LFHYB -Chapter 33 When Ruler and Ministers Blow Bubbles Together

When Li Zhao and Chai Shao left, they not only took two bars of soap for their parents—but carried off an entire crate of liquid soap.

Li Shimin said, “Once Sister gets home, she’s definitely going to blow bubbles nonstop. A-Xuan, let’s bring some home too!”

Li Xuanba sighed. “Fine.”

The soap itself hadn’t caused much excitement—but the soap solution was what everyone loved. Wasn’t this like buying the box and throwing away the pearl?

Sure enough, after Li Shimin promoted the soap water in the Duke of Tang’s residence, it became a hit.

Even Li Yuanji briefly treated Li Xuanba better and stopped spitting at him every time he saw him.

Li Xuanba truly couldn’t understand it. He still had no idea why Li Yuanji hated him so much.

It couldn’t be because Second Brother beat Li Yuanji up too many times, right? That had nothing to do with him.

Thankfully, the obedient little brother Li Zhiyun healed his wounded heart.

“Thank you, Third Brother! Third Brother, I’ll blow you a super big bubble!” Li Zhiyun clung to him.

Li Shimin lifted Li Zhiyun in front of himself and laughed. “Why are you only blowing bubbles for your Third Brother? What about your Second Brother?”

Li Zhiyun answered honestly, “I’ll blow some for Second Brother too—but I’ll blow the biggest one for Third Brother.”

Li Shimin pressed, “Why?”

Li Zhiyun puffed out his cheeks and refused to answer.

“Alright, stop teasing Xiao Wu,” Li Xuanba said, pulling Li Zhiyun behind him protectively. “Why do you even ask? Isn’t it because you always make fun of him?”

Li Zhiyun was sometimes a bit slow—he would trip on flat ground or accidentally drink ink—nothing like the history books that praised him at thirteen as “skilled in archery and horsemanship, and adept at literature and chess.”

Li Shimin, however, had a mischievous nature. Whenever his little brother did something silly, he could laugh so loudly all by himself that it felt like a whole crowd laughing.

Li Shimin treated Li Xuanba the same way too—only Li Xuanba never took it to heart.

Li Shimin rubbed his nose awkwardly. “Is that so? Then I won’t laugh at him next time.”

Li Xuanba tugged at the corner of his mouth. “That’s what you said last time too.”

With a shameless grin, Li Shimin replied, “The me from last time and the me from this time are not the same me.”

Even Li Xuanba was amused by his brother’s thick skin. “Fine. I’ll see when you turn into a ‘new you’ again.”

Li Zhiyun hugged Third Brother around the waist and laughed along at Second Brother.

Seeing Li Zhiyun grinning so foolishly, Li Shimin took advantage of his quick reflexes—reached out, pinched Li Zhiyun’s cheek, and bolted.

Li Zhiyun covered his cheek in disbelief, his tears hovering on the verge of falling.

While comforting the little one, Li Xuanba scolded, “Don’t run! Didn’t you just promise not to bully Xiao Wu?!”

Li Shimin vanished in a flash, leaving only his wild laughter behind. “I didn’t bully Xiao Wu, hahaha!”

Unable to catch his monkey-quick second brother, Li Xuanba could only write this grudge down in his little mental notebook, planning to report him to Mother later.

“Here, here—rub it, don’t cry, don’t cry. Come, Third Brother will teach you how to blow big bubbles.”

Li Xuanba had someone make a slightly larger ring, heated the soapy water, added some sugar, let it sit for a bit, and sure enough, he blew a bubble even bigger than Li Zhiyun’s head.

Holding a fan, Li Zhiyun carefully wafted the bubble up into the sky. “Third Brother, can we keep this bubble forever?”

Li Xuanba chuckled. “No, but you can blow lots more big bubbles. Want to try?”

Only after the big bubble Li Xuanba had made burst did Li Zhiyun pick up the fresh solution and try blowing one himself.

Whenever a big bubble popped, Li Zhiyun’s eyebrows and mouth drooped.

But whenever he managed to blow a big one, he’d jump up and down, cheering loudly.

It was the first time Li Xuanba realized that although children’s voices were shrill, they weren’t always annoying.

“Big-bubble water is fun. Small-bubble water is fun too.” Li Xuanba mixed another bottle, this time adding vinegar to the soapy water.

A string of tiny bubbles floated out, like pearls drifting through the air.

Li Zhiyun blew a big bubble, then a small one—so busy his little head was starting to spin.

Lady Wan watched the two brothers playing from the corner by the wall and couldn’t help wiping away her tears.

