Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 355
Chapter 355 Such As the Song of Yao’er
In the late spring, on Mount Zhongnan, the clouds were flourishing. The sound of Qin Mubai’s pipa was like an immortal voice. It evoked the clouds and clouds that were sleeping in the mountains to surge with the wind. The flock of birds were elegant, and there were actually a few immortal cranes circling around them.
In a trance, it actually made people feel that this was the Immortal Realm.
Princess Gaoyang stared at Qin Mubai’s back and whispered, “Mother, I really regret it.”
“Regret for what?”
‘”I regret not telling Mubai what Li Chunfeng said so that he can be on guard. Now that Yao’er has gone, Mubai doesn’t know how sad and guilty he is. Seeing him like this, I really feel worse than dying.”
“Silly child.” Imperial Concubine Yin De sighed softly and said, “There are days. Who would have known that it was Yao’er who blocked the calamity for him? In other words, you don’t want to see Mubai feel so sad for Yao’er, but if it was you who died, what would he do?”
Princess Gaoyang was speechless. Her eyes were red and tears flowed silently.
The desolate tune of “Lanzhou Hong” lingered on the summit of Zhongnan Mountain, dancing along with the sparks as it slowly rose into the sky.
“Mother, do you think … Mubai will sink because of this, or his temperament will change drastically?” Princess Gaoyang said worriedly, “In the past few days, he hasn’t spoken to me. He just played the pipa over and over again and played the song ‘Lanzhou Hong’.” The song was so sad that every note pierced into my heart like a knife when he played it. I never knew that a man would be so heartbroken that it would shake the heavens and earth. He doesn’t shed tears as easily as we do, always crying and pounding his chest. But … the more he felt speechless pain, the more I felt like a knife wrenching my heart. I’d rather he let out a loud cry. I’m so worried about him … ”
“There’s no need to worry about him. If he fell just like this, it wouldn’t be Qin Mubai, and he wouldn’t have come to this point. Men, how can they truly grow without any setbacks? How can they cherish it without experiencing loss?” Imperial Concubine Yin said softly, “Love to the deepest depths, pain to the deepest depths, all speechless. Mu Bai is a person with a temperament. Let him use music to vent the inexplicable grief in his heart. After venting it, he will gradually recover.”
In another place, Li Xueyan was also quietly wiping away her tears. She whispered to her father, Li Daozong, “Father, this is the first time I’ve ever seen that dead Yao’er girl listen to this song.” But why? I clearly didn’t feel anything just now, but after hearing it less than once, my heart was filled with sadness and sorrow. “I’ve heard His Majesty praise Qin Mubai personally as the number one master of the pipa. Could it be that the music he played really has the power to pierce through people’s hearts?”
Li Daozong sighed softly, “Normal people use their hands to play the zither. Qin Mubai uses their hearts. Lanzhou Hong is originally a heartsong. At this moment, although Qin Mubai and Yao’er are separated by Yin and Yang, they merge with each other through music. This realm is beyond our comprehension.”
Li Xueyan looked at Qin Mubai who was sitting cross-legged in front of the fire and muttered to herself, “If I can, I’m willing to dance on the notes he plays. In this life, I only listen to one song and dance for one person.”
The orphans adopted by Mother Qin, Shuang’er, and Yao’er were already crying so much that they could not help but hug each other. Everyone present sighed.
At this moment, Qin Mubai’s melody was filled with a high pitch-“Bang buzz!”
The string was broken!
Qin Mubai suddenly stopped, and a layer of blood oozed out from the veil tied around his fist.
Looking at the broken string, Qin Mubai whispered, “The heavens are pitiful. Understand my heart. My dear friend, who will listen to the broken string?”
Under everyone’s gaze, Qin Mubai stood up and approached the fire.
Princess Gaoyang was shocked and was about to shout when Imperial Concubine Yin De stopped her.
Qin Mubai waved his hand and threw the pipa into the fire. Sparks splashed everywhere and thick smoke billowed.
“Yao’er, Qin Mubai will not play any more music in his life, except to offer sacrifices to you.”
Everyone was silent, leaving only the sound of firewood piles cracking their horns and the roar of the wind on Mount Zhongnan.
In the evening, Yao’er’s ashes lay quietly in a bronze urn. Qin Mubai took off his brocade cloak and wrapped it up before picking it up.
