LFHYB -Chapter 83 The Crown Prince’s Final Words and Farewell

After Li Shimin visited Fuyun’s peacefully arranged head, he only had one question: “Why did you take his head? Why not just transport the body?”

Li Xuanba yawned. “Because the emperor went to Jiangdu again. It’s getting warmer; if we transported the corpse there, it would turn into a pool of maggot-infested fluid.”

Just as they entered Sui territory, Li Xuanba’s intelligence network, posing as merchants, passed him news.

Li Shimin grimaced. “Gross. Ugh… why did His Majesty go to Jiangdu again? I thought he’d wait for us. Capturing the Tuyuhun Khan isn’t a small matter, right?”

Li Xuanba said, “From the emperor’s perspective, Jiangdu and the Eastern Capital probably aren’t much different.”

Li Shimin shook his head and sighed. He didn’t understand—he really didn’t.

He smiled and said, “Jiangdu is far away. It’s normal that Fuyun’s wounds worsened after he couldn’t adapt to the local climate. But next time, make sure to tell me in advance! Don’t try to scare me on purpose!”

Li Xuanba replied perfunctorily, “Alright, alright, next time I’ll… Wait, is that the banner of Prince Qi?”

No sooner had Li Xuanba spoken than a rider appeared beneath the flag.

Yang Xian laughed heartily. “Li Erlang, Li Sanlang! I’ve been waiting for you! Let me see what the Tuyuhun Khan looks like!”

Li Shimin lifted the box hanging on his horse. “You really want to see?”

Yang Xian reined in his horse and eyed the box in Li Shimin’s hand. “Isn’t he alive?”

Li Shimin sighed. “I tried my best to treat him along the way, but he’s still dead. There’s nothing I can do.”

Yang Xian said, “Ah? Then there really is nothing to be done. We won’t see the head of a dead man here. Come on—though the emperor isn’t in the capital, you should still stay here in the capital for a while before going to Jiangdu. Your residence is probably not cleaned, so just stay at my prince’s mansion.”

Li Xuanba said, “I already had someone clean it.”

Yang Xian frowned. “I said it’s not cleaned, so it’s not cleaned.”

He flicked the rump of Li Xuanba’s horse with his whip. “Let’s go!”

Li Xuanba yanked the reins in shock and anger. “What’s wrong with you and my brother? You both like whipping my horse! Ah! Don’t run! Whoa! Stop!”

Yang Xian laughed loudly. He looked at Li Shimin. “Seems like you bullied him a lot in Zhangye. Even when he scolds me, he includes you in the scolding.”

Li Shimin shook his head. “Nonsense. I’m the best older brother in the world; I’d never bully my younger brother.”

Yang Xian spat. “Do you think I believe that? Come on, back to the mansion, we’ll talk.”

He narrowed his brows and lowered his voice. “Tell me properly about the passing of the crown prince.”

Li Shimin looked at Yang Xian.

Compared to the last time they parted, Yang Xian’s face now carried an air of melancholy and anger.

Before, while smiling, it wasn’t obvious. But now that the smile had faded, the injustice etched between his brows was glaringly clear.

Li Shimin didn’t know why Yang Xian looked this way, and so he stayed alert, keeping his expression calm. “My condolences.”

Yang Xian nodded, cracked his whip, and rode without restraint into Daxing City.

Guards cleared the way, attendants raised banners, and eunuchs proclaimed the name of Prince Qi.

Commoners without official rank knelt in panic, officials lowered their heads, and all carriages, whether civilian or official, moved aside to give way.

Prince Qi, Yang Xian, looked back and laughed loudly. “You two are too slow! Are the roads of Daxing City too bad to run on? Giddy-up!”

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba exchanged a glance, then raised their whips. The hooves kicked up dust.

A young prince and two teenage boys rode recklessly through the capital.

Some outsiders in the city curiously asked, “Who are those two youths behind Prince Qi?”

