LFHYB -Chapter 27 Do You Really Think My Family Has Fallen on Hard Times?

On the road that followed, the carriage was still filled with chatter and laughter, except for Li Xuanba, who remained silent.

But Li Xuanba’s body had always been weak, and he wasn’t fond of talking. So when he closed his eyes to rest, Yang Zhao didn’t pay it much mind.

Only Li Shimin was a little worried.

He knew that his brother’s “not fond of talking” only meant he didn’t like speaking aloud; in his heart, his brother was quite the chatterbox.

Now even his inner voice was quiet—would something be wrong?

But since the Crown Prince was in the carriage, Li Shimin didn’t dare ask.

He sighed, complaining that his brother’s body was weak, that a short outing was exhausting, and that once they returned home, he might have to take bitter medicine again.

“Don’t let Xuan look so mature outside. At home, when he has to take his bitter medicine, he throws a tantrum,” Li Shimin sighed. “And not just tantrums—he even says it turns his stomach and refuses to eat. How can his body get better if he doesn’t eat properly?”

Li Sanniang paused for a moment, then naturally sighed along: “Yeah.”

Li Shimin lifted Li Xuanba’s resting hand, rolling up his sleeve to reveal a slender wrist.

Then he rolled up his own sleeve. “See? Even as twins, his arm is still a size smaller than mine.”

Li Xuanba opened his eyes and dropped his sleeve. “Shut up, I’m sleepy.”

Then he closed his eyes again to continue resting.

Li Shimin rubbed his nose and said plaintively to Yang Zhao, “Cousin, look at this brother of mine—he doesn’t respect me at all.”

Yang Zhao laughed. “That’s how siblings are. Has Xuan been seeing a court physician for his health?”

Li Shimin sighed. “With Grandmother here, how could we not get a physician? Not just any physician—even Mother went to Mount Taibai to fetch the reclusive Doctor Sun. But both the court physician and Doctor Sun said to just maintain him—he’s naturally weak.”

As Li Shimin spoke, his voice grew thick, and the act of worry became genuine.

He rubbed his eyes and muttered, “I don’t think Doctor Sun is anything miraculous—he actually said my brother might not live to adulthood. Your Highness, if you ever meet a better physician, please let me know.”

Yang Zhao’s expression darkened. He glanced at Li Xuanba, who had reluctantly opened his eyes, then shifted his gaze to Li Sanniang.

Li Sanniang smiled wryly. “Second Brother, why bring this up now? Didn’t Doctor Sun say that Third Brother’s health is much better? That he can recover with rest? Sigh… how can you still remember something from when you were three? You even bit Doctor Sun back then. Now if Doctor Sun visits, he points out the mark on his arm.”

Li Shimin pouted. “Hmph!”

“Second Brother, if physicians always spoke the truth, patients would misbehave, and then physicians wouldn’t dare treat them,” Li Xuanba said irritably.

Li Shimin’s pout grew even higher. “I don’t believe in fate!”

“Believe it or not,” Li Xuanba said, patting a handkerchief on Li Shimin’s face, “a physician is a warrior who wrestles with fate, an ally of the patient and those who wish them well, not someone to frighten their friends.”

“I haven’t bitten him again,” Li Shimin mumbled, wiping his eyes with the handkerchief. “Weren’t you sleepy? Not sleepy anymore?”

Li Xuanba: “Sleepy. So don’t bother me.”

Yang Zhao sighed. “I’ve heard of miraculous shamans in the Western Regions who can cure any disease. If I meet one, I’ll have him examine you, Li Sanlang.”

Li Xuanba: **[Better not. Your fate is the kind where your father calls in shamans when you’re sick.]**

Li Xuanba: “I thank you in advance, cousin.”

Li Shimin blinked wildly.

Ahhh, brother, what nonsense are you spouting again! You’d be better off just staying quiet!

Yang Zhao laughed. “Sleep some more. Cousin is waiting to see how you win your wager.”

