Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 524 From now on, we'll each call ourselves our own names.
Laiguogong Mansion.

The Duke of Lai's mansion was bustling with activity today. Lou Zhaojun and her servants began preparations early in the morning to welcome guests.

Gao Leling was taking her son Li Hui back to the mansion.

After many years apart, Gao Huan only met his sister briefly a few times on formal occasions after returning to Chang'an. He still missed his sister very much.

Gao Leling was also very excited and dressed up his son Li Hui early in the morning.

The Prince of Qin's Mansion and Yongxingfang were only one street apart, but Gao Leling could not leave the mansion at any time.

At the appointed time, Gao Leling rode in a carriage out of the mansion and arrived in front of the Duke of Lai's mansion.

Gao Huan and his entire family greeted him at the gate of the mansion. After Gao Leling got off the carriage, he greeted his elder brother and sister-in-law warmly.

"Brother, sister-in-law!"

Gao Huan and Lou Zhaojun responded.

Lou Zhaojun then greeted Gao Cheng, saying:

"Cheng'er greets her aunt!"

Gao Cheng was handsome, with a woman's gentle demeanor, and was also very polite, so everyone liked him.

—If I hadn't heard about the truck incident beforehand.

"Cheng'er has grown up so much!"

Even after hearing about the cart incident, Gao Leling treated Gao Cheng differently from others, showing him great warmth.

Gao Huan had a large family, including many legitimate and illegitimate sons, but Gao Leling was only truly familiar with and had feelings for Gao Cheng and Gao Yang.

Especially Gao Cheng!
He was born in Huai Shuo, where Gao Huan's family was in dire straits, and Gao Leling had a deep understanding of the people and events of that time.

Later, when the Six Garrisons rose up in rebellion, amidst the chaos of war, the Gao family members fled in all directions, and the aunt and nephew went through life and death together.

Gao Leling looked at Gao Cheng with great satisfaction. He then turned to Gao Yang beside him and nodded.

"Yang'er has grown up too."

Gao Leling inherited the Gao family's good looks and, pulling Li Hui along, said:

"Silang, call your uncle and aunt!"

Li Hui, with his graceful demeanor, also bowed and said:
"Uncle, Aunt!"

Lou Zhaojun was overjoyed at this sound.

Gao Huan, however, was different. The moment he saw his sister, his excitement surpassed everything else.

But soon, his rationality prevailed, and he turned his attention to his nephew.

Gao Huan saw a heroic spirit in this young man.

"Let's go into the mansion first!"

Lou Zhaojun greeted them.

Once inside the mansion, Gao Leling was no longer as reserved as she had been outside.

Lou Zhaojun even pulled Gao Leling aside for a private chat.

How has the king treated you?

"pretty good."

"I heard that Lady Liu gave birth to the king's ninth son. The king was very happy and bestowed many riches upon him, and often went to visit him."

"Sister-in-law, you don't know, that Mrs. Liu, she..."

Before long, Lou Zhaojun and Gao Leling were gossiping.

Gao Huan dismissed all his concubines and sons, taking only Li Hui with him to play.

Without his mother's restraint, Li Hui became bolder and followed Gao Huan around very freely.

Gao Huan was also very enthusiastic towards him.

Before long, the two became familiar with each other.

"Uncle, is your name He Liuhun?"

Gao Huan listened, looked at his nephew, and said:

"Yes."

"My father always talks about you."

Hearing the child's innocent words, Gao Huan felt a surge of anxiety and asked:
"What did the king say about me?"

Li Hui smiled and said:
Why should I tell my uncle?

Gao Huan scooped Li Hui up in his arms and placed him on his lap, asking:
"What does Hui'er want?"

"My uncle has to take me out to play from now on!"

"Good Le!"

After Gao Huan finished speaking, Li Hui chuckled. "It's settled!"

"Of course!" Gao Huan assured him, then asked, "Can you tell me what the King said about me?"

"Uncle has been fooled! How could a mere child like me know what Father said about me!"

Li Hui wore a triumphant smile and ran off quickly, disappearing into the distance in the blink of an eye.

Gao Huan watched Li Hui's figure chasing after him and said:

"Slow down!"

It wasn't until Gao Leling roared from the side of the courtyard that Li Hui, who was still going crazy, finally stopped.

Watching Gao Leling deal with Li Hui, Gao Huan shook his head and said:

"This boy!"

……

Gao Leling chatted with Lou Zhaojun for a while, had a meal with her, and then left.

Standing in the study, Gao Cheng looked like a child who had made a mistake.

This was the first time in months that Gao Huan had met Gao Cheng privately.

A rift had developed between father and son after the truck incident.

Even so, Gao Huan still regarded Gao Cheng as his successor.

Seeing Gao Cheng's restless appearance, Gao Huan asked:

Do you know what you did wrong?

Gao Cheng was stunned after hearing this, and didn't know what to say.

"Grandpa, I actually don't like Zheng Dache. I only did it to get revenge for Mother—"

Upon hearing this, Gao Huan angrily said:

"I've ignored you for months, and all you've thought about are these dirty little things?"

Gao Huan was very disappointed. His eldest son was good in every way, but had one fatal flaw.

Seeing Gao Cheng's helpless state, Gao Huan finally felt sorry for his eldest son and gave him an answer.

"You can't pretend!"

Gao Cheng listened with some doubt.

"What do you mean, Grandpa?"

“You are exceptionally talented, yet arrogant and impetuous, unable to tolerate the slightest loss. Yuwen Tai seized upon your weakness, and you almost lost everything in one blow. If you had acted the same way on the battlefield, you would have been dead long ago.”

Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng's face turned pale.

"The dangers of Chang'an are even greater than those of the battlefield. Your situation in Chang'an is not the same as when you were in Ye City. If things continue like this, it will bring great disaster to you and to the Gao family sooner or later."

As Gao Huan slowly recounted his story, Gao Cheng's respect for his father deepened, and he also made up his mind.

"Grandpa, I understand, I'll change."

"You must remember this: from now on, put away your arrogance and impetuosity, learn from Yuwen Tai, and even more so, learn from the King!"

"Your Majesty?"

Gao Huan nodded and said:

"He's the biggest pretender among us."
-
Qin Wangfu.

Li Shuang was fishing when he saw Hou Jing approaching and asked:
"Wan Jing, why do you look like this?"

"Your Majesty, He Liuhun is ignoring me."

"Why?"

“He’s been spending a lot of time with the Fourth Prince lately, which makes me feel like something’s missing.”

"What's wrong?"

Hou Jing sat down next to Li Shuang and said:

“Your Majesty, look at those people in the Six Garrisons. Gao Huan plays with the Fourth Prince, Yuwen Tai plays with the Eighth Prince, and even Hebasheng can claim kinship with Your Majesty. But I have nothing. I feel uncomfortable.”

Li Shuang glanced at the dejected Hou Jing and asked:
"What's wrong? You want to claim kinship with me? You don't have any sisters."

Hou Jing had already made up his mind. He clapped his hands and said:
"I have no sisters, but I do have daughters!"

As he spoke, Hou Jing looked at Li Shuang and smiled:
"Why don't you marry one, Your Majesty? Or better yet, I'll send them all over, Your Majesty can choose one yourself!"

Li Shuang held the fishing rod, looking at Hou Jing's sincere face. For the first time in so many years, she was speechless.

"..."

(End of this chapter)