Before the age of six, Li Zhongqian had almost no worries.
He was the most beloved son of Li De, the Grand General of Wei Commandery, and Xie Manyuan, the legitimate daughter of the Xie family. He was also the nephew personally raised by the renowned Young Master Wuliang.
Though the world was in turmoil—with raging wars in both the north and the south, widespread suffering among the people, and frequent raids by rebel armies outside Jingnan City—the sorrows and hardships of that chaotic era felt distant to him.
He grew up in a world of luxury and comfort.
The towering walls of Jingnan City kept all suffering at bay. He grew up carefree, and though Xie Wuliang taught him about the hardships of the people, often taking him outside the city to aid the common folk and helping him understand how life was as cheap as grass in such turbulent times, he had never truly experienced suffering himself.
His father was one of the contenders vying for supremacy over the land. His maternal uncle was skilled at managing wealth, always able to procure provisions and supplies for the Wei army in times of crisis. Li Zhongqian himself was exceptionally gifted, possessing immense strength. By the age of five, he could compose poetry and wield a golden hammer to force his mocking cousins to kneel and beg for mercy.
The clan members said his father would surely choose him as the heir.
This seemed almost certain.
His elder brother, Li Xuanzhen, was unremarkable. Li Xuanzhen's mother, Tang Shi, came from a humble background and had a peculiar temperament, frequently clashing with Li De. Whether it was the powerful families of Wei Commandery who had followed Li De from the start or the noble families who later pledged allegiance to him, all regarded Xie Manyuan as the true lady of the house.
Only Xie Wuliang disagreed. He reminded Li Zhongqian, "Dalang is your elder brother, and Tang Shi is your stepmother. You must not disrespect them."
He also cautioned Xie Manyuan, "Do not look down on Tang Shi because of her humble origins. She is the Grand General's first wife. The Grand General is calm and composed—when his cousin was killed, he bided his time for two years before seeking revenge. Yet upon hearing of his first wife's death, he recklessly launched a military campaign despite his subordinates' objections. This shows the depth of his affection for his first wife and eldest son. If you respect Tang Shi and care for Dalang, the Grand General will take note. If you mistreat them, he may not say anything, but he will remember it clearly in his heart."
Xie Manyuan was not a jealous person and naturally had no intention of making things difficult for Tang Shi. However, as Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian grew older and the Wei army's influence expanded, more and more people believed Li De would be the ultimate victor in the struggle for the Central Plains. The heir of the Li family would become the future Crown Prince, and the noble and powerful families grew restless. They quickly made their choices, aligning themselves with either Li Xuanzhen or Li Zhongqian. Two covert factions emerged, tensions rising, and even Li De's household became unsettled, with frequent friction between Tang Shi and Xie Manyuan.
The Li family cousins supported Li Zhongqian, and noble families friendly with the Xie family eagerly sought marriage alliances.
Li De often praised Li Zhongqian publicly, saying he embodied both the elegance of the Xie family and the martial prowess of the Li family, calling him a prodigy.
That year, during the New Year's ancestral worship of the Wei Commandery Li family, Li De took Li Zhongqian's hand and led him up the altar. Pointing to the thousands of troops standing solemnly outside the city, he said gravely, "A man born into this world should aspire to greatness and achieve feats in battle. How can he remain confined to his old homeland? Erlang, as you grow up, you must be diligent and hardworking, never slacking off."
He handed Li Zhongqian a short dagger he had once used.
In that moment, Li Zhongqian felt his heartbeat quicken—excited, nervous, and apprehensive. He took the dagger, straightened his back, and declared, "Your son will not disappoint you, Father!"
Li De smiled faintly and patted his head.At the foot of the sacrificial altar, bells and drums thundered in unison, their resonance shaking the heavens.
At that time, Li Xuanzhen stood in an inconspicuous corner, his face indistinct.
Everyone told Li Zhongqian: Second Young Master, the position of heir is surely yours.
For a long time, Li Zhongqian felt somewhat elated.
His father commanded the realm, leading heroes to pacify the chaotic times; his maternal uncle rectified disorders and aided the distressed. When he grew up, he too would follow in the footsteps of his father, uncle, and the Xie ancestors—taking the welfare of all under heaven as his responsibility, supporting the state, upholding the Xie family's integrity, and not disappointing his father.
Not long after the ancestral sacrifice, Tang Shi hanged herself.
Li De's hair turned white overnight.
He rushed back to the Li family, his face weathered, eyes bloodshot, drawing his sword to slay Xie Manyuan: "Jealous woman! You drove her to death! It was you who drove her to death! Haven't I been good enough to Second Young Master? Why did you have to drive her to death?!"
Xie Manyuan, who had never experienced such terror and humiliation in her life, stared blankly at Li De, the husband who had shared her bed and treasured her like a pearl, now transformed overnight into a man gritting his teeth, intent on killing her. She was so stunned she forgot even to dodge.
