LFHYB -Chapter 58 The Whole Family Gathers in Luoyang

When Yang Guang’s envoy set off for Wa, one piece of news spread throughout Luoyang:

“Have you heard? The King of Wa actually calls himself ‘Son of Heaven’!”

“You’re behind the times. The King of Wa calls himself ‘Tianhuang,’ even higher than the Son of Heaven. He only called himself Son of Heaven in the imperial letter to avoid angering the emperor.”

“I thought the King of Wa called himself the ‘Rising Sun Son of Heaven’ and Your Majesty the ‘Setting Sun Son of Heaven,’ essentially cursing Sui to decline. I didn’t expect he would even call himself Tianhuang. The Son of Heaven is the child of Heaven—Tianhuang is……”

“Be careful what you say!” …

Li Shimin, returning from hunting, couldn’t understand the latest gossip in Luoyang.

He scratched his head. He had only been away from the city for five days!

“A-Xuan, what’s going on with Wa? What do ‘Tianhuang’ and ‘Son of Heaven’ mean?” Li Shimin knew his younger brother always had the latest news, so he immediately asked.

Li Xuanba explained the situation in Wa to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin was silent for a moment, then whispered, “Hey hey, A-Xuan, you didn’t spread this news, did you?”

Li Xuanba said seriously, “How could it be me?”

Li Shimin: “Alright, I understand.”

Li Xuanba was puzzled—how did his second brother guess so accurately?

Li Shimin, seeing his brother’s confusion, smiled smugly.

He hadn’t really guessed—it was just a test. Seeing his brother’s expression, he knew he was right.

While Changsun Wuji often said A-Xuan’s mind was too deep to fathom, Li Shimin always felt his own brother was simple and easy to understand.

“You’ve always disliked Wa. Now the emperor has you liaising with their envoys—you must be unhappy,” Li Shimin said. “I also heard that His Majesty temporarily changed the envoy team because Father wanted to go personally. Father wouldn’t do this for no reason—it must be because of you.”

Li Xuanba pouted. “I didn’t spread any news about Wa. It’s not my business. Officials and nobles were just curious why Father was angry, so he explained a bit.”

Li Shimin asked, “His Majesty wasn’t angry?”

Li Xuanba said, “Father was so angry that Wa insulted the emperor, he wanted to go personally despite being Duke of Tang. His Majesty was pleased with Father’s loyalty. Father got a promotion again.”

Li Shimin sighed. “His Majesty’s mood changes so fast. He just scolded our family, now he’s praising Father. Guessing people’s thoughts is exhausting—I can’t do it.”

Li Xuanba said, “If you can’t, then don’t. Being a little naive is fine too.”

Li Shimin immediately swung at his brother. “Huh? Naive? Who are you calling naive? A-Xuan, you’ve got guts! Don’t run!”

This time, Li Xuanba, feeling better, tried to escape, but ran into Li Zhiyun.

Li Zhiyun instinctively hugged Li Xuanba’s waist. Li Shimin laughed and caught Li Xuanba, using his head as a drum.

Li Zhiyun tried to run but was held and also “drummed” on the head.

One elder brother hitting one younger brother on the head—the scene was oddly harmonious.

“Huh? Why is Fifth Brother here?”

After they finished, they realized the question.

Li Zhiyun held his head: “I came with Mother and Aunt. The whole family is here, so I came to tell you first.”

Li Shimin grabbed Li Xuanba and ran, complaining, “Mother is here? Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Li Xuanba pulled Li Zhiyun along. “The whole family is here? Are Elder Brother and Fourth Brother also here?”

Li Zhiyun ran ahead with the two elder brothers, pouting: “Hmph, I wanted to say something, but you wouldn’t let me. Everyone’s here, even the sisters.”

By the time Li Shimin and Li Xuanba reached the front courtyard, Lady Dou and Lady Wan were directing servants to move things.

“Mother!” Li Shimin released Li Xuanba and rushed toward Lady Dou.

Lady Dou turned around and caught Li Shimin, giving him a slap on the back.