The maid whispered, “Why don’t you go over, my lady? Fifth Young Master must want to play with you too.”

Lady Wan shook her head and was about to leave quietly.

“Huh? Aunt Wan, what are you doing here?” Li Shimin suddenly popped out of the bushes behind her, giving her a fright.

Hearing his second brother’s voice, Li Xuanba burst forward at unprecedented speed and caught him red-handed.

“Hurry up and apologize to Xiao Wu! What kind of brother are you?!” Li Xuanba yanked Li Shimin by the arm. “Aunt Wan? You came to see Xiao Wu? Xiao Wu! Aunt Wan’s here—come show her how good you are at blowing bubbles!”

Li Zhiyun beamed. “Okay! Auntie, Auntie, watch me blow bubbles!”

Lady Wan’s heart tightened, yet her lips curved into a smile. She said gently, “Alright. Auntie will watch Xiao Wu blow bubbles.”

Li Xuanba tugged on the little topknot on Li Shimin’s head. “Apologize!”

“Hey, hey, don’t pull! Look, Xiao Wu doesn’t even mind… fine, fine, I’ll apologize.” Li Shimin held out his hand to Li Zhiyun. “Xiao Wu, sorry. I shouldn’t have pinched you. Come on, Second Brother will blow bubbles for you.”

Li Zhiyun hadn’t really been angry to begin with, and happily went back to blowing bubbles with his second brother.

At last, Li Xuanba was freed from babysitting and plopped down on the steps to laze around.

“Send the newly mixed soap water to Eldest Brother, Fourth Brother, and the sisters,” he thought for a moment, then added, “Also send some to Grandmother, Mother, and Father. Ask Mother if we should send some to the elder sisters who are already married.”

The wet nurse curtsied. “Yes.”

Li Xuanba stretched, then flopped backward, staring blankly at the wild geese flying south.

The autumn air was crisp, and the sky seemed higher than in any other season, making people feel sleepy just by looking at it.

Though, really, Li Xuanba felt sleepy in every season—he could always find a reason.

He yawned, ready to take a little nap right there.

Li Shimin raised a finger to his lips and shushed Li Zhiyun.

Li Zhiyun nodded, copying his second brother’s sneaky expression.

The two of them handed the bubble solution to Lady Wan, then tiptoed toward Li Xuanba, who had his eyes closed.

Li Zhiyun crouched and followed behind Li Shimin, bobbing his little head in almost the same rhythm.

Lady Wan passed the bubble water to the maid and covered her mouth with her sleeve to keep from laughing.

When she smiled like this, her eyes and brows resembled Li Zhiyun’s by seven or eight parts.

Li Shimin crept close to Li Xuanba, then turned back and picked up Li Zhiyun.

Li Zhiyun tilted his head. “?”

With a wicked grin, Li Shimin placed Li Zhiyun onto Li Xuanba’s gently rising and falling belly.

Li Zhiyun lay there in a daze, like a little puppy sprawled on top of him.

Li Xuanba suddenly opened his eyes. “Ah!!”

Li Shimin burst out laughing. “Hahahahaha! No sleeping—get up and play with Xiao Wu!”

Li Zhiyun, still dazed, wrapped his arms around Li Xuanba’s neck.

Li Xuanba was being squashed and could barely breathe. “Get—get down! Third Brother can’t breathe!”

Li Zhiyun remained frozen in confusion, not moving at all.

Li Shimin laughed so hard he doubled over, lost his balance, and plopped down on the ground, still laughing.

Lady Wan couldn’t hold it in either. Laughing, she hurried over to rescue Li Xuanba.

She lifted Li Zhiyun up, then gently rubbed her bare, unpowdered cheek against his. “Don’t go making trouble for your Third Brother.”

Li Xuanba finally got back on his feet, then pounced on Li Shimin, who was still sitting on the ground laughing.

The two brothers rolled into a tangled heap, Li Xuanba throwing punches and kicks, Li Shimin dodging left and right while mocking him for his flashy but ineffective moves—

Li Zhiyun blinked and pointed at the ground. “Mother, I want to go play too.”

Lady Wan smiled and set Li Zhiyun down. “Go on.”

Li Zhiyun happily charged toward his two brothers, who were already rolling around in the dirt.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba both cried out “Ouch!” at the same time. They looked at each other and then lay down together to tickle their little brother.

Li Zhiyun laughed so hard he rolled all over the ground, his head bumping into Li Xuanba and his feet kicking Li Shimin.

