Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 20

Chapter 20 In The Same Boat
With a piece of paper written, Qin Mubai naturally had to come up with a plan. Over and over again, Qin Shubao had no choice but to look at his’intelligent and almost demonic ‘son in a new light.

Although Qin Mubai’s experience as an official in the Zhenguan Dynasty was almost zero, he did not know much about the Emperor himself. However, in his opinion, a person who was well-versed in kindness was an article. The so-called politics is actually the learning to get along with people. In his previous life, he had interacted with so many different people and had an extremely rich life history, so his ability in this field was not bad.

After the matter was settled, Qin Shubao heaved a sigh of relief.

“I’m an elder. The older I am, the less courageous I will be, especially the longer I will be an official.” Qin Shubao shook his head and said, “Didn’t you say that you still have a brilliant plan to remove the Emperor’s knot?” This is a sharp blade hanging above your head. You’d better be careful. Even though you are smart, your father still has to warn you that you should keep a low profile and be cautious in everything. You must not think of others as fools that are easy to fool. “Alright, I’ll leave the rest to you. Father won’t interfere in the future.”

“Father, don’t worry.” Qin Mubai heaved a sigh of relief.

It was like walking on thin ice, but he finally walked over. I’m not afraid of thieves, I’m afraid of thieves thinking about me. We must think of a way to make the Emperor stop thinking of Wu Meiniang, so as to eliminate his hatred for me from the root.

After thinking for a long time, Qin Mubai sent a servant to the Wu Palace to report a vacation and did not go out for a whole day. After nightfall, under the stars and moons of the night, he knocked on the door of the Martial House of Duke Ying’s Mansion.

The Wu Clan was clearly a little frightened. The servants came to open the door, and Wu Yuanqing followed behind them to peek. The moment he saw Qin Mubai, he panicked, “My God, you still dare to come here!”

With that, he stepped forward to block the door and prevent Qin Mubai from entering.

With a’bang ‘, the door that was about to be closed was stuck by something. Wu Yuanqing took a closer look and found that it was an apricot yellow scroll.

“Imperial edict?!” Wu Yuanqing had seen such a thing before and cried out in shock.

“If you have the guts, pull the door tighter and smash it to pieces.” Qin Mubai said coldly.

Wu Yuanqing immediately panicked. He hurriedly opened the door and welcomed Qin Mubai in panic.

“Captain Qin … Brother-in-law Wu Xian, er Qin …” Wu Yuanqing stuttered for a moment, not knowing what to call Qin Mubai. He slapped himself and said in one breath, “What kind of imperial decree is this?”

“Isn’t he going to know just by looking at it?” Qin Mubai casually tossed the emperor’s decree to him and strode inside. “Where is Mama Mei? I want to talk to him in detail.”

“Backyard miscellaneous room.” Wu Yuanqing answered casually and hurriedly went to open the imperial edict.

“What are you talking about?!” Qin Mubai shouted softly. He stopped and turned around, staring at him like a knife.

At this moment, Wu Yuanqing had already finished reading the imperial edict. He was stunned in fear as he muttered, “The emperor actually gave you a marriage. This … this is too amazing!”

“Wu Yuanqing!”

“Ah? Yes!!”

Qin Mubai walked in front of him. Her tall body was half a head taller than Wu Yuanqing’s. She looked down at him from above and said in a low voice, “Do you remember what you promised me?”

“Remember, remember. Brother-in-law Xian, please calm down first, hehe!” Wu Yuanqing smiled bitterly with extreme embarrassment. He cupped his hands and bowed non-stop, saying, “Isn’t this the room that hasn’t been cleaned up for a while? Tomorrow, tomorrow morning, I’ll invite them to live in the main residence. Is this good?”

“It can’t be better.” Qin Mubai grabbed the imperial edict, grabbed a servant and led the way, and strode towards the backyard.

Wu Yuanqing wiped away his cold sweat and shook his head, muttering to himself, “Little bastard is really a star of mourning.” It wasn’t enough to provoke someone surnamed Qin, it was enough to provoke the Emperor. Originally, he thought that because of the engagement, Little Bastard would never enter the palace. After that, Qin would never dare to have anything to do with Little Bastard. Who would dare to provoke a woman the emperor didn’t want? Who would have thought that the Emperor would be jealous of someone surnamed Qin, and that someone surnamed Qin would actually win … He planned to drive the Little Bastard Clan away tomorrow to avoid the scourge of the limelight, so why did this matter suddenly turn around? It’s really strange, I don’t understand, I don’t understand! ”

He walked all the way to the backyard and arrived in front of a row of dilapidated cottages. Qin Mubai saw a yellow light the size of a chrysanthemum bean burning in one of the rooms, and a low cry could be heard from inside.

