Chapter Thirty-Five: Relentless Pursuit (Part Two)

The "Military Treatise of Duke Wei" was a remarkable work, and Li Xian certainly had no intention of letting it slip away. Even if he could not master it himself, keeping it for his subordinates would be no less advantageous; who knows, by some twist of fate, he might nurture a group of little Duke Weis, and that would be a great fortune indeed. Unfortunately, this prized possession was not easy to acquire—when Li Jing composed the treatise, he did present a complete set to the imperial palace, but regrettably, it was buried with Emperor Taizong in the Zhaoling mausoleum. Now, aside from the copy in Li Boyao’s hands, there was not another to be found in the world, not even Li Deqian, his father, possessed one. Clearly, unless Li Xian could win over father and son of the Li family, his hopes would remain unattainable.

Is a forcibly twisted melon tasteless? Perhaps, but at least there is something to eat, which is better than nothing. Besides, if he could just turn the vine in the right direction, Li Xian did not believe that with ample water and fertilizer, the melon would turn out poorly. Of course, the premise was not to break the vine entirely; otherwise, it would be a disaster for all involved. This required skill and patience, both of which Li Xian possessed in abundance. He could afford to wait, and wait he did—nearly half a month passed before spring’s seclusion ended, and Li Xian finally received the imperial decree he needed to enter the gates.

"The Holy Emperor decrees: Duke Wei, Li Jing, rendered great service to the nation. The late Emperor frequently praised him. Whenever I recall him, I am deeply moved. Therefore, I grant fifty taels of gold, two hundred bolts of silk... and bestow noble rank on his son as encouragement. By imperial command!"

Patience was needed for waiting, but decisiveness was required for action—Li Xian understood this well. As soon as he received the decree from his father, he led several young eunuchs, dismissed the retinue of a prince, and marched straight to the Duke Wei residence with grand ceremony. Naturally, with the imperial edict in hand, entering the Duke’s residence was effortless. Not only that, everyone in the household hurried to greet him, young and old alike, kneeling across the floor to listen as Li Xian read out the imperial command. Despite his small stature, Li Xian's voice was anything but soft; his proclamation carried an imposing dignity, surpassing even the usual old eunuchs tasked with such duties.

“We humbly thank His Majesty for his grace. Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live!”

The Duke Wei residence, now in its second generation, had seen decades of imperial favor. Scenes like this were nothing new, and decorum was never lacking. As soon as Li Xian finished speaking, the crowd responded in unison, expressing their gratitude with customary reverence—flawless in form. Of course, Li Xian had come seeking something, so even if he noticed anything amiss, he would turn a blind eye.

“Congratulations, Duke Wei.”

Li Xian handed the rolled decree to Li Deqian with a gentle smile, as affable as could be. Yet to Li Deqian, this smile was hard to endure, for favors seldom came without strings attached. The fact that Li Xian had sought this decree was no secret; Li Deqian had heard the rumors. Truth be told, Li Deqian had little interest in such a purely ornamental imperial favor, but he had no say in the matter. Now that the decree was issued, he dared not refuse it. By accepting, he owed Li Xian a favor, and what to do next troubled him greatly. Li Deqian was not one for pretense; his frustration was hard to bear.

“Thank you, Your Highness. To be graced by the Emperor’s favor, your humble servant is deeply moved.”

No matter his true feelings, the necessary polite words had to be spoken. Li Deqian hurried to bow, accepting the decree with both hands and uttering a dry phrase, after which he fell silent, conveniently forgetting to invite Li Xian into the hall for conversation.

"Duke Wei, you are too courteous—your humble prince—cough, cough, cough..."

Li Deqian may have forgotten to extend an invitation, but Li Xian would certainly not leave so tactfully; otherwise, the imperial favor would be wasted. Seeing Li Deqian feigning ignorance, Li Xian grumbled inwardly but showed no sign of it. He responded with a polite smile, then began to cough dramatically.

---

“Your Highness, are you alright?” Seeing Li Xian cough so painfully, Li Deqian dared not pretend any longer, quickly showing concern.

“No, no, it’s nothing. Your humble prince, first time proclaiming an edict, just short of breath—it’ll pass soon.” Li Xian’s coughing was merely a ploy to prompt Li Deqian, and seeing him take the bait, Li Xian seized the opportunity without hesitation.

“Ah, your humble servant was too caught up in joy and neglected Your Highness. Please forgive me. Would Your Highness care to come inside for tea and rest?”

With Li Xian’s words delivered so pointedly, even if Li Deqian was unwilling, he dared not refuse. Li Xian was a prince, after all; offending him could bring untold trouble to the Duke’s household. Helpless, Li Deqian forced a smile, apologized, and ushered Li Xian into the hall. They each took their seats, and servants hurried to serve freshly brewed fragrant tea.