The people on the mountain retreated down the mountain one after another. Friends who had come to participate in the sacrifice took their leave one after another. There weren’t many people left on the top of the mountain. At this moment, someone walked up the mountain to Qin Mubai and bowed, “Brother Qin.”
“Brother Zheng, long time no see.” Qin Mubai handed the urn over to Shuang’er for the time being and cupped his hands in return.
Zheng Anshun glanced at Qin Mubai’s bloodshot fists and nodded. “Good fight.”
The corner of Qin Mubai’s lips curled into a smile. “Brother Zheng came all the way up the mountain just to say that?” He said.
“Of course not.” Zheng Anshun smiled apologetically and said, “I’ve been busy in East Capital all day. I just returned to Chang’an. I’m really sorry to hear about this. I just came up the mountain to meet some old acquaintances of Chang’an. They know that I know you well, but please let me beg you for something.”
“What is it?”
“Everyone has admired Miss Yao’er for a long time. Now that she has suddenly gone to the Immortal Realm, all of them are saddened.” Zheng Anshun said, “Since Brother Qin is sending her off at the peak of Zhongnan Mountain, they want to erect a jade-white statue of Yao’er here and erect a monument at the temple to commemorate her.”
“A statue erecting a temple?” Qin Mubai shook her head and said, “Yao’er loved peace the most when she was alive, not vanity. She definitely wouldn’t want to.”
“Brother Qin has misunderstood.” Zheng Anshun said, “Yao’er likes peace and quiet. She is pure and elegant. In the Southern Immortal Realm, there are often flowing clouds and rainbow clouds. Isn’t it her best destination to accompany the Immortal Crane Spirit Beast?” Furthermore, this place is the highest point near Chang’an. We want to erect a 100 foot tall white jade statue for Yao’er and look at Chang’an with the pipa in our hands. Brother Qin, if you miss Miss Yao’er, you can see it from afar when you look at Zhongnan from afar. “In such an immortal realm, Yao’er, you can enjoy the Immortal Wind Jade Dew and worship the Hundred Birds. How could it not be a beautiful thing to truly become a fairy?”
“Alright, Brother Zheng, I’ll accept your fist intent.” Qin Mubai knew that she could not get rid of it, so she agreed. He thought to himself, Zheng Anshun had never been a person who liked to talk nonsense and do nonsense. He must have other intentions when he came here. So he said to him, “If Brother Zheng has time later, he might as well come to my humble abode to discuss the matter of this statue erecting a temple.”
“That’s good.” Zheng Anshun cupped his hands and bowed to the crowd behind Qin Mubai again. He said, “I won’t disturb you. I’ll take my leave first.”
“Please.”
After Zheng Anshun left, only the Qin Family, Princess Gao Yang’s mother and daughter, and Li Daozong’s father and daughter were left on the mountain peak. Seeing that they weren’t outsiders, Qin Mubai said to Imperial Concubine De and Imperial Concubine Yin, “Imperial Concubine De, Your Highness, it’s already night since we climbed the mountain at dawn. I’m ashamed that both of you haven’t entered yet. How about we invite you to our humble abode for dinner?”
Before Imperial Concubine Yin De could say anything, Princess Gaoyang hurriedly said, “Alright.” Imperial Concubine Yin De smiled and naturally could not refuse, so she nodded lightly.
“Since even Imperial Sister-in-law has given this face, does this Wang An dare not come?” Li Daozong smiled and said, “Mubai, it’s been a while since I took care of the cup with you. Why don’t we do it today? Men, no matter what happens, you should take it as a good experience. Today, this king and you are drunk and drunk. Once you wake up, everything will be fine.”
“Alright, please!”
The group of people walked down the mountain peak, and there were guards and carriages waiting halfway up the mountain. They got on the car, then looked at changan.
Li Daozong deliberately called Qin Mubai to the same car as him and said to him, “Today, Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang are really mysterious.”
Qin Mubai smiled and said, “What do you think Your Highness has?”
Li Daozong smiled and said, “It’s not that I’m being sarcastic. Although everyone likes Yao’er and she’s gone to tears, in the eyes of Eldest Sun Wuji and Chu Suiliang, she’s just a singer. Even if she was adopted by Duke Yi, it would be very difficult for them to be interested in her.”
