Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 195 Brotherly Love
Inside the room, after Xiao Zan left, Li Shuang and Zhu Yi chatted even more enthusiastically.

The Southern Dynasties had been paying close attention to Li Shuang. His actions, especially after entering Guanzhong, further piqued Emperor Xiao Yan's interest.

Otherwise, Zhu Yi, a favorite minister of Emperor Xiao Yan, wouldn't have traveled such a long distance to come here.

Wanting Xiao Zan to return is one thing; what Zhu Yi is really focused on is figuring out what kind of person this Duke of Tang is.

The Southern Liang and Northern Wei dynasties were constantly vying for the high ground in public opinion, with the most intense debate revolving around the succession of the legal system.

The Northern Wei followed the legal lineage of the Han, Cao Wei, Western Jin, and Northern Wei dynasties.

The Southern Liang dynasty followed the legal lineage of Han, Cao Wei, Western Jin, Eastern Jin, Song, Qi, and Liang.

The attitude of the Northern Dynasties towards the Southern Dynasties underwent a turning point.

When Fu Jian wanted to attack the Eastern Jin Dynasty and complete the task of unifying the world, his younger brother Fu Rong tried to dissuade him, arguing that they were originally barbarians, and although the Eastern Jin Dynasty was weak, it was the legitimate dynasty and the Mandate of Heaven had not yet ended.

During the Northern Wei Dynasty, in order to complete the establishment of the state, the Tuoba clan did not recognize the legitimacy of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and considered the Eastern Jin Dynasty established by Sima Rui to be a false dynasty.

Naturally, the subsequent Song, Qi, and Liang dynasties were all illegitimate dynasties.

Although the Northern Wei Dynasty mocked the people to the south as island barbarians, they were actually quite insecure. Therefore, they did a particularly good job of Sinicization, not only fully adopting Han customs, culture, and clothing, but also using a system of aristocratic clans to bridge the gap between the Han and non-Han peoples.

The Southern Liang dynasty, naturally, wouldn't sit idly by and launched a series of offensives in public opinion. No matter how well you've Sinicized, aren't you still a barbarian?
The propaganda of the Southern Liang Dynasty was very influential among the Han Chinese in the Northern Dynasties, especially among the oppressed lower classes and the sons of noble families whose surnames were ranked lower.

"Despite living amidst the barbarian dust, the Duke has managed to restrain himself and strive to glorify the Han dynasty. He truly deserves to be a descendant of the Li family of Longxi!"

"You flatter me. In my entire life, Li Shuang has only known the four words: loyalty to the emperor and love for the country. Nothing else!"

Throughout his conversation, Zhu Yi subtly and overtly revealed Li Shuang's Han Chinese identity.

Zhu Yi wanted to see if Li Shuang would agree with the Southern Liang's explanation, but Li Shuang remained silent, avoiding the question with a set of formalities about ruler and subject.

Li Shuang was also speechless. This guy in front of him spouted a whole bunch of talk about divine mandate and orthodoxy, about how the barbarians bullied the Han people, but he wouldn't get to the point.

You're talking nonsense about passion and not about money!
Just as Li Shuang was getting impatient, a guard rushed in and reported:

"My lord, Xiao Zan has taken Physician Liu hostage!"

"What did you say?"

……

"Xiao Zan, what are you doing!"

Yu Jiulu Qingyu said angrily.

Xiao Zan was in a somewhat manic state at the moment.

Xiao Zan was extreme and tyrannical during the Southern Dynasties, but after coming to the Northern Wei Dynasty, he became much more restrained as he lived under someone else's roof.

After Zhu Yi arrived and wanted to take him back to the Southern Dynasty, Xiao Zan fell into despair, and his extreme and violent emotions were reignited. He used the pretext of seeking medical treatment to kidnap Liu Sixia, who had just returned.

"Bring Ohno Sou here! I want to see him!"

Xiao Zan roared, the dagger in his hand pressed against Liu Sixia's fair neck, almost drawing blood, yet he did not let go for a moment.

