Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Scholar of the Northern Gate

“In the past, there was an emperor of Jin, who, though advanced in years, had no heir. Anxious at heart, he was finally blessed with a son, and rejoiced greatly, inviting his ministers to celebrate with a feast. During the banquet, one sycophantic official rose to offer thanks: ‘We congratulate Your Majesty on the birth of a son. We receive our salaries without merit; it is shameful!’ The emperor, displeased, replied: ‘What are you saying? How could such a matter allow you to claim merit?’ Such flatterers, ignorant of circumstance, blindly fawning—how amusing! Ha ha ha…”

Perhaps it was the nearness of Luoyang, or perhaps the harmony he felt with Li Xian, but Li Xian’s mood was exceedingly good, so much so that he cast aside his usual measured demeanor and, without restraint, began telling jokes—since their meeting at Hangu Pass, Li Xian and Li Xian, the two young brothers, rode in the same carriage, dined at the same table, and shared all manner of conversation. Their views on governance were closely aligned, their bond intimate—one might say they were as inseparable as water and milk.

“Ha ha… Sixth Brother, do you also wish to render some great service? Ha ha ha…”

Li Xian, seasoned as he was, recognized the anecdote from its opening: it was the story of Emperor Yuan of Jin and his minister Yin Xian. Naturally, he did not find it particularly amusing; after all, in his later years navigating the bureaucracy, Li Xian had heard every manner of coarse jest. If he wished, he could recount such tales for days on end, each more vivid than the one Li Xian told. Yet, to keep pace with Li Xian, Li Xian was not stingy with his laughter; he not only laughed heartily but also bantered with Li Xian.

“If the opportunity arises, why not render some service? Heh heh, Seventh Brother, do you not wish to?” Li Xian laughed and made a comical face, retorting.

“Brother…”

Li Xian, eager to build a strong rapport with Li Xian, was delighted to banter freely. Hearing Li Xian tease him in return, he laughed out loud, just about to add another jest when he suddenly realized the carriage had stopped and paused mid-sentence.

“North Gate Scholars Li Shi and Yan Chaoyin respectfully welcome Prince Lu and Prince Zhou!”

Li Xian’s words were abruptly cut off by a loud voice nearby, leaving both brothers momentarily bewildered. Neither knew what the “North Gate Scholars” were, nor understood why these two so-called scholars had no sense of decorum, shouting their names before even meeting them face-to-face. Such conduct, at best, was discourteous; at worst, it was a breach of protocol.

“Seventh Brother, what are these North Gate Scholars?”

Li Xian furrowed his brow, unable to recall when such an institution appeared at court, and could only turn to Li Xian for answers.

“I’m not sure either, Sixth Brother. We’ll find out when we meet them.”

Li Xian was unaware of the North Gate Scholars’ origins, but Li Xian knew full well—and deeply despised them. These scholars were, in truth, the Empress Wu's blade; in his previous life, she had gathered a crowd of shameless literati under this title to disrupt the court. When she ascended the throne, countless ministers fell victim to their machinations, and Li Xian himself suffered much at their hands. Even now, the memory stirred indignation, though such secrets were not for Li Xian to share; instead, he feigned ignorance, shrugging nonchalantly.

“Very well, let’s see what they’re about.”

Li Xian, seeing nothing particularly troublesome, nodded in response and let Li Xian lift the carriage curtain. He bent low and stepped out, Li Xian silently following. As soon as their feet touched the ground, they saw a crowd of minor officials clustered around two middle-ranking officials serving a pair of middle-aged men at the roadside pavilion. On the left stood a tall, round-faced man, his three long whiskers fluttering in the wind, bearing an air of distinction; on the right, a man of moderate stature, pale-faced with short beard, plump and round like a wealthy elder.

These are the two vile dogs! Li Xian needed but a glance to recognize them: the tall one was Li Shi, the portly one Yan Chaoyin, both from humble origins, having passed the imperial exams three years prior. Until recently, they were minor officials, but just before Emperor Gaozong visited Luoyang, they were promoted to sixth-rank robes—a meteoric rise unprecedented since the founding of Tang. Yet their rapid ascent was not what Li Xian resented; it was their presence here and its implications.

A show of force or intimidation? Likely both. Empress Wu truly was restless! Seeing these two most shameless North Gate Scholars at the pavilion, Li Xian guessed her intentions, but chose not to warn Li Xian, instead watching coldly.

