The East Palace is within the imperial city and is easy to navigate. This place is not as lively as the bustling Wei Prince's Mansion. On the contrary, it is still a bit deserted and crowded.
But along the way, Qin Mubai seemed to feel that there were thousands of pairs of eyes staring behind him, making him feel like a light on his back. Now it seems that it was a wise decision to let Princess Gaoyang take the lead in driving. At the moment, no one knows that the East Palace is a troubled place. The wind in the court has reversed. King Li Tai of Wei is enjoying the news, and the crown prince of the East Palace is under the influence of thousands of people. The calls for the abolition of the crown prince and his re-establishment are getting louder and louder than ever.
Taking the initiative to move closer to the East Palace at this time seems to some people (such as the leaders of King Wei's party) to be seeking death. Many court ministers who had been quite close to the prince before were also alienating him intentionally or unintentionally, like the plague.
The East Palace is only separated by a wall from the Wude Hall, where Li Shimin manages and criticizes daily affairs. At this time, Prince Li Chengqian was in the Li Zheng Hall, claiming to be playing the piano and developing his ambitions. God knows what ridiculous things he was doing.
Anyway, Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang had decided that coming here was just a formality to shirk the emperor from summoning them to the harem for a banquet.
The East Palace seemed a little cold, and the soldiers led by the Sixth Army of the East Palace that they met along the way were like eggplants beaten by frost, a little listless. The maids and eunuchs were like bereaved dogs, trotting back and forth in a hurry.
Qin Mubai seemed to smell the smell of wind and roar spreading in the East Palace.
"Is Li Chengqian's crown prince about to expire?" Qin Mubai frowned and couldn't help but wonder, "No wonder Li Ke is so anxious to leave Chang'an to avoid trouble. Once the court re-establishes the crown prince, if it is Li Tai, God knows this Will Li Tai, who has gained power, throw away Maitreya Buddha's coat and kill him, and also deal with Li Ke who is a potential threat to him? The fight for heir apparent has always been bloody. He also killed many people, including his elder brother and his younger brother's innocent children. Li Tai is even more cruel than Li Shimin..."
Thinking of this, Qin Mubai couldn't help but get goosebumps on his body. It's not that I'm afraid, but... I feel inexplicably chilled.
"In the next life, don't be born in an emperor's family..." This sentence is so familiar. It seems that Concubine Yin De said this to the corpse of King Qi Li You.
Inadvertently, Qin Mubai turned to look at Princess Gaoyang in the chrome car. She was smiling and playing with her beloved bracelet, unabashedly showing off her happiness as a little woman.
"Ling'er, although you are also a royal daughter, as long as I, Qin Mubai, am here, I will not allow you to suffer disasters and pain." Qin Mubai said to himself in his heart, "In the past few years, what you have suffered There is enough suffering. Before, I was unable to bring you relief or share it with you. Now I can’t. You are my wife, I am your man, and I will protect you that was once out of reach. Once the power, glory, wealth and status come to me, it feels like this. If I don’t share it with you and my family, what’s the point? I just want you to be safe and happy, and everything else can be abandoned..."
It wasn't until he got closer to Li Zhengdian that an official from the East Palace came out to greet him. He didn't say much, he just led Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang into the palace together, saying that the prince was playing the piano in the back garden, and invited them to meet there.
The two of them didn't think much about it, and just settled down as they came, so they went to the back garden.
Li Chengqian was indeed playing the piano. The autumn wind was chilling under the Xiaoxiao tree, and his music and back looked quite lonely and desolate.
However, when they saw the person he was facing while playing the piano, Qin Mubai and Princess Gao Yang not only did not feel any sadness or sympathy in their hearts, but they were so disgusted that they almost vomited.
Li Chengqian was facing the direction where Qin Mubai and Princess Gao Yang came from, sitting in front of a jade statue and playing the piano alone. And that jade statue is a lifelike beauty. Qin Mubai is no stranger to this beauty. When the prince in Xiangzhou was on his deathbed, the "beauty" offered Qin Mubai a glass of wine, which almost made him vomit out all the food he had eaten the night before.
That's right, the original shape of the jade statue is the prince's prostitute "Yingxin".
In the flower garden not far from Li Chengqian, there was another person sitting at a small stone table, drinking by himself. Although his figure was mostly hidden among the exotic flowers and plants in the East Palace Garden, Qin Mubai seemed to smell the smell that disgusted him from afar. It belonged to a disgusting man who turned to ashes and whom he also knew—Han Wang Li Yuanchang.