Li Xuanba’s lips curved into a childlike smile, then he closed his eyes and rested again.

After leaving the carriage, Li Xuanba regained his energy.

This Crown Prince really lived up to his reputation. He handled everything meticulously; Li Xuanba couldn’t find a single flaw. All that remained was to make the tools and train for a short while, then Li Xuanba’s soap workshop could start production.

A proper Crown Prince personally running errands for two cousins—no wonder the court said he was kind-hearted and had the demeanor of a noble elder.

If Li Xuanba were a person of the past, he’d probably be very fond of Yang Zhao.

Now… Li Xuanba smiled sweetly at Yang Zhao: “Thank you, cousin!”

Yang Zhao smiled bluntly. “This is a reward you received from Father. Why thank me?”

Li Xuanba said innocently, “If you hadn’t spoken well of me, I wouldn’t have gotten such good land.”

Yang Zhao glanced at the land, which grew nothing but weeds and bean sprouts.

Good land?

Li Shimin looked at his brother’s innocent, adorable smile and couldn’t help rubbing his arm.

Here it comes again—his brother had barely returned to normal after leaving the emperor, and now he’s copying me again! “Copycat brother” back off!

Li Sanniang looked at the distant, expressionless, ragged commoners and asked, “Are these people the tenants for this land?”

Yang Zhao said, “Besides tenants, there are also some slaves. I bought them all together—consider it a gift from me, your cousin, to you.”

When the emperor grants land, it is usually an empty plot that once belonged to the royal family.

Yang Zhao didn’t just give Li Xuanba land with an owner; he also purchased the tenants and slaves.

Li Xuanba felt a bit relieved.

Compared with trying to earn rewards from the unpredictable Yang Guang, it was more profitable to work with Yang Zhao.

Li Xuanba suggested to Yang Zhao to return to Daxing early—not because he liked Yang Zhao particularly, but because Yang Zhao could protect two teachers who treated him well.

Also, Emperor Yang Guang really didn’t like staying in Daxing. Apart from the first year after he ascended the throne—before he had even changed the era name—when he obediently stayed in Daxing, in the fourteen years of the Daye era, the total time he spent in Daxing was less than a year. He even spent more time passing through Taiyuan than in Daxing.

Whenever Yang Guang was off running around, first Crown Prince Yang Zhao was stationed in Daxing, and later it was Yang Zhao’s youngest son—Yang You, the one who previously asked to have him as a study companion—who was stationed there.

Being connected to Yang Zhao made doing business in Daxing much smoother.

But getting involved in a struggle among imperial grandsons? Cross both arms and back away!

Li Xuanba ended his “inspection,” said goodbye to Yang Zhao, and returned home.

The next steps he would first inform his mother about, so she could assign someone she trusted to handle them.

Li Sanniang also returned home together with her two younger brothers.

Chai Shao looked at Yang Zhao with a trace of grievance: “Your Highness, the Crown Prince, you shouldn’t have come today. Now that you’re here, Sanniang and I haven’t been able to say a word.”

Yang Zhao laughed wryly: “You’re about to marry Sanniang anyway. Does a little lost time really matter?”

Chai Shao sighed: “You don’t understand.”

Yang Zhao was speechless. “I’m older than you—what could you possibly know that I don’t?”

After sighing, Chai Shao added: “Your Highness, do you really want Li Sanlang to be a study companion? His health…”

Yang Zhao shook his head: “It’s not me—it’s the Crown Princess. Father favors Tan’er, and the Crown Princess worries too much.”

Chai Shao said: “The mother of the imperial heir died early, and he’s been raised by the Crown Princess. She’s simply overanxious.”

Yang Zhao smiled bitterly: “No, precisely because of that, she worries even more. With Father’s temperament, he might very well adopt Tan’er formally, making him the legitimate eldest son.”

Chai Shao wanted to say that the Crown Prince already has a legitimate son, so it shouldn’t come to that. But thinking of the emperor’s actions last year, even Chai Shao wasn’t so sure.

