Love Affairs in Chang’an

Chapter 169: Expedient measure

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Qin Mubai thought for a moment: Concubine Yin just said, "I entrust Ling'er to you", coupled with Li Shimin's words, "Please take good care of Gao Yang"... What this means is that Li Shimin and Concubine Yin It seems that they have already discussed it privately and are ready to transfer Princess Gaoyang... to me!

Stunned for a moment, Qin Mubai felt a little bit dumbfounded, and didn't know whether he was happy or sad.

What is this? Previously, a marriage was granted to the Fang family, which caused a scandal all over the city. Then Fang Yiai was kicked out of the family and Princess Gaoyang went crazy. Now things are getting out of hand. Seeing that I can improve Princess Gaoyang's condition, Li Shimin and Concubine Yin finally compromised and in turn were willing to marry Princess Gaoyang to me...

Thinking about it, Qin Mubai always felt a little awkward, feeling like he was a substitute. But as soon as he thought of Princess Gaoyang, who was deeply in love with him and was now miserable and pitiful, this little thought turned into ashes.

"What's the problem?" Qin Mubai smiled calmly, "If they are really willing to marry Princess Gaoyang to me, I will readily accept it. But... what about Mei Niang? That's all, let's take a step first and see. One step, this matter has not been determined yet, let’s go and see Gao Yang first!”

Back outside the hut, Qin Mubai knocked on the door: "Gao Yang, I'm here."

"Mubai!" There was an exclamation from inside. Princess Gao Yang stumbled out of bed, opened the door, and threw herself into Qin Mubai's arms, crying, "I'm so scared, where did you go just now?"

"Don't be afraid, am I back now?" Qin Mubai gently stroked her back to comfort her and said, "I just saw that you were sleeping soundly, and I was afraid that I would disturb you by playing the pipa. Didn't you say that you wanted to see your mother and concubine? I just took the time to visit the Immortal Palace."

"Yeah, I won't be afraid when you come back." Princess Gaoyang raised her head, with tears still on her face, but she smiled gracefully, "With you here, I'm not afraid of anything - how are you, my concubine?"

"Okay." Qin Mubai smiled slightly, stretched out his hand to wipe the tears on her face, and said, "Look at you, you cry all the time now, like a tabby cat. Why don't we dress up now? Let’s go to see your mother and concubine together?”

"Okay!" Princess Gao Yang suddenly burst into laughter. She jumped into the room, stretched out her paws and jumped around, making a grimace and shouting, "I am the tabby cat, I am the tabby cat. I will catch you, this big mouse. Hehe laugh!"

Qin Mubai laughed loudly: "You are really a child!"

"Who said that? Don't say I'm a child, I'm angry!" Princess Gao Yang was unhappy. She rushed forward angrily with her two little paws raised, pretending to tear him apart, but then she burst into his arms with a smile and started throwing a tantrum. Jiao Lai said, "Actually, it's not bad to be a child in front of you, hehe!"

"Okay, don't be naughty. Put on your clothes and make up, and I'll take you to see your mother and concubine."

"Uh-huh!"

After dressing up in the room for a while, Qin Mubai still painted her eyebrows and combed her hair, and deliberately talked to her a lot. During the conversation, Qin Mubai felt that there was nothing abnormal about Princess Gaoyang. Except that she was a little weirder and more naughty when facing him, there seemed to be no big changes.

Qin Mubai became more and more suspicious that Princess Gaoyang was pretending to be crazy. There are still many strange things in this, and it is not easy to ask now, but we must find out later. Princess Gao Yang returned to Beijing with Li Ke, so Li Ke must have known about it.

Half an hour later, Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang walked out of the hut together. When she came out just now, Princess Gao Yang couldn't help but cover her eyes. After staying in the dark cabin for too long, her eyes couldn't adapt to such strong light. The two were walking in the palace, and Princess Gaoyang stubbornly insisted on holding Qin Mubai's arm. Qin Mubai's persuasion was useless, so he had to let her go. Princess Gaoyang snickered for a long time as her cunning plan succeeded.

Xianju Hall, outside the palace. Qin Mubai saw that the two palace maids he had called before were standing outside the door, waiting, and the door was closed tightly. So he stepped forward and asked in a low voice, and the palace maid agreed that the emperor was here and was discussing matters with Concubine Yin inside.

Princess Gao Yang's expression suddenly changed, and she couldn't help but pull Qin Mubai to run away. Qin Mubai tried to persuade her and took her into a room where she was watching. After waiting for a long time, Li Shimin left, and then the two of them went to see Concubine Yin.

"Hey, there are still too many shadows left in Princess Gaoyang's heart. She used to like to cling to her father so much, but now she treats him as a devil..." Qin Mubai couldn't help but sigh to himself.