"Ling'er, we really shouldn't have come." Qin Mubai frowned and stopped.
"Let's go, we're all here... Brother Prince, it will be very embarrassing!" Princess Gao Yang gently pulled Qin Mubai's sleeve and whispered almost pleadingly.
"Fight quickly and leave immediately!"
"good!"
The two walked forward slowly, and the official from the East Palace who led the way stepped forward to report. Li Chengqian stopped playing the piano and stood up, turning around to greet them: "Oh, Seventeenth Sister, Mu Bai, you are here."
His voice was deep and low, and he seemed a little weak due to lack of energy. His complexion was a bit sallow, and he was much thinner than before. His eyes looked like those of a patient who had been suffering from insomnia for a whole year, with dark circles and weak eyes.
"Wow, is the prince brother sick? Does he look so bad?" In surprise, Princess Gaoyang forgot all the etiquette and greetings.
"Oh, Brother Yu is fine..." Li Chengqian smiled awkwardly and glanced at the stone statue of Zhengzhi unconsciously.
Qin Mubai saw it and thought coldly in his heart: How did the happy child prostitute that he couldn't put down turned into a statue? Could it be that it's hung up? Being killed? Did he erect another stone statue here to pay homage alone
Stepping forward and cupping his hands, Qin Mubai saw the ceremony and said straight to the point: "His Royal Highness, I am honored to be invited. Qin Mubai is flattered. But unfortunately, His Majesty the Emperor gave an oral instruction to Wei Chen yesterday, asking Wei Chen to do so today. Accompany Her Majesty Princess Gaoyang to the Penglai Palace to have dinner with Prince Jin and Princess Jinyang. Therefore..."
"Prince Jin?" Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment, like a terminally ill person who had been taking drugs for many years, with slow reaction and dull eyes. Qin Mubai said something brave, and the main idea of his words was not King Jin, but he seemed to only hear the word King Jin.
"Brother Prince, what's wrong with you?" Princess Gao Yang asked in a low voice, still a little worried.
After all, Princess Gaoyang is a little girl, and she has never seen Li Chengqian's "true face". At the moment, she still treats him as an elder brother and is quite concerned about him.
"Oh, oh... Gu, it's okay." Li Chengqian stammered several times, coughed a few times, and said with an awkward smile, "Maybe he caught some wind and cold, and he is not very agile. Well, Mu Bai, we are now a family. , You don’t have to be polite to me. Since His Majesty has an edict, you can go and answer it! It’s just a simple meal. I invite you here today for a private matter.”
"What's the matter? I hope the prince can teach me." Qin Mubai asked patiently.
"Oh, it's related to the King of Han." After Li Chengqian said this, he looked at Qin Mubai with some anxiety and said hesitantly, "That day, you and him..."
Qin Mubai frowned and thought to himself, as the emperor's uncle, Li Yuanchang, the king of Han Dynasty, had always had a very close relationship with Li Chengqian. The two "went to the same window together (Li Yuanchang East Palace accompanying reading), and went to prostitutes together (no need to explain this)" , shouldered the gun together (Li Chengqian's favorite game of team fighting)," the key is so iron-clad that it is almost shared with prostitutes (except, of course, "Rongxin", which Li Chengqian once doted on).
In the present situation, he was here to act as a peacemaker and mediate conflicts.
After thinking about this, Qin Mubai smiled indifferently: "It's just a misunderstanding. If His Highness the King of Han is to blame, Qin will go and make amends to him, and let him do whatever he wants."
"No!" As soon as Qin Mubai finished his words, Princess Gao Yang's voice sounded loudly, "I was also present that day. It was clearly the King of Han who was at fault first! Mubai, you are right to catch a thief in your own home!"
Obviously, she shouted deliberately so that Li Yuanchang could hear her in the flower garden in the distance.
Being far away, Qin Mubai couldn't see clearly what Li Yuanchang's expression was at this moment. Anyway, the expression on Prince Li Chengqian's face had changed a bit. He was embarrassed, annoyed, and a little helpless.
As the saying goes, beating a dog will deceive its master. Who doesn't know that Li Yuanchang is the prince's best friend and his uncle in terms of seniority, but he is not as simple as an "ordinary dog".
"Ahem, Gao Yang, we men are talking about things, can you please don't interrupt in a hurry?" Li Chengqian finally showed some so-called "dignity" that may belong to the prince but he was very unfamiliar with, and said.
