My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 106 If you can walk, then walk.
Perhaps unwilling to argue in front of the children, Lady Dou pulled Li Yuan into the main hall, telling Li Jiancheng to take his younger siblings away.

Li Xiuning looked at her younger brother with envy.

"Unexpectedly, it was Sanlang who was the first to be granted a marquisate."

"Great! To be ennobled for military merit!"

She looked at Li Xuanba's face, which was starting to get a little chubby, and thought it was adorable. She reached out and pinched it a few more times. "My little lord~~"

Since his parents were already discussing the rewards, Li Xuanba didn't say much. He simply looked at Li Jiancheng with a solemn expression and said, "Brother, there is one more thing I need to tell you."

Li Jiancheng smiled. "What are your orders, my lord?"

“The warrior my brother sent to fetch me was captured by me and flogged.”

Li Jiancheng's smile froze instantly. He slowly frowned and stared at his younger brother. "Why?"

Li Xuanba remained calm. He truthfully recounted the actions of the warriors and added, "Brother, your men are truly rude and disrespectful. Today they only treated me this way, so I will not blame you. But if they continue to act this way in the future, will others think the same way I do?"

"This is really inappropriate."

“However, I also made a mistake by punishing the people my brother sent. Please punish me, brother.”

Li Jiancheng frowned, remained silent for a long time, and then reached out and patted his younger brother's head.

"This is my problem. I will discipline them properly from now on."

Li Xiuning said with a smile, "It's nothing serious, just a small family matter. Why make it sound so serious? Just now, seeing Third Brother's expression, I thought you had committed some serious crime!"

A smile reappeared on Li Xuanba's face.

Meanwhile, Li Yuan, who was inside the house, was not having a good time.

He was struggling to explain his actions, "Didn't I tell you? I had Zhao Yuanshu mention Sanlang a few times to express my loyalty to the Emperor and to make him no longer wary of me. Besides, what's wrong with being ennobled? So many people want to be ennobled but can't."

Madam Dou looked helpless and said, "The discovery of the iron mine already demonstrated our loyalty, so why go to such lengths?"

"The actions of that sage are always unpredictable, so why push Sanlang in front of him?"

"You still think being granted a title is a good thing?"

"Do you know how many nobles are dissatisfied with the abolition of the titles, and how many people are trying to persuade the emperor to restore the previous system?"

"At this time, when the Sage proposes to confer a marquis title upon Xuanba, don't you understand what that means?"

"And expect the sons of noble families throughout the land to follow suit?"

Li Yuan, however, didn't seem to care much. He narrowed his eyes and said, "It's not just Sanlang, but also Jiancheng, Shimin, and Yuanji. Sooner or later, they will all have to deal with the Sage. It's unavoidable. How can we hide them?"

"It would be better to let the Sage know sooner and seek benefits for them. At least then we won't have to worry about Xuanba's future."

"With a title, you can't lose out no matter what."

"As for your worries, ha, do you think I'm afraid of them? I didn't steal their titles from them. If they're so capable, they should go find the Emperor. My son earned his title through his own abilities; what does it have to do with them? If they insist on provoking me, I'll show them what a Duke really is."

Madam Dou looked at him and simply sighed.

"Ugh"

Lady Dou looked at her husband with a worried expression. Li Yuan was very perceptive in judging others and his comments were very insightful. However, he was a bit blind to his own shortcomings. He always liked to go too far and did not know the principle of knowing when to stop.

Madam Dou tried to persuade him many times, and each time he said he would change, but he did it again and again.

Seeing his wife's dejected state, Li Yuan dropped the pretense and quickly bowed his head again to admit his mistake, "This time I was wrong. I will definitely be more careful in the future and will not do it again. Please don't be sad, Madam."

Madam Dou suddenly said, "You do absurd things as soon as I'm gone. What will I do if I pass away before you?"

Li Yuan frowned and hugged his wife tightly, saying, "Don't say such unlucky things!"

"Today my son is ennobled! This is a joyous occasion!"

Soon, the family was reunited.

