LFHYB -Chapter 46 Prince Qi Yang Xian Is Not Feeling Guilty

By the end of the year, Li Xuanba finally scraped together enough money to repay his debts.

Lady Dou and Li Zhao didn’t want to accept it. They wanted Li Xuanba to keep expanding production instead.

When they refused to take the money, Li Xuanba stood at the door and refused to leave. Li Shimin couldn’t persuade him either, so he stood there with him.

Li Xuanba was weak and sickly—how could Lady Dou and Li Zhao let him stand there as punishment? They could only helplessly take the money.

Li Shimin quietly said to his brother, “A-Xuan, Mother and Sister want to give you money, so just take it and make it up to them in other ways later. You’re being too distant like this—it’ll hurt their feelings.”

Li Xuanba shook his head. “I don’t like owing people.”

Li Shimin sighed. “I know, but family is different from others. That’s why I say you’re being too distant.”

Li Xuanba said, “It’s just what I’m used to.”

Li Shimin raised both hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. Looks like I’ll have to shoulder more of it and comfort Mother and Sister so they don’t get upset.”

Li Xuanba showed a helpless expression.

Paying back debts could make people angry too? Well, as long as the debt was cleared, it was fine. What he hated most was owing money.

When he was in debt, Li Xuanba dreamed several times about his previous life.

When he worked outside, he had read some civil law books to save the shop money. He knew that he could actually avoid the debts.

By law, once his parents became blacklisted debtors, he wasn’t required to repay their debts. Even if they died, as long as he didn’t inherit their property, he wouldn’t inherit their debts either.

After seeing that clause, Li Xuanba thought for a long time about whether to block all the creditors’ contact information.

But he only thought about it—while still continuing to repay the debts on time every month.

Maybe he just wanted to give himself a goal to struggle for. Maybe he just hated his parents too much and wanted to prove that he was completely different from them.

Or maybe it was because, before his grandparents were angered to death, they had held his hands and said he must repay the money, must not let people point at their spines. If he didn’t repay it, he would no longer be their grandson…

The grandparents were old-fashioned and upright people. He had heard that his maternal grandparents, who had died when he was very young, were also kind and decent folk.

They had spoiled their own children into becoming free-spirited, irresponsible people, but were extremely strict when teaching this grandson, afraid that he would grow up to become like his parents.

If he didn’t repay his debts, even his only remaining family would disown him. Then he would have no home at all—no place to return to.

Even if his home and family were now nothing but a grave, at least he still had a place to go back to, to sit for a while and burn some incense and paper money, a place that told him he had not come into this world all alone.

Being in debt was truly miserable. If there were any way to avoid it, he never wanted to borrow money again.

“Alright, alright, don’t frown like that. You don’t like being in debt—so in the future, big brother will work hard to earn military merit and get lots and lots of money, so you’ll never have to borrow again,” Li Shimin said quickly when he saw that his little brother seemed in a bad mood. “I won’t nag you anymore. Sigh, I really wish I could grow up faster.”

Li Xuanba’s mouth twitched. “The money I borrowed from you—isn’t that still borrowing and being in debt?”

Li Shimin looked puzzled. “If I give you money, that’s not lending.”

Li Xuanba sighed. “Brother, you are you and I am me. Your money is your money, my money is my money. They can’t be mixed together.”

Li Shimin laughed. “I knew you’d say that. But what you want to do, I also want to do. The business you want to run, I also want to be part of. I’m too lazy to use my brain, so you provide the effort and I provide the money—doesn’t that make perfect sense? You said it yourself: even brothers should keep accounts clear. You wouldn’t want me to owe you, right? Even a favor is a kind of debt.”

Li Xuanba was a little surprised. He thought about it carefully—and found that he really couldn’t refute it.

Li Shimin said, “Mother and Elder Sister just don’t understand you well enough. If they didn’t say they were borrowing money, but instead said they also wanted to do this, wouldn’t you no longer need to repay anything?”

Li Xuanba didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I’m not that shameless.”

Li Shimin shook his head. “That’s not shameless. That’s what they really mean—they just didn’t realize you’d be so distant about it. Sigh, so why are you so distant anyway!”

Li Xuanba argued, “I already said I’m not being distant.”

Li Shimin waved his hand. “Fine, fine, I won’t argue with you. What are we doing next?”

Li Xuanba said, “It’s winter. We do nothing.”

Li Shimin didn’t understand. “But the stock in the shops is almost sold out, isn’t it?”