A friend, the son of a noble family in the capital, said with envy, “Who else could they be? They must be the young generals of the Tang Duke’s household—Li Erlang and Li Sanlang—who captured the Tuyuhun Khan alive for the Sui Dynasty.”

The outsider stood on tiptoe. “So it’s them!”

From a nearby carriage, a pair of delicate hands quietly lifted the window curtain, revealing half a face and one bright eye.

The handsome young prince and the two dusty boys sped past her view.

The girl’s gaze fixed on the slender youth dressed in black with a rounded hat. Her hand trembled, and the curtain lifted further, revealing her entire face.

The girl in the carriage was none other than Yuwen Zhu, returning to her residence.

As the bright spring sunlight shone into her eyes, Yuwen Zhu’s hand jerked back as if it had been burned, and the window curtain fell again.

“So this is what he looks like…”

Yuwen Zhu lightly tapped her flushed cheeks.

…

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba followed Yang Xian back to Prince Qi’s mansion. Hot water had been prepared in the bath for them to wash away the dust of travel.

After cleaning their bodies and hair outside the bath with soap and lye, they entered the bath.

Li Xuanba finished first and closed his eyes to soak, when Li Shimin suddenly sprinted, leapt high from beside the bath, and splashed heavily into the water next to Li Xuanba, sending water into his eyes and mouth.

“Ah! Ptooey!” Li Xuanba grabbed a gourd ladle nearby and hurled it at his older brother.

Li Shimin, naked, hopped around in the bath, the waist-deep water unable to hinder his agility—like a monkey.

When Yang Xian came to ask whether they wanted roasted meat or the city’s popular hotpot, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were busy having a water fight.

Yang Xian was speechless. “Are you two childish or what? Li Erlang, you’re healthy, fine—but don’t you worry about Li Sanlang catching a cold?”

Li Shimin took advantage of Li Xuanba’s distraction, tripped him into the bath, then lifted his choking brother onto his shoulders. “It’s hot in the bath; how could you catch a cold? A-Xuan, hear me? You’re far too childish. Hurry up and put on some clothes.”

Li Xuanba, carried on his brother’s shoulders, struggled fiercely and tried to kick Li Shimin’s groin.

Li Shimin dropped his brother and dodged the lethal kick. “Trying to end my line, huh? You’re so vicious!”

Yang Xian rubbed his forehead. What heroic young general? Li Erlang is still that mischievous older brother who loves bullying Li San.

“Alright, alright, Li Er, are you done?” Yang Xian blocked the two brothers. “Do you want roasted meat or lamb hotpot? You probably don’t even know what lamb hotpot is, do you? I’ll introduce it to you…”

Li Shimin interrupted. “Of course we know. We eat it often. Hotpot, please. We’re tired of roasted meat on the road.”

Yang Xian said, “True, true. You’ve stayed in Daxing long enough; you must have eaten it. The chefs here at Prince Qi’s mansion have a special dipping sauce. Today I’ll make sure you enjoy it properly.”

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba didn’t have much hair left; a few extra wipes with a cloth were enough to get it nearly dry.

But Li Xuanba, worried about getting a headache, wrapped his head with a dry cloth and put on a new winter cap.

Li Shimin teased his younger brother at Yang Xian: “It’s almost summer, yet he still wears a winter cap to block the wind, claiming his bald head makes him prone to headaches. Even funnier, he complains that light-colored clothes get dirty easily, so he made a whole chest of black clothes that all look exactly the same.”

Li Shimin pointed to his own brightly colored round-collared robe: “Wearing such old-fashioned clothes at such a young age—our future sister-in-law is going to dislike him immensely.”

Li Xuanba looked at his older brother’s flashy robe: “Your sense of aesthetics is the real problem.”

Although historical records mention that Li Shimin loved flashy, ornate clothing—decorating even his armor with dazzling gold and silver, colorful paint, and feathers, riding a tall horse on the battlefield as if to say, “Hit this eye-catching target!”—seeing it in person still made Li Xuanba’s eyes hurt.

