Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 285
Chapter 285 A Visit to the Palace
The Aquatic Dojo of Famen Temple had been in operation for more than half a month. Thousands of Buddhist monks chanted incense incense incense scriptures day and night, and a layer of smoke covered the skies above the techniques. It was truly a bit of an immortal and buddhist concept. Just the incense candles, there were several cars.
No matter what, Li You used to be a prince, but now he’s plated with a layer of gold and dressed in the glossy outer garments of the Buddhist holy land, as if his previous evil should be forgotten. As a result, most of the officials of the Imperial Court came to burn incense and worship. The Buddha Pagoda that had Li Youjin’s body also had an alias, known as the King of Qi Pagoda. It echoed with the Tu Fu Pagoda, which had been set up in Shijia Munifu, and became a scene of Famen Temple.
I wonder if Li You will find it ironic that he is alive in heaven. In any case, Qin Mubai felt that if he were Li You, he could just burn himself and not leave his corpse behind. As the saying goes, once he died, he would be thanking the world. Even if he died, he would not be able to repay his sins, and his corpse would still not be at peace.
In recent days, Li Shimin and the Minister of Military Affairs, Li Ji, were busy mobilizing troops to send troops to Lanzhou garrison to strengthen the military force there. Right now, the Tibetans had only invaded the Songzhou region of the southern Shu Lands. The Lanzhou region had always been flourishing with military forces, and there were also generals like Qin Shubao guarding it. The Tibetans did not invade much, at most, it was only sporadic harassment and occasional plundering.
Those with good eyesight could tell that the Emperor had used this opportunity to send troops to Lanzhou, but in reality, he was using a long-range strategy to control the Western Regions.
When Li Shimin had just ascended the throne, Jie Li of the northern Turkic Khaganate took advantage of the civil strife in the Great Tang to kill Li Shimin in a single move. He was caught unprepared and his troops reached the gates of Chang’an. How could Li Shimin endure this anger? After enduring humiliation for a few years, he finally exterminated the Turks and captured Jie Li alive. Afterwards, he calmed down Tuguhun Town and impeached Tibet and Longyouhetao. In the foreign war, the Great Tang of Zhenguan never gave way, and Li Shimin was respected by the barbarians in the Heavenly Khan.
However, after calming down the northern grasslands, the national policy of recuperating and nourishing the people dominated. It was at that time that a group of capable officials began to show themselves and gradually gained real power. People like Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Wei Zheng were all people with strong Confucianism and benevolence. They had always advocated that Wang Daoren should be a political country and that there should be fewer wars if there were no wars. Moreover, the rest of the world was peaceful, which was also the wish of the common people. As a result, there were few wars in the Zhengguan Great Tang’s Tibetan Armor and Academy of Armor Cultivation.
But Li Shimin was an ambitious master. Such a monarch was naturally aggressive! Taking down the Turks was revenge; Pacify vomiting muddy, simply not satisfying; Only by subduing Tibet in the Western Regions would he be able to console his ambitions!
However, there were many people in the Imperial Court who talked about war-loathed people, and Li Shimin had no choice but to consider their emotions. Thus, he slowly laid out a plan to dominate the Western Regions. This first move was to expand the Lanzhou Governor’s Mansion!
Eldest Sun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and the others weren’t stupid, so they naturally could tell. But they had nothing to say about the Emperor’s arrangement! –Tibet invades, Lanzhou reinforces its troops to defend it is only natural!
At the same time, these well-informed people also sniffed out a strange smell. The Emperor had a plan to dominate the Western Regions. There was no use for Li Xu, Hou Junji, Li Daliang, and the others. He did not invite Li Jing to use his proud disciple, Su Dingfang. Instead, he used Qin Mubai, a junior who was still young and had little military merit!
What’s this signal? ! Could it be that this brat is going to be rich, and the Emperor wants to promote and nurture him?
After entering and leaving the Imperial City these past few days, Qin Mubai also felt that something was amiss. Those ministers and officials looked at him strangely. With a thought in his heart, he understood what was going on. He calmly thought, “Whatever they think, it has nothing to do with me!” I just need to do my own thing.
The temple was finally over. Qin Mubai returned to the imperial palace and handed over a decree to the emperor. Li Shimin met him in the Martial Hall and finished his business. He asked him to follow the emperor to the Penglai Hall.
Li Shimin said, “Mubai, you haven’t forgotten the childish slave and the former son, have you?”
“Of course not.” Qin Mubai smiled and replied, “Your Highness, how are you now?”
“Alright.” Li Shimin also smiled and said, “I’m going back to accompany them today. Coincidentally, you came. Let’s go together!”
“This lowly official can’t wait!” Qin Mubai smiled and said, “To be honest, this lowly official really misses the two Little Highnesses!”
“They’ve been talking about you all day, haha!” Li Shimin laughed loudly.
When they arrived at the bedroom of Penglai Hall, they heard Li Zhi and Li Mingda studying together, and they were still reading the chapters in the Book of Rites.