He sighed: “The Duke Tang residence would never want to get involved in this mess. Your Highness, the Emperor is in the prime of his life.”

“I know,” Yang Zhao said directly. He and Chai Shao were very familiar with each other.

Raised from childhood at his grandfather’s side, able to navigate the palace with ease, helping Father in the succession struggle—how could he not understand?

Yang Zhao said: “Even my second brother and I dare not show the slightest ambition, and yet the imperial grandsons have already begun vying for the succession. Father will surely be angered and think we are coveting his position.”

Yang Zhao pinched the bridge of his nose: “That’s why I must keep this matter under control, to stop the Crown Princess from acting recklessly. As for the Jingzhao Wei clan… sigh, Father moving the capital to Luoyang was the right decision.”

Chai Shao thought to himself, that’s not necessarily so.

The gentry of Guanzhong, because they were not as prominent as the Shandong gentry, were very eager to marry into the imperial family, hoping to use such alliances to surpass the Shandong gentry. Hence, they acted somewhat impatiently.

But were the Shandong gentry really indifferent?

If Luoyang and the eastern capital were firmly established, the Shandong gentry would certainly do similar things, trying to interfere in imperial struggles to secure power and influence for their families.

Although Chai Shao was very familiar with Yang Zhao, the distinction between ruler and minister meant he couldn’t speak all his thoughts aloud.

He increasingly missed his fiancée, even though they had only been apart for less than a quarter of an hour.

It was frustrating to have words stuck in his heart. If Sanniang were here, he could talk to her. Chai Shao sighed again.

Seeing Chai Shao go from discussing serious matters to inexplicably lamenting, Yang Zhao held his head and sighed.

Before Chai Shao’s marriage, it would be better not to talk about serious matters with him.

After returning home, Li Xuanba changed his clothes and climbed into bed to restore his energy and health.

Li Shimin anxiously circled around him.

Li Xuanba clasped his hands over his stomach: [**Brother, what are you doing? Acting like a puppy?]**

Li Shimin felt relieved that his brother finally “spoke.”

He lay down beside Li Xuanba, imitating him by clasping his hands over his own stomach: “Sorry, A-Xuan. I promised the Crown Prince on your behalf in the carriage…”

Li Xuanba interrupted: **[Although the Crown Prince was joking, he did call it a ‘command of the Crown Prince.’ If I wanted to leverage his influence, I had to comply. I didn’t think of it at the time. You reminding me was correct, brother.]**

Li Shimin mumbled: “I thought our cousin was reasonable, but he actually made things so difficult for you. He only had a legitimate son born last year—what study companion does he need?”

Li Xuanba: **[It’s only a nominal appointment as study companion. I will actually begin when Yang You is six. The Crown Princess is anxious because the imperial heir, Yang Tan, is already three and can recite the Thousand Character Classic from memory. Yang Guang once told his ministers that he wanted to keep Yang Tan close and have him taught by a famous teacher early.]**

Li Shimin sighed: “I see. Now that both of us are so favored by His Majesty, she’s worried that Father might make us merely playmates for Yang Tan?”

Li Xuanba: **[Not only that. The current Crown Princess is a secondary wife from the Jingzhao Wei clan, of Guanzhong gentry. The Crown Prince’s original wife was from the Bo Ling Cui clan, one of the ‘Five Surnames, Seven Prestiges’ of Shandong. At that time, the Princess of Qin was also from the Bo Ling Cui clan.]**

Li Xuanba told Li Shimin, in confidence, about a rear-palace incident accompanying the succession struggle near the end of Emperor Wen of Sui’s reign.

Yang Jian’s five sons—the queens of the eldest, fourth, and fifth sons came from “barbarian clans,” the Crown Prince Yang Guang’s queen came from the “immigrant clan” of Lanling Xiao, and the Qin Prince Yang Jun’s queen came from the Bo Ling Cui clan of Eastern Commandery gentry.

