Chapter 2: Parents and Brothers

Lady Liu's residence was naturally deep within the prince's mansion, separated from Liu Chengyou's sleeping quarters by several courtyards. Paying respects to Lady Liu was Liu Chengyou's daily compulsory lesson since his transmigration—twice a day, morning and evening, in rain or shine. Though it inevitably carried an element of performance, over time it could hardly fail to stir some genuine feeling. After all, Lady Liu was exceedingly kind to Liu Chengyou, her maternal affection both true and sincere, and Liu Chengyou could feel it.

"Second Son." A call from outside Lady Liu's bedchamber snapped Liu Chengyou back to his senses. Within the mansion, only those closest to him dared address Liu Chengyou in this manner.

Looking up, he saw a young man in brocade robes approaching with a smile—handsome in appearance, elegant in bearing, the very image of a jade-like gentleman. His warm smile gave one the feeling of a spring breeze, instinctively inspiring fondness. This was Liu Chengyou's eldest brother, Chengxun, eight years his senior. Of gentle and generous character, he placed great weight on filial piety and brotherly duty, and his good name was renowned throughout Jinyang. He was deeply beloved by their parents.

"Elder Brother!" Without so much as a blink, Liu Chengyou clasped his fists in salute—somewhat coldly.

Apparently accustomed to Liu Chengyou's manner, Liu Chengxun took no offense. His gaze lingered on him for a moment, then he opened his mouth, only to let it dissolve into a sigh. Stepping closer, he patted Liu Chengyou's shoulder: "Come, let us go pay our respects to Mother first."

"Mm!" Liu Chengyou nodded, calmly stepping aside to make way, then added three words: "Elder Brother, after you."

The two brothers entered together and performed their bows of greeting. Lady Liu had already prepared some morning food in the hall. The room's furnishings were likewise quite ordinary, showing not the slightest trace of extravagance. The food was simple too—plain congee, flatbreads, and a few pickled side dishes.

Lady Liu, née Li, was a middle-aged woman with phoenix eyes and a delicate nose, poised and dignified, carrying considerable authority. She was the sort of virtuous helpmeet who could grace a hall and manage a kitchen alike.

The marriage between Lady Li and Liu Zhiyuan carried a certain "legendary" quality—it was, quite simply, bride-knapping. Back in the days of the Liang-Jin struggle for supremacy, Liu Zhiyuan had been a common soldier in Hedong, herding horses in Jinyang. He had sought Lady Li's hand in marriage and been refused, so he gathered a band of brothers and slipped into her home by night to carry her off. The Yuan playwright Liu Tangqing had even adapted this into an embellished drama, *The White Rabbit Record of Liu Zhiyuan*, with Lady Li serving as the prototype for the classic theatrical figure "Li Sanniang."

Of course, Lady Li's experiences were hardly as fraught with hardship as the opera depicted. She and Liu Zhiyuan lived in harmony—he handled affairs outside, devoting himself to military service, galloping across battlefields, earning merit and building achievements; she managed the household, bearing and raising his children, keeping the Liu residence in perfect order, never troubling Liu Zhiyuan with domestic matters.

Though Lady Li came from a farming family, she was virtuous and sensible, generous in her dealings with others, and universally respected. A wife's status rose with her husband's—as Liu Zhiyuan climbed in power, she was enfeoffed as Lady of the State of Wei, honored and exalted.

"Eldest Son, the times are turbulent and changes are hard to predict. Affairs are manifold, and your father's burdens grow heavier by the day as he toils without rest. Serving at his side, you must support him well and share his worries." Her gaze swept over both sons with affection, then Lady Li fixed her attention on the eldest and admonished him.

From her words alone, one could tell that Lady Li was no ordinary woman—she was clearly a person of considerable insight. Liu Chengxun, for his part, seemed not to grasp the deeper meaning, merely nodding obediently: "Your son understands."

