LFHYB -Chapter 22 Small Butterflies, Big Storms

Yang Guang did not stay to have a meal with Li Yuan. Li Yuan, holding Li Xuanba in one arm and Li Shimin by the hand with the other, returned to his residence in Luoyang.

“Our family also has a house in Dongjing. It’s still under construction. Once it’s finished, we’ll all live there together,” Li Yuan said, rubbing the two sons he hadn’t seen for a long time. He smiled. “Our residence in Luoyang is also quite large and beautiful.”

Dojing (Tokyo) was about fifteen kilometers west of the old city of Luoyang. When it was being built, Yang Guang had reserved mansions for the powerful and wealthy, and naturally, the Tang Duke’s mansion was no exception.

Within the next year, Yang Guang would relocate the old Luoyang residents along with craftsmen from Hebei and wealthy families from Jiangnan to Dojing, calling them “accompanying households of the capital.” Noble families who originally had mansions in the old city of Luoyang would also move to Dojing.

Li Yuan wanted to ask his sons about their experience as royal companions, but as soon as Li Shimin and Li Xuanba returned to their father’s side, the tension in their shoulders eased—they were both sleepy.

The twin boys, shoulder to shoulder, head to head, had already fallen asleep.

Li Yuan talked for a while, looking out of the carriage, but heard no reply from the children. When he turned his head, he realized they had fallen asleep.

“You can truly see they are twins only when they are both quiet,” Li Yuan said, comparing their faces with his hand, and chuckled. “I’ve often heard Madam sigh in letters, saying the second son is a bit bigger than the third. And indeed… he really is.”

He draped the cloak he had taken off after boarding the carriage over the two children.

“You’ve worked hard,” Li Yuan whispered, gazing at their tired expressions.

…

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba slept until the next day.

By the time they opened their eyes, they had changed clothes and were lying on the big bed in their Luoyang home.

Li Xuanba yawned slightly and stretched.

Li Shimin, lively as a little monkey, leapt out from under the covers, putting on his clothes while urging his brother to get up.

“We’re home! Let’s go! Go play with Father!”

Li Xuanba rolled his eyes. What’s fun about seeing Li Yuan? It’s just you two shooting arrows while I watch.

“You awake? Your teachers are waiting,” Li Yuan said as he heard the movement, stepping in to complain. “Yesterday, you should have told me about your teachers before going to sleep.”

Even so, Li Yuan endured the situation and let the children wake naturally, ignoring any potential criticism about etiquette.

Li Xuanba, still yawning, immediately shut his mouth and got out of bed neatly.

Li Shimin hurried out to wash: “Ahhhh, Father! Why didn’t you wake me and A-Xuan sooner!”

Li Yuan smiled: “Not long ago, don’t rush… Ah, careful!”

Before he could finish speaking, Li Shimin’s short little legs tripped over the threshold.

He tumbled forward, hands on his head, rolling across the floor.

Li Yuan chased after him in alarm.

Li Xuanba, halfway into his clothes, stifled a laugh: “Pfft… cough, Brother, be careful.”

He knew he should care about his brother falling, but his brother’s clumsy actions were just too funny. Don’t laugh, don’t laugh… must be kind and fraternal.

When Li Yuan lifted Li Shimin from the floor, Li Shimin brushed off the dust. There was a small bruise on his arm, but otherwise, he was fine.

Li Yuan inspected him from head to toe, both exasperated and amused: “You really are tough.”

Li Shimin proudly said, “Mother says so too!”

Li Yuan lightly patted Li Shimin’s bottom: “That’s not a compliment. Hurry up and wash; your teachers are waiting.”

Li Xuanba stepped out of the bedroom slowly: “Brother, are you okay?”

Li Shimin replied: “I’m fine! And don’t think I didn’t hear you laugh at me! A-Xuan, just wait!”

He made a playful attack to scold his brother but was held back tightly by Li Yuan, struggling but unable to move.