Qin Mubai stopped and heard a low voice coming from inside.

“Mother, it’s all because of that annoying Qin Mubai. What kind of romance do you think you are? You came here to provoke me. If it weren’t for him, I would have already entered the palace to become a companion by now. I might even be able to win over a concubine and empress in the future!” It was clearly Wu Zhao’s voice. Not only did it not have a trace of sadness, it was filled with righteous indignation.

“My poor son, don’t be stupid.” Madame Yang was crying as she muttered, “Mother is from the royal family. She knows everything about it.” If a woman were to enter that place, it would be like falling into a bottomless abyss. What was so good about it? On the surface, every woman there seemed to have enjoyed luxury and wealth, but many people would never see the Emperor once in their lifetime, and could only be lonely until they were old enough to be a white-haired palace maid. There were even more people who died from intrigue and conspiracies. How could this be Mubai? “If you want to blame me, I can only blame the Emperor for interfering and destroying your beautiful marriage!”

“Hmph, that’s someone else! Daughter will definitely not end up like this once she enters the palace! Mother, you’re so foolish. How can you blame the Emperor for protecting that fellow Qin Mubai? What’s so good about him!”

…

When Qin Mubai heard this conversation outside the door, he smiled and said, “That’s right.” This was Wu Meiniang’s personality. If she was like an ordinary woman, she wouldn’t be the only empress in history. Right now, she has no chance to enter the palace, so she can only obediently marry me, Qin Mubai … This matter is interesting!

Qin Mubai knocked on the door as the mother and daughter were chatting with each other in anger and sorrow.

“Who is it?”

“Qin Mubai.”

A loud noise came from inside the room. Madam Yang came forward and opened the door. She looked at Qin Mubai in horror, “Son-in-law Xian, you, how dare you come here?”

“Not only do you dare to come, you must also come.” Qin Mubai smiled and gave the decree to Madam Yang, saying, “Madam Yang, I want to talk to Mother Mei alone, can I?”

Madam Yang hurriedly unfolded the imperial edict and took a look. Immediately, her face turned red with surprise, “Great … Mother Mei, the Emperor has bestowed you a marriage! Good, good, son-in-law Xian, you guys talk. Go to the next room for Mother to rest.”

“Thank you, Mother-in-law.” Qin Mubai cupped her hands and bowed. Madam Yang left happily.

When Wu Meiniang heard the news, she was indifferent. She pouted and sat on an old bed in the room without looking at Qin Mubai.

Qin Mubai closed the door and walked to her side in a calm manner. She dragged a small horse to sit down and said, “Mother Mei, you don’t seem to be surprised at all when you hear the news of the emperor’s wedding.”

“What’s so strange about it?” Wu Meiniang glanced at Qin Mubai and snorted, “Didn’t you learn a lesson from Zheng Renji’s daughter? The Emperor definitely won’t force me into the palace again. Since I can’t get into the palace, the Emperor can’t afford to lose face. In order to show the law, morality, and the heart of a king, of course, I have to pretend to be generous and bestow marriage!”

“Smart, really smart!” Qin Mubai clapped her hands a few times and looked at the little girl in front of her who was only thirteen or fourteen years old. She was so intelligent and insightful at such a young age. She really had the talent of a great statesman!

“Hmph, there’s no need for you to praise me! It’s all your fault!” Wu Meiniang glared at Qin Mubai hatefully and muttered, “If it weren’t for you, I would have already entered the Imperial Palace and become a noble concubine. Who would want to marry a seventh-grade sesame mung bean official like you?”

“I’ll forgive you one more time. This is against women’s morality. If I dare to say it again in the future, I’ll need Wei Zhenfu Gang’s family law to serve me.” Qin Mubai purposely said with a serious expression.

“Humph–you only know how to bully a little girl like me!” Wu Meiniang turned away angrily.

“Who said that? I clearly came here today to love you.” Qin Mubai said, “Mother Mei, let’s not talk about anger or nonsense anymore. Since you’re so smart, I’ll tell you the truth-the truth in front of you is that you can’t enter the palace anymore. Besides me, Qin Mubai, no one else in the world dares to marry you, don’t you doubt that?”

Wu Meiniang was depressed and confused for a long time before she said in an urn, “So what?” I know that after Zheng Renji’s daughter was divorced by the Emperor, she hasn’t married yet, and even hiding in the countryside, she doesn’t dare to go out. No one dared to provoke a woman the emperor didn’t want. “Since the emperor has bestowed a marriage on us this time, I must marry you. You dare not divorce me with a ghost divorce certificate, do you?”

“It’s good that you understand.” Qin Mubai said, “That means that we are now grasshoppers on the same rope. We must go in and out together. We must help each other in the same boat and suffer together. If one side makes a mistake, we will never be able to recover. The other side will not be able to die well.”

