reputation of their children as “prodigies” early. Gao Jiong had seen many and was not impressed.

But Yuwen Bi was even more selective. If he could patiently teach these two children, their “prodigy” reputations were likely well deserved.

Gao Jiong complained to Yu Shinan, “He only said he went to visit Li Sanlang because he was reminded of his own grandson. He’s deceiving us!”

Yu Shinan smiled wryly as Gao Jiong dragged him to confront Yuwen Bi.

Yuwen Bi, of course, would not admit to hoarding his disciples.

Hoarding? Didn’t you refuse the emperor yourself?

The two elders quarreled, while the youngest and lowest-ranking Yu Shinan stayed silent at the side.

The matter reached Yang Guang’s ears.

Yang Guang smiled and went to Li Shimin and Li Xuanba: “You two are truly talented; even arrogant Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi compete over you.”

Li Shimin beamed proudly. “Of course!”

Li Xuanba pondered for a moment and said, “Uncle recognized our talents early on and wanted Lord Gao and Lord Yuwen to teach us. At first, they had seen too many ‘child prodigies’ and didn’t believe in me and Second Brother. Now that they finally acknowledge us, it only proves that Uncle’s judgment was better all along.”

Li Shimin paused for a moment, then quickly agreed, “Exactly! Uncle really is amazing! A true judge of talent! A-Xuan and I are indeed prodigies, hehe!”

Yang Guang’s smile became a little more genuine. He rubbed the heads of the two children proudly and said, “As the Son of Heaven, naturally I have a keener eye for talent than they do.”

Yang Guang reviewed Li Shimin and Li Xuanba’s studies, grew even happier, and rewarded the two children generously.

Then he summoned Gao Zong and Yuwen Bi, showing off his own discerning eye.

This time, Gao Zong and Yuwen Bi complimented Yang Guang exactly as he liked.

As for Yu Shinan, he was merely the calligraphy teacher and continued playing the role of the invisible man.

But when Gao Zong accompanied Yuwen Bi to teach Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, he also brought Yu Shinan along.

All the senior ministers traveling south with Yang Guang were on the same tower boat. Gao Zong proactively requested the emperor to allow him to teach the Second and Third Sons of the Duke of Tang’s household, and the news quickly spread among the ministers.

Not to mention there was also Yuwen Shiji, who boasted as if Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were his own sons, showing off to everyone, whether they wanted to listen or not.

Thus, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba became famous once again.

Li Xuanba could only smile bitterly.

Even after being seriously ill, he still couldn’t avoid it.