Ideals are abundant, reality is meager—whoever said this phrase had a point, especially for two teenagers whose heads were just full of fantasies. One compared himself to Liu Bei, the other fancied himself Zhuge Liang, their heads full of fantasies about their ideal future lives.

Preparing to take out their ultimate weapon to awe a room full of generals and marshals, to make the future advance along the path they imagined, Li Chengqian was already prepared to accept everyone’s flattery. Along the way, he even discussed with Yun Ye whether he should appear more confident or modest. The two unanimously agreed that being modest would be better.

The map was taken out. Li Jing took one look and flew into a rage. Li Xiaogong was also furious beyond measure. Niu Jinda’s eyes seemed ready to shoot fire. Cheng Yaojin and Hou Junji covered their foreheads with an expression of unbearable sight. Yuchi Gong had long since grabbed Li Chengqian and Yun Ye by their collars, spitting as he cursed them out.

“Why didn’t you take this thing out earlier? Do you know that we old fellows worried ourselves white-haired over the terrain there? If this were in the army, you couldn’t escape the charge of knowing and not reporting. Your heads would have been chopped off by this old man and hung on flagpoles long ago!”

Yun Ye was a marquis, but in these people’s eyes he was nothing. However, having the Crown Prince beside him also grabbed and shaken left and right—that wasn’t right.

“Li Chengqian, during this campaign you’ll serve as a deputy general under this old man’s command. It’s only right and proper for this old man to punish you. Now, before you’ve even reported to the military camp, you’ve already violated military law. This old man sees your bottom is itching. Either thirty heavy strikes, or four days of confinement. Boy, choose well and tell this old man. This time when you’re beaten, there won’t be any cushion for you.”

Niu Jinda’s sinister voice came over, with not a hint of flexibility in his words.

“Young Yun, you know this old man has no good feelings toward you. Don’t you know this old man also has no good feelings toward you? If the Crown Prince hadn’t treated you with sincerity today, you still wouldn’t be willing to take out this map, would you?”

“Playing tricks to this extent, you’ve really reached the limit. Do you know that because we’re unfamiliar with the terrain, this old man’s army can’t advance quickly? Because we’re unfamiliar with the terrain, it gives those miscreants like the Xueyantuo, Tuyuhun, and Gaochang room to maneuver?”

“You, as a marquis of our Great Tang, don’t think of serving the country with utmost loyalty, but instead hold back at every turn. You holding back doesn’t matter, but how many sons of Guanzhong will pitifully lose their lives at the Yellow Springs because of your petty calculations? Your conscience has been eaten by dogs! I don’t believe your estate won’t receive conscription orders. When the time comes, this old man will have them scout the way for the entire army—let’s see if you feel the pain!”

This isn’t right! This isn’t like what they imagined! They clearly came to receive flattery and commendation. How did their consciences get eaten by dogs? Not only no praise, but also military beatings and confinement.

Was it easy for me to hide in my study day and night drawing maps? Was it easy for my wife with her big belly to guard the door for me? Every time I use my mobile phone, it wears down more. What do you guys know? The whole family guarding by the solar charger waiting to charge it—was that easy? For secrecy, Old Jiang was even ready to gouge out his own eyes. I spent ages persuading him to give up that idea. My whole family shed blood and tears for this map!

Yun Ye wanted to refute, but saw Li Chengqian beside him ashamed to death, as if he’d really done something shameful, in a state ready to commit suicide in apology at any moment.

The door was opened. The two were thrown out. With a clang, it closed again. Li Xiaogong told the two to reflect well—they’d settle accounts with them after discussing military secrets.

Lying on the ground, he didn’t get up. His bottom hurt from being thrown. Li Chengqian probably felt the same. Yuchi Gong had struck with deadly intent! In winter, the tree leaves hadn’t all fallen. Occasionally one or two more fell. On the persimmon tree in the courtyard hung a few persimmons that Na Rimu hadn’t picked—all somewhat shriveled now.

Something was wrong. Yun Ye had a strong feeling of being tricked. His child had only just been born. The Yun family’s reputation wasn’t great enough for all the nobles to come congratulate them. For instance, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui hadn’t come—they just sent people with congratulatory gifts. The elders from the academy also came for a quick look and left, perhaps only because of Master Yushan’s reputation.

Why did the entire military noble system come without missing a single one? Coming was fine, but why couldn’t they discuss military secrets anywhere else—why specifically in the Yun family’s courtyard? And why specifically exclude him and the Crown Prince? There was something fishy here.

Yun Ye scrambled up and looked at the remorseful Li Chengqian, asking: “Was giving my son the moonlight pearl something you’d planned all along, or a spur-of-the-moment decision? Who gave you the idea?”

Li Chengqian said listlessly: “I’d originally prepared the finest jade pendant with auspicious flowers carved on it—the kind my wife picked out after a long time. The moonlight pearl beads are treasures I’ve worn since childhood. Though not as valuable as the jade pendant, they’re my beloved possessions. I wouldn’t trade them even for ten jade pendants.”

“When I got to your house, Uncle Wang asked what gift I’d prepared. I said it was a fine jade pendant. Uncle Wang said you were a rare talent and told me to change it to something good I’d used myself. This way, our relationship would become even closer, becoming family friends. I also felt that for our brotherhood, giving a jade pendant was too cheap, so I gave the beads.”

