After hunting, Li Shimin sneaked into the harem decisively and asked the hundreds of riders to hand over the prey to the imperial chef to take care of it for dinner. He also asked someone to send a message to Qin Mubai, asking him to come to Penglai Hall to have dinner before going back.
Qin Mubai was very funny when he saw Li Shimin hiding his head and showing his tail. It is not easy to be a king, and it is even more difficult to be a good emperor. Even though Li Shimin was an emperor, he was quite afraid of the gibbering of some of his ministers. Just talking about hunting, some ministers regard it as a flying eagle and a running dog. Li Ke was impeached for excessive hunting, and Li Shimin was criticized several times by Wei Zheng for this matter, and even pointed at his nose and scolded him. One time, Li Shimin got a falcon he liked and was catching it in his hand to play with, when Wei Zheng came to make trouble. What Li Shimin was most afraid of was Wei Zheng's nagging, so he immediately panicked and hid the falcon in his arms. Wei Zheng, who obviously had bad eyesight, looked friendly this time, but kept talking about trivial matters like an aunt. As a result, the falcon suffocated to death in Li Shimin's arms.
Qin Mubai was the Baiqi Envoy at that time. Although he didn't see it with his own eyes, he knew it clearly.
From this point of view, the emperor Li Shimin was considered a bit "useless". But perhaps it is precisely because of these cowards that great achievements have been achieved and the Zhenguan era has been achieved.
Regardless of his status as an emperor, Qin Mubai has always felt that Li Shimin was actually a very "interesting" man. He is talented, tasteful, thoughtful, and has a great sense of humor. He is also emotional and has a sense of justice. It is true that his shortcomings and deeds are as clear as his advantages, but there is no absolute saint in the world. The advantages and disadvantages coexist. On the contrary, it makes people feel that Li Shimin, a very "great and upright" emperor spread in history, is actually a very good person. Real men of flesh and blood.
When Qin Mubai came to Penglai Hall, he saw two glamorous figures waiting for him at the entrance of the hall from a distance. It was none other than King Li Zhi of Jin and Princess Li Mingda of Jinyang. When they heard that Qin Mubai was coming to have a shared dinner, the two young princes were so excited that they actually came out to greet him at the entrance of the palace.
Qin Mubai quickly stepped forward to greet him first, and was surprised to see Li Zhi. After almost a year this time, Li Zhi is obviously half a boy now. There is a ring of fuzz around his mouth, his voice has changed a bit, he looks like a male duck, and he has grown taller and fatter.
Li Mingda is also seven or eight years old. He has grown up a lot. His smile is innocent and bright, like a little white lotus blooming in a clear pond, spotless. She grinned, revealing a pair of small tiger teeth that are customary for daughters of the Li family. She had a pair of beautiful little flowers on her forehead. She was wearing a bright red brocade coat. Her thick clothes and makeup made her look a little unsteady and clumsy, but she was also very cute. His life is just like the fairies and virgins walking out of the New Year pictures.
"Students meet their teachers." Li Zhi, obviously grown up, bowed down and bowed down to Qin Mubai as a teacher and student. From very early on, Qin Mubai taught Li Zhi and Li Mingda pipa skills at the request of Li Shimin, and Li Zhi regarded Qin Mubai as his teacher.
"Your Highness, there is no need to be polite." Qin Mubai returned the courtesy. A childish and excited voice sounded in my ears—
"Village chief, I want a hug!" Li Mingda smiled and extended his arms to Qin Mubai, standing on tiptoes.
Qin Mubai suddenly laughed happily, bent down and picked up Li Mingda. Li Mingda hugged Qin Mubai's neck and kissed him on the face. He wiped his mouth and giggled: "The village chief's beard is prickly!"
"Haha!" Qin Mubai and Li Zhi laughed together.
Although Li Zhi was mediocre in talent and even a bit dull, he was also very precocious after receiving a lot of influence in the palace. He turned out to be fourteen years old at the end of the year. In the Tang Dynasty, many men of this age got married and started families. Therefore, Li Zhi now pays great attention to his appearance and etiquette. He no longer calls Qin Mubai "village chief" and shows the magnanimity and cultivation that a prince should have.
