The mother had already prepared a sumptuous banquet to welcome her son and his distinguished daughter-in-law. Today is different from the past. Qin Mubai didn't pay much attention to the clown-like Han Wang Yuanchang. However, Princess Gaoyang seemed unable to let go, and Yao'er was even more frightened, so the meal was not as enjoyable as expected.
After dinner, Qin Mubai walked with his mother in the courtyard, Shuang'er went to arrange a bath for Princess Gaoyang, and Yao'er took the little girls to play in the courtyard.
"Sanlang, what happened?" Mother asked.
"It's okay, mother." Qin Mubai smiled, "Maybe I'm tired from the journey."
"Lie to me!" Mother Liu scolded her lightly and said, "This posture is so obvious to even a fool that something must have happened. Tell me quickly."
Qin Mubai smiled slightly, talked about what had just happened in an understatement, and asked his mother: "Mom, has this Li Yuanchang been pestering Yao'er recently?"
"Hey..." Mr. Liu sighed helplessly and said with a frown, "I knew that as soon as you came back and discovered such a thing, you would start a fight. Since you and your son left Chang'an, we have The family is very careful when it comes to having children, and usually never leaves the house, for fear of offending someone. However, despite all precautions, the ghost of Li Yuanchang is still there. A little bit, I often hang around her. I was more cautious, so I advised Yao'er not to go out if she had nothing to do, and even brought her to stay at Duke Yi's Mansion. As a result, Qinxian Pavilion has been quiet for a while. She was so busy that she often left early and came home late, so she temporarily stayed in your empty house. Unexpectedly... that Li Yuanchang showed up again! It's really hateful! "
"Don't be afraid, mother. Now I'm back. If he dares to be presumptuous again, I'll kill him!" Qin Mubai gritted his teeth.
"Sanlang, I know you are not afraid of him. However, he is also a relative of the emperor, the seventh younger brother of His Majesty the current emperor!" Ms. Liu said very worriedly, "You did go a little too far today, why don't you Why do you beat someone for just asking?"
"Oh, do you need to ask for clues before catching a thief? If you ask, it will be difficult to fight." Qin Mubai grinned and smiled weirdly, "I really regret it now."
"Let me just say this, you can't hit this person!" Ms. Liu said sadly, "You are too impulsive."
"No, mother." Qin Mubai smiled, "I regret not castrating him."
"ah?… "
"If we don't castrate him, we don't know how many girls he will harm in the future." Qin Mubai smiled coldly, "When he goes back, he should pray to God and worship Buddha. Don't fall into my hands again, and it's best not to come again. He's harassing Yao'er. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what method I will use to deal with him."
"Hey... Sanlang!" Ms. Liu was anxious and angry, clapped her hands and said, "Why have you become like this now? Weren't you very well-behaved and sensible before? Who is this King of Han? It's because you can do whatever you want... Cleaned up?"
"Mom, stop talking." Qin Mubai chuckled, "Don't worry. In short, today is different from the past. As long as I am here, no one can touch a hair of the Qin family!"
"..." Mrs. Liu was speechless, shook her head and sighed for a while, not knowing what to say.
After resting for a while, it was just afternoon. Princess Gaoyang only needs to take a bath and clean up. Qin Mubai was ready to go to the palace with her to meet the saint.
Princess Gaoyang was still worried along the way and said, "Mu Bai, what are you going to do about the King of Han?"
"You don't need to worry about it." Qin Mubai said nonchalantly, "If he dares to make trouble, I will dare to take it. I will kill him!"
"You... are still angry with him for teasing Wu Meiniang before, right?" Princess Gao Yang asked cautiously.
"Yes." Qin Mubai replied without hesitation, "No man can tolerate such a thing. If someone dares to molest you one day, I will kill him without hesitation."
Princess Gao Yang trembled slightly, stuck out her tongue and retracted into the carriage.
"Ling'er, are you scared by me?" Qin Mubai laughed outside the carriage.
"You are so vicious!" Princess Gao Yang muttered in the car, "I have to stay away from other men in the future, otherwise I will be beaten to death by you!"
"No." Qin Mubai laughed, "No matter what happens, I will never hit you. At most, I will kill that man!"
"Ugh... I won't do that shameless thing!" Princess Gaoyang stuck her head out again, biting her lip and said bitterly, "My heart is filled to the brim with this stinky man like you. Apart from my father, you are the only man left in the world!"
"Haha!" Qin Mubai laughed, "Don't be so alarmist. If I can't even trust Ling'er, who else can I trust?"
"Hehe, that's pretty much it!" Princess Gaoyang finally turned her worry into happiness and said with a smile, "Don't worry! Uncle Seventh Emperor doesn't dare to do anything to you. Although he is spoiled, he never dares to follow I'll say something loudly. I'll go to my father's house later. If he dares to be dissatisfied, I'll scold him first, huh!"
