Li Shimin Feels a Headache for His Younger Brother - Chapter 1

In the year 605 AD, the second year after Yang Guang’s ascent to the throne, he renamed the era to “Daye,” ending the reign of the Kaihuang era.

No longer merely the Sui Yang Emperor, Yang Guang now took the throne and immediately began to flex his ambitions. The moment he changed the era’s name, Yang Guang appointed Shangshu Ling, Yang Su, to oversee the construction of the Eastern Capital, Luoyang. He ordered Yu Wenkai and Feng Deyi to source rare stones, fine wood, and exotic plants from south of the Yangtze River and north of the Five Ridges for a grand palace, Xianren Gong, within Luoyang.

Yang Guang announced that he would visit the Xianren Gong to admire the flowers the next spring, thereby showcasing his benevolence.

As a result, two million men were conscripted each month from throughout the Sui dynasty to maintain the ongoing construction of the Eastern Capital and the palace, transporting the rare stones and other precious materials day and night.

That same year, Yang Guang decreed the building of the Tongji Canal to connect the cities of Luoyang and Yangzhou.

But this was no ordinary canal for irrigation or for merchant boats. Emperor Yang Guang intended to sail with a large fleet of dragon boats to get to Yangzhou, necessitating the canal’s impressive width and depth, spanning thousands of miles.

The great emperor insisted he must winter in the South to behold its prosperous beauty. Consequently, laborers dug the canal and constructed dragon boats day and night.

Still, in the same year, in order to counter the rumors of his patricide, Yang Guang built a grand palace, Tianjing Gong, dedicated to worshiping Emperor Wen of Sui and intended as a testament to his filial piety.

Simultaneously, the great Sui emperor pondered; there had to be places for him to stay on the road to the South. Thus, a series of journey palaces were constructed from Luoyang to Yangzhou.

For instance, the Western Garden covered an area reaching two hundred li and boasted dug-out lakes, constructed mountains, and a sprawling network of observatories and pavilions.

The completion of the Tianjing Gong was planned for that year, along with the journey palaces before the emperor’s travel to Yangzhou. Otherwise, where would the emperor stay?

To accomplish this, the supervisors were under pressure to whip the laborers into shape.

With all these massive projects scheduled for completion within the year, a shocking four to five out of every ten laborers died of exhaustion, and “the wagons carrying the corpses filled the roads”.

However, these symbols of a “golden age” didn’t concern the nobles or dignitaries in Daxing City.

By May, the weather was gradually heating up.

Li Jiancheng, the sixteen-year-old eldest son of Tang Guogong, was living his prime years. He invited dozens of aristocratic friends over to enjoy the lush bamboo and meandering streams, interactions that lasted until the stroke of midnight.

The second son Li Shimin and the third son Li Xuanba were only six years old. Li Xuanba, who had been weak since childhood and frequently ill, dared not indulge in the extreme cold or heat of summer. After summer began, Li Shimin moved with Li Xuanba to a courtyard adjacent to the bamboo forest to escape the heat.

While the young nobles reveled in the style of the Wei and Jin dynasties till late into the night, the two innocent children covered their ears and stared wide-eyed into the darkness.

As a result, both children overslept this morning and didn’t awaken until the sun was high.

Their strict grandmother, Mrs. Dugu, had been bedridden due to illness. Their mother, Mrs. Dou, was caring for her day and night, leaving the children undisturbed.

Sunlight filtered through the intricately carved windows, like a light show, which began at the foot of the bed, slowly crawled up the blanket, and then leisurely creeped onto the slumbering faces of the two children.

Li Shimin, the second son, was the first to open his eyes.

Yawning furiously, he pushed away his little brother, whom he was hugging to stay cool in the summer heat. Clenching his fists, he rubbed his eyes and then stared blankly at the mosquito net above.

Lost in his own world for a bit, Li Shimin started feeling hot again, and so he pulled his brother back into his arms.

His body temperature was typically higher than average, making him feel like a small furnace during the winter. His younger brother, Li Xuanba, however, always had a colder body temperature—even his hands and feet were icy cold during the summer. Because of this, they often used each other as pillows for comfort, which was more effective than a bamboo mat or a heating pad.

Li Xuanba, who was constantly being pushed and pulled by Li Shimin, finally opened his eyes and said, “Annoying, stop making noise.”

With a weary yet patronizing tone, Li Shimin lectured, “A-Xuan, how many times have I told you? Speak with your mouth open. Otherwise, you might end up mute.”

Li Xuanba simply turned over, closed his eyes, and continued to ignore Li Shimin, preferring to resume his slumber.

Once again, Li Shimin let out a sigh of resignation.

He climbed up and placed both hands on Li Xuanba’s shoulders, took a deep breath, and bellowed, “A-Xuan! Wake up! Wake up! The sun has already burnt our butts!”

