Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 345

Chapter 345 Ling’er Is Not Dead, Mubai Is Dead

In the main hall of the Taiji Palace in the Imperial City, there were many lanterns and colorful weapons. On the altar, incense burned for several zhang. Everything was ready for the wedding ceremony, and civil and military officials were also preparing to enter the hall one after another to participate in the ceremony.

The carriages and horses welcoming the wedding did not enter the palace. Seeing that the auspicious time for the ceremony was coming, most of the people became anxious.

In Chang’an City, many people who heard the news of Princess Gaoyang’s wedding had also gathered on the streets and prepared to watch the fun. It was already a sea of people. They had already been lined up directly from Vermillion Bird Sect to Prince Consort Qin’s mansion.

Not long after, even Emperor Li Shimin and Imperial Concubine Yin De also came. Dragon-robed Gun Mian Hua Guan was sitting under the canopy. Seeing this scene, Li Shimin couldn’t help but frown, “Why hasn’t he come yet? It’s almost two hours late? What’s going on in Zongzheng Temple? Chu Suiliang, ride your horse and take a look. Let’s hurry up.”

“Yes.” Chu Suiliang replied and left.

Chu Suiliang rode his horse out of the Vermillion Bird Gate of the Imperial Palace. From afar, he could hear a loud laugh coming from the streets of West City. Many people were crowded together, unable to get through. They kept shouting, “Let the groom come out to see the guests.”

The big matchmaker was the king of Jiangxia, Li Daozong. He was wearing a big red flower robe and was riding a large horse with a group of soldiers. He cupped his hands and said to the passers-by with a smile, “Fellow villagers, you have eaten candy and fruits. Please give me a step back, okay? You can’t miss a good hour!”

“No way! How can a bridegroom hide in a sedan chair? Only the bride has always been like this, right? Besides, Prince Consort Qin is a military officer. How can he not ride a tall horse to make us happy?”

“Haha, fellow villagers, forgive me. This is the custom of the Old Qin Clan in Shandong. Duke Yi specifically instructed me to make such an arrangement. Little Wang can’t make the decision, nor can his son-in-law caress his father!” Dao Sect Li laughed and said, “Everyone, please make it convenient. Let the welcoming party pass. The auspicious hour will arrive soon. Don’t wait for the bride and the distinguished guests!”

The crowd let out a burst of laughter, but they didn’t allow it.

When Chu Suiliang saw this scene, he immediately came over and said, “Your Highness, why are you so slow? Your Majesty has ordered me to come here to urge you. The auspicious time is coming.”

Only then did the crowd burst into laughter and spread out a path, allowing the King of Jiangxia to lead Qin Mubai’s sedan chair over.

Dao Sect Li secretly let out a long sigh of relief as he rode past with a smile on his face.

Chu Suiliang’s heart was filled with care. Seeing that Li Daozong’s expression seemed to be different, he hurriedly patted his horse and whispered, “Your Highness, what is there to worry about?”

“What a great joyous occasion. What are you worried about? Let’s go. Don’t talk too much!” Dao Sect Li patted his horse and looked forward.

A cloud of doubt arose in Chu Suiliang’s heart. He stared at the bridegroom’s sedan for a few moments and could not ask any further. He could only flatter his horse and follow.

After the welcoming party entered the Vermillion Bird Gate, Li Daozong hurriedly called Chu Suiliang to his trousers and whispered, “Something bad has happened!”

“Oh?” Chu Suiliang was stunned.

“Hurry up and inform His Majesty that Mubai is missing! Tell His Majesty to find a way to suppress the situation. In Chang’an City, Little Wang finally managed to suppress the situation without making a fool of himself. There are many civil and military officials waiting for Mubai in Taiji Palace, so don’t make a big deal out of it!”

“This!” Chu Suiliang was dumbfounded. “How did the groom disappear at this juncture? Don’t say that the entire dynasty is full of civil and military affairs. The entire world is probably staring at this brown wedding!”