From the composition of the princes’ consorts, one could see the relative strength of each aristocratic family at court. At that time, the Guanzhong gentry’s influence at court was still less than the immigrant gentry that Yang Jian needed to co-opt after pacifying the south.

But no one expected that the Qin Princess would poison Yang Jun due to his numerous concubines. When the matter was exposed, the Qin Princess was executed. The Crown Princess’s father was the Qin Princess’s cousin, and was punished by dismissal.

The Qin Princess committed one of the “Ten Unforgivable Crimes” under Emperor Wen’s law—“heinous rebellion”—and her family’s “virtue of women” was implicated. The Crown Princess, as the Qin Princess’s niece, was naturally also requested to separate by Yang Zhao.

This gave the Jingzhao Wei clan the chance to seize power.

Li Xuanba: **[Yang Guang built the new city of Luoyang as the eastern capital, and the Shandong gentry’s influence resurged. Not only was the Jingzhao Wei clan anxious about Yang You, the entire Guanzhong gentry would certainly side with Yang You. Therefore, the Crown Princess’s request is something Yang Zhao dare not easily deny.]**

Li Shimin rolled around in bed and sighed: “So even the Crown Prince can’t act freely?”

Li Xuanba: **[If you can’t even be the emperor, let alone the crown prince?]**

Li Shimin rolled around a few more times. “So annoying, so annoying! These aristocratic families—so annoying! Shoot them through with one arrow! One arrow through!”

Li Xuanba burst out laughing.

Li Shimin puffed out his cheeks and said unhappily, “Aren’t you annoyed? I hate being schemed against!”

Having rested enough, Li Xuanba climbed off the bed. There was a hint of amusement in his thoughts: **[The Jingzhao Wei clan really lives up to its reputation for poor eyesight. Do they think they can bully us just because we’re young? Is the Duke of Tang’s household some insignificant little force? They actually dare to stir trouble over our heads?]**

Li Shimin sat up as well. “A-Xuan is right! We even dared to provoke the Xingyang Zheng clan of the ‘Five Surnames and Seven Great Clans’—what does the Jingzhao Wei clan amount to! What should we do!”

Li Xuanba spread his hands. “Obviously—tell the grown-ups.”

The eager Li Shimin froze. “Huh?”

Li Xuanba looked utterly innocent. The two of us are only seven-year-old kids. If we get bullied and don’t tell the adults, are we supposed to handle it ourselves?

Li Shimin drooped and followed Li Xuanba to go report it to the adults.

At this time, Li Yuan was personally attending to Old Lady Dou.

Old Lady Dou was in great spirits, chatting and laughing with Li Yuan and Lady Dou.

Li Shimin looked dispirited at the doorway, but the moment he stepped over the threshold, he perked up, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted, “Grandmother! Father! Mother! The Crown Princess bullied A-Xuan and me! Quickly help us get revenge!”

That single shout jammed all the words Li Xuanba had carefully prepared right back into his throat.

Watching his grandmother, father, and mother instantly flare with anger, Li Xuanba couldn’t help applauding his second brother in his heart.

Sure enough, when it comes to tattling, the shamelessness of a fake child can’t compete with that of a real one.

Before Li Yuan could speak, Old Lady Dou slapped the edge of the bed and said angrily, “The Crown Princess? That woman from the Jingzhao Wei clan? What did she do?! Grandmother will stand up for you!”

Li Yuan frowned. “Isn’t the Crown Prince very friendly toward you? Why would the Crown Princess be so rude?”

Lady Dou calmed herself. “Let’s hear what the children say first.”

Li Xuanba guided in his mind, while Li Shimin acted as the editor and loudspeaker, recounting everything that had happened today to the three elders.

Li Xuanba could have told it himself, but he was too rational—his brother’s “childish words” were far more lethal.

“Today the Crown Prince cousin came to find A-Xuan and me. He said the imperial rewards had been granted and took us to see them. We were both really happy. But then the Crown Prince said the Crown Princess wanted A-Xuan to be a study companion for her son.” Li Shimin sniffed. “Her son was just born—what study companion does he need? A-Xuan is weak; how could he possibly do that?”

