LFHYB -Chapter 39 Few Are Truly Grieving

Old Lady Dugu had passed away.

Li Yuan didn’t do anything to Li Jiancheng.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to.

From an outsider’s perspective, Old Lady Dugu had always cared deeply for Li Jiancheng. Seeing him, she became so excited that she lunged forward.

Li Jiancheng had blocked her face, so others couldn’t see how ferocious her attempt to grab or bite him was.

Li Yuan had been about to hit Li Jiancheng but was stopped by Old Lady Dugu.

She could hardly speak at that point, but still pointed at the terrified Li Xuanba, claiming it was his fault.

Li Yuan was utterly disappointed.

Later, Old Lady Dugu made Li Yuan swear, though she didn’t specify exactly what he should swear to, Li Yuan understood.

She held tightly onto Li Yuan’s arm, her eyes wide, almost popping out of their sockets.

Only when Li Yuan relented—promising not to pursue Li Jiancheng or reveal today’s events—did she finally show a relieved expression.

Yet she still pointed at Li Xuanba. That ferocious look made the disappointment in Li Yuan’s eyes even deeper.

Seeing Li Yuan’s expression, the ferocity in Old Lady Dugu’s face softened into pleading and sorrow.

Her murky tears fell drop by drop as she quietly looked at the child who had once been her whole world.

Li Yuan wiped his mother’s tears and said: “I won’t do anything to Li Jiancheng. He was raised by you, Mother, and by me. A child not taught properly is the father’s fault. I will guide him more carefully in the future. Don’t worry, Mother.”

Old Lady Dugu waved her hand while crying.

Li Yuan understood her meaning. He took several deep breaths before saying with difficulty: “Alright… I… I won’t hit him, won’t punish him, won’t hurt him.”

Only then did Old Lady Dugu slowly close her eyes.

Li Yuan let the children say their goodbyes to Old Lady Dugu.

Li Jiancheng, kneeling in the snow as punishment, staggered over and cried bitterly by her side. Li Si and Li Wu silently shed tears, while Li Yuanji looked completely bewildered.

Li Shimin held Li Xuanba’s hand and stood in the corner of the room, his eyes already swollen from crying.

When Li Yuan looked over, he saw Li Shimin behave like a frightened kitten or puppy, fur standing on end, hiding his younger brother behind him—as if his father’s gaze would somehow harm him.

Li Xuanba remained expressionless and dazed, eyes vacant—just like when Li Shimin had watched over him during his high fever after the adoption mishap.

Li Yuan withdrew his gaze, unsure how to face this frail child.

Every time he looked at Li Xuanba, the boy’s words echoed in his mind:

“Just because I might not live to adulthood, does that mean I can be sacrificed freely?”

Even though it was Li Jiancheng’s fault, Mother still seemed intent on placing the blame on Dade. Because Dade might not grow up fully, it was acceptable for him to bear the burden of Li Jiancheng’s unfilial misdeeds?

Li Yuan increasingly couldn’t understand his mother’s favoritism.

He even felt afraid of the mother who had always protected him.

He wondered if, had his older brothers not died young, he might have ended up like Li Xuanba.

Originally the youngest, Li Yuan had been left alone at seven when his older brothers passed. Sitting bewildered in the position of Tang Duke, he bore the responsibility of reviving the Tang Duke lineage.

When Li Yuan drank with relatives, they all admired him. They said Li Jiancheng could maintain the family’s status, and Li Shimin and Li Xuanba both had bright futures—Tang Duke’s line would surely flourish again.

Back then, every son of the old Tang Duke had been extraordinary, holding up the Li family’s prosperity. This main branch of Tang Duke’s line would rise again.

Li Yuan had believed so too.

But evidently, his mother did not.

Li Yuan approached Li Shimin and Li Xuanba.

Li Shimin almost bared his teeth at his father.

Li Yuan patted Li Shimin’s head and cradled Li Xuanba: “Go rest. It’s okay now—don’t get sick again.”

Li Shimin followed Li Yuan with small hurried steps.

Hesitating for a moment, he reached out to tug on Li Yuan’s robe.

Li Yuan paused, then continued walking, feeling inexplicably like he might cry.

Li Xuanba remained in Li Yuan’s arms, still performing his blank-eyed act.

He had once preferred to please Old Lady Dugu and Li Jiancheng rather than be close to Li Yuan because he hated Li Yuan’s kind of person the most.

