Chapter 10: Is the Whole Family Planning a Rebellion?

Half the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed since those words.

Old Huang remained rooted to the spot, both hands braced on his knees, gasping for breath.

After those four broken phrases, he had not produced another word.

Li Cijiu, his wife Lu Lingyi, and their daughter Li Zhiyi all stared at the old gatekeeper.

When he still failed to speak, Li Cijiu grew frantic.

“Old Huang, what’s happened to Father and Zhen’er? Out with it!”

The gatekeeper tried to answer. Instead, his eyes rolled back and he fell over stiffly.

Everyone was terrified. Their thoughts began drifting toward the worst.

Could it be…

Had something really happened?

At the sight of Old Huang fainting, Lu Lingyi began weeping again.

Even Li Zhiyi, who had been trying to comfort her mother, joined in.

Mother and daughter sobbed aloud.

Li Cijiu’s head was about to burst. But one was his beloved wife and the other his beloved daughter. He could only swallow his temper.

Just then, his son Li Wenzhen hurried in.

Seeing his mother and sister crying so loudly, he understood at once that something terrible had happened.

The rumors he had heard earlier must have come true.

Li Cijiu frowned. “Why are you home instead of studying at the Imperial Academy?”

Li Wenzhen did not even stop to salute. He answered gravely.

“My teacher says a man must strive to better himself, protect his family, defend his country, and strengthen the state.

“If I can’t even protect my family, what am I studying for?”

Li Cijiu felt a jolt.

“What are you planning to do?”

Li Wenzhen snorted coldly.

“What am I planning?

“Grandfather spent his life at war to build everything this household has.

“Eldest Uncle died on the battlefield for Great Li.

“Third Uncle holds the bitter northern frontier, unable even to come home for the festivals, suffering the ache of separation.

“Our entire family is loyal to Great Li, and this is how we’re repaid.

“A court like that doesn’t deserve our loyalty.”

Li Cijiu’s anger flared.

So the brat had run home from the Academy to rebel against the court!

As he had just explained, he wanted justice for his grandfather and elder cousin.

Li Cijiu felt his head swell to twice its size.

His son was ordinarily cautious in speech and conduct, courteous toward others. Why was he so furious today?

He could not understand it.

Then the thunder of horses’ hooves sounded outside the residence.

Soon footsteps even more hurried than Li Wenzhen’s drew near.

When Li Cijiu saw who it was, his headache grew worse.

His third brother’s eldest son, Li Duchuan.

The boy had always loved spears, staffs, and martial practice. With little alternative, Li Cijiu had arranged a place for him in the Northern Garrison.

To his relief, Li Duchuan had fought his way up to squad leader entirely through his own efforts.

There was no denying it: he had much of his father’s youthful spirit.

Had he already come of age, Li Cijiu might have promoted him further.

At the sight of Li Duchuan’s furious face, an ominous feeling crept over him.

Could these two be…

Bang!

Li Cijiu slammed the table and glared at him.

“Why aren’t you staying where you belong in camp? What are you doing home?”

Li Duchuan gripped the saber at his waist and answered angrily.

“Second Uncle, we don’t know whether Grandfather and Eldest Brother are alive or dead. How can I stand by and do nothing?”

That sounded remarkably like Li Wenzhen’s earlier argument.

Li Cijiu’s sense of foreboding grew stronger.

Before he could speak, Li Wenzhen turned to Li Duchuan.

“Third Brother, what do you intend to do?”

Li Duchuan laughed coldly.

“Second Brother, I brought a hundred picked cavalrymen back from the Northern Garrison. Every man is elite.

“I also had someone find out the guard deployments. Three thousand Imperial Guard soldiers outside Black Tortoise Gate, two thousand outside Azure Dragon Gate, and a thousand each at Vermilion Bird and White Tiger Gates.

“We’re closest to Black Tortoise Gate and farthest from Vermilion Bird Gate.

“In an hour, the guard at Vermilion Bird Gate changes.

“I can lead my hundred cavalry around Black Tortoise Gate, strike straight into the palace through Vermilion Bird Gate, and get Grandfather and Eldest Brother out.

“I haven’t thought about what comes afterward yet.

“First we find them.”

Li Cijiu’s heart lurched again.

The boy really was proposing rebellion!

What he had not expected was Li Wenzhen’s nod of agreement.

“That seems workable.

“But how long is the gap during the change of guard?

“Do you know?”

Li Duchuan nodded. “No more than a quarter of an hour.”

“A quarter of an hour…” Li Wenzhen’s eyes moved rapidly as he murmured. “If that’s all we have, I can go to the Academy first and ask my classmates to demonstrate at Black Tortoise Gate.

