Although Qin Mubai was very reluctant, the main hall of his house had indeed turned into a gambling house.
People in the Tang Dynasty were willing to accept new things and had more radical and open ideas, which was quite special in the history of China's feudal dynasty. In addition, young people love to play and are very curious, and the children of the Chang'an gentry family are leaders and pioneers. then-
The appearance of Mahjong caused a lot of exclamations and admiration.
"Cool!—good stuff!"
Qin Mubai was unlucky.
Faced with such a group of novices who know nothing about mahjong, how easy is it to teach them how to argue in a short period of time? So, he explained for a long time with dry lips, but many people were still confused and looked at him with wide frog eyes, shaking their heads repeatedly.
"I don't understand, I still don't understand!"
"It's more than ten thousand times more complicated than Aopu!"
"But this thing is obviously more interesting than acanthus, so you have to learn it!"
"Mu Bai, please tell me again! What are the differences between touching, eating, and gong...?"
"Moreover, why can I eat the cards played by the person on my left, but not the cards played by the person on the opposite side? This is really too much!"
"I want to eat, but he wants to touch. What's going on? Hey! You can't do it without touching me! I'm so familiar with you, why can't I be merciful?"
…
Qin Mu's white head was as big as a bell, and his facial muscles were cramped from talking too much and laughing too much.
After about an hour or two, the people in the room finally managed to put together a table of cards. After Qin Mubai and the four families looked at the cards, they started teaching them how to play.
The four people in the game are Li Ke who is the most addicted to gambling, Wu Meiniang who is the smartest and quickest to learn, Princess Gaoyang who is enthusiastic and wants to learn everything and is interested in everything, and there is a person who no one can think of, but even Qin Mu Bai was also a little surprised - Yao'er!
Yao'er is a blind girl, and she relies on her fingers to recognize the cards.
Anyone who has played mahjong knows that touching tiles is an introductory skill. Anyone who can tell the card by just touching the bottom of the card with his finger can be regarded as a standard gambler in the eyes of ordinary people.
There is no doubt that in the eyes of pure rookies like Li Ke, Yao'er's skills can be described as amazing and stunning!
Moreover, because Yao'er is blind and cannot see, her fingers are accustomed to touch perception and are extremely sensitive. In addition, she relies entirely on her heart to remember what cards were played. Perhaps she had become accustomed to mental arithmetic over the years, so she knew all the cards she had played and never remembered a single one. Just when everyone was rummaging through the chaotic card table to find out what cards were played, Yao'er was able to tell who played what cards at what time. Things like eight tubes and ninety thousand were placed on the card table. Several have been published, and none of them are wrong!
After playing for only a few rounds, everyone had to bow to Yao'er. Even Qin Mubai was amazed - this is really a born god of gambling!
Three women versus one man, Li Ke's hand was so bad that he lost in disgrace. Yao'er killed everyone without any suspense. Princess Gaoyang, who claimed that "foolish people are lucky," was not bad at all. She also made some mistakes under Qin Mubai's guidance. Wu Meiniang has been relatively flat, with neither big wins nor big losses.
A deck of mahjong tiles can make everyone completely immersed in it. The more they play, the more addictive they become, and they forget about time.
Qin Mubai was thinking about the emperor's instructions for Princess Gaoyang to return to the palace. After playing a few games, he said to her: "Princess, it's very late and the palace gate is about to close."
"Oh, don't make any noise! Do you think I have 2,58 or 3,69 cards now? Hehe, I must touch this one myself, it's such a beautiful card!" Princess Gaoyang stared at the card game with excitement. He shouted, without even looking at Qin Mubai.
"Okay, three, six, nine - it seems that you and King Wu are really on the same page. Once you have the cards, you will forget everything." Qin Mubai said with a smile.
"Uh... are there any?" Princess Gao Yang was stunned for a moment after throwing out a card, then turned around and smiled apologetically, then turned around and shouted, "Quickly, play the card! I'm going to mess up!"
Qin Mubai scratched his head depressedly, how could this little girl get carried away as soon as she started having fun
"Your Highness Princess, how about I make a bet with you!" Yao'er said with a smile, "If you are fooled by this card, just listen to my third brother and go back to the palace now to avoid His Majesty the Emperor and Yin. Concubine, if you don’t have Hu, we will continue to fight with you until you get tired of it, how about that?”