Li Xuanba spread his hands. “Fresh flowers don’t bloom in winter. Once the materials are used up, they’re gone. Cedar and similar essential oils can still be extracted in winter, but the temperature is too low—things like hydrosols will freeze—so we won’t sell them. Selling according to the seasons makes things rarer.”

Li Shimin didn’t understand at all. They could clearly sell them, yet his brother was deliberately making up excuses to create artificial shortages. Wasn’t that a loss?

But if his brother said he wouldn’t be busy anymore, that was good. Seeing how hard his brother had worked to make money before had really worried him—what if he exhausted himself and fell ill?

This year, his brother hadn’t suffered any major illness. That was truly wonderful.

Still, when Li Xuanba said he wasn’t selling, he didn’t mean he wouldn’t sell at all.

Essential oils and hydrosols for which there were still materials would be sold, but only in very small quantities, and only as pre-orders—almost never put on open sale.

There were also winter flowers like wintersweet that could be used for seasonal limited editions, which of course were also rare. Li Xuanba had the shop put up a notice: at present, only soap was sold in the store; hydrosols and essential oils were display items and available only for pre-order. A batch of winter-limited essential oils and hydrosols would be officially released for sale after the New Year.

When customers saw the notice, they still asked the shop assistants every day, as if asking one more time might make the owner change his mind.

Li Xuanba instructed the shop assistants to casually chat with customers and, in the process, let slip that new products like eyebrow powder, rouge, and face powder would be released next year.

The customers immediately asked, “Then how will those be sold?”

The shop assistant replied, “Given our master’s personality, he’ll probably only make small batches for his family, and whatever’s left will be put on sale. How much will be put up, we don’t know.”

The customers pressed on, “Will you accept pre-orders?!”

The shop assistant shook his head. “We don’t know that either. We only heard the master mention it once.”

When Lady Dou heard about this, she asked Li Xuanba in curiosity, “Dade, I hear you’re going to make rouge and face powder as well?”

Li Xuanba was puzzled. “Who spread that? At most I’ll just make some for Mother and my sisters.”

Lady Dou said, “It’s already spread everywhere.”

Li Xuanba replied, “Oh. After I make some rouge and powder for Mother and my sisters, I’ll copy the formulas for the craftsmen. They might want to make and sell them. I don’t have the time for that.”

Lady Dou nodded. “That’s what I thought. You’re about to come out of mourning now—you should focus on studying and spending time with your peers. Don’t get involved in those rouge and powder things.”

Li Xuanba nodded. “I only make them for elders. Why would I make them for others? I’m just restoring ancient formulas.”

Lady Dou smiled. “I really don’t know how you ended up with this kind of hobby.”

Li Xuanba said, “I just like verifying ancient formulas.”

Lady Dou passed these words around, suppressing the rumors that Li Xuanba, at such a young age, was obsessed with women’s cosmetics.

My third son merely enjoys verifying ancient formulas. Everything he makes is for the elders in the family. If it’s good, it gets handed over to the craftsmen of the Tang Duke’s household.

Soap, essential oils, hydrosols, and even future rouge and powder selling well have nothing to do with Third Son. He only verified the formulas.

Besides, can’t men use soap, essential oils, and hydrosols? Even rouge and powder—men use those too.

One day, Prince of Qi Yang Xian heard some dandies talking about this while listening to music. He personally stepped in and beat them up.

“Soap, essential oils, and hydrosols are tribute items. My imperial father and brothers all use them. So who are you calling women?” After beating them, Yang Xian even threw them into the authorities, charging them with insulting the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Prince of Qi, and was preparing to submit a memorial asking for their heads to be cut off.

By making such a huge fuss, Yang Xian left Yang Zhao scrambling to clean up the mess.

Hitting them was one thing—you could have just warned them in private. Why did you have to spread this all over the place? If Father really beheads that man, Second Brother, you’ll have created enemies for yourself and for the Tang Duke’s household for no reason at all…

Yang Xian crossed his arms and snorted coldly. “Brother, why are you afraid of everything? You’re the Crown Prince, yet you live so stifled. People like that dared to insult us—so what if their heads get chopped off? Shouldn’t they be chopped off?!”

Yang Zhao pressed a hand to his forehead. “Killing people just because they mouthed off a few words—how many heads are you going to take? Those people weren’t even the ones spreading the rumors. They were just pawns pushed to the front!”

Yang Xian said angrily, “What? Someone was plotting behind the scenes? Who was it? I’ll lead troops and arrest them!”