To be fair, among Li Shimin's children that Qin Mubai had come into contact with, Li Zhi was the least tempered one. Prince Li Chengqian, who is excellent on the outside but tough on the inside, behaves wildly and uninhibitedly; King Li Tai of Wei has a smiling face, but his talent is really outstanding; King Li Ke of Wu has great ambitions, literary and military strategies, sentimental and righteousness, and keeps a low profile. Needless to say, there are also the deceased King Li You of Qi and Princess Gaoyang beside him. These people all have one thing in common, they are high-profile and extraordinary.
Li Zhi is different. Whether he was treating Qin Mubai or an ordinary eunuch and maid in the palace, he was always gentle and polite, without any arrogance or sense of superiority of a prince. He was just like a big boy in the family.
This may be related to the fact that he lost his mother when he was young and was raised by eunuchs and maids. His personality is relatively vague and a little weak. But on the other hand, he was also the most tolerant of Li Shimin's children that Qin Mubai had ever seen.
Li Mingda, Qin Mubai is holding her in his arms now, imagining in his heart: It would be great if I could give birth to a girl like this!
China has a tradition of favoring sons over daughters, but Qin Mubai always feels that, relatively speaking, daughters understand filial piety and are more considerate than sons. Not to mention, Shuang'er is the sweetheart of her parents. No one in the family dislikes her and treats her as a treasure.
When the two little princes welcomed Qin Mubai, they were obviously very happy, and their smiles came from the bottom of their hearts. Li Mingda nestled on Qin Mubai, and from time to time he fiddled with his thick green beard or played with his golden crown. Li Zhi was excited to ask him about Lanzhou's customs, customs and border scenes.
After only ten sentences of conversation, Qin Mubai felt that Li Zhi had really changed. The dull, childish boy he used to be is now indeed half a man. He was concerned about current affairs and border affairs, and was interested in military affairs, weapons and horses. He was so excited that he danced when he heard stories about marches and battles.
The smell of male hormones was quite obvious in the bones of his semi-ripe body.
When he walked to the inner palace, Li Shimin had just changed into loose and casual clothes and was making tea with the people in the palace. Qin Mubai put down Li Mingda and stepped forward to salute. Li Shimin said with a smile: "No need to be formal, it's just a family dinner - Sizi, come here, let me give you a hug!"
"Father—" Li Mingda trotted into Li Shimin's arms, giggling and his face turned red.
"Ouch, my baby has gained weight again, and I can't hold it anymore!" Li Shimin laughed happily, kissed Li Mingda's fandudu's face several times, and scratched her beard until she giggled. .
"Well, that's great. Sizi, I will practice more Tai Chi with your Ninth Brother in the future to keep fit!" Li Shimin pinched Li Mingda's little face and said lovingly, "In the past two years, my health has improved a lot. Well, I rarely take medicine anymore!”
"Yes, Father." Li Zhi took over and said, "Huang Er has practiced Tai Chi for two years and feels much stronger. If Father has time, he might as well practice it. Huang Er heard that Yi Guo It was only through practicing Tai Chi that Zheng Zheng recovered from his illness, and now he can ride on the battlefield again!"
"Haha, okay!" Li Shimin nodded and laughed with interest, turned to Qin Mubai and said, "Mubai, thank you very much."
"Why should Your Majesty say thank you for things that are within your duty?" Qin Mubai smiled and cupped his hands and said, "Actually, a good mood is the best medicine. Most of my father's diseases come from the heart. Rheumatic bone disease is just a small head. "
"That's right." Li Shimin nodded in agreement, put down Li Mingda, put his hands on the stove to bake, rubbed his hands and said, "The way to maintain health is from the inside out. Medicines, stones and needles can only help. You This set of Tai Chi is really good. I will practice it when I have time. It is not only for physical fitness, but also for soothing the mind and cultivating the body. ”
Qin Mubai couldn't help but laugh: I'm sorry, old comrade Zhang Sanfeng, I didn't mean it...
The four of them sat around the stove, waiting for the imperial chef to prepare the prey and bring dinner. After a while, someone came to the palace, and they were Princess Gaoyang and her daughter!
This is the first time that Concubine Yin De and Princess Gao Yang appear together in Penglai Hall.
Concubine Yin De is still so graceful and noble that people dare not look directly at her. Her frosty white hair adds a mysterious and unique style. Qin Mubai saw Princess Gaoyang walking next to her and realized that she was simply the younger version of Concubine Yin De. For the first time, she discovered that she was so similar to her mother!
