Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 102

Chapter 102 Get off the Donkey Along the Slope

Qin Mubai and the others strolled around the new house and were very satisfied. This is a typical Chang’an courtyard, the entrance is a green garden, the corridor is opposite the back garden and the polo court. The main residence was a two-storey tiled room with double-arched eaves. The first floor was a living room, a dining room and a study room. The second floor was the master’s bedroom and the chess hall’s zither room. The backyard was the servants’ home, and there was a popular polo court. Because Qin Mubai was from a military family, the people from the Household Registry had specially added a Martial Cloth Pavilion to store weapons, armor, and other items. There were also archery targets near the perimeter of the fence.

The courtyard was neither big nor small, and the mansion was also very decent. At a glance, it seemed neither luxurious nor shabby. Zhenguan once prevailed in the simple wind, and the entire mansion was considered to be within the rules. It could be seen that the people from the household were arranging the Qin Mubai Clan’s style according to the pattern of Qin Shubao’s Prefecture. However, the Qin Mubai Clan was obviously a bit smaller and a bit lower. Although Qin Mubai was currently in the limelight and was a celebrity beside the Emperor, Qin Shubao was still the founding father of the country and Qin Mubai’s father. He couldn’t allow Qin Mubai’s family to be more dignified than his father’s.

“That’s right, it suits me very well. I really have to trouble you, Lang Zhong Su.” Qin Mubai said to Su Yuan gratefully.

Su Yuan smiled and cupped his hands, “How can I thank you for your humble duty? As long as the general likes it, it’s good. I’ll go back to my duty and hand over my orders.”

“Wait!” Qin Shuang’er suddenly spoke. She smiled apologetically at Su Yuan first, then pulled Qin Mubai aside and whispered, “Brother, are you going to leave those four maids behind?”

“What’s the matter?” Qin Mubai didn’t turn around for a moment.

“Aiya! This is not good!” Qin Shuang’er blushed and stamped her feet as she whispered.

Qin Mubai blinked her eyes a few times and regained her senses.

The ten men and women in the manor were all servants and maids bestowed by the Emperor. They all had deeds to sell their bodies, and they had all fallen into Qin Mubai’s hands. To put it bluntly, these people will be Qin Mubai’s personal property in the future. They don’t need to pay wages, they just need to support people. A few rewards in a good mood is a gift. They could be sold off like goods, livestock, or slaves. Especially those maidservants. As long as Qin Mubai was willing, they were only tools to vent their desires. They didn’t need to be given any status. If they were honest, they could take them as concubines at any time to make their lives a little more comfortable.

It seemed that Qin Shuang’er was unhappy with her brother, because she had these women by her side.

“Brother, you haven’t officially married yet. How can you … take a concubine?” Shuang’er blushed and said, “It’s humiliating to say this. Father will definitely not be happy. Moreover, if Wu Meiniang finds out, she will definitely be angry with you.”

Qin Mubai, on the other hand, was thinking, wasn’t I just going to find an excuse to enter the palace to meet the Emperor? Just in time.

“Who said I want a concubine?” Qin Mubai smiled and said, “But what you said makes sense. It’s not good to make father angry. How about this, Lang Zhong Su, I want the six male servants. Take the female servants back. I haven’t married yet, so I don’t need a maid to serve my wife for the time being.”

“This … The household registration department obeys orders and has already spent money to buy these maidservants. They are paid in gold and silver, and they are drawn in black and white. They are willing to do it.” Su Yuan said somewhat awkwardly, “If the general wants to return the four maids, it will be a bit difficult to do this lowly position. The emperor asked why he only gave General Qin six servants and maids, this lowly position is hard to answer!”

“Then tell the Emperor the truth! Tell him that my brother is not married and doesn’t want a maidservant.” Qin Shuang’er said first.

“Don’t bother Lang Zhong Su.” Qin Mubai smiled and said, “Your Majesty has bestowed me a great gift. I was just about to go into the palace to thank you. When I see Your Majesty, I will naturally explain it to him. I believe Your Majesty will not blame the doctor.”

“That’s good, then I’ll thank General Qin for his thoughtfulness.” Su Yuan laughed happily.

It was already late that day, so Qin Mubai planned to enter the palace the next day. That night, he did not immediately move into his new home. Instead, he returned to the Qin Mansion with his mother and sister. Qin Shubao’s reaction to Qin Mubai having a new home was very calm. He only said, “When you get married, you will be considered to be truly self-reliant. You have to live there every day as your father. But I hope that you can still treat this place as your home in the future, just like before.”

“Father, mother, and sister are here. This place will always be my child’s home.” Qin Mubai naturally agreed.

Qin Shuang’er, on the other hand, explained what Qin Shu Bao was thinking. She said, “Father doesn’t want you to not go home often!” He is actually quite pitiful. Although he is accompanied by us, he often feels lonely and lonely. It was because he could no longer charge into battle. His old friends used to run their separate ways. Normally, no one could accompany him to practice martial arts, compete in archery, play chess and drink wine.

How could Qin Mubai not know his father’s mood and intentions? The two brothers were already married and rarely came back. He was the only son he had left by his side, so he naturally wished to get closer to him. Since ancient times, the youngest son of the Chinese nation has always been loved by his parents the most. This is precisely the reason why the youngest son of the Chinese nation has always been loved the most by his parents.

