After drinking tea for a while, the housekeeper of the palace arranged Princess Gaoyang's room and asked her to come and check it out. Princess Gaoyang took her three maids to clean up the room, leaving Qin Mubai and Li Ke in the hall to continue drinking tea.
"Why do I see you looking so bitter and resentful?" Li Ke looked at Qin Mubai and smiled a little gleefully.
"Hey, it's hard to put it into words!" Qin Mubai let out a long breath. This whole day, my nerves have not really relaxed, I am really tired.
"The incident with Gao Yang has come to an end without any danger." Li Ke said, "When I saw her showing up in my house with great force, I knew that it would not be difficult for my father to help him. After returning to Beijing, I heard that , Fang Xuanling drove Fang Yiai out of the house and rushed to the northwest frontier to join the army. This royal marriage is completely abandoned, but in this way, you have indirectly offended the Fang family. "
"I know." Qin Mubai nodded, "Although it was not my original intention, the matter is somewhat related to me. The Fang family did not dare to complain against the emperor and Princess Gaoyang, so they had to blame me. Before, I had an affair with my eldest grandson. Huan had a conflict, which led to him being kicked out of Baiqi; now I have a quarrel with the Fang family... I have offended two important officials in the dynasty. Haha, I am a small Baiqi envoy, and I am not very capable. He’s quite capable of causing trouble.”
"You are quite capable." Li Ke smiled narrowly, "Even I admired you very much when we were in Jiangzhou. The complicated, tense and dangerous situation at that time was all resolved under your mediation. Resolved smoothly. To be honest, if it weren't for you, it would be really difficult for me to handle so many things. This little Jiangzhou actually involves the eldest brother of the prince, and also involves the King of Jiangxia... I'm a little scared to think about it. Failure to do so will most likely cause a drastic change in the court. At that time, I will either be abandoned by my father, or I will completely offend the people in the prince's camp, or I will drag the King of Jiangxia into the water, or else, I will not be owned by anyone inside or outside. People hate.”
"Fortunately, it's all over." Qin Mubai's heart lit up and he asked, "By the way, His Majesty the Emperor summoned you back to the court. How did he deal with you?"
"Haha, I was going to tell you even if you didn't ask. This is really interesting." Li Ke laughed with his hands in his hands, and then said, "Why else would I admire you so much? Remember when you and I still had the power to Ji, did the three of them conspire together to make a plan? - I hid Sheng Nanhou and didn't report anything. You secretly informed the emperor, and Quan Wanji used an excuse to quarrel with me and expose me. This plan is really brilliant! My father scolded me in public in public, saying that I was shielding the royal family due to official duties and private affairs, and ordered me to go back to the palace to reflect, and then banned me. However, within two days, Zongzheng Temple and the Prime Minister's Cabinet came together. Thinking of my contribution to disaster relief in Jiangzhou, he restored my city and gave me the hereditary governorship of Jingzhou. I will take office in the next year. At the same time, the prince was also scolded. His majesty scolded him for using unworthy people and making careless friends. He was punished with a grounding ban and half a year's salary."
"Haha, it's interesting." Qin Mubai nodded and smiled, "On the surface, it seems that the emperor was furious and hit you two brothers fifty times each. In fact, secretly, he didn't hurt you. Especially you. , and immediately after the punishment, His Majesty the Emperor was very clear about rewards and punishments, haha!”
"Haha, no!" Li Ke also laughed, "You are right. Nowadays, what His Majesty the Emperor values most for us princes is not virtue and merit, but whether brothers can live in harmony. This time I want to If I don't betray the prince, I will be punished. My father is angry on his face but happy in his heart. He already knows the facts of the case, and there is no need for me to report it to him. Therefore, he hopes that I can protect the prince for a while, unlike the fourth child. In this way, in order to compete for the throne of the crown prince, he will attack the eldest brother of the prince in a desperate manner. "
Qin Mubai frowned slightly: "Listening to what you said, why does it seem that King Wei has made His Majesty unhappy?"
