Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 189

Chapter 189 The Emperor and the Princess
The carriages and horses headed towards the Jiang Xia Palace, walking slowly and unhurriedly. Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang sat in the carriage and smiled softly. The coachman and maidservant sitting in Qianyuan couldn’t help but laugh.

“Be honest, don’t touch it!”

“Hehe, Mubai, your body is really sturdy! Is it polished from practicing martial arts every day?”

“Don’t be speechless, I’ll take advantage of you!”

“Wow! What is this hard thing? Hurry up and play with it for a while!”

The coachman and maidservant couldn’t help but burst into laughter, and they heard Qin Mubai roar in the carriage–

“… My Hundred Cavalry Envoy Token! Return it to me!”

The two of them were having a good time when they suddenly heard someone shouting in front of them, “Stop the carriage!”

Qin Mubai opened the car window and took a look. It was still some distance away from the King of Jiangxia’s palace. Why did it stop? Moreover, Li Ke got out of the car and was walking this way. He walked straight to the front of the two people’s car and stepped into the car.

“Your Highness, why aren’t you leaving?” Qin Mubai asked.

Li Ke frowned and looked at Princess Gaoyang strangely. “It’s strange. Father’s carriage is actually placed in front of Imperial Uncle’s mansion. There are also a large group of guards of the Imperial Guards.”

“Then I won’t go!” Princess Gaoyang’s face darkened and she said without hesitation, “I don’t want to see him!”

Qin Mubai and Li Ke exchanged glances, their faces filled with embarrassment. Li Ke walked down the car and threw down a sentence at the end, “I’ll leave it to you.”

Princess Gao Yang turned her head like a conditioned reflex and glared at Qin Mubai angrily, “Don’t try to persuade me. If you say you won’t go, then you won’t go!”

“I haven’t said anything yet. Do you know what I want to say?” Qin Mubai smiled.

“Humph! You and Third Brother always work together to bully me!” Princess Gaoyang pouted and muttered, “The King of Jiangxia is bad too! He invited us over for dinner knowing that I’m not with him. This is too disappointing! Didn’t you promise to take me hunting yesterday? Let’s go to Mount Zhongnan now!”

“Ling’er, don’t you want to marry me?” Qin Mubai suddenly said.

“Of course not!” Princess Gao Yang hurriedly shouted, “Why did you suddenly say something like this?”

“Then you and the Emperor have always been so stiff. How can you marry me?” Qin Mubai said, “The daughter of a commoner is still in the hands of her parents. As a princess of the Tang Dynasty, you can play around with your marriage? Clearly, the Jiang Xia King did not invite us to a family dinner yesterday. Perhaps the Emperor had arranged it on purpose. Since His Majesty has arranged it like this, he has the intention to take the initiative to reconcile with you. “He is an elder, an emperor. He is short and has come to reconcile with you. How can you still be so ignorant and not appreciate his kindness?”

Princess Gaoyang still opened her mouth and lowered her head in grievance, but did not say anything.

Qin Mubai embraced her and gently stroked her back. “Alright, don’t worry about what happened in the past. At that time, His Majesty the Emperor was also unable to ride a tiger. He was forced to do something helpless. In the end, your father still loves you. Otherwise, based on his temperament … wouldn’t you and I be shattered long ago?” Qin Mubai said softly.

“According to what you said, I still have to thank him for showing mercy and not killing us?” Princess Gaoyang said sarcastically.

“You, you just like to get into trouble.” Qin Mubai chuckled and gently kissed her on the face. “Be good and reconcile with the Emperor, okay? I bet His Majesty still loves you and loves you. Even if you don’t believe him, you should believe me, right? Well, even if you really don’t want to talk to him, just treat it as if you’re doing it for me and wronged yourself once, okay?”

“For you, what do you mean?” Princess Gaoyang’s face flushed red as she giggled. She held Qin Mubai’s face and kissed him back. She even naughtily bit his ear and asked.

“Didn’t I ask the Emperor to allow me to move out now?” Qin Mubai said, “I can’t tell you what’s at stake. In short, if I stay in the capital, I’m afraid I’ll be in big trouble. If I can smoothly move out, there will be many benefits. But if you don’t reconcile with His Majesty the Emperor, he won’t treat me like a prince-in-law. Perhaps he won’t allow me to do so. Understood?”

“Alright, I’m willing to do anything for you!” Princess Gaoyang grinned and revealed a pair of naughty little tiger fangs. “Although I really hate him … but this time, I will feel wronged once!”

After saying that, Princess Gaoyang walked to the carriage door and instructed the maidservant, “Go and send a message to King Wu that I have agreed.”