Shaking and shaking!

Li Xuanba was jolted awake with a start and furious, hollered, “Brother, are you asking for a beating?!”

Wearing only his small crop top and shorts, Li Shimin jumped off the bed and fled, laughing heartily, “Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.”

Woken up by his brother’s antics, Li Xuanba was now fully awake and in an incredibly ill temper.

Grumbling under his breath, he slowly got out of bed, slipped on his silk outerwear, and groggily made his way towards the washroom.

Children get hungry quickly, and when they wake up hungry, they feel anxious. Li Xuanba didn’t feel it while he was asleep but now that he was awake, he felt the pang of hunger in his stomach. He wanted to go back to sleep, but he could only get out of bed in search of food.

While Li Xuanba was washing up in the yard, Li Shimin was brushing his teeth with a toothbrush made out of cow hair and rock salt.

Upon seeing his brother awake, Li Shimin challenged Li Xuanba to a contest— whoever could spit their mouthwash the farthest wins.

Li Xuanba didn’t bother with his childish older brother. Li Shimin rinsed his mouth with water, and happily engaged in his game.

Once Li Xuanba finished brushing his teeth, Li Shimin was still happily playing with water.

Li Xuanba grumbled, “Stop playing with the water. Let’s eat.”

Wiping his mouth, Li Shimin replied, “A-Xuan, you should talk more.”

But Li Xuanba didn’t react. He was physically weak and found talking exhausting, so he didn’t want to.

Seeing this, Li Shimin teased him with a mischievous grin and tugged at the top of Li Xuanba’s hair, who was a half-head shorter.

Li Xuanba pretended to kick him.

Li Shimin avoided it, laughing and giggling.

Li Xuanba didn’t want to bother with him anymore, but Li Shimin started to dance in front of him, shaking his hips while singing feebly.

Jumping to the front, “A-Xuan, start talking!”

Jumping to the left, “A-Xuan, start talking!”

Jumping to the back, “A-Xuan, start talking!”

And jumping to the right, “A-Xuan, start talking!”

Li Xuanba had just woken up, with a low blood pressure and a restless feeling. Li Shimin’s prancing around irritated him to the extent of raising his blood pressure, as if he would go from low to high.

“Go away!”

Li Shimin, the one being scolded, walked over with a smile, pointing to his own leg and inviting Li Xuanba to kick him.

It took two forceful kicks from Li Xuanba to let off some steam.

Li Shimin dusted off his legs, still wearing that careless smile.

Even though Li Xuanba had kicked him “forcefully” twice, it hadn’t left a mark.

Mrs. Dou came to visit the boys, worried that Li Xuanba might fall ill again since he slept in. She was relieved to see their playful exchange, and a gentle smile appeared on her tired face.

“Mother!” Li Shimin, quick on his eyes, spotted Mrs. Dou approaching. He leaped forward to greet her.

Li Xuanba reached out and grabbed Li Shimin by the back of his collar, almost tripping from the pull.

“A-Xuan, what are you doing?” Li Shimin turned his head, puzzled.

Irritably, Li Xuanba responded, “Mother is tired. She can’t catch you, so don’t jump at her.”

“Oh.” Li Shimin steadied himself, approaching Mrs. Dou with small, careful steps. Once he was close enough, he lunged at her with a cheerful, “Mother!”

Only after watching her sons communicate did Mrs. Dou reach out to catch her energetic younger son.

She gently touched the tuft of hair on the top of Li Shimin’s head, then beckoned Li Xuanba with her hand.

Li Xuanba leisurely walked over, wearing a deadpan expression. He leaned his head towards Mrs. Dou’s hand, letting her tousle his hair.

His eyes were lifeless.

As a time traveler, Li Xuanba would never get used to having his hair tousled by his mother, no matter how many times it happened — even if his body’s hormones affected his intelligence. In his previous life, he hadn’t experienced much affection, making it difficult for him to refuse his loving mother in this life.

It was truly bewildering and frustrating.

Seeing her third son’s restrained expression, Mrs. Dou couldn’t help but playfully tousle his hair a few more times.

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba were a rare pair of twin brothers in the world.

They were Yin and Yang twins, where one twin was strong and the other weak.

Li Shimin had the vitality of a calf, never falling ill from childhood. In contrast, Li Xuanba had been frail and sickly since birth, constantly causing worry.

Perhaps because of his experiences, Li Xuanba had a precocious demeanor. He kept an emotional distance from others, resisting any attachment, making him seem unlike a child.

Mrs. Dou felt helpless, but fortunately, Li Xuanba’s twin brother Li Shimin had a tenacious temperament. Even when Li Xuanba objected, Li Shimin stuck by his side, playing and roughhousing. It was only then that Li Xuanba showed some semblance of a childlike demeanor.

Mrs. Dou had learned her lesson.