Concubine Yin had obviously dressed up, and the embarrassment she felt after hanging no longer existed. Except for her silver hair, which was different from before, she had regained her previous noble and graceful appearance.

"Mother..." Princess Gaoyang lowered her head and curled her lips, and took a few steps forward. She stood in front of Concubine Yin like a child who had done something wrong, with her hands still at her side holding the corners of her clothes.

"Ling'er, be good, just be fine." Concubine Yin smiled softly, stretched out her hands to take Princess Gaoyang into her arms, and two lines of clear tears fell silently from her beautiful eyes.

Princess Gaoyang was also moved by the scene and burst into tears again in her mother's arms.

Qin Mubai took a few steps back, preparing to move behind the screen.

"Mubai, don't leave, come here." Concubine Yin called.

"Yes..." Qin Mubai had no choice but to walk over.

"Sit down and talk." Concubine Yin patted Princess Gaoyang again, "Linger, be good, you and Mu Bai should also sit down together. I have something to say to you."

"Oh..." Princess Gao Yang wiped her eyes and sat down tightly next to Qin Mubai.

Concubine Yin turned around and took out an embroidered handkerchief to wipe her tears, then turned around and smiled and said: "Mubai, it won't be long before we are a family, and we won't be afraid of making a fool of ourselves in front of you. ”

A flash of lightning flashed across Qin Mubai's heart—really? !

"Do you understand what I mean?" Concubine Yin was smiling.

"Wei Chen understands." Qin Mubai nodded.

"Is this... too hasty and hasty?" Concubine Yin asked.

"Mother!" Princess Gaoyang suddenly shouted with joy, "Did...did you and my father agree to marry me to Mubai?"

Concubine Yin's rounded lips moved slightly, raised slightly, showed a happy and affirmative smile, and nodded.

"Wow! Wow! Wow haha!" Princess Gaoyang suddenly jumped up from the couch. She was so happy that she rushed to Concubine Yin, grabbed her hand and shook it, "Mom, is it true? Did I hear you right? You were trying to trick me, right?"

"It's true, silly kid..." Concubine Yin stroked her head and smiled, "But don't be too happy too early. You are willing to marry, but do you know if Mu Bai is willing to marry?"

Princess Gao Yang was startled, and suddenly turned her head and glared at Qin Mubai fiercely: "He dares!"

"If he dares not to marry me, I will die in front of him!"

"Shut up!" Concubine Yin pretended to be furious and raised her hand as if to slap Princess Gaoyang's mouth. She cursed, "I'm not ashamed. How can I force someone to get married like you? Besides, it's great." What’s the matter?”

"Hey, I know I was wrong, mother..." Princess Gaoyang stuck out her tongue at Qin Mubai a few times and made a face, then hugged Concubine Yin's arm tightly and sat cross-legged like an obedient kitten. Beside her, he said with a hum, "Then I won't say anything. I won't threaten or scare him. I'll see if he is sincere or not."

Qin Mubai smiled slightly: "I do."

"Haha! Mother, did you hear that?" Princess Gao Yang laughed loudly. Her face, which was still a little pale, suddenly turned red. She was so excited that she forgot everything, and tears flowed from her eyes.

"Be more reserved, Ling'er, you stupid kid, you really forget everything. If word of this spreads, where will the royal majesty be?..." Concubine Yin shook her head and smiled helplessly, but there was a bit of relief and happiness in it.

"Hmph, don't talk to me about royal dignity anymore, I'm going to get married!" Princess Gaoyang curled her lips and said somewhat triumphantly, "When you marry me, I will be the daughter-in-law of the Qin family, and I will only stay with Qin." House rules.”

"Don't you want your father and mother as well?" Concubine Yin scolded with a smile.

"Hehe, of course the mother-in-law wants it!" Princess Gao Yang rolled her eyes, "He... I'll think about it!"

"Don't talk nonsense, Zhang Zui!"

"Okay, I won't say anything anymore." Princess Gao Yang laughed strangely a few times, ran back to Qin Mubai and sat down next to her, and said, "Mubai, I didn't force you, you did it voluntarily. ?”

"Yes, yes, how could it not be?" Qin Mubai didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Hehe, I knew you had me in your heart." Princess Gao Yang ignored her mother's presence and happily leaned on Qin Mubai's shoulder, closing her eyes with a happy giggle.

"Cough!" Concubine Yin coughed lightly, and Princess Gaoyang was suddenly startled. Her face turned red and she hurried away. She lowered her head, stuck out her tongue, and giggled alone.

"Ling'er, there is a jewelry box next to my mother's bed. There are some jewelry prepared for you when you get married. No one else can find it. You go and get it." Concubine Yin said.

