Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 246

Chapter 246 The Princess’ Last Wish
A few days later.

Li Ke looked at the bronze mirror and carefully examined his clothes. After confirming that there was nothing wrong with them, he revealed a faint smile and said to the waitress beside him, “Is Qin Mubai here?”

“Back to His Highness, General Qin has already arrived at the main hall. He has been waiting for His Highness for a long time.”

“Bastard, why don’t you do the morning paper?”

Li Ke scolded. He strode out of the bedroom and headed straight for the main hall. Seeing Qin Mubai sitting there sipping tea, he laughed loudly, “Mubai, you’re here!”

“It’s really a joyous occasion. Your Highness, your face is really red today.” Qin Mubai smiled.

“Is there?” Li Ke smiled happily and sat down, saying, “When I go to the capital, I will entrust all the important military and political affairs of the Xiang Province to you. Before I come back, I will have to work hard for you for a while!”

“It’s fine. I called Pang Fei back to take care of the military manor. As for myself, I can temporarily replace you as the secretariat of the manor and take over the addiction of being in charge of politics.” Qin Mubai smiled.

“Haha!” Li Ke laughed heartily.

But before today, Li Ke was very troubled and gloomy.

After leaving the underground palace, Qin Mubai never asked him what he saw on the jade bed, nor did he go forward to take a look. But judging from Li Ke’s expression, he should have been shocked, so his emotions became a little unstable.

It was no wonder that no one expected such a huge secret to be hidden in the West River Cauldron, and this secret was somewhat related to Li Ke. Can he not be excited?

Finally, Li Ke was at a loss as to how to deal with the jade seal. First, he might have some selfishness, and secondly, he always felt that he had obtained a hot arrow, and that Tibet was neither a gift nor a gift. Before he could find Yang Guang’s corpse, he had thought more clearly that he should give the jade seal to the Emperor.

However, after seeing Yang Guang’s corpse, he hesitated. Qin Mubai knew what he was worried about without asking-it was embarrassing to take what he had found from his grandfather’s mausoleum and flatter his father. Moreover, the one who obtained the jade seal was the true destined son of heaven who “accepted orders from heaven”. He, Li Ke, came from Chang’an and got the jade seal that his grandfather had “left” for him in a place like the West River Cao. However, he could only give it to others with eagerness and unwillingness in his heart.

Speaking of which, Qin Mubai clearly knew that it was Li Ke’s inner demons and ambitions that were causing trouble!

The appearance of this jade seal gave rise to Li Ke’s unprecedented desire and inflated his ambition. Seeing this scene, Qin Mubai naturally had to find a way to persuade him to give up this desire and ambition. So he cited an example of the three kingdoms-sun chien jade seal and private collection, before he could brew hegemony died of chaotic arrows; Yuan Shu’s ambition to obtain the jade seal inflated and he became an emperor, but in the end, he was killed by the Gongzheng under the heavens, and his fate was even more desolate.

The jade seal was the symbol of imperial power and the will of the heavens. That was true, but if it was someone without strength and with an unjust name, it would be a misfortune to take possession of it privately.

Hearing this, Li Ke suddenly realized that the jade seal was just a symbol, a symbol. It did not bring the magic of imperial power and hegemony, and could only obtain the support and recognition of imperial power and hegemony. Getting a jade stone to kill someone was not worth it. It was better to give it to the current emperor to show his loyalty and obtain a reward. This was something to be gained!

Therefore, Li Ke decided to personally go to the capital to present the jade seal and report the matter of the Li Palace and Yang Guang’s corpse to his father, Emperor Li Shimin, who knew that everything was up to him.

“Your Highness, is everything ready?” Qin Mubai asked.

“Almost. There’s nothing to prepare.” Li Ke said, “It’s just that I’m a little worried about the princess and daughter. Please take care of them. Especially the princess, who is seriously ill.”

“Yes, I know.” Qin Mubai nodded and said, “Yuwen Hongtai has brought his personal soldiers to guard the mausoleum. I will transfer Xue Rengui to the manor to guard it. You will be at ease.”

“That’s good. Anyway, I’ll leave everything to you. With you here, I can rest assured.” Li Ke nodded and smiled in relief.