“Don’t gossip. You should inform His Majesty first.” Li Daozong waved his hand and said, “Hurry up and leave! Little Wang is stalling for time to let the wedding party slip around the Imperial City. It will take a while for His Majesty to send someone to look for Qin Mubai!”

“Are you saying that … Qin Mubai is in the palace?”

“Tell me, Your Majesty will know what to do!”

“Alright, I’ll go immediately!”

Chu Suiliang was also quite smart. He did not take the Grand Dao of Taiji Palace. Instead, he circled through the small paths of the palace and asked a young eunuch to invite Li Shimin, who was sitting in the main hall of Taiji Palace.

Li Shimin’s heart was already filled with displeasure. When he saw Chu Suiliang, he scolded, “What’s going on with Qin Mubai? It’s auspicious that he hasn’t appeared yet. Could it be that he doesn’t want to get this kiss?”

“Your Majesty, please calm down!” Chu Suiliang hurriedly retreated and whispered in Li Shimin’s ears.

Hearing that, Li Shimin’s eyebrows immediately stood on end, “Is there such a thing?”

“The Jiang Xia King did say that. I’m sure he’s not someone who talks nonsense!”

“This is outrageous!” Li Shimin was instantly enraged and gritted his teeth until his bones rang, “Under my eyelids, someone actually dared to kidnap my son-in-law!”

“Your Majesty, please calm down. According to the Qin Family, Prince Consort Qin disappeared after His Majesty announced him to the palace last night. In other words, Prince Consort Qin is most likely … trapped in the palace!” Chu Suiliang said.

“What? How is this possible!” Li Shimin was both shocked and angry. He said, “It was indeed me who announced him to the palace yesterday to inform him of the great victory in Lanzhou so that he could marry in peace. Afterwards, I drank a few drinks with him. I drank too much and sent a childish slave to send him home. If I didn’t detain him, could I still be a childish slave? That’s impossible!”

“Your Majesty, why don’t you announce King Jin to us?”

“Someone, pass on Li Zhi!”

Li Zhi was also preparing to attend the wedding at Taiji Palace, so Shao Qing called out. Li Shimin immediately asked, “Young slave, I ask you-did you send your master home yesterday?”

“No, no.” Li Zhi rarely saw Li Shimin so angry. He felt a little nervous and panicked, “My son sent two personal eunuchs, Dong Hua and Zhao Ming, to prepare a carriage to take him home. What happened to Master?”

“Then where is Tung Hua and Zhao Ming now?”

“I went to send someone off yesterday, but no one has returned yet.”

“What?!” Li Shimin’s heart suddenly widened as he angrily scolded, “You idiot! Why didn’t you do anything all the time? It’s fine if you didn’t personally send Qin Mubai to the manor. Sending someone to send him home requires a servant to reply. You didn’t get anything in return and didn’t even ask, how did you do it?”

A few thunderous shouts frightened Li Zhi to the point that his entire body trembled. He immediately knelt down and said in panic, “Father, forgive me! Your son will go find Dong Zhao and his master!”

“Hurry up and go!-Wait, you can’t handle things well. Chu Suiliang, you go with him!”

“Yes.” Chu Suiliang agreed, stepped forward to help Li Zhi and prepared to leave.

At this moment, the two eunuchs broke into the room like ants in a hot pot, panicking. Li Shimin was enraged. Seeing the two eunuchs barge in without thinking, he was even angrier. He was about to berate them angrily when he saw the two most stable eunuchs in charge of Yeting. He suppressed his anger in doubt and asked, “What’s the matter with panic? They have lost their manners!”

“Your Majesty, something bad has happened!” The Chief Supervisor of the inner court, Chief Eunuch Song, was so scared that his face turned pale. He moved closer with his mouth trembling and whispered anxiously.

Halfway through, Li Shimin’s eyes almost straightened. His face turned red and white.

