Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 193

Chapter 193 Gather Together
“Boom!” The door to the hall was pushed open.

The entire room was stunned, and Princess Gaoyang, who was standing at the door, was also stunned.

‘”There are so many people” Princess Gaoyang murmured. She hurriedly took a few steps back and stood behind a person wearing a long purple fur cloak.

Emperor, Li Shimin. Behind him was Qin Shubao and his wife.

Qin Mubai was the first to regain his senses and hurriedly stood up to greet him. Before he could say “Long live my emperor”, Li Shimin laughed and waved his hand, “No need to be too courteous! Forget it! I’m here today to visit relatives and friends as well. Oh, it’s so lively, there are so many people!”

Li Ke and Wu Meiniang also stood up and came to pay their respects together.

“En, forget it. I said there’s no need to be too polite.” Li Shimin smiled as he called Qin Mubai closer and said, “Uncle Bao, isn’t my idea good? Tell me, how boring would it be if the two of us drank together at your mansion! Look at your saburo, your home is much more lively than your Old Qin Mansion, haha!”

Qin Shubao also stroked his beard and smiled a few times. He said, “My son has no form. Why don’t you invite His Majesty and the princess into your room?”

“Yes, this lowly official is rude. Your Majesty, please, please, princess!” Qin Mubai stood at the side and greeted him.

Princess Gao Yang was dressed in a thick purple, blue, and yellow fur jacket. She wore a white snow-proof cloak with large red flowers. She covered her face tightly, revealing only half of her face. She was like a doll. She leaned against Li Shimin and smiled as she followed him in. When she passed Qin Mubai, regardless of how many people were present, she quickly turned around and stuck out her tongue, then retracted her tongue, pretending to be a ghost.

“How indecent!” Li Shimin immediately shook his head and smiled. The others naturally saw it as well, so they cooperatively chuckled with each other.

Princess Gaoyang chuckled. She hugged Li Shimin’s arm and turned her head in embarrassment. In the blink of an eye, she saw Wu Meiniang. She was stunned. She blinked her eyes a few times and muttered, “Mother Meiniang is also here …”

“Greetings, Princess.” Wu Meiniang had no choice but to come out and bow.

‘”Oh” Princess Gao Yang nodded blankly, then turned to look at Qin Mubai. She smiled and waved her hand, “No need to be so polite! Father said that today is just a trip to visit relatives and friends, there’s no need to be too polite!”

When everyone saw the two women meet face to face, they were still afraid that they would run into sparks, so the atmosphere at the scene became somewhat solemn. Li Shimin secretly pulled Princess Gao Yang into the hall and pointed at the bed around the brazier and smiled, “Not bad! It’s round and round!”

“Sanlang, why don’t you pack up your couches and invite His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Princess to take their seats?” Qin Shubao hurriedly came forward and said.

“Ai, no need!” Li Shimin waved his hand and laughed, “I haven’t had such a lively crowd in years. Remember how I drank a bar around a campfire during the war?” Today was the perfect day for everyone to come and sit down, regardless of whether they were old or young, sitting in a circle. We drank, ate, and chatted. Didn’t Mubai play a good pipa? “It’s time to show off your best skills today!”

“Haha, Your Majesty, how can this be done?” Qin Shubao smiled and said, “Isn’t this completely out of place?”

Li Shimin chuckled, “Uncle Treasure, etiquette and rules are mostly used in the scene. When you enter the hall, I am the king and you are ministers. You must be meticulous, otherwise the country cannot be ruled by law. Now that we are in the hall, I also need friends to be happy! Haha, there’s no need to say anything else. Come, sit down, sit down!”

After saying that, Li Shimin pulled Qin Shubao to sit down beside him. Princess Gaoyang, on the other hand, realized that she was sitting on the other side of Li Shimin’s butt. When the Emperor spoke up like this, the others had no choice but to sit down one after another.

However, the atmosphere was still somewhat reserved. After all, Li Shimin was present, and it was impossible for him to be as reckless as before.

