My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 197 Promotion
"His Majesty!!"

Yuwen Shiji couldn’t help but start crying as soon as he saw Yang Guang.

Yang Guang was quite fond of his son-in-law Yuwen Shiji. Seeing his sorrowful appearance, he felt a surge of kindness and personally helped him up, gently inquiring about the reason.

Yuwen Shiji wiped away his tears and began to recount how his elder brother, Yuwen Huaji, had come to visit him.

Upon hearing Yuwen Huaji's name, Yang Guang frowned, recalling what had happened before, and felt an indescribable anger, but he did not interrupt Yuwen Shiji.

When Yuwen Shiji recounted how his elder brother had come to visit him, he appeared extremely fearful and humble. He bowed deeply to him and the princess, but dared not sit down to speak with him, stuttering and appearing weak.

As Yuwen Shiji described his elder brother's appearance, he couldn't help but shed tears again.

Yang Guang was somewhat taken aback. "He gave you a deep bow??"

“My brother said that he is now just a slave, how could he not bow before the magistrate? I have heard that he is often looked down upon in the mansion. With my father away, the servants in the mansion look down on him and humiliate him in every way, which has made him like this. Your Majesty, I really cannot bear my elder brother bowing to me. Please, Your Majesty, free me from being a slave as well.”

Seeing Yuwen Shiji weeping bitterly, Yang Guang seemed to remember something and gently stroked the other's hand.

Yuwen Huaji was sent to the palace many years ago to become Yang Guang's personal attendant, and later served as the Crown Prince's attendant. He was once Yang Guang's most trusted and favored minister and friend.
Yang Guang took a deep breath. "Alright, I will free him from his status as a slave. However, because of his past crimes, I still cannot allow him to enter officialdom. Since he is no longer a slave, he will no longer need to kowtow to you. Let him live a comfortable life as a wealthy man."

Yuwen Shiji was overjoyed and hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly.

Yang Guang smiled and helped him up, saying, "I also have brothers. How could I not grant their request?"

Yuwen Huaji knelt before the door, listening to his younger brother read out the emperor's edict.

When Yuwen Huaji heard that the emperor had pardoned his crimes and restored his freedom, he trembled all over.

"Your Majesty, I thank you! I thank you!"

Yuwen Huaji wept and bowed deeply. After reading the memorial, Yuwen Shiji also stepped forward and knelt before his elder brother. The two embraced and wept.

Back inside, Yuwen Huaji spoke of the hardships he had endured these past days and cried again.

Once the two brothers had calmed down, Yuwen Huaji asked, "I've been pardoned, but what about your second brother?"

Yuwen Shiji's face darkened. "Brother, there's no need to pay him any mind. The Sage will make his own arrangements for the future."

Because of the excellent fraternal tradition of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there are stories of discord among brothers in many noble families today. In Yuwen Shu's family, the eldest son, Yuwen Huaji, was the oldest, and there was a significant age gap between him and his two younger brothers, just like Li Jiancheng. Therefore, he had a very good relationship with his two younger brothers, and they both recognized him as their elder brother.

However, the situation became somewhat different with the second son, Yuwen Zhiji, and the third son, Yuwen Shiji.

Although Yuwen Huaji was also cruel and greedy, he was far inferior to his second brother, Yuwen Zhiji. What this guy did was even worse than Li Yuanji! It can be said that among the many brutal sons of noble families at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Li Yuanji was actually not bad. There were almost countless people more beastly than him, and he should be ranked last.

Yuwen Shiji had a very bad relationship with his second brother. He was even unwilling to mention his second brother, who had also been punished, in front of Yang Guang.

Yuwen Huaji hesitated. He did want to save the second brother, but he had only just escaped his predicament, so he had to deal with the second brother's matter later.

After seeing his younger brother off, Yuwen Huaji hurriedly invited Shi Shuhu out.

His attitude also changed drastically.

The two sat inside the house, where Yuwen Huaji treated him to fine meat and wine.

"If it weren't for you this time, I don't know how many more years I would have suffered. Please rest assured, I will personally speak to Grandpa about the matter, and I will not delay it!"

Shi Shuhu also hurriedly bowed and thanked him.

"As for the horse," Yuwen Huaji gritted his teeth, "I've always been the one taking from others, never the other way around. Whether it's Chai Shao or Li Jiancheng, I won't forgive them easily."