The next day, just before noon, Qin Mubai entered the palace. I went to the Martial Hall to see you first. I heard that the Emperor has already gone to the Penglai Hall in the harem, so I went straight there.

The Emperor had just finished his lunch with Li Zhi and Li Mingda when he heard Qin Mubai’s request and immediately announced. When the two little fellows heard that Qin Mubai had come, they cheered and jumped out to welcome him.

Seeing that, Li Shimin smiled and said, “Mubai, didn’t I give you ten days of vacation? Why did you come back on the fourth day?”

“This lowly official came to the palace to thank you for your kindness.” Qin Mubai cupped his hands and replied with a smile, “Your Majesty has bestowed a very good house on me. I like it very much.”

“Haha, that’s good! Su Yuan has always done a good job.” Li Shimin laughed.

“However, this lowly subject is unkind.”

“Speak.”

Qin Mubai told them about the return of the four maids. Li Shimin nodded and said, “I approve of this matter. It’s rare for you to be so thrifty and worthy of praise. When you have a wife and concubine, I will grant you a maidservant to serve the female family.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.” Qin Mubai chuckled, “Actually, I miss the two Little Highnesses a little, so I came to the palace to take a look.”

“Village Chief, we miss you too! Village Chief won’t be leaving today, okay? Teach us how to play the pipa this afternoon!” Li Zhi and Li Mingda shouted together.

Qin Mubai smiled, neither agreeing nor rejecting. Li Shimin nodded magnanimously and smiled, “Young slave, you can’t keep pestering your village chief. He has many other business to attend to! But you can be together this afternoon.”

“Oh! That’s great!” Li Zhi and Li Mingda cheered together.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Qin Mubai cupped his hands in thanks. He thought to himself that it would be a good time to meet Pang Fei. She might be leaving Chang’an for a while, so Princess Gaoyang’s matters should be arranged in advance. After I leave, Duke Gaoyang of Chang’an really succeeded in “tidying up” Fang Yiai. I happen to have an alibi. Not bad, not bad.

Li Shimin asked the wet nurse and the others to carry the two little fellows away to take a nap first and called Qin Mubai over to sit down. He said like a chat, “Mubai, you’ve been in Baiji for so long and you’ve been doing well. I’m very satisfied and appreciate it.” It’s not easy for you to polish this army so well in just half a year. Now, Baiji has almost become the symbol of me and the royal family, and it is of extraordinary significance. “Right now, I have a difficult problem that I want to leave to you.”

Qin Mubai’s heart trembled. As expected, the Emperor had mentioned this matter!

“Your Majesty, please do not hesitate to issue a decree. This lowly official and the soldiers of the Hundred Cavalry will not hesitate to go through fire and water.” Qin Mubai clasped his fists and said seriously.

“You don’t have to go through fire and water.” Li Shimin said with a relaxed smile, “Yesterday, the Imperial Court received an urgent report from Jiangzhou, saying that there was a sudden flood, the disaster in the damaged counties was serious, and the resettlement of the victims and the hungry became a big problem.” The prefecture and county governments did not have enough manpower to report to the Imperial Court. Therefore, I ordered the Jiangzhou Military Manor and its nearby five thousand soldiers to go to the relief of the people. Furthermore, I have sent King Wu Li Ke to represent me. However, although Li Ke was a prince, his prestige in front of local officials and generals was not high. I mean to send you over with a team of Baiji to assist Li Ke in handling the affairs of Jiangzhou. ”

“This lowly official has issued a decree!” Qin Mubai didn’t say anything and resolutely agreed.

“Haha, with you there, I can rest assured.” Li Shimin said, “Originally, I was planning to personally go, but the government and military affairs are busy, so I really can’t get away.” Now that I have ordered my own personal guards to lead the troops, those state officials and generals of the military should understand what I mean. “Actually, I have another purpose in sending you there. I hope you can secretly do something else.”

“Your Majesty, please make it clear.” Qin Mubai asked doubtfully.

Li Shimin knitted his brows and said, “Actually, as early as last year, the Ministry of Household Registry and the Ministry of Labor of the Imperial Court received a discount from the Jiangzhou Prefecture, requesting instructions to transfer manpower and money to build the Jiangzhou Lake Embankment.” At that time, this matter was personally approved by the imperial brush, and the Destiny Household Department set aside 50 million yuan for the construction of the river embankment. A small lake bank, so much money should be enough. However, floods still broke out in the late summer and early autumn of this year, so I suspect that there is something wrong here. ”

“Your Majesty, do you suspect that someone has corrupted this sum of money for personal gain, causing the construction of the river embankment to be unfavorable?” Qin Mubai followed Li Shimin’s words and asked.

“That’s right.” ‘”But if I send Imperial Advisor Yushi and the Dali Temple’s Qing Ming Zhi to investigate and apprehend the culprits now, it will definitely cause a lot of alarm and affect the state and county officials there to do their utmost to relieve the disaster. Therefore, I order you to secretly investigate this matter in the process of relieving and appeasing the people. Don’t publicly announce the results, don’t alarm the snakes, report to me first.” Li Shimin said.

“This lowly official has issued a decree.” Qin Mubai cupped his hands and agreed.

“Regarding the investigation of the river bank, Li Ke has also received my secret order. For the time being, only the two of you are allowed to know about this matter. There is no need to inform a third person. You two must cooperate with each other and do it properly.” Li Shimin said, “If there is anything undecided, report it to me at any time.”