“If it goes well, we can draw the guards from the other three gates there.

“Then you take your hundred cavalry into the palace. Once you’ve found Grandfather and Eldest Brother, come straight home.

“But what do you intend to do after that?”

Good heavens!

Darkness swam before Li Cijiu’s eyes.

His household, pillars of the nation for three generations, was about to earn itself a charge of treason.

…

He had never imagined these two boys could be so outrageously bold.

A few casual remarks, and they had laid out a rebellion as though it were nothing.

Suddenly, Li Cijiu wondered whether being an ignorant wastrel like Li Xuanzhen might be the best path for the family’s sons.

At least he would not have to worry about the entire household being executed.

Having briefly discussed their rescue plan, Li Wenzhen and Li Duchuan both looked at him.

“Father,” Li Wenzhen said, “give the order.”

Li Duchuan chimed in, “Second Uncle, send someone to the Northern Garrison with the military command tally at once.

“Once I’ve brought Grandfather and Eldest Brother out, we can all take shelter in camp.

“If that doesn’t work, we’ll flee north. My father’s there. He can certainly protect us.”

Before he finished, Li Cijiu brought his palm down hard enough to shatter the square table beside him.

Crack!

Splinters flew.

His eyes red, he raised both hands, pointing one at Li Wenzhen and the other at Li Duchuan.

“You outrageous little bastards!”

He had not finished when Lu Lingyi stood and pushed him aside.

Li Cijiu stared. What was his wife doing?

She stepped forward, taking Li Wenzhen’s hand in one of hers and Li Duchuan’s in the other.

“Good boys,” she said sorrowfully. “Do as you’ve planned.

“You must keep your grandfather and eldest brother safe.”

Two streams of tears poured down her cheeks.

Li Zhiyi, usually so obedient and sensible, came forward too, pleading with her two elder brothers.

Li Cijiu swallowed.

He had never imagined that everyone in the Duke of Liang’s residence except him would be ready to rebel.

Honestly, at this moment, he felt as though the tablets in the family ancestral hall must be cracking apart.

Then the unconscious gatekeeper on the floor slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

Everyone hurried over.

Li Cijiu pushed the two brats aside and crouched in front of Old Huang.

“What’s happened to Father and Zhen’er?

“Tell me, damn it!

“You’re going to worry me to death!”

Life gradually returned to the old man’s dazed eyes. He lifted a trembling hand and pointed toward the table.

Li Zhiyi understood at once. She hurriedly brought a cup of cold tea, supported his head, and helped him drink.

Only after that mouthful of water did his heaving chest settle.

“General…

“Madam…

“Young masters…

“Young lady…

“His Grace and the eldest young master…

“Are safe.”

Li Cijiu’s fury shot thirty feet into the air.

Steel hissed.

He drew the long saber at his waist and pointed it at the gatekeeper.

“You old bastard! Is that how you fucking break up a sentence?

“You nearly frightened me to death!

“You nearly destroyed the whole household!

“If I don’t flay a layer off you today, my name isn’t Li!”

He truly was furious.

One tiny step more, and the whole Li family would have become traitors.

Li Wenzhen and Li Duchuan swallowed and exchanged a look.

Each read the same unspoken message in the other’s eyes.

Now that Grandfather and Eldest Brother were safe, they hurriedly hoisted the old gatekeeper up and ran toward the front gate.

Truthfully, they were frightened.

Talking about rebellion was one thing. If they actually tried it, they probably would not make it out of the residence.

Their earlier speeches had merely been intended to prod Li Cijiu into action.

They had not coordinated beforehand. Yet upon entering the hall and seeing each other, they had somehow arrived at the same idea.

Now that their grandfather and elder brother were safe, one needed to return to the Academy and the other to the Northern Garrison. Immediately.

Li Cijiu might not actually bring his saber down on them, but the disciplinary staff standing by the door would certainly break their legs.

They had to run. Fast.

Just as they rushed through the gate, a carriage rolled to a stop outside.

Behind it came two squads of Imperial Guard soldiers carrying a large black coffin.

Li Zhenbei stepped out of the carriage. Seeing his grandsons flee in such a panic, he called:

“Wenzhen, Duchuan, where are you two going?”

Even at their grandfather’s voice, neither dared stop. They mounted and rode away in different directions.

Li Xuanzhen climbed out of the carriage too.

He was equally puzzled by the sight of his two younger cousins fleeing in such disarray.

Then he and his grandfather heard a furious roar from within the residence.

“You two little bastards, stop right there!

“If I don’t break all three of your legs today, it’ll only be because this disciplinary staff isn’t strong enough!”