Deceiving the Heavens to Cross the Sea

Li Laosan understood well that he was merely a household retainer—if one wished to put it nicely, a retainer; if not, a mere house slave. Though his military rank at the moment was higher than the other three, the lines between master and servant had long been drawn. How could he dare put on airs before these scions of noble families? Cui Yudong saw his respectful demeanor and made space for him without comment.

Cross-legged, Li Laosan sat down, craned his neck, and asked Liu Motong, "Is it true that the Marchioness of Jingbian has trouble with her eyes?"

Cui Yudong responded with some annoyance, "Trouble? She's blind, that's what it is. We're speaking in private here, no need for euphemisms—just say it plainly."

"Yes, yes," Li Laosan quickly agreed. "I've also heard the old lady's health is not so robust. Forgive my bluntness, but at her age, misfortune can befall her at any moment."

Cui Yudong replied, "You don't need to tell us that. It's precisely because we're worried she won't be able to bear the news that we're in such a quandary."

Liu Motong shot Cui Yudong a glare, and the latter immediately quieted down.

"What idea do you have, then?" Liu Motong suspected that Li Laosan wouldn't have inserted himself into the matter without a plan.

"Heh, here's what I think: the old lady is blind and can't see her son, so she must rely on his voice to recognize him. Of course, if her son stands before her, she could also touch his face or catch his scent."

"You mean..." Shi Xiong suddenly caught on. "A substitute?!"

Liu Motong was taken aback. "Would that even work?"

Cui Yudong, confused, asked, "What substitute? I don't follow."

Li Laosan chuckled. "No need to rush, Young Master Cui. Allow me to explain."

After clearing his throat, Li Laosan continued unhurriedly, "Since the old lady can't see her grandson's face, she'll have to rely on touch, scent, and voice. Of the three, scent is the hardest to imitate, but voice is the easiest. Surely you've all heard of Master Zhang from the Hall of Blossoms?"

All three nodded. The Hall of Blossoms was a famed entertainment venue in Chang'an, boasting scores of variety performers. Among them, Master Zhang was renowned for his uncanny vocal mimicry, so lifelike it could fool almost anyone.

At the mention of Master Zhang, the three of them understood. They could hire a voice artist to mimic Yang Zan’s speech and converse with Madam Yang. They themselves were all familiar with Yang Zan, and could detail his particular manner of speaking to the artist, making it almost indistinguishable. Even if there were minor discrepancies, it wouldn’t matter—Yang Zan left home at fourteen and was now sixteen, right in the midst of his voice changing; any difference could be explained away.

But then another problem arose. Voice alone wasn’t enough—features were a different matter. The old lady might be blind, but wasn’t there anyone else in the Yang household? How would they deal with the many servants?

Li Laosan had an answer: "You gentlemen are all close with Lord Pingshan and must be familiar with the Yang household. May I boldly ask—are there truly no sensible people in that house? If the young master is gone, and everyone is deliberately hiding it from the old lady, isn't it for her own good, to spare her the pain and potential shock of losing her son? With such good intentions, surely someone in the household would be willing to help."

Liu Motong pondered a moment. "That shouldn't be difficult. My godmother's family is small, and her close aides are loyal and reasonable. Persuading them shouldn't be hard."

Cui Yudong suddenly let out a cold laugh. "What kind of scheme is this? You might hide it for a while, but not forever. I’ve heard that blind people recognize others by touch and smell. If the old lady wants to feel her son's face, what then? And what about his scent? I’ve heard a blind person’s sense of smell is sharper than most."

Shi Xiong agreed, "Yes, it’s not that simple. But then again, maybe it could work... or maybe not..."

Liu Motong, hearing his muttering, shot him a fierce glare. "If you have something to say, say it."

Shi Xiong, embarrassed, pinched his nose and fell silent.

Cui Yudong, emboldened, pressed on, "What's the use in only deceiving the old lady? The fourth brother died a hero's death on the battlefield—the court will honor him as a martyr. Even if you can persuade the Ministry of Rites not to send messengers, the news of his death will cause a great stir. The old lady is well connected—mourners will be breaking down the doors to pay their respects. Can you stop them? I hear she calls the old matriarch of the Duke of Lu's household her sworn sister. That old lady is so formidable even Noble Consort Guo fears her. Would you dare turn her away?"

At this, the three fell silent. Li Laosan stroked his whiskers even more quickly, his smile fading for once.

Suddenly, Shi Xiong looked up, shot Liu Motong a quick glance, and then looked down again. Liu Motong punched him in the arm, and only then did Shi Xiong reluctantly say, "I might have a plan that could get us through, but it’s risky. If it works, all will be well, but if we’re exposed..."

He drew his finger across his neck. The three of them froze; Cui Yudong was the first to falter. "What kind of plan is this? Does it really call for such risk?"

"Let’s hear it," Liu Motong said.

Shi Xiong just smiled and waved his hand. "I can’t say. If I tell you, you’ll all be implicated. Think carefully before you decide."

The three looked at each other. Cui Yudong’s lips twitched as if he wanted to back out.

Li Laosan, stroking the few whiskers on his chin, was deep in thought. He could mostly guess what Shi Xiong’s plan was—it must be a variation on his own idea of substitution, but taken much further. Was it worth it to get involved for the sake of someone he barely knew? If it went well, the benefits were uncertain; if it failed, the noblemen might survive with some bruises, but he would surely pay with his life.

Liu Motong had the same thought. His eyes suddenly shone bright as black gems.

"Well, perhaps..." Cui Yudong started, wanting to suggest he take his leave for dinner, but Liu Motong pressed him down.

"If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you. What are you afraid of?"

Then Liu Motong turned to Li Laosan. "Laosan, this isn’t your concern. Go about your business."

"Are you casting me aside because of my lowly status, or mocking me for lacking courage?" Li Laosan’s ever-smiling face returned. In that instant, he made up his mind: he would gamble everything and cast his lot with these sons of nobility. Whether it led to fortune, prison, or death, he accepted it—after all, fortune favors the bold.

Seeing that each had made up their minds, or had been made up for, Shi Xiong finally laid out his plan in full.