Chapter Eleven: Awakening with a Start

Once again, Li Kong returned to the Duke’s Manor.

He hadn’t even had a chance to see his mother before a servant informed him that he had been assigned a separate courtyard. As for his mother, she had already moved in during the day.

Not only that, but his new quarters even came with a steward, two manservants, and five handmaidens. Such an arrangement was usually reserved for the legitimate eldest son.

In a daze, Li Kong was led to his new residence—a courtyard of more than three hundred square meters, complete with gardens, vegetable patches, pavilions, and towers. There was a main house and two wings, altogether a miniature quadrangle courtyard.

The yard was located on the eastern side of the manor, less than fifty meters from the main gate—a prime location, far superior to the shabby room he used to live in.

Pushing open the door, he saw a neatly dressed woman sitting with her chin propped on her hands, gazing expectantly toward the entrance. The lines on her face had smoothed, and she looked much more spirited.

“Mother? Why are you still up so late?” After a day of acclimatization, Li Kong had fully accepted this newfound familial bond. He felt no awkwardness as he took off his fur coat and set it aside, asking as he did so.

“Yue’e, is that rascal back?” No sooner had Li Kong spoken than Li Ji’s voice rang out from behind, and a tall, imposing figure emerged from behind the screen—it was indeed Li Ji.

Seeing this man suddenly appear, Li Kong’s expression shifted, but he quickly recalled that Li Ji was his father, so it was only natural for him to be here.

Still dissatisfied, he grumbled, “Father, why have you come here? It’s freezing.”

Li Ji, exasperated, thought to himself that while his actions yesterday might have been questionable and he had deceived Li Kong in the past, hadn’t he already resolved things before Li Shimin’s visit? If he knew that Li Kong’s displeasure stemmed from finding him in bed with his mother in the middle of the night, he might well be driven mad with anger.

Li Kong’s mother, originally named Xiaoya, had been renamed Li Yue’e by Li Yuan—an arrangement that was part of her ceding the position of principal wife to Li Ji’s main spouse.

Seeing her son at odds with Li Ji, Li Yue’e assumed the earlier rift had not been mended. She quickly rose and said, “What’s wrong with you two? If there’s something to discuss, do it calmly. Don’t sow discord at home.”

Li Kong snorted, “He has several wives already, yet he left you in that rundown room. Why aren’t you more assertive?”

Li Ji suddenly understood, and promptly gave Li Kong a swift kick, scolding, “You brat, this was all for your sake! Now that you’re back, get some sleep—you have to rise early for lessons at the Academy tomorrow.”

Li Kong pouted, but seeing the expectant look in his mother’s eyes, he relented. For Li Yue’e, to sleep in Li Ji’s arms was her greatest wish; as her son, to interfere would be the height of folly.

Casting a fierce glare at Li Ji, Li Kong retreated to his own room—his private sanctuary.

…

The next day.

The earth greeted the morning bathed in white frost. As Li Kong opened the door and windows, a biting cold wind swept into the room. Shivering, he dressed mechanically and stepped out.

To his chagrin, Li Ji had not yet risen, and his mother was still kept in bed with him. Fortunately, they now had servants; as Li Kong emerged, two maids entered, carrying prepared breakfast and efficiently packing it up for him.

“Young Master, Steward Fu is waiting outside. Shall we go now?” one maid asked once everything was ready.

Li Kong shot a glare at the bedroom, grunted in reply, snatched up his bundle, and strode out. Out of sight, out of mind—he’d just pretend it was all a dream.

But the thought that this might become routine made him want to cry. He cursed inwardly, “Damn it, I need to find an excuse to move out, or I’ll be tormented to death.”

A new day—yet the Academy was as lively as ever.

When Li Kong entered the classroom, nearly everyone had arrived. Scanning the room, he easily spotted Li Lizhi in a corner, smiling at him. The young girl’s face was tinged with a blush—whether from shyness or the cold, he couldn’t tell.

Beside Li Lizhi sat another girl, almost as pretty, but seemingly younger. The two of them were the only female students in the entire Academy.

“Who is she?” Li Kong wondered, scratching his head. Though Li Shimin had another daughter, Princess Xiangcheng, she was Li Lizhi’s elder sister and should be about ten years old—not a match.

Puzzled, Li Kong took his seat, waiting quietly for the lesson to begin.

It’s worth noting that although the Academy was established under Li Yuan, classes only truly commenced after Li Shimin became crown prince—just last year.

Furthermore, since the students were all princes and imperial scions, there was but one teacher—old Kong Yingda. As for later arrivals such as Yan Liben, they were still at the bottom rung.

Having been fiercely rebuked by Li Kong the day before, Kong Yingda was in a foul mood and had even lost sleep. When he entered the classroom with dark circles under his eyes, everyone was stunned.

Li Kong stared in disbelief at the old scholar, muttering, “Cosmetics in this era really are all natural.”

Of course, aside from women dabbing on powder, who among men would wear makeup? For a man, it would be the ultimate disgrace.

Kong Yingda shot Li Kong a venomous glare, then began the lesson. Though he had been twice challenged by Li Kong, his teaching was unchanged—so monotonous that Li Kong nearly dozed off.

“Am I really going to muddle through a whole year like this?” Li Kong suddenly snapped awake.

The early years of the Zhenguan era were peaceful, with no wars, but now it was already winter. The ‘Alliance of the Wei River’ was less than half a year away. To avoid that humiliation, some things could wait no longer.

Just then, two figures entered at the door. Instantly, everyone stood up and shouted, “Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!”

The sudden outcry startled Li Kong. Looking up, he leapt to his feet and exclaimed, “Your Majesty, you’ve come at just the right time—I have something to say!”

Everyone was dumbstruck, including Li Shimin, who had just entered.

Remembering the previous night, Li Shimin’s anger flared, and he snapped, “You rascal, come out here immediately!”

Li Kong froze, blinking as he searched his memories, wondering what he could have done to provoke such wrath from the emperor. But as far as he could recall… apparently… probably nothing?