His second brother’s taste, if he were born in modern times, would probably involve neon clothes covered with sequins and chains, maybe even dyeing his hair in rainbow colors.

Yang Xian, however, sided with Li Shimin: “Li Er has good taste. Li San, your robe’s color is really too old-fashioned.”

Li Xuanba expressionlessly said: “The northern frontier is dusty and windy; black hides dirt better.”

Yang Xian laughed: “Does the Tang Prince’s Mansion really need a new set of clothes? Just change more often.”

Li Xuanba sighed. Changing clothes once a day was already his limit; he really didn’t want to change multiple times an hour. At the Tang Prince’s Mansion, as soon as he sweated a little, the servants would rush to change him into new clothes. He went crazy from all the daily outfit changes.

He really couldn’t understand how nobles of this time could have the patience to change clothes four or five times a day.

Although Li Shimin was the first to tease his brother, he now defended him: “Xuan has been frugal since childhood—that’s a good thing.”

Then he turned the conversation: “The money Xuan saves on clothes can be used to make new clothes for me. The more beautiful new clothes, the better—hehe!”

Yang Xian laughed so hard he almost choked.

Li Xuanba shot his older brother a fierce glare.

After the teasing settled, the slight awkwardness between Yang Xian and the two brothers faded, and they returned to their usual, natural way of interacting.

The Crown Prince’s death wasn’t a state mourning; Li Shimin and Li Xuanba no longer needed to observe mourning. Yang Xian’s nine-month mourning period had just ended, yet he still hadn’t arranged for wine or musicians, so the dishes were served, and he, Li Shimin, and Li Xuanba ate hotpot with drinks spiced with sour plums.

Once the dishes were all served, Yang Xian dismissed the attendants and asked about the Crown Prince’s death.

Yang Xian said: “The frontier is harsh. I had already told my elder brother to stay behind, and I would go instead, but he refused. I wasn’t surprised by his death, but everyone returning from there keeps silent—it’s that that surprises me.”

He picked up lamb, dipping none of it in sauce, and chewed it ferociously: “Father also didn’t seem particularly sad about the Crown Prince’s passing. Could it be that the Crown Prince was—”

“Watch your words,” Li Xuanba frowned. “The Crown Prince did indeed die of illness.”

Yang Xian looked at Li Xuanba: “Why are you raising your voice?”

Li Xuanba sighed: “Prince Qi, the Crown Prince’s death occurred while my second brother and I were at his side.”

Yang Xian paused mid-bite: “I know, which is why I came to ask you.”

Li Xuanba thought: [Second brother, I’ll handle this one.]

Li Shimin, about to speak, sighed. Did this mean his brother didn’t plan to tell Prince Qi the full truth?

Li Xuanba said: “The Crown Prince did not die of natural causes.”

Yang Xian’s eyes widened in anger, fists clenched.

Li Xuanba continued: “But he also truly did die of illness. When His Majesty led the Sui army through the Dàdòu Valley, the Crown Prince learned from locals that there was snow in the valley, but someone told His Majesty that snow in June was a sign of immorality and that His Majesty was a virtuous ruler—it couldn’t possibly happen. The Crown Prince begged for half a day in vain.”

Yang Xian gritted his teeth: “There really was snow in the valley?”

Li Xuanba: “The Dàdòu Valley isn’t just in the northern frontier; it’s also much higher than the Central Plains. Prince Qi, having climbed mountains, should know that peaks are much colder than valleys. Snow in June isn’t really unusual—sigh.”

Yang Xian’s gaze fell: “My elder brother fell ill.”

Li Xuanba said: “Princess Leping also died from this illness, which is why the court remains silent.”

Yang Xian: “Just that?”

Li Xuanba: “Just that.”

Yang Xian shook his head: “If it’s only that, Father wouldn’t behave so unusually. He should have given my brother a grand burial and rewarded his children generously.”