“Then don’t delay. Let’s go!” Qin Mubai said, “Gallop onto the formation quickly. The sooner you arrive in Chang’an, the sooner you can present your jade seal, the better. I have already selected the fifteen most capable Hundred Cavalry to escort you all the way. I can guarantee that you will be safe for this journey.”

“Alright, then I’ll leave immediately. Hurry up and travel three hundred li a day. We’ll arrive in Chang’an in five days!” Li Ke stood up and walked forward. He patted Qin Mubai’s arm with one hand and said, “Thank you, Mubai. Everything here is up to you.”

“Go!” Qin Mubai nodded and smiled.

Li Ke nodded heavily and strode out of the main hall. In the courtyard, fifteen fully armed soldiers of the Hundred Cavalry led three horses and escorted a carriage.

Qin Mubai walked out and shouted, “Hundred Cavalry, listen!”

“Yes!”

“Escort His Highness to the capital. If anything happens, raise your head!”

“Yes!–”

Li Ke nodded with satisfaction, “A truly mighty master. With Baiji accompanying me, I’m completely at ease. Let’s go, Mubai. See you in the future!”

“Hurry up and return. It’s really not suitable for me to be in charge. I can’t do anything about it anymore. Don’t think I really like it.” Qin Mubai smiled.

“Come on, I still don’t know about you.” Li Ke smiled and boarded the car. The hundreds of riders mounted their horses and drove away.

Qin Mubai finally heaved a sigh of relief and shook his head. Fortunately, he persuaded Li Ke not to hide the jade seal. Otherwise … the consequences would be unimaginable! In the feudal era, things like jade seals really had the magic power to disrupt people’s minds. Fortunately, I’m from the 21st century. This kind of thing seems to me to be an antique. At most, it’s a seal and an official seal. Losing one’s life for an “official seal” was not worth it.

Qin Mubai walked into Li Ke’s study, which was also his office, while thinking. Seeing a set of public clothes that Li Ke had left behind, Qin Mubai couldn’t help but laugh. He picked up the secretariat robe and gestured on his body. He smiled and said, “Well, let’s be mayors for once. It’s fun.”

“Someone, change your clothes!”

“Yes.”

A few maids hurriedly came in and helped Qin Mubai change into a crimson official robe. Afterwards, he swaggered to the government office of the Prefecture of Governors. Those other adjutants and Cao Zheng and the other officials were already taking care of their official duties. Li Ke had already told them, so it wasn’t strange for them to see Qin Mubai today. Instead, they came to pay their respects to him with the secretariat’s gift and reported on various requests, instructions, and decisions.

Qin Mubai wasn’t courteous either. Although he was a deputy governor, he still had to act early. Those who should make up their minds should make up their minds. Those who should make up their minds should make up their minds. They all regarded him as a true governor. In any case, Li Ke had already said that he would entrust full power to Qin Mubai. From now on, he was King Wu, and he was the governor of Xiangzhou Prefecture.

However, the officials of the secretariat office were somewhat drumming in their hearts. A military officer was sent to represent the secretariat to take care of government affairs and people’s livelihood. This was too much of a joke! Friendship is friendship. This time, King Wu is really a bit cronyistic. There are so many adjutants in the secretariat’s mansion. It’s better to pick one casually than to get a military attach é who doesn’t understand civil affairs to take charge, right?

However, at the end of the day, all the officials were stunned and convinced of Qin Mubai.

They hadn’t expected Qin Mubai to be so good at managing people’s livelihood affairs. Although he was a stranger to the people’s livelihood administration, he could understand it very quickly after listening to his subordinate’s explanation, and he could put forward his own ideas and make a decision. In contrast, Qin Mubai was able to listen to his subordinates’ advice later than Li Ke, and these officials were more willing to put forward their own opinions so that Qin Mubai could learn from the referee.

Sharp, open-minded, listening, scheming, and long-broken-these were the impressions and feelings of the officials towards Qin Mubai.

As for the ascension case, it was Qin Mubai’s specialty. Regardless of whether it was a big case or a small case, Qin Mubai’s trial was extremely logical, and he was even more familiar with the law’s provisions, causing Chen Tang’s Bibo and the clerk of the Code to be stunned. As for the verdict, it was reasonable. The plaintiff and the defendant were completely convinced, but they were unable to say anything. The commoners and gentlemen who were listening would often burst into cheers and applause, and they would raise their thumbs to praise each other.