Qin Mubai couldn’t help but laugh, “Your Highnesses are really good. You’ve read the Book of Rites at such a young age. As far as I know, the Book of Rites is a Big Scripture. Previously, they had already learned the Book of Filial Piety, the Book of Songs, and the Gongyang Biography. This is going to be the Four Scriptures!”
The Imperial Examination was carried out in the Great Tang Dynasty, and the official textbooks were divided into three categories: the Great Classics, the Middle Classics and the Small Classics, and the Book of Rites and the Zuo Zhuan were also the Great Classics. There are three grades of learning: opening two meridians, opening three meridians and opening five meridians. Naturally, the more he learned, the more talented he would be.
Li Shimin nodded and smiled in relief, “Yu Shinan is really a good teacher. Furthermore, Childish Slave and Priestess are also diligent in their studies. In other words, this is more influenced by you. Back then, Childish Slave was the one who didn’t like reading the most. If you hadn’t accompanied them to form a good habit of reading every day, he would have been unable to learn anything.”
“Haha, Your Majesty is joking. Actually, His Highness King Jin is very smart, just a little playful. Princess Jin Yang is a rare smart, a genius!” Qin Mubai said.
“That’s right, I’ve reached the point.” Li Shimin nodded and said, “It’s a pity that my son is a girl. Otherwise, he would definitely be an extraordinary person in the future.”
Qin Mubai smiled faintly, “Your Majesty, it is not impossible for a woman to be extraordinary. For example, Empress Chang Sun is the Mother of Immortality.”
“That’s right” A sentence reminded Li Shimin of infinite memories. He nodded thoughtfully and said, “Out of all my children, Ke’er is the most like me, and I was the most like the Empress … Well, let’s go in!”
A casual remark sounds significant to a suspicious listener. Qin Mubai thought to himself, “Hearing Li Shimin’s tone, I’m sighing. Why isn’t he a man?” She was both a direct descendant and a smart and virtuous person. If she was born a man, she would be the perfect successor!
Speaking of which, Li Shimin was still worried about his successor!
As the two of them walked in, Li Zhi and Li Mingda excitedly shouted, “Father–wow! Village Chief!”
“Haha!” Qin Mubai laughed loudly. He saw Li Zhi at a glance, but his appearance had changed drastically!
After not seeing him for a year, he had grown a lot taller. It was as if he was a different person. His voice had also changed a little. He was like a half-grown kid!
It seemed that the ancients had indeed matured a little earlier. This brat had only begun to develop rapidly when he was eleven or twelve years old!
“Prince Jin, Your Highness Princess, are you all alright?” Qin Mubai smiled and asked.
“Alright! Village Chief, it’s been almost a year since you came to see us!” Li Zhi’s voice became a lot thicker, and his childishness lessened. He was a little like a duck, which made him unpleasant to hear. However, excitement was overflowing in his words, and so was honesty and simplicity.
On the other hand, it was still the same as before. Tiger head, tiger head, and white head were very cute, and their smiles were extremely sweet. Moreover, they were a little fatter than before, like a doll.
“I’ll make you happy.” Li Shimin chuckled and said, “Young slave, how is your reading? Memorize a paragraph for your village chief, okay?”
“Alright!”
The two of them began to memorize the Eight Scriptures. They were memorizing a passage from the Book of Rites. Everyone was able to memorize it smoothly. Qin Mubai laughed and said, “I’m not sure if I recited the wrong book. Anyway, I can’t memorize it. Your Highness, you two are much more diligent and knowledgeable than me!”
“Mubai, if you say that, you will teach them a lesson. They will be proud!” Li Shimin chuckled and showed his love. He summoned the two little princes to his side and hugged them. “In the blink of an eye, the childish slave will be twelve years old. It’s time to set up a government office. I promised you a long time ago that I would let you be the master of King Jin. What do you think?”
“I dare?” Qin Mubai cupped his hands and said, “I’m afraid that this lowly official is not talented and has not been in the capital for many years. It won’t be beneficial to His Highness King Jin.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Li Zhi rushed to say, “Village Chief, you just have to agree. Anyway, I only wish for the Village Chief to be King Jin’s teacher. If it was someone else, I wouldn’t be happy!”
“Yes!” “Village Chief, do you agree? Even if you are an official in another city, there will still be a time for you to return to the capital, right? Once you return to the capital, you will go to the Ninth Brother’s Mansion. Then I will also go and listen to the Village Chief’s story again!”
“Haha!” Li Shimin was amused. “Son, King Jin Fu is not a storyteller. He is your ninth brother’s teacher, you know? You have to learn from him. If you don’t understand, ask him. If you are in danger, let him protect you. Understand?”
“En!” Li Zhi seriously nodded, “Isn’t the village chief always protecting us? With him around, my sister and I can sleep peacefully.”
“Haha, did you hear that?” Li Shimin laughed and said, “It won’t be long before you are their brother-in-law. As a family, I am even more relieved.”
Qin Mubai smiled and said, “In that case, this lowly official agreed.”
“Alright. When the childish slave opens his mansion, you will be the Prince of Jin.” Li Shimin laughed and said, “Mubai, son-in-law wins half a son. I treat you like a son. I have always treated childish slaves and unfilial sons as my heart’s content. At that time, I will leave everything to you.”