“We, North Gate Scholars Li Shi and Yan Chaoyin, bring the Empress’s gracious decree and respectfully welcome Your Highnesses,” they declared after a moment, having seen no reaction from the brothers, stepping forward and repeating their names.

“Thank you for the trouble. Why is it that no officials from the Ministry of Rites are here?” Li Xian, though he had previously supported Empress Wu on the matter of the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, still harbored misgivings toward her. Hearing these scholars were sent by her, his displeasure surfaced, though he could not vent it openly. He frowned and spoke.

Welcoming and escorting guests was the Ministry of Rites’ responsibility, so Li Xian’s question was perfectly reasonable. Yet, asking it so directly of the North Gate Scholars was akin to insulting them to their faces. As expected, their expressions changed, and they exchanged a quick, angry glance, though in the presence of princes they dared not act out and could only swallow their resentment.

“Your Highnesses, time is short. The Empress awaits in the palace. Do you have any further instructions?” Yan Chaoyin, more tactful than Li Shi, forced a smile despite his irritation and inquired politely.

“Hmph!” Li Xian, proud by nature, though more composed recently, could not change his temperament entirely. Hearing Yan Chaoyin invoke Empress Wu so overtly, he grew angry and snorted coldly, ready to retort.

“Sixth Brother, it would not do to keep Mother waiting. Let us depart at once,” Li Xian interjected, not wishing Li Xian to lose face by quarreling with such petty figures.

“Mm, very well then.” Li Xian, never having regarded the so-called North Gate Scholars as worthy, could not ignore Li Xian’s reminder. He refrained from further outbursts, but offered the scholars no courtesy, snorting disdainfully, sweeping his sleeve, and entering the carriage without so much as a glance at them.

“Thank you, gentlemen, for coming to receive us. My brother and I are most grateful. Please lead the way.” There’s a saying: better to offend a gentleman than a rogue. These two were rogues through and through; though Li Xian feared them not, he preferred not to provoke them needlessly. Since Li Xian played the stern role, Li Xian took the conciliatory one.

“Not at all, Your Highness, please!”

Though Li Shi and Yan Chaoyin now wore middle-ranking robes, they were newcomers to court, with little foundation beyond Empress Wu. What they needed most was respect. Seeing Li Xian so courteous, their hearts warmed, and they stepped back, bowing deeply.

“Thank you, gentlemen.” Li Xian cupped his hands in return, smiling and nodding, then turned and entered the carriage. Soon, the retinue, having reorganized, resumed its grand march toward distant Luoyang.

“Seventh Brother, what exactly are these North Gate Scholars? How can they behave so absurdly? Hmph!” Li Xian, still dissatisfied with Yan Chaoyin’s invocation of the Empress, sat in the carriage with a dark face, silent until the journey resumed, then muttered his complaint.

“Sixth Brother, I don’t know the details. I suppose it’s a new institution Mother has established. As for anything else, I dare not speculate.” Though Li Xian knew the Empress’s purpose and the role of the North Gate Scholars, he had no intention of revealing it so soon, and offered only a perfunctory reply.

“Absurd! The institutions of the court are pillars of the state, not playthings. I do not know what Father…”

Li Xian now regarded Li Xian as a trusted confidant, and spoke freely, criticizing not only Empress Wu but even Emperor Gaozong.

“Sixth Brother, Father is wise and will have his own plans.” Li Xian did not wish Li Xian to disparage the emperor so casually, and interrupted him sternly.

“Hmph!” Chastised by Li Xian, Li Xian realized his words were inappropriate, but refused to admit fault, snorting angrily and falling silent.

Tsk, little brother’s temper still hasn’t changed! Li Xian, seeing Li Xian’s disgruntled expression, found it amusing, but did not wish to provoke him further. So he smiled and said, “Sixth Brother, these North Gate Scholars truly are unpleasant, but I suspect there are those who dislike them even more than we do. If you wish to deal with them, there’s no need to act personally—why dirty your hands? Let others scheme, and we can simply lend support.”

“Lend support? Ha, Seventh Brother, you really do think things through. Very well, let’s do just that!” Li Xian was no fool; he immediately grasped Li Xian’s meaning, and a smile curled his lips before he burst into laughter…