LFHYB -Chapter 56 Yuwen Bi’s Dissatisfaction

Chang Jun and Wang Junzheng soon set off with the envoy group from the Sui Dynasty. Yan Zhen and Xiang Gu followed nervously.

Li Xuanba personally saw them off from the Eastern Capital.

Of course, Li Shimin couldn’t miss the fun. Not only did he come himself, but he brought along Du Ruhui, Fang Qiao, Xue Shou, and finally, Changsun Wuji, who had arrived in the Eastern Capital to meet his friends.

“I’m curious about the countries of the South China Sea. Gather more of their books,” Li Xuanba’s subordinates were also Li Shimin’s subordinates, and Li Shimin, being completely unreserved, gave them tasks. “Might as well bring back a couple of local nobles too.”

Li Xuanba sighed and corrected himself: “Not ‘bring back,’ invite them.”

Li Shimin said: “Same difference.”

Li Xuanba asked: “How’s that the same?”

Li Shimin whistled.

Li Xuanba felt his older brother was deliberately looking for a fight.

Li Xuanba warned: “Don’t listen to my second brother—don’t go kidnapping nobles from other countries!”

Yan Zhen and Xiang Gu couldn’t help laughing and crying at the same time; their anxiety eased considerably.

Was that even necessary to remind them? How could they possibly kidnap foreign nobles!

Fang Qiao and the others listened to Li Shimin ramble and laughed at him.

Du Ruhui said: “Li Er, with your abilities, why don’t you personally catch a few nobles from other countries?”

Changsun Wuji scoffed: “He only talks fancy words.”

Xue Shou sighed: “Li Erlang, fewer words, less trouble.”

Fang Qiao said seriously: “We can’t cause disputes with other nations.”

Li Shimin covered his ears: “Can’t hear, can’t hear.”

Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji, and Xue Shou laughed, continuing to tease Li Shimin, while Fang Qiao frowned slightly.

He hoped their future ruler was only joking, and wouldn’t really order the capture of foreign nobles once he became emperor.

When Li Xuanba saw off Yan Zhen and Xiang Gu, he visited Chang Jun and Wang Junzheng, asking them to look after the two.

He had already secretly gifted them many valuables; this time was only a verbal request.

Chang Jun and Wang Junzheng acted as if they had never received Li Xuanba’s gifts, speaking only in emotional tones.

After seeing Yan Zhen and Xiang Gu off, Li Shimin insisted on going hunting again.

Li Xuanba had other matters and didn’t follow his brother this time. He went around reminding his friends to watch over his second brother carefully, and not to let him go chasing dangerous beasts.

Changsun Wuji’s curiosity was piqued: “Hunting dangerous beasts? That sounds fun.”

Li Xuanba, with deadpan eyes, said: “Do you want me to report to General Changsun?”

Changsun Wuji was speechless: “Li Erlang said you’re a snitching little dog—he wasn’t wrong.”

Li Xuanba said: “Exactly, I am. You can try if you want.”

Changsun Wuji covered his mouth and made a ‘shut up’ gesture.

Li Shimin laughed: “Don’t worry, I know my limits.”

Li Xuanba said: “Don’t worry? I’m not worried at all.”

He went through another round of warnings, especially telling Changsun Wuji not to follow Li Shimin in his antics, and then left, uneasy.

Changsun Wuji rolled his eyes and said to Li Shimin, arm in arm: “The more he says not to do something, the more we should do it. Why should we listen?”

Fang Qiao frowned: “If danger arises, can you take responsibility?”

Du Ruhui teased: “Since Fourth Young Master Changsun is so confident, Li Er, let’s all stay out of it and watch him fight the tiger alone.”

Xue Shou was curious: “Fourth Young Master Changsun can hunt a tiger alone?”

Li Shimin laughed heartily, patting Changsun Wuji on the shoulder: “Exactly! He can do it! Not just tigers! Even a wolf pack wouldn’t scare him! We could toss him into a wolf pack and see!”

Changsun Wuji: “No, I can’t. If you want to murder me, just say it.”

Li Shimin continued laughing: “Come on, just try it!”

Changsun Wuji withdrew his hand from Li Shimin’s shoulder, keeping his distance.

Du Ruhui and Xue Shou laughed along with Li Shimin. Fang Qiao’s frown relaxed, but he remained slightly wary of Changsun Wuji.

He hoped Changsun Wuji wouldn’t corrupt the future ruler—he hoped he had some sense.

Amid the laughter, Li Shimin and the others went hunting in the imperial gardens, while Li Xuanba went to Yuwen Bi’s house.

Since getting engaged to Yuwen Zhu, Li Xuanba hadn’t visited the Yuwen family.

Yuwen Bi’s grandson had died young, leaving the family in grief. If Li Xuanba came to cultivate a relationship with Yuwen Zhu now, it wouldn’t just be insensitive—it would be utterly thoughtless.

Children who died young, deemed “unlucky,” couldn’t be buried in ancestral tombs, had no headstones, and no one formally observed mourning.

Many were simply buried in a random outdoor spot, wrapped in cloth.