Old Lady Dou, Li Yuan, and Lady Dou all grew thoughtful.

Li Shimin took a few breaths and continued. “Later, the Crown Prince cousin let it slip that the eldest imperial grandson is favored, and since Father has gained His Majesty’s regard, the Crown Princess wants the Duke of Tang’s household to help her. The Crown Prince cousin also said this was the Jingzhao Wei clan’s idea, so he couldn’t easily refuse. Wuwuwu—just because he can’t refuse his wife’s family, he bullies us? Aren’t we his relatives too? Father is even his cousin-uncle!”

Li Shimin began wailing loudly.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Third Lady Li happened to enter and hurriedly wiped Li Shimin’s tears.

Then she realized—he was wailing without a single tear falling.

Third Lady Li froze, then vigorously wiped the corners of Li Shimin’s eyes with her handkerchief and pulled him into her arms. “Don’t cry anymore, be good.”

Li Shimin buried his head in his third sister’s chest and continued his dry wailing. “Wuwuwu.”

Li Xuanba stood dumbly to the side, a little unable to keep up with his second brother’s performance.

“He can’t refuse his wife’s family so he bullies us” and “Father is his cousin-uncle” were not lines he had taught—those were second brother’s improvisations.

“Third Miss, you went out today together with Erlang and Sanlang. From what they said, the Crown Princess wants Sanlang to be the imperial grandson’s study companion?” Lady Dou asked. “Was this really the Crown Princess’s idea? How did the Crown Prince react?”

Third Lady Li replied, “That’s exactly why I came to seek Grandmother, Father, and Mother.” She had pondered for a long time how to explain it. She hadn’t expected her two younger brothers to arrive as well.

She sighed and said, “The Crown Prince made a bet with Sanlang. Didn’t Sanlang find an ancient recipe in a book and say he wanted to make a more powerful bath-bean soap? The Crown Prince said that if Sanlang could make something better than the palace’s imperial soap, he would help push this matter away.”

“Nonsense!” Li Yuan cursed. “The chaos of the succession struggle during the late former reign is still right before our eyes! The Crown Prince hasn’t even ascended the throne yet, and they already want to stir up another succession struggle?!”

Old Lady Dou said coldly, “This Crown Princess’s ambitions are far too big. She hasn’t even become empress yet, and she’s already worrying about her son’s throne?”

Lady Dou said calmly, “Because the Jingzhao Wei clan married into the Crown Prince’s family, His Majesty has bestowed many favors upon them. Yet they’re still not satisfied, not thinking of repaying His Majesty, and instead want to provoke conflict among young imperial grandsons—truly detestable.”

Only after they finished speaking did Li Xuanba open his mouth. “Father, what worries me most is what His Majesty will think if he learns of this. His Majesty won the struggle for succession, but among his brothers of the same mother, all died except one who was demoted to commoner status. Such tragedy must weigh heavily on his heart. He surely does not wish to see this repeated among his descendants.”

Li Xuanba looked up at Li Yuan. “Father has only just gained His Majesty’s trust. If His Majesty misunderstands and thinks Father is currying favor with an imperial grandson and thus being disloyal, what then? His Majesty is in Luoyang, Father is in Daxing, and the Wei clan has many people in Luoyang attending the court. Even if the Crown Prince refuses, they may directly petition His Majesty.”

Old Lady Dou braced herself and sat bolt upright on the bed in shock.

Li Yuan hurriedly supported his mother.

“How dare they!” Old Lady Dou raged. “Whoever blocks my son’s official career, I will kill them! Daughter-in-law! Take my token and enter the palace to question the Crown Princess on what she truly means! There’s no need to give her face—whether she can even sit on the empress’s throne is still uncertain!”

Lady Dou said, “Mother, I would also like to return to my natal family.”

Old Lady Dou replied, “Go. And speak properly with your family about this matter as well. Oh, and inform the Zheng family and the Changsun family too. The Duke of Tang’s affairs are their affairs as well.”