Shi Shuhu laughed. He didn't mind the infighting among the Sui people; the fiercer the fighting, the better.

He said, "They shouldn't be forgiven. So many good horses were just snatched away like that. I even suspect they did it on purpose. I've heard that Li Yuan has great ambitions. Although he was close to General Yuwen before, he hasn't been promoted in the local area for many years. Perhaps he has other intentions!"

Rumors suddenly spread throughout Luoyang, and merchants were coming and going, giving the impression that a storm was brewing.

However, this only applies to Luoyang; things are actually quite good in other parts of the country.

After two years of heavy corvée labor, the people finally had a rare opportunity to prepare for spring plowing normally. Except for the Northwest, where war was raging, and the Hedong region, where palaces were being built, the rest of the region could finally work in peace.

Jingyue County, Li Mansion.

Liu Xuan paced back and forth in the courtyard with his hands behind his back. He raised his head and said, "During the Former Han Dynasty, there was only the Imperial Academy, but now there are three types of schools. Why is that?"

Li Xuanba, sitting below, replied, "It is all because Xuan Shi has misled the country."

"Why did you ruin the country?"

"People are divided into nine classes, and learning is divided into three categories. Talent is selected not based on ability or virtue, but rather on family background. How can this not lead to mistakes?"

Liu Xuan laughed. In recent days, he had been teaching Li Xuanba the art of governance. Today, he conducted a simple test, and Li Xuanba's answers greatly satisfied Liu Xuan. He was glad that he had not chosen the wrong disciple.

"That's right. You need to memorize the books I gave you. Studying is like building a house; you have to lay a solid foundation first before you can build anything."

Liu Xuan finished his lessons for the day, gave many instructions, and was about to leave when suddenly a commotion arose outside the door. The next moment, Feng Li strode into the courtyard, looking flustered and filled with unease. Seeing the two men, he hurriedly said, "Lord Liu! Lord Jun! The young master has asked me to invite you both to the main hall immediately! The Duke has received another imperial edict!"

Liu Xuan and Li Xuanba exchanged a glance, both looking somewhat surprised. They didn't dare to delay and quickly followed Feng Li out of the courtyard.

When the two of them arrived at the main hall, the messenger who had delivered the imperial edict seemed to have already left. Li Yuan was full of excitement and was talking to Li Jiancheng. He looked up and saw Liu Xuan and Li Xuanba walking in, and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Liu Jun! Just as you said!!"

"The Emperor has ordered me to go to the Imperial Palace to officially assume the post of Commandant of the Guards! He has also ordered me to oversee the transport of supplies and provisions to the front lines!!"

Li Yuan strode forward, grabbed Liu Xuan, and couldn't hide his excitement.

Liu Xuan was also extremely surprised when he heard this.

"Minister of the Imperial Guard??"

This was a powerful department, responsible for palace security, equipment inspection, ceremonial guard scheduling, household registration management, recruitment of the deceased, and so on. It was a top-level official position that could participate in the affairs of the military, civilian, and public works departments of the court.

According to Liu Xuan's plan, after leaving the local area, he should first serve as a junior minister or assistant minister in a certain department as a transition, and then take up a powerful official position. However, Liu Xuan did not expect that the emperor would skip the procedure and let an official from outside the region jump directly into the core of the court's power.

Li Yuan, however, didn't care about any of that. He only knew that he had finally left the countryside and could become a powerful official in the court. He was extremely excited. He then looked at Li Xuanba beside him and said, "Xuanba, the imperial edict also mentioned you. The Emperor cherishes your talent and said that he wants you to go to the capital to study at the Imperial Academy!"

Li Xuanba looked bewildered. Just today, he had debated with his teacher about the harms of the three schools, focusing on criticizing the Imperial Academy as an unethical institution that admitted students based on their social status. He never expected that he would be going to that institution in the blink of an eye.

However, upon reflection, Li Xuanba did indeed meet the standards. The Imperial Academy only admitted the sons of officials of the third rank and above. Due to the reforms of the emperor, nobility titles also had corresponding ranks, and Li Yuan's title was naturally sufficient for Li Xuanba to go to the Imperial Academy.

Li Xuanba turned to look at Liu Xuan, but Liu Xuan looked at him with disdain and contempt.

(End of this chapter)