Before Commander Song could finish his sentence, Li Shimin cried out in alarm, raising his hands and collapsing.

“Ah! Your Majesty!!!”

The entire room was in a mess …

After an incense stick of time.

Just as the master of ceremonies on the altar was about to loudly shout, “Good luck has arrived”, Chu Suiliang immediately appeared and stopped him, saying, “His Majesty suddenly suffered an emergency and shouted several times, fainting to the ground. For some reason, the ceremony is temporarily to collect sand, and another day will be decided!”

“Ah!!!”

The Taiji Palace immediately exploded!

“His Majesty the Emperor suddenly fainted?! This … how could this be good!”

“Everyone, don’t panic!” Eldest Sun Wuji was the first to stand out, his hands pressed down, and everyone fell silent.

Eldest Sun Wuji looked around with satisfaction and said, “I am the most familiar with His Majesty. I know that although His Majesty has always had a dragon body, he has a hereditary syncope.” Perhaps it was because he had been tired recently and had waited too long for the cold wind to blow, so he did not feel ill and temporarily fainted. He was also expected to be fine. We are all ministers of the state, we should put the overall situation first. “The matter of His Majesty fainting cannot be spread out, so as not to alert the people and cause unnecessary trouble.”

“What Eldest Sun’s husband said is true, what he said is true.” Everyone agreed.

“At this moment, His Majesty has fainted. The marriage between the princess and her son-in-law must not be conducted without His Majesty. Therefore, the ceremony had to be temporarily postponed. It doesn’t matter, there are many good things to be done! Right now, everyone, please disperse to the Taiji Palace first, but do not leave the palace. We will wait quietly in the various yamens of the Imperial City for news. Perhaps His Majesty will regain consciousness in a while. Today was an auspicious day, and there were many good days. “When Supervisor Si chooses another auspicious time, he will be fine.”

“Everything is up to the eldest grandson’s instructions.” The generals didn’t have any objections, and they were all dispersed one after another. No one dared to whisper or talk about it in a rash manner.

Seeing this scene, Changsun Wuji secretly let out a long breath and looked at Chu Suiliang. Chu Suiliang gave him a look, and the two of them understood. After the officials dispersed, they hurriedly arrived at Taiji Palace’s dormitory.

Li Shimin lay flat on the couch, his eyes tightly closed, and his face was deathly pale. Two imperial physicians waited on the side of the imperial couch and checked the pulse. Chu Suiliang and Eldest Sun Wuji entered the room and asked about their illness. After learning that His Majesty was fine, they felt relieved. The two of them thought in their hearts that the Emperor was smart enough to adapt to the situation. If it weren’t for his sudden illness, he would have postponed the wedding. If the bridegroom didn’t show up at the hour and the wedding couldn’t be held, the scandal would have spread out, and then the world would be in chaos.

The two of them retreated left and right and knelt down in front of the imperial couch.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty.” Changsun Wuji called softly.

After calling out for more than ten times, Li Shimin slowly woke up. He turned his head and saw the two of them clearly. He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh, seemingly filled with boundless disappointment and resentment.

“What exactly happened?” Changsun Wuji asked softly.

Li Shimin gently raised his hand and pointed at Chu Suiliang, “Ask him. I can’t say it.”

“Ah?” Changsun Wuji couldn’t help but be shocked.

Chu Suiliang cupped his hands and was about to say something when Li Shimin bellowed, “Don’t say it in front of me!”

“Yes …”

The two of them had no choice but to retreat outside Ping Feng and whisper to each other for a while. After hearing this, Changsun Wuji almost fell to the ground.

“This is good!” He couldn’t help but shout.

“What’s good about it?” Inside, Li Shimin roared angrily, “Kill! Kill them all! Chop them all into meat paste and feed them to the dogs! I, I don’t want to see anyone again! Anyone who knows, kill them all!”

Chang Sun Wuji and Chu Suiliang’s bodies instantly turned cold! –We are all insiders!