The Yuwen family did not disdain the “unlucky” Yuwen Pang. Though he couldn’t be buried in the ancestral tomb, they chose a geomantically auspicious plot, built a tomb, and erected a gravestone. They even set up a memorial tablet at home, offering incense on festivals and anniversaries, though formal mourning was unnecessary.

“But my granddaughter insisted on observing mourning for An’er, living alone in a separate residence,” Yuwen Bi sighed. “I wanted her to meet you, but she said she wouldn’t contact outsiders before finishing her mourning. She’s a bit headstrong—I hope you don’t blame her.”

Li Xuanba shook his head: “She mourns her deeply loved brother’s passing. That’s not headstrong.”

Yuwen Bi said: “If you don’t mind, I can rest easy.”

Although Yuwen Bi knew that Li Xuanba was a kind and gentle boy, he still felt a bit uneasy because his granddaughter’s behavior went against social conventions. Only when he saw that Li Xuanba truly didn’t mind did he finally relax.

On one side was his disciple, on the other his granddaughter. If the two didn’t get along in the future, Yuwen Bi honestly wouldn’t know what to do.

When dealing with younger generations, the normally stern and formidable Yuwen Bi was, in front of others, just an ordinary elder who doted on his juniors.

After exchanging a few words of small talk and asking Li Xuanba about his studies with Li Shimin, Yuwen Bi finally got down to serious matters.

After Yuwen Kang died young, Yuwen Bi had fallen ill from grief, but he did not allow Li Shimin or Li Xuanba to visit.

The early death of a child was considered inauspicious. Families who experienced such a loss would close their doors to visitors for a while, waiting until the bad luck passed before meeting outsiders again. Li Shimin and Li Xuanba didn’t care much for social conventions, but the Yuwen family still had to consider public opinion.

Yuwen Bi had originally planned to mourn his grandson privately for some time. The reason he called Li Xuanba early was because of Yang Guang’s change of decision regarding appointing Li Jiancheng as the Deputy Censor.

The matter with Xiang Gu was handled by Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi for Li Xuanba.

Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi had served as ministers under four emperors, and their skill was considerable. Gao Jiong, in particular, had ample experience dealing with the emperor’s spies.

In original history, the two would have been executed by Yang Guang, only because they underestimated his temperament.

Gao Jiong was able to emerge unscathed from the struggle for succession, while Yuwen Bi remained completely neutral. Given their age and seniority, as long as they did not directly oppose the emperor, it was basically impossible for them to be executed.

Being killed for “slandering state affairs”? Not only would that have been unimaginable for the two of them, even the entire court of Sui would not have expected it.

Once they understood Yang Guang’s character and became thoroughly disappointed in him, dealing with him became easy.

Previously, when Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi were persuading Yang Guang to open the granaries for flood relief, they had even used the spies Yang Guang had placed around them.

Li Xuanba’s current move was exactly the same as what they had done. Yuwen Bi, knowing about Xiang Gu, naturally guessed what Li Xuanba had done upon hearing about Yang Guang’s changed decree.

Yuwen Bi worried that Li Xuanba, focused too much on schemes and intrigues, might have his character altered, or that he might underestimate the emperor and slip up. So despite being ill and despite the inauspiciousness surrounding his grandson’s early death, he hurriedly summoned Li Xuanba to give him guidance.

Li Xuanba listened humbly.

Seeing that Li Xuanba wasn’t smug about having outwitted Yang Guang, Yuwen Bi felt very satisfied with him.

Since his disciple hadn’t become consumed by schemes, Yuwen Bi could comfortably teach him about the oversights in this matter.

Although Li Xuanba shouldn’t let scheming corrupt his character, he still needed to master it. Schemes and intrigues could be useful, and more importantly, only those skilled in them wouldn’t be easily outmaneuvered by others.

Yuwen Bi spent a whole hour guiding Li Xuanba, carefully going over everything—from the memorial Li Xuanba wrote to Yang Guang to how Li Xuanba diverted Yang Guang’s attention toward Li Jiancheng.

Li Xuanba diligently took notes.

His plan to distract Yang Guang had actually been rather crude; he mostly relied on being young, which made others underestimate him and allowed him to succeed easily.

Although he had used his youth to his advantage this time, it wouldn’t hurt for Li Xuanba to learn more meticulous planning in advance.

Next time, he would try to act as an adult, not relying on his youth, and plan more carefully.

Yuwen Bi said, “While you are still young and won’t arouse suspicion, you can try a few more times and accumulate experience. Don’t tell Gao Zhaoxuan about this; he’s too old-fashioned.”

Li Xuanba thought to himself, “What a coincidence—Teacher Gao recently wrote the same thing in his letter: gain experience, but don’t tell anyone.”

Li Xuanba obediently said, “I understand, Teacher.”

Yuwen Bi continued, “Fang Qiao, Du Ruhui, and Xue Shou are all excellent; you’ve made good friends. Will they have a place in the new dynasty?”

Li Xuanba nodded.

Yuwen Bi said, “Do not rely too much on your prophecies. Those who trust fate too much will be toyed with by it.”

