Chapter 86: You Are Surrounded by Me

Outside the city, Xiao Baoyin, surrounded by a crowd, arrived before Li Shuang and the others.

"General of the General Wuwei, you have made this Prince search for you long enough!"

Li Shen, hearing Xiao Baoyin speak thus, felt somewhat honored and surprised.

"What does Your Highness seek of me?"

"General, you have established merit in the Northern Frontier, and your fame has spread among the four barbarians. This Prince has long wished to meet you, but only regretted that the General's official duties were too busy, leaving no chance for an encounter. Today, learning the General is on leave, this Prince has come specially to invite the General to gather at this Prince's residence!"

Li Shen felt somewhat troubled and said:

"But today I must welcome my brothers!"

Xiao Baoyin glanced at Li Shuang; just that one glance was deeply significant.

Although Xiao Baoyin quickly shifted his gaze away, Li Shuang felt Xiao Baoyin's excitement in that moment, like a hunter who had found his prey.

"It matters not; this Prince has already prepared wine, songs, and dances at the residence. Gathering at this Prince's home is the same!"

Li Shen could not refuse, so he led Li Shuang and the others to the Prince of Qi's residence.

In Luoyangcheng, whether the inner city or the outer suburbs, the layout was based on wards; that is, the city was divided into small districts, each ward built with surrounding walls and managed separately.

From then on, treachery and theft were completely banned!

Of course, there were differences between wards.

Some wards with many residents housed hundreds of households, while others had only a few.

For instance, where the Prince of Qi's residence stood, a single ward contained only three households, all of high officials and nobles.

Luoyangcheng lay at the starting point of the Silk Road; three markets were established within the city, with Hu merchants coming and going without cease, and all kinds of precious treasures were dazzling to behold.

Furthermore, the Northern Wei imperial family even built a royal zoo, the White Elephant Ward and the Lion Ward, where they raised elephants and lions tribute from India and Persia.

But if one were to speak of the greatest feature, it was undoubtedly the Buddhist temples.

The group arrived outside the Prince of Qi's residence; from afar, one could see pagodas towering high, with waves of Zen sounds.

Du Mu once wrote, "Four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties, how many towers stand in the misty rain!"

Yet compared to Luoyang, that was a small matter compared to a great one. In Luoyang alone, there were over thirteen hundred temples!

Hu Hou's entire family believed in Buddhism; her aunt, Hu Sengzhi, was a famous nun.

Years ago, when Hu Sengzhi entered the palace to preach Buddhist doctrines, she also recommended her niece to enter the palace, which led to Hu Hou's later prominence.

Before Hu Hou was imprisoned, she spent vast sums of money to build Buddhist temples and grottoes, and even constructed the Yongning Temple within Luoyangcheng, building a nine-story pagoda inside the temple, one hundred zhang high!

Alas, Yongning could not remain forever peaceful.

The sound of flutes still echoed within Luoyangcheng, but outside the city walls, beacon fires rose on all sides; the Liuzhen rebelled, and the world was not at peace.

Xiao Baoyin dismounted before the residence and said:

"Please enter!"

Among those invited, besides Li Shen and Li Shuang, were several friends Li Shen had brought, one of whom was named Cao Ni, who had been trailing behind Li Shuang, peeking and prying.

"What is this, sir?"

Li Shuang was puzzled, but heard Cao Ni say:

"Lord of Yunzhong, I feel something is amiss!"

"What is it?"

"This gathering at the Prince of Qi's is likely a Hongmen Banquet; you must be careful."

Li Shuang looked at this person, somewhat strange; they had just met, yet how could the other be so open-hearted, treating him as if he were no stranger at all?

But he heard Cao Ni whisper:

"I have long heard of your various heroic deeds in the Northern Frontier, admired you for a long time, and yearned for you. If there is an opportunity, I wish to learn much from you!"

Li Shuang looked at this fellow.

If one said he was clever, he seemed like a middle-schooler.

If one said he was not clever, he could still see that Xiao Baoyin had no good intentions.