Although her third son appeared aloof, he was actually quite indulgent with his family. Mrs. Dou didn’t care whether Li Xuanba resisted her or not; she loved him wholeheartedly. As expected, Li Xuanba couldn’t keep his distance from her.

Moreover…

Mrs. Dou playfully ruffled her third son’s hair again, then pulled him into her embrace. She looked at his blushing face as he tried to maintain his stoic expression.

With a warm smile, Mrs. Dou pinched the face of the shy child nestled in her arms.

She found it amusing to see the third son’s face contort into an awkward, bashful expression.

Even though Li Xuanba had already accepted her as his mother in this life, he was still too shy to be held by her and to be affectionately called “my good boy.”

After having his face pinched twice, he quickly diverted his mother’s attention, “Mother, I’m hungry.”

Li Shimin, who had been squirming restlessly in Mrs. Dou’s arms – pushing Li Xuanba out and then pulling him back in – finally calmed down.

Hearing his younger brother complain about being hungry, he straightened up, full of vigor, and proclaimed, “I’m also hungry! Mother, let’s eat together!”

Li Shimin then gave Li Xuanba a knowing look.

Li Xuanba enquired through their gaze: Do you notice that Mother has not eaten yet?

Li Shimin nodded in confirmation.

Mrs. Dou hesitated, “Your eldest brother hasn’t woken up yet. I need to go check on him.”

Casually, Li Xuanba replied, “Eldest brother is hungover. Mother, let him sleep a bit longer.”

Li Shimin nodded vigorously, “Yes! Let’s go, Mother. Let’s have a meal.”

Grabbing onto Mrs. Dou’s arm, Li Shimin began to tug her towards the dining room.

Li Xuanba continued to persuade, “There are still guests in the eldest brother’s courtyard who haven’t left. They might feel uncomfortable seeing you, Mother. It would be better not to go. Let’s eat first, and you can visit him once he wakes up and his friends leave.”

Mrs. Dou was convinced, “Alright then… Ah, Second Son, stop pulling.”

Li Shimin called out loudly, ” Bring the food quickly! Mother, move faster. I’m starving.”

Mrs. Dou couldn’t hold back her smile, “Fine, alright.”

Li Xuanba didn’t immediately follow Mrs. Dou and Li Shimin to the dining room. He stayed behind, waiting for them to walk a bit ahead, before lifting his head and speaking to his wet nurse, “Stay here by the door. If Grandma sends someone over, tell them I haven’t been sleeping well. I wasn’t feeling well, but Mother comforted me. I’ll go see her shortly, ask her to wait for a moment.”

“Yes, Third Young Master,” the wet nurse replied respectfully.

Translator Footnotes:

“li” (里 , li): A traditional Chinese unit of length, roughly equivalent to a third of a mile or half a kilometer. In this context, two hundred li equates to approximately 67 miles or 108 kilometers.

“Style of the Wei and Jin dynasties” (效仿魏晋遗风, xiàofǎng wèi jìn yífēng): To be honest, I have no idea what this means. I searched about it to see if I could find some explanations but didn’t find any. I first thought it was about talking loudly and drinking until late at night, but later in the text, I noticed that maybe it was about something sexual or nasty things… If you know what this means, please let me know in the comments.

“日上三竿” (rì shang sān gān): A Chinese idiom meaning “the sun is three poles high,” an exaggeration to tell that it’s late in the morning.

“晨昏定省” (chén hūn dìng shěng): A traditional Chinese custom where children, regardless of distance, must visit their parents every morning (晨, chén) and evening (昏, hūn) to show filial piety.

“竹夫人” (zhú fū rén): Literally means “bamboo lady.” It’s a colloquial term referring to a bamboo mat, which is chilled before bedtime to deal with the summer heat.

“魔音灌脑” (mó yīn guàn nǎo): A Chinese phrase that literally translates to “demon sound brainwash.” It refers to irritating and repetitive songs or sounds that are hard to forget once heard.

“衣不解带地” (yī bù jiě dài de): It is a Chinese idiom that literally translates to “no time to undo the clothes.” It is usually used to describe someone who is very busy or in a hurry.

“独孤氏” (Dú Gū shì)/”窦氏” (Dòu shì): The “氏” is added after the maiden name of women in ancient China. It is equivalent to “Mrs.” in English.

“揉小揪揪” (róu xiǎo jiū jiū): A Chinese phrase that literally translates to “tousle the little tuft.” It’s a term of affection used when someone playfully touches or tousles another person’s hair, especially used for children.

“娘亲” (niángqīn): A respectful and affectionate term for mother in Chinese. It’s equivalent to “dear mother” in English.

“祖母” (zǔmǔ): In Chinese, ‘zǔmǔ’ refers to “paternal grandmother.” It is commonly used in family hierarchy systems to refer to the grandmother from the father’s side.