"Hey, are you so sure? You don't even know my cards, but can you predict when I will be stupid?" Princess Gao Yang said in surprise.
"Your Highness Princess, do you just want to tell me whether you want to bet or not?" Yao'er said with a smile.
"Bet! Bet!" Princess Gao Yang said with a smile, "I don't believe it. How can you predict the future? I'm just going to draw the cards - wow! How is it possible? It's really six tubes! What a fool!!"
"Haha, Your Highness, you must keep your word!" Yao'er said with a smile.
Everyone looked at Yao'er in shock and confusion. Only Qin Mubai smiled evilly and thought to himself: Gao Yang is so stupid. The card on that side was picked up by Yao'er. With her super memory, of course she knew what card Gao Yang was about to pick up now!
"Ah, it's amazing! Sister Yao'er, you can teach me how to play mahjong in the future! I want to learn from you the art of winning every time I gamble, haha, win all the third brother's money!" Princess Gaoyang laughed triumphantly.
Li Ke was annoyed after losing completely, and cursed angrily: "Hurry up, hurry up, go away, you are the one who is quarreling with me here, my luck will be better if you leave!"
"Hehe, just leave. How can I embarrass Mu Bai?" Princess Gaoyang stood up happily and said with a smile, "I'm leaving! I'll come out of the palace to play with you some other time when I have time. I'm so happy today. "
Qin Mubai smiled, then went out and asked the people in the mansion to prepare the carriage and horses, and prepared to take her back to the palace.
There was heavy snow falling outside the house, making it difficult for vehicles to move. The driver was also miserable as he braved the wind and snow. The two got into the car and told the vehicle to move quickly, heading straight to the palace.
There was a fire in the car but it was warm, and there was no one else around. Princess Gao Yang lay down in Qin Mubai's arms, pulled him down by his neck, and kissed him deeply for a long time, refusing to let go.
"Mu Bai, we've only been apart for a day or two, and I think you've got bad ideas. So I ran to my father and begged him to come out of the palace to play together so that I could see you." Princess Gaoyang murmured, "My father is now He was so kind to me, even better than before. He agreed without even thinking about it!”
"That's a good thing." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "I feel relieved to see that you are now on good terms with His Majesty, and more importantly, that you are safe and happy."
"But you are leaving..." Princess Gaoyang curled her lips, "What should I do? You will be in Xiangzhou in the future, which is so far away! I asked my father specifically today, and he said that it is recorded in the geographical annals that Xiangzhou The state is more than 1,170 miles away from the capital. If I travel normally, it will take more than half a month to get there. What should I do if I miss you? "
"Write a letter." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "The postmen at the post station can run very fast. One or two hundred miles a day is no problem. There are even those who rush to report eight hundred miles to the border army."
"What's the use? It's not me who runs fast because the postman is fast. I want to see you, not the postman..." Princess Gaoyang muttered like a tongue twister.
"Don't be so childish, it's not like I won't go back to Chang'an." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "This is my home, my hometown, with my relatives and friends, and the naughty boy that I can't let go of." ”
"Naughty boy? Are you talking about me?" Princess Gao Yang asked with a smile.
"I don't know either." Qin Mubai chuckled, "Whoever is in the right position should be that one!"
"No, no! It can only be me!... Shake your head? Are you still smiling so bad? I'll bite you!"
The carriage arrived at the Xuanwu Gate of the Daming Palace in the imperial city. Qin Mubai used a token to call the gate open, and he said, "Yes." After entering the imperial city, Princess Gaoyang also restrained herself a little and stopped laughing loudly. She asked Qin Mubai to guide the coachman directly to Dajiao Temple, saying that Concubine Yin De had been staying in the Taoist Temple during the recent rain and snow and had not returned to the Xianju Hall, and she wanted to go there to accompany her.
Thinking of Concubine Yin De, Qin Mubai couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Is she really planning to escape into Buddhism
When the carriage arrived at Dajiaoguan, Princess Gaoyang still stayed on the carriage and refused to get off. She hummed and huddled in Qin Mubai's arms, coquettishly saying: "Hold her for a little longer, just a little while!"
"Hey, I haven't asked you yet. What did you say to Wu Meiniang when you called her away?"
