After resting at home for two days, the fatigue of the journey was gone. In the early morning of this day, Qin Mubai had just finished practicing martial arts in the backyard and was sweating all over. His eldest brother Qin Tong and his second brother Qin Bin dragged their children back to their hometown together. He said it was still the first month of the year and he came to pay New Year greetings to his mother.
The whole family gathers together and has fun. He was still drunk during lunch, but Qin Mubai didn't dare to get drunk. After settling his brother, sister-in-law and nephews, he packed up a bunch of gifts and prepared to go out. His mother asked him curiously where he was going. Qin Mubai said he was going to pay New Year greetings.
Mrs. Liu was curious and said: "It has been two or three days since you returned to Beijing, and you have not been seen anywhere else except the palace. The capital is full of royal relatives, dignitaries, and dignitaries, but you only bring one gift to visit one house. Isn't it unfair to favor one over the other?" ?”
Qin Mubai smiled and said: "Mother, you are worrying too much. I will not visit any of the royal family and nobles in the capital. It is an extraordinary period now, and I believe they will not take the initiative to visit me. But there is one family. But I have to go, and it won’t be a big deal if others find out.”
"Whose family?"
"Of course it's my mentor, Duke Wei Li Yaoshi." Qin Mubai explained the matter, said goodbye to his mother and family, left only an inconspicuous ordinary car, and went out to visit Duke Wei's mansion.
It was a coincidence that the Duke Wei's Mansion, which had always been closed with no visitors, was lively today, with guests coming. I asked the disciples and found out that Su Lie accompanied the King of Jiangxia on a special visit to Duke Wei.
"Li Daozong, King of Jiangxia?" Qin Mubai couldn't help but be curious for a moment, "Isn't he sitting in the Governor's Mansion of Youzhou? I haven't heard when he returned to the capital?"
"This little man doesn't know. General, why don't you go in and ask?"
Qin Mubai strode into the inner courtyard, and his servants picked out gifts and followed him. Still far away from the main hall, I heard Jiangxia King Li Daozong laughing heartily and heartily: "Haha, you are so bearded! You are still using such bad tricks, it is really poisonous!"
Li Jing also laughed: "This trick is the most effective for the prince. It has been tried and tested. If I don't use this trick, what trick should I use?"
"Hey! Xiao Wang's chess skills are still inferior to those of Wei Gong. I feel inferior!" Li Daozong laughed. He turned around and saw a tall figure approaching from the corridor. He narrowed his eyes and revealed his face. With a look of surprise, "Look, who is here?"
Li Jing's eyesight was no longer good. He squinted his old eyes and took a quick glance to see what was going on. Su Lie, who was standing nearby, quickly bent down and whispered in his ear: "Teacher, it's Mu Bai who's here."
"Oh, Sanlang, haha!" Li Jing stroked his beard and smiled, and a happy smile suddenly appeared on his face.
Li Daozong glanced sideways at Li Jing and sneered: "Look, you are quite proud of yourself. How beautiful are you? If Xiao Wang hadn't recommended this boy to you, would you be as proud as you are today? How about Xiao Wang's recommendation? That’s absolutely right, this guy is a good guy.”
Li Jing smiled and said nothing, Su Lie cupped his hand and chuckled: "Your Majesty has good taste. Junior brother is extremely talented, Su Lie is far inferior."
Just as he was talking, Qin Mubai came over. From a distance, he bowed his hands and paid homage to his mentor and the King of Jiangxia. He also bowed to his senior brother Su Lie. Li Daozong and Qin Mubai liked each other the most, so he pulled him to sit close to him at the guest table. Li Jing also bought two cups of sake at home for the first time, treated each other, and talked together.
Qin Mubai brought some local products from Xiangyang, especially some warming medicinal materials and good tea from Jiangnan, and gave them to Li Jing. Li Daozong was dissatisfied when he saw Haosheng, saying that Qin Mubai favored one over the other. Qin Mubai had to apologize and said that he would visit the King of Jiangxia later and offer him his favorite Jiangnan tea, and Li Daozhong gave up.
In the evening, Li Jing hosted a banquet for each other, and all four of them drank a lot of wine. Li Daozong was bold and generous, and when he came to drink, every time he drank, the bottom of the glass would be turned up to the sky, leaving no trace of wine left, so he drank too much and became drunk. Qin Mubai originally wanted to chat with his mentor and senior brother about the art of military warfare, but because Li Daozong was here, he had to hold back and chat for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, he left with Li Daozong.