"Oh..." Princess Gaoyang stood up and walked towards Concubine Yin's bedroom. She kept blinking her eyes and looked back at Concubine Yin and Qin Mubai, and muttered: "You clearly drove me away on purpose. Now, if you want to hide something from me... well, I'll let you keep it secret."

Concubine Yin turned to look at Princess Gaoyang and saw that she turned around the corridor and disappeared. She felt relieved. She turned back to Qin Mubai with a slightly apologetic smile and said, "Mubai, there are some things that don't need to be said. I I think you understand in your heart. Do you feel wronged when we agree to let Gao Yang marry you?"

Qin Mubai smiled to himself and said, "Your Majesty, I'm overly worried. I don't feel this way."

"You don't have to force yourself, I just want to have a frank talk with you." Concubine Yin said, "You are not only Gao Yang's favorite, but also my savior. I don't want anything to be hidden between us. Just now His Majesty came over, and he told me that in this situation, for the sake of Gao Yang, we can only let her marry you. In fact, no matter how angry His Majesty is with Gao Yang, and how much he hates iron, he still has it in his heart. I love this daughter. The daughter-in-law is not allowed to stay, so this marriage has caused a stir in the whole city, and His Majesty the Emperor is also heartbroken and angry. "

"It's all Wei Chen's fault. Wei Chen deserves to die." Qin Mubai said.

"No, this actually has nothing to do with you." Concubine Yin sighed softly and said, "His Majesty the Emperor said that it was his own fault. It was because he was too wishful thinking and ignored Gao Yang's feelings. Gao Yang has been stubborn since he was a child. She and her father were carved from the same mold. The emperor knew very well that his daughter was like a father, but he really couldn't let go of the airs of a king, so as early as two years ago when Empress Changsun was still alive, he became her father. In front of the Queen and Fang Xuanling, he verbally promised to marry Fang Xuanling, but Gao Yang himself did not know about this. "

"I understand." Qin Mubai nodded, "On the one hand, you are not joking, and on the other hand, Empress Changsun said before her death that she asked the emperor to treat Fang Xuanling kindly. I know this. His Majesty the Emperor was not in a good mood soon after the death of Empress Changsun. , to tear up the promise he made in front of Queen Changsun."

"That's right." Concubine Yin said, "So, the emperor also has the emperor's difficulties, so don't resent him. Also, you should persuade Gao Yang more so that she doesn't feel resentful towards her father."

"I will." Qin Mubai nodded.

Concubine Yin shook her head and sighed loudly: "This child doesn't listen to anyone now, she only listens to you... I really hope you can take good care of her from now on."

"Well..." Qin Mubai nodded and said nothing more.

Concubine Yin said again: "I know, you also have your own secrets that are difficult to express. It's just that it's not convenient for you to say it in this situation, right?"

Qin Mubai was startled for a moment and nodded: "Your Majesty is wise and kind to people's hearts."

"This is why I want to send Gao Yang away and talk to you alone. Come, accompany me for a walk outside the palace. I haven't seen the sun for several days." Concubine Yin stood up and looked out. Walk.

Qin Mubai followed her, vaguely smelling the fragrant fragrance on her body, and also saw the marks on her neck that had not completely receded.

"This is such a strong, forbearing and resilient woman. She was hanging herself just now, but now she has a clear mind to arrange her daughter's marriage..." Qin Mubai thought to himself.

The two of them walked outside the palace and came to the railing of the jade-white stone pavilion. Looking into the wind and looking into the distance, Concubine Yin had to squint her eyes and murmured: "What a beautiful river and mountain, how beautiful the wind and jade are!..."

"Have you ever felt more relaxed?" Qin Mubai couldn't help but ask with concern.

Concubine Yin turned her head and smiled slightly at Qin Mubai: "Thank you for your concern. I'm fine. I just mentioned that you have something to hide, can you tell me now? If it goes from your mouth to my ears, others will know."

"Hmm..." Qin Mubai nodded and said, "Actually, the biggest secret is my unmarried wife, Wu Meiniang. I think the empress must also know about this."

"Of course I know. His Majesty the Emperor has just been chatting with me about her for a long time." Concubine Yin said, "A family with one husband can only have one wife. If the emperor gives Gao Yang to marry you, according to the custom, the royal princess must only have one wife. It is absolutely impossible for you to be a concubine if you are a wife. This will definitely wrong Wu Meiniang and make you very embarrassed. Previously, the emperor had recruited Wu Meiniang into the palace, but unexpectedly she was already engaged to you, so the emperor was happy to do it. As a matter of course, I will marry her to you, and the date of your marriage is already set, one year from now. From a logical point of view, Wu Meiniang is the first wife to marry her, so she should be the official wife. "

Qin Mubai nodded: "From the standpoint of His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress, the dispute over the principal wife is indeed a distressing matter. But from the perspective of the minister, what really troubles me is not this."