"Hey, are you nervous? You really want to know?"
"Then just tell me quickly!"
"I won't tell you! This is a secret between me and her!"
"Secret?" Qin Mubai burst into laughter for a moment, "What else can't be agreed between you two?"
"That's none of your business!" Princess Gaoyang giggled, and finally got up to get out of the car, saying, "Listen, don't ask Mei Niang about it! Besides, even if you ask, she will definitely not I’ll tell you! That’s it, I’m going back. It’s snowing so hard!”
"Well..." Qin Mubai waved goodbye to her.
Two Taoist nuns had already come out to meet Princess Gaoyang, holding lanterns and standing under the eaves with her. Princess Gao Yang watched Qin Mubai's carriage disappear for a long distance before stamping her frozen feet, rubbing her hands and running quickly into the Taoist temple.
Sitting in the car, Qin Mubai pondered: This quirky Princess Gaoyang suddenly seemed like a different person, and she actually took the initiative to approach Wu Meiniang. I don’t know what the two women talked about, it was mysterious.
Back at the mansion, Li Ke and others were fighting fiercely. The position given by Princess Gao Yang was given to Qin Shuang'er, and the four bad gamblers played cards noisily and had a great time.
Seeing Qin Mubai coming back, everyone just glanced at him quickly. Li Ke said casually: "You're back so soon?"
"Do I dare to stay in the palace for a while longer?" Qin Mubai asked with a smile.
Wu Meiniang smiled sweetly: "That's not certain. Is there anything else that a slut like you wouldn't dare to do?"
"Hehe! Princess Gaoyang is gone, and Sister Mei finally went crazy!" Qin Shuang'er laughed, "Third brother, you are miserable! You have seriously offended Sister Mei today!"
"I don't." Wu Meiniang smiled, "How can I care about his affairs? Right, Mu Bai."
"Ahem! Why does it sound a bit... cold and hidden?" Qin Mubai knew that he was a little unreasonable. Today, he was too close to Princess Gaoyang in front of Wu Meiniang. So he walked towards her with a smile and said, "Yeah, these cards are pretty good, they are all the same!"
"Shut up! I told you to tell them, and they won't touch me!" Wu Meiniang reprimanded in a false voice, reaching under the table with one hand, and secretly pinched Qin Mubai's back gently. Got a handful.
Qin Mubai acted cleverly, and grinned and made a strange expression.
Yao'er couldn't see it, but others could see it. Li Ke, a veteran in love and people, immediately laughed: "Mu Bai, do you know how mean-spirited your expression is now?"
"It doesn't matter." Qin Mubai said sternly, "If a person is humble, he will be invincible! Mei Niang, with me protecting you, you can fight boldly and confidently. You will win this game!"
Wu Meiniang smiled bitterly: "I really can't stand you! Go away and don't get close to me!"
…
Before I knew it, it was already late at night. After an exciting day of playing, everyone was tired, and even Li Ke yawned a few times.
"Stop playing, it's time to rest!" Li Ke smiled, "We will continue tomorrow! Mu Bai, come to my house!"
"Okay." Qin Mubai nodded in agreement. He also knew that Li Ke had something serious to say to him, which was about the Wu Prince's palace promulgating the military recruitment list.
Everyone dispersed one by one. On a snowy night, Qin Shuang'er was left to sleep with Yao'er. Li Ke was escorted by Yin Yang and others, but Wu Meiniang was left behind, so Qin Mubai had to take her home in person.
Qin Mubai smiled mischievously and was about to say that "bad intention" when Wu Meiniang waved her hand with a smile: "Don't worry, I have to go home."
"It seems that you have clearly counted all the intestines in my stomach." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Okay, I will take you home."
The two got on the car. Wu Meiniang breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "I'm really tired today!"
"I've been playing for too long. Go back and have a good rest." Qin Mubai said.
"You're not tired from playing, you're pretending to be tired." Wu Meiniang said with a slight smile, "The emperor is here, your parents are here too, Li Ke is here, and Princess Gaoyang is also here. There are so many people, and there is no one I dare to offend. . A lot of eyes seemed to be staring at me unconsciously. I was walking on thin ice for fear of making mistakes today, so I was exhausted."