"No need. This is a matter between men. You don't need to get involved." Qin Mubai said, "I'm so bored back in Chang'an. I'm just looking for something to do."
"You... are unreasonable, huh!" Princess Gao Yang shrank into the carriage angrily and ignored Qin Mubai.
Qin Mubai smiled nonchalantly and said to himself, it is never too late for a gentleman to take revenge after ten years, but I am a villain and I must avenge myself immediately. Right, that is it.
Entering the palace, I heard that the emperor was in the study room of Wude Hall. The two of them went there to pray.
Li Shimin was naturally very happy when he saw Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang. Princess Gao Yang tried her best and threw herself into Li Shimin's arms to make him laugh.
"Gao Yang, you've had a hard journey. Now that you're back, go and see your mother and concubine!" Li Shimin said with a smile.
"Okay! I'll go to the Protectorate Heavenly King Temple right away!" Princess Gaoyang said with a smile, "Father is going to talk to Mu Bai about some important national affairs again, right? Your Majesty is very sensible, so get out of here!"
"You girl!" Li Shimin touched Princess Gaoyang's head lovingly, "Go quickly!"
"Yes, your Majesty, please leave!" Princess Gao Yang walked out as lightly as an elf. When she passed by Qin Mubai, she deliberately nudged him with her elbow, stuck out her tongue and made a devilish smile, and ran away with a smile.
Li Shimin squinted his eyes and smiled: "This girl will never grow up—well, Mu Bai, sit down! Come and have a cup of tea with me!"
"Yes." Qin Mubai and Li Shimin sat down at the opposite table, and tea was served.
Li Shimin dismissed his attendants and asked, "Tell me more about the situation in Lanzhou!"
Qin Mubai took out a memorial he had prepared and handed it to Li Shimin. Li Shimin took the thick memorial and read it very carefully for about half an hour, then covered it up and said with a smile: "Not bad."
Two short words encapsulate everything.
"Your wedding to Gao Yang is scheduled for March of next spring." Li Shimin said, "The Ministry of Revenue and Zongzheng Temple will arrange these things. You have worked hard in Lanzhou, and you will have a good rest after returning home."
"How long will it take?" Qin Mubai frowned slightly, "Weichen thinks that Lanzhou is a big deal and there are still many things that need to be taken care of. Weichen wants to get married early and then return to Lanzhou."
"There is no rush." Li Shimin said, "The situation in Lanzhou has basically stabilized. A few days ago, Tubo sent envoys to pay tribute and presented letters of credence to ask for intermarriage. I believe there will be no wars or wars in the short term."
"Please marry me?" Qin Mubai frowned, "Has your Majesty agreed?"
"Not yet." Li Shimin also frowned, "Because Tubo is really rude and wants me to marry Gaoyang to them again."
"What?" Qin Mubai raised his eyebrows and couldn't help but feel angry, "This is not a marriage proposal, it is clearly a provocation."
"Not necessarily." Li Shimin said with a serious expression, "About a year or two ago, Tubo Zanpu submitted his credentials and asked me to marry Gao Yang. Of course I refused at the time. Now that they are asking for marriage again, naturally they won't It is reasonable to invite other princesses, so I still have to ask Gao Yang.
Having said this, Li Shimin paused for a moment and looked at Qin Mubai.
Qin Mubai nodded: "Weichen knows. They also want to alienate the relationship between Weichen and His Majesty."
"Smart." Li Shimin nodded, "How could I be fooled by such a low-level trick? But having said that, intermarriage is conducive to the reconciliation of the two countries and the elimination of military troubles. A hundred benefits outweigh one harm. I am working with the emperors Let’s discuss it, choose a decent and decent person among the royal family’s children, and marry her to Tubo to be your mother-in-law. It will be a great thing for the country and the people to give you a daughter and avoid war.”
Qin Mubai frowned and said nothing.
"Why, do you have any objection?"
Qin Mubai raised his hand and said, "I have something to say, but I don't know whether to say it or not."
"You and I are both monarchs and ministers, and we are also son-in-law. Since I told you, of course I am willing to listen to your opinion. Tell me, this is also a royal family matter, and you have the right to express your opinion." Li Shimin said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Qin Mubai raised his hand and said, "Wei Chen's opinion is very simple. He is opposed to the marriage."
"Reason." Li Shimin was not surprised and asked calmly.
"The reason is that I can pacify Tubo." Qin Mubai answered simply.
"What?" Li Shimin was slightly surprised, "Say it again?"
"I can pacify Tubo!" Qin Mubai spoke loudly and forcefully.
Li Shimin frowned, staring at Qin Mubai with his eyes like knives, and said nothing for a long time.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty?"
Li Shimin blinked and smiled: "This is impossible, Mu Bai. I know you are capable, but..."
