With a "bang-" sound, the door of the hall was pushed open.
Everyone in the room was stunned, and Princess Gaoyang who was standing at the door was also stunned.
"There are so many people..." Princess Gao Yang murmured, quickly taking a few steps back and standing behind a man wearing a long purple fur cloak.
Emperor, Li Shimin. Behind him, there were Qin Shubao and his wife.
Qin Mubai was the first to come to his senses and hurriedly stood up to greet him. Before he could say "Long live my emperor", Li Shimin laughed and waved his hands: "No need to be polite! No need! I am also here today to visit relatives and friends." . Well, it’s so lively, so many people!”
Li Ke and Wu Meiniang also stood up and came forward to pay homage together.
"Well, that's all, I told you that you don't need to be polite." Li Shimin smiled and called Qin Mubai closer and said, "Uncle Bao, my idea is good, right? What do you think, if the two of us confront each other in your house? How boring it is to drink wine at a banquet! Look at your Sanlang family, it’s much more lively than your old Qin’s house, haha!”
Qin Shubao also stroked his beard and smiled a few times, and said: "The dog is in a stateless state, why don't you please invite your majesty and the princess to come in and take a seat?"
"Yes, I'm sorry for the disrespect, your majesty, please come quickly, princess!" Qin Mubai stood aside and saluted.
Princess Gaoyang wore a thick purple-blue and goose-yellow leather coat, and a white snow-proof cape with big red flowers on the collar, which covered only half of her face, like a doll. She leaned next to Li Shimin and followed him in with a smile. When she passed by Qin Mubai, regardless of how many people were present, she turned around, quickly stuck out her tongue and then retracted it, making a face.
"It's so indecent!" Li Shimin immediately shook his head and laughed. Naturally, everyone else saw it too, so they cooperated and laughed together.
Princess Gao Yang laughed twice, shyly holding Li Shimin's arm and turning her head away. In the blink of an eye, she saw Wu Meiniang again. She was startled, blinked a few times and murmured: "Meiniang too. Oh..."
"See you, princess." Wu Meiniang had no choice but to come out and salute.
"Oh..." Princess Gaoyang nodded blankly, looked back at Qin Mubai, smiled and waved, "No need to give in! My father said that today I am just here to visit relatives and friends, so there is no need. How polite!”
Everyone saw the two women meeting face to face, and they were afraid that they would cause any sparks, so the atmosphere at the scene became a bit solemn. However, Li Shimin secretly pulled Princess Gaoyang and took her to the hall. He pointed at the circle of couches surrounding the brazier and said with a smile: "Not bad! Reunion and reunion!"
"Sanlang, why don't you quickly clean up the couches and invite His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Princess to take their seats?" Qin Shubao hurriedly came forward and said.
"Oh, no need!" Li Shimin waved his hand and said with a smile, "I haven't been crowded with people like this for many years. Remember when we were marching and fighting, we had a bar around the campfire like this? Today is a good day. Everyone, regardless of age, sits in a circle. Let’s drink, eat, and chat. Isn’t Mu Bai playing the pipa very well today?”
"Haha, Your Majesty, how can this be done?" Qin Shubao said with a smile, "Isn't this completely out of character?"
Li Shimin chuckled: "Uncle Bao, manners and rules are mostly used for occasions. When you go to the palace, I am the king and you are the ministers. You must be meticulous, otherwise the country will not be established and the national law will not be law; now when you go to the palace, I am the king and you are the ministers. , I also need friends and a lot of fun! Haha, no need to say more, come on, sit down, sit down!”
After that, Li Shimin first pulled Qin Shubao to sit down next to him. Princess Gao Yang felt conscious and sat down on the other side of Li Shimin. The emperor spoke like this, and everyone else had to sit down one after another.
But the atmosphere was still a bit reserved. After all, Li Shimin was present and it was impossible for him to be as unscrupulous as before.
Li Shimin took the initiative to start talking and asked Li Ke: "Ke'er, why did you all gather at Qin Mubai's house today? What good can you do?"