The three brothers became a tangled heap.

Li Xuanba, whose stamina was the worst, was the first to be “eliminated.” After admitting defeat, he collapsed off to the side like a dead body.

Li Shimin and Li Zhiyun kept rolling and kicking each other on the ground.

Li Xuanba thought to himself: [It’s time to find you a kitten to raise. The way you fight with Xiao Wu is exactly like two cats.]

Li Shimin was completely absorbed in his childish kicking game with his three-years-younger brother and didn’t notice Li Xuanba’s teasing.

It wasn’t until Lady Dou arrived that the two energetic little ones finally stopped rolling around.

Looking at the three mud-covered “little monkeys,” Lady Dou was both angry and amused. She jabbed Lady Wan hard on the forehead. “You, honestly—you just indulge them!”

Lady Wan covered her mouth and laughed.

Lady Dou ordered people to take the three little mud monkeys off to be bathed—just in time to try out the scented soap Li Xuanba and Li Shimin had brought back.

The three boys waved at Lady Wan.

Lady Wan smiled and waved back.

She returned to her own courtyard smiling, stitching clothes for Li Zhiyun while savoring the happiness of the day.

Suddenly her hand trembled, and the embroidery needle pierced her finger.

A bead of blood soaked into the silk thread.

Tears fell from Lady Wan’s eyes, blurring the bloodstain, as if a blooming red plum blossom had appeared on the newly embroidered green branch.

“He called me Mother…” Lady Wan’s voice trembled as she murmured to herself. “I only realized it now…”

She put down the needle, covered her face with both hands, and wept silently.

Xiao Wu knows I am his mother. He secretly calls me Mother.

“Lady Dou… thank you, thank you…” Lady Wan kept whispering through her sobs.

…

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba could both bathe themselves, and the two brothers even scrubbed each other’s backs, so Lady Dou didn’t need to worry about them.

Lady Dou brought over a basin of water and knelt by the tub, scrubbing the dirt off Li Zhiyun.

“Your Highness,” Li Zhiyun whispered with both hands raised, “I secretly called Auntie ‘Mother’ just now. But Auntie didn’t seem to react. Is Auntie really my real mother?”

Lady Dou said softly, “She is your real mother. Lady Wan is just like you—sometimes a bit slow. She needs time to think things over before she realizes it.”

Li Zhiyun puffed out his cheeks. “Xiao Wu isn’t slow!”

Lady Dou laughed. “All right, all right, Xiao Wu isn’t slow. Xiao Wu, your mother is very sensitive. Just quietly call her ‘Mother’ in her ear—don’t let others hear, or she’ll start worrying about this and that again.”

Although Li Zhiyun didn’t really understand, he obediently nodded.

Actually, he felt that Her Highness was already very good to him, and a new mother didn’t seem necessary. But since Her Highness taught him this, it must be important—maybe he was just too young to notice.

Besides, Auntie Wan treated him very well, and after getting familiar with her, he liked her a lot. He didn’t mind secretly calling her “Mother.”

Watching Li Zhiyun’s obedient little face, Lady Dou thought of Li Yuanji, and her feelings became extremely complicated.

Lady Dou had lived her whole life without doing anything that weighed on her conscience—except for her youngest son.

She might truly have gone mad. Even now, though she knew rationally that she should treat her youngest son well, whenever she saw him, the disgust and fear she felt when he was first born would faintly resurface.

Especially after her husband returned home and she was finally able to take charge of Li Yuanji’s education, she tried hard to straighten him out—but every attempt ended in failure. Each time, the thought “so it really is like this” would rise in her heart.

That made Lady Dou suffer terribly.

But her reason kept her emotions in check, so she still did her utmost to teach Li Yuanji—so much so that she even neglected Li Shimin and Li Xuanba a little.

The more she suffered inside, the harder she tried to be good to Li Yuanji.

Yet Li Yuanji completely rejected her goodwill. He hated this mother who forbade this and that, and often ran off to complain to Old Lady Dugu.

Li Yuan had originally stood on Lady Dou’s side and disciplined Li Yuanji together with her.

But after Old Lady Dugu said a few words, he began to waver and instead tried to persuade Lady Dou not to be so strict with Li Yuanji.

Children as intelligent and sensible as Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were wonderful, of course—but the Duke of Tang’s household wasn’t so poor that it couldn’t afford to raise a wastrel like Li Yuanji.

It was impossible for every child in the Duke of Tang’s family to be outstanding. Since Li Yuanji didn’t like studying, easing up on him a little wouldn’t matter. In the future, he could always become an official through family privilege.