Understood. This was a damned trap! Some days ago, he’d specifically told his students about Western Region terrain and casually drawn two simple diagrams to help students understand. Now he knew—students took their coursework home to consult their fathers, naturally exposing the fact that he knew Western Region terrain. So these fellows, afraid he wouldn’t give it, set up such a trap for Yun Ye to walk into himself. This foolish child Li Chengqian was used without even knowing it. Now he still felt guilty to death.

“Get up. Let’s go drink.” Dragging Li Chengqian up and looking at his sad face, Yun Ye said with a bitter smile.

“Stop being sad. We two brothers can’t outplay those old thieves. Tricked and still sad here. Now you know none of those old bastards are good people, right?”

“Fell into a trap? What trap? When I got the map, I also had thoughts of hiding it away. I just didn’t think the consequences would be so terrible. Even if I’m punished this time, I have nothing to say.”

Li Chengqian was still that pure-hearted good child. Yun Ye’s careful maintenance these years had been effective. He could feel sad for others, could grieve over a few more soldiers dying, and hadn’t yet learned that heartless routine.

“Didn’t you notice when we entered that they didn’t look at all like they were discussing military secrets? They were drinking, just waiting for us two brothers to deliver ourselves to the door. The map was swindled away. This whole thing from start to finish was a trap. Your father-in-law, my honest and kind Uncle Cheng, Uncle Niu—all were the masterminds, conspiring together to trick us two fools. Now that the truth is revealed, what else can we do but drink to drown our sorrows?”

Li Chengqian’s eyes widened like copper bells. He wasn’t stupid either. Thinking back a bit, he understood what happened. After a moment of shock, he said to Yun Ye: “Now I know why you said I’m an idiot on the battlefield. This isn’t false at all. If I fought them, I definitely wouldn’t even know how I died.”

Dragging Li Chengqian outside, Yun Ye said as they walked: “Now you know how terrifying those old fellows are, right? This is your first time being tricked. Your father probably even knows about it but just won’t expose it. They’re all waiting to see our joke, and incidentally giving you a warning blow so you’ll be easier to control when you reach the battle formation. These old fellows—you can’t help but admire them! Looking at it, if you want to roam the four directions and I want to bully people all over Chang’an, we’ll at least have to become Old Master Li and Old Master Yun first. Only then can we make our moves.”

Returning to the study, Li Chunfeng was gone. His drunkard master was also gone. Of course, Yun Ye’s hand-copied “Elementary Exploration of Mathematics” was also gone. Knowing he was a thief yet still letting him in—being robbed was naturally the logical result.

After settling the dejected Li Chengqian, who’d been beaten down by a group of old thieves, Yun Ye took a moment to glance at his child. Very good—mother and son were both sleeping. The old matriarch was still immersed in immense happiness, unable to extricate herself. Every glance at her little great-grandson made her chuckle. She wouldn’t recover today.

Few people in the Great Tang could eat spicy food. Yun Ye ordered that every dish for the old marshals must contain no less than one tael of chili peppers or heads would roll, and it must still be delicious in color, aroma, and taste, making them unable to stop, letting them know that the Yun family’s food was delicious but hard to pass.

He got Li Chengqian two pig trotters to calm his nerves. Now, whatever Yun Ye liked to eat, Li Chengqian generally wouldn’t pass up. What “pork is lowly meat”—he hardly ate mutton now, eating pork exclusively. The Chang’an market was the same. This happened after the Yun family’s recipes spread out.

Nothing fancy—the two brothers just had a basin of pig trotters, all front trotters. Anyway, the Yun family had prepared a cartload of pig trotters to help Xinyue produce milk. One wine flask each, drinking mouth to mouth. To avoid sadness, they could only transform grief and indignation into appetite.

Neither of the two fools had any desire to speak, grabbing the pig trotters and biting with great force, like two wild beasts devouring their prey.

Eating and eating, Li Chengqian dejectedly put down the half-gnawed pig trotter on the plate and said to Yun Ye: “Ye Zi, these old fellows are so difficult. Tell me, how does my father control them? I’m no match for them at all.”

“Do you know why I don’t often go into Chang’an city?” Yun Ye also put down his pig trotter, lifted his wine flask for a drink, then said to Li Chengqian.

“Why? I’ve always been curious—that beautiful mansion in Xinghua Ward, you’ve always left it empty. Why?”

“The reason is that Chang’an city has too many demons and monsters. I really can’t stand it. Someone like me, if I didn’t hide far away, by now, hehe, my bones could probably be used as drums, with my own skin stretched over them.”

“Your father is someone I fear. When I see the old man, I have no good days. Your mother is someone I’m most terrified of. When I see her, I can never refuse her requests, whether reasonable or unreasonable.”

“As for others, I can still exchange a few moves. Haven’t you noticed I’m always taking revenge? No choice—it’s all retaliation done after being tricked. So you don’t need to worry about your father. The old man is the truly formidable character. Capable people play with eagles, incapable ones play with sparrows. We two brothers can at most play with owls now, while your father—he’s the kind who plays with tigers. Defying him brings no benefits whatsoever.”