Li Xuanba continued slowly toward the washroom, letting out another loud “pfft,” which made Li Shimin howl in frustration.

Fortunately, remembering that their teachers were waiting, they didn’t make much of a scene.

After washing quickly, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba followed Li Yuan to pay respects to their teachers.

Yu Wenbi, Gao Jiong, and Yu Shinan had already finished a cup of tea.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba quickly apologized.

The three smiled and paid it no mind.

Everyone knew how tense it was to serve as royal companions. It was no big deal that the children slept in a little longer after returning home.

“I hear you will soon return to Daxing City. I’ll still be accompanying the court in Luoyang and cannot return for now. But your studies must not be neglected,” Gao Jiong, the highest in rank, spoke first.

The three teachers had servants bring out a very large wooden box.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba’s expressions remained unchanged. Li Yuan twitched his eyelids, feeling slightly uneasy.

Three large boxes filled with books and assignments? The children have really worked hard.

Li Shimin was delighted, his big eyes squinting with joy.

Li Xuanba’s feelings were more complicated.

Historical records mentioned that after Yang Guang ascended the throne, he rarely returned to Daxing. The top ministers of the Sui dynasty followed him wherever he went. Now that he and his brother would return to Daxing, Gao Jiong, Yu Wenbi, and Yu Shinan would continue staying in Luoyang with Yang Guang. He worried their teacher-student relationship might end.

But he didn’t expect the three teachers to be so responsible.

Gao Jiong, Yu Wenbi, and Yu Shinan weren’t merely here to deliver books and assignments.

Li Yuan’s leave for visiting family was limited, and he had already informed friends in Luoyang of his departure days ago. He would leave tomorrow. So the teachers had come today to give Li Shimin and Li Xuanba extra lessons.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were smart. With the notes and annotations in the books, the children could self-study with the help of other teachers.

But first, the teachers needed to explain the outline clearly to make it easier for them to start.

Li Yuan had originally planned to take the children around to visit neighbors, showing off his pair of genius twins favored by the emperor…

As a result, the three teachers spent the whole day giving lessons to Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, only leaving when the sky had turned dim.

Li Yuan patiently accompanied the two children throughout the day.

When he saw the three teachers off, he even prepared an extra set of gifts for their guidance. The three did not refuse.

After returning, Li Yuan sighed to Li Shimin and Li Xuanba: “Although I had heard of their literary reputations before, seeing them today, I realize their talent shines even brighter than their fame.”

Li Shimin said, “But Father, you yawned several times and seemed distracted the whole day.”

Li Xuanba: “…Pfft.”

Li Yuan, embarrassed and angry, grabbed the two children under their armpits and spun them around rapidly on the spot.

Li Shimin giggled like a little chick.

Li Xuanba closed his eyes. So childish!

…

Li Yuan had his servants pack the luggage, originally planning to set off after lunch, but the Crown Prince’s visit forced him to postpone their departure.

Crown Prince Yang Zhao was a chubby, kind-hearted man who wouldn’t scold even when annoyed, at most letting out a single exclamation of “This is not right!”

His personality was the complete opposite of his father, Yang Guang.

Yang Zhao was broad-minded, benevolent, friendly, and lived frugally. From a young age, he had been personally raised by Emperor Wen of Sui and Empress Dugu, deeply cherished by his grandparents. It is said that Emperor Wen and Empress Dugu deposed the previous crown prince partly because they recognized Yang Zhao’s merits.

Upon hearing this, Li Xuanba couldn’t help but think: “Such a virtuous grandson.”

Unfortunately, later “virtuous grandsons” were often entrusted with heavy responsibilities by their fathers and had a smooth path to succession. Yang Guang, however, did not favor this “virtuous grandson” of his parents.

Especially since most of those offering advice clustered around Yang Zhao, hoping to persuade Yang Guang through him, making Yang Guang even less fond of his son.