Li Shimin took the initiative to open the box and asked Li Ke, “Ke’er, why are you all gathered at Qin Mubai’s mansion today? Is there anything good?”

“Back to Royal Father’s words, Mubai said that today was his wedding day. Please come and celebrate with Huang’er and the others.” Li Ke cupped his hands and replied.

“Oh, then I really came at a bad time, haha!” Li Shimin laughed out loud and pondered for a while. He took off a dragon pattern jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Qin Mubai, saying, “Mubai, I didn’t know the news came in a hurry, so I didn’t prepare a present. Take this jade pendant as a gift! We father and daughter, we can’t eat your wine and meat for free!”

“Hehe, it’s rare for Father Emperor to be so generous. Mubai, hurry up and accept it!” Before Qin Mubai could say anything, Princess Gao Yang snatched the jade pendant and stuffed it into Qin Mubai.

“This can’t be used!” Qin Mubai hurriedly picked up the jade pendant and handed it back. “This Dragon Mark Jade Pendant is an item used by the royal family. How dare this lowly official go overboard?”

“Haha, you’re so stupid!” Princess Gaoyang blurted out, “It won’t be long before you’re also a royal relative. What’s there to blaspheme?”

Once these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.

Everyone was stunned. Many people looked at Wu Meiniang in unison.

Wu Meiniang, Qin Shuang’er, and the other ladies sat together with a dignified expression on their faces as well as a faint smile on their faces. Hearing Princess Gaoyang’s words, she did not have any strange reaction. Instead, she smiled and said, “Why are everyone looking at me?”

Princess Gaoyang also regained her senses, and her face immediately turned red with embarrassment. She laughed dryly twice, then retracted back to Li Shimin’s side and remained silent.

Li Shimin still smiled and said, “It’s just a jade pendant. There’s no need to make a fuss. I have 800 without a thousand. Just treat it as tens of dollars for meals. Just accept it.”

“Haha, if His Majesty says so, then this lowly official will be disrespectful. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your reward!” Qin Mubai had no choice but to accept it, otherwise, this dilemma would probably continue.

The servants in the manor were shocked to hear that the Emperor had arrived. They had already put in enough horsepower to work in the kitchen. Qin Shubao was afraid that Qin Mubai’s family would not be able to handle it for a while, so he hurriedly asked the chefs and servants in his mansion to help him. During the Spring Festival, every family had good wine and meat, so there was no shortage of them. Not long after, a large number of dishes and drinks were presented. One of them was a roasted lamb from the Hu chef. The roasted lamb was fragrant, golden and greasy. It was almost roasted and moved to the hall to be put up on a brazier to keep warm, in case everyone used a knife to cut food.

“Haha, what a pleasant trip! It’s worth it!” Li Shimin laughed heartily, “We’ve been busy for a year. Everyone is tired. It’s time to relax and rest. I can’t beat Gaoyang’s plea today, so I accompanied her out of the palace to enjoy the snow. I didn’t expect to run into such a good situation. Come, the man used a woman’s glass, everyone poured wine, I toast you!”

Everyone raised their glasses and drank down. Immediately, many people began to cough violently. Li Shimin smiled and said, “Qin Xianjiu is indeed worthy of your reputation! I’ve been drinking for almost a year, but it’s still not worth three. Uncle Bao, I’m afraid it’s been some years since you and I have drunk like this. Do you dare to conspire with me to get drunk today?”

“Heh! This old official sacrificed his life to accompany me!” Qin Shubao smiled and raised his glass to Li Shimin. Li Shimin hurriedly pushed him back and smiled, “Slow down, slow down! I’d better eat some good meat and get drunk!”

‘”Haha–” The entire hall burst into laughter.

Seeing the emperor being so courteous and magnanimous, everyone felt much more relaxed in their hearts.

Princess Gaoyang hid beside Li Shimin and smiled at Qin Mubai, “Hey, you’re so stupid! Cut the meat for Father Emperor to eat!”