Not long after, the carriage continued forward and finally stopped in front of the Jiang Xia King’s mansion.

The three of them got out of the car and entered the manor together. Prefecture officials greeted them respectfully and led them inside.

Jiang Xia King’s mansion in Chang’an was much more magnificent and beautiful than Jin Zhou’s courtyard. I heard that after the emperor ascended to the throne, he personally sent people to supervise this mansion in order to show Li Daozong, a meritorious figure of the royal family, the founding of the country, the Dragon Merit. Its scale and momentum were not inferior to the palace hall.

The Emperor had indeed come. Along the way, there were guards of the Guards Legion Corps, most of whom were Mubai soldiers that Qin Baiji was familiar with. The three of them entered together. When they arrived at the main hall, they saw Li Shimin sitting upright in the main seat, Li Daozong accompanying them in the second seat. The two of them raised their eyes and looked over.

“Your Majesty, they’re here.” Dao Sect Li said softly.

“I saw it.” Li Shimin raised his head slightly and narrowed his eyes. There was a look of hope and expectation on his face. He muttered, “My Ling’er, your complexion is not bad!”

“That’s.” Li Daozong chuckled, “It’s still the same naughty and mischievous old spirit elf as before.”

“That’s good, that’s good!” Li Shimin chuckled and nodded his head, showing his kindness.

Qin Mubai and Li Ke entered the main hall and bowed to the Emperor without looking sideways.

Only Princess Gaoyang, with a pair of phoenix eyes, did not look at Li Shimin. After looking at Qin and Li, she reluctantly bowed down and snorted with a strange tone, “Your Majesty pays respects to Father Emperor! May Father Emperor dominate for countless years!”

Jiang Xia King laughed, “Gao Yang, who taught you this strange tone?”

“It’s not like I haven’t read before. Do you still need to be taught such things?” Princess Gaoyang did not wait for Imperial Destiny to give her a lower body. She stood up first, walked to King Jiangxia and sat down next to him. She also scratched his arm and said with a smile, “Royal Uncle, what delicious food did you prepare for us today?”

Perhaps Li Shimin saw that Princess Gaoyang was a little distracted and didn’t say anything, so Li Ke and Qin Mubai still bowed on the ground. Seeing Princess Gaoyang’s frivolous and grotesque behavior, the two of them grinned bitterly and their foreheads were about to draw a black line.

“Cough!” Li Shimin coughed softly. Princess Gaoyang pretended to be frightened and jumped back to her knees. She hurriedly said, “Huang’er is dead. I forgot that Father is here! Father, don’t be angry. If you cut off Huang’er’s head, there won’t be a head left.”

Everyone’s hearts twisted, and Li Shimin’s face trembled slightly. However, he quickly restrained this unhappy expression and smiled, “No need to be so polite! There’s no need to be so polite at today’s family banquet.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Li Ke and Qin Mubai stood up, and Princess Gaoyang was still kneeling in a daze. Li Ke was a little annoyed. He stepped forward and lifted her up, reprimanding her in a low voice, “You can’t afford to get up again. It’s clearly a trick! Don’t be so rude to your father!”

“Ke’er, what are you doing!” Li Shimin suddenly became anxious and berated, “Let her go!”

Li Shimin’s roaring reprimand instantly left the scene completely silent. Princess Gaoyang was also stunned for a moment. She stared blankly at Li Shimin without blinking.

Li Ke hurriedly dodged to the side and bowed, “This son is rude. Please forgive me, Father!”

Li Shimin sighed softly. He stood up and walked to Princess Gaoyang, who was still kneeling. He bent down and gently patted her shoulder with both hands. He said, “Ling’er, be good, get up!”

Qin Mubai and the others had never heard Li Shimin’s voice before. Just now, Jun Wei was scolding Li Ke infinitely. In the blink of an eye, his voice revealed a lot of love and concern, as well as a trace of exhaustion, sadness and loss.

The short sentence revealed Li Shimin’s complicated emotions.

Princess Gaoyang’s body trembled slightly. She raised her head and looked at Li Shimin infatuatedly. She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to speak, but she could not spit out a single word.

Li Shimin simply crouched down and faced Princess Gaoyang. He looked at her with kindness and concern and asked softly, “Ling’er, what do you want to say to Father Emperor? Other than calling me a devil … you haven’t spoken to me in months.”

“I, I” Princess Gao Yang’s face turned slightly pale, and her lips trembled. Her bright eyes stared at Li Shimin, as if a mist was flowing.

“Forget it. If you don’t want to say it, then don’t. Stand up.” With that, Li Shimin stretched out his arms to pick her up.