For Yang Zhao, if his father was displeased with him, he would simply double his filial efforts, ensuring his father’s satisfaction. He was a broad-minded, easygoing person who would not resent or sulk over such matters.

“Elder cousin, I apologize for stopping you from returning to Daxing,” Yang Zhao said upon arrival, bowing respectfully. “May I ask if you could delay your return for a few more days? Sichang wishes to travel with you back to Daxing.”

Li Yuan was very close to this nephew.

He pretended to be annoyed: “That brat Chai Shao, he is the Crown Prince’s guard and just arrived in Luoyang with him. How could he suddenly want to return? If he wants to go, he should go on his own. And now he wants to ride in my carriage? Does he dare come tell me himself?!”

Yang Zhao smiled: “Sichang naturally wouldn’t dare. That’s why I came on his behalf. He is getting married in May and is anxious to prepare. It’s been delayed for a year already, and seeing him so worried, I couldn’t bear it.”

Li Shimin curiously asked: “Crown Prince, why does Brother Chai insist on going back with us?”

Yang Zhao hesitated: “Well…”

Li Xuanba said: “Brother Chai wants to leverage father’s position to ask the Emperor for leave.”

Yang Zhao immediately replied: “I will certainly persuade my father to grant you a few more days of family leave, ensuring it won’t interfere with your reunion with your family!”

Li Shimin tugged at his father’s sleeve: “Father, just agree. Although I really don’t want my elder sister to leave home… humph, seeing that he cares so much for her, help him out.”

“I never said I wouldn’t help him,” Li Yuan said, patting his second son’s head. “I’m just angry that he’s so timid, having the Crown Prince plead for him instead of coming himself.”

Yang Zhao smiled: “He didn’t ask me to plead for him. I came to visit Elder Cousin and the two prodigious nephews, and incidentally, I helped him.”

*> T/N: I am confused here. What’s their relation here exactly?*

He lowered his head to look at Li Shimin and Li Xuanba: “Do you still remember me?”

Li Yuan patted Yang Zhao on the shoulder jokingly: “Just now, Erlang and Sanlang both bowed to you, calling you Crown Prince. Do you think they could forget you?”

Yang Zhao said: “Even though they know I’m the Crown Prince, they may not remember that I once held them, and that they even peed on me.”

Li Shimin widened his eyes: “We did what?!”

Li Xuanba immediately said: “It must have been Second Brother.”

Li Shimin shoved Li Xuanba: “Everything bad is my fault, huh?”

Li Xuanba swayed and said seriously: “Yes.”

Li Shimin tried to shove him again.

Li Xuanba dodged to Yang Zhao’s side.

Li Shimin tried to “chase and attack” his younger brother, but Li Yuan hooked his son’s collar with a finger, preventing him from bullying his brother.

Watching the two cousins’ lively antics, Yang Zhao remembered his own equally lively and adorable children, smiling even more kindly.

“Don’t misbehave in front of the Crown Prince,” Li Yuan lightly scolded the two children, then instructed the servants to put the luggage back. “Crown Prince, you said you had something to discuss with me. What is it?”

Yang Zhao said: “I have some matters I’d like to consult Elder Cousin about.”

Li Yuan released his grip on the second son’s collar, sending the boys to play in the courtyard, and went with Yang Zhao to the study.

The moment Li Yuan let go, Li Shimin pounced on Li Xuanba like a little tiger.

Li Xuanba only ran two steps before his brother caught up, his tufts of hair on top of his head ruffled, as he crouched down to protect himself.

Li Shimin laughed arrogantly: “Do you still dare speak ill of me!”

“I dare not…” Li Xuanba waited for the moment his elder brother relaxed, then stomped on him.

Li Shimin jumped up, holding his foot.

Li Xuanba immediately ran again, but after a few steps was caught by Li Shimin, crouching to defend himself once more.

Li Yuan and Yang Zhao were walking along the corridor and, through the carved windows, witnessed this scene, both helpless.

Yang Zhao said: “Sanlang can’t beat Erlang. Why provoke him?”