"Hmph!" Princess Gao Yang raised her lips and said in a rather arrogant but serious tone, "Okay, just listen to the prince brother and I won't interrupt. But no matter who it is, I won't allow him to bully Mu Bai! Otherwise, I will fight to the death! - Just talk about it, I will wait outside the palace!"
After saying that, she turned around gracefully, lifted up her skirt and walked away angrily.
"Uh, this little girl..." Li Chengqian looked at Princess Gaoyang's back and smiled awkwardly.
What can he do? Even Emperor Li Shimin couldn't do anything to Princess Gaoyang. Today, Princess Gaoyang burned down his east palace with a fire. Li Chengqian might only be able to shed a few tears of sadness.
"Your Highness, don't worry, Gao Yang has such a childish temper and is just unforgiving." Qin Mubai said with a smile.
"Well, this Gu naturally knows. Mu Bai is still reasonable." Li Chengqian smiled awkwardly and said, "Mu Bai, it won't be long before you and Gao Yang get married. Then we are also a family. The King of Han is all He is our imperial uncle. Even if he is wrong in many ways, he is still an elder! Besides, you have already punished him. How about letting this go? A write-off."
Qin Mubai just didn't want to stay here for a moment longer. He smiled indifferently and said: "Since His Highness the Crown Prince has said so, can Qin Mubai be a villain again? Well, for the sake of His Highness the Crown Prince, for the sake of For the sake of the royal family’s appearance, I’ll toast him with a glass of wine to apologize.”
"Haha, Mu Bai is indeed a man who does big things and has a big heart. Please--" After that, Li Chengqian led Qin Mubai to the flower garden.
Li Yuanchang, the king of Han Dynasty, was sitting alone at a small stone table in the garden, drinking wine without a glass of wine. Qin Mubai didn't get very close when he saw that his face was bruised and purple, and he seemed to have gained a lot of weight. He couldn't help but smile in his heart. It seemed that the beating he received that day was a good one.
Li Chengqian stepped forward and said in a typical peacemaker tone: "Uncle Seventh Emperor, I have invited Qin Mubai here. Can you two have a glass of wine and shake hands to make peace?"
Li Yuanchang turned his face away, facing Qin Mubai with his swollen right cheek. At this time, he suddenly turned his head, with a fierce look in his eyes, and a very ferocious expression on his bruised and swollen face.
Qin Mubai, who had walked on the battlefield several times, instinctively shrank his heart and almost attacked him - because he felt murderous intent!
From Li Yuanchang!
"Shake hands and make peace?" Li Yuanchang bared his teeth and spoke a little casually. His words were vague but his hatred was very obvious. He picked up the corners of his swollen mouth with difficulty. He stood up and poured two glasses of wine himself. , handed one of the cups to Qin Mubai, "Okay, as long as he is willing to drink this cup of poisonous wine, I will cancel everything with him!"
Qin Mubai frowned and sneered lightly: "His Royal Highness, you have drunk too much."
"Why would Uncle Seven Emperors make such a joke?" Li Chengqian smiled in embarrassment. Not only did he lose half of the majesty and grace of the prince, but he was also frightened and frightened. He put his hands straight and said, "Calm down and calm down!" Mu Bai, don’t listen to him, this wine is a fine wine from Gu Mansion, it can’t be poisonous. I’ll give you a drink first if you don’t believe me!”
"Prince, get out of your way! Qin Mubai is a hero, isn't he? He won't be frightened by a mere glass of poisonous wine, right? Huh!" Li Yuanchang smiled evilly, and was a little proud.
Qin Mubai didn't say much, raised his glass and drank the whole glass of wine.
"Your Highness, if there is nothing else, Qin Mubai will take his leave first." After saying that, Qin Mubai put down his wine glass, glanced at Li Yuanchang out of the corner of his eye, shook his head, with a smile of disdain that was almost sympathetic, and turned around to prepare. Walk.
"Stop!" Li Yuanchang suddenly shouted. Qin Mubai thought he was going to make an attack, so he instinctively turned around to deal with it. Suddenly, Li Yuanchang raised his hand and poured the wine in his glass over Qin Mubai.
Almost at the same time, Qin Mubai raised his right hand and slapped his hand, and the glass of wine probably spilled on his hand.
"Ah—" Li Chengqian screamed in fright and was completely stunned.
Through the cracks between his fingers, Li Yuanchang saw Qin Mubai's face that was still smiling, but his eyes were filled with seriousness!