"Replying to my father, Mu Bai said that today is his happy housewarming, and he invites the emperor and others to come and celebrate." Li Ke cupped his hands and replied.
"Oh, it's really an unlucky time for me to come here, haha!" Li Shimin laughed a few times, thought about it a few more times, took off a dragon-patterned jade pendant from his waist, handed it to Qin Mubai, and said, "Mubai, I don't know The news came in a hurry, so I didn’t prepare a gift. Please accept this jade pendant as a gift! We, father and daughter, can’t just enjoy your wine and meat in vain!”
"Hee hee, it's rare for my father to be so generous. Mu Bai, please accept it quickly!" Before Qin Mubai could say anything, Princess Gaoyang grabbed the jade pendant and stuffed it towards Qin Mubai.
"This is impossible!" Qin Mubai hurriedly picked up the jade pendant and handed it back, saying, "This dragon-patterned jade pendant is used by the royal family. How can I dare to overstep it?"
"Haha, you are so stupid!" Princess Gao Yang blurted out, "It won't take long for you to become a relative of the emperor, so why are you overstepping your bounds?"
As soon as these words came out, the whole hall fell silent.
Everyone was stunned, and many people looked at Wu Meiniang in unison.
Wu Meiniang, Qin Shuang'er and other female students were sitting together, her expression dignified and her expression always calm, with a slight smile on her face. Hearing Princess Gao Yang's words, she didn't have any strange reaction. Instead, she smiled and said, "Why are everyone looking at me?"
Princess Gao Yang also came to her senses, her face turned red with embarrassment, she laughed dryly "ha, haha" twice, and then shrank back to Li Shimin's side, becoming silent.
Li Shimin still said with a smile: "It's just a piece of jade pendant, nothing to make a fuss about. I don't have one thousand, but I have eight hundred. Just think of it as a few dozen dollars of food money and just accept it."
"Haha, your majesty said that, and the humble minister was disrespectful. Thank you for the reward, your majesty!" Qin Mubai had no choice but to accept it, otherwise this embarrassing situation might continue.
The servants in the mansion were surprised to hear the emperor's arrival and were already working in the kitchen at full capacity. Qin Shubao was afraid that Qin Mubai's family would not be able to cope with it for a while, so before leaving, he hurriedly recruited the cooks and servants in his house to help. During the Chinese New Year, every family has good wine and meat, so there is no shortage of these things. So after a while, a large amount of wine and food were served. Among them was a roasted whole lamb made by a Hu cook. It was fragrant, golden and oily. When it was almost roasted, it was moved to the hall and placed on a fire pit to keep warm, so that everyone could use knives to cut it.
"Haha, it's really fun. It's a worthwhile trip!" Li Shimin laughed heartily. "We have been busy and hard for a year. We are all tired. It's time to relax and have a rest. I couldn't resist Gao Yang's plea today, so I accompanied her. I came out of the palace to enjoy the snow. Unexpectedly, I ran into such a good situation - come on, men use cups, women use cups, everyone pours the wine, I respect you! "
Everyone raised their glasses together and drank to the full. Immediately many people started coughing violently. Li Shimin smiled and said: "Qin Xianjiu is indeed well-deserved! I have been drinking it for almost a year, but I still can't make enough for three cups. Uncle Bao, I'm afraid you and I haven't drank like this for some years, so you dare to conspire with me today." Are you drunk?"
"Ha! I risked my life to accompany you!" Qin Shubao smiled and raised his glass, about to pay homage to Li Shimin. Li Shimin hurriedly pushed him back and said with a smile: "Slow down, slow down! It's better for me to eat some good meat and then get drunk!"
"Haha -" the whole hall burst into laughter.
Seeing that the emperor was so courteous, tolerant and generous, and getting along with everyone, everyone felt a lot more relaxed.
Princess Gao Yang hid beside Li Shimin and winked at Qin Mubai with a smile: "Hey, you are so stupid! Cut some meat for your father!"