Li Yuan said: “It’s probably pride and stubbornness.”

Yang Zhao shook his head, smiling.

They continued toward the study, ignoring the brothers.

Close siblings rarely don’t fight. Looking at Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, there was no real anger—just play.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba “brawled” for several rounds. When Li Xuanba, panting, called a stop, Li Shimin held his arms and stopped: “Admit defeat, then?”

Li Xuanba wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “I give up, I give up. Why did I even fight with the Grand General of the Heavenly Strategy? Was I out of my mind?”

Every time Li Xuanba lost, he would reflect on himself, but whenever Li Shimin provoked him, his blood would still boil.

This was probably what it meant for a soul to be ruled by the hormones of the body—immaturity was unavoidable.

“Want to play a bit more, or go read?” Li Shimin asked, letting his brother catch his breath before helping him up from the ground.

“I’ll go read. You should practice your archery some more. Since we’re staying here for a few days, your future father-in-law will surely come visit, and he might even test your archery skills,” Li Xuanba said, wiping the sweat from his face.

Li Shimin had a servant fetch a clean cloth to wipe Li Xuanba’s face.

Li Xuanba was weak; even a little play would make him break into a sweat. The servants were always ready with handkerchiefs.

“What future father-in-law?” Li Shimin asked in confusion.

Li Xuanba looked even more puzzled. “The future father-in-law you agreed on yesterday.”

Li Shimin: “?”

Li Xuanba: “?”

The two children looked at each other in confusion.

Li Xuanba covered his face. “Oh my! You haven’t realized what happened yesterday yet, have you?”

Li Shimin scratched his head. “What?”

Li Xuanba, utterly exasperated, explained the events of yesterday in detail as they walked toward the training ground.

Li Shimin stopped in his tracks, eyes wide: “I already have a wife? How old am I? How old is that girl? Our elder brother just got engaged! Is it really that urgent?!”

Li Xuanba said, “Probably because Empress Xiao wants to connect us with the Lanling Xiao family, Father and Mother set up the marriage first. Whether it happens or not doesn’t matter—it just blocks Empress Xiao from arranging a match. Your wife will only ever be chosen from noble families like the Zhangsun, Dou, or Dugu. Since you admire General Zhangsun so much, and Father recognized him after comparing archery skills, he went with the flow and set it up for you.”

After saying all that, he felt tired and switched to thoughts: **[Another benefit of Father arranging your marriage to the Zhangsun family through yesterday’s archery contest is that it looks spontaneous, yet even the Emperor approved. Even if Empress Xiao hears, she won’t think we embarrassed her on purpose.]**

Li Shimin held his head. “So complicated.”

Li Xuanba: **[Don’t worry. Your wife is wonderful. You’ll definitely like her.]**

Li Shimin looked at him in surprise. “You even know that? She’s only three, right?”

Li Xuanba: **[She will be your wife, only the engagement would have come later.]**

Li Shimin laughed. “No wonder you were in such a hurry yesterday.”

He lowered his voice: “Was it because His Majesty jokingly said the girl from the Zhangsun family should be betrothed to the Imperial Grandson?”

Li Xuanba snorted coldly. If anyone dared break this pair, he would add a mark of shame to his elder brother’s record for forcibly taking someone else’s fiancée! Who is Tang Taizong afraid of?

Li Shimin chuckled. “She’s so great—why must you have this sister-in-law?”

Li Xuanba: **[You’ll see when you meet her. I’m telling you now—you’re raising your expectations too high. What if later you’re not satisfied? She’s just a child now; she definitely won’t meet your expectations yet.]**

Li Shimin leaned back, hands behind his head, and continued walking toward the training ground with Li Xuanba. “True, feelings develop over time.”

Li Xuanba, puzzled: **[Where did you learn that from?]**

Li Shimin said, “Mother and my sister both said it.”

Li Xuanba went silent.

For Mother and his sister, had their feelings been developed over time? To them, probably yes.

