Mentioning this matter, Jiang Caiping hurriedly said, “Exactly! Just now when I saw sister seize the knife to kill someone, I was scared silly. I still remember once going to the kitchen, and Li Niang and the others happened to be killing a chicken. Sister was so frightened that her face turned white, and she rushed out immediately, not daring to look even once more. But this time…” She covered her cheeks, “I almost thought I was dreaming.”
Yunyi forced a smile, “Just as I told Second Young Master, I was so scared at the time that I didn’t know what I was doing. Thinking back now, even I can’t believe that a living person’s life was actually… killed by me like this. Caiping, do you think… I’ll face retribution in the future?”
“Of course not!” Jiang Caiping wrinkled her delicate nose, “Although killing is sinful, sister killed to save someone. Besides, that Shen Moping attempted to assassinate the Governor and deserved to die ten thousand times over. Didn’t Second Young Master also say that sister has rendered great service and will be rewarded?”
Yunyi desperately suppressed the sourness in her eyes, “Though you say so, it was still a human life.” Although Jiang Caiping was very good to her, all of this was built upon the identity of “Meixue.” Therefore, she couldn’t confide her true pain to Jiang Caiping—everything had to be endured alone.
Jiang Caiping consoled her for a while, seeing that Yunyi remained in low spirits, and said, “Alright, sister, don’t think about these things anymore. You got up so early today—let me help you lie down and sleep a bit more.”
Yunyi nodded, letting her help her lie down on the bed. Only after she closed her eyes and fell asleep did Jiang Caiping quietly tiptoe out.
After she left, Yunyi, who should have been sound asleep, suddenly opened her eyes, which contained bone-chilling coldness.
From this moment on, she not only had to kill Li Yuan, but also Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin. Both of them had a hand in causing Moping’s death. If she didn’t avenge this grudge, she swore she wouldn’t be human!
Speaking of Li Shimin’s side, he hurried all the way to Songtao Residence, where Li Yuan had mostly recovered and was talking with Xia Houduan. Seeing Li Shimin enter alone, he asked in surprise, “Where’s your elder brother? Why don’t I see him?”
“Reporting to Father, just now when elder brother was interrogating Shen Moping, he was inadvertently bitten on the leg by him. He’s currently treating his wound in Qingchun Garden and will be delayed in coming over.”
Li Yuan had always favored this eldest son and knew about his foot ailment. Hearing this, he immediately said, “How serious is it? Has a physician been called to examine him?”
“Father, rest assured. Your son has already asked Physician Xu to go to Qingchun Garden to treat elder brother. He’s skilled in bone injuries, and elder brother’s foot ailment has always been treated by him, so there should be no major problem. Your son will go check on him later. If there’s nothing serious, I’ll have someone carry elder brother over in a sedan chair.”
Li Yuan waved his hand, “No need for such trouble. Tell him that I won’t be in the mansion for some time. Although there are officials below to handle civil administration, litigation, and investigating corruption, you and Jiancheng should also check on things when you have time—don’t be careless. Xuanba has a violent temper, so you two elder brothers should watch over him more and not let him cause any trouble. As for mansion affairs, I’ll leave them to your Second Mother to manage.” Speaking of this, he remembered something, “By the way, has the other assassin been caught?”
Li Shimin shook his head, “Not yet, but Father, rest assured. There are guards stationed everywhere in the mansion—she can’t fly away even with wings. Your son will definitely capture her quickly.” Saying this, he asked puzzledly, “It’s just… Father’s health hasn’t fully recovered yet, so where are you going?”
Li Yuan didn’t speak, but Xia Houduan rose and took the bright yellow imperial edict from the long table, handing it to Li Shimin, “See for yourself.”
After Li Shimin opened and read the edict, he exclaimed in shock, “His Majesty summons Father to the capital for an audience? But Father only left the capital a few months ago to take up his post in Honghua Commandery. Why would he suddenly issue such an edict?”
Xia Houduan said, “Your father was just attacked by assassins a few days ago, and today His Majesty issues an urgent edict by eight-hundred-li express. No matter how you think about it, this can’t be good news.”
Li Shimin’s expression changed drastically, and he said in alarm, “Could it be that His Majesty learned the assassination failed and, unable to contain himself, wants to harm Father? If so, Father absolutely must not go to the capital.”
Li Yuan said, “That won’t happen. Even if His Majesty truly doesn’t care about the relationship between sovereign and subject, or between relatives, he still must consider the situation in Hedong and wouldn’t do such a thing. This trip to the capital should indeed be for some matter requiring an audience.”
Xia Houduan argued, “If that were the case, why would the edict be so vague, not clearly stating what specific matter it concerns?”
Li Yuan was silent for a moment, then said, “Regardless, since His Majesty has issued the edict, as a subject, I must go. Otherwise, it would be defying the imperial decree, and the Li family’s situation would become even more dangerous.”
Xia Houduan said urgently, “But that’s a road to death! Why are you so stubborn and won’t listen to advice?”
Li Yuan sighed deeply, “I understand Brother Xiahou’s meaning, but do you really think now is the best opportunity? You know how many troops I have under my command, and moreover, provisions are insufficient. If we truly take that step, we simply can’t hold out for long. To take that step, we must be thoroughly prepared, otherwise it’s no different from a sheep fighting a tiger.”
“I know Brother Li wants to go to the capital to placate His Majesty and prove you have no rebellious intentions, but does Brother Li think His Majesty will believe it? If something happens to you, the Li family will still be completely destroyed, with none surviving!”
Li Yuan said heavily, “What we lack most now is time. If you gave me another year, I’m confident I could fight and win.”
With these words, the room fell into silence until it was broken by urgent knocking at the door. It was Li Yuan’s trusted guard, who, after being told to enter, presented a letter, saying, “Governor, urgent report from the capital.”
Li Yuan quickly took the letter, and after reading it, his expression became even more unsightly than before. Li Shimin tentatively asked, “Father, has something happened in the capital?”
Li Yuan slowly uttered eleven words: “Yang Xuangan has rebelled, and Li Mi is also his accomplice!”
Yang Xuangan was Yang Su’s son. During the previous emperor’s reign, he held the highest position among subjects. Yang Su had contributed greatly to Yang Guang’s ascension to the throne. After Yang Su’s death, his son Yang Xuangan inherited his title, succeeding to the position of Duke of Chu and serving as Minister of Rites—a great noble of the court. Now he had raised troops in rebellion.
As for Li Mi, he came from a family of hereditary nobles. During the Kaihuang era, Li Mi inherited his father’s title as Duke of Pushan. This person was skilled in strategy, accomplished in both civil and military arts, with great ambitions and a heart to save the world and help the people. After inheriting his title, he had distributed his family wealth to help relatives and friends, treating worthy talents with courtesy and supporting many retainers, never being stingy with money or goods.
After Yang Guang’s ascension, he appointed Li Mi as Grand Commander of the Imperial Guard and Palace Guard of the Eastern Palace. Later, because Yuwen Shu said that with his talents and learning, he should be benefiting the people rather than serving as a palace guard with no prospects, he deeply agreed and resigned from his position to focus on his studies. This person was a close friend of Yang Xuangan, and in this rebellion by Yang Xuangan, he had become the military strategist.