Li Yuan’s care was sincere, perfect even—like a father wrapped in candy-coated bitter herbs, forcing you to swallow it.

After taking Li Xuanba and Li Shimin away, Li Yuan also brought along Li Yuanji, idly playing with his fingers, and the anxious Li Zhiyun, letting them rest properly.

These four children would also need to guard the wake later; if they didn’t rest now, they wouldn’t last.

Although mischievous, Li Yuanji was clever and sensitive to the atmosphere. Now obedient, he climbed into bed and fell asleep soundly.

Li Zhiyun climbed into Li Xuanba’s arms, clinging to him like an octopus.

Li Xuanba stroked Li Zhiyun’s head, unsure of what the child had sensed.

After Li Xuanba touched Li Zhiyun’s head, Li Shimin also patted Li Xuanba’s head.

He kept a serious expression, trying hard to appear calm: “A-Xuan, you should sleep soon too. Don’t worry, your brother is right here.”

Li Xuanba sighed and said, “Second Brother, you should sleep too.”

Li Shimin forced a smile. “Okay.”

The domineering Li Yuanji had taken the center of the bed, and Li Shimin didn’t want to argue with him, so he had a soft couch brought in. The three brothers—Li Shimin, Li Xuanba, and Li Zhiyun—curled up together on it.

Li Zhiyun still nestled in Li Xuanba’s arms, clutching his neck tightly, unwilling to let go.

Li Shimin turned his back to Li Xuanba, his breathing alternating between long and short.

Li Xuanba: [Crying again?]

After a long while, Li Shimin finally replied: [No!]

Li Xuanba patted Li Zhiyun’s head: “Go to your Second Brother’s arms.”

Li Shimin choked, “No, it’s annoying.”

Li Zhiyun lifted his head from Li Xuanba’s arms, released Third Brother’s neck, and, like climbing a mountain, climbed over Li Shimin to hug him, burying his head in Li Shimin’s arms.

Li Shimin gently tapped Li Zhiyun’s head. “Do you only listen to your Third Brother?”

Li Zhiyun didn’t answer.

Li Shimin held Li Zhiyun tighter, his sobs growing louder.

Li Xuanba sighed, about to speak, when Li Yuanji suddenly shouted, “Stop crying! So annoying! Second Brother, you crybaby!”

Li Xuanba: “……”

Li Shimin: “!!!”

Li Zhiyun: “Pffft.”

Li Shimin gritted his teeth, “Shut up! Sleep!”

He grabbed the blanket and wiped his eyes hard, then closed them to sleep, no longer able to cry.

Li Xuanba couldn’t help but think. Unexpectedly, Li Yuanji still had his uses.

After Lady Dou had arranged for the women of the household to rest, taking Li Siniang and Li Wuniang with her, she dragged her tired body to check on the children.

All the children were asleep. Even Li Yuanji’s snoring, loud as thunder, did not prevent even the lightest sleeper, Li Xuanba, from sleeping soundly.

Lady Dou gently pinched Li Yuanji’s nose.

Li Yuanji hummed a few times, turned over, and his snoring softened a bit.

Lady Dou sighed, glancing at Li Xuanba, whose brow remained furrowed in sleep.

Death is the greatest, but apart from Emperor Wen of Sui, this was the first time she felt such hatred for someone. Even though the Old Madam had passed, the resentment in her heart was still difficult to relieve.

Lady Dou lightly touched the space between Li Xuanba’s eyebrows.

Li Xuanba’s frown was stubborn. She rubbed it several times, but couldn’t smooth the crease.

Worried about waking him, Lady Dou withdrew her hand.

She looked over at Li Shimin and Li Zhiyun.

Li Shimin’s eyes were red and swollen; his nose sniffled as he slept, and tears still seemed to escape.

Li Zhiyun clutched Li Shimin’s arm tightly, still appearing anxious and uneasy in his dreams.

Lady Dou sat on the edge of the bed, feeling like a failed mother.

As a mother, she should have educated her children well, cared for them, sheltered them, let them live worry-free.

But now?

Could the scars in her children’s hearts truly heal with the passing of the Old Madam?

Could the rifts between First, Second, and Third Sons truly mend over time?

Smart people find it hard to be optimistic. Lady Dou could not be optimistic.

She could only vow in her heart to treat her children doubly well in the future. Especially A-Xuan; he must no longer suffer.