Li Shimin muttered quietly: “I don’t know how my wife will turn out, but I definitely won’t be like Father with Mother—ignoring her even when she’s right. If that girl grows up to be capable like Mother, I’ll listen to her properly.”

Li Xuanba couldn’t help but smile: **[Yes. But she’ll probably be like Mother, caring too much about others’ opinions, willing to suffer for them. So, Elder Brother will need to advise her not to be too selfless. As long as she lives well, it’s fine. You’ll protect her; it doesn’t matter if she’s not perfect.]**

Li Shimin put down his hands, holding his brother’s shoulder. “A-Xuan, tell that to your sister-in-law.”

Li Xuanba: “Huh?”

Li Shimin, matter-of-factly: “Your sister-in-law. Why wouldn’t you say it to her?”

Li Xuanba: “…That’s my sister-in-law. What am I supposed to say? Never mind, Elder Brother is still a child. He doesn’t understand. To him, marriage is probably like playing house—just another girl in the family to play with.”

The two arrived at the training ground. Li Shimin practiced archery diligently, while Li Xuanba had books brought to him and sat in the shade, slowly reading.

Early spring brought a gentle warm breeze, and sunlight drifted lazily across the book through the leaves’ shadows.

Li Xuanba stretched and yawned, squinting as he watched his brother hit the bullseye with an arrow, jumping up excitedly with the bow in hand.

“Sanlang, what are you reading?” Yang Zhao had finished discussing matters with Li Yuan and came to the training ground to find the children.

Li Yuan strode into the training ground, ready to show off his skills to Li Shimin and regain the respect previously given to Changsun Sheng.

Li Xuanba stood and said respectfully, “Reading the Shangshu.”

Yang Zhao was surprised. “Progressing so fast? Already reading the Shangshu?”

He took the book from Li Xuanba, gesturing for him not to stand on ceremony, and sat with him under the tree’s shade.

Yang Zhao was quite plump and slightly uncomfortable sitting cross-legged.

By now Buddhism had arrived, and people often rode horses, so pants had crotch seams and long hems. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Yang Zhao resembled a plump Buddha.

“It’s Lord Gao’s handwriting,” Yang Zhao said at once.

He showed a hint of nostalgia. “When my grandfather taught me, he also asked Lord Gao for books.”

Li Xuanba was curious. “Did Lord Gao tutor the Crown Prince?”

Yang Zhao blinked, smiling slyly. “Are you asking why Lord Gao, who supported my uncle, would still tutor me?”

Li Xuanba shook his head vigorously.

Yang Zhao smiled and said, “I know you’re clever. Lady Dou was already able to offer remonstrance at the age of seven. You and Erlang are seven too, aren’t you?”

Li Xuanba did the math in his head—and it really was so. He and his second brother had actually spent their seventh birthday aboard the dragon boat.

Yang Zhao said, “If you don’t want to say it, then forget it. Saying less is better anyway.”

Seeing the wistful look on Yang Zhao’s face, Li Xuanba couldn’t understand why the crown prince would show such an expression toward a mere child.

But he knew that this crown prince, still full of youthful vigor now, would die of illness in Luoyang this coming July.

Li Xuanba knew everything—but he had no intention of doing anything.

He had always stayed in the Duke of Tang’s residence before and was not close to the crown prince. It would be impossible for him to suddenly run out and try to persuade him of anything—and no one would listen anyway.

“Lord Gao said that it was fortunate to have you and Erlang,” Yang Zhao said. “That way, Father Emperor didn’t return by land and needlessly consume so much manpower and resources. Thank you, Sanlang.”

Li Xuanba was startled. “Huh?” How does this have anything to do with my second brother and me?!

Yang Zhao laughed. “You didn’t know?”

Li Xuanba shook his head hard.

Yang Zhao said, “You and Erlang once remonstrated with Nanyang and Mother Empress, hoping they would show compassion toward the people’s labor. Do you remember?”

