LFHYB -Chapter 60 All Teacher Gao’s Fault

After being pushed by Yang Guang into becoming a disciple, Li Xuanba finally understood why this had happened.

This mess was all Teacher Gao Jiong’s doing.

Xue Daoheng was one year older than Gao Jiong, yet he was Gao Jiong’s “admiring fan,” greatly respecting Gao Jiong’s character and talent.

When Gao Jiong accepted Li Xuanba and Li Shimin as disciples, Xue Daoheng didn’t care much. Many people had received guidance from Gao Jiong; Li Xuanba and Li Shimin weren’t particularly special.

But afterward, Li Xuanba and Li Shimin frequently came and went from Gao Jiong’s residence—their status clearly exceeded that of ordinary students.

Upon returning to the capital, Xue Daoheng corresponded with Gao Jiong and learned that Gao Jiong had formally taken these two children as disciples with established teacher-student status. He thus developed a favorable impression of Li Xuanba and Li Shimin.

Students chosen by Gao Jiong must be outstanding.

Xue Daoheng had little connection with the Duke Tang (Prince of Tang) household. Even if he was curious about Li Xuanba and Li Shimin, he would not lower his status to approach them proactively. Moreover, they were still in mourning.

After Xue Shou (Xue Daoheng’s adopted out son) accidentally met Li Xuanba and Li Shimin, Xue Daoheng wanted Xue Shou to invite them to his house.

However, Xue Shou had been adopted into another family, and even if he wanted to host friends, it would be at his new home. While he could host friends at Xue Daoheng’s residence, he would have to initiate it himself. Xue Daoheng couldn’t bring himself to make that request.

Xue Shou didn’t notice his biological father’s hints.

Proud and high-minded, Xue Daoheng disliked being disturbed. Xue Shou always revered Xue Daoheng—how could he let new friends bother him?

Finally, today, Xue Daoheng had the chance to meet Li Xuanba. What Li Xuanba did perfectly matched his taste, so he praised Li Xuanba in front of Yang Guang, exclaiming that Li Xuanba truly deserved to be Gao Jiong’s student and was indeed outstanding. He wished he had students like him.

Li Xuanba had been assigned to Gao Jiong by Yang Guang. Although Yang Guang’s original intention was to insult Gao Jiong, Gao Jiong initially hadn’t wanted the task.

If Yuwen Bi hadn’t noticed Li Xuanba and Li Shimin’s talent due to Li Xuanba’s weak health and cared for them while they were away from their parents, Gao Jiong wouldn’t have had the competitive spirit to teach them.

But since Gao Jiong had taken on the task, Yang Guang interpreted it as Gao Jiong showing weakness and yielding to him. Yang Guang was pleased with the situation.

The more Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi praised Li Xuanba and Li Shimin, the more Yang Guang believed they were currying favor.

When Xue Daoheng also praised Li Xuanba, Yang Guang was overjoyed: “Minister Xue is finally showing favor! He’s praising my eye for talent!”

Yang Guang immediately asked Xue Daoheng if he wanted disciples. “Such a fine disciple, you can have him too!”

“Students chosen by Gao Jiong must be exceptional; I must accept him!” Even though Xue Daoheng had never taken disciples, he immediately agreed.

Li Xuanba was dumbfounded.

Emperor Yang, who normally annoyed Xue Daoheng, now seemed to fawn over him? From sarcastic suspicion of Xue Daoheng’s writings to this—are they performing some melodramatic “unrequited romance” drama using their subjects as props?!

Are my brother and I some special fetish for you?!

Help!!!

Li Xuanba did not want to take Xue Daoheng as a teacher at all.

Apart from Xue Daoheng’s sharp, cantankerous personality—which would certainly cause trouble in the future—his skills weren’t necessary for Li Xuanba to learn.

Xue Daoheng was a pure scholar, skilled in literary work. During Emperor Wen’s reign, he was a secretary writing imperial edicts.

Why would Li Xuanba study that? Does he think his brother will ever need someone to write edicts for him?

Li Xuanba agreed to help Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi after weighing the pros and cons—because these two teachers truly cared for him and his brother, and because Gao Jiong and Yuwen Bi were capable civil-military officials, exactly the kind of mentors they lacked.

Even if Yu Shinan could only teach them calligraphy, what could Xue Daoheng teach? Poetry? Good poets aren’t trained—they’re born. He and his brother had no talent for it.

But the emperor had spoken; Li Xuanba had no choice.

Even if the emperor hadn’t said anything, if Xue Daoheng wanted to take Li Xuanba as a disciple, he could only kneel and express his gratitude.

Xue Daoheng was now the leader of the literary world!

Dazed, Li Xuanba suddenly had a new teacher, while all the ministers smiled and congratulated him.

He felt like he was lying on an operating table, surrounded by a crowd applauding him.

Yang Guang smiled: “Dade, your teachers are the most talented people of the age. Study diligently and don’t disgrace them.”

Li Xuanba forced a wry smile: “Your Majesty, the pressure is enormous.”

Yang Guang laughed: “No need to feel pressured. You are my nephew, you can handle a teacher like this.”

Li Xuanba could only express his thanks.

After listening to the new lyrics and compositions, Yang Guang and the ministers had to discuss state affairs. Li Xuanba left the palace early to go home and tell his second brother about this “big happy event.”

Li Shimin had originally planned to enter the palace as well, but he had recently been so absorbed in hunting that he had fallen behind in his studies.

Gao Jiong was coming to Luoyang to present the stage-by-stage results of the book compilation for Yang Guang’s review, and also to check Li Shimin and Li Xuanba’s studies.

Yuwen Bi had recovered from his illness and had informed the two students about the time to resume classes.