"Your Majesty, it all depends on manpower." Qin Mubai said resolutely, "In the past, when your Majesty first came to Dabao, what he wanted to do most was to shame the Beiding Turks into pooping their blood on the bridge. A few years later, such a thing was finally done. Today , Why don’t you dare to hope to pacify Tubo? Don’t you think so?”
"It's not that I don't want to." Li Shimin smiled, waved his hands, and said with a stern look, "It's impossible."
"Is it just because of the plateau cavalry and the thousands of miles of ice?" Qin Mubai said.
"Hey..." Li Shimin let out a long breath, stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and said leisurely, "Mu Bai, when I came to the throne, the people of the world began to be optimistic, and everything I did was done with the same ambition. Now it's unfavorable. , The world has been peaceful for a long time, and the people are accustomed to peace and prosperity. What they need most is peace and prosperity. War is not the only way to solve the problem. But have you ever thought about it, even if it is to pacify Tubo? What can we do? The wilderness there is frozen for thousands of miles. How much manpower and material resources will the Tang Dynasty have to use and how many years of stagnation will the entire empire have to civilize? "
Qin Mubai nodded slightly and said, "Weichen can understand."
Li Shimin frowned and looked out the window. He frowned in thought for a long time and suddenly said something that made Qin Mubai confused:
"Am I really old?"
Qin Mubai stood up, walked behind Li Shimin, and replied seriously: "You are not old."
"Maybe..." Li Shimin turned around with a smile, looked at Qin Mubai with his hands clasped behind his back, stared at him for a while, and said, "Mubai, you did not disappoint me."
"It's a matter of duty." Qin Mubai replied calmly.
"Good answer." Li Shimin smiled happily, stretched out a hand and patted his shoulder, "The wedding is still half a year away. You don't have to worry about Lanzhou for the time being. If something happens, I won't let you stand idly by. In the future, It will be yours for many years. You can spend this half year with Gaoyang and your family. You might as well take them on a trip to Gaoyang, which is fun for you in recent years. Tired. Just go wherever you want, be happy and relax, and don’t worry about anything else.”
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Qin Mubai cupped his hands gratefully, and his smile became much more relaxed, "Wei Chen, I really want to relax for a while."
"Okay." Li Shimin nodded with a smile, but there was a hint of exhaustion in his smile, and said, "I will discuss the matter of marriage from Tubo with the officials of the Manchu Dynasty. I already know your opinion."
Qin Mubai glanced at Li Shimin for a few times, nodded, and said, "Your Majesty, don't work too hard. When Wei Chen comes back this time, it's not very good to see that His Majesty looks tired and full of complexion. Wei Chen also knows that Lanzhou has given His Majesty this year. The pressure is too great. Weichen... feels very ashamed."
"It's okay, don't think too much." Li Shimin smiled, "Lanzhou is now a pearl of the Tang Empire, attracting the attention of the world. Coupled with the victory in the battle of Dafeichuan, I am very relieved. Even though some people are dissatisfied. , I have nothing to say. I do feel a little tired, but it’s not because of Lanzhou... "
Qin Mubai's heart was agitated: Is this the battle for the crown prince
Li Shimin obviously had no intention of going on, so he stopped talking at the right time and patted Qin Mubai on the shoulder again: "You have been tired all the way, so go back and rest early! When do you want to leave Chang'an to travel, come with me and Gao Yang Just say it.”
"Yes, Wei Chen, please leave." Qin Mubai raised his hands and prepared to retreat.
"Hey, wait." Li Shimin seemed to suddenly remember something, looked at Qin Mubai and said, "What's going on between you and the King of Han?"
"Huh?" Qin Mubai was startled: No way, you know so soon
Seeing Qin Mubai's expression, Li Shimin shook his head, smiled bitterly, walked up to him and whispered: "Enough is enough, the family scandal should not be made public, you know?"
"Yes, Wei Chen received the order... Wei Chen, I'm ashamed!" Qin Mubai replied with cupped hands.
"This Li Yuanchang! I have warned him so many times. He really refuses to change his ways and has brought disgrace to the royal family!" A trace of anger appeared on Li Shimin's face, and he gritted his teeth and said, "It's okay to teach him a lesson! But, he After all, you are your elder and my younger brother, Mu Bai, please don’t act so impulsively in the future.”
"I know my crime..." Qin Mubai replied with his hands in hand.
"Okay, go back!" Li Shimin said lightly, "You don't need to worry about this anymore. I can take care of it myself."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take my leave."
After exiting the imperial study, Qin Mubai felt his teeth itching with hatred. Damn it, the emperor found out so quickly! I don’t know if it was the thief Li Yuanchang who filed the complaint, but the speed was really fast! However, he seems to be a little confused about the situation. Today, I, Qin Mubai, have a much greater weight in the emperor's mind than you, Li Yuanchang! -Furthermore, I don’t care if thieves come to your door and kill them. How can I take advantage of this? Why do you still have the nerve to complain
"Okay, I'm not done with you!"