Chapter 63: Veteran actors and young actors compete on the same stage, showcasing their exceptional acting skills…
After much thought, Yang Guang finally understood on this Lantern Festival why he had disliked Li Yuan since he was young.
This cousin was probably unlike his uncle Dugu Zheng's good-for-nothing sons, who took the privilege of being raised by Empress Wenxian without ever thinking of repaying her.
To be honest, Zhao Jinggong Dugu Xin, the maternal grandfather of Yang Guang and Li Yuan, might have been a destabilizing factor for Yuwen Zhou. However, Zhao Jinggong's grandsons were a bunch of incompetent fools with extremely limited ability to accomplish anything, which made Yang Guang feel very secure.
But Li Yuan was different. Yang Guang recalled that the winding path he had described surged like a boiling spring, rushing against the rocks, as they approached the Duke's residence.
This cousin was different from the other young men in the Dugu family who were also orphaned at a young age. Yang Guang rarely heard of orphans like Li Yuan weeping before Empress Wenxian about their tragic past and their defiance of fate. Instead, he was an optimistic young man.
According to rumors circulating in the palace, unlike his cousins who were eager for the Empress to raise him, the young Duke refused his aunt's wishes, citing his reluctance to leave his mother.
Whenever he visited his aunt, he never feigned sorrow, but always talked and laughed about how much his archery skills had improved recently, what he had caught while hunting, how many new friends he had made, and what books he was currently reading...
The palace ladies-in-waiting secretly praised the young duke, saying that it was not that Empress Wenxian pitied his background more, but that she could reassure her aunt that she could take care of the old lady of Tang and support the household independently.
Yang Guang's hidden dislike for Li Yuan probably stemmed from this. He often couldn't figure out whether his cousin was naturally dashing or resorted to any means to gain fame.
The palanquin suddenly lurched. Wang Shangyi softly reminded the Emperor and Empress that they had arrived at the Tang family residence in Jishanfang.
Yang Guang's sleepy eyes saw three figures.
The man in the purple robe was none other than Li Yuan, the newly appointed Right Valiant Guard General, who had been guarding the palace day and night since taking office recently.
The other young woman, bowing and scraping, was someone neither the emperor nor the empress had ever seen before. However, it was not unusual for an official to bring his unmarried daughter with him on his travels.
Yang Guang felt that the performance of the Tang family was unsatisfactory.
The two children neither became disheveled or unkempt because of the mistress's death, nor did they become obsequious or lose their true nature because of the emperor's sudden arrival.
This can be seen as showing respect to the emperor while maintaining the dignity of a noble family.
The ever-conceited emperor clearly believed he had chosen a good opportunity to make a surprise visit and probe the truth of the matter.
To show his closeness, Yang Guang personally dismounted from his carriage and helped the Li father and son, who were performing the deepest kowtow.
"Today, we are not ruler and subject, but family. Your wife has just passed away, and my cousin has been working hard to manage the household and serving the king faithfully, growing thinner and thinner each day. The Empress and I are deeply saddened by this and have come to offer our condolences. You are a pillar of the nation, so you should take care of yourself."
"Thanks to Your Majesty and Your Highness for your compassion, although I am widowed, I dare not neglect my duties." After saying this, Li Yuan bowed twice and then pretended to criticize Li Shimin and Changsun Qingjing, saying, "The two children are disrespectful and disrespectful. I ordered them to observe mourning at home, but who would have thought they would be so lazy! Please allow me to have them change out of their mourning clothes before I come to greet you."
"Lord Tang, wait!" Empress Xiao interjected. "Observing mourning for one's mother and reciting the rites with grief is filial piety; welcoming the emperor with proper attire is chastity. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with it. Lord Tang, please don't make things difficult for the children. Your Majesty, what do you think?"
Yang Guang nodded in approval. Li Yuan then led his two children to express their gratitude to the emperor and empress.
Empress Xiao guessed that the young girl in front of her, who was also dressed in mourning clothes, was the unmarried daughter of Lady Dou. After her mother's death, she was afraid that her elder relatives in Daxing would not take good care of her, so she was taken in by her father and brothers.
She helped Changsun Qingjing up and asked, "Which daughter of the Duke is this?"
Li Yuan explained, "Your Highness, this is my second daughter-in-law. She is the youngest daughter of the late General Changsun Jisheng of the Right Valiant Guard."
Fearing that the emperor and empress would investigate the wedding date, some busybodies mentioned Hu Sizheng and Gao Shilian, and curious people asked about the matchmaker. He only mentioned details that could evoke pleasant memories for the emperor.