Li Xuanba first shook his head, then lowered his head and thought for a while before saying, “That wasn’t me—it was Second Brother. He was the one who asked Princess Nanyang whether the leftover food could be given to the laborers, right? But Second Brother said it quietly to Princess Nanyang. The Empress probably didn’t know.”

Yang Zhao said, “Then Princess Nanyang must have told Mother Empress. Mother Empress and Nanyang together persuaded Father Emperor that the land route was long, and if they encountered heavy rain, they wouldn’t make it back to Luoyang in time to enjoy the spring. Besides, not only were you ill—some elderly ministers in the entourage were also unwell. Returning by dragon boat would be more comfortable. Otherwise, if anything happened to you on the road, this southern tour wouldn’t be perfect.”

Li Xuanba took a deep breath. “That happened too?”

Only then did he recall this briefly mentioned detail in the historical records. When Emperor Yang of Sui returned from Jiangdu, it did seem that he had gone by land!

The histories recorded that, for the sake of pomp on the return journey, Emperor Yang of Sui had specially summoned his ministers in Jiangdu to design new imperial carriages and ceremonial processions.

He Chou and the others in charge of the task, eager to curry favor with the emperor, made the new carriages and regalia extremely extravagant. They ordered prefectures and counties to offer brilliant feathers; birds and beasts whose feathers met the requirements were almost exterminated.

With this splendid procession stretching over twenty li, Emperor Yang returned to the Eastern Capital, clogging the roads so completely that nothing could pass.

Superiors set the example, inferiors follow it. When the emperor indulges in extreme extravagance, he doesn’t even need to issue orders—his ministers will voluntarily present lavish and wasteful offerings to please him.

This time, when the emperor returned to Jiangdu, he still traveled by water and still used dragon boats. Although the rushed journey still exhausted many laborers to death, compared to changing routes and traveling by land, the consumption of manpower was already far less.

All we did was go to the Zheng family for an “examination”—how did such a tiny flutter of butterfly wings stir up such a huge disturbance?

“Thank you and Erlang,” Yang Zhao said, rubbing Li Xuanba’s head. “The common people will thank you as well.”

Li Xuanba shook his head vigorously. “I didn’t do anything. It was Second Brother.”

Yang Zhao joked, “If you hadn’t been gravely ill, Father Emperor wouldn’t have listened to the advice. If your cousin says you fell ill at just the right time, you won’t be angry, will you?”

Li Xuanba pressed his lips together and said, “I won’t be angry. I really did fall ill at just the right time—ill… very well.”

His voice dropped very low.

He still couldn’t quite believe it—that he and his second brother, two six- or seven-year-old children, had actually butterfly-effected a looming disaster for the people out of existence.

“A-Xuan, what are you talking about with Crown Prince Cousin?” Li Shimin hopped over like a little rabbit.

Yang Zhao smiled. “I was thanking you and Sanlang.”

Li Shimin happily jumped over and sat beside Li Xuanba. “A-Xuan, A-Xuan, did you hear the crown prince too? Our remonstrance worked!”

Li Xuanba said, “What we did doesn’t really count as remonstrance…”

Li Shimin said, “It worked anyway! That’s great!”

The little Li Shimin clenched his fist. “Even though you and I are still young, as long as we try, there’s still a chance of success. If we do nothing, then success is absolutely impossible!”

Li Xuanba didn’t reply.

He thought to himself: yes—if we tried harder and butterfly-effected the Tang dynasty out of existence too, that would really be something.

But he knew that some things could be erased by a butterfly effect, and some things could not.

As long as the emperor was still Yang Guang, the Sui dynasty would still be ruined by him within just a dozen or so years.

That wasn’t something that could be avoided by saving labor once, nor even by the crown prince and worthy ministers surviving.

If the crown prince didn’t die, he would surely be feared and loathed by Yang Guang in the future; if worthy ministers didn’t die, the best outcome would be being sidelined and sent away from court.