Besides, Li Yuan really didn’t want to personally teach Li Yuanji again.

“Mother, do you want to blow bubbles?” Li Shimin suddenly produced a bottle of bubble solution from who-knew-where.

Lady Dou snapped out of her thoughts. Seeing her naked son blowing bubbles, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Hurry up and dry yourself and get dressed! Why are you blowing bubbles while naked? You’ll catch a chill!”

Li Shimin said, “No! I’ll get dressed later—I’m hot right now!”

Lady Dou took a deep breath. “Li Shimin!”

Li Xuanba, while putting on his clothes, glanced sideways in disdain at his naked second brother running around swinging his little bird while blowing bubbles.

See? Second Brother is always asking for a beating.

Ow—yep, he got hit. Li Xuanba smiled.

Li Zhiyun sucked on his finger, his little head unable to understand why his elder brother would deliberately make Mother angry even though he knew he would be beaten.

“Don’t learn from your Second Brother,” Li Xuanba said after he finished dressing, helping Li Zhiyun put on his clothes together with the servants.

Li Zhiyun nodded. All right, he wouldn’t learn from Second Brother. Second Brother got beaten all the time. From now on he would only learn from Third Brother! Third Brother was rarely beaten!

…

In the Eastern Capital, Yang Guang propped his chin up with one hand, his face full of impatience.

One minister after another tried to remonstrate, urging Yang Guang not to keep staying in the Eastern Capital and to return to the main capital. Seeing how annoyed the emperor was, they sighed inwardly as they left, longing for the days of Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi.

If Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi were still present, they would have led everyone in continually remonstrating with the emperor.

Now that the leaders were gone, no one dared to take the lead. Seeing that the emperor was in a foul mood, they could only shut up immediately.

After the ministers left, Yang Guang’s expression eased a little.

“Humph, return to the capital? Daxing—who knows whose capital it really is,” Yang Guang cursed.

The palace attendants who heard this all wished they could block their ears.

Just as Yang Guang was venting his anger, an attendant nervously reported that Prince Consort Yuwen Shiji had come to seek an audience.

Yang Guang suppressed his fury and waved his hand. “Let him in.”

Yuwen Shiji entered with a splendid box in his hands and a bright smile on his face. “This subject greets—”

“All right, spare me the formalities.” Seeing Yuwen Shiji’s smile, some of the gloom on Yang Guang’s face dispersed. “You usually like to loaf around at home and won’t even take an official post. Why have you come to see me today? What—have you finally decided to work hard and make something of yourself?”

Yuwen Shiji gave a wry smile to this father-in-law of his who always tried to urge him to improve himself. “Your Majesty, I really am not cut out to be an official. I came this time because I have something fun to tell you! Your Majesty, do you still remember Li Sanlang’s wager with the Crown Prince?”

Yang Guang had someone bring a couch over and let Yuwen Shiji sit opposite him. “A wager? Wasn’t that already canceled?”

Yuwen Shiji smiled. “Li Sanlang said that it was a bet between people of the same generation, and he didn’t know why elders had to interfere. But since he had agreed to it, he had to see it through—otherwise it wouldn’t be honest. And so, the soap he talked about has been made.”

Yang Guang looked curiously at the box Yuwen Shiji was holding. “He asked you to deliver soap to me?”

“Of course not,” Yuwen Shiji said. “Li Erlang and Li Sanlang will definitely write to Your Majesty themselves—they’re very close to you. But before giving it to Your Majesty, they sent some to other people first to get feedback. I found it interesting, so I came to tell you ahead of time.”

Just as Yang Guang was about to reply, someone else came to report that Princess Nanyang had arrived.

Yang Guang hurriedly ordered honeyed drinks and fruit to be brought out. Even before the princess entered, he said, “Why did you two come one after the other?”

Yuwen Shiji’s face stiffened.

Princess Nanyang strode in angrily, first saluted her father, then pointed at Yuwen Shiji and scolded him. “Li Erlang and Li Sanlang specifically wrote and told us not to inform Father Emperor, so it could be a surprise. And this man actually sneaked over first!”

Yang Guang was stunned, then slapped his thigh and burst into laughter. “Renren, what are you doing?”

Yuwen Shiji said sheepishly, “I was just having too much fun and wanted to show Your Majesty. I forgot about it by accident.”

Princess Nanyang gritted her teeth and twisted Yuwen Shiji’s arm hard.

Yuwen Shiji yelped in pain and hurriedly begged for mercy.