Lady Dou answered, “Yes.”

The Old Lady Dugu said to Li Yuan, “You needn’t attend to me here. Take my letter quickly and deliver it to His Majesty.”

Li Yuan said solemnly, “I will speak frankly to His Majesty. Sanlang is physically weak—I truly cannot bear to let him serve as a companion reader in the palace. Even with strict teachers like Lord Gao and Yuwen Gong, they allowed Sanlang to occasionally rest his head on the desk while studying.”

He took a deep breath, forcing his anger from his face: “Our Li family may have declined, but we have not sunk so low as to be bullied.”

The Old Lady Dugu said, “First, contact your cousins, Li An and Li Zhe’s sons. Although their fathers have passed and the sons have yet to hold high office, both men were deeply trusted by the late emperor, and many ministers in the court benefited from them. Now that the Li family is finally rising again, it’s time for these two households to leverage their connections.”

Li Yuan said, “Understood.”

Li Shimin’s eyes popped wide as he peeked out from his third sister’s embrace.

Li Xuanba thought: **[Grandmother is formidable.]**

Li Shimin shouted emphatically: **[Yes!]**

Li Xuanba looked at their grandmother, who meticulously instructed their father and mother on every detail.

Though he had heard that his father lost his father at a young age and that the Duke Tang Mansion had endured turbulent times, with the grandmother carrying the household alone, he had always known her as a chronically ill “wicked grandmother” who loved to nag his mother over trifles.

This was the first time he saw her strong and perceptive side toward the outside world.

After Li Shimin and Li Xuanba finished reporting the matter, they were kept at home to accompany the soon-to-be-married Li Sanniang.

Li Yuan said, “Don’t go out these days. Sanniang, don’t worry. I will return soon and will make it in time for your wedding.”

Li Sanniang said, “Father, be careful on the road.”

Li Yuan nodded.

Li Xuanba tugged at Li Yuan’s sleeve.

Li Yuan curiously asked, “Sanlang, what is it that you want to say?” It was the first time Sanlang had shown reluctance at his departure.

Li Xuanba said sternly, “Please tell His Majesty that there is no need to worry about me. I will win the bet and will not put His Majesty in a difficult position. This matter is merely a joke between children.”

Li Yuan laughed: “Alright, I will certainly inform His Majesty of this.”

He lifted Li Xuanba, rubbing his head. “You and Erlang’s reputations are growing, and more people will want to invite you out to play. When I return from Luoyang, I’ll give you your courtesy names in advance. Are you looking forward to it?”

Li Xuanba nodded: “Looking forward to it.”

Li Shimin jumped up and down: “Looking forward to it!”

Li Sanniang smiled, though a hint of melancholy flickered in her eyes.

Li Xuanba said, “Father, you must also think carefully about sister’s courtesy name. She is your and mother’s only daughter. Her name must not be given lightly to Chai Shao.”

Li Shimin immediately said, “Exactly! The books say that a girl ‘awaits her courtesy name in the boudoir,’ which is given by her father or future husband before marriage. Heh, we absolutely cannot let Chai Shao have it! Sister’s name will be chosen by our family! Even after she marries, she is still my sister! She’s part of our family! Hmph! Chai Shao will not bully her!”

Li Sanniang blinked and instinctively placed her hand over her chest.

She laughed: “Chai Shao wouldn’t dare bully me, Erlang, don’t worry.”

Li Yuan looked at Li Sanniang.

As his only legitimate daughter, although Li Sanniang’s needs were the same as other daughters, he and Lady Dou had a harmonious relationship, so naturally, he paid extra attention to her.

“Good, I will return and give Sanniang her courtesy name,” Li Yuan smiled. “Chai Shao will not get off easy. Sanniang, wait for me. I will give you the most beautiful name!”

Li Sanniang nodded firmly: “Yes!”

Li Yuan mounted his horse and departed.