“It turns out that sitting on the board of directors is quite fun. If we continue to mess around like this, wouldn’t we have to get a plaque of ‘Qin Qingtian’ to hang up?” Qin Mubai couldn’t help but laugh secretly.

These few days, Li Ke was trapped by the jade seal, and some of the government affairs that had been piled up were abandoned. Therefore, it would take some days for him to deal with these backlog cases. After a busy day, Qin Mubai really felt a little tired. He ate in the desk room. At night, his biggest thought was to throw himself into bed and have a good sleep.

Just as she was about to leave the secretariat’s mansion to rest in the inn, Su Lianqing found him and said that Princess Wu was invited.

“What did the princess call me for?” Qin Mubai asked her.

“How would a maidservant like me know about the master’s matters?” Su Lianqing rolled her eyes and said arrogantly, “You want to get news from me? There’s no way!”

“Looking at your posture, do you want to get some benefits?” Qin Mubai smiled and said, “I’m telling you, there’s no way.”

“Iron Rooster!” Su Lianqing scolded angrily, “Hey, aren’t you lonely again after the girl left?”

“Do you want to seduce me again?”

“No way!” Su Lianqing curled her lips and said with a smile, “I just want to know if a man of your prestige is as fierce on the bed as you are on the bed!”

“Die! Isn’t that what I meant?” Qin Mubai shook his head helplessly and smiled bitterly, “I’m too lazy to bother with you. I’m going to see the princess.”

“Haha!” Su Lianqing laughed evilly and said, “Hurry up and go. The princess will be waiting for you in the main hall of the rear mansion.”

When they arrived at the backyard lobby, Qin Mubai saw Princess Wu sitting in the side seat from afar. Seeing Qin Mubai coming, she even asked the maid to help her up to welcome her.

Qin Mubai hurriedly cupped his hands and said, “The princess should sit upright. How can she stand up and greet her subordinates? Death! Death!”

Yang shi was originally very beautiful, but because of her heavy body, her face was pale, like a beautiful flower that withered a little, losing a lot of brilliance. However, the innate noble aura on her body could not be removed, causing people to involuntarily feel a sense of reverence.

‘”General Qin’s words are too serious. The general and His Highness are close friends. They are brothers and brothers. They do not treat each other with respect and courtesy. Thus, the general is my uncle. It is reasonable for me to greet him respectfully.” Mrs. Yang said weakly with a pale smile on her face.

“Alright, there’s no need for the princess to be like this. Your illness is heavy, so it’s better for you to sit quietly. If you have any training, just say it.”

Qin Mubai had the maids help her sit down. Mrs. Yang coughed a few times, but she was indeed extremely weak. After recovering her breath, she smiled miserably and said, “I’m sick, so let’s cut to the chase. All of you, step down!”

“Yes” The maids and maids retreated and even closed the door.

“Your Highness, what do you want to say?” Qin Mubai asked with the same curiosity in her heart.

Princess Wu’s Yang family also had the noble bloodline of the former Sui royal family and was related to Li Ke. This marriage was made by Li Ke’s mother, the former princess of Sui Dynasty. Qin Mubai had heard a lot about this respectful princess, only that she had always been gentle, refined, knowledgeable, and reasonable. She was a typical daughter of a famous family, and she was extremely respected. However, he had never come into contact with them, nor even seen them formally.

“General Qin, sit down as well!” Madam Yang waited for him to sit down before she said, “General Qin is no longer an outsider. If I have something to say, I will speak frankly. I know that my illness is heavy and my lifespan is limited. I have a last wish to entrust it to General Qin. May I ask if General Qin is willing to help me with this?”

“What?” Qin Mubai couldn’t help but be shocked, “Your Highness Princess, don’t say that. Your youth is flourishing and you are only sick now. You can recover in a few days with some medicine. How can you casually say such unlucky words?”

“No. I know my body. Even though neither King Wu nor the doctor told me about my illness and probably didn’t reveal it to the public, I know it.” Mrs. Yang smiled and said in a weak voice, but she said it more seriously. She said leisurely, “General Qin, don’t you want to hear the last wishes of this lowly concubine? What is it?”

Qin Mubai frowned and nodded, “Of course I can help, but I don’t think this is a last wish. If Her Highness the Princess has any orders, please tell me!”