Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 143

Chapter 143 Prince’s Mansion’s Appointment
Li Ke was lying on a bed made of wooden planks and marching quilts. He looked at the broken roof with his arms on his pillow and felt a little sleepless.

“Are these two people planning to sit outside all night?” Li Ke glanced outside and muttered to himself. ‘”No matter how smart Qin Mubai is, he can’t escape from Gaoyang’s little palm. Which man can refuse a girl who has just begun to fall in love with her?” Wan Er couldn’t help but laugh and secretly say, “This girl has been arrogant since childhood. Other than her father and mother, no one else can look down on her. I didn’t expect that once she fell in love, she would be a very cute little woman.”

Minutes and seconds passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was already midnight. Li Ke finally felt a little sleepy. He looked outside and saw that Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang were still sitting there, not showing the slightest intention of getting up.

“These two are crazy.” Li Ke stood up and walked to the door, chanting, “Although Hua Yue is fine, the chill is already strong. When are you two planning to return to your nest?”

“Ah … Third Brother, didn’t you sleep? You’re annoying!” Princess Gaoyang angrily shouted a few times, her face still flushed red. She was indeed a little embarrassed. After all, it was late at night, so it was inappropriate for a lone man and a lone woman to stay together. They always had to separate. Could it be that they still wanted to …

“Go back and rest.” Qin Mubai smiled and said, “You must be tired after traveling all day. You have to hurry back to Pu Zhou tomorrow. Have a good rest and then you will have the energy to travel tomorrow.”

“Alright” Princess Gaoyang reluctantly nodded her head and said sullenly, “Then will you come and see me off tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow, I will arrange for you and King Wu to leave early. Early in the morning is the busiest time for me. I have to deal with all the big and small matters in the army.” Qin Mubai smiled apologetically, “So, I can’t come to see you off.”

“I hate it. Why are you guys so busy? Nothing is interesting when you’re busy.” Princess Gaoyang unhappily tapped Qin Mubai’s elbow with her little pink fist and said, “Then you have to hurry back to Chang’an! I’ll wait for you in Chang’an!”

“Yes, I will.” Qin Mubai smiled.

“Remember! Go back to Chang’an early. I’ll wait for you in Chang’an!”

“You’re so young, you’ve learned so much. Hurry up and go back to your room. King Wu is waiting for you!”

“I insist! I’m going to talk to you. Don’t be annoying, don’t dislike my mother-in-law!” Princess Gaoyang finally got up and walked back to the side of the room. She looked reluctantly at Qin Mubai without blinking.

“Go!” Qin Mubai nodded and smiled, “Let’s go. Don’t fall down again.”

“Aiyo–”

Before she could finish her sentence, Princess Gaoyang stepped on the long cloak and fell to the ground.

Qin Mubai shook her head and smiled bitterly as she helped her up. “It’s cold in the morning. I’ll give you a cape. You’ll wear it all the way. But remember not to fall under your feet again, understand?”

“I know! Hehe!” Princess Gaoyang happily patted her own butt and smiled, “I’m leaving! You can go back too, rest early, don’t miss me!”

“I definitely don’t want to.”

“You dare!”

…

Li Ke’s face twitched non-stop. Finally, he could not help but ask, “Are you all done with your flesh numbness? Have you all gone back to rest!”

…

Qin Mubai left the woods, and a few hundred cavalry guards were still waiting for him to return to the camp.

“General, Zhui Suiliang just sent someone to deliver a letter. We are going to the Jiang Xia Prince’s Mansion to attend a banquet in three days.” A soldier said.

“I see.” Qin Mubai thought to himself. It seemed that the Li Dao Sect had invited quite a few people, even Zhui Suiliang. Zhui Suiliang and I are both close ministers of the emperor. He did this’show ‘this time on purpose to show it to the emperor, right?

Since the founding of the Great Tang Dynasty, there had never been a case of “flying birds doing their best to hide their good bows” suppressing the founding fathers, which was better than many dynasties. However, this did not mean that the Emperor was not afraid of those outstanding elders. It wasn’t because of Li Shimin’s merits, abilities, and courage. It wasn’t because he was afraid of being suppressed by someone. As an emperor, he thought more about letting his descendants inherit his inheritance.

If there was a meritorious hero whose reputation among the officials and civilians was comparable to that of an emperor, that would be a bad thing. Who can say whether their descendants will use this to replace them?

Therefore, because the emperor wanted to be careful, something like Gao Zhen Zhu had to be done. In this Jiangzhou case, Li Shimin’s intentions were very obscure, but there were also some intentions against Li Daozong. The reason for that was because Li Daozong had been active in Li Tang’s camp ever since Li Yuan’s invasion. In terms of merit and limelight, he was not much inferior to Li Shimin. He was almost perfect except for a small greed for money. In contrast, Li Shimin had a big stain on killing his brother and forcing his father to abdicate. Moreover, he was greedy for women to take in wives and steal his sister-in-law, so he could not compare to Li Daozong in terms of personal morality.

Perhaps in Li Shimin’s heart, this imperial brother, who was too perfect, had always been a problem for him. However, the relationship between the two of them had always been very good. The Li Dao Sect had always followed Li Shimin’s lead, and they did not show the slightest bit of pride in being low-key and cautious despite their hard work and grievances.

However, the more he acted like this, the more uneasy Li Shimin felt.

Because he was too perfect, far more respected than the emperor.

With great difficulty, Li Shimin grabbed onto his greed for money and made a move to investigate. It was just that Qin Mubai was very interested in how the two of them would compete in private.