Turning her head, she looked at Liu Chengyou, who sat silently sipping his congee and chewing slowly on a flatbread. Between her broad brows, a trace of worry crept in. Since that accident last year, this son had become obedient and respectful, his conduct proper and courteous. This was all well and good, but his temperament had turned cold as stone, and a smile rarely graced his face. It truly grieved her heart.

Liu Chengyou held considerable respect for Lady Li in his heart, but owing to his temperament, the words were hard to voice. Feeling her concerned gaze, he finally lifted his lowered eyelids. Looking at Lady Li's dignified, loving face, he opened his mouth and at last managed to squeeze out a sentence: "The spring chill lingers, and the nights are cold enough to bite to the bone. Mother, you should take care of your health..."

Hearing this, Lady Li could not help but let out a relieved breath. A faint smile surfaced on her kindly face—after all, the old Liu Chengyou could never have spoken such intimate, caring words.

Lady Li did not subject the two brothers to excessive nagging. At most, she gave Liu Chengyou another round of reminders to be cautious in his military affairs and not to act recklessly.

As the son of Liu Zhiyuan, Prince of Beiping, Liu Chengyou naturally held official posts—previously serving as acting Commissioner of the Festival Hall and Merit-Inspecting Vice Director of the Right under the Ministry of State Affairs. Though the Festival Hall Commissioner nominally oversaw the weighty matters of banners and ceremonial standards, the position no longer carried the prestige it had in the Tang dynasty. And while the title of Vice Director of the Ministry of State Affairs sounded impressive, it had long become a sinecure for settling honors on the meritorious.

Liu Chengyou was hardly content with this. With his elder brother Liu Chengxun having long since entered the headquarters and assisted with military and civil affairs, Liu Chengyou had requested a military post for himself in late autumn of last year. Faced with this request, Liu Zhiyuan was surprised, but after consideration—perhaps harboring the intention of tempering his second son—he actually agreed. And so Liu Chengyou suddenly became Chief Commander of the Longqi Army of the Northern Capital, commanding an entire army.

Taking leave of Lady Li, the two brothers walked together toward the mansion's main hall. Unsurprisingly, Liu Chengyou's expression had turned stern once more.

His peripheral vision kept stealing glances at that silent face. Only the sound of their footsteps filled the path. Before long, Liu Chengxun could no longer hold back. A hint of awkwardness crept onto his refined features as he proactively struck up conversation: "Second Son, I hear the troops in the army are arrogant and hard to manage, that they don't quite accept you and have repeatedly made things difficult for you. If you have any troubles, tell your elder brother—I'll put in a word with Father on your behalf..."

At this, Liu Chengyou shot his elder brother a sidelong glance, then turned his head to look straight ahead. His tone seemed to soften somewhat, though it remained indifferent: "No need for Elder Brother to worry. The fierce soldiers of the army, I shall tame them myself. Mm, thank you for your kind intentions. What I do rely on Elder Brother for is military supplies—provisions and pay..."

"Rest assured! You shall not want for them!" Liu Chengxun waved his hand, speaking with considerable magnanimity.

As they walked, Liu Chengxun sighed and began muttering in Liu Chengyou's ear: "Military life is hard, with killing aura filling the nights. With your pampered constitution, how could you endure such hardship? It would only make Mother worry. Why not petition Father and return to the mansion for some post?"

Hearing Liu Chengxun say this, a subtle change flickered across Liu Chengyou's cold face. He tilted his head to observe Liu Chengxun's expression, but saw only genuine concern in his eyes and a natural demeanor.

His eyes narrowed slightly. Liu Chengyou answered in a low voice: "When Father was my age, he was already wielding sword and spear, bathing in blood on the battlefield. He cut through thorns and brambles, endured countless dangers, and only then achieved what he has today. Compared to the hardships Father endured in founding our fortunes, what is a little hardship in the army?"

Surprised, Liu Chengxun looked at Liu Chengyou, his brows rising slightly. He let out a light sigh and remarked with feeling: "Second Son, you truly have grown up. It seems I, as the elder brother, am the one who has grown fond of ease and averse to difficulty. Enough—let us speak no more of this."