Li Xuanba was shocked: “What? His Majesty didn’t properly reward the Crown Prince?”

Yang Xian pressed his lips and nodded, then told Li Shimin and Li Xuanba what his father had done with the Crown Prince’s funeral arrangements.

In general, Yang Zhao received all the treatment he was due. Yang Guang still posthumously gave him the honorable posthumous title “Yuande,” as recorded in history.

But beyond what was due, there was nothing else.

Historically, Yang Zhao died in the second year of the Daye era. Yang Guang not only granted his three sons princely titles but also built a temple by Yang Zhao’s tomb.

This time, there was nothing.

After Yang Zhao’s death, Yang Guang continued to keep his favorite, Yang Tan, by his side, while Yang Zhao’s legitimate son Yang You and another son Yang Tong were neglected.

Yang Guang also had the Crown Princess Wei move out of the Eastern Palace to raise Yang Zhao’s two sons. Although the new palace was spacious and treatment remained as before, everyone could see that Yang Guang was indifferent to the two grandsons apart from Yang Tan.

When someone requested princely titles for Yang Zhao’s three sons, Yang Guang refused, citing “the children are too young.”

Yang Xian couldn’t understand why his father was so stingy.

The children were so young; granting them a title would have merely provided them with an allowance to live on. Wasn’t that only natural?

Though their mother could still support them with their father’s stipend, it was nothing compared to when their father was still alive.

Listening to Yang Xuan’s complaints about the treatment of his young nephew, Li Xuanba felt a deep sense of emotion.

In history, after Yang Zhao died, Yang Xuan was given the status of crown prince by Yang Guang, and all the personnel of the Crown Prince’s Mansion were placed under him. The authority he exercised was almost the same as that of a crown prince, and in the 11th year of the Daye era, he was still commanding troops to protect the emperor.

Yet, that title of crown prince, he never received it until his death.

At that time, Yang Xuan went from being full of pride to utter despair and even cursed his growing nephew, completely angering Yang Guang.

And now, Yang Xuan was protesting that his young nephew was being neglected by Yang Guang.

Had the historical Qi King Yang Xuan ever shown closeness or kindness toward his nephew when Crown Prince Yang Zhao had just passed away?

The records do not mention such trivialities, so no one could know.

Li Xuanba said, “It’s probably because of the crown prince’s last wish. He hoped that Your Majesty would promptly establish your status as crown prince.”

Li Shimin’s hand trembled, knocking over his bowls and dishes. “A-Xuan!”

Li Xuanba waved to his second brother. “It’s quiet and empty everywhere now. If we speak softly, no one will know. Besides, even if His Majesty finds out, this was the last wish of our elder cousin—we should inform our second cousin.”

Yang Xuan was already dazed.

After a long moment, he could hardly believe it. “Just because of this? Just because my brother wanted Father to make me crown prince, Father disliked him? Then… does Father dislike him, or dislike me?”

Li Xuanba said, “The succession should be His Majesty’s sole discretion, even the crown prince should not interfere. Moreover, our elder cousin…”

He sighed and condensed the crown prince’s final words, summarizing the main meaning for Yang Xuan.

Li Shimin was dumbfounded.

He had thought his brother wanted him to keep silent to hide things from the Qi King. What was his brother doing now? With the Qi King’s personality, he would certainly not hold his tongue. If this reached the emperor, could they even manage it?!

Yang Xuan was also stunned.

He never expected that the crown prince’s final words would be so… so unlike his brother’s usual character. He certainly didn’t expect Li Xuanba to dare actually tell him this.

Yang Xuan held his forehead. “Brothers fighting brothers, uncle fighting nephew… when did elder brother become so bold? He’s deliberately making Father angry, isn’t he!”

Li Xuanba nodded. “The crown prince did not know if His Majesty would heed his final advice, but he understood His Majesty. If His Majesty did not appreciate his advice, he would not favor his child. So in effect, it was a way to pull his child out of the succession whirlpool.”