Those around them, seeing this scene, dared not approach, fearing they might hurt Liu Sixia.

During the stalemate, Li Shuang and Zhu Yi arrived.

Seeing this situation, Zhu Yi spoke up:

"Your Highness, if you're not going to come with me, fine, but why make things difficult for a weak woman?"

Zhu Yi was good at reading people's hearts. When he saw that Xiao Zan had taken such a young and beautiful woman hostage, he knew that her relationship with Li Shuang was unusual.

"you shut up!"

Xiao Zan roared.

Zhu Yi also shut his mouth at the right time. In this way, the matter would no longer be related to him, and even if the woman was injured afterward, Li Shuang would not be able to blame him.

Seeing this situation, Li Shuang advised:
"Your Highness, why are you doing this?"

"Please address me as Your Majesty, Duke!"

"Your Majesty, if you don't want to go back, no one will force you to. Why make things difficult for Physician Liu? Have you forgotten that when you were in unbearable pain, it was she who prescribed two doses of medicine for you, and only then did your injuries heal!"

Xiao Zan, however, was completely deaf to any advice. "I don't care, all of you step back! Duke, come in with me, and I'll release her!"

Behind Xiao Zan was a medicine furnace. The physician inside saw Liu Sixia being held hostage and immediately ran out to try to rescue her, but he couldn't find an opportunity.

"Okay, I'll go in with you!"

Li Shuang wanted to follow into the medicine furnace, but Zhu Yi advised against it:
"Your Excellency, your life is of utmost importance; you should not be in a dangerous situation!"

Li Shuang chuckled and ignored him.

The medicine furnace was now empty, and there was no one else inside. After Li Shuang left, Xiao Zan told him to close the door, then left Liu Sixia aside, took out a crossbow, and aimed it at Li Shuang.

The distance between Li Shuang and Xiao Zan was almost enough for a crossbow bolt to hit them!

"My lord, I don't want to go back!"

Xiao Zan emphasized his attitude again.

"I know!"

Xiao Zan was on the verge of a breakdown; he roared:

"You don't know! You don't know anything!"

After gaining her freedom, Liu Sixia didn't immediately return to Li Shuang's side, but instead stood in another corner. At this moment, she looked at Xiao Zan and spoke:

"Is there something you've wronged about?"

Xiao Zan looked at Liu Sixia and confided:
“I desecrated my father’s grave, killed my own son, caused the deaths of soldiers in a city, and even put my mother in danger, all to escape Liang and leave Xiao Yan. If I were to go back, what would be the point of all this?”

Xiao Zan's greatest fear came from Xiao Yan.

"You have no idea how terrifying Xiao Yan is!"

When Xiao Zan was emotional, his hands trembled as he looked at Li Shuang.

"I know that as long as Xiao Yan gives you enough benefits, you'll still sell me out!"

Li Shuang laughed, and laughed heartily!
"why are you laughing!"

"Do you really think of me as the kind of person who would disregard the safety of his brothers for money?"

Li Shuang took a step forward.

With each step forward at this distance, the danger increases.

"Do you really think that the glorious years we spent working together to continue the legacy of the Great Qi were worthless?"

"Do you really think that I was willing to come in because of this useless, weak woman?"

"No, you're wrong. Brothers are like limbs, women are like clothes. I came in because I can't bear to leave my brothers!"

Li Shuang took a step forward with each sentence she spoke.

Xiao Zan began to waver, but when he reached a critical point, he was still resisting.

"Don't come over here!"

After saying this, Xiao Zan collapsed, lying on the ground, his body convulsing.

Li Shuang glanced at Liu Sixia and asked:
"What's up with him?"

"poisoned!"

Liu Sixia walked to Xiao Zan, who was convulsing, and used a needle to prick his acupoints.

Xiao Zan stopped trembling, but he fainted from the pain.

"I am not a weak woman who is useless. I will take revenge on those who bully me."

Finally, as if she felt her threat lacked weight, she added another sentence.

"I'm very fierce!"

……

(End of this chapter)