Changsun Sheng was the political advisor who enabled Yang Jian and Yang Guang to assert their authority over the Turks. He was an absolute confidant and strategist for two generations of emperors of the dynasty, and because he died at the most glorious moment of the empire, he became a member of the brilliant constellation that will never dim.
Empress Xiao was somewhat surprised by the marriage alliance, and smiled awkwardly, saying, "It turns out I misunderstood. The two generals are indeed destined to be together."
Then the Empress began her formulaic praise: "However, this child's demeanor does indeed bear a resemblance to the Lady of Tang. Gentlemen, please do not laugh at my poor eyesight."
Li Yuan was still uneasy about his refusal to arrange a marriage between his son and one of the emperor's unknown concubine's daughters. Of course, he wasn't sure if asking about the birth date was a test by the emperor or just the empress's wishful thinking, and he certainly hadn't expected Empress Xiao to inquire about Changsun Qingjing's background today. In his haste, he shifted the blame for the engagement to his ancestors to avoid causing any resentment in the empress's heart.
"In my opinion, they are a perfect match." Empress Xiao nodded, speaking with a knowing understanding. "Now that our children have fulfilled the wishes of both sets of ancestors, Duke Tang should be at ease." After saying this, she took the initiative to introduce the two princesses to Changsun Qingjing.
Li Yuan nodded, roughly confirming that the marriage alliance he had previously considered was probably just the Empress's own wish.
Although Empress Xiao was not pleased, she only lamented that their fate was sealed but their relationship was shallow, and she had no intention of seeking personal revenge.
The royal family and nobles each maintained their dignity, and old rules could be overturned. She made it almost unambiguous to Li Yuan that the past was the past, and that she had no intention of causing trouble between her cousins or between the emperor and his subjects, so that Li Yuan could rest assured.
The Duke of Tang breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly realizing that the hypocritical and arrogant Emperor Yang Guang was completely unworthy of the wise and insightful woman before him.
At the emperor's behest, many formalities were omitted. Led by Li Yuan, they entered the main residence through the central gate.
Yang Guang inspected the decorations in the mansion along the way, and inquired attentively about the funeral arrangements, including whether the Ministry of Rites had delivered the grain and silk to the Daxing mansion, whether the funeral was conducted according to regulations, and whether the heir apparent was in good health. Li Yuan answered each question in detail.
Pei Yun recently incurred Yang Guang's extreme displeasure because he was unable to substantiate the case of Li Hun and Li Min's rebellion. Yang Guang simply refused to let him accompany him, so as not to see Pei Yun's worried face and spoil his travel mood.
Since the grand court assembly, Pei Ju had been subtly and indirectly reminding Yang Guang not to engage in any dealings with the Turks for the time being, and that it was more important to properly handle the famine. After Yang Guang silenced him with the words "I am not good at giving advice," Pei Ju fell silent and became trembling with fear. He was also removed from the travel companions' list by Yang Guang.
Yuwen Shu was originally a good choice to accompany Yang Guang incognito. He was a man with keen eyes and sharp senses, and would surely be able to help Yang Guang prevent problems before they arise. However, Yuwen Shu was eager to take credit for the Li Hun case and deliberately put on a show of being exhausted. Yang Guang then allowed him to search through the case files all night to relieve his worries.
Now, only Yu Shiji remained of the sycophantic companions who had accompanied him. However, this cunning old fox, well-versed in the ways of officialdom, chose to observe the emperor's words and expressions to prepare for any eventuality, until the emperor clearly expressed his reliance on or dislike of Li Yuan.
Princess Nanyang and her husband Yuwen Shiji were both humble and unassuming despite their high status. They were highly regarded among the imperial relatives and were often seen together with the emperor and empress at various events.
As for Princess Hanoi and her husband Yuwen Xiao, the nobles were divided and dared not offer any opinion. The only certainty was that Yang Guang, in this first month of the lunar year, considered his daughter to be straightforward and honest, and his son-in-law to be loyal and wise. He disregarded Empress Xiao's criticisms and treated the newlyweds almost as the most magnificent ornaments adorning the imperial palace.
Yuwen Shiji quickly joined the emperor, dukes, and grand masters of the Golden Purple Light in reminiscing about the past.
Li Shimin and Yuwen Xiao naturally remembered the fight they had fought before, but with the emperor and other noble elders present, the two young men with very different personalities were forced to greet each other with shy smiles. After that, they were too lazy to pay any attention to each other, and simply followed closely behind their elders, occasionally echoing with a few fake laughs.
Changsun Qingjing felt somewhat uneasy, as she was the only woman in the household who was barely qualified to serve the Empress and the Princess. Even the most composed and intelligent lady would worry about making a mistake in her response.