After leaving the Weiguo Mansion, Qin Mubai discovered that Li Daozong came on horseback and did not bring any followers. He was a little worried, fearing that Li Daozong would fall off his horse while drunk, so he moved Li Daozong into the carriage, while Qin Mubai rode his horse to escort him all the way back to the Jiangxia Palace.
Li Daozong was indeed almost drunk. When he got into the carriage, he still said that he was half drunk and could not be said to be drunk. The carriage started for a moment, but his thunderous snoring could be heard.
Qin Mubai shook his head and smiled, escorting him all the way to the house. Knocking on the door of the palace, the doorman was anxious to receive it. He carried King Jiangxia into the palace and invited Qin Mubai to the main hall to have tea with him.
The king of Jiangxia was already drunk, and Qin Mubai didn't want to bother him any more. But the housekeeper in the house was too enthusiastic, so he had to sit down patiently and drink a cup of tea.
Just as the tea was poured, Butler Du from the palace said earnestly that most of the prince's family members were in Youzhou, so there was no one to accompany the prince at home when he was drunk, and he hoped that General Qin would forgive him. He also said that apart from their group of servants, the only one in the mansion was the prince’s beloved daughter. Because she must not lose her hospitality, the little princess "is willing to pour tea for the general."
Qin Mubai said hurriedly. The master of the house, Li Daozong, is not here. How can the little princess, who has never left the palace, go out alone to accompany her male guest in the middle of the night? Wouldn't it be a disgrace to the palace's reputation if the news spread
The housekeeper laughed a few times in apology, but when the servant was introduced, he couldn't hold on, so he bowed his hand and was about to leave. Just as he walked to the door of the main hall, a snow-white figure appeared in front of him and softly chanted: "Uncle Du, is it true that the general will not allow it?"
The girl's voice was like the sound of nature without any impurities, and Qin Mubai couldn't help but look sideways.
Butler Du's body just blocked Qin Mubai's view so that he couldn't see clearly. Just when he was about to get up, the girl in snow clothes had already walked in, with a soft and light smile like a spring breeze caressing a willow, and an extremely round oval face. On the face, the facial features are exquisite and soft, with no makeup or hairpins, yet she looks slim and graceful.
Although she has a bare face, she deserves to be born beautiful.
Qin Mubai stood up, bowed his hands and said, "It's unreasonable for Qin to bother you all night long. How dare you bother the princess? It's a sin, it's a sin."
"The general is too polite." The young girl in snow-clothed clothes opened her red lips and smiled sweetly, showing off her teeth. She returned the salute and said, "General, sit down and don't be formal. The little girl who has not been granted a title is not a princess. General, don't do it. I’m going to destroy my little girl.”
"Since she is the prince's beloved daughter, she should be treated with dignity." Qin Mubai was not coquettish. He said something unreasonable and sat down, looking at her nose and nose, watching her heart, and drank tea in her hand.
The girl in snow clothes smiled lightly, sat down on the side seat of Qin Mubai, picked up the tea roller and poured tea for Qin Mubai herself, and used silver chopsticks to add charcoal to the fire.
Although Qin Mubai didn't have any evil thoughts, he was almost distracted by the faint hint of natural girl's body fragrance coming from his breath. I couldn't help but look sideways at her making tea. She was elegant and refined without any sloppiness. In addition to being skillful and convenient, she also had an elegance and nobility that no one else could plagiarize.
Although he had a close friendship with Li Daozong, Qin Mubai had never interacted with his family. Qin Mubai didn't know more than a few words about the little woman in front of him. Moreover, Li Daozong had many children. For a moment, Qin Mubai had difficulty in relating or understanding her.
Nowadays, a man and a woman are sitting alone in a room, but she is calm and generous. Qin Mubai cannot talk to her too frivolously, so he can only drink tea in silence.
After a while, some exquisite snacks were delivered from the kitchen. According to the custom of the time, not only did she not mean to see off the guests, but she was sincerely asking them to sit down. According to the current situation, it is reasonable to provoke a few men to make tea and discuss morals late at night. I don't know what it means to be alone.