Qin Mubai shook his head and smiled. He picked up a bright silver knife and cut a piece of tender lamb belly meat into the Emperor’s bowl. Li Shimin laughed and said, “Mubai, don’t listen to her and spoil her. This girl is wild and fierce, and her behavior is not accurate. You have to take care of her yourself!”

“I know.” Qin Mubai chuckled. Seeing that Qin Shubao and the Liu Clan were both smiling, it was as if they were enjoying the Emperor’s favor of treating them as a family.

“Father likes to speak ill of me.” Princess Gaoyang’s mouth twitched and her eyes moved nimbly. She smiled and snatched the bright silver saber from Qin Mubai’s hand. She also ran to cut the meat in a decent manner. Helplessly, the child’s hands were really clumsy. After cutting for a long time, he only tore off a trace of sheepskin.

Qin Mubai walked forward and smiled, “Forget it, I’ll help you!”

“I don’t want your help!” Princess Gaoyang furrowed her brows angrily, gritted her teeth, and stabbed down with her saber. She used her full strength to finally cut off a piece of meat like a pig.

“Haha!” Princess Gaoyang laughed heartily.

Everyone laughed out loud, and Wu Meiniang smiled indifferently as she ate the dessert casually.

Everyone thought that Princess Gao Yang would take the meat back and eat it for herself. Unexpectedly, Princess Gao Yang used a knife to hold the good meat and walked towards Wu Meiniang. She smiled and said, “Meiniang, I saw you sitting here without eating anything. This good meat is for you to eat!”

The entire hall was stunned, and it was a little unexpected.

Wu Meiniang also looked up at Princess Gaoyang in surprise. She hurriedly stood up and picked up the bowl, “How dare you trouble Princess to make a move? This is really a broken martial photo!”

“Hehe, you’re welcome!” Princess Gaoyang put the piece of meat into her bowl, tilted her head, grinned at Wu Meiniang, and walked back.

“Hu …” The entire audience let out a low, neat sigh of relief.

Princess Gao Yang was stunned, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you looking at me like this?”

“Forget it. Your Highness, you should go back and sit down. This matter of cutting the lamb into pieces should be left to this lowly official.” Qin Mubai smiled bitterly and pulled Princess Gaoyang back to her seat. He also took back the bright silver saber. She thought to herself, “Fortunately, it’s alright. I thought that Princess Gaoyang would use her father’s presence to play tricks and bully Wu Meiniang like before. I didn’t expect it to be like this … Perhaps the Emperor taught her something, right?”

Li Shimin chuckled, “Gaoyang, listen to Mubai. Look at what kind of sheep you’re clumsy with? Let him do it!”

“Hmph, you all just look down on me!” Princess Gaoyang’s mouth twitched and she pouted, “I still want to cut meat for Duke and Daughter Yi, as well as Father Emperor and Third Brother …”

“Heh, did you hear me?” Li Shimin laughed embarrassedly and said to Qin Shubao, “Leaving me behind the two of you is truly too much of a woman!”

Qin Shubao stroked his beard and laughed loudly.

“Uh …” Princess Gaoyang stuck out her tongue in embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to. It’s just that … I said so casually.”

Qin Mubai shook his head and smiled helplessly. He walked into the hall to cut the meat and gave everyone a piece before sitting back down. It was at this moment that he discovered that Yao’er and the group of little girls had long since disappeared. They were afraid that when the Emperor entered the room, they would have gone to the side hall together to avoid him.

Due to the presence of the Emperor, everyone was naturally restrained. It was impossible for them to drink as freely as before. Thus, although the atmosphere seemed harmonious, it was not as warm as before. Qin Mubai also continued to play the pipa, winning applause.

Li Shimin drank three glasses of strong liquor and his face turned red. Qin Shubao and his companion were almost half drunk. Li Shimin stood up and said, “Today is a good day. It is very snowy, and it is very tasteless just to stay in the hall and drink wine by barbecue.” How about we all go to the backyard to admire Xue Xunmei? Women who were afraid of the cold could stay here and continue to roast. Other men, writers, poets, and martial artists could fight. “Winter Training Three Subdues Summer Training Three Nines. Qin Mubai, I also want to see how your martial arts are progressing now.”