Yang Guang laughed loudly. “All right, all right. Isn’t soap just bath beans? How could it be so fun?”

Seeing that it could no longer be hidden, Princess Nanyang shot Yuwen Shiji a glare, opened the box, and took out a bottle that was only half full of soapy water.

She was startled. “Weren’t there three bottles?”

Yuwen Shiji smiled apologetically. “It was too much fun. When it was down to half a bottle, I suddenly thought I should show it to Your Majesty, so…”

Princess Nanyang was so angry she twisted his arm again. “I told you to wait until I finished paying respects to Mother Empress before coming back to play! And you played until there’s only half a bottle left?”

Yuwen Shiji repeatedly apologized. “My fault, my fault! I’ll write to Erlang and Sanlang right away and have them send more!”

Princess Nanyang laughed despite herself. “Have you no shame?”

Yuwen Shiji said, “My relationship with Shude is so close, there’s no need to be that formal.”

Yang Guang laughed. “All right, stop bullying your prince consort. What exactly is so fun that even Renren forgot your instructions? This is the first time that’s happened.”

Princess Nanyang sighed and demonstrated it for her father.

When she blew out a cluster of bubbles, Yang Guang jumped up in surprise, took the bubble liquid, and gave it a hard blow himself.

Pop! The bubble burst all over Yang Guang’s face.

Covering her mouth, Princess Nanyang laughed. “Father Emperor, don’t rush. Take it slowly.”

Yang Guang wiped his face and laughed. “It’s a bit tricky—again!”

At last he blew out a perfect bubble, and in delight immediately ordered someone to summon Empress Xiao and the favored consorts to come blow bubbles together.

Yuwen Shiji said, “The bubbles look even better in the sunlight. I’ll take my leave first.”

Alas, once the consorts arrived, he wouldn’t be able to keep blowing bubbles with the emperor.

Yang Guang casually waved him away, telling him to hurry off and not delay his bubble-blowing fun.

Princess Nanyang went with her father into the sunlight to continue blowing bubbles.

This new and novel thing—the bubbles—not only floated in the air but even carried rainbows inside them, looking just like magic.

Yang Guang and Empress Xiao took turns blowing through half a bottle of bubble liquid, while the other consorts could only watch longingly.

Still not satisfied, Yang Guang said, “This is really too interesting. Li Sanlang made this?”

Princess Nanyang smiled. “Yes. Li Sanlang found it in ancient books. That’s another amusing story. Li Erlang and Li Sanlang often go to the West Market to browse and pick up interesting things from street vendors, like fragments of old books. Most of them are fake, and they only do it for fun. Who would have thought this time they’d really restore an ancient formula?”

Thinking of how the West Market was full of all kinds of dubious peddlers—selling not just Han-dynasty formulas but even those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors—Yang Guang couldn’t help but smile. “That really is amusing.”

Princess Nanyang said, “This bubble liquid is just made by dissolving soap, so it isn’t hard. But Erlang and Sanlang didn’t give us much soap, so I’m reluctant to… oh no! When Renren goes back, don’t let him melt my soap!”

Yang Guang laughed. “Come, Empress. Let’s go catch Renren and see whether he really dares to melt our eldest daughter’s soap!”

Empress Xiao chuckled. “All right.”

Leaving the consorts behind, the emperor and empress took a palanquin to go look for Yuwen Shiji.

Princess Nanyang had wronged him, though. Yuwen Shiji did still want to play with the bubble liquid, but he hadn’t melted her soap—he had gone to take a bath, blowing bubbles as he bathed.

Princess Nanyang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Yang Guang was also a mischievous sort. He didn’t care that Yuwen Shiji was in the middle of bathing—he went straight to the bathhouse.

Yuwen Shiji had no choice but to wrap himself in a cloth and come out to pay respects, bubbles still clinging to his hair.

Yang Guang found this amusing, and on a whim decided he wanted to bathe as well.

Princess Nanyang had already pulled Empress Xiao to another bath pool early on, and she herself soaked together with Empress Xiao.

Smiling, Princess Nanyang said, “Father Emperor definitely won’t be able to resist bathing. So let’s bathe too. Mother, let your daughter wash your hair for you—this hair-washing feels especially comfortable.”

She secretly took out a bottle of liquid soap. “This is called soap solution. I didn’t tell Renren about it—he’ll definitely sneak some and use it to blow bubbles.”

Empress Xiao couldn’t help laughing.

When Princess Nanyang opened the bottle of liquid soap, her expression changed drastically. “Why is there only half a bottle left? Yuwen Shiji!”