"Mei Niang, it's really hard for you. I know it's harder for you than me. It's not easy." Qin Mubai took her hand and covered it in his palm. He breathed a sigh of relief to warm her up and said with a smile. , "Are you quite angry with me now?"
"No. If I really have such a small thing, I would have left early in the morning. Why should I stay here and suffer this suffocation?" Wu Meiniang smiled sweetly, leaned lightly on his shoulder, and said, "I knew Princess Gao Yang was looking for me today. , what did you say?”
"I'd like to know."
"No, I can't tell you." Wu Meiniang giggled.
"Aren't you making it clear that you're trying to please people?" Qin Mubai protested, "It's so unloyal to swallow it back in mid-sentence!"
"Because I promised Princess Gaoyang not to tell you." Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "Don't worry, I didn't say anything bad about you."
"I'm really curious, between the two of you... what can you say?" Qin Mubai shook his head in confusion.
Wu Meiniang smiled but said nothing, and after a while she said: "Mu Bai, God is really treating you unfairly."
"How do you explain this?" Qin Mubai asked in surprise.
"Because he is too partial to you." Wu Meiniang said with a smile, "I didn't know Princess Gaoyang before, so naturally I was a little disgusted with her. After today... I think I will like her quite a lot. To have a woman like her I love you deeply and I will devote myself to you at all costs. Don’t you think your luck is a little too good?”
"That's true." Qin Mubai smiled, "What's more, I still have you, Mei Niang!"
"I'll forget it! Compared with Princess Gaoyang, I sometimes feel quite ashamed." Wu Meiniang sighed and said, "Maybe it's because of the influence of my parents and family since childhood, I think more about interests. When it comes to people, things, and relationships, I can't help but weigh the pros and cons, and only then do I take action after meeting Princess Gaoyang. It’s really admirable to be able to love so purely and without hesitation! In comparison, I feel like I’m just a mercenary person... It’s true that I’m not a mercenary person!”
"Meiniang, you don't have to say that." Qin Mubai said, "You can feed all kinds of people with the same rice. You don't have to live like others. It's good for you to be like this. Mei Niang is Mei Niang, irreplaceable and unique. I I don’t want you to become the second princess of Gaoyang. I like you very much now.”
"Haha, I'm just expressing some emotion." Wu Meiniang said with a smile, "Princess Gaoyang is actually the real wise and foolish person. There is a very natural, pure, and returning to nature kindness and sincerity in her body, which is revealed naturally without any concealment. , touching people inadvertently. But we common people always try to learn to deepen the city and hide our true thoughts and emotions, as if we all long to live a lifetime in the oppression and restraint of the world, but Princess Gaoyang is not like us. Quite the opposite. She will work hard to get what she wants; no matter whether the process is difficult or the outcome is perfect, she will never look back. However, her body is weaker than most people. Her courage to fight against the emperor, the secular world, and fate is so great that it can be described as shocking, which makes me ashamed! Her simplicity and persistence are admirable!"
"Haha!" Qin Mubai said with a smile, "I didn't expect that you could understand her so deeply in just half a day of getting along!"
"It's not about understanding, it's just an intuition." Wu Meiniang said with a smile, "I was really disgusted with people like her before. With her good family background and background, she was arrogant and domineering, always acting like she was superior to others. There it is. Only today did I realize that Princess Gaoyang is such a flesh-and-blood person who is so cute that even I, a woman, can’t help but be moved by her!”
"Heh, it seems you two still care about each other?" Qin Mubai said with a smile, "Tell me, what did you two talk about?"
"If I said I wouldn't tell you, then I definitely won't tell you." Wu Meiniang said with a smile, "But there is one thing I can reveal."
"What?"
"Princess Gaoyang said..." Wu Meiniang suddenly laughed loudly, "You must hate women with bad breath!"
"..." The corners of Qin Mubai's mouth twitched again, and he didn't say anything for a long time.
…
Finally, Wu Meiniang was sent home. The coachman was covered in snow and looked miserable, so Qin Mubai returned immediately without stopping any longer.
After returning home, he took a comfortable hot bath and then curled up under the quilt. Qin Mubai let out a long sigh of relief, rested his head on his head and looked at the roof with his arms, muttering to himself: "Chang'an, Chang'an... From now on , you are going to haunt me! At this moment, I really can’t bear to leave.”