“Alright! The Emperor’s golden mouth has opened. My father and son will drill a horse battle for His Majesty today!” Qin Shubao laughed loudly and said, “Your Majesty, didn’t you ask me how my body is? Today is the day of the live drill!”

“Mm–so good!” Li Shimin laughed heartily, “It’s been many years since I’ve seen Uncle Treasure’s tiger might!”

Qin Shubao laughed heartily. He raised his hand and pointed at Yin Yang, “That young general is from His Highness Prince King Wu’s mansion, right? I’ve seen you several times and heard from Mubai that your martial arts skills were not bad. Don’t blame me for bullying you. You and Mubai can fight together!”

“Ah?” Everyone exclaimed in shock, shocked by Qin Shubao’s heroic aura.

“Haha!” Qin Shubao laughed loudly, “Your Majesty, Princess, please!”

Only Qin Mubai smiled without saying anything. He knew that with his father’s strength, dealing with Yin Yang and himself wasn’t a big problem. This was not the core and main point. Today, the Emperor had already come here strangely. The Duke of the Yi Kingdom that he went to first was probably to visit Qin Shubao’s illness.

Earlier, when the Emperor heard Qin Mubai talk about Qin Shubao’s health, he had promised to visit Qin Shubao personally one day. A few days ago, Li Ke said that the emperor wanted to promulgate the hereditary secretariat, including Qin Shubao, who was also appointed to the secretariat of Lanzhou Town in the frontier. Therefore, the emperor must have come prepared today, most likely to clarify Qin Shubao’s physical condition!

All of Qin Shubao’s reactions were even less strange. Old Ji Fu Li had a thousand miles of ambition, and he had been waiting for many years to fight on the battlefield!

A group of people followed him out, not leaving a single one behind. Qin Mubai walked at the end and waited for everyone to leave before coming to the side hall and knocking on the door. Yao’er came forward to open the door, only to see a group of little girls crowded together behind her, shivering from the cold.

“Yao’er, why are you doing this?” Qin Mubai smiled bitterly and said, “Look at all of you, your faces are green from the cold. There isn’t even a stove in this side hall.”

“Third Brother is so careful” Yao’er lowered her head, moved and shy. With a smile on her face, she whispered, “The Emperor and the Princess are here. How dare we, who can’t stand on the stage, disturb the Sacred Carriage? They are still young and ignorant. If the Emperor blames us for anything wrong, wouldn’t they implicate Third Brother?”

Qin Mubai shook his head and smiled. “Forget it, you always have your reasons. I don’t know how to convince you. The Emperor and the Princess are gone for the time being. Bring them over to roast the lamb and don’t freeze. I’ll ask the cook to move the lamb to the side yard for you. It tastes good. It’s all cut with a knife. You don’t have to feel dirty.”

“Thank you Third Brother …” Yao’er bit her lips and paused for a moment before whispering, “Third Brother, you’ve treated Yao’er so well … I don’t know how to repay Yao’er in this life!”

“Stupid words!” Qin Mubai laughed and scolded, “The Emperor and the others are waiting for me. I’ll go first. You can do as you please.”

After a while, the group arrived at the backyard corridor. After Li Shimin drank, his poetic nature became loud, and he chanted two magnificent and talented poems, winning a round of applause. Li Ke’s literary colors were also quite good, and his impromptu poems also won him a lot of praise.

Qin Mubai didn’t want to make a fool of himself. He didn’t want to use plagiarized poems to deceive others in front of the Emperor. Most of the people present knew about him, so it was better not to show off like this. Originally, Qin Mubai wanted Wu Meiniang to come out and win a lottery, but she smiled and shook her head, signaling Qin Mubai not to say anything, so he gave up.