Qin Mubai shook his head and smiled, walked to the middle, picked up a bright silver knife, cut off a piece of tender lamb tripe, and handed it to the emperor's bowl. Li Shimin said with a smile: "Mu Bai, you have spoiled her by obeying her in every matter. This girl is wild, has a strong temper, and her behavior is uncertain. You have to take care of it yourself. click it!"
"Wei Chen knows." Qin Mubai chuckled, seeing Qin Shubao and Liu on the side smiling broadly, as if they enjoyed the emperor's care for them as a family.
"Father loves to say bad things about me." Princess Gao Yang smacked her lips, turned her eyes flexibly, grabbed the bright silver knife from Qin Mubai's hand with a smile, and ran to cut the meat in a decent manner. Unfortunately, the child's hands were so clumsy that after cutting for a long time, he only pulled off a trace of sheepskin.
Qin Mubai walked up and said with a smile: "Forget it, let me help you!"
"I don't want your help!" Princess Gao Yang frowned angrily, gritted her silver teeth, and stabbed the knife hard, like killing a pig, she finally cut off a piece of meat with all her strength.
"Haha!" Princess Gao Yang laughed heartily, feeling very proud.
Everyone also laughed, and Wu Meiniang also smiled calmly and ate snacks casually.
Everyone thought that Princess Gao Yang would take the meat back and eat it herself. Unexpectedly, Princess Gao Yang held the good piece of meat with a knife and walked directly towards Wu Mei Niang. She said with a smile: "Mei Niang, I see you sitting here. I haven’t eaten anything, so I’ll give you this piece of meat!”
The whole hall was stunned, a little unexpected.
Wu Meiniang also looked up at Princess Gao Yang in surprise, and hurriedly stood up and raised the bowl to catch it: "How dare you trouble the princess to do it? It's really ruining Wu Zhao!"
"Hehe, you're welcome!" Princess Gao Yang put the piece of meat into her bowl, tilted her head, grinned at Wu Meiniang, and walked back.
"Huh..." The whole audience let out a low, uniform sigh.
Princess Gao Yang was stunned: "What's wrong with you? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"That's all. Your Highness Princess, you should go back and sit down. It's better to leave the matter of cutting the mutton and dividing the meat to Wei Chen." Qin Mubai smiled bitterly and pulled Princess Gaoyang back to her seat and sat down, and also took back the Shine the silver knife. She thought to herself: It's okay, okay. I thought that Princess Gaoyang would take advantage of her father's presence and play some tricks to bully or embarrass Wu Meiniang like before. I didn't expect it to be like this... Maybe the emperor had taught her something. Bar
Li Shimin also laughed: "Gao Yang, listen to Mu Bai. See how clumsy you are at cutting the sheep and dividing the meat? Let him do it!"
"Humph, you just look down on me!" Princess Gaoyang twitched her lips and muttered, "I also want to cut some meat for Duke Yi and his wife, as well as my father, and my third brother..."
"Haha, did you hear that!" Li Shimin sneered and said to Qin Shubao, "You have put me behind you and your wife. It's really hard for a female to be left behind!"
Qin Shubao stroked his beard and laughed.
"Uh..." Princess Gao Yang stuck out her tongue in embarrassment, "I didn't mean it, it was just... I just said it smoothly."
Qin Mubai shook his head helplessly and smiled. He walked to the hall to cut the meat and gave a piece to everyone in turn before sitting back down. At this moment, he realized that Yao'er and the group of little girls had already disappeared. They might have gone to the side hall to hide away when the emperor entered the house.
Due to the emperor's presence, everyone was naturally restrained and could not drink as freely as before. Therefore, although the atmosphere seemed harmonious, it was not as lively as before. Qin Mubai also played the pipa as usual, winning a round of applause.
Li Shimin drank three glasses of strong wine, and his face turned red from the alcohol. Qin Shubao was almost half drunk when he drank with him. When he got drunk, Li Shimin stood up and said, "It's snowing and beautiful today, but just sitting in the hall warming up and drinking wine is boring. How about we all go to the backyard to enjoy the snow and plum blossoms? Women who are afraid of the cold can stay here and continue warming up by the fire. Other men, those who are good at writing poems and those who are good at martial arts, practice Sanfu in winter and Sanjiu in summer, Qin Mubai, I just want to see how your martial arts is progressing now?"