The Tang Duke Mansion was not the wilderness; it was not survival of the fittest where weak children must be discarded.

The weakest child in the household should be the most cherished. Li Xuanba, however, was forced to yield in everything, pushed to the point of being neglected.

Lady Dou’s heart felt as though it was being shallowly sliced by a blunt knife, cut deeper and deeper, the pain growing, until the fragments of pain merged into one, as if her entire heart were about to break.

She sat there dazed for a long while, only getting up when Li Yuan came to find her.

Li Yuan saw his wife quietly crying, gently held her, and patted her shoulder: “We’ll make it up to them slowly.”

Lady Dou silently nodded.

…

The Old Lady Dugu had passed away.

There was little surprise among the people of the capital.

The Old Lady Dugu was already very old and had frequently been bedridden for years. Lady Dou’s constant care for her had long been praised in the capital.

The Old Lady Dugu’s passing was accompanied by another well-known story.

Li Sanlang of the Tang Duke Mansion was quite rebellious, insisting on taking the imperial examinations for reasons unknown.

The Old Lady Dugu, a loving grandmother, persuaded Tang Duke to let Li Sanlang take the exams. Even in her final delirium, she continued thinking about her grandson’s examinations, and only passed away with a smile after he achieved the title of “Xiucai” and returned to report the good news.

People in the capital all said that Li Xuanba must have been the Old Lady Dugu’s most beloved grandchild.

Later, the distribution of the Old Lady Dugu’s dowry also reflected this.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, neither the eldest nor the youngest, shared fifty percent of the dowry.

The remaining fifty percent: thirty percent to Li Jiancheng, ten percent split between the two unmarried daughters, and the last ten percent divided seventy-three between Li Yuanji and Li Zhiyun.

However, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, being considerate of family hierarchy, gave two parts of their dowry to Li Jiancheng, split half for the unmarried sisters and two younger brothers, keeping only one part for themselves.

After some negotiation among the siblings of the Tang Duke Mansion, everything was finalized according to Li Shimin and Li Xuanba’s wishes.

Li Shimin grumbled, “I don’t even want a single part of it.”

Li Xuanba said, “Money is not a sin. We can use it to build our reputation, which is just right.”

Li Shimin couldn’t help but scold with a laugh, “You’re so mercenary!”

Li Xuanba: “Mm.”

Li Shimin said, “You didn’t even want the last tenth, right? You also think it’s unlucky.”

Li Xuanba glanced at his older brother.

Although he was mercenary by nature, after having the soap shop, he really hadn’t cared about this small part of Old Lady Dugu’s dowry. For a moment, he had indulged in a little extravagance, and hadn’t thought it through properly.

But now that he had made his decision, it still felt a bit awkward when his second brother mentioned it.

How could I be so extravagant! This is money, after all!

Li Xuanba’s stingy, miserly mindset started acting up.

But since all the money had been reduced to just a tenth, he decided he might as well complete the plan.

Originally, Li Xuanba had planned to use this last tenth of the dowry to donate a large Buddha statue or build a small temple.

People of this era often did good deeds like that. He should conform.

Rationally, he knew that would be convenient, straightforward, and would earn some reputation. But Li Xuanba’s poor-person mentality made him genuinely unwilling to hand over money to a temple.

He agonized over it for a long time, clutching his brother and repeatedly explaining his dilemma.

Li Shimin covered his ears, but he couldn’t block out his inner thoughts. He could only collapse helplessly onto the straw mat, letting Li Xuanba torment him.

“Don’t do what you don’t want to do!” Li Shimin shouted in frustration. “It’s that simple! What’s there to agonize over? If you won’t do it, I’ll do it myself!”

Li Shimin somersaulted off the straw mat and ran to find their mother for help.

Li Xuanba hurriedly stopped him: “Ah, wait! I haven’t decided yet!”

Li Shimin covered his ears: “Not listening! Not listening! I’ve decided!”

Li Xuanba said, “Come back!”

Li Shimin shot back, “You shut up!”

Li Zhiyun peeked out and asked Li Yuanji, “What are Second Brother and Third Brother arguing about?”

Li Yuanji looked around and then picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at Li Xuanba. Whether it hit or not, he immediately ran away.

Li Zhiyun was dumbfounded.

Li Xuanba turned his head.

Li Zhiyun shook his head vigorously: “It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me! I mean… it wasn’t me anyway.”