At dawn the next day, Li Ke and Princess Gaoyang set off in an inconspicuous old carriage. Before the carriage left the official road and turned around to leave Jishan County, Princess Gaoyang had always used her small hands to lift the curtains in the back of the carriage and stared blankly at it.

“Stop looking. He’s the busiest person in the morning. He won’t come to see you off.” Li Ke advised her, “Look at you, your hands are red with cold.”

‘”I know he won’t come, but I just want to see …” Princess Gaoyang bit her lips and muttered, “Third brother, I really can’t bear to leave this place! Although this is my first time here, I feel that this place is very friendly and has left behind my best memories. If possible, I will come here in the future to build a house and live here for the rest of my life!”

“Don’t say anything stupid. Sit back and see how cold you are!” Li Ke hurriedly pulled her.

“I’m not! I’m just going to watch, watch …”

…

Three days later, early in the morning.

After taking care of the military affairs, Qin Mubai returned to the back tent and changed into a neat brocade robe. He wore a long sword, a luxurious cloak, and a golden crown. He waved his waist and hung a jade ultimatum. He turned into a charming young master with a graceful demeanor.

“General, Mr. Zhui is here.” The pawn came to report.

Qin Mubai went out to greet him. Zhui Suiliang cupped his hands and laughed from afar, “General Qin, your demeanor has become even more brilliant in the next few days! Such a handsome and beautiful husband is quite like the scholarly general of Zhou Gongjin of the Three Kingdoms back then!”

“Haha, Mr. Zhui really knows how to joke! It’s rare to have a busy day. Let’s hurry up and go to Jin Zhou! Get in the carriage and we’ll probably arrive at noon.” Qin Mubai smiled.

“Alright, let’s go! I’ve been so busy these past few days that I feel dizzy. Let’s go to the palace to attend the banquet as if it’s easy!” Qin Suiliang chuckled and boarded the carriage with Qin Mubai.

The carriage winded towards Jinzhou, and Qin Mubai and Zhui Suiliang chatted in the carriage.

Zhui Suiliang came from an authentic scholarly family. He was scholarly, knowledgeable, and knowledgeable. Talking to him was like drinking a bottle of wine, and he was unconsciously intoxicated.

After chatting about some poems and songs, Zhui Suiliang said inadvertently, “Yesterday, I received a secret envoy from Chang’an in the Jiangzhou Prefecture.”

“Secret Envoy?” Qin Mubai asked curiously, “Where did you get the secret envoy?”

“In the palace.” Zhui Suiliang smiled mysteriously and only said two words.

Qin Mubai frowned slightly and asked, “Does the Emperor have a decree?”

“No. It wasn’t sent by the Emperor.” Zhui Suiliang laughed even more mysteriously.

“Then who else can it be?”

Actually, Qin Mubai’s heart had already flashed with a person-Concubine Yin De!

Princess Gaoyang must have disappeared. She sent someone out to look for her! If it was someone sent by the Emperor, he wouldn’t be so low-key and cautious. Perhaps, he would be so aggressive that he would directly take them down!

“Princess Gaoyang is missing.” Xu Suiliang said, “Her mother’s imperial concubine is anxious to send people everywhere to look for her. Of course, she secretly sent people to look for her. She dares not make a big fuss. She is worried that Princess Gaoyang will secretly go north to Bing Zhou’s hometown and hide at her uncle’s house. So she sent someone to ask me if there is any news of Princess Gaoyang passing through Jiang Zhou.”

‘”So that’s the case” Qin Mubai nodded slightly and thought to herself, “It seems that Concubine Yin De is quite cautious. She must have suspected that Princess Gaoyang ran over to me directly, but she only went to Zhui Suiliang’s place to spy on him under the guise of spying. She is not worried that Princess Gaoyang and I will meet. She is just worried that Zhusuiliang will find out about this matter and inform the Emperor … This Concubine Yin De is smart!

“Brother Mubai has been busy with military affairs. He must have never seen Princess Gaoyang before, right?” Zhui Suiliang asked.

Qin Mubai couldn’t help but laugh in his heart. Zhui Suiliang’s question was interesting. However, the word “also” was added to that sentence. He was clearly showing me that he hadn’t “seen” Princess Gaoyang. Perhaps he suspected that Princess Gaoyang had indeed come to see me. Perhaps he even had some solid evidence in his hands. He knew that I had already met the Princess, but he had intentionally come to tell me this. However, he had the intention of “coincidentally” not informing the Emperor.

“Of course not.” Qin Mubai smiled and said, “Princess Gaoyang, how could you come to a barracks full of rough men?”

“That’s right. I haven’t heard any news of the princess in Jiangzhou, so I gave the secret envoy a reply yesterday. The secret envoy went north to Bing Zhou to continue his search.” Zhui Suiliang said casually without mentioning Princess Gaoyang’s whereabouts.

The two of them tacitly did not mention this matter anymore.

Qin Mubai could vaguely feel that Zhui Suiliang was purposely “showing goodwill” to him, or that there was a little bit of meaning in it, “I caught your hand, but I didn’t betray you. This time, you owe me a favor.”

“Officials are like this! If you can’t sin, don’t offend them. Zhusuiliang doesn’t want to offend me, nor does he want to offend Imperial Concubine Yin De, nor do he want to interfere in the internal disputes of the imperial family. Just think of it as I owe him a favor and find an opportunity to pay him back in the future. Doesn’t this mean that I have another friend?” Qin Mubai thought to himself.