Apart from Madam Dou, the rest of the group were quite happy, all thinking that Li Xuanba's conferment of a marquisate was a great thing.

Only Madam Dou worried that her son would offend many people as a result, which would be detrimental to his future.

Before anyone knew it, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji arrived. Both had heard about Li Xuanba's big news. As soon as they entered, Li Shimin excitedly asked, "Is it true? Is it true?" Li Yuan, sitting in the superior position, couldn't help but scold, "It's just a title of nobility, why are you so out of control!"

Li Shimin had just paid his respects to his elders when he quickly sat down next to Xuanba, looking at his younger brother with a very complicated expression.

My younger brother was actually granted a title of nobility!

He'll be ennobled for his military achievements!

At his age, this is sure to go down in history!

He was speechless. Li Yuanji was much more enthusiastic. His eyes were full of admiration as he looked at his brother. However, with his mother present, he dared not say too much.

Li Yuan cleared his throat and got down to business.

The first thing they had to do was move.

I am to take up the post of governor of Loufan, and I will arrive within two months. So I must set off as soon as possible. If I delay, the emperor will probably punish me. Then there is Li Xuanba. Li Xuanba will probably have to take some time to go to the capital to collect his clothes and relevant documents and formally thank the emperor.

However, this matter can be postponed.

In addition, he plans to hold a family banquet to celebrate Li Xuanba's victory.

Everyone was naturally very happy.

Only Li Xuanba, the person involved, appeared remarkably calm.

Li Xuanba was surprised by the title suddenly bestowed upon him by the sage, but he was not particularly happy about it, as he disliked this cousin.

Li Xuanba was deeply worried about leaving Xingyang.

He could leave with his grandfather, but he couldn't leave Qingzao Village.

And what about Zhang Du and the others? Should they come with me, or stay here?

But these matters can only be sorted out tomorrow. Li Yuan ordered the slaughter of livestock for a grand celebration.

The news of Li Xuanba being granted a marquisate spread rapidly throughout the city, causing a complete uproar in Xingyang. There had been many rumors about Li Xuanba before, but these rumors only circulated among the lower classes, and the middle and upper classes paid little attention to them. However, this time, the situation was different, and the middle and upper classes were alarmed.

Li Yuan ignored all of this and held a family banquet as usual, celebrating happily with his family.

Li Shimin was sitting next to his younger brother at this moment, and he had just heard some more things.

"Third brother, did you attack one of your elder brother's men?"

"Ah."

"How could you do this! You're showing no respect for your brother at all! If you're angry about his people, you could have told your elder brother and let him reprimand them. How could you actually lay a hand on them?"

Li Shimin shook his head, deeply saddened by his brother's actions.

"Don't think that just because you've been granted a title, you can be disrespectful to your elder brother. You know how he treats us; how can you disobey him?!"

"I'm doing this for my eldest brother's sake. My second brother also said that some of the people under my eldest brother's command are really rude and should be disciplined by him."

"Cough, I did say that, but I didn't say I was going to beat up his people!"

"My elder brother won't blame me, but you'd better apologize to him in front of his guests. You can't embarrass him, understand?"

Li Shimin also earnestly advised his third brother not to be so rebellious, to be obedient, and never to oppose his eldest brother. Xuanba nodded, indicating that he understood.

"What are you going to do with those local militia under your command?"

Only then did Li Shimin ask the crucial question.

Li Xuanba looked at him, "What do you think, Second Brother?"

"Don't stay here."

Li Shimin said seriously, "After we leave, a new prefect will come, and the whole of Xingyang will be different. The people you leave here will get into trouble sooner or later, and something big will happen. You may not be able to protect them all. Take what you can with you."

"Well, if you have any other friends, you should also inform them and tell them to be prepared. After the new prefect arrives, he will definitely want to find a way to make merit and establish his authority. There aren't many opportunities to make merit in Xingyang, except for things like suppressing bandits."

Li Shimin said a few words, then lowered his head and began to eat, as if he knew nothing.

(End of this chapter)