"Okay! The emperor has opened his mouth, and my father and son will practice a horse fight for your majesty today!" Qin Shubao laughed loudly and said, "Your majesty, didn't you ask me how my health is? Today is a live practice. !”
"Yeah - that's great!" Li Shimin laughed happily, "I haven't seen Shu Bao's power for many years!"
Qin Shubao laughed boldly and heartily, raised his hand and pointed at Yin Yang and said: "That little general must be from the palace of His Highness King Wu. I have met you several times, and I heard from Mu Bai that your martial arts were also good. Farewell. It's strange that I bully the young, you and Mu Bai have a fight!"
"Ah?" Everyone booed in surprise, all shocked by Qin Shubao's heroic spirit.
"Haha!" Qin Shubao laughed, "Your Majesty, princess, please!"
Only Qin Mubai kept smiling and said nothing. He knew that with his father's strength, it would not be a big problem to deal with him and Yin Yang's joint attack. This is not the core and point. The emperor's arrival today was strange. He went to Yiguo Duke's Mansion first, probably to check on Qin Shubao's condition.
Earlier, when the emperor heard Qin Mubai talk about Qin Shubao's physical condition, he had promised to visit Qin Shubao in person one day. A few days ago, I heard from Li Ke that the emperor wanted to promulgate the hereditary governorship, and among them was Qin Shubao, who was appointed governor of the Lanzhou military town in his border area. Therefore, the emperor must have come prepared today, most likely to find out what Qin Shubao's physical condition is like!
And Qin Shubao's reaction is even less surprising. Lao Ji is full of inspiration, he has been waiting to fight on the battlefield again for many years!
The whole group of people followed him out, leaving no one behind. Qin Mubai walked at the end, and after everyone had gone out, he went to the side hall and knocked on the door. Yao'er stepped forward and opened the door, only to see a group of little girls behind her huddled together, shivering from the cold.
"Yao'er, why are you doing this?" Qin Mubai said with a bitter smile, "Looking at how cold you are, your faces are all blue. There isn't even a stove in this side hall."
"Third brother is so attentive..." Yao'er lowered his head in both emotion and shyness, with a smile on his face, and whispered: "The emperor and the princess are here. How dare we, the unworthy people, disturb the emperor? They all still I'm so ignorant, if something goes wrong and the emperor blames me, wouldn't it hurt my third brother?"
Qin Mubai shook his head and smiled, and said: "Well, you always have your reasons. I don't know how to convince you. The emperor and the princess are gone for the time being. Please bring them to roast them over the fire so they don't freeze. I will roast the sheep." I also asked the chef to move it to the side courtyard for you. It tastes very good and is cut with a knife, so you don’t have to worry about it. "
"Thank you, Third Brother..." Yao'er bit his lips, paused for a moment, and said softly: "Third Brother, you treated Yao'er so well... Yao'er doesn't know how to repay you in this life!"
"Silly words!" Qin Mubai laughed and scolded, "The emperor and others are waiting for me, I will go first, you can do it yourself."
After a while, the group of people arrived under the corridor in the backyard. After drinking, Li Shimin became more poetic in the scene. He recited two magnificent and talented poems, which won a round of applause. Li Ke's literary talent is also very good, and he composes impromptu poems and has won a lot of praise.
Qin Mubai stopped showing off his shame. He didn't want to use plagiarized poems to deceive people in front of the emperor. Most of the people present knew him well, so it was better not to be in the limelight. Originally, Qin Mubai wanted Wu Meiniang to come out and win a fortune, but she shook her head with a smile and signaled Qin Mubai to be quiet, so he gave up.
After admiring the snow and reciting poems, the bridge for the Pegasus contest was broken. Li Shimin seemed to be more interested in this, and even acted as a "referee" to organize the competition. He called Qin's father and son and Yin Yang together and personally supervised their selection of horses and weapons. Then he also rode a horse to watch at close range.