“Of course. Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang clearly came for me. They want to take this opportunity to get close to me, or perhaps they have other motives.” Qin Mubai said, “If it weren’t for Imperial Concubine Yin De and His Highness being present, the two of them wouldn’t have left in a hurry just now.”
“Heh, you’re right.” Li Daozong said, “The situation in the Imperial Court is quite delicate. His Majesty is sick and cannot be a director. He has the help of Eldest Sun Wuji and Chu Suiliang to assist the young Prince Jin. To be honest, even I didn’t know about this situation at first, and I didn’t expect it. Mubai, can you think of anything?”
Qin Mubai shook his head and said, “The Emperor’s Heart is unfathomable.”
Li Daozong did not ask any further. He nodded his head speciously and said, “In a while, I will invite an uninvited guest for you. This person must be of high opinion.”
“Who?”
“Duke of England, Li Ji!”
Qin Mubai was shocked, “Isn’t he guarding the northern border in the clouds? When did he return to Chang’an, and no one knows?”
“Heh, how can others know such a great military event?” Li Daozong smiled and said, “However, with your intelligence, you should be able to guess why he suddenly came back.”
Qin Mubai thought for a moment. Previously, when the Eastern Palace wanted to rebel, the Emperor had given the Li Dao Sect the Heavenly Son Sword to shake the situation. At that time, the Li Dao Sect had already said that they should be on guard against the matter of Changan Nanya’s Nine Gates Guard General, Changsun Huan. Since that was the case, Li Ji must have been transferred back to respond to all changes. Fortunately, Changsun Huan did not have a fever or do anything stupid at that time. Otherwise, the tens of thousands of field garrisons stationed outside Chang’an City would be able to break through the gate of Chang’an that he had closed with a flip of his hand and burn all jade and stones.
There was Li Jing in Chang’an, Li Daozong and Qin Mubai who were in charge of the Imperial Army with the Son of Heaven Sword. Outside Chang’an, there was Li Xi’s Field Combat King. No matter how stormy the Tang court was, it was just a false alarm.
On the surface, the situation was almost out of control in the Great Tang, but everything was still under the control of Li Shimin, who was sick in bed.
Qin Mubai did not continue to discuss this issue with Li Daozong. Instead, he changed the topic and said, “Your Highness, what do you think Eldest Sun Wuji and Chu Suiliang will do to find me?”
“If they want to find you, there will be many things to do.” Li Daozong said half-jokingly and half-seriously, “You smashed Fang Xuanling’s son into meat paste. Although he was the one who conspired to rebel and assassinate him, there should be an explanation from the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice, right?”
“Your Highness, don’t make fun of me.” Qin Mubai looked at his bloody fist and smiled lightly. “If I take Fang Yiai and let the executioner slash him, I won’t be able to give Yao’er an explanation. Or rather, I won’t be able to give myself an explanation. Your Highness, let’s get down to business!”
“Yes.” Dao Sect Li nodded and said, “I guess they’re only looking for you because of Lanzhou.”
“How is the current situation in Lanzhou?” Qin Mubai asked.
“Latest news, Gao Chang has reversed.” Li Daozong said, “Your father, the Great Governor of Lanzhou, probably couldn’t hold back any longer. He hastily reported to the Imperial Court 800 miles away. At this moment, he is probably already preparing to attack Gao Chang in the west.”
“Ready? What else?” Qin Mubai couldn’t help but wonder, “According to the earliest strategy, shouldn’t Gao Chang move and Lanzhou move?”
“That’s true.” “Not long ago, Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang met to discuss the matter of Lanzhou with the officials of the Imperial Court. As Changsun Wuji strongly opposed the use of foreign troops, the Imperial Court issued an order to Lanzhou that all military operations in Lanzhou must obey the orders of the Imperial Court and must not use troops privately or act recklessly,” Li Daozong said with a serious expression.
“What?!” Qin Mubai frowned and said, “Why did Eldest Sun Wuji do this? This is an important matter of the military and state. This is a national policy! His Majesty the Emperor has already formulated it. Why should he change it?”
Li Daozong shook his head and said, “In the words of Eldest Sun Wuji, at this time, at that time. Now that our Great Tang Dynasty is uneasy, how can there be any external troubles? Therefore, he came to me to discuss the matter of bestowing marriage to Tibet and asked Yan’er to marry Tibet’s Zan Pu in order to calm down the war.”
“Did His Highness agree?” Qin Mubai asked with a frown.