“Royal Father!” Princess Gaoyang suddenly shouted loudly and threw herself into Li Shimin’s arms, crying heartily!

“Be good, Ling’er be good! Don’t cry, don’t cry!” Li Shimin also hugged Princess Gaoyang tightly.

Dao Sect Li waved his hand, and the guards outside the hall all retreated a hundred steps away.

“Wuwuwu–Father Emperor, Father Emperor!” Princess Gao Yang’s small hands tightly grabbed Li Shimin’s dragon robe behind him, crying hysterically.

Li Shimin’s eyes seemed to be a little stinging, and they were also slightly red. Due to the large number of people present, he took a deep breath to suppress the urge to shed tears. Instead, he chuckled, “Ling’er, be good, don’t be naughty. Will you stop crying? Look, your Royal Uncle of Jiangxia is laughing at you for crying!”

“He’s a bad old man, ignore him!” Princess Gao Yang continued to cry loudly.

“Haha!” Li Daozong, Qin Mubai, and the others laughed heartily.

Li Shimin teased and Qin Mubai and the others smiled. All of them perfectly relieved the sadness and awkwardness on the scene, and they instantly became much more relaxed and casual.

Princess Gaoyang also burst out laughing with tears in her eyes. She embarrassedly crawled out of Li Shimin’s embrace and covered her face to wipe her tears.

“Alright, let’s go down and do some makeup. Look at you, your face is covered in powder. Haha!” Li Shimin smiled and helped Princess Gaoyang up from the ground, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Princess Gaoyang laughed awkwardly and covered her face as she slipped away. She purposely barged past Qin Mubai and deliberately nudged her with her elbow when the Emperor turned around, revealing a slit in her small hand and blinking at her.

Qin Mubai grinned woodenly. In his heart, he admired Princess Gao Yang’s superb acting skills.

Only then did Li Shimin return to his righteous position. He smiled self-deprecatingly and said, “I’ve made everyone laugh.”

“Today’s family banquet, Your Majesty has a deep affection for you. Ling’er’s true feelings have been revealed. In fact, it makes us admire her!” Dao Sect Li chuckled.

“Forget it, forget it.” Li Shimin waved his hand and laughed helplessly. “This Ling’er has been mischievous since childhood. It’s also my fault for spoiling her–Oh, Ke’er, Mu Bai, you don’t have to be formal. Sit down!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Only then did the two of them sit down in turn.

“It is rare for the King of Jiangxia to return to the capital. Today, I intentionally came here to gather with you.” Li Shimin smiled and said, “Ke’er, Mubai, don’t blame the King of Jiangxia. I specifically instructed him not to tell you that I’m coming.”

“Haha!” Li Daozong smiled and said, “Your Majesty’s words are too heavy. It’s just an ordinary family banquet!”

“Yes, you’re right.” Li Shimin also smiled and said, “I haven’t been with the royal family for a while. Oh right, Mubai, go out and give an order to the soldiers of Baiji to send someone to the harem to bring the childish slave and the former son. I just left from the Martial Palace Hall, but he forgot about them for a moment.”

“This lowly official will personally make a trip.” Qin Mubai stood up and bowed. Li Shimin thought to himself, Li Shimin was purposely trying to get rid of me, so they could talk!

“Alright, I’ll trouble you for a trip.” Li Shimin chuckled, “The two of them miss you so much!”

“This lowly official will leave now.” Qin Mubai bid farewell to the Emperor and the others and brought a few Baiji guards to the palace.

Shortly after Qin Mubai left, Li Shimin said to Li Ke, “Ke’er, I saw the memorial you handed over. I want to ask you, have you followed Qin Mubai’s advice?”

“Qin Mubai has already agreed to my father’s words.” Li Ke replied.

“Oh … Qin Mubai is the Commander-in-Chief of the Xunxun Guards that I have personally escorted. It was not convenient for him to give up, but since you have spoken, and he has agreed, I can only bear to part with him.” Li Shimin nodded and said, “However, a mere Tier 4 Commandant is too aggrieved against this Baiji of mine. I intend to appoint him as Governor of Jingzhou. What do you two think?”

Dao Sect Li didn’t know about this beforehand. He frowned in confusion and said, “Is His Majesty planning to release Qin Mubai as an official?”

“You’ve just heard that Ke’er wants someone to dig a corner from me!” Li Shimin smiled helplessly.

“This … His Majesty’s golden mouth is already open, I have nothing else to say.” Li Daozong cupped his hands and said, “It’s just that this official thinks that although the position of Commander-in-Chief is distinguished and honorable, it’s not as honorable as the position of Commandant-in-Chief.”

“Oh, what do you mean?” Li Shimin asked.