Yang Xuan trembled as he picked up his chopsticks and ate a piece of lamb to calm himself.

How dare elder brother do this? Did he not value his life?!

Ah… it was elder brother’s dying wish. Indeed, he no longer needed to care about his life.

Yang Xuan ate several bites to calm himself before speaking with difficulty, “It seems Father was indeed caught by elder brother’s foresight and became angry. He really wants to make Yang Tan crown prince? Could Yang Tan even bear it?”

Li Xuanba said, “Qi King, be careful with your words. His Majesty simply dislikes that the crown prince doubted him. You are the crown prince’s younger brother, are you not also His Majesty’s son? Several grandsons are the crown prince’s children, are they not also His Majesty’s grandsons? You are all blood relatives of His Majesty. Why wouldn’t he value you? There is no need for the crown prince to overthink or suspect malice. His Majesty’s anger is reasonable.”

Yang Xuan’s head spun. “Ah… I suppose that’s true.”

Li Xuanba sighed. “His Majesty was not caught by foresight, he’s just angry. Once anger passes, a father and son do not hold grudges overnight. The crown prince could have sincerely apologized, and it would have passed. But now, the crown prince can never apologize to His Majesty again, which is why this remains blocked.”

Yang Xuan said, “It’s true, elder brother was always the one comforting Father before.”

Li Xuanba: [Second brother, Qi King first says the emperor was ‘caught by foresight,’ then says the crown prince ‘comforted’ the emperor—he really knows how to talk.]

Hearing his brother venting honestly, Li Shimin lightly tapped the table with his fingers in agreement.

The second cousin is truly a devoted son.

Li Xuanba said, “Now that the crown prince cannot apologize, it is up to you, Qi King. Now that you know the crown prince’s last wish, you should properly comfort His Majesty.”

Yang Xuan pointed to himself, “Me? Can I do it?”

Li Xuanba said, “Whether you can or not, you must. You are now the eldest of the Yang family of the Sui dynasty. The crown prince has passed; it is now your duty to bear the responsibilities he once held.”

Yang Xuan asked, “You mean… it’s my turn to comfort Father?”

Li Shimin choked on his fragrant oil.

Yang Xuan, embarrassed and angry, shouted, “Li Er, don’t spit into the pot!”

Li Shimin frantically drank sour plum soup, waving his hands like mad. “You go ahead, ignore me.”

Li Xuanba calmly said, “Yes, it’s your turn to comfort His Majesty.”

Yang Xuan stubbornly said, “I’m not like elder brother; I don’t have to do the same as him!”

Li Xuanba said, “But the position of crown prince is the same. When you were still Qi King, you could be as willful as you liked. Once you are crown prince, it’s different.”

Li Xuanba lowered his voice: “For some emperors, the crown prince is the successor; for others, the position of crown prince itself is a usurpation.”

Yang Xuan dropped his chopsticks and knocked over his cup.

Li Xuanba wiped his mouth, stood, and said, “Today, second brother and I should return to the Tang Duke’s Mansion. Farewell, second cousin.”

Yang Xuan reached out and grabbed Li Xuanba’s sleeve. “Dade!”

Li Xuanba looked down at the sleeve. “Second cousin, when our elder cousin was alive, I was closer to him at first, but with you I have become closer.”

His hand covered Yang Xuan’s hand.

“Now that you, second cousin, will become crown prince, we will have to grow distant from each other. Please forgive me. The Li family is loyal to His Majesty.”

Yang Xuan slowly released his hand.

“Before our elder cousin passed, his greatest worry was you, second cousin. As heir, be cautious and careful, like walking on thin ice. Cousin, please take care.”

Li Xuanba clasped his hands and bowed.

Yang Xian reached out as if to help him up, but when his hand was halfway there, he withdrew it again.

“Cousin,” Yang Xian said with a bitter smile, “if you really wanted to stay out of all this, you shouldn’t have said what you just said to me.”