Unlike Li Shen, who at this moment looked entirely as if he were rushing to eat.

"Brother, how are you?"

Li Shen and Xiao Baoyin stood at the entrance; he urged on.

"I am coming right now!"

Just before entering the residence gate, Li Shuang gave Hou Jing a glance. The other understood, and his figure gradually vanished from the group.

Xiao Baoyin had indeed prepared wine, songs, and dances.

Moreover, a beautiful companion for drinking was arranged for each person.

These beauties were kept within the residence, with the duty of entertaining guests.

Moreover, if a guest took a fancy to one and received the master's permission, taking her away was a common occurrence.

The imperial guards' sons who followed Li Shen today originally did not have the qualification to sit in the hall of the Prince of Qi's residence.

However, Xiao Baoyin did not care.

At the banquet, the atmosphere was very lively. As they drank, those imperial guards' sons left with the beauties, disappearing without a trace.

Li Shen, seated in the main position, kept conversing with Xiao Baoyin.

From beginning to end, Xiao Baoyin did not look at Li Shuang once.

Near dusk, Li Shen had drunk enough and collapsed into the arms of the beauty beside him.

"General of the General Wuwei can truly drink; this Prince was almost drunk by him!"

At Xiao Baoyin's signal, two beauties on Li Shen's left and right supported Li Shen onto the table and then departed.

Seeing the situation was wrong, Cao Ni had long since feigned drunkenness and collapsed onto the table.

The songs and dances were removed from the room, and it became quiet.

Xiao Baoyin's face was flushed red, yet his mind remained perfectly clear.

He finally looked at Li Shuang.

This was the man who had hardly touched a drop of wine since entering the Wang Fu.

"Earl of Yunzhong, I have long heard of your fame!"

"The name of the Prince of Qi is also something I have long heard of!"

The two exchanged a glance, and Xiao Baoyin smiled.

"I wonder, Earl of Yunzhong, from where did you hear of this King's name?"

"Naturally, I heard it from Wei Lan-gen!"

"I suspect it is not only that!" Xiao Baoyin smiled. "Lately, I have heard that after the Liuzhen rebels crossed the Yellow River, the bandit leader Puluohan Han Baling has vanished without a trace. Can Earl of Yunzhong enlighten this King?"

"Your Highness jokes. Where that bandit leader has gone, how would I know?"

"But how is it I heard that when Earl of Yunzhong was stationed at Shuozhou, you frequently had dealings with that bandit leader?"

"Your Highness, such words must not be spoken recklessly!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Baoyin's expression changed.

"It seems that unless I employ some measures, Earl of Yunzhong will not speak the truth."

Suddenly, footsteps arose outside the house; dozens of Cangtou slaves, holding weapons, surrounded the building.

Seeing this, Li Shuang felt no fear whatsoever.

"What does Your Highness mean by this?"

"Nothing more than capturing a rogue who conspires with the Liuzhen rebels!"

"My elder brother Li Shen is still here. Does Your Highness truly dare to strike?"

Xiao Baoyin merely smiled, appearing utterly unconcerned.

"Your sworn brother's life is valuable, but yours is not. Even if you die, Li Chong will be powerless against me!"

Xiao Baoyin looked down from above, carrying a hint of recklessness, as if he had Li Shuang completely cornered.

"Then it seems I have no choice but to speak?"

"It is good that you see reason!"

"I indeed met with an envoy of Puluohan Han Baling and told him that if things truly became unbearable, he could come seek Your Highness!"

Xiao Baoyin's face changed, and rage surged within his heart.

"Do you truly fear no death?"

The setting sun cast its dying light; within the temple, the bell tolled, and the Buddha's sound soothed the heart.

Within the Prince of Qi's residence, murderous intent arose on all sides.

Li Shuang showed not the slightest intention of begging for mercy; instead, he smiled.

"Your Highness, do you think these few dozen Cangtou slaves can deal with me?"

For a fleeting moment, Xiao Baoyin seemed to feel as though he himself was the prey.