Empress Xiao laughed so hard she almost choked.

On the other side, Yuwen Shiji was presenting his treasure to Yang Guang. “Your Majesty, I secretly took half of the soap solution the princess had hidden. This stuff feels especially good for washing hair—it lathers up with lots of bubbles.”

Yang Guang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Aren’t you afraid Princess Nanyang will pinch you?”

Yuwen Shiji laughed. “Let her pinch me. Even if she pinches hard, she’ll be the one who feels sorry afterward. Your Majesty, let this subject wash your hair for you!”

Yang Guang was eager to try. “I’ll do it myself!”

The two of them worked up heads full of bubbles, laughing like fools.

…

“Hm? Father Emperor has returned to Daxing?” Yang Zhao said happily. “Who persuaded him? I must go thank that person!”

The one reporting hesitated. “Actually… actually…”

Yang Zhao was puzzled. “What’s so hard to say?”

The reporter said, “Perhaps it was the credit of Li Second Young Master and Li Third Young Master.”

Yang Zhao laughed. “Oh? What method did these two children use to remonstrate?”

The reporter said, “Does Your Highness remember the soap and bubble water sent by the Duke of Tang’s residence? His Majesty used them from Princess Nanyang and found them especially comfortable, so he returned to Daxing to personally ask Li Second Young Master and Li Third Young Master whether there was anything even better. Originally, His Majesty wanted them to go to the Eastern Capital, but both Li Second and Li Third Young Masters fell ill.”

Yang Zhao was stunned for a moment, then said helplessly, “Father Emperor really is… ah, never mind. As long as he’s back, it’s a good thing. Open the treasury and choose some precious medicinal ingredients to send to the Duke of Tang’s residence… no, I’ll go in person.”

Thinking of the letters Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had written to him, Yang Zhao felt conflicted.

In their letters, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba said that the wager must continue. Children’s wagers—elders interfering was really annoying. Besides, they wouldn’t lose anyway.

At first, this seemed like nothing. Yang Zhao thought the Duke of Tang’s residence was merely using Li Shimin and Li Xuanba to show goodwill toward him, keeping the matter framed as childish play. The Duke of Tang’s residence was still close to the Crown Prince; they simply didn’t want to be drawn into the struggle among the imperial grandsons.

He hadn’t expected that Li Shimin and Li Xuanba’s “bet” would actually make his stubborn father return to the capital, calming the dissatisfaction of the meritorious nobles and the Guanzhong aristocratic families.

The two children surely never imagined such an outcome. It was truly a coincidence.

But this coincidence had already happened twice.

The first time was when Father Emperor was about to return from his inspection tour to Jiangdu. He had originally planned to travel by land and even remade the imperial retinue, consuming enormous manpower and resources. All the officials advised against it, but Father Emperor refused to listen.

Then Li Xuanba fell gravely ill. Empress Mother and Elder Sister used this to persuade him, and many senior officials were also suffering from illness due to not acclimating to the environment. If they traveled by land and someone died of illness, the first inspection tour would be inauspicious. Only then did Father Emperor change his mind, and the criticism at court subsided.

“These two children—could they be auspicious omens sent by Heaven to our Great Sui?” Yang Zhao pondered.

The more he thought about it, the more it seemed so. It looked like he needed to invest more attention in the Duke of Tang’s residence.

Once Yang Zhao made up his mind, he acted immediately.

Coincidentally, he had heard that Li Jiancheng had taken a new bride from the Zheng family, but because his official rank was not high enough, he could not take a concubine.

So after visiting Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, Yang Zhao informed Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng and submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting that Li Jiancheng’s honorary rank be raised slightly—to just the proper fifth rank.

In Great Sui, official positions were divided into honorary ranks and functional offices. Honorary ranks were essentially paid sinecures—positions with pay but no duties—and even attendance order at court followed the honorary rank. Functional offices were those with real authority.

After the Northern Zhou reforms, the Xianbei meritorious nobles and the Guanzhong aristocratic families were merged, forming the powerful Guanlong aristocratic clique, to counterbalance the Hedong clans that supported Northern Qi and the Jiangnan clans that supported the Southern Dynasties.

To win over the Guanlong aristocracy, members of these families could be directly granted honorary ranks through hereditary privilege. Only functional offices required evaluations of ability. This ensured that generation after generation of the Guanlong aristocracy could all serve as officials.

After the establishment of the Sui dynasty, the Hedong clans—known as the “Shandong gentry”—and the Jiangnan clans—the “southern émigré gentry”—were also incorporated into this hereditary official system.