“You were indeed impressive this time, but this matter must rot in your hearts and not be spoken of to outsiders,” Li Yuan said sternly. “You’re too young. Having too great a reputation for virtue is not a good thing.”

Li Xuanba thought to himself that his father was actually being smart this time.

“Yes, Father,” he said.

Li Shimin put his hands on his hips. “Father, you’re underestimating me—I wouldn’t blab!”

“Alright, I’m not underestimating you.” Li Yuan then said to the crown prince, “This matter was really a coincidence. The credit belongs to the Empress and Princess Nanyang. My two children didn’t play much of a role.”

Yang Zhao understood Li Yuan’s concerns and smiled. “I know. I won’t tell anyone else, and I’ll have Lord Gao refrain from speaking of it as well.”

Li Xuanba showed a hesitant expression.

Li Shimin patted Li Xuanba on the arm. “A-Xuan, if you have something to say, just say it. Why swallow your words?”

Li Xuanba shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

Li Shimin sighed. “Fine—then forget it.”

Yang Zhao had stayed quite a while and it was time for him to leave.

Li Yuan stood up to see Yang Zhao off, and incidentally went out to discuss official matters.

They let the two children continue playing and didn’t require them to stand up and escort him.

After Li Yuan and Yang Zhao left, Li Shimin asked, “A-Xuan, why are you still hesitating? What’s bothering you so much?”

Li Xuanba shook his head. “Really, it’s nothing.”

After a pause, he muttered an inexplicable sentence: “I’m miserable enough myself—why should I bother sympathizing with others?”

Li Shimin said in confusion, “A-Xuan, how are we miserable? We’re living great lives. Why can’t we sympathize with others?”

Li Xuanba replied, “Huh?”

Li Shimin said in a world-weary tone, “A-Xuan, we’re the second and third young masters of the Duke of Tang’s household, and the Emperor’s grandnephews. We eat and dress in luxury every day—how could we be miserable? What you said is really strange.”

Li Xuanba froze for a moment, then suddenly laughed. “That’s right. I actually forgot—we’re not miserable at all. Second Brother, help me stop the Crown Prince!”

Li Shimin grinned and flipped himself upright. “Okay!”

Although he didn’t know what his younger brother wanted to do, he still swiftly moved his short little legs and ran ahead, blocking Yang Zhao, who was about to leave the residence.

Li Xuanba followed after him, panting.

He stretched out his hand toward Yang Zhao and said, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, I have something I want to tell you in private.”

Though puzzled, Yang Zhao still picked Li Xuanba up.

Li Xuanba lay against Yang Zhao’s shoulder and whispered, “His Majesty deeply detests Duke Gao. He believes Duke Gao still harbors loyalty to the deposed Crown Prince, and says he’ll kill Duke Gao sooner or later. Your Highness, please persuade Duke Gao to resign and retire into seclusion. He must absolutely not remonstrate again.”

Yang Zhao’s eyes widened.

Li Xuanba continued, “Because Your Highness has recently been close with Duke Gao, His Majesty has also grown dissatisfied with you. If His Majesty orders you to return to Daxing, Your Highness must set off immediately—do not delay.”

Yang Zhao lowered his head and looked at the frail child in his arms, who was speaking while still gasping for breath.

Bright beads of sweat glistened on Li Xuanba’s forehead, and the eyes filled with seriousness and resolve were even brighter than the sweat reflecting the sunlight.

Yang Zhao let out a long sigh and gave a helpless, bitter smile. “I understand.”

He used his sleeve to carefully wipe the sweat from Li Xuanba’s forehead. “Thank you, A-Xuan.”

Li Shimin, who had been picked up and beaten hard by Li Yuan for blocking the carriage, muttered, “Only I can call him A-Xuan—the Crown Prince can’t. Ouch, you just beat me, and you’re beating me again! Father, my butt isn’t made of iron!”

Li Yuan was so angry he laughed. Oh, you’re still being this arrogant, huh!