Li Daozong replied, “His Majesty just said that Qin Mubai was a young general personally nurtured by His Majesty and would be entrusted with great responsibilities in the future.” Since he was an official, he had to earnestly temper himself. To put it bluntly, the position of Commander-in-Chief of Jingzhou was only a commander-in-chief of the Light Rod who had power and no weapons, that was to say, he was going to deal with a bunch of military generals in those places and instruct them to do their work. As for Rong Wu’s military training array, dispatch task force and other true talents, they were not able to learn a single bit. “Qin Mubai is still young and has little experience in battle formations. Rather than entrusting him with a small amount of official duties, it would be better to let him go to Zhechong Manor and lead troops to drill on the spot. Only then can he be able to understand everything in the army like the palm of his hand, which is more conducive to his growth.”

“Alright, I’ll hit the nail on the head!” Li Shimin raised his finger and nodded in praise, “You are still an old lodge in the army, and you know how to nurture and educate people.” Qin Mubai came from a well-rounded sect, and I have long intended to train him to be the successor of our Great Tang’s younger generals. Hearing your words, I am instantly enlightened. “I will appoint him as a commandant, advise him to teach Nongsang in spring, be on guard in summer, collect grain and grass in autumn, train his soldiers in winter, and let him go to Xiangzhou to train for three to five years.”

“Jade is not cut into pieces, Your Majesty is holy!” Li Daozong said, “Qin Mubai’s generation was born in the peaceful era and grew up in the official clan’s official clan. They ate little, experienced few things, and did not experience any bloody battles. If they lacked on-the-spot training, it would be difficult for them to succeed. My younger brother also believes that Qin Mubai’s aptitude for wisdom and courage is high, and the only thing he lacks now is practice and training!”

“Then it’s settled!” Li Shimin stroked his palm, “After I return to the palace, I will prepare a decree for the Central Book Province, entrusting Qin Mubaixiang Prefecture with the post of Commandant. After years, I will take up the post with Li Ke!”

“No!!!” Suddenly, there was a coquettish reprimand. Princess Gaoyang hurriedly ran out and stood in front of Li Shimin. She said seriously, “Royal Father, you took Mubai away. What should I do?”

Everyone’s expressions changed. Li Ke hurriedly stood up and whispered, “Ling’er, don’t be rude!”

“I, why am I being rude?” Princess Gaoyang argued without hesitation. She hurriedly bowed down and pleaded, “Father, I beg of you! I can’t take care of your affairs, but … if you transfer Mubai away, can you let him take me with you? If I leave him … I will really die!”

Li Shimin’s face twitched fiercely. He took a deep breath and calmly said, “Ling’er, get up first. This matter needs to be considered for a long time.”

“What’s your plan? Can’t you agree now?” Princess Gao Yang raised her head and stubbornly said as she stared at Li Shimin’s sharp eyes.

Li Daozong stood up and walked over to Princess Gaoyang and whispered, “Ling’er, you’re so foolish.” You are the princess of the Great Tang Dynasty, the royal brother’s favorite daughter. If you want your father to promise Qin Mubai to take you away now, have you ever thought that your grand princess would elope with Qin Mubai without a name or share? In this way, not only will the Tang Imperial Family become the laughingstock of others, but your father’s face will be completely shamed, and you, a princess, will also be laughed at, right? Even if you are obsessed and don’t care about this, you should still consider Qin Mubai’s reputation and future, right? Your Imperial Father said that this matter needs to be considered for a long time, and he is not trying to perfunctory you. “I, the royal uncle, have never lied to you before. You should know about this, right?”

Princess Gao Yang pondered for a moment before nodding her head, “Oh … then I’ll follow you first.”

“Get up quickly and apologize to your father.” Dao Sect Li smiled and helped Princess Gaoyang up from the ground.

Princess Gaoyang stood up, her face filled with resentment, and in the blink of an eye, she began to laugh again. She quickly ran over to Li Shimin and sat down beside him. She even reached out her hand to caress his plump belly. She giggled and said, “Your Majesty, calm down and don’t be angry with Ling’er. It’s Ling’er who doesn’t know how to behave. Forgive Ling’er for being young and ignorant!”

Li Shimin was instantly amused. He reached out his hand and patted her small face lightly. He laughed loudly and said, “Look at this ghost girl, her face has changed even faster than Da Liutian’s!”

Li Daozong and Li Ke also laughed loudly and thought in their hearts, If anyone in this world has a way to deal with the emperor, it must be Princess Gaoyang! She could make the Emperor furious in an instant, and could also make him laugh in the next moment! … It really was born with everything, one thing descending upon another!