Li Xuanba remained silent.

Yang Xian went on, “I can see you won’t be able to eat this mutton anymore. Go back. I won’t see you off.”

Li Xuanba said, “Thank you, Your Highness the Prince of Qi. We take our leave.”

Li Shimin hurriedly stuffed two more mouthfuls of meat into his mouth, cheeks puffed out as he said, “Your Highness the Prince of Qi, farewell!”

Yang Xian looked at him speechlessly. “So Li the Second can still eat. Take all the meat with you—go back and hotpot it at home.”

Li Shimin swallowed, wiped his mouth, and grinned. “Thank you, Your Highness!”

Yang Xian called for servants to pack up the food for them. Though he had said he wouldn’t see them off, he still escorted Li Shimin and Li Xuanba to the door.

“What was said today,” he declared firmly, “will never reach anyone else’s ears.”

Li Xuanba smiled faintly at his cousin, then mounted his horse and left together with his second brother.

After they had ridden for a while, Li Shimin looked back. Yang Xian was still standing at the gate, not having gone inside.

“A-Xuan, why did you say all that to Second Cousin?”

“Having accepted a commission, one must be loyal in carrying it out. His Majesty knows we heard the Crown Prince’s final words. As long as Prince Qi isn’t stupid and conceals anything overstepping his station, we’ll be fine.”

“And if he doesn’t conceal it?”

“Given His Majesty’s temperament, he’ll trust us even more.”

“…Sigh.”

They arrived back at the Duke of Tang’s residence. The servants who had been left behind hadn’t expected them to return today, and hurriedly opened the gates for them.

“A-Xuan, that isn’t your only reason.”

Li Xuanba directed the servants to fill the hotpot with clear water and add a few slices of ginger and garlic for the base.

After the Crown Prince’s death, everyone at court will cling to Yang Xian. He will grow more and more arrogant, and his subordinates will commit many unlawful acts. If he can be restrained even a little, the common people will suffer less.

And besides—if those crimes don’t happen, he himself will also suffer less before Yang Guang begins to suspect him.

Li Shimin asked, “No matter what… will he still be suspected?”

Li Xuanba was busy directing servants to pack their luggage.

For some emperors, once they start growing old, the very existence of young, strong sons is itself treason.

Li Shimin wanted to ask: Then what about me? What about us?

In the chaos of history, his elder brothers had died young—only then did he become Crown Prince, and later Emperor Taizong of Tang.

Before he took the throne, how had his father really viewed him?

He wanted to ask, but he didn’t dare.

After hesitating for a long time, Li Shimin reaffirmed his earlier choice.

This future—he would not ask A-Xuan about it. He would see it with his own eyes.

…

After resting one night, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba hurried off toward Jiangdu, essentially carrying their heads to present to the southbound Yang Guang. They didn’t even have time to visit their teacher.

Now that they knew the emperor had already gone south, they had to follow at once. If the emperor learned that they had delayed, it would count as disrespect.

Yang Xian did not come to see them off.

After that, Yang Xian never again privately invited Li Shimin and Li Xuanba to his residence.

Nor did they ever seek him out.

When they did meet, they were still friendly—just as Li Shimin and Li Xuanba had been with the Crown Prince: friendly, yet distant.

Yang Xian was a prince whom history would later certify as nothing more than a beautifully packaged, brainless ornament. Li Xuanba had already prepared himself for the possibility that everything he had said to Yang Xian would be leaked to the emperor—and this would be the one and only time in his life that he miscalculated.

On the fifteenth day of the fourth month in the sixth year of the Daye era, while Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were still on the ship heading for Jiangdu, Emperor Yang Guang announced to the realm that Prince Qi, Yang Xian, was to be made Crown Prince.

“So His Majesty ultimately followed Eldest Cousin’s final wishes. Does that mean he truly did love him?” Li Shimin asked.

“Yes,” Li Xuanba replied.