Even Yu Shinan, who had just completed his filial mourning period and was returning to his official duties, was heading to Luoyang and had written in advance to ask whether Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had been practicing their calligraphy seriously.

Li Shimin was so anxious that he was literally foaming at the mouth.

Hunting is fun for a moment, but catching up on studies is a crematorium.

Li Shimin sought help from Li Xuanba, who immediately reported him to their mother.

Li Shimin sought help from friends. Changsun Wuji admitted he was powerless to help, while Du Ruhui and Xue Shou wanted to help, but after being severely scolded by Fang Qiao, they didn’t dare.

Li Shimin could only take his bitter medicine to reduce the heat while grimly catching up on his studies.

When Li Xuanba returned home, Li Shimin was napping over his desk.

A small stack of newly written copybooks lay on the desk. Li Xuanba flipped through a few pages. Though the work had been rushed, his second brother had written carefully, not carelessly.

The work was hurried, but it was still done with diligence.

“Wake up, I have good news for you,” Li Xuanba shook Li Shimin awake.

Li Shimin blinked groggily, wiping drool from the corner of his mouth: “No, I don’t want to hear it.”

Li Xuanba said, “It’s really good news.”

Li Shimin covered his ears, not trusting his brother.

But covering his ears was useless. Li Xuanba said: “His Majesty has found us a new teacher—Xue Shou’s own father, Xue Daoheng, the current literary leader. Excited?”

Li Shimin’s face fell: “Ah? Another teacher? That means another subject? Help me!”

Li Xuanba froze. He hadn’t expected his brother to wail in this way.

Li Shimin clutched his head, bent his knees, and rolled over the couch.

“Help! Help! I don’t want to study! Why do I need so many teachers! I don’t need so many teachers! I don’t want to write, I don’t want to write annotations, I don’t want to write essays, and I don’t want to write poetry! I don’t want to do anything! I just want to hunt!”

Li Xuanba looked at his rolling brother and showed an expression of utter disbelief.

Is hunting really that fun? Second brother, you’re acting like a school kid addicted to video games—be careful or you’ll get electroshock therapy.

“You hate it so much, shall we refuse them when they arrive?” Li Xuanba stood by the couch, arms crossed, looking down at his rolling brother.

Li Shimin stopped rolling, stretched out in a star shape, his eyes lifeless: “His Majesty spoke with golden words, and Xue Gong is the literary leader. How could I dare? Boohoo, I’m so miserable, I don’t want class!”

Then he clutched his head and rolled over the couch again.

Who in this world actually likes classes? No one! Impossible!

Seeing his brother throwing a tantrum, Li Xuanba decided to give him a dose of hard truth: “Don’t worry, Xue Gong will soon be executed by His Majesty. You’ll soon have one less class.”

Li Shimin stopped rolling.

He quietly got up and looked at Li Xuanba with mournful eyes: “A-Xuan, have I offended you recently?”

Li Xuanba shook his head: “No.”

Li Shimin panicked: “Then why would you tell me this!”

Li Xuanba shrugged, spreading his hands: “I can’t suffer alone.”

Li Shimin grabbed his hair and pulled apart his two little tufts: “Ahhh, I don’t want to suffer either! Shut up, shut up, shut up! Stop talking!”

Li Xuanba said: “I haven’t said anything more. Besides, didn’t you say you were calm? Why aren’t you calm now?”

Li Shimin grabbed a cushion and threw it at his brother: “Shut up!”

Li Xuanba caught the cushion and threw it back.

Li Shimin caught it again and threw it once more.

The two brothers argued while pillow-fighting.

Li Zhiyun happily came to see his second brother, asking if his homework was finished. Seeing his brothers playing with pillows, he bounced and joined in.

After the three brothers played for a while, Li Zhiyun remembered why he had come.

“Ah, Mother said your teachers are coming to visit, so you must go quickly,” Li Zhiyun said. “Hurry, hurry!”

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba yelled in unison: “Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Li Zhiyun pointed at them: “You didn’t ask!”

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba quickly tidied themselves and ran toward the main hall.

Before leaving, they each gave Li Zhiyun a hard knock on the head and said in unison: “We’ll deal with you later!”

Li Zhiyun held his head, watching his brothers run, muttering to himself: “Second and third brother say the exact same things to me.”

The wet nurse beside him laughed: “That’s twins for you.”

Li Zhiyun pouted. He also wanted to be a twin with his brothers—it seemed so fun.

The visiting teacher was Gao Jiong.

Upon seeing Gao Jiong, Li Shimin made a miserable face: “Teacher Gao, why did you come so soon?”

Li Yuan, chatting happily with Gao Jiong, froze in his smile.

Li Jiancheng hurriedly said: “Second brother has been naughty; please forgive him, Lord Gao.”

Gao Jiong waved to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin shuffled over in small steps.

Gao Jiong said: “I heard you’ve been obsessed with hunting and neglecting your studies?”

Li Shimin immediately looked at Li Xuanba.

Li Xuanba first greeted Gao Jiong and then calmly said: “Yes, that’s right. I reported it. I didn’t just report to Teacher Gao, I also reported to Teacher Yu and Teacher Yuwen Bi.”

Gao Jiong said: “Hold out your hands.”

Li Shimin silently extended both hands, palms up.

Gao Jiong pulled out a ruler from his sleeve and struck Li Shimin’s palms twenty times each.

Li Shimin’s hands immediately turned red and swollen.

Gao Jiong put away the ruler. “Li Erlang, at such a young age, you indulge excessively in hunting and neglect your studies. Li Shude, it seems you are truly busy—so busy that you don’t even have time to properly correct your child’s behavior.”

Li Yuan: “……” He almost reflexively held out his own palms to get hit.