“I don’t have to say yes or no to this matter.” Li Daozong said, “Because it was Yan’er who took the initiative to send an envoy to Tibet to marry the plateau. Now, do I have a reason to refuse?”
Qin Mubai pondered for a long time before letting out a sigh of relief and saying, “I know why His Highness invited Li Yu here.”
“Haha! We must listen to his opinion on such a matter! Although he has always been calm, reserved, and cautious, he will still say what he should say at such a time.” Li Daozong smiled and said, “Also, your closed-door master doesn’t ask anything. If you have time, you should also pay him a visit. He is a human being. Listen to his opinions, especially on matters related to the military. It won’t harm you.”
“Yes, Your Highness is right. Let’s go back to the manor first and wait for Li Yu to arrive before we discuss it in detail.”
The group of carriages and horses returned to changan, it was already night. Imperial Concubine Yin De said that she wanted to enter the Prince Consort’s Mansion to take a look, so Qin Mubai accompanied Princess Gaoyang and the Li Dao Sect father and daughter. Mother Qin, Shuang’er, and the others went back to the Old Qin Clan to dismantle Yao’er’s mourning hall and settle down the banquet.
There were already some people living in the Prince Consort’s Mansion. They were Princess Gaoyang’s personal maids, some maids assigned by the palace and Chef Ma’s wife. Although Princess Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang hadn’t moved in yet, the mansion was still tidied up.
Princess Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang then led everyone around the mansion. At this time, Concubine Yin De also took off her long-brimmed hat. Her peerless face was still dazzling under the night sky, making Li Xueyan secretly sigh in surprise.
“Mother, you can come and stay with me in the future!” Princess Gaoyang pointed to a pavilion in front of her and said, “I specially prepared this good building for you. You can eat in it and chant Buddha there. It’s very clean. I’ve already arranged everything for you!”
“Haha, that’s not good, right?” Imperial Concubine Yin De smiled and said, “As a member of the palace, how can I leave the palace privately? As a mother, I can’t be as free as you.”
“What’s wrong? Isn’t it normal for a mother to come to her daughter’s house to sit for a few days?” Princess Gaoyang said, “Furthermore, you are Concubine De, not an ordinary maid of the palace. Who can restrict your freedom?”
“You can’t say that.” Imperial Concubine Yin De smiled and said, “No one cares about me to restrain me, but as an Imperial Concubine, I have to have my own identity and manners. How can I leave the palace and show myself so easily?”
Qin Mubai smiled and cupped her hands. “Concubine De is overthinking it. Since Concubine De is one of the Fourth Concubine, she should be the Mother of the World. All the people in this world are both His Majesty’s and Concubine De’s citizens. So, what are the taboos of going out of the palace? Just act safely. Your Majesty has always been open-minded and will not blame anyone else.”
Imperial Concubine Yin De only smiled when she heard this and finally nodded, “Alright.”
At this moment, everyone walked to a courtyard. Qin Mubai stood at the door and couldn’t help but stop.
Previously, this was the residence of Yao’er and the little orphans. When the Prince Consort’s Mansion was renovated, Qin Mubai also specifically instructed this place not to move a single plant or tree, and to let Yao’er and the others stay in the same place. Because Yao’er’s eyes were inconvenient, if there were any changes to the decorations, she would have to spend a lot of effort to familiarize herself with them, so she could not say how many more times she would fall and hit them.
At this time, there were only some furniture, mattresses, and an ice-cold piano left.
Everyone followed Qin Mubai into the room and fell silent.
Qin Mubai walked forward and uncovered the embroidered cloth that Yao’er had carefully covered. She gently stroked the keyboard, but did not ring a single note. Qin Mubai gently stroked the ice-cold zither body with his fingers that had been torn apart by playing the pipa. The expression on his face was as if he was enjoying the sweet taste of his lover’s honeyed words.
“My dear friend, who will listen to Xian Duan … Mubai, you and Miss Yao’er are a pair of loving and most saintly dear friends.” Dao Sect Li couldn’t help but sigh, “The courtyard here should remain the same forever! If Miss Yao’er’s Immortal Wizard descends on the same place again, she will remember the way home.”
The corners of Qin Mubai’s lips curled into a smile that no one could understand, and he said, “It doesn’t matter. I’ll see her again.” She said, “If I meet a stupid girl in the next life who only knows how to play the pipa, then it’s her …”