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty.” Qin Mubai smiled and nodded.
“Alright, let’s eat together!” Li Shimin laughed heartily, “Young slave, I’ll take out your pipa after dinner and listen to it. Let your teacher also test how well you’ve practiced it.”
“Alright!” Li Zhi and Li Mingda were delighted and happily dragged Qin Mubai to the restaurant.
Li Shimin looked at them and nodded with a smile. “This is fate!” He said to himself.
After eating in Penglai Hall and listening to Li Zhi and Li Mingda play the pipa, it was very late and the sky gradually darkened. Qin Mubai bade farewell to the Emperor and the others and left this place to go home.
When he reached the dismount bridge, he saw someone holding a lantern sitting by the bridge, as if he was waiting for him.
It was none other than Princess Gaoyang.
“Ling’er, why are you here?” Qin Mubai walked over and asked with concern, “It’s getting cold now. Don’t freeze.”
“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!” Princess Gaoyang smiled gently and handed the lantern to Qin Mubai. “Here, take it. My hands are frozen red.”
“You’re the only one here. You don’t need a palace maid to accompany you.” Qin Mubai took the lantern and held his hand in his. He said, “Is there anything you need to wait for me?”
“I can’t wait for you if I’m fine?” Princess Gaoyang smiled playfully and said, “I heard your servant say that you came to the harem with your father and went to Penglai Palace. I’ll wait for you here and want to talk to you!”
Qin Mubai smiled and said, “It’s such a good place. I seem to remember that there used to be people here who jumped into the river valiantly-aren’t you afraid?”
“Hateful!” Princess Gaoyang blushed and glared at Qin Mubai in embarrassment.
“Tell me, what’s the matter?” Qin Mubai chuckled and asked. He knew that if nothing else happened, Princess Gao Yang would not have waited here in the middle of the night.
“Yes, I heard that you are leaving the capital for Lanzhou, right?” Princess Gaoyang asked.
“You’re quite well-informed. The Imperial Court hasn’t even officially followed up yet!” Qin Mubai smiled and nodded, “Yes, His Majesty ordered.”
Princess Gao Yang knitted her brows and said, “We are going to get engaged. How can Father Emperor let you leave at this time?”
“State affairs are of utmost importance!” Qin Mubai chuckled, “Don’t worry, I can’t escape. Aren’t you still holding me in your hand?”
“I’m not ashamed!” Princess Gaoyang rolled her eyes at him in amusement and anger. “It’s only been a few days since we returned to the capital. Are you leaving again? Anyway, my heart is not at ease. I want to go to Lanzhou with you!”
Qin Mubai frowned, “Actually, I also want to take you with me. However, Lanzhou is not Xiang Prefecture. It is a frontier region. There is war at any time. It is not fun to be in chaos. It is also dangerous.”
“I don’t care! Anyway, I have sworn an oath. From now on, I will be wherever you are!” Princess Gaoyang is stubborn.
Qin Mubai looked at her awkwardly and smiled bitterly. She said softly, “Ling’er, don’t be so willful!” This time, it’s not that His Majesty the Emperor agrees or disagrees. It’s that I’m not willing to take you there. Speaking of which, if we are engaged, then we will be husband and wife, and His Majesty the Emperor will not care much about you. However, I am also a stranger in Lanzhou. “It’s the Peace Earth Realm. If we fight for three days, I’m afraid I won’t have the time to take care of you!”
“Hateful! Am I just that cumbersome?” Princess Gaoyang curled her face and said hatefully, “If you don’t go, then you won’t go! I don’t want it anymore! Hmph!”
With that, she turned around and was about to leave.
“Haha!” Qin Mubai smiled and pulled her into his embrace. “Look at you. Are you being childish again?” He smiled.
Princess Gaoyang blushed and chuckled, “I don’t care! Anyway, I’m going to Lanzhou this time! If you don’t bring me, I’ll sneak off myself! Maybe I’ll be cut off by the Tibetan barbarians and bullied on the plateau halfway-you do as you please!”
Qin Mubai smiled bitterly, “You are clearly threatening people!”
“That’s right!” Princess Gaoyang’s face twitched and she snorted, “What can you do to me?”
Qin Mubai shook his head helplessly and smiled bitterly, “Forget it, I’m afraid of you. Why don’t you ask His Majesty the Emperor? If he agrees, I won’t say anything else, okay?”
“Hehe, that’s good!” Princess Gaoyang laughed smugly, “Your Majesty, father … it’s a piece of cake!”
“Will you please keep your voice down?” Qin Mubai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Forget it, there were people who jumped into the river, so it’s not appropriate to stay here for long. I have to go back. Go find your dishes!”
“Hehe! Go, go, I’ll go to Penglai Palace to find Father Emperor!” Princess Gaoyang smiled proudly and tiptoed on Qin Mubai’s face, her face full of joy.
“You know how to play hooligan!” Qin Mubai scolded and waved his hand.
“Yeah! That’s great!” Princess Gaoyang jumped and shouted excitedly, “Leave Chang’an and go to Lanzhou!”