Thus, as the legitimate eldest son of the Duke of Tang’s residence, even though Li Jiancheng was still young and could not be directly appointed to a functional office, with the Crown Prince personally recommending him, his honorary rank could still be raised.

After Yang Guang returned to Daxing, he happily approved Li Jiancheng’s promotion and specifically stated in the imperial edict that it was a reward for Li Shimin and Li Xuanba. However, since the two children were still young and Li Yuan had just been promoted, the reward was bestowed upon Li Jiancheng instead.

Once the edict was issued, the reputation of Li Shimin and Li Xuanba as child prodigies once again resounded through the capital, and—along with envious letters sent home by officials—spread throughout the realm.

Beyond their cleverness, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba also gained a reputation for brotherly harmony.

When Li Yuan went around drinking and boasting that even his own promotion was thanks to the achievements of his two sons, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, that reputation for brotherly harmony was elevated to one of “filial piety and fraternal devotion.”

Later generations’ histories recorded this scene. People of the time—fathers to sons, elder brothers to younger—would all say one must learn filial piety and fraternal devotion from Li Second Young Master and Li Third Young Master.

Stories about yielding pears or lying sick to feed mosquitoes were nothing in comparison. Look at Li Second and Li Third Young Masters: they achieved merit, and their father and elder brother were promoted—that was true filial piety and fraternal devotion!

“Isn’t this a bit too utilitarian?” Changsun Wuji said with a wry smile when he came to visit Li Shimin and Li Xuanba. “Even my elder brother has changed his attitude, telling me to study hard and practice martial arts so I can earn him a high official post someday. Shameless! He should do it himself!”

Li Shimin: “Achoo!”

Li Xuanba: “Achoo!”

The two children curled up in their blankets, glancing dully at Changsun Wuji.

They were sick—why did they have to listen to someone else’s complaints?

Li Xuanba: [This Fourth Young Master Changsun is so annoying!]

Li Shimin had to admit that, at this moment, his brother was right.

Changsun Wuji complained for quite a while, resting his chin in his hands, and whispered, “Aren’t you angry? Don’t you feel it’s unfair?”

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba continued sneezing, not wanting to reply.

Changsun Wuji sighed and muttered to himself, “Fine… even if you feel it’s unfair, you can’t say it. Eldest sons, eldest sons… like a mountain too high to climb.”

Li Shimin: “Achoo!”

Li Xuanba: “Achoo!”

Li Xuanba: [What does being the eldest have to do with anything? It’s just that we’re younger, so we can’t hold official positions yet. They’re only benefiting the family because of that.]

Li Shimin sighed and continued sneezing.

This friend of his was perfect in every way—except he loved to wallow in self-pity a little too much.

Finally, Changsun Wuji finished venting his frustrations and left feeling refreshed.

Li Shimin, with a hoarse voice, said, “A-Xuan, until we’re fully recovered, let’s keep the door closed to visitors.”

Li Xuanba: [We should have done this long ago. Father loves showing off too much, always forcing us to entertain visitors.]

Li Shimin: “I’ll prepare a little, cry to Grandmother a bit, and complain that the visitors are too noisy and it makes us feel worse. You try hard too, cry with me. Grandmother can manage Father.”

Li Xuanba nodded. He felt certain that this time he could really cry.

The two children prepared themselves and, when the elderly Lady Dugu came to visit with difficulty, leaning on her cane, they performed a scene: the brothers clinging to each other, wailing loudly, complaining of Father.

Old Lady Dugu sighed, comforted her grandsons, and then went to find Li Yuan to voice her complaint.

It was indeed a good opportunity to bring fame to the Tang Duke Mansion, but one shouldn’t put the cart before the horse. If the children didn’t rest properly and something happened to them, what use would an empty reputation be?

Lady Dugu then specifically sought out Li Jiancheng and scolded him as well.

Li Jiancheng, to show his friendship and guidance toward his two younger brothers, almost daily brought different friends to visit them.

“I know you care for the Erlang and Sanlang, but they are still young and need rest,” Old Lady Dugu scolded, yet she couldn’t bring herself to be too harsh on her grown-up child. She softened her tone: “If you have nothing to do, Erlang and Sanlang are ill, and leaving the soap workshop to a daughter-in-law outside the family isn’t suitable. You can practice handling things instead.”

Li Jiancheng frowned: “Grandmother, it’s not that I don’t want to do anything, but the work of artisans and merchants… they could do it. I, as the eldest son of the Tang Duke Mansion, how can I engage in such lowly work? The late emperor despised merchants, and His Majesty today likely feels the same. If I intervene, even to care for my younger brothers, I would be ridiculed.”