Li Xuanba sighed and beckoned Li Zhiyun over.

Li Zhiyun happily ran to him and was led by Li Xuanba to find Li Shimin, who had already disappeared.

Lady Dou had been exhausted from overseeing Old Lady Dugu’s funeral, and Li Shimin didn’t dare disturb their mother.

He rolled his eyes and remembered a “tool person” that A-Xuan had mentioned.

Li Shimin ducked through the guests, dodging his brother while searching for someone.

“Found you!” Li Shimin’s eyes lit up as he spotted a chubby little figure.

Naturally, the chubby person he was looking for was Crown Prince Yang Zhao.

As the last elder of the emperor’s maternal family, Old Lady Dugu’s passing was significant—Yang Guang personally came to pay respects, and Crown Prince Yang Zhao had voluntarily come to the Tang Duke’s residence to help as a junior.

“Cousin!” Li Shimin pounced forward.

The guard glanced over and relaxed his hand from the sword at his waist.

Yang Zhao smiled: “Daxiong… sigh, don’t jump on me. Come, let me introduce you—you probably don’t know him yet. This is my younger brother, Prince Qi Yang Xuan. You can call him Second Cousin.”

Yang Xuan’s expression was distant: “His surname is Xiao?”

Yang Zhao frowned: “Second Brother!”

Li Shimin said: “A distant cousin is still a cousin, and we aren’t even that distant. If Prince Qi doesn’t like it, I can call you Your Highness, Prince Qi. Crown Prince is my cousin, Prince Qi is Your Highness—each their own title.”

Yang Xuan asked in surprise: “Are you displeased with me?”

Li Shimin said: “Not at all.”

Then he tugged at Yang Zhao’s sleeve: “Cousin, I have something I want to ask for your help with. Let’s go talk over there.”

Yang Zhao glanced at Yang Xuan. Yang Xuan looked away, his face full of annoyance.

Yang Zhao sighed: “Alright, let’s step aside and talk.”

Yang Xuan grabbed the back of Li Shimin’s collar.

Li Shimin protested: “Your Highness, what are you doing?”

“Is there anything I cannot hear?” Yang Xuan said. “Speak quickly.”

Yang Zhao hurried to shield Li Shimin: “Your father reprimanded you—why take it out on a child?”

Yang Xuan let go, crossing his arms: “I’m not taking it out on him, I’m just curious.”

Li Shimin said: “Fine, I’ll tell you. There’s still a bit of money left from what our grandmother left for A-Xuan and me. A-Xuan wants to use it to do some good deeds. Normally, donating a Buddha statue would be enough—so much simpler. But A-Xuan insisted he doesn’t want the Buddha to help others, he wants to help people personally. I have to observe mourning, so I don’t have the energy for that. That’s why I came to ask for your help. Among the people I know, only you are truly kind. You surely know how to help others.”

Li Shimin shook his head, sighing dramatically.

Hearing Li Shimin say “want to do some good deeds” and “donate a Buddha statue,” Yang Xuan nearly blurted it out, but Li Shimin’s next words blocked it in his throat.

After listening, he noticed his brother’s face beaming with joy and understood why his elder brother was so close to the Tang Duke’s household.

His elder brother is kind, but his good temper is merely polite; inside, he is extremely proud. Even if this younger brother shouts “I want to be Crown Prince,” his brother would only look at him with helpless indulgence and tell him quietly not to let Father hear.

He looks down on himself, let alone others!

Yang Xuan’s thoughts shifted: “I’m bored too. Whatever you want to do, I’ll help!”

He glanced at his brother: I’m taking over your task now!

Yang Zhao was relieved: “You finally understand. Good, good, wonderful! One should do more good deeds!”

Yang Xuan: “…”

He didn’t want to do it anymore.

Li Shimin didn’t care about the tangled royal dynamics. As long as his goal was achieved and his brother stopped bothering him, that was enough.

“A-Xuan wants to find a local government school and set up something called…” Li Shimin thought for a moment, then said, “scholarships and aid funds, to reward students from poor families who love learning.”

Yang Xian asked curiously, “Why not just directly provide aid to raise orphans?”

Yang Zhao’s expression brightened with satisfaction. Great, his younger brother even knew it was possible to help support orphans.

Li Shimin said, “I’ve suggested that before. But A-Xuan insisted it was meaningless—he wants to do good in a sustainable way, not just as a one-off deal.”