Perhaps Princess Gaoyang has really grown up after experiencing human affairs, and she has begun to smell like a woman from her bones.
"Come here, sit down." Li Shimin didn't say much, but the smile on his face was quite gentle. He asked Concubine Yinde and his daughter to sit down, and said, "We have a family dinner today. This banquet is not an ordinary one. It's mine. Got it myself.”
Concubine Yin De smiled: "Did your Majesty go hunting again?"
"Hey, you are just boring. You can tell the truth with just one word." Li Shimin patted his knees and said in annoyance, "We have to let Ling'er and Sizi guess first!"
"Hey..." There was a sound of contempt in the hall. Li Zhi was stunned and blurted out, "Father, you have said several times just now that you have magical powers in archery. When you just entered the palace, You are also wearing a military uniform, can the emperor still not know that you are going hunting today?"
"Haha!" Everyone in the room laughed.
Li Shimin suddenly felt very shameless, and deliberately pointed his face at Li Zhi and shouted: "You are the only one who talks too much!"
Li Zhi's expression was stagnant, he was very hesitant, his mouth was grinning, and his expression was blank, as if he had made a big mistake.
"Zhinu, you silly boy, why are you so stupid?" Li Shimin shook his head and smiled bitterly, "If you were half as clever as Princess Gaoyang, I should be relieved."
"Oh..." Li Zhi nodded in understanding, looking at Princess Gao Yang blankly, blinking his eyes not knowing what he was thinking.
Qin Mubai's heart brightened, and he thought to himself: Li Shimin's casual words just now seemed to reveal a secret. "rest assured"? Why is he worried about Li Zhi? What was the reason that allowed him to keep the fourteen-year-old Li Zhi in the harem? …
Qin Mubai naturally thought of Changsun Wuji. This uncle of the current dynasty was the first official in Zhenguan and the only powerful official. Qin Mubai did not have many interactions with him. There had been one or two contacts with Changsun Huan before because of conflicts. At that time, Changsun Wuji felt to Qin Mubai that this man was very kind, spoke elegantly, was kind, well-educated and knowledgeable. But at the same time, it is also very urban, as if it is unfathomable. With Qin Mubai's eyesight and knowledge at that time, he could only see a layer of his coat.
But in history, wasn't it him who tried his best to assist Li Zhi in ascending the throne? Li Shimin left him alone when he died, so he became a first-class powerful official during Li Zhi's reign.
Although there are different evaluations of him in history, they all deny that Changsun Wuji is a man with a strong desire for power. Moreover, he had indeed done things like "invading the government and the opposition, and shaking the master with high power", and was eventually dealt with by Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi and Queen Wu Zhao.
Now is the time when the fight for the throne is at its most intense, but Changsun Wuji, the first minister of the dynasty, seems to be indifferent. He neither clearly sides with the crown prince nor the king of Wei. Like Li Zhi, these two people were born to Empress Changsun and were nephews of Changsun Wuji. However, it is a public fact that the prince's misconduct has displeased the emperor. Now, except for Fang Xuanling, who was entrusted by the queen to protect him to the death, other "smart people" like Changsun Wuji have already kept away from him; As for the King of Wei, this well-educated prince has never been popular with his uncle. It is almost universally known that the two of them dislike each other. Li Tai likes to attract some "second-generation officials" or young scholars and scholars as his party members, and he is not very interested in people of his father's generation. As for Changsun Wuji, he seemed to be lukewarm towards his "disrespectful" nephew.
As a result, a strange situation appeared in the court: the prince and the king of Wei were fighting for connections, but they seemed to only pay attention to some trivial figures, and ignored Changsun Wuji, the most powerful person in the dynasty. .
This is really a lethal piece of cold humor.
After thinking about it, Qin Mubai concluded that the one who took the initiative to ask Jin Wang Li Zhi to leave the palace and open a mansion as soon as possible must be Changsun Wuji; and listening to Li Shimin's words just now, he seemed not to worry about Li Zhi leaving the palace and opening a mansion. The root cause was also It is precisely because of Changsun Wuji.
Perhaps Li Shimin wanted to protect Li Zhi from this big storm of competition for the heir apparent, or perhaps he did not want Li Zhi to leave his hands after leaving the palace and be played by Changsun Wuji, thereby affecting the establishment of the crown prince, the structure of the court, and The future trend of the Tang Dynasty. Because Li Zhi is also his direct son. Although he is young, he still has the capital to participate in the battle. An important reason is bloodline.