“Duke Wei, this tea is excellent—your humble prince finds it most agreeable!” Though not thirsty, Li Xian feigned delight, raising his bowl and taking a large sip, smiling as he praised the tea with apparent joy.

“Your Highness flatters me. This tea is from my estate in Jiangnan. If Your Highness enjoys it, there is plenty—I’ll see that you have more to take home.” Li Deqian, preoccupied, responded absentmindedly.

“Good, your humble prince has long heard of your generosity, Duke Wei, and today I see it firsthand. Truly, you have inherited your esteemed father’s legacy. I recall your father galloping across the battlefield, vanquishing all foes with unrivaled might! If only I had been born a few years earlier, I might have witnessed such heroic glory. Alas, alas.”

Li Xian was quick to seize any opening, and his words soon circled back to Li Jing, full of heartfelt admiration.

“I dare not claim such honor; your humble servant falls far short of my late father. Your Highness’s praise is undeserved, I am deeply humbled.”

Though Li Xian spoke warmly, the subject weighed heavily on Li Deqian’s mind. He dreaded discussion of martial prowess, but since Li Xian praised his father, he could hardly refuse to respond, and so he humbly deflected.

“Duke Wei, you are too modest. To be frank, your humble prince is troubled. Our borders are restless, wars frequent; I worry for our nation. The court’s generals are mostly aged, how can I stand by idly? I accepted my father’s command to seek martial training precisely out of a desire to strengthen our forces. Admittedly, I am weak in body and unlikely to achieve greatness, but I can serve as an example for others. If I can help my father secure the realm, it will be my fortune. I hope, Duke Wei, you will see my earnest intent and assist me out of filial piety—I would be forever grateful.”

Li Xian’s eloquence, honed in later generations’ official circles, was formidable. His speech was impassioned and reasoned, invoking Emperor Gaozong’s authority, leaving Li Deqian drenched in cold sweat.

“Ah, this, this...”

In terms of eloquence, ten Li Deqians could not match one Li Xian. Overwhelmed by Li Xian’s persuasion, Li Deqian was at a loss for words—if he agreed, he would have to involve himself with the imperial family, which was against Duke Wei’s rules. If he refused outright, it would be disrespectful, especially since Li Xian had bestowed such favor; worse, it could imply defiance of the emperor’s will, which risked accusations of insubordination. Poor Li Deqian, sweating profusely, could not find a suitable answer, caught in an awkward dilemma.

---

“Is Duke Wei dissatisfied with your humble prince’s abilities?”

Li Deqian was already flustered, but Li Xian pressed further, his face turning stern, his tone cold and insistent.

“No, no, your humble servant would never dare, never dare...”

Seeing Li Xian’s change of expression, Li Deqian panicked, hastily rising to bow, stammering pitifully.

“Oh, then your humble prince must have misunderstood. Please, Duke Wei, be seated.”

Seeing Li Deqian thoroughly unsettled, Li Xian’s demeanor softened, a faint smile on his lips as he gestured for him to sit.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for your understanding.” Li Deqian, thoroughly shaken, feared saying too much, hurriedly expressed thanks and returned to his seat.

“For your information, Duke Wei, before Li Chunfeng and Grand Historian Li retired, they told your humble prince that his teacher should be found among the Left Cavalry Guard. I doubted them, tried it out, and only upon meeting Li Sicai did I realize their words were true. I am truly eager; if Duke Wei would permit your humble prince to learn from Li Sicai, it would be an honor. I do not expect to win glory in battle, merely to strengthen my body and set an example for others—that would suffice. If Duke Wei agrees, I shall choose an auspicious day to visit your residence and formally seek instruction. Would that be acceptable?”

Once seated, Li Xian spoke sincerely, his tone earnest, though the underlying force left no room for refusal.

“To be favored by Your Highness is a blessing for my son, but he is neither talented nor virtuous. Should he fail your Highness, the fault would be mine. I hope Your Highness will consider my humble position.” Li Deqian, cornered, could not easily break ancestral rules. After a moment’s hesitation, he gently declined.

“Duke Wei, you are mistaken. Even General Su praises Li Sicai’s abilities. For your humble prince to learn from him is already an honor. Naturally, Li Sicai has official duties, and I would never let personal matters interfere. I only ask that he visit my residence every few days to instruct me in martial arts and horsemanship. It should not disrupt his duties. Surely, that is acceptable?”

Hearing Li Deqian’s gentle refusal, Li Xian was not about to concede. His expression turned grim, as though he might lose his temper, but after a twitch of his brow, he pressed his request again, his tone tinged with resentment, as if on the verge of erupting—making Li Deqian’s heart race with anxiety...