"Yes." Li Ke nodded, "I also heard about it after returning to the court. Just when the Jiangzhou case was at its most urgent and we found out about Marquis Shengnan, but before your secret report was sent to the emperor, then On the other hand, the King of Wei had already sent someone to report the case in Jiangzhou to the emperor in detail. Lao Si did a great job and invited a small local official in Jiangzhou to report the case directly to the emperor anonymously. Shitai. Because the matter involved a national official like Sheng Nanhou, the people of Yushitai did not dare to hand it over directly to Zongzheng Temple and informed the Prime Minister of the Cabinet. The traces were hidden without a trace. But after all, His Majesty the Emperor is a man with great hands and eyes. How could such a little trick be hidden from the eyes of the old man? It didn't take long for the little official who had secretly reported the secret to be arrested by Dali Temple. The people were secretly invited to Chang'an, and His Majesty the Emperor personally interrogated him, and after three or two rounds, he honestly confessed. It was the King of Wei who ordered him to report."
"In this case, although the emperor will not be angry with King Wei, he will definitely be angry." Qin Mubai said, "This matter has nothing to do with him, King Wei. Just because it involves the prince and you, he will stretch out his hand." When they arrived at Jiangzhou, King Wei made a mistake this time. In the Jiangzhou case, His Majesty's real intention was to impeach the local bureaucrats who formed cliques, and to warn the prince. And he attacked the king of Jiangxia. King Wei thought that a great opportunity had come, and the emperor was really going to depose the crown prince, so once the emperor found out about it... his prospects were bleak. "
"That's absolutely true." Li Ke raised the corner of his mouth slightly, smiling a little mysteriously and profoundly, and said, "After returning to Beijing, I heard that when the Jiangzhou case was investigated in depth, His Royal Highness suddenly went to the emperor to plead guilty. He said that he The nanny's biological brother is Sheng Nanhou, who has done many evil things in Jiangzhou, using his name to deceive and manipulate others. He sadly admitted his mistake to His Majesty, drew a clear line with Sheng Nanhou as quickly as possible, and treated Sheng Nanhou. Nanhou added insult to injury. In this way, it would be meaningless to investigate the case further, because His Majesty the Emperor had already achieved his goal. Looking back now, you immediately killed Hegan Chengji and others. , What a brilliant move!”
"Haha!" Qin Mubai laughed, "I must have been wise at that time. After killing Hegan Chengji, I sent someone to deliver a letter to the prince at Xingye. As expected, he was not stupid. He understood what I meant and went in immediately. Gong Xiang admitted his mistake and cut off his relationship with Sheng Nanhou. This will be good for him and us. This way, we will not be caught between the prince’s camp and His Majesty.”
"Yes, what a stroke of genius!" Li Ke took a long breath and said with a smile, "Fortunately, I have a resourceful and decisive person like you to advise me, otherwise I will definitely capsize this time. If nothing else, just I can't do it without killing Hegan Chengji. Mu Bai, I really admire you from now on."
"Including asking you to treat me to dinner? I've been working hard all day and I'm really hungry now." Qin Mubai said with a smile.
"What's so difficult about this? Haha!" Li Ke laughed, then clapped his hands, "Come, prepare a banquet! Let Princess Gaoyang and General Qin wash their hands of each other!"
The servant accepted the promise and immediately went to prepare.
"By the way, there is one more thing." Li Ke said, "I heard that King Jiangxia has resigned from the post of governor of Jinzhou and requested to return to Chang'an to retire."
"What, why didn't I hear about it?" Qin Mubai said a little surprised.
"You may have been on the road at the time. Just what happened in the past few days." Li Ke said, "I have resumed my duties at court and go to court every day to listen to politics. Although this matter has not been discussed publicly in the court, several core ministers have We all know it, and I have also heard some rumors. It is said that the emperor refused three times in a row, and King Jiangxia insisted four times, claiming that he was ill. He had no choice but to agree temporarily. It may not take long. , King Jiangxia is about to return to Chang’an.”