Guards risked their lives to intervene. Li Zhongqian also stepped forward to persuade Li De but was shoved aside.
The cold blade came within a finger's breadth of his nose.
Li Zhongqian would never forget the look in Li De's eyes as he pointed the sword at him—cold, disgusted, devoid of any warmth.
So it was true.
His father had never loved him; all the affection shown to him had been feigned. The son his father truly cherished was Li Xuanzhen.
In truth, Li Zhongqian had long sensed it.
His father would always pull him forward at banquets, praising him before his subordinates, speaking words of high expectations. His father seemed utterly indifferent to Li Xuanzhen, yet during that one illness of Li Xuanzhen's, he witnessed—for the first time—anxiety and panic on the face of his seemingly invincible father.
That night, Li De stayed by Li Xuanzhen's side for a full day and night, and even personally went to the temple to erect prayer flags for him.
Li Zhongqian finally understood why his uncle's eyes had flickered with concern whenever his father praised him publicly.
His father had feared the Xie family would harm Tang Shi, which was why he had shown such affection to him.
How laughable.
He had actually pitied his elder brother Li Xuanzhen, whom everyone overlooked... Little did he know, he himself was the most pitiable one.
With Tang Ying dead, Li De cast off his pretense, enfeoffing Li Xuanzhen as heir and bringing him to his side to care for personally.
Xie Manyuan wept incessantly, but fortunately, news soon spread that she was several months pregnant. Li De's rage subsided, and he apologized to her, saying he had acted impulsively upon his return.
Xie Wuliang heaved a long sigh. "It's too late."
"With Tang Shi dead, the Great General went mad, brandishing his sword to kill. As her son, the Eldest Young Master, though young, witnessed his birth mother's tragic death yet calmly handled her funeral affairs, detained all the servants, gathered evidence of your usual disputes with Tang Shi, and investigated the Xie family. While doing all this, he treated you as his mother with perfect composure, showing me the same respect as before—even more than before... This child cannot be underestimated."
Enfeoffed as heir, Li Xuanzhen conducted himself with propriety and spoke with grace, astonishing everyone. At the subsequent martial contest, he single-handedly shot and killed a black bear, stunning the entire audience.
Li De no longer concealed his favoritism toward Li Xuanzhen. The noble families he had covertly won over began openly supporting Li Xuanzhen. Having already conquered half the realm, he would no longer be easily restrained.It was only then that everyone realized Li Xuanzhen was not ordinary but had been concealing his brilliance all along.
Li Zhongqian's childhood ended at the age of six.
Almost overnight, he found that everything had changed.
The cousins who used to follow him around had become Li Xuanzhen's lackeys. The powerful families who once competed to take him as a son-in-law now turned their attention to Li Xuanzhen. Even the longtime allies attached to the Xie family had shifted their allegiance to Li Xuanzhen.
The warmth of human relationships had faded, and the ways of the world were cold and harsh.
Xie Wuliang took Li Zhongqian to the battlefield, urging him to set aside his books and learn military strategy and tactics from the family generals.
"Erlang, don't be afraid. No matter what happens, come to your uncle. I will protect you!"
Li Zhongqian tightly grasped his uncle's hand.
He was a child unloved by his father.
But it didn't matter—his uncle cherished him.
Three years later, Southern Chu employed a diversionary tactic, trapping the Wei army by the Yangtze River. The gravely ill Xie Wuliang donned his armor, stubbornly defending Jingnan to hold back the Southern Chu forces, only to find himself isolated and without reinforcements.
After struggling to hold out for several days, he ordered his subordinates to behead him, hoping to appease Southern Chu's wrath and plead with them not to slaughter the city's inhabitants.
Not a single male member of the Xie family escaped Jingnan.
The female members of the Xie family also met tragic deaths.
They had initially had a chance to flee the city amid the chaos but were recognized by the common people.
The women wept silently, pleading with the crowd without words.
Amid the silence, a sharp voice rang out from the crowd: "They are from the Xie family!"
The steward collapsed to the ground.
That simple sentence sealed the fate of the Xie family's women.
Several days later, Li De defeated the Chu army and led his troops back to Jingnan, recovering Xie Wuliang's head.
On the day the coffin was carried out of the city, the entire populace came to mourn, lining the ten-li-long streets, all dressed in white mourning garments.
Nine-year-old Li Zhongqian, holding his uncle's memorial tablet, coldly scanned the crowd.
Among these weeping mourners, who truly grieved for his uncle? And who had blocked the Xie family's women, seeking to curry favor with the Southern Chu forces?
His uncle had been so foolish.
A lifetime of sincerity, dedication, and heroic sacrifice had bought only a few tears.
Was it worth it?
If Xie Wuliang were still alive, he would undoubtedly say it was. He had often said that the rise and fall of the nation was the responsibility of every commoner. With the people suffering and the world in turmoil, how could the men of the Xie family stand aloof?