Old Lady Dugu said: “Who said you had to do it! Your Zheng wife in the backhouse has been promoted to a concubine, she can handle some domestic affairs.”

Li Jiancheng finally said, “Alright, then let Concubine Zheng handle it.”

Old Lady Dugu nodded in satisfaction.

After speaking to Li Jiancheng, Old Lady Dugu then informed Lady Dou.

Lady Dou’s face changed. She clutched her dress tightly and said, “The soap business is the first enterprise of the two children. It’s only just starting to gain momentum, and now it’s given to the elder brother’s concubine. If outsiders find out, they might think the eldest is taking the younger brothers’ business.”

Old Lady Dugu frowned in disapproval: “How can that be called taking it? Third Young Master has already handed the soap business over to the Tang Duke Mansion. You’d rather let a daughter-in-law who married out manage it than let the eldest handle it. What’s the meaning of that?! Did the eldest not grow up by your side, so you want to treat him harshly?”

Lady Dou immediately knelt down, crying: “I dare not. I’m thinking of the eldest! This business in the mansion will surely go to the eldest’s wife eventually. But Concubine Zheng is just a concubine, she cannot manage the main household affairs. When young Mistress Zheng joins the mansion, Concubine Zheng will have already been the mistress of the Tang Duke Mansion for years—how should young Mistress Zheng conduct herself?”

Old Lady Dugu frowned, looking slightly hesitant.

Lady Dou continued, crying: “Moreover, everyone in the capital knows the soap business was created by Erlang and Sanlang. Now that they are sick and the business hasn’t made money yet, it’s taken by the eldest’s concubine. All their effort goes to waste! Even if we compensate them later, what will outsiders think of the eldest? He surely won’t be unkind, but they’ll say Concubine Zheng is greedy and instigates him—this will tarnish her reputation.”

Lady Dou wiped her tears, observing Old Lady Dugu’s expression carefully.

Old Lady Dugu, fuming, said, “I already told the eldest!”

Lady Dou, biting her nails nervously, suggested: “Concubine Zheng is virtuous, she probably wouldn’t want it either. Matters of petty profit, the eldest shouldn’t touch anyway. Even with wives and concubines in the family, they should associate with the officials’ wives. Once the Erlang and Sanlang are done playing, these matters will be handled by servants, not letting them intervene further.”

Old Lady Dugu sighed: “Rise.”

Lady Dou got up, wiped her tears, and bowed her head, quietly waiting for Old Lady Dugu to ponder.

After a moment, Old Lady Dugu sighed: “Erlang and Sanlang will eventually enter officialdom, so they shouldn’t interfere too much with merchant affairs. The eldest certainly cannot be involved. I thought Concubine Zheng was just a concubine, a little damaged reputation is fine. But you are right—others might use this to slander the eldest.”

Old Lady Dugu reflected: money moves people. Although the soap hasn’t been sold yet, seeing the capital’s nobility’s enthusiasm for it, it was clear this was a large sum of money. She immediately thought to have the eldest control it.

Erlang and Sanlang were too young to handle much money—it might corrupt them. They should focus on studying so they can help the eldest better in the future.

Moreover, the soap business originally belonged to the Tang Duke Mansion, and the mansion’s business belongs to the eldest—it shouldn’t be rushed. Once the mansion makes a profit, the eldest can use it freely.

Old Lady Dugu said: “You go talk to Concubine Zheng, tell her to refuse. As for the eldest… forget it, I’ll speak to him. He doesn’t like merchant affairs anyway, so I won’t force him. But you must quickly bring the soap business back under the mansion’s control, not let an outside daughter manage it. How would the Chai family see us?”

Lady Dou respectfully said, “Yes, I’ll take care of it immediately.”

Finally, the worry she had been carrying was eased.

In her mind, she recalled the way Li Xuanba’s eyes had sparkled when he spoke about his future plans for the soap business.

The Third Young Master had been frail and sickly since childhood, suffering many hardships, which made him mature too early. She had never seen him this genuinely happy before.

She understood her mother-in-law’s habit of wanting to give anything good to the eldest son. But the Erlang and Sanlang were still so young. For the eldest to seize a business meant for his little brothers—who were nine years younger—wouldn’t others mock the eldest? And surely, the younger brothers themselves would feel resentment.

Fortunately, her mother-in-law realized this was a foolish move and didn’t insist. Sigh.