Before leaving, he instructed Li Jiancheng, “I know you are close with the Guanzhong clans and have several friends in the Wei family. For now, stay in and ignore them for a while.”

Li Jiancheng cupped his hands: “I understand, Father, don’t worry.”

The friends he associated with were all for the sake of advancement, and they could distinguish what was important.

Besides, confronting the Wei family now would not harm him. Once this matter is settled, he can appease his friends in the Wei family, repairing relations, which would make the Wei family even closer to him.

Until then, he needed to vent properly.

In dealings with the aristocracy, he must make the young heirs understand who holds the true dominance!

…

Yang Zhao was stunned: “Ah? Were you scolded by Lady Dou in the palace?”

Lady Wei cried: “I let Sanlang accompany You’er in the palace, which is clearly a favor from the Duke Tang Mansion, yet they treat You’er with such disdain! Am I still the Crown Princess? Is You’er still your legitimate son?”

Yang Zhao thought for a moment, then patted his plump thigh: “Oh no! I only thought about Erlang and Sanlang, and didn’t consider Li Yuan and the aunt’s attitudes! Especially the aunt… sigh, she experienced those storms firsthand and must be extremely perceptive. Once Erlang and Sanlang return and report this to her, she will understand your little scheme!”

Lady Wei’s crying faltered, then grew louder: “What do you mean by my ‘little scheme’? We were humiliated!”

Yang Zhao said seriously: “The aunt is the only living peer of the grandmother. As long as she is alive, even if she scolds you a little—or even me—I must listen seriously. I was negligent. The aunt is bedridden and does not leave the house, and I forgot there was such a senior relative.”

Lady Wei could no longer cry. She looked incredulous: “It’s just the aunt. Could she really outrank the Crown Prince?”

Yang Zhao said coldly: “You don’t understand.”

When the father ascended to the throne by usurping it, brothers fought, and rumors of patricide spread. To suppress these rumors, he had to demonstrate filial piety and respect for his parents. The Tiangeng Palace, built to honor his grandfather, was part of this.

And as the only living peer of the grandmother, the Old Lady Dugu’s requests had to be granted, as long as they were reasonable.

Moreover, she was a very wise elder who never used her status to ask favors for herself or Li Yuan in front of the emperor.

So when the Old Lady Dugu began exercising this privilege—and not targeting the emperor—he would fully support her.

“Crown Princess, let me clarify this for you. I was originally opposed to dragging our two young cousins into palace intrigue, but I needed to give you some face, so I made this bet with Third Brother,” Yang Zhao said calmly. “Now that this matter has reached Great-Aunt’s ears, it’s no longer in our hands. If you still want to secure your position as Crown Princess, you should come with me to Dongjing immediately to meet Father and Mother.”

Lady Wei stammered, “Is it really that serious? The only member of the Duke of Tang’s clan who holds an actual post is Li Yuan. The rest are just minor officials—practically a family in decline…”

“Crown Princess, choose your words carefully,” Yang Zhao interrupted, frowning. “I know your Jingzhao Wei family prides itself as a noble household of Guanzhong, perhaps too arrogant. But the Emperor’s relatives are full-fledged dukes. You actually call them a ‘family in decline’? Is the Jingzhao Wei family trying to openly oppose the Duke of Tang’s house?”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant!” Lady Wei quickly said. “I meant that their household is small. Even if they wanted to act, how could they really oppose our Jingzhao Wei family?”

Yang Zhao sighed, deeply troubled.

He continued patiently, “This matter has reached the Emperor. He is suspicious by nature. Your Jingzhao Wei family will likely be fine, just like the Boling Cui family is fine now. But whether you and your father will be okay? Look at the situation with the former Crown Princess and her father now.”

Lady Wei’s face turned pale, and she murmured over and over, “Is it really that serious? How could it be so serious?…”

Yang Zhao said, “Change your clothes, no need to pack luggage. We leave today. We must reach Luoyang before Father issues any decree.”

He stood up and adjusted the flesh at his waist.

Sigh… I really don’t want to go out.