Chapter 86: You Are Surrounded by Me

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

“General Wuwei, you’ve made me search high and low!”

Li Shenggui, hearing Xiao Baoyin say this, was visibly flattered.

“What does Your Highness want with me?”

“General, you’ve achieved great merit on the northern frontier, your fame spreading to the four barbarians. I’ve long wished to meet you, but lamented your busy duties left no chance. Today, learning you’re on leave, I’ve come specially to invite you to my mansion for a gathering!”

Li Shenggui hesitated, saying:

“But today I’m hosting a welcome feast for my brothers!”

Xiao Baoyin glanced at Li Shuang—just one look, yet laden with meaning.

Though Xiao Baoyin quickly averted his gaze, Li Shuang felt the excitement in that moment, like a hunter who’d found his prey.

“No matter. I’ve already prepared wine and dancing girls at my mansion—it’s the same thing!”

Li Shenggui could not refuse, and took Li Shuang and the others to the Qi Mansion.

In Luoyangcheng, both inner city and outer walls were divided into li-fangs—small districts enclosed by walls, each managed separately.

From this, thieves and bandits were eradicated!

Of course, li-fangs differed from one another.

Those with many residents housed hundreds of households; the few had only a handful.

The Qi Mansion’s li-fang, for instance, held only three households—all high-ranking officials and nobles.

Luoyangcheng stood at the starting point of the Silk Road, with three markets where Hu merchants came and went without end, their treasures dazzlingly abundant.

Worse still, the Northern Wei imperial family maintained a royal zoo—the White Elephant Fang and the Lion Fang—housing elephants and lions gifted from India and Persia.

But the greatest feature, without doubt, was the Buddhist temples.

As the group arrived outside the Qi Mansion, distant pagodas rose high, and the chanting of sutras echoed softly.

Du Mu once wrote: “Four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties, all lost in mist and rain!”

But compared to Luoyang, that was child’s play. Luoyang alone had over thirteen hundred temples!

Hu Hou and her family were devout Buddhists; her aunt, Hu Sengzhi, was a renowned bhikshuni.

When Hu Sengzhi entered the palace to preach Buddhist doctrine, she recommended her niece as well—and thus came Hu Hou’s rise to power.

Before Hu Hou was imprisoned, she spent vast sums building temples and grottoes, and erected the Yongning Temple within Luoyangcheng, housing a nine-story pagoda one hundred zhang tall!

Alas, Yongning could not remain eternal.

The flute melodies still drifted through Luoyangcheng, but beyond its walls, smoke rose from countless fires—the Liuzhen had risen in rebellion, and the realm was in turmoil.

Xiao Baoyin dismounted before his mansion and said:

“Please!”

Besides Li Shenggui and Li Shuang, those invited included several of Li Shenggui’s comrades, one of whom, Cao Ni, kept trailing behind Li Shuang, peering about curiously.

“What are you doing?”

Li Shuang was puzzled, when Cao Ni whispered:

“Lord Yunzhong, I feel something’s wrong!”

“What’s wrong?”

“This is probably a Hongmen Banquet—you must be careful.”

Li Shuang looked at the man, puzzled. They’d just met—why was he so open, treating Li Shuang like a close friend?

Then Cao Ni whispered:

“I’ve long heard of your heroic deeds on the northern frontier—I’ve admired you for years, and yearn to learn from you. If I ever get the chance, I’d beg for your guidance!”

Li Shuang stared at the man.

If he was clever, he acted like a naive teenager.

If he wasn’t clever, he’d seen through Xiao Baoyin’s ill intent.

Unlike Li Shenggui, who now seemed eager to rush to the table.

“Brother, are you ready?”

Li Shenggui and Xiao Baoyin stood at the gate, urging him.

“I’m coming!”

Just before entering the mansion, Li Shuang gave Hou Jing a glance. The man understood, and his figure faded into the crowd.

Xiao Baoyin had indeed prepared wine and dancing girls.

Each guest had been assigned a beautiful courtesan to accompany him.

These courtesans were kept within the mansion, tasked with entertaining guests.

If a guest took a liking to one, and the master granted permission, it was common for her to be taken away.

The imperial guards who accompanied Li Shenggui had no right to sit in the Qi Mansion’s main hall.

But Xiao Baoyin didn’t care.

At the banquet, the atmosphere was lively. As they drank, several imperial guards took their courtesans and vanished.

Li Shenggui, seated at the main table, kept talking with Xiao Baoyin.

Throughout, Xiao Baoyin never once looked at Li Shuang.

Near dusk, Li Shenggui was thoroughly drunk and collapsed into the lap of the courtesan beside him.

“General Wuwei truly can drink—I nearly got drunk myself!”

At Xiao Baoyin’s signal, the two courtesans flanking Li Shenggui lifted him onto the table and left.

Cao Ni, sensing danger, had feigned drunkenness and slumped over his table.

The music and dancing were removed; the room fell silent.

Xiao Baoyin’s face was flushed, but his mind was clear.

He finally turned to Li Shuang.

The man who hadn’t drunk much since entering the mansion.

“Lord Yunzhong, I’ve long heard of your name!”

“I’ve heard of Your Highness’s name as well!”

The two exchanged glances; Xiao Baoyin smiled:

“Where, may I ask, did you hear of me?”

“From Wei Langer, of course!”

“Surely not only from him!” Xiao Baoyin chuckled. “Lately, rumors say the Liuzhen rebels crossed the Yellow River, and their leader, Po Liuhan Baling, has vanished. Could you enlighten me, Lord Yunzhong?”

“Your Highness jests—how would I know where that rebel leader went?”

“Yet I’ve heard that while you commanded Shuozhou, you frequently corresponded with the rebel leader.”

“Your Highness, such base accusations are not to be spoken lightly!”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Baoyin’s expression darkened.

“It seems I must resort to force before Lord Yunzhong speaks the truth.”

Outside, footsteps sounded—dozens of eunuch servants armed with weapons surrounded the room.

Li Shuang, seeing this, showed no fear.

“What is Your Highness’s intent?”

“Nothing more than capturing a traitor who conspired with the Liuzhen rebels!”

“My brother Li Chong is still here—dare Your Highness act?”

Xiao Baoyin merely laughed, utterly unconcerned.

“Your sworn brother’s life is valuable—but yours is not. Even if you die, Li Chong can do nothing to me!”

Xiao Baoyin loomed above, arrogant and reckless, as if he’d already won.

“So I have no choice but to speak?”

“Wise of you!”

“I did meet the emissary of Po Liuhan Baling. I told her—if things became unbearable, she could come to Your Highness.”

Xiao Baoyin’s face turned livid with rage.

“Do you truly not fear death?”

The setting sun cast its last glow; within the temple, bells rang, and the Buddha’s voice soothed the heart.

Within the Qi Mansion, murderous intent surged.

Li Shuang showed no sign of pleading—instead, he smiled:

“Your Highness, do you truly believe these dozens of eunuch servants can handle me?”

For an instant, Xiao Baoyin felt as if he himself were the prey.

……