Li Shimin pinched his chin and tilted his head. “Honestly, I don’t think what A-Xuan said is very kind. Aid is aid—why bring business into it? This isn’t a merchant’s trade.”

“But sustainable aid encourages others to follow, and then more people can be helped,” Li Xuanba’s voice sounded from behind Li Shimin.

Li Shimin jumped up, then ducked behind Yang Zhao.

Li Xuanba was speechless. “Why are you hiding?”

Li Zhiyun repeated, “Second Brother, why are you hiding?”

Li Shimin awkwardly stepped out from behind Yang Zhao. “I was just startled by your sudden appearance. A-Xuan, this is the Prince of Qi.”

Li Xuanba bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Crown Prince. Greetings, Prince of Qi.”

Li Zhiyun imitated Li Xuanba and obediently bowed as well.

Yang Zhao laughed. “Why are you still so polite? Learn from Daxiong—he rushes over calling me ‘cousin’ as soon as he sees me.”

Li Xuanba said, “Not everyone is as reckless and unreasonable as my brother.”

Yang Xian snorted. “Heh… cough, carry on.”

Yang Zhao laughed and sighed. “Enough about that. Explain again what you just said.”

Li Xuanba organized his thoughts and spoke slowly, “My resources are limited; I can’t support everyone, nor can I do so forever. But if the people I help in the future become officials, will they do the same? That way, I aid a group of people, and among them, some may pass the baton to the next generation. Moreover, perhaps those who have endured hardships will understand, even a little, the suffering of ordinary people once they are in office.”

Li Shimin interjected, “A-Xuan, but you previously said that some who suffered before might, once in office, exploit others even more.”

Li Xuanba said, “Of course, there are bad people too—who can say for sure? Honestly, I just want my money to be spent more meaningfully. And what you said isn’t wrong either—I’ve never been naturally kind. Even if a beggar by the roadside is starving, I wouldn’t give him anything.”

Li Shimin clasped his hands together, bowed repeatedly, and said, “I was wrong, I was wrong. A-Xuan, stop talking—your brother was wrong.”

Li Xuanba sighed helplessly. “I’m not saying this out of anger; I’m serious.”

He was doing this for fame, not purely out of kindness.

Or, to put it in a darker way, he was building a reputation before chaotic times, while seeing if he might get lucky and find some talented individuals from humble backgrounds.

“If it works, I’ll report it to His Majesty. In the emperor’s name, additional funds can be allocated to local academies, rewarding and assisting poor students, so education and culture can thrive further,” Li Xuanba added.

Yang Zhao, sensitive to the implications, realized this could win over the hearts of scholars. But Li Xuanba was still young and likely hadn’t thought of it that way. And hearts of scholars from humble families, even if influenced, weren’t a major concern.

Yang Zhao, hearing Li Xuanba’s addition, couldn’t help but reach out and pat his head. “Truly the youngest scholar of our Sui Dynasty. Li Xuanba’s strategic reasoning makes Father praise him endlessly—it’s truly visionary.”

The hearts of a dozen or so humble students may not matter much, but if this system were applied across all official academies and it genuinely won over the hearts of scholars from humble families, then it would have great significance.

Li Xuanba bowed formally. “This is what a minister should do.”

Yang Xian curiously studied Li Xuanba.

He knew there was an eight-year-old prodigy scholar, but hadn’t paid much attention. The imperial exams were considered almost a game; their grandfather often privately mocked those who entered officialdom through exams, saying they were useless, only burying themselves in lofty principles and meaningless words.

But seeing Li Xuanba today, it seemed this scholar actually had some ability.

“This matter is left to me. If I succeed, I’ll ask Father for a reward—maybe he’ll scold me less,” Yang Xian said, no longer calling himself “Your Highness,” though his tone remained proud. “What is your courtesy name?”

Li Shimin said, “My courtesy name is Daxiong!”

Yang Xian glanced at Li Shimin. “I didn’t ask you.”

Li Shimin chuckled. “My younger brother’s courtesy name is Dade, but he doesn’t like it. He says he doesn’t want to become a monk.”

“Pffft,” Yang Xian covered his mouth.

Li Xuanba glared at his brother. “We should return to our father and mother.”

Li Shimin said, “Alright. Crown Prince, Prince of Qi, we will take our leave.”