"Oh, what is that?" Concubine Yin asked curiously.

Qin Mubai frowned and said, "Your Majesty, you don't know something. Wei Chen, Wu Meiniang... can be regarded as a kindred spirit, and I have already made a commitment to her. Your Highness Princess... Wei Chen does not deny that he is also attracted by her deep affection and sincerity. I am moved, but the reason why I agreed to marry the princess now is that I can’t bear to let her down, and I don’t want her to be disappointed and collapsed again.”

"In other words, your feelings for Gao Yang are not as good as Wu Meiniang's?" Concubine Yin couldn't help but be a little surprised.

"To be honest, it's true." Qin Mubai said frankly, "Gao Yang needs me, and I can't bear to leave her; and Wu Meiniang is indeed in love with me. Madam, what would I do if it were you?" I can’t let these two women down!”

"Understood..." Concubine Yin nodded slowly and sighed, "Actually, His Majesty the Emperor and I both know that it was Gao Yang who took the initiative to fall in love with you and had wishful thinking towards you. Therefore, His Majesty the Emperor does not blame you in any way. Thoughts. Now, in Gao Yang's situation, you are still willing to accept her, which shows that you are indeed a good man who values love and justice, to put it harshly, even if you are the emperor's daughter. Who would want to marry a woman who has been crazy?"

"Your Majesty, you don't have to talk like that." Qin Mubai said hurriedly, "Gao Yang has never changed in my eyes, and is still the same as before. I can't resist her passionate feelings for me, and I am truly moved by her. I won't let her down, but I can't bear to let Wu Meiniang down... Therefore, I hope that His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress can give me some time. At least, I want to talk clearly with Princess Gaoyang and Wu Meiniang face to face. , to avoid family disharmony in the future.”

"It makes sense. In fact, this is exactly what your Majesty and I meant." Concubine Yin said, "Your Majesty said that under the marriage, we should hide it temporarily, as long as you and Gao Yang know it clearly. In fact, this It's also a temporary expedient. Everything we do now is for the sake of Gao Yang's illness. If one day her illness is completely cured and you really don't want to marry Gao Yang, we will never force you."

"I understood when the empress said this." Qin Mubai nodded, "Your Majesty's move is very appropriate. After all, Princess Gaoyang's marriage has just been completed, and there are rumors about her everywhere in the city. Such a person in the limelight "Your Majesty, it is indeed difficult to change your mind and announce the re-marriage. Let Princess Gaoyang live a peaceful life and let her recover in peace and contentment. This is the most important thing at the moment."

"Exactly." Concubine Yin nodded, "But having said that, although it is an expedient measure, Your Majesty is definitely not joking. He promised to marry Gao Yang to you, and he will definitely not go back on it. However, he gave I have given you the right to repent. Mu Bai, His Majesty the Emperor really favors you. No one has had such power since the Tang Dynasty."

Qin Mubai smiled slightly: "Your Majesty is also helpless. He is afraid that I will not agree now. In fact, Your Majesty is really worried. Qin Mubai, is he the kind of person who forgets his own interests and is heartless? Your Majesty She has been extremely kind to me, and her highness is so devoted to me that she is obsessed with it... If I don't agree, or if I regret it later and let the princess down, how will I be different from an animal?"

"I know that you are a passionate man who values love and justice, so I can trust Gao Yang to you." Concubine Yin looked at Qin Mubai with a smile, grateful and tender, nodded slightly, and said, "Mubai , From today on, we are a family. No matter whether or not Gao Yang can marry into your Qin family, or when he becomes your wife, in my eyes, you are like my family member. You are my daughter’s favorite man, and Gao Yang is my greatest support and support in this life.”

Qin Mubai smiled and nodded: "Thank you, Concubine Yin, for your trust."

"No need to thank you." Concubine Yin smiled gracefully, "If you say thank you, I haven't thanked you for saving my life. You are right, Gao Yang is really getting better. If she recovers but loses her mother... That had to be the biggest mistake I ever made. "

Qin Mubai politely advised: "Madam, there is no need to say that. People live not only for others. Sometimes, you should also have your own persistence and thoughts. If you live in other people's world forever, you can't find your own. Relying on the value of existence will indeed make life miserable.”

"It doesn't matter, I'm used to it." Concubine Yin smiled sweetly, turned around and walked towards the palace.

Qin Mubai looked at Concubine Yin's back blankly, and murmured in his heart: Are you used to it...