The Emperor, who had always valued the Sovereign Rites the most and never killed them lightly, was truly too excited today to actually say such ruthless words!

The two of them looked at each other with cold sweat. They walked to Li Shimin’s bed and knelt down. “Your Majesty, there’s something fishy about this matter. Why don’t you find out and ask again?” Chang Sun Wuji whispered.

“Investigate!” Li Shimin angrily scolded, “No matter how much you investigate, no matter what the truth is, it’s still my family’s shame! There’s no need to investigate, kill!”

“In that case, didn’t you fall for someone else’s crafty scheme?” Chu Suiliang’s cold words caused Li Shimin’s expression to freeze.

“Trickery?” Li Shimin finally found some space in his rage and beckoned for Eldest Sun Wuji to help him up a little. He stared at Chu Suiliang and said, “Who would dare to plot against my son-in-law in my harem?” It was clearly Qin Mubai who accidentally entered the courtyard after he was drunk and did something like that with his drunkenness. There were also four eunuchs’ corpses at the scene, namely, Dong Zhao and Dong Zhao, who had escorted him out of the palace, and the eunuch order of the gate guards of Yetian Court. With Qin Mubai’s status, they didn’t dare to disobey the orders given to the four of them. At the time of the incident, the four of them had no choice but to stop it. With Qin Mubai’s skill, killing these four eunuchs without the slightest bit of blood energy was even easier. “What can I say now that I’ve caught adultery in bed?”

“Your Majesty, the more reasonable things are, the more unreasonable they are.” Chu Suiliang was not in a hurry to argue and whispered softly, “Your Majesty, please think about it. When Qin Mubai worked in Baiji for a long time, he knew everything in the harem like the back of his hand. Most of the concubines in the harem also knew him.” Even if Qin Mubai did something drunken for a while, why did the two concubines stay with him until dawn and didn’t escape afterwards? “Furthermore, there are thousands of palace maids and eunuchs living in Yeting. They can be separated by walls and ears by five rooms. How can there be no movement when murder and rape are committed? However, it is only at dawn that someone catches adultery in bed. Isn’t this too coincidental?”

Hearing that, Li Shimin raised his eyebrows and pondered for a long time.

The eldest Sun Wuji pondered for a moment and said, “At this moment, we mustn’t spread the news. We must seal the harem from anyone entering or leaving. News has spread that His Majesty suddenly fainted from the cold and the wedding ceremony is going to be held on another auspicious day. In this way, you can temporarily hide your mouth and His Majesty will have time to find out more about this matter.”

Li Shimin pondered for a moment and slowly nodded, “That’s good. I’ll leave the auxiliary machine and the civil and military officials to you to appease. Dispatch them separately, and the capital officials will return to the foreign officials’ shops. After a few days, they will hold a wedding ceremony. Chu Suiliang, go invite Fang Xuanling over.”

“Yes.” The two of them agreed and retreated.

Li Shimin was alone on the couch. He closed his eyes in pain and punched his forehead. He shook his head repeatedly and said to himself, “What exactly is going on? The Li Clan, Qin Mubai, and Ling’er, are they cursed? The marriage of these two sons and daughters can actually go through such twists and turns. Ah!!”

Not long after, Fang Xuanling arrived.

Fang Mou Du Duan and Du Ruhui had already gone. Li Shimin had always been glad to have Fang Xuanling, the most resourceful arm, by his side. Now that such a thing had happened, involving a family scandal, he only dared to discuss it with Fang Xuanling, who had always been the most calm and experienced official. Although Changsun Wuji was his brother-in-law, he lacked intelligence. Although Chu Suiliang was a confidant, he was still young and did not know anything about the harem. Only Fang Xuanling was resourceful and gloomy about the harem. In his early years, when Empress Eldest Sun was alive, he was also Empress Eldest Sun’s brain trust.

In a case like this, it was time to listen to his opinion.