Yang Zhao said, “Go ahead. Later I’ll speak to your father about this. Once I report to the emperor, I’ll come find you. Second brother, handle this matter well.”

Yang Xian pouted. “Got it.”

After bidding farewell to the crown prince and the prince, Li Shimin held Li Xuanba’s hand, and Li Xuanba held Li Zhiyun’s hand, tallest to shortest, and they wandered back behind the ancestral hall, still dazed.

Li Yuan, Lady Dou, and Li Jiancheng were at the ancestral hall receiving visiting mourners. The three children stayed behind the hall ostensibly to pray for the elder lady, but really to slack off.

Li Siniang and Li Wuniang came to the three, carrying cloth bundles. Inside were sesame-strewn flatbreads.

“Don’t tell anyone,” Li Siniang and Li Wuniang whispered.

Li Xuanba took a bite. The flatbread was very crisp.

Unleavened baked dough only becomes crisp with a generous amount of fat. This flatbread clearly contained animal fat.

During mourning, one must eat vegetarian, avoiding all meat and fat—including animal fat. In the first month of the lunar year, fresh vegetables and fruits were scarce, so the past few days’ diet had been bland rice and flour. Even Li Xuanba, already frail, had lost more weight.

Li Xuanba felt he could still manage. He would endure a bit longer, and once Li Yuan was summoned back to court, he could sneak out to cook an egg and supplement his nutrition.

But the family seemed unwilling to watch him go hungry.

Though mourning required a vegetarian diet, exceptions were made for children, pregnant women, and the sick. They could eat meat, just not drink alcohol, entertain guests, or consume pungent foods like ginger, garlic, or chives.

After all, one cannot observe mourning to the point of endangering the lives of the family.

Li Xuanba, being both young and chronically ill, naturally belonged to the group of people for whom special “exceptions” could be made. But before Li Yuan brought it up, Xuanba didn’t want to mention it to the grieving Li Yuan, lest his father think he held resentment toward the Old Lady.

The fact that the fourth and fifth sisters could send over fried sesame cakes with meat meant that their mother must have known. But if they had to sneak them in, it implied that their father still didn’t know.

Li Xuanba quickly shifted his thoughts, thanked his fourth and fifth sisters, and shared the sesame cakes with his older and younger brothers, filling their stomachs.

Fourth Sister spoke softly: “In a few days, you’ll be able to eat meat. Fourth Brother was fussy earlier, but he already got to eat boiled meat first.”

Li Xuanba sincerely said, “My fourth brother is truly a good person. I really thank him this time.”

Li Shimin and Li Zhiyun nodded vigorously. It was the first time they had felt such affection for this brother.

…

Just three days later, the brothers were indeed able to eat eggs, milk, and meat.

Later, Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister also quietly began eating meat, while Li Yuan, Lady Dou, and Li Jiancheng still observed vegetarian mourning.

Naturally, the pregnant Concubine Zheng in the back courtyard of Li Jiancheng’s residence did not have to observe vegetarian mourning. Lady Dou carefully arranged Concubine Zheng’s daily life and even wrote to her family, asking whether they needed her to send a nanny to help, which might make Concubine Zheng more comfortable.

Originally, the Yingyang Zheng family had written to Lady Dou saying they were helping find a nanny familiar with childbirth for Concubine Zheng. A few days later, they wrote again, saying Lady Dou should handle the arrangements herself—they wouldn’t overstep.

Lady Dou was puzzled, but then Li Yuan handed her a letter from Zheng Jibo.

Zheng Jibo was the father-in-law of Li Jiancheng’s fiancée.

Before opening the letter, Lady Dou already guessed why the Zheng family abandoned the idea of sending help. Upon opening it, she saw that Zheng Jibo was concerned that if Concubine Zheng’s child were a son of a concubine, giving him too much treatment could affect the position of Li Jiancheng’s legitimate son.

“Alas,” Lady Dou complained, “they’re worrying about the concubine’s son and the legitimate son not getting along already.”

Li Yuan said nothing.

Even their own family, including the mother and brothers, had become a farce. The second and third sons were still children. He couldn’t say that Zheng Jibo’s concerns were unfounded.

“The emperor will summon me back to court and have me accompany him on the northern inspection tour,” Li Yuan told Lady Dou. “The children will be in your care. Pay particular attention to the health of the third son.”

Lady Dou said, “Yes, my lord, you can rest assured.”