Yang Zhao snapped, “Don’t go offending more people! You’ve already been confined to the capital by Father for reflection—haven’t you learned anything?!”

Thinking of it only made Yang Xian angrier.

It was obvious that he and the Li family’s Second and Third sons had been rewarded by Father for sponsoring poor scholars—he should have been able to return to office.

But some unknown trash had impeached him again, making his departure from the capital indefinitely delayed.

At first, Yang Xian thought it was the Crown Prince’s faction deliberately making trouble for him. But seeing how frantic Yang Zhao was over his punishment, he ultimately believed his elder brother.

Yang Xian might want to compete for the throne, but he also knew that his brother truly treated family well and was not the type to turn on his siblings.

“Forget it. I’m going to find Li Erlang and Li Sanlang. Just looking at how timid you are pisses me off.” Not only did Yang Xian show no gratitude for his brother cleaning up his mess, he was openly annoyed as well. He flicked his sleeves and stormed off.

Yang Zhao clutched his chest, panting in anger.

Crown Princess Wei emerged from behind the screen and complained, “Prince Qi really doesn’t know what’s good for him. He’s caused Your Highness so much trouble and still dares to scold you. He doesn’t respect you as his elder brother at all.”

Yang Zhao lowered the hand covering his chest and said coldly, “If you say one more bad word about my second brother, go back to your natal home.”

Crown Princess Wei exclaimed in shock and anger, “Why would Your Highness say such a thing?!”

Yang Zhao replied, “Harmony between siblings is the most important virtue for a woman. You are the Crown Princess now, and in the future you will be Empress. Whether as Crown Princess or Empress, you are to be the model of womanly virtue for the realm. My second brother’s matters will be handled by me—you don’t need to speak on them. If you truly have nothing better to do, go back to your natal family and make them rein in their clansmen. If they target the Duke of Tang’s household again, I will report it directly to the Duke of Tang and Father, and I won’t cover it up for them anymore.”

Crown Princess Wei immediately lowered her head. “I don’t know what Your Highness is talking about.”

Yang Zhao walked slowly back inside. “You don’t know? Then let me be clearer. I’ve already sent one Crown Princess who failed in womanly virtue back to her family. I can send another.”

These great-clan noblewomen were truly infuriating. When his son grew a little older, he’d just hand him over to Father and Mother to raise—better than letting him be spoiled by the Crown Princess.

Crown Princess Wei immediately covered her face and began to cry, accusing the Crown Prince of threatening her.

But Yang Zhao ignored her completely.

He could pretend not to see the quiet sparring between the Wei clan and the Duke of Tang’s household. But the Crown Princess daring to sow discord between him and his second brother in front of him—this crossed his bottom line.

Yang Zhao had personally witnessed his father’s struggle for the throne. He had even supported his father in it.

But when it came to himself, he never wanted to see brothers take up arms against each other. And his relationship with Yang Xian was not bad at all.

Although his second brother shouted every day that Yang Zhao was unfit as Crown Prince and that he wanted to fight for the throne, the more he said it, the more Yang Zhao knew he had no such intention.

And indeed, his second brother hadn’t done anything—he only talked.

Yang Xian had been clever as a child; as he grew up, he became straightforward in an almost endearing way.

He always liked to poke at Yang Zhao’s sore spots and constantly got him into trouble, but that too was a sign of the trust between brothers. Yang Zhao would never allow anyone to twist their relationship into one of fratricide.

Besides, even if Yang Xian really did develop ambitions for the throne, Yang Zhao was already the Crown Prince. The more magnanimous he appeared, the more favor he would gain from their parents.

What was competing for the throne, anyway? It was competing for Father’s affection—not competing for the throne itself!

Father was still alive!

The more he showed that he didn’t care about the throne and instead valued brotherly affection, the more Father would want to pass the throne to him.

…

Winter arrived, and the poor Li Xuanba caught another mild cold.

Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi both wanted to come over to teach, but Li Xuanba persuaded them to go back.

“If I make the teachers overwork themselves, that would be my fault,” Li Xuanba said. “Brother will pass on what he learns to me, and it’ll also force him to listen carefully in class.”

Seeing that Li Shimin’s attitude toward studying really had become more serious since Li Xuanba fell ill, Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi did not insist.

Yang Xian came to visit, carrying a wild goose, which made Li Xuanba look terrified.

“Your Highness Prince Qi, don’t tell me you’ve come to propose marriage to one of my elder sisters,” Li Xuanba joked. “They’re all already betrothed.”