Li Shimin: “Ouch!”

Lady Dou pinched his cheek and tugged it. “Hunting a tiger? Erlang, you’ve really grown up!”

Li Shimin mumbled softly, “I’ve really grown up.”

Lady Dou laughed at him in exasperation. She tugged his cheek again and said, “I’ll deal with you later.”

“Humph humph,” Li Shimin rubbed his face. “It’s been so long since we last met, and you scold me as soon as we see each other. I hate you, Mother.”

Lady Dou jabbed his forehead sharply. “Fine, I hate you too, Erlang!”

Li Shimin immediately leapt into her arms. “No, that won’t do. Mother isn’t allowed to hate me.”

Li Xuanba took a few deep breaths and walked slowly over to Lady Dou. “Mother, I hope you are well.”

Lady Dou smiled. “Sanlang, you’ve worked hard taking care of Erlang.”

Li Xuanba replied, “It was indeed tiring.”

Li Shimin lifted his head from Lady Dou’s arms and reached to tug at the little braid Li Xuanba had just tied.

Lady Dou blocked his hand and pinched his cheek again. “Don’t bully your brother. Go over there and don’t cause trouble.”

Li Shimin pouted. “See, Mother really does hate me.”

Lady Dou chuckled. “Yes, I hate you. If you keep putting yourself in danger in the future, I’ll continue to hate you.”

Li Shimin closed his mouth, worried. Would he really get spanked later?

After greeting his mother along with Li Xuanba, Li Shimin went to greet Lady Wan and the others.

Li Zhiyun grabbed Lady Wan’s hand and loudly complained, “Second and third brothers hit my head as soon as they saw me!”

Lady Wan laughed so hard she nearly bent over. “Good!”

Li Zhiyun widened his eyes in disbelief. “Good? Auntie! I was bullied!”

Lady Wan laughed even harder, making Lady Dou laugh as well.

Lady Dou held Li Zhiyun in her arms, rubbing him gently. “Later, Mother will teach them a lesson for you.”

Lady Wan laughed. “Teach them a lesson? They’re just playing; it shows they care about each other.”

Li Zhiyun angrily said, “We don’t care about them!”

Li Shimin clasped his hands behind his back and walked in with a strut. “Oh? You don’t care about your brothers? Hmph, Second brother was going to take you to the Imperial Garden, but it seems Fifth brother doesn’t want to go.”

Li Zhiyun immediately backpedaled. “Fifth brother cares about Second and Third brothers.”

Lady Dou couldn’t help laughing and jabbed Li Shimin’s forehead hard again.

Li Shimin rubbed his forehead, which was now red from his mother’s jab, and grinned proudly.

He was especially good at “taking care” of his younger brothers!

Li Xuanba glanced around. “Where are our eldest brother and Fourth brother? And our elder sister isn’t here either.”

Lady Dou said, “Your niece is young and has been traveling by water, so she’ll arrive slower. We came by carriage, which is faster. But they should be here tomorrow. First, let’s tidy up the courtyard.”

Li Xuanba was puzzled. “Fourth brother is with our eldest brother too?”

Lady Dou sighed. “He insisted on taking the boat; I couldn’t control him.”

Lady Wan also sighed. “I tried to have Fourth son take the carriage, but he just lay in front of it and wouldn’t move. Ah… I shouldn’t even mention this.”

Lady Dou said, “It’s nothing you can’t say. It’s my own incompetence that I couldn’t manage him.”

Lady Wan hurriedly said, “Madam, don’t say that. You’ve taught him well enough already.”

Li Shimin said, “Mother didn’t spank him enough. Look at me—I got so many spankings as a child, and now I behave so well. Don’t worry, Mother. When Fourth brother comes to Luoyang, I’ll keep an eye on him!”

Lady Dou had been a little discouraged thinking of Li Yuanji, but Li Shimin’s interjection made her laugh. “Alright, let’s see how you keep an eye on him.”

Li Shimin said to Li Xuanba, “A-Xuan, you should keep your distance. He liked bullying you when he was little, and now that he’s stronger, you won’t win.”