Li Yuan looked downcast. “Yes, I naturally feel at ease.” Now that his mother had passed, there really was nothing in the household that would trouble his wife.

Another ten days later, Li Yuan was indeed summoned back to court and restored to his previous post.

As soon as Li Yuan returned to court, Yang Guang did something major—he reformed the bureaucratic system.

With Li Yuan back at court, the others in the residence could also go out, though they still couldn’t attend banquets. Of course, Li Xuanba and Li Shimin resumed their studies.

Gao Gong and Yuwen Bi spent every day in the library. Though they weren’t involved in government affairs, they were still very knowledgeable about them.

After receiving Yang Guang’s edict, both felt a complex mix of emotions.

So, the two of them held a joint lesson to teach Li Xuanba and Li Shimin how to interpret Yang Guang’s edict.

Seeing the increase of palace and bureaucratic institutions, Li Shimin asked, “Could it be that His Majesty thinks the current officials hold too much power, so it needs to be subdivided?”

Gao Gong, Yuwen Bi, and Li Xuanba all looked at Li Shimin.

Li Shimin asked in puzzlement, “Am I wrong? I think that’s exactly it!”

He thought for a moment, then nodded vigorously, confidently saying, “It must be so!”

Li Xuanba looked away. Here it comes—the second brother’s “bursting-with-confidence state” has loaded.

But his second brother was indeed correct. Truly, born with political intuition.

Gao Gong sighed deeply. “Even a child like you can see it. All the ministers at court must have seen it as well.”

Yuwen Bi asked Li Xuanba, “Dade, what do you see?”

Li Xuanba said, “When the late emperor ascended, to appease the nobles, he not only recognized the titles of the previous dynasty but also created many honorary positions below the rank of ‘Senior Pillar of State,’ allowing families to use hereditary privilege to hold office. This way, every noble family had titles, and every generation had officials. The late emperor promised the nobles to share in the wealth of the empire.”

Gao Gong sighed heavily again. “Continue.”

Li Xuanba said, “His Majesty has left only dukes and marquises in the five ranks of nobility, reducing the number of titles; downgraded the eleven high-ranking honorary positions from Senior Pillar of State to governor-level officials to nine officers, reducing both the number and rank of such posts; the previous dynasty’s titles would no longer be inherited, requiring new merit to obtain a title… all of this weakens the nobles’ status and strengthens imperial authority.”

Li Shimin nodded repeatedly. “I understand. His Majesty no longer wants to share the empire with the nobles.”

Even Yuwen Bi sighed this time.

Seeing their attitude, Gao Gong asked, “You don’t think this is wrong?”

Li Shimin asked in confusion, “The wise emperors in history usually hold great power. Isn’t what His Majesty is doing something any emperor would do?”

Gao Gong was speechless.

Yuwen Bi asked, “What if the nobles are unhappy?”

Li Shimin said, “Do they start a rebellion? Then we quell it.”

He looked at the teachers with puzzled eyes. Such a simple matter—does it even need to be asked?

Gao Gong and Yuwen Bi looked at Li Shimin, their expressions like a spilled palette of paint.

Li Shimin tasted a little nuance. “Do you think His Majesty’s actions are wrong, teachers?”

Gao Gong didn’t answer. He asked Li Xuanba, “Dade, what do you think?”

Li Xuanba pretended to think for a moment and said, “Weakening the nobles, strengthening the emperor—this is exactly what any emperor would want. At the founding of a dynasty, the emperor must compromise with nobles. But once the dynasty is stable, if the emperor wants to go further and build a prosperous age, he must consolidate power and suppress the nobles. The country’s interests and the nobles’ personal interests inevitably conflict.”

Li Shimin nodded vigorously. “Xuanba is absolutely right. Our Tang Duke residence pays no taxes. For the country to prosper, more taxes must be collected. If the Tang Duke residence wants wealth, it must occupy more land, reducing the taxes the state can collect. Yes, yes, exactly like that.”

Li Xuanba: “…But don’t use our family as an example.”

Li Shimin waved it off casually: “Even if I didn’t say it, it’s the same. Why hide it? Just say it straight.”

Li Xuanba: “…” So my brother already insists on keeping detailed records of the Xuanwu Gate Incident and constantly marvels at the silly little details of it… and now he has this kind of personality? Is this innate?

Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi seemed momentarily speechless. They were silent for a while before sighing again.