Fang Xuanling bowed and was given a seat by Li Shimin. He was as calm as water as ever. Even if something big happened, it would be difficult for him to see anything strange on that old face.

“Your Majesty has called me over. What can I do for you?”

“Xuan Ling ah … This time, although I have ceased to live, I have no face to continue living.” Li Shimin shook his head and sighed.

“What did His Majesty say?” Fang Xuanling asked softly.

Li Shimin revealed a somewhat embarrassed expression as he bluntly told Fang Xuanling about the matter.

After Fang Xuanling heard this, he was actually indifferent.

This time, Li Shimin was shocked. He said, “Could it be that Xuan Ling already knew that you weren’t shocked at all by such a shocking matter?”

Fang Xuanling’s expression froze for a moment. He cupped his hands and whispered, “Your Majesty, this lowly official not only knew about this, but also …”

“So what?” Li Shimin was extremely surprised.

“I also know the truth of the matter and the background. I have already captured the real murderer.”

“What?!” Li Shimin was shocked. He jumped up from the royal couch and said in disbelief, “Xuan Ling, this matter is no joke. You can’t talk nonsense!”

Fang Xuanling’s face was already ashen. He cupped his hands and bowed. Then, he knelt down and placed his forehead on the ground. He bowed and said, “Your Majesty, the real culprit is Fang Xuanling. Your Majesty, please punish him!”

Li Shimin instantly became petrified. All of his expressions froze and his body stiffened.

Jun Zhan and I knelt, the scene seemed to freeze.

“Xuan Ling, I will say it again! This matter must be compared to a child’s play. You cannot speak without thinking!”

“I have followed His Majesty for more than twenty years and have never dared to deceive you. Qin Mubai was framed. And the one who committed the greatest crime in this case is Fang Xuanling himself. Please punish him!” After saying that, Fang Xuanling took off his black gauze hat from his head and put it aside. He knelt down again with his head pressed against the ground.

“Plop!” Li Shimin fainted and fell heavily on the couch.

In the palace of Yeting, in the room where the crime was committed.

The guards inside and outside surrounded more than ten floors. The door was tightly shut, and the corpses of the four eunuchs in the room were still untidied. The room was filled with the stench of wine and the odd smell of blood. The two “injured” concubines had been taken away by the eunuchs of the Yeting Court and taken care of separately, while Qin Mubai sat alone in his room.

Qin Mubai stared at a painting of the Autumn Moon Imperial Case written by Wang Lide, a great painter of the court, on the wall, and remained motionless like a clay sculpture.

Things had already happened, and it was useless to call it regret. However, at this moment, he was trying to find a way to survive.

After waking up, Qin Mubai understood what he had done. The inner vault was empty. Yesterday night, he and the two coquettish foxes had fallen down countless times, and their legs had gone limp.

However, he didn’t even remember the slightest detail. He didn’t even know why he had appeared here.

It was obvious that he had fallen for someone else’s dao yesterday. It was very likely that it was because he had been drugged and then poisoned with strong aphrodisiacs that he was able to do so.

No matter what, it was an indisputable fact that he had given the concubines of the two Martial Emperors.

Qin Mubai felt a lot of pressure and headache whenever he thought of Li Shimin’s fake mother.

He thought about his situation and felt that the worst case scenario was that he would be cut into tens of millions of pieces and fed to the bastards in the Taiye Pool, and then the Qin Clan would be left alone. Next, it might be Princess Gaoyang’s death, Wu Meiniang’s widowhood or remarriage, the whipping corpse that was scolded by the world, even if there were no bones left, it would still be executed by the knife. Qin Mubai has been stinky in the history of Qing Dynasty for countless years …

In the end, he said that now that he wiped his neck with a knife, he would feel better.

However, Qin Mubai was never someone who gave up easily and would end up with his own life.

Since he had prepared for the worst, why not try his best to give it a try?