Li Yuanchang's whole body was inadvertently chilled to the bone, and he took a step back.
Li Chengqian hurriedly stood up between him and Qin Mubai, pleading: "Mubai! Mubai! You have to calm down! King Han... his drinking capacity is not very good, he drank too much, he really just drank too much!"
Li Yuanchang also hid behind Li Chengqian very naturally, glancing at Qin Mubai's provocative and proud sneer.
Qin Mubai slowly put down his hand, his expression still calm and indifferent, and there was still a faint smile on his face. He shook off the wine stains on his hands, took out an embroidered handkerchief that Chen Yan gave him when he was in Xiangzhou, wiped it with it, and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter. Men always lose their temper after drinking."
"Huh..." Li Chengqian took a long breath and said with a pale smile, "Mubai is indeed... broad-minded and can accept all things! Well, today the King of Han has drunk too much, which is very inconvenient. Another day... Another day I will be alone. Please invite Mu Bai for a drink!”
"Thank you. Farewell." Qin Mubai cupped his hands with a smile and glanced at Li Yuanchang inadvertently.
Li Yuanchang suddenly felt a chill from the bottom of his heart, and his body shivered violently!
The incident just now made him feel very satisfied and relieved his hatred, because it greatly destroyed Qin Mubai's "prestige" in front of the prince. He also expected that no matter how ruthless Qin Mubai was, he would not dare to do anything to him, the emperor's uncle. Sample.
At this moment, Li Yuanchang didn't know why he was shivering, and he felt very cold, as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water on him from top to bottom.
Qin Mubai had already left, walking slowly and calmly, as if nothing had happened.
Li Chengqian let out a long breath, turned around angrily and prepared to scold Li Yuanchang, but was shocked to find that Li Yuanchang was trembling as if he had a cold and fever, his teeth were chattering, and his face was turning white.
"Uncle Seventh Emperor, what's wrong with you?" Li Chengqian asked in horror.
"Qin...Qin Mubai has murderous intentions towards me!" Li Yuanchang had one eye swollen and could only widen his other intact eye, with infinite fear in his eyes.
"Isn't it possible?" Li Chengqian frowned in confusion, "I think he is quite good. He doesn't say much. He is so thoughtful! Uncle Seventh Emperor, don't use all the trees and grass as soldiers. That's impossible!"
"No, it's true!" Instead of calming down, Li Yuanchang became even more frightened and uneasy, "He glanced at me before leaving just now, and that look in his eyes... was like, like..."
"Like what?" Li Chengqian was even more puzzled.
"It's like... looking at a dead person!"
Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment, but still shook his head suspiciously: "Impossible, Uncle Seventh Emperor, you really drank too much and were careless. Qin Mubai, a gentleman who always treats others well, is not this kind of person. Besides, you are also him after all. Uncle Seventh Emperor, how can he attack His Majesty the Emperor’s brother without looking at the monk’s face? You can rest assured that nothing will happen to you!”
Li Yuanchang didn't want to argue with Li Chengqian anymore, but he narrowed his wide eyes and said as if talking to himself: "Maybe you are right, I am too worried. Maybe Qin Mubai is just as you said, he is a A humble gentleman... But I remember a saying, a dog that bites, never barks... "
Li Chengqian was a little angry when he heard this and immediately stopped talking, but after he stopped speaking, he became even more angry and even a little angry: "Then I don't care! Go catch up with Qin Mubai and ask him if he really wants to kill you! - Go! "
Outside Li Zheng Hall, Princess Gaoyang was a little impatient and walked anxiously beside the chrome car. Seeing Qin Mubai coming out, she took a few steps forward and took his arm: "Let's go quickly, I really don't want to stay here for a moment longer! It's too depressing and dull!... Hey, why are you a little wet? Yes? Um, it still smells like alcohol?”
"It's okay. I drank two drinks with the prince and accidentally spilled it on my clothes." Qin Mubai smiled calmly, "Get in the car and let's go!"
Princess Gao Yang looked up at Qin Mubai and blinked suspiciously: "Mubai, are you okay?"
"What can happen? You fool." Qin Mubai smiled, "Get in the car and let's go!"
"oh… "
After leaving the Chongming Gate, the main entrance of the East Palace, Qin Mubai looked back, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing an unprecedented weird smile, and said lightly: "East Palace? Haha! King of Han? Humph!..."
The finger bones holding the reins crackled like explosions!