Li Xuanba replied, “Yes, Teacher. I did not actively seek them out; it was mere coincidence that we met in advance.”

Li Xuanba told Yuwen Bi about Fang Qiao wanting to print a collection of writings in a bookstore, Du Ruhui visiting the Duke Tang Mansion through Fang Qiao, and how Xue Shou got along immediately with his second brother at the Qi King’s banquet.

After hearing this, Yuwen Bi, who had been grieving for a long time, stroked his beard and finally smiled: “Fate can change, and it has already begun to change for the better. You should also relax a bit.”

Li Xuanba was puzzled. “I’ve always felt relaxed.”

Yuwen Bi shook his head. “You’ve been tense all along.”

Li Xuanba didn’t understand—he hadn’t felt tense at all.

Yuwen Bi ruffled his head and said, “You’re still a child. Learn from your second brother: play more and worry less.”

Li Xuanba nodded perfunctorily. He guessed that perhaps because he didn’t seem like a normal child, the teacher thought he was always tense.

But he wasn’t a child in the first place—pretending to be one is what feels unnatural. Besides, not every child is as boisterous as his second brother. He simply liked quiet.

However, since the teacher cared about him, there was no need to argue. He just needed to listen obediently.

After finishing today’s “lesson,” Yuwen Bi, lacking energy, did not let Li Xuanba stay for a meal and sent him away.

Before leaving, Li Xuanba hesitated and asked, “I brought some gifts for… um, well…”

Yuwen Bi chuckled, “Why are you mumbling? For the young lady, right?”

Li Xuanba said, “She’s in mourning. Would it be inappropriate to give gifts now?”

He had only thought that since he was visiting the Yuwen household, giving gifts to his fiancée was a normal courtesy. He hadn’t realized Yuwen Zhu was observing mourning for Yuwen Kang and wasn’t sure if he should give the gift.

Yuwen Bi said, “Leave the gifts. Even in mourning, she can accept them.”

Li Xuanba breathed a sigh of relief and left after leaving the gift.

The gift he gave was just a single scroll, without any special wrapping.

For a man to give a gift to a woman—even if they were betrothed—it had to be examined by their elders before it could be accepted.

Yuwen Bi opened the book and muttered to himself, “Judging by the handwriting, it seems Dade copied this personally… Draft of Thousand Gold Prescriptions? Could it be that Master Sun considered Dade a disciple as well, letting him review even his unfinished medical manuscripts?”

He flipped through the book roughly and frowned in dissatisfaction.

The entire book, it turned out, was merely a transcription of some of Sun Simiao’s simpler medical manuscripts—there was not a single personal note conveyed.

Yuwen Bi had expected Li Xuanba would include a few words of greeting for his granddaughter in the book.

Since he and Gao Zong had left the central power of the court, many officials no longer hesitated to communicate with them. Changsun Sheng, as a teacher of both Li Shimin and disciple of Gao Zong, increasingly corresponded with them in private letters.

Changsun Sheng once complained that Li Shimin was far too “arrogant.” Previously, when exchanging books with Lady Changsun, Li Shimin would only write a few lines of commentary in the book. Now, their exchanges had become actual letters, and the books were merely a medium for passing the letters.

Yuwen Bi had assumed that, with a brother like Li Shimin, Li Xuanba would naturally be a “bold” person as well, and he was mentally prepared for it.

If Li Xuanba were too reckless, Yuwen Bi would remind him that both he and his granddaughter were still young, and that it was too early to speak of marriage.

Yet Li Xuanba conveyed no personal words at all, which left Yuwen Bi dissatisfied once more.

With a brother as exemplary as Li Daxiong, how could Dade be so dull? Couldn’t he learn a thing or two from Daxiong?

Yuwen Bi decided that, once his illness improved, he would call Li Shimin over to give him a few instructions—to properly teach his younger brother.

“Still, this gift… Zhuer will definitely like it,” Yuwen Bi thought, smiling kindly at the image of his granddaughter’s obsession with medicine.

Although he remained worried about Li Xuanba’s frail health, apart from that, he had to admit that his granddaughter’s choice of future husband was incredibly discerning.

Setting aside prospects, the fact that Li Xuanba supported her continued study of medical texts was something few men in the world could do.

“Dade, you must take good care of your health,” he said, increasingly satisfied with this disciple who was also his granddaughter’s husband.

…

When Li Xuanba returned home, he was debating whether to rush to the Imperial Garden to inspect whether his second brother was behaving, when he was summoned to the palace by Yang Guang’s verbal order.

Li Xuanba had thought Yang Guang wanted to check his poetry assignments and had brought a few pieces with him. Instead, Yang Guang introduced several Japanese envoys.

Yang Guang smiled and said, “Li Sanlang is the youngest scholar of our Great Sui. Though he is young, his talent is absolutely among the top of the younger generation in the Great Sui. Let him teach you, and you will benefit immensely.”

Li Xuanba: “???”

Huh?! Let me be a teacher for the Japanese?! Can I even refuse?!