Li Xuanba: “It’s not that bad…”

Thinking of Li Yuanji’s size, he awkwardly said, “Alright, I’ll go around him.”

Li Zhiyun hugged Li Xuanba’s waist. “I’ll help Second brother! Hmph, I can beat him!”

Seeing Li Zhiyun’s angry expression, Li Xuanba patted Fifth brother’s head.

Although Fifth brother hadn’t been particularly close to Li Yuanji before, occasionally playing together, it seemed now he disliked him somewhat.

Li Xuanba noted this and planned to inquire further later.

With all the wives and concubines arriving in Luoyang, the household became lively, much to Li Yuan’s delight.

Li Jiancheng and the others arrived in Luoyang the next afternoon. Li Yuan took a day off specifically to welcome his eldest son at the city gate.

Lady Dou asked, “Was Fourth son obedient?”

Li Jiancheng smiled. “Fourth brother has been very obedient. Mother needn’t worry.”

Li Yuanji shouted, “That’s right! I’ve always been obedient!”

Lady Dou patted Li Yuanji’s head with a smile. “Good then.”

Yet she still felt uneasy and inquired with her daughters.

Fourth and Fifth sisters said Li Yuanji was fine, but the youngest, Sixth sister, whispered to Lady Dou that Li Yuanji had been fussing for this and that along the way, and their eldest brother had indulged him. He was happy, so he was relatively obedient.

Lady Dou breathed a sigh of relief.

Though eldest brother spoiled Fourth brother too much, at least the siblings’ relationships were good.

Lady Dou’s biggest concern was whether Li Jiancheng got along with his younger brothers.

After arriving in Luoyang, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba gave up the largest courtyard and moved to a quieter location.

Their new courtyard was half the size of the previous one, not adjacent to the training grounds or gardens, but had a side gate, making entry and exit convenient. They were not dissatisfied.

Li Jiancheng was initially pleased with his official post, but upon learning of the complications involved, he took some of his frustration out on Li Xuanba.

However, he often vented his anger at Li Xuanba, and he hadn’t held Li Xuanba accountable for matters with the elderly Lady Dugu, so there was one extra grievance. The dynamic between Li Jiancheng and Li Xuanba was essentially unchanged.

In front of Li Yuan and Lady Dou, they both acted as dutiful brothers, but in private, Li Xuanba would greet Li Jiancheng respectfully, which Li Jiancheng would ignore.

Li Shimin was extremely angry and told Li Xuanba not to greet Li Jiancheng anymore.

Li Xuanba shook his head, saying that as a younger brother, he should still show proper respect to his elder.

Li Shimin vented about the matter to his friends, sighing deeply over how soft-hearted Xuan was, always being bullied.

Du Ruhui and Xue Shou agreed with Li Shimin, while Changsun Wuji muttered, “Li San is only good to his brothers,” though only Fang Qiao seemed to sense something deeper.

Fang Qiao quietly advised Du Ruhui and Xue Shou not to get close to Li Jiancheng.

Du Ruhui laughed: “Even if I wanted to, Li Jiancheng wouldn’t deign to meet me. A collateral branch member of the Jingzhao Du family like me can’t catch his eye.”

Xue Shou said, “I might be able to, but since none of you can, it’s probably better if I don’t either.”

Seeing that his two friends disliked Li Jiancheng, Fang Qiao breathed a sigh of relief.

As for Changsun Wuji, there was no need to warn him. If Li Jiancheng could still manipulate the brother of Li Erlang, then Li Erlang wouldn’t be his future ruler.

Fang Qiao had guessed some things, leaving him a little downcast, unable to confide in his friends.

He finally understood why Li Xuanba spoke so cautiously with him, revealing hints of prophecy.

It was obvious that he had something on his mind and couldn’t hold it in.

Li Xuanba nodded after hearing Fang Qiao’s words: “You’re right. I happen to have something I’ve been keeping inside, Brother Fang…”

“Farewell!” Fang Qiao cut him off and turned, walking faster than running.