Yang Xian glanced down at the goose in his hands. “Oh right, a goose is also used for betrothal. What are you thinking? I shot this today and just brought it along as a gift for you.”

Li Xuanba finally relaxed.

He had someone take the goose away to stew it, then asked, “There are still geese in winter?”

Yang Xian said, “What prey doesn’t the imperial hunting grounds have? Your health is really terrible. When you’re done with mourning, I’ll take you hunting more often. Hunting will make your body stronger.”

After Li Xuanba had taken Yang Xian to the academy to sponsor poor students—earning praise from Yang Guang—and had also let him join in the shop business, Yang Xian had become much closer to him.

Yang Xian was an extremely proud person. If he approved of someone, he would trust them completely; if not, he would ignore them entirely.

But not only was Yang Xian bad at judging people, his excessive pride made him blindly trust his own judgment. As a result, the people he trusted often ended up betraying him—and he himself got cheated.

The people he favored went around committing corruption and even seizing common women in his name. When he was impeached for it, he didn’t even know, thinking it was all slander.

Li Xuanba was genuinely curious how Yang Guang could ever be wary of Yang Xian.

Yang Xian truly wasn’t fit to be Crown Prince—not because he coveted Yang Guang’s position, but because he was, frankly, stupid.

How could someone this foolish possibly seize the throne?

That said, Yang Xian’s “stupidity” was just in his temperament. In reality, he was very intelligent—his learning and martial skills were both excellent. And he was extraordinarily handsome, almost as if he had inherited all the best features of both his parents.

When he was little, Yang Xian had been excessively cute. Even though Emperor Wen of Sui and Empress Dugu raised Yang Zhao at their side, they still doted greatly on their little grandson Yang Xian.

As Yang Xian grew up, his looks only became more strikingly handsome.

Li Xuanba even suspected that Yang Xian deliberately kept a scowl on his face because he didn’t want people saying he had the face of a pretty woman.

After becoming familiar with Li Xuanba, Yang Xian also included him among the people he trusted. He then launched into a long rant, pouring out all his dissatisfaction with his elder brother, the Crown Prince.

Thinking of the letter the Crown Prince had written to him, Li Xuanba felt a headache coming on.

Yang Zhao had clearly known exactly what Yang Xian would do. He had specially written to Li Xuanba, asking him to be sure to listen carefully to his younger brother’s complaints, to comfort him properly, and to guide him back onto the right path so that he would not anger the emperor again.

Li Xuanba was speechless.

Are you two brothers treating me and my second brother as some kind of lubricant and mediator?

Since the Crown Prince had personally requested it, Li Xuanba could only grit his teeth and listen to Yang Xian finish venting his grievances.

He knew that Yang Xian absolutely did not want to hear scolding, so he went along with him.
“The Crown Prince has always been benevolent. His temperament is different from Your Highness the Prince of Qi’s—this isn’t something new. It’s perfectly normal for brothers to have different personalities. Your Highness doesn’t need to get angry. Look at me and my second brother—we’re completely different too.”

Propping his chin on his hand, Yang Xian sighed. “But just seeing how meek and submissive he is makes me angry! Clearly it was those people who insulted me, yet he went and scolded me instead!”

Li Xuanba said, “I heard that those people were still punished. His Highness the Crown Prince wasn’t scolding Your Highness—he was just worried about you. But what Your Highness thinks also makes sense: you have to make people hurt a little so they won’t wag their tongues again in the future.”

Yang Xian immediately agreed. “Right? You really get me, Li San! People like that deserve a good beating!”

Having someone on his side, Yang Xian’s anger instantly disappeared.

Li Xuanba immediately changed the subject. “My father wrote to me saying that once my second brother and I finish our mourning period, His Majesty wants us to go to Luoyang. I think Your Highness the Prince of Qi will be going as well. Do you have shops in Luoyang? I’d like to expand my soap and book-printing businesses there.”

Yang Xian said, “What are you talking about? How could I possibly not have shops in Luoyang? I am the Prince of Qi!”

Li Xuanba smiled. “Right—my mistake.”

Yang Xian said, “It’s fine for you to make a little money during mourning, but why are you still doing business after it ends? Even though you’re young and can’t take office yet, making friends is the proper thing.”

Hearing Yang Xian actually advising him to cultivate learning and connections, Li Xuanba was a little surprised.

It seemed the Prince of Qi really had begun to feel some goodwill toward him—he was even thinking on his behalf.

Li Xuanba said, “Of course I need to make friends, but I also have to keep doing business. Your Highness doesn’t lack money, so you wouldn’t understand. For me, a single copper can decide whether a man lives or dies. If I go out socializing without any money on me, what then? I can’t always ask my family for it.”