That day, Li Zhongqian did not shed a single tear.
His uncle had taken the welfare of all under heaven as his personal responsibility, yet the people had proven ungrateful and treacherous.
His uncle was dead.
Li Zhongqian's ambitions, beliefs, and everything he had held dear since childhood died with his uncle.
He became a walking corpse.
What joy was there in living? What fear was there in death?
People shook their heads and sighed, urging him to accept his grief and adapt to the changes. Then, openly and covertly, they began to distance themselves from the Xie family—with Xie Wuliang dead, he and Xie Manyuan had lost their backing. The crown prince was gradually revealing the bearing of an emperor, and they had to make the right choices for their families, no longer associating closely with him to avoid being seen as his supporters.
Everyone looked at him with sympathy and pity, helplessly hinting that they had no other choice.
The fall of the Xie family symbolized the consolidation of Li Xuanzhen's position.
Li Zhongqian laughed coldly.
"Mother, Uncle is gone."
Xie Manyuan stared at him, her expression vacant. "Who are you? Where is my elder brother?"
She repeatedly pressed Li Zhongqian: "Where has my elder brother gone? Has he gone to do business with the Southern Chu again?"Li Zhongqian crawled to Xie Manyuan’s side, grabbed her sleeve, and shook her vigorously, trying to rouse her: “He’s dead! Mother, Uncle is dead! Wake up! Uncle will never come back again! It’s just you and me now, just us!”
Uncle was dead!
She was his mother. Now, she was all he had.
Xie Manyuan laughed, pushing Li Zhongqian away: “How could Elder Brother die? My elder brother is still alive. He told me to wait for him at home. There’s fighting everywhere, and all the tenant farmers have fled. He went to raise funds…”
She stood guard at the door, gazing down the corridor.
“My elder brother will return tomorrow.”
The servants in the room wailed: “Second Young Master, your mother cannot handle the shock. Don’t frighten her.”
Xie Manyuan drifted in and out of lucidity, trapped in memories of the past. The physician had warned that forcing her back to reality could have dire consequences.
“Second Young Master, have mercy on your mother…”
Li Zhongqian lay on the cold floor tiles, closing his eyes in despair. He then climbed to his feet and walked out without looking back.
He sat in the mourning hall, keeping vigil for Xie Wuliang, refusing to eat, drink, sleep, or rest.
The Chief Steward knelt before him, weeping and begging him to take some food or water.
He remained unmoved.
What was the point of living? Sooner or later, he would die at the hands of Li De or Li Xuanzhen.
A cold wind whipped the prayer flags, its chill piercing to the bone. Li Zhongqian stared fixedly at Xie Wuliang’s memorial tablet, feeling neither cold nor hunger. His body had long lost all sensation.
A rustling sound came from the corner, where a shadowy figure squirmed.
Li Zhongqian did not move.
The shadow continued to inch forward with grunts and puffs, pausing briefly when it neared him. After a few weary pants, it crept closer.
He seemed to recognize the petite figure, yet he didn’t. His heart was utterly still, his mind empty and filled only with the sound of the wind.
The little one crawled on all fours, finally reaching him with a sigh of relief. With a soft pat, her small hand landed on his leg, and she tugged at his sleeve to pull herself up.
“Elder Brother…”
Li Zhongqian paid her no mind and made no move to help her.
She stared at him for a moment, then gripped his sleeve tightly and stood up.
A small, warm bundle leaned against Li Zhongqian—soft and comforting.
Warmth seeped through his clothes, gradually thawing his stiff arms.
His spirit felt detached, his thoughts hazy.
Suddenly, his chin grew warm.
He frowned slightly and looked down.
The little one nestled against him, looking up with bright, intent eyes. Slowly, she pulled out a warm flatbread from her robes and held it to his lips.
“Elder Brother, eat.”
Li Zhongqian stared at the flatbread in her hand.
Her clear eyes reflected his pale face as she said cautiously, “Elder Brother, don’t go hungry.”
Li Zhongqian gazed at her and the flatbread, closed his eyes for a moment, then lowered his head and took a fierce bite.
All sensation rushed back into his body, his stomach cramping with painful hunger.
He devoured the bread ravenously.
Something hot and wet slid from the corner of his eye, mingling with the sesame flatbread between his teeth—salty and bitter. His throat burned with pain.
“Elder Brother, I have more here.”
Seeing him finally willing to eat, her eyes curved into happy crescents as she pulled out another piece of the finest cream flatbread.
Li Zhongqian said nothing but took it all and swallowed it.
He still had a younger sister.
His mother had lost her senses, and his sister was still so young. He was the man of the family now. He had to take good care of his sister, protect her, and not fall.Li Zhongqian finished eating, lifted Yaoying onto his back, and strode out of the mourning hall without looking back.
He respected his uncle.
But he was never destined to become a man like his uncle.
What did the tides of the world or the sufferings and joys of common people have to do with him?
He cared only for his own family.
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