Chapter 89: It's All a Misunderstanding!

The morning sunlight always exudes warmth and comfort; it lacks the oppressive heat and dryness, offering instead the promise of a beautiful new day. Yet this gentle sun was something Li Yi could not enjoy, for he lay confined to his bed, unable to move or rise.

After returning yesterday, Li Yi was subjected to the “warm” care of Lady Hong and the others—thorough and relentless, missing no corner or crevice. Then came various examinations and bandaging, no matter how much Li Yi tried to explain. In their eyes, he was so important that even the loss of a single hair would cause them distress, let alone a stabbing that left him bleeding profusely. It was only when Li Jing returned that matters were settled. From Li Jing, Li Yi learned the incident was considered closed; the two assassins who escaped had been dealt with by Cheng Yaojin—Li Yi had to admit, though Cheng appeared rough, he was reliable when it mattered.

Cheng Yaojin had reported the incident to Li II, but Li II suppressed it, which Li Yi understood. From any angle, this was not something to announce widely. As for Li Yi’s accountability, Li II offered only one line: “Keep a tally; we’ll settle accounts when all is done.” In other words, eliminate the secret faction first—if handled well, rewards would come; if not, then true reckoning.

But there are no walls without cracks. Li Yi cared little for reward, truly—Li II’s rewards were always either rank or money. Rank held no appeal for Li Yi, nor did he desire it; greater office meant greater responsibility and fatigue, not the life he wanted, at least not now. Money, too, was of no concern; he had no lack, and cared even less. He would not have handed over his shares in the Merchant Alliance otherwise. For Li Yi, wealth was the same in anyone’s hands; whenever he wished, he could earn it. What he feared most was trouble. Now, with news of his stabbing out, the entire group of idle nobles had come to “visit,” including those aspiring to be Confucian businessmen, who used the pretext of visiting their teacher to skip classes openly.

Li Yi actually welcomed their visits; after all, who doesn’t like the concern of friends? But coming to see him was one thing—helping themselves was another. They brought few gifts, yet left with arms full. Li Yi didn’t lack money, but that didn’t mean he was lavish; if they needed money, he would lend them some or even give a bit, but this was blatant robbery! With his stubborn temperament, how could he be pleased?

Still, just as the woods brighten after darkness, and the road turns before the mountain, Li Yi’s spring arrived once more.

“Oh dear! Xueyan, come quickly—your brother Yi’s heart aches so much!”
“Oh my! Brother Yi, what happened? Where are you hurt? Let me see!”
“Hmph! Mm! Oh, my elbow! Oh, my lumbar disc! Oh, my heel! It hurts! It really hurts!”
“Is that so? Come over here, let me massage it for you!”
“Mm! That’s wonderful!”

“You two ought to stop already—I’m getting nauseous!” With these words, Changle and Bingyu entered, faces full of discomfort. In the past, Changle would have exposed Li Yi’s little tricks and rescued Li Xueyan, but now she understood—Li Xueyan needed no rescue. These two were deliberate: one willing to play, one willing to be played! Otherwise, with Li Xueyan’s cleverness, how could she not see through Li Yi’s “scheme”?

“Young master, have you no shame!” Bingyu could not bear it either.

Seeing Changle, Li Yi’s mood brightened further. He greeted her eagerly, “You’re here too? Come sit! Join us!”

Li Xueyan had once feigned innocence, but now she didn’t bother, as everyone knew her true nature. She simply snuggled against Li Yi and refused to move.

Changle walked elegantly to Li Yi’s side, examining him carefully. “Does it still hurt?”

Li Yi smiled gently, putting aside his playful demeanor. “Heh, it’s nothing. Such wounds are trivial.”

Changle nodded, concern in her eyes. “Rest well. Don’t be so reckless next time.”

Li Yi grumbled inwardly. Was it his wish to be reckless? Wasn’t it her father who forced him? Thinking of brothel visits, his mood soured again. He hadn’t been joking with Li II; in front of those he loved, he truly wished to have no secrets or deceit. Yet he really didn’t know how to explain this. Should he say, “Changle, your father sent me to visit brothels—what do you think?”

After much hesitation, Li Yi finally stammered, “Changle, Xueyan, I…”

Both Changle and Li Xueyan were perceptive; seeing Li Yi’s expression, they knew something was amiss.

Changle spoke first, “What is it? Something on your mind? Heh, if you don’t want to say, don’t say it. We trust you.”

Li Xueyan quickly added, “Yes, Brother Yi, it’s fine!”

Looking at the sincere and concerned faces of Changle and Li Xueyan, Li Yi wished he could slap himself. To falter over such a small matter—hardly manly!

Then, steeling himself, Li Yi declared, “Leader, I was wrong, truly wrong. Please, give me another chance—I’ll confess everything. It was Uncle Li who forced me; I request leniency!”

Both girls, along with Bingyu, were left half amused, half exasperated. “What are you talking about? What’s really happened?”

Li Xueyan laughed outright. “Come on, Brother Yi, what’s the matter? Is Uncle Li the emperor or my father? What did he force you to do?”

Li Yi gritted his teeth and spoke with eyes closed, “I can’t say much—it was Uncle Li, that is, the great emperor of the Tang, who forced me. He insisted I go to the brothel for some business. I said I wouldn’t, because deep down, I’m strongly against it. But if I refused, Uncle Li threatened to do things to me, so to avoid that, I had no choice!”

He finished, not daring to open his eyes, fearing the storm that might follow. Yet moments later, laughter erupted.

Li Xueyan: “Oh, Brother Yi, I thought it was something serious! Just this? And you act like you’re sacrificing yourself heroically! Hahaha, you’re killing me!”

Li Yi was bewildered. “Isn’t this serious? It’s visiting a brothel!”

Changle: “Brother Li, clearly you haven’t been. Where did you get your ideas? Who said entering a brothel means you must do those things? There are many legitimate professions there—most of the women are performers, not courtesans.”

“What? The brothels of Tang are like this? Such purity in antiquity? Did I come to the wrong era? Is this really the Tang Dynasty?”

Well, Li Yi was once again looked down upon, but he had only himself to blame for not asking properly. Of course, such matters were rarely openly discussed—who could have foreseen this? No wonder Li You frequented those places! Damn, it was all a misunderstanding!