If he didn’t fight, he might not succeed, but if he didn’t fight, he would definitely die without a burial ground!

…

The four corpses were frozen there. Qin Mubai turned around and looked at them. He had the urge to wake them up and ask them the truth.

“I don’t know, what is Ling’er doing now? They put me under house arrest here, and I don’t know what they want? At this time, the Emperor should know. It’s time for my wedding. I don’t know what kind of chaos it will be … “Qin Mubai recited to himself and laughed indifferently at himself.” Damn it, my life is almost gone, and I’m still worried about eating salty radishes! ” Fortunately, I am familiar with the eunuchs of Yeting and the people of Baiqi and Jinwu Guards. Otherwise, he would have been dismembered by the chaotic knives just now! Now, every second he lives, he picks it up. ”

At this moment, a loud, unique sound of iron armor swaying came from outside the room, and the soldiers that surrounded the small house seemed to be moving together.

Someone whispered, “Why is Your Highness here?”

“Why can’t I come? You’re holding my husband!” Princess Gaoyang’s voice was cold, arrogant, and arrogant!

“Your Highness, please forgive me! At this moment, no one is allowed to see your son-in-law!” It was actually Qin Tong’s voice.

“Big brother! The one in there is your third brother!” Princess Gaoyang scolded, “Do you know what you’re talking about?”

“I know.” Qin Tong’s voice was filled with indignation and anger. He said in a deep voice, “But at this moment, I am the deputy envoy of Baiji, and then his brother. If he commits a crime, I will not spare him! Even if the princess comes, I will not let the princess in!”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s just like how Mubai didn’t let you enter the palace to disturb His Majesty’s afternoon nap! Today, unless the princess slashed Qin Tong and stepped on his corpse, Qin Tong would definitely not let the princess in!”

With a “bang”, a sharp weapon was unsheathed!

“Your Highness, don’t do anything stupid!”

Qin Mubai’s heart tightened. Of course, he knew what Princess Gaoyang had done.

Dressed in a blood engagement wedding robe, she stabbed a short dagger into her neck, already bleeding through her skin.

Yan Hong’s blood flowed down her snow-like pink neck. It was even redder and more eye-catching than her wedding robe.

“Move aside, or collect my corpse. Choose!”

“Your Highness, don’t force me!”

“Qin Tong, you’re still the Qin Clan’s eldest brother!” Princess Gaoyang scolded loudly, “I, Li Ling’er, am surnamed Li. I will sacrifice this princess for your third brother. I will also give up my life. Can’t you give up the position of deputy envoy to Baiji?!”

The entire arena was completely silent.

Dou Ran!

“Bang!! Bang!” With a few loud noises, Qin Tong smashed his helmet and saber heavily onto the ground. He shouted angrily, “Get out of the way! I will accompany the princess into the room! But if it’s big or small, I will take care of it!”

The soldiers were already waiting for Qin Tong’s words, and they flashed faster than he had imagined.

Princess Gaoyang threw out her dagger and walked into the room with her long wedding dress.

When she and Qin Tong pushed the door open and entered, Qin Mubai was still sitting at the table, not moving at all. He only looked sideways at Princess Gaoyang and smiled slightly, “Big brother, Ling’er, you’re here.”

“Big brother, close the door.”

It was as if in an instant, Princess Gaoyang, Li Ling’er, had turned into a man standing on the ground in the cauldron!

His gaze was firm, his expression resolute, and he gave orders to Qin Tong like a general who commanded thousands of troops to gallop across the battlefield.

Qin Tong closed the door as he said. He glanced inside the room, then glanced at his third brother. He sighed in embarrassment and anger. He couldn’t bear to turn his head around.

“What’s there to sigh about? Mubai is innocent! Mubai will be fine, the Qin Family will be fine, we are still husband and wife, this wedding will still be held!” Princess Gaoyang paused almost word by word and resolutely said the following:

“If Ling’er doesn’t die, Mubai will die!”