Qin Mubai nodded, thinking that after the Jiangzhou case, he didn't know how the king of Jiangxia negotiated and competed with the emperor. The biggest backstage of that major case at that time was the King of Jiangxia. Although he was not the direct mastermind and mastermind, if he had not helped support and hold the flag, Sheng Nanhou and others would never have been so arrogant. Although he was just being used, as the leader of a party, he was so lax in controlling his subordinates and indirectly aiding the evildoers, which was considered a serious mistake. Furthermore, the King of Jiangxia also understood the emperor's intentions and was afraid that he might be able to overwhelm his master with some great achievements. Now that Liliu Yong has resigned, there is nothing wrong with living a comfortable life for a few days.
"Mu Bai, this time you can be regarded as gaining fame and wealth, both people and goods!" Li Ke smiled maliciously.
"I don't understand this." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "I have never gotten rid of all the troubles, so what have I gained?"
"Why, are you pretending to not tell the truth in front of me?" Li Ke said with a smile, "First of all, the emperor must be quite satisfied with the result of your handling of this case, because the stability of the court is what he values most, and he The purpose of impeaching the prince and the king of Jiangxia has been achieved. Isn't it a good job to have the best of both worlds? Therefore, the emperor must be very appreciative and satisfied with you; secondly, the prince has been saved from a disaster with your help. Apart from the catastrophe, even though you killed his confidant Hegan Chengji, he must have secretly applauded you and wished you could kill a few more and help him a few more times. Now that you are his great benefactor, he might do it every day. They are all posing in the mansion to celebrate, and are waiting for you to come over and have a banquet to thank you in person. Thirdly, I don’t have to say anything to the King of Jiangxia, right? It's hard to say what kind of situation he is in now. It's a big favor for him. It depends on how he returns it. Fourthly... Not to mention you kidnapped Gao Yang out of the palace and eloped to me. With the house in hand, isn’t this a win-win situation for both people and goods?”
"Elope?" Qin Mubai opened his eyes and pretended to be horrified, "Don't talk nonsense. I was ordered by the Yin Concubine to escort the princess to your house. I am a Baiqi who works exclusively for the royal family. It’s not like you don’t know!”
"Pretend! You are really good at pretending! Keep pretending!" Li Ke shook his head and sighed for a while as if he was jealous, and said, "Sometimes I really envy you. If we can exchange skins, I would rather not be the prince and change my identity with you. Look at you, how wonderful you are! Now three people like the emperor, the prince, and the king of Jiangxia regard you as their favorite. What an honor it is, and how bright your future is. Besides... Look at the little beauties around you, one is more beautiful than the other, and each one is more affectionate than the other. There is my persistent and hot little girl, the heroic girl Chen Yan, and there is also a smart one. The capable Wu Meiniang - Oh, by the way! It seems that Wu Meiniang has returned to Chang'an? When I was practicing archery in the backyard, I heard something happened in Wu Mansion, she must be back. "
Qin Mubai smiled: "You know a lot of things. Yes, Wu Meiniang came back from Jiangzhou with me."
"Hey, you guys are still having a private meeting in Jiangzhou?" Li Ke curled his lips jealously, "Well, while I'm gone, you can be so romantic and happy! Humph, but don't be too proud. Later. Sooner or later, Wu Meiniang and Gao Yang will meet each other. Neither of these two women can save their lives. If these two are jealous, it will be a big shock to the earth. Let me see how you take it!"
Qin Mubai's heart suddenly trembled when he said this, and he thought to himself: It seems that there will never be a shortage of trouble around me... Yes, the emperor and Concubine Yin have already mentioned to me the marriage to Princess Gaoyang; Wu Meiniang's side, What should I tell her