Li Shimin's thoughts must be complicated at this moment. First of all, Changsun Wuji is his elder brother-in-law. He has worked hard with him for many years and has made great achievements. He has always been loyal to him and is very effective in doing things. He is most worthy of his trust and reuse. Secondly, no king would want the affairs of the court and the direction of the dynasty to be determined by his ministers rather than himself. Changsun Wuji's influence is growing day by day. In the matter of competing for the heir apparent, there is no doubt that whichever side he takes, the balance of power will naturally tip to that side.
Qin Mubai guessed that, with Li Shimin's shrewdness and far-sightedness, coupled with his pragmatic style, he should be very aware of the fact that when choosing a successor, blood and direct concubine are just a piece of paper, and the big scholar and the small scholar are just a piece of paper. I like to argue about such things after dinner, but how much effect can this really have on a dynasty and a famous family? What really plays a decisive role in the future of the prince and the dynasty depends on who and what forces are standing behind the prince. This is the decisive factor that will determine whether the dynasty will last a hundred years and whether the Li family's royal industry will continue to prosper, not the dozens of kilograms of blood flowing in his veins.
If it was really Changsun Wuji's suggestion to let Li Zhi leave the palace and set up a palace, Li Shimin would have to be very alert: Could it be that the child slave could not escape being involved in the fight for the heir apparent? Changsun Wuji, what are your intentions
…
Qin Mubai thought a lot, but he didn't know whether his imagination was based on evidence or whether it was true. These things may have been buried deep in Li Shimin's heart, and he would never mention them to others. Only occasionally a scaly claw is exposed inadvertently, which arouses speculation and idle imagination.
All in all, the current Zhenguan Dynasty is not as peaceful and peaceful as imagined. The fight for the heir apparent has become more and more intense, and it is like planting a time bomb for this dynasty. The bomb will detonate sooner or later, and the degree of damage it will cause depends on Li Shimin's method of handling the matter.
Li Shimin was indeed miserable and distressed. He is now a bomb disposal officer, facing countless leads and not knowing which one to cut. A slight mistake could be a devastating disaster. His decades of hard work could be ruined in one fell swoop. In the prosperous age of Zhenguan, it is very likely that Yunhua will appear.
…
During the meal, Qin Mubai felt uneasy as he kept thinking about these things in his mind. After returning from Lanzhou, he felt that the atmosphere in Chang'an had changed a bit, and there was also a bit of a rumbling atmosphere in the court hall. He thought that this might be the reason why Li Shimin gave him a half-year vacation and asked him to take Princess Gaoyang and his family on a trip. He didn't want them to stay in Chang'an and get involved in these turmoils. But the reality seems not to be as smooth as Li Shimin expected. Almost as soon as Qin Mubai settled in Chang'an, the prince and the king of Wei sent invitations to his door.
Obviously, these two people are trying their best now, even if it is a piece of dogtail grass, they will not let it go as long as they can use their strength. You can see the fierce competition.
The craftsmanship of the imperial chef is naturally impeccable, and the game from the mountains that he catches himself has a unique taste. After dinner, Qin Mubai accompanied Li Shimin, Concubine Yin De and others, and took Princess Gaoyang, Zhinu and Sizi to play Cuju in the back garden for a while, which was quite enjoyable.
It can be seen that Li Shimin has not been as relaxed and happy as he is today.
When night fell, Qin Mubai was "released", but was caught by Princess Gaoyang and refused to let go. Qin Mubai complained secretly, thinking: My two poor brothers were let go by me, and now they can't figure out where to scold me together!
So he hurried to the Hongwen Palace. The doorman said that Qin Bin left a message, saying that the palace gate was going to be closed. He and his eldest brother went to the Qin Mansion first, and waited for Qin Mubai to come back together to have a dinner party.
Qin Mubai was so anxious to burn his butt that he hurriedly ran home. Princess Gaoyang was unwilling to let go, so she followed her out of the palace and threatened: "Don't ever think of getting rid of me again, and run away to be happy by yourself! - Haha, I just had an banquet in the palace, I’m going to have another family dinner at your house, and I’m going to gain weight soon!”