Li Shimin scratched his head. “Teachers, do you think this isn’t a good idea?”

Gao Jiong said: “As you said, a ruler will inevitably reach this step. It’s just that His Majesty is too impatient. If he wants to reduce the number of officials, he should stay in the capital. But he keeps wanting to rush out, never able to settle down.”

Yuwen Bi sighed repeatedly: “I know His Majesty has great talent and vision. He wants to build canals, renovate the Eastern Capital; he wants to tour the south and also the north; he wants to simultaneously reduce official ranks and reclaim noble privileges… The intentions behind all these actions are correct, but they cannot be done all at once. It’s like moving sand: move one bag at a time, and you can finish in a day; carry all the bags at once on your body, and people will die.”

Li Xuanba nodded emphatically: “Exactly, that’s why people die.”

Gao Jiong, Yuwen Bi, and Li Shimin all turned sharply, staring daggers at Li Xuanba.

Li Xuanba silently raised his hands to cover his mouth, using his eyes to say he hadn’t said anything.

Seeing this, Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi finally understood why the once-flourishing Sui Dynasty ended in just twenty years.

They had speculated many reasons—emperors and elder sons dying early, lack of suitable heirs, leading to renewed power struggles among the elites.

But Sui really collapsed just because of this? Now they got it.

Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi clutched their chests, a bit breathless.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba quickly stood to help the two teachers catch their breath.

Li Shimin: “Teacher, don’t get worked up. A-Xuan hasn’t said anything.”

Li Xuanba: “Right, right, I haven’t said anything.”

Li Shimin: “See? Whatever you heard, just pretend you didn’t.”

Li Xuanba: “Yes, yes, Teacher, just pretend you didn’t hear anything, okay?”

Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi each picked up a broom and shooed Li Shimin and Li Xuanba out the door.

Li Shimin sighed at Li Xuanba: “A-Xuan, pay attention. Don’t spout nonsense anymore. If you keep doing this in the palace, your brother will have to accompany you to the execution grounds.”

Li Xuanba: “I’m not that stupid… Since we’ve already been kicked out early, shall we check out the bookstore?”

Li Shimin nodded, lowering his voice: “And secretly go eat some roasted lamb, hehe.” Observing mourning? Forget it.

Li Xuanba had not eaten roasted lamb sprinkled with spices in a long time, and he was drooling, so he silently agreed.

The two rode a carriage to the bookstore, where a long line had already formed.

It turned out that the bookstore had just restocked a batch of Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi’s annotated editions of the Shangshu. As soon as the West Market opened, scholars sprinted to queue up.

When Li Xuanba and Li Shimin entered through the back door, they saw the shopkeeper negotiating with a well-looking young man carrying a sword.

Seeing the two masters arrive, the shopkeeper immediately cupped his hands: “What a coincidence, Second Master, Third Master. This gentleman wants the shop to help print his poetry collection, and I was just about to show it to you.”

This was a new business Li Xuanba had discussed with his mother after Old Lady Dugu passed away.

Now, the Tang Duke’s bookstore was at Lady Dou’s disposal. The bookstore’s printing of Confucian classics had gained recognition from scholars, so Lady Dou and Li Xuanba decided to expand the sale of printed books and offer services to help scholars print and publish poetry collections.

Of course, not just anyone could get the Tang Duke’s bookstore to print poetry—they needed a recommendation letter from a Guozijian professor, and the collection had to be reviewed by the Duke’s household first.

Li Xuanba and Li Shimin cupped their hands in greeting.

The young man smiled: “Ah, so you are the famous prodigy twin sons of the Tang Duke’s household. I am Fang Qiao, like Li Xiucai, admitted to the court in the 17th year of Emperor Kaihuang’s reign through the civil recommendation exam.”

Li Shimin laughed: “Also a Xiucai like Xuan?”

Fang Qiao shook his head: “I’m not talented; I failed the Xiucai exam.”

Li Shimin immediately said: “Failing the Xiucai exam doesn’t mean one lacks talent. Perhaps other areas of knowledge suit you better. Being recommended to His Majesty and passing the exam shows rare talent. We don’t even need to look at your collection—I trust you, Brother Fang. Right, A-Xuan? Huh? Xuan, why are you spacing out?”

Li Xuanba’s mind raced. The name “Fang Qiao” seemed familiar, but his memory stalled for a moment.