Empress Xiao praised the layout and furnishings of the Tang State Mansion, and said to Changsun Qingjing with emotion: "When I came here before, I also joked with your mother. Just looking at this mansion, the Duke's family doesn't look like they came from Longxi or Daxing. They look more like they came from Qianzhou or Jiangling."
Changsun Qingjing was somewhat puzzled. Empress Xiao smiled and said, "I was born in Jiangling..." In this luxurious mansion in Luoyang, the former princess of Western Liang and now the empress of the Great Sui felt a longing for her hometown.
Even if Changsun Qingjing were as intelligent as he was, he couldn't understand why the Li family's residence so perfectly matched the Empress's refined tastes.
Just then, Li Shimin turned around, seemingly eavesdropping on his wife's response out of sheer boredom. The Empress's praise also reached his ears. Facing Changsun Qingjing's wide, pleading eyes, he winked mischievously, a smirk playing on his lips. He showed utter lack of sympathy for her predicament, as if this was the only amusement on this tedious Lantern Festival night.
He made a gesture that said "I'll tell you later," and then resumed his respectful demeanor, flitting left and right, to keep up with the emperor's new topic.
"Shude, these poplar trees are quite old..." Yang Guang's words were filled with extreme pleasure.
"Ah, yes..." Faced with the poplar tree that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere with green silk leaves, Li Yuan was at a loss for words. He probably guessed that this was the work of the two children, so he tried to squeeze out a few flattering words.
He glanced at Yu Shiji, thinking that in terms of eloquence and flattery, he probably couldn't match this Grand Master of the Palace even if he tried his best. If he didn't take this opportunity to express his loyalty to Yang Guang, wouldn't he be wasting a few good trees and a great opportunity?
"Your Majesty," Li Shimin hurried forward to help Li Yuan, "If I may be so bold as to speak frankly, my father must have seen his old belongings and thought of my mother. I fear that my father may lose his composure and weep. May Your Majesty allow me to report this on my father's behalf?"
"Of course." Yang Guang also noticed that Li Yuan's appearance was still haggard.
At first, he was busy on duty in the palace and had no time to think about his deceased wife. Now that he has returned to his residence, he is naturally saddened by the sight of things around him.
When Chen Xuanhua, Chen Juan, and Wu Jiangxian passed away, Yang Guang was indeed unwilling to mention the words "Xiandu Palace" and "Milou".
This can be considered one of the few instances of shared understanding between cousins.
“Alright.” Yang Guang tried his best to show his compassion and magnanimity towards his subjects. “You speak for Duke Tang. Child, your name is…”
"Shimin, Li Shimin."
Changsun Qingjing couldn't help but gasp. Li Shimin had spent almost the entire autumn in Luoyang, at the Ziwei Palace, in front of Yang Guang. Given his unconventional personality, how had he managed to make Yang Guang almost forget him?
She recalled how her father, Changsun Sheng, often boasted to his nephews and nieces about how, when he was eighteen, he and the late emperor, then prime minister, hit it off immediately. After only a few words about the situations in Zhou, Qi, and the Turks, the late emperor took Changsun Sheng's hand and praised him repeatedly, urging him to be diligent and hardworking, so that he could be put to good use in the future. This could be described as a beautiful story of a harmonious relationship between the emperor and his minister.
Is this strange phenomenon of a monarch forgetting the names of his subjects due to Li Shimin's ugly appearance, poor writing skills, and lack of martial prowess, or is it caused by Yang Guang's inability to see clearly in his mirror?
"Oh, I remember now. Your father named you using words from the 'Yanzi Chunqiu'..." Yang Guang interrupted Changsun Qingjing's thoughts.
"Indeed, the parents hoped that their sons would become like Yan Pingzhong, who was a 'citizen of Qi,' and become a 'citizen of Sui,' and a minister of Sui."
Everyone burst into laughter, and even Yuwen Xiao, who had been keeping a stern face, revealed a contemptuous and mocking expression.
Upon hearing this, Changsun Qingjing could only chuckle to himself: "He didn't tell me this when he was eleven. Liar! Deceitful scoundrel!"
Author's Note: Luoyang Grand Stage
Erfeng's flattery skills have reached their peak, and they also stop here. Qingjing observes secretly and makes thorough preparations, but even he can make mistakes.
The two Guangs were outwardly fierce but inwardly weak. Yu Shiji catered to their preferences, and Li Yuan countered their moves accordingly.
Nanyang and Yuwen Shiji were, at this time, a divine couple in the secular sense.
Hanoi and Yuwen Xiao were a pair of decorative figures who shared the same bed but dreamed different dreams.
Empress Xiao was the most unfortunate one, as she witnessed the collapse of a great empire that was beyond saving.
A group portrait is like the author's large coffee table, filled with cups of tragedy and vessels that hold inspiration...
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