While Liu Chengxun was sighing with emotion, Liu Chengyou was quietly assessing him in turn, though nothing unusual could be read from Liu Chengyou's face—as if his words came straight from the heart. Withdrawing his gaze, Liu Chengyou mused inwardly that, from his observation, this elder brother did not seem like a scheming man. But why had he made that suggestion? Could it truly be mere concern for his younger brother?

A burst of noise interrupted Liu Chengyou's somewhat gloomy thoughts. A young boy came bounding over with laughter, mist clinging to his clothes and spring mud on his trouser cuffs, having apparently been roaming about somewhere. This was Liu Zhiyuan's third son, Liu Chenghsun.

The youthful lad was all animated excitement, but upon spotting his two elder brothers, his expression immediately turned solemn and he stepped forward to pay his respects. Liu Chengxun scolded him with a laugh: "Carrying on so frivolously—if Father catches you, you'll be punished again!"

Sticking out his tongue, Liu Chenghsun chuckled. But when he caught sight of Liu Chengyou, his little face immediately fell. Unlike the elder brother's affability, this second brother had become rather strange and frightening—a veritable judge-of-hell face that filled the boy with dread.

"I'm going to find Mother..." Tossing out that line, Liu Chenghsun avoided Liu Chengyou's gaze and hurried off.

"You scared Third Son!" Seeing this, Liu Chengxun shook his head with a wry smile and said to Liu Chengyou.

Unfortunately, Liu Chengyou showed little reaction. Withdrawing his gaze, he continued walking. After pondering for a moment, he finally took the initiative to ask: "I hear Father has again sent men bearing rare silks and fine horses to Bianjing to pay court to the Khitan ruler?"

"Indeed!" Rarely seeing Liu Chengyou take the initiative to ask about affairs, Liu Chengxun immediately poured out everything like beans from a jar, worry flickering across his face as he spoke: "Father sent Lord Bai in person. The Khitan are mighty in force and strong in arms, and with a hundred thousand surrendered troops to bolster them, they have occupied the Central Plains, with all the regional commands vying to pledge allegiance. Though Father has dispatched troops to guard the passes and strategic points, he dares not fail to submit a memorial of fealty. Otherwise, should the Khitan army come, with Hedong's strength alone, I fear we could hardly withstand them."

Faced with Liu Chengxun's anxiety, Liu Chengyou gave little response—just a nod, then silence. Before his transmigration, Liu Chengyou had some familiarity with this period of history since the late Tang, if not deep knowledge, then at least a passing acquaintance. With confidence in his heart, Liu Chengxun's worries counted for nothing. The Khitan army was numerous and strong, but facing the people's war in Hebei and the Central Plains, they too would find it hard to hold.

Seeing that he had ultimately failed to stir Liu Chengyou's interest, Liu Chengxun found it dull as well and somewhat helplessly made his way with him toward the mansion's main hall.

The main hall of the Prince of Beiping's mansion was naturally built with imposing grandeur. An elder in brocade robes—stern-faced, magnanimous in bearing, and radiating august dignity—sat in the seat of honor, speaking with ease and assurance. This elder was none other than Liu Zhiyuan: Defender of the Northern Capital, Military Governor of Hedong, Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Field Headquarters, Grand Commandant, and Prince of Beiping.

In the hall were also several yamen officers, envoys, and clerical officials subordinate to the Hedong Military Governor—all Liu Zhiyuan's trusted confidants. Clearly, the powerholders of Hedong had been very busy of late, gathering to discuss affairs this early in the morning.

The two brothers entered one after another, and the assembled subordinates were gracious enough to rise and bow in salute. Liu Zhiyuan wore a heavy, dignified expression. His gaze softened somewhat as he looked at the two brothers, lingering a moment longer on Liu Chengyou. Waving his hand, he gave a direct order: "Today is the spring plowing festival. You two shall accompany me to the fields with hoe and plow, to encourage agriculture and sericulture!"

"Yes!" Liu Chengxun responded out of habit.

As Liu Chengyou responded in kind, speculation began churning in his mind—this was, he figured, going to be another bit of political theater.