After admiring Xue Yin’s poem, the bridge of the Pegasus Tournament broke. Li Shimin seemed to be more interested in this, and he even acted as a “judge” to organize this competition. He summoned the Qin Clan father and son together with Yin Yang to personally supervise their selection of horses and weapons. Then, he mounted a horse and watched closely.

“Uncle Bao is old and strong. I know more about his true abilities than you two little kids!” Li Shimin rode on his horse and laughed, “Mubai, Yin Yang, you guys have to be careful. Don’t let him fall off the horse and fall into the snow!”

Qin Shubao chuckled and said, “Come on! Attack me with all your strength! If you guys show mercy, I won’t appreciate it! Especially Yin Yang, don’t have the slightest bit of misgivings. Use your full strength to attack together with Mubai. Otherwise, you won’t have a chance of winning!”

Yin Yang turned to look at Qin Mubai. Qin Mubai nodded and smiled, “Brother Yin Yang, we must be careful. Do our best, otherwise … it will really be as my father said, there is no chance of victory!”

“Alright! At the end of the day, I can only do my best!” Yin Yang clenched his teeth and cupped his fists.

“Come on!” Qin Shubao shouted and slashed the spear in his hand into the air with a sharp howl.

“Go!!!”

Qin Mubai and Yin Yang shouted as their horses charged forward.

The ordinary wooden spears used by the three of them instantly collided. After all, Qin Mubai and Yin Yang were still unable to let go of each other at first because they bullied their elders with just a dozen or two moves. Later, they discovered that they really couldn’t take much advantage of Qin Shubao, and they gradually revealed defeat!

Qin Shubao’s martial arts skills were so powerful and profound that it was obvious that he was far superior to them!

Qin Mubai and Yin Yang only used their full strength when the battle reached twenty to thirty. On the other side, Qin Shubao’s beard danced and shouted like thunder. The more they fought, the more courageous they became.

The horses’ hooves flew through the snow and shattered the jade. The sounds of scolding and chopping were endless. Li Shimin could clearly see it from a close distance. He was also a middle-aged expert. It was unpleasant to hear him cheering loudly when he saw the beauty!

Li Ke and the others under the corridor not far away also widened their horizons. The women were all nervous and their eyes were wide open. They were all pinching sweat in their hands, afraid that this kind of battle would be any different. The one with the most exaggerated expression was Princess Gaoyang. Her eyes were always wide and round, and her mouth was similarly “O” shaped. She could even swallow an egg.

“So Mubai’s martial arts skills are so powerful!”

After dozens of battles between dragons and tigers, the warhorses panted heavily. Li Shimin rode his horse forward and stopped. He laughed and said, “Not bad, not bad! It was indeed a fierce battle that was not comparable to Uncle Zhong’s! I really enjoyed myself today-Uncle Bao, I didn’t expect your body to recover so well. This is truly a great fortune!”

When Qin Shubao heard this, he threw his spear into the snow and rolled off his horse. “Your Majesty, this old official can ride a horse and start the bow again! This old official has nothing else to ask for. I am willing to return to the barracks as a horse soldier. If I can gallop through the battlefield, I hope that I can wrap up the corpse of this old cripple!”

“Uncle Bao, it’s ice and snow. What are you doing?” Li Shimin hurriedly got off his horse and personally helped Qin Shubao up. He patted his hand and chuckled, “My old second brother, I am even happier than you to see your body so healthy. You are the War God of my Great Tang, and I dare to abandon you?”

“I … thank you, Your Majesty!” Qin Shubao was overjoyed. Kong Wu forcefully clasped his fists, then bowed down and kowtowed repeatedly with his head nodded.

“Ah! I really can’t do anything to you!” Li Shimin shook his head and smiled bitterly as he pulled Qin Shubao up again. He waved his hand and said, “Let’s go, let’s go back and drink a few more glasses! Today is a good day for scenery and poetry, good wine and good martial arts. It’s rare for us to have such a happy life!”

Qin Mubai breathed a sigh of relief from behind. He smiled and said to himself, Seeing that I am about to leave Chang’an, Father is going to leave as well … I wonder when we will be able to gather together like we are today?