[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan":3,"chapter-memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-62":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Memoirs of the Heavenly Khagan",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2311780,4516,"Chapter 62: All Mistakes Are My Fault","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-62",62,"\u003Cp>Hedong Commandery, the secondary residence of Prince Guangyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since returning from the northern frontier, Yuan Shen had become the laughingstock of Luoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew he had embezzled military pay and privately sold weapons for a woman from the grasslands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Xuan did not impose a severe punishment on him, merely stripping him of all official posts while retaining his noble title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shen felt he had no face to remain in Luoyang, found an excuse, and fled to Hedong, drowning himself in wine day after day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, the Prince of Qi has arrived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Prince of Qi was not a member of the Northern Wei imperial clan, but a very special figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Baoyin, sixth son of Emperor Ming of the Southern Qi dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yuan clan of Northern Wei, in some ways, were awkward—they claimed themselves as the true lineage and called the Southern courts “island barbarians,” yet inwardly felt insecure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Emperor Xiao Yan of the current Liang dynasty rose in rebellion and destroyed the Southern Qi, he purged the Southern Qi imperial clan. After Xiao Baoyin escaped, this remnant of the Southern court became a banner for Northern Wei’s propaganda, proving their legitimacy and Liang’s illegitimacy. Added to his own considerable talent and skill in winning people’s loyalty, he received extraordinary favor in Northern Wei, rising steadily in rank and power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shen had long been on good terms with Xiao Baoyin; upon hearing of his visit, he immediately tidied his robes and went to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Baoyin was a handsome gentleman, strikingly beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shen welcomed him into his residence with great courtesy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness has come here—this humble prince is deeply honored.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Guangyang, you are too kind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sitting down, Xiao Baoyin quickly got to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Guangyang, have you heard that Li Chong claims to be ill and unfit for the campaign against rebels? The Emperor has granted his request!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shen’s expression turned solemn, and he chuckled bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What use is it to tell me this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Guangyang has always had ambition—surely now is not the time to abandon your desire to return to the northern frontier?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My subordinates in Pingcheng were killed by the traitor Helü Jin during the campaign in Shuozhou. What can I do, returning alone to Pingcheng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are a senior minister of the court—even if your old subordinates perished in service, can you not recruit new ones? Why give up so easily?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shen chuckled bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does Prince Qi not know who currently controls court politics?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court was dominated by Yuan Yi; his confidant Er Zhu Rong was now active frequently in Bing, Si, Heng, and Shuo provinces. Yuan Shen’s old subordinates on the northern frontier had been completely purged—what good would returning do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Xiao Baoyin smiled faintly, as if he had long anticipated Yuan Shen’s response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Emperor is growing older—how can he tolerate Yuan Yi’s grip on court affairs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Yuan Shen’s face turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why has Prince Qi come here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Baoyin did not hesitate—he spoke plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Empress Dowager sent me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shen fell into thought, realizing that after the palace coups of recent years, Luoyang’s political landscape would soon undergo another violent shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he, too, had reached the moment to choose sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does the Empress Dowager want me to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Chong has stepped down. The Empress Dowager does not wish to see the entire northern frontier controlled by Yuan Yi’s men. She needs a loyal imperial clansman to garrison the region.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what of Pingcheng…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The key to quelling the rebellion in Pingwoye lies in Shuozhou and Xiaozhou. Prince Guangyang may be appointed to garrison Tongwan City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Prince Qi, for your guidance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside Prince Guangyang’s residence, a carriage had already been waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shen personally saw Xiao Baoyin off, and before parting, presented him with an expensive glass cup. Only after the carriage had vanished did he return inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the carriage, incense burned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Baoyin gently waved a fan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him sat a man—Wei Langen, who had just returned from Shuozhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, you’ve worked hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I dare not claim credit. But Li Chong seems to have sensed I am acting on your behalf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Baoyin paid no mind, adding more incense to the brazier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The tiger in its lair is old—no threat. But what of his son, Li Shenguai? He went to the northern frontier and suddenly transformed from a playboy into a war god?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Langen bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Shenguai is still the same Li Shenguai. But the strategist behind him cannot be underestimated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Shuang, Li Chong’s adopted son, and Er Zhu Rong’s adopted brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Baoyin murmured the name, committing it to memory, then glanced at the glass cup Yuan Shen had given him and disdainfully tossed it out of the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Barbarians are barbarians—no matter how they change their appearance, they can never hide the stench of their flesh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yunzhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third Master, you’ve finally arrived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Mu looked at Li Shuang, tears streaming down his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you so moved, General?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Mu, deeply aggrieved, shook Li Shuang’s shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know how I’ve lived these past days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang laughed heartily and patted Fei Mu’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Life in Yunzhong has been hard, but your efforts will not go unrewarded. I just received word—the court has decided to transfer you to Pingcheng as Deputy Commander! Congratulations—you’ve been promoted!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Mu’s eyes lit up with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I can just leave this place, even if they made me a common soldier, I’d accept.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Fei Mu nearly floating with happiness, Li Shuang quickly added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t celebrate yet—there’s more good news!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Grand Commander is Li Shenguai!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Mu, who had just soared into the air, crashed down into the mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, he heard nothing Li Shuang said—his mind went blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The court, recognizing your adoptive brother’s success in suppressing rebellion in Yunzhong, has appointed him as General Who Subdues the North, Grand Commander of Northern Campaigns, and overall commander of all military affairs in Heng and Shuo provinces…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang noticed Fei Mu had frozen mid-sentence and nudged him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you moving?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Mu suddenly dropped to his knees, wailing, his voice trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heaven! What sin have I committed for you to punish me so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li Shenguai walked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After so long, Li Shenguai had grown stout, a sharp contrast to Fei Mu’s gaunt frame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong with Fei Mu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know—he suddenly turned like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shenguai shook his head, complaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ignore him. This fellow is always acting strange and causing me endless trouble. If I weren’t here managing everything, how could the entire northern frontier remain so stable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shenguai turned to Li Shuang, his eyes filled with approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Younger brother, I heard you’ve been promoted too—you’re now a General!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s all thanks to your achievements—I merely bask in your glory!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re family—no need for formalities. From now on, follow me, and you’ll never go wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Elder Brother, for your guidance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two walked away, Fei Mu felt his heart shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You say I cause you trouble?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I hadn’t been cleaning up after you all this time, would you have gained those extra ten catties of fat? Would you have become Grand Commander of Northern Campaigns?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Commander of Northern Campaigns?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Mu suddenly realized something—before, he had been cleaning up after this brat. But now, it was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shenguai was now his superior!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was cleaning up after your superior still called “cleaning up after”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leapt up, scurried after them with tiny steps, softening his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Commander, your humble servant has caused you trouble—please don’t be angry, lest you harm your health. I would die a thousand deaths to atone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>",1307,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d4a77c7232bb3ae1f282235666e3ed0e2838b527018018d167e94bce946bba42","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-63","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-61",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]