‘”Yes, I know. Can’t I just accept my fate? But don’t think that you can eat me to death. If you make me unhappy one day, I’d rather cut my hair and become a nun than marry you. Or, let’s all die together, humph!” Wu Meiniang stretched out her voice and said unwillingly.

This little girl is smart enough, fierce enough, and ruthless enough. She is truly a match for her opponent!

After sighing in his heart for a while, Qin Mubai said, “Mother Mei, just admitting your fate is not enough.” The emperor was also a man, and even men were unwilling to have the woman they fancied taken away by someone else’s saber. He was only pretending to be generous because he had no choice but to make concessions due to ethics and the law. It was hard to say if there were any lumps or shadows in his heart. If there is, then there is a sword hanging on our heads at all times. “If we make a mistake, it’s likely that we’ll settle the old debt together, and we won’t be able to live with it.”

“Huh?” Wu Meiniang was slightly stunned. Obviously, he might not have considered this point. After all, she was a thirteen-or fourteen-year-old unattended girl. She definitely did not have such a thorough understanding of men as Qin Mubai did.

“Then what do you think we should do? Could it be that like Zheng Renji’s daughter, we should leave the Emperor’s sight and hide for a lifetime? I don’t want to!” Wu Meiniang said.

“I don’t want to either. Escaping is not my style.” Qin Mubai said, “I came here today to discuss with you. There is only one way to remove this shadow and knot in the Emperor’s heart.”

“What method?”

“Dispel the Emperor’s misgivings about you, and make him no longer interested in you, or even hate you. Thus, he won’t regret not getting you and missing you. He will even be glad that he didn’t recruit you into the palace.” Qin Mubai said.

“You disfigured me? You’re too ruthless!” Wu Meiniang suddenly jumped up and glared at Qin Mubai with wide eyes.

“Am I such a person?” Qin Mubai smiled slightly and waved her hand to signal for Wu Meiniang to sit down. “You’re very smart. You know that the Emperor wants to recruit you into the palace. He has taken a fancy to your pretty face. But this method of mine is definitely not to disfigure your appearance.”

“Can’t you explain it clearly at once?” Wu Meiniang quietly heaved a sigh of relief and sat down.

“Alright, explain it clearly at once.” Qin Mubai said, “Actually, it’s not difficult to do this. The first thing we need to know is what kind of woman the emperor likes. Let me ask you, who is the woman the emperor loves the most in his life?”

“How would I know?” Wu Meiniang snorted coldly.

“But I know.” Qin Mubai smiled and said word by word, “The late Empress Changsun!”

“Oh? It’s her!” Wu Meiniang’s beautiful eyes flashed with wisdom. She blinked her eyes and nodded, “I understand what you mean. Since the Emperor loves a virtuous woman like Empress Chang Sun, I will behave differently from Empress Chang Sun in every way, right?”

“Smart! Mother Mei, you are too smart! Come, this husband will give you a deep kiss!” Qin Mubai laughed heartily and was about to kiss her on the face.

“Fuck off!” Wu Meiniang couldn’t help but jump and dodge, thinking to herself, “This is indeed a good way to get rid of the Emperor’s misgivings about me … But! Why should I get rid of the Emperor’s misgivings about me? Hateful!”

“Haha!” Qin Mubai smiled indifferently. He could tell that Wu Meiniang was a guy who refused to admit defeat. He had clearly accepted it in his heart, but his mouth was unwilling to admit defeat.

Wu Meiniang glared at Qin Mubai angrily. She crossed her arms around her chest and turned her face away. She muttered to herself, “Hateful fellow! Who wants to work with you and listen to your orders? Let me pretend to be crazy and foolish and become a bitch. If it were you, would you try? Hateful …”

“Looks like Mother Mei has already comprehended the core of this strategy. This husband is relieved.” Qin Mubai smiled and said, “When the Emperor hates you when he hears your rumors, it will be that we have attained the perfection of our virtues and can properly discuss marriage.”

“It sounds like I’m willing to marry you … Oh, why do I have to suffer so much? I can’t marry anyone. I have to be manipulated by a prodigal disciple like you before I get married!” Wu Meiniang stamped her feet in embarrassment and anger, almost crying from hatred.

“Don’t blame me, Mama Mei.” Qin Mubai walked closer and whispered, “It’s not me who pushes you around. In fact, I’m being pushed around-fate pushes us around.”

“Destiny … Why isn’t it going to die?” Wu Meiniang hatefully stomped her feet and cursed loudly.

“Well scolded, let fate die! We have to rely on ourselves to control our own lives.” Qin Mubai gently patted her round shoulder. “Once the Marquis Sect enters the depths of the sea, believe me, you won’t regret marrying me.”

“Who would believe you? Hmph!”