Yang Xian was puzzled. “Why not?”

Li Xuanba gave a bitter smile. “I’m still young—how can I ask the household to give me more?”

Yang Xian said, “What does being young have to do with it? If you lack money, just ask the family for it. Would your parents really refuse you?”

Li Xuanba sighed and lowered his voice. “My family isn’t the same as Your Highness’s. Your Highness’s elder brother is kind and generous—he’d gladly subsidize you himself. My family is different. Now that my elder brother has children, the household resources should be focused on him.”

Yang Xian was about to say that even if Li Jiancheng had children, surely the Duke of Tang’s household wouldn’t be short of money for his other sons’ social expenses.

But before the words could leave his mouth, he remembered some rumors circulating in the capital last year about Li Jiancheng.

Yang Xian wasn’t stupid—he immediately understood the implication behind Li Xuanba’s words.

Frowning, he said, “My brother is the normal one. Fine—leave the matter in Luoyang to me.”

Li Xuanba said, “Then I thank Your Highness in advance. Once we get to Luoyang, I also plan to ask His Majesty to let me trade with people from the Western Regions. If it succeeds, I’ll need Your Highness to keep helping me.”

Yang Xian laughed. “What? You can even get good horses from the Western Regions?”

Li Xuanba said, “I’ve taught myself their languages. I should be able to be of some use to His Majesty and to Your Highness.”

Yang Xian immediately brightened. “That’s excellent! If you need anything, just tell me!”

After that, Yang Xian began complaining again about the impeachment against him.

He lived extravagantly, but he used his own money. He had many wives and concubines, but they all threw themselves at him—why would he need to bully respectable women? The impeachment was completely unreasonable!

After thinking for a moment, Li Xuanba decided to give this Prince of Qi a little push in a favorable direction.

Pretending to hesitate, he said quietly, “Since the rumors outside are so detailed that even His Majesty believes them, and since His Majesty is wise and so fond of Your Highness, he surely wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for you without evidence. So could it be that someone out there is committing misdeeds in Your Highness’s name, deliberately ruining your reputation?”

Yang Xian immediately snapped, “Who would dare?!”

Li Xuanba said, “Then why not let the Crown Prince investigate it? His Highness dares not probe too deeply because he’s afraid of angering you. But if Your Highness openly allows him to investigate, the Crown Prince will surely be able to clear your name.”

Yang Xian was puzzled. “I can investigate it myself. Why must my brother do it?”

Li Xuanba lowered his voice. “If this really is a false accusation, then it might not only be aimed at Your Highness—it may also be aimed at the Crown Prince.”

Yang Xian froze, then exploded in anger. “Is this framing me, or framing the Crown Prince?! Father only has two sons—what are they trying to do?!”

Li Xuanba hurriedly said, “Your Highness, please be careful with your words. I’m only speculating. It might just be a misunderstanding.”

Yang Xian stood up and paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.

“Father really wouldn’t accuse me for no reason. I was angry before because I was scolded for something I didn’t do, so I felt wronged and didn’t want to defend myself. Could it really be that someone is ruining my reputation outside—and even trying to drag the Crown Prince down with me?” Yang Xian said furiously. “Despicable! Who did this?!”

Li Xuanba said, “Exactly. Doesn’t Your Highness know? There are even people spreading rumors that you have an improper relationship with your wife’s younger sister—stories told with such detail. How could that possibly be true?”

Yang Xian suddenly stopped walking.

Li Xuanba sighed. “Prince of Qi’s consort has already passed away. If His Highness truly has his eye on one of his late wife’s younger sisters, then since the position of princess consort is vacant—and a girl of the Wei clan isn’t low in status at all—wouldn’t it be perfectly proper to marry her in as a successor wife? What’s the point of this sneaking around? It’s completely ridiculous.”

The late Princess of Qi, like the Crown Princess, came from the Jingzhao Wei clan, though their branch relations were distant—only their grandfathers had been brothers.

However, the Prince of Qi’s legitimate eldest son was born to the late Princess. Within the Wei clan there were internal struggles for status, so the Crown Princess had always been wary, afraid that someone in the Wei family might support Prince Qi.

Yang Xian said, “…That’s true.” He didn’t feel guilty at all.

Yang Xian swore to heaven that he had no improper relationship with any of his wife’s younger sisters.

Ahem—because the one he was involved with was actually his wife’s elder sister, who had already married into the Yuan family.