"Shu Bao is always strong. I know his true abilities better than you two little babies!" Li Shimin laughed while riding on the horse, "Mu Bai, Yin Yang, you must be careful. Don't let him let him go in twos and twos. The horse fell into a snowdrift!"
Qin Shubao also laughed and said: "Come on! Attack me with all your strength! If you show mercy, I won't appreciate it! Especially Yin Yang, don't have any scruples, use all your strength and join forces with Mu Bai to attack . Otherwise, you have no chance of winning!"
Yin Yang turned to look at Qin Mubai. Qin Mubai nodded and said with a smile: "Brother Yin Yang, we have to be careful. Try your best, otherwise... as my father said, there will be no chance of winning!"
"Okay! The general will have to do his best!" Yin Yang gritted his teeth and cupped his fists.
"Come on!" Qin Shubao shouted sharply and swung the spear in his hand into the air to make a sharp whistle.
"superior!!!"
Qin Mubai and Yin Yang shouted in unison, and the two horses flew forward to attack.
The three of them all used ordinary wooden spears and attacked together instantly. After all, the young bullies the old one against two. Qin Mubai and Yin Yang were still a little reluctant to let go at first, but later they realized that they really couldn't gain much advantage when facing Qin Shubao, and they gradually showed signs of defeat!
Qin Shubao's martial arts skills and marksmanship were obviously much higher than theirs!
When the battle reached the end of their twenties and thirties, Qin Mubai and Yin Yang just used their full strength. On the other side, Qin Shubao's beard and hair were flying and he was shouting like thunder. He became more and more brave as they fought.
In the snow, horse hooves flew across the jade, and the sound of shouting and chopping could not be heard. Li Shimin was so close that he could see clearly. He was an expert himself, and he cheered loudly when he saw the wonderful things. It was so good!
Li Ke and others in the corridor not far away were also eye-opening, while the women were all worried and wide-eyed, with sweat in their hands for fear of something strange happening in such a fight. The one with the most exaggerated expression is Princess Gaoyang. Her eyes are always wide and round, and her mouth is also in the same "O" shape. She can swallow an egg.
"It turns out that Mu Bai's martial arts skills are so powerful!"
A fight between the dragon and the tiger went on for dozens of rounds, and the horses were panting heavily. Li Shimin then rode his horse forward to call a halt, and laughed loudly: "Not bad, not bad! It was indeed an equally exciting and fierce battle! I am here today. What a feast for the eyes - Uncle Bao, I didn’t expect your body to recover so well, this is such a blessing!”
Upon hearing this, Qin Shubao plunged his gun into the snow, rolled his saddle, dismounted, and bowed to the emperor's horse: "Your Majesty, I can ride a horse and shoot a bow again! I have nothing to ask for. I am willing to return to the military camp and serve as a pawn. If I can gallop on the battlefield, but I want this old and crippled body to be wrapped in horse leather and returned!"
"Shu Bao, what are you doing in the ice and snow?" Li Shimin hurriedly got off his horse and helped Qin Shubao up in person, patted his hand and said with a smile, "My second brother, I see you are in such good health. You want to be happy yourself. You are the God of War of the Tang Dynasty. How dare I abandon you? - Come to Wude Palace to see me at this time tomorrow. I will decide for myself."
"Old minister... thank you, Your Majesty!" Qin Shubao was overjoyed, Kong Wuli held his fists tightly, and then bowed down again, nodding his head to the ground and kowtowing repeatedly.
"Hey! I really can't do anything to you!" Li Shimin shook his head and smiled bitterly before pulling Qin Shubao up again, waving his hand and saying, "Let's go back and have a few more drinks! Today is a good day with good scenery, good poetry, good wine and good martial arts. It's rare in life to be so happy. Once!”
Qin Mubai breathed a sigh of relief behind him, with a smile on his face, and said to himself: I am about to leave Chang'an, and my father is leaving too... I wonder when will we be able to get together like today