However, the girl in snow clothes remained indifferent and did not feel anything was wrong. After cooking a pot of Jade Snow Clear Longyan Tribute Tea for the New Year, she said: "General Qin's young hero is so heroic that he should not follow the customs and formalities. And The general has a good relationship with my father, so there is no need to detain Xue Yan like this."
"Thank you, Princess." Qin Mubai bowed his hand in return, but was surprised in his heart.
Snow goose? Li Xueyan
Why is this name so familiar? …
"I have heard about the general for a long time, but I have never been able to pay him a visit. Although today is not a good time, it is a blessing to meet the general." Li Xueyan said with a sweet smile, "My father often talks about it. There is only one young hero in the world, Qin Family Sanlang. Therefore, Xue Yan has always been curious and wants to know who the general is, so why does his father praise him so much? "
Qin Mubai smiled and said: "The prince fell in love with Qin by mistake, and Qin was flattered. In fact, Qin, a common man, is definitely not as brilliant as the prince said. I'm afraid the princess will laugh at him."
"Otherwise." Li Xueyan smiled Qiaoqian, but it was very natural. It felt like two friends who had known each other for many years were having a secret conversation. She said, "Although it was the first time we met, Xueyan felt that the general's demeanor was extraordinary. It's unusual. Moreover, my father's vision has always been good, and he is definitely not wrong. Moreover, my good sister never praises anyone, but she always thinks about the general. It can be seen that she is one of the few good men. , The general is indeed outstanding."
Qin Mubai was slightly stunned: "Good sister? But Qin doesn't remember when he met the prince's beloved daughter besides the princess' love?"
"Have you forgotten?" Li Xueyan smiled meaningfully, "Outside Xiangyang City, a small building facing south?"
"Huh?!..." Qin Mubai suddenly realized, almost blushing, "Sin, sin! Qin did forget for a moment... She has become the righteous daughter of the prince!"
Chen Yan!
Speaking of her, Qin Mubai couldn't help but feel a little excited, and asked hurriedly: "May I ask the princess, did she come to Chang'an with you?"
Li Xueyan smiled slightly, but did not answer in a hurry. Orchid picked up the bamboo cup with her fingers, took a sip of tea, and said softly: "General, you are indeed a passionate person."
This sentence made Qin Mubai quite embarrassed. Everyone knew that he was going to marry Princess Gaoyang, but now he was thinking of Chen Yan. Although Li Xueyan did not intend to ridicule or ridicule, Qin Mubai couldn't ask any more questions and had to stop. I thought to myself, it seems that Li Xueyan didn't just come to drink tea with her out of nowhere, but came prepared.
Li Xueyan glanced at Qin Mubai with her eyelids slightly raised, smiled secretly, and said: "Looking at the situation of the general, it seems that he has thousands of things to say and ask, but why can't he open his mouth to talk?"
"The long love between our children is not enough to be mentioned in front of the princess. I am ashamed." Qin Mubai said with a smile.
"How about we talk to the general about current affairs and the military?" Li Xueyan's words surprised Qin Mubai.
He couldn't help but smile and said, "Okay, Qin is happy to accompany you."
Li Xueyan smiled and nodded, without being polite, and took the lead in asking: "May I ask the general, what do you think of the marriage between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo?"
"Oh?" Qin Mubai blinked in confusion. This question was really strange.
Therefore, unless the emperor took the initiative to inform him, Qin Mubai would not have known about the recent events between Tang Dynasty and Tubo, which were related to the marriage. In other words, this is a "state secret" discussed in the imperial meeting. Not to mention that Li Xueyan is just an aristocratic woman. Even if she is the general of the dynasty, how can she talk about it in private
Qin Mubai hesitated for a moment, and Li Xueyan smiled and said: "General, there is no need to worry. Xueyan once accompanied his father to discuss this matter with His Majesty the Emperor, but he did not leak state secrets privately. The general is also an informed person, so it is okay to chat with him. ”
Qin Mubai was even more surprised now!
How could a daughter of Li Daozong, who had never been beheaded before, meet with King Jiangxia and discuss such state affairs
I remember hearing Li Shimin say before that he planned to select a clan daughter from among the royal relatives to be made a princess and then marry Songtsen Gampo of Tubo. As a result, the Tibetan envoy was displeased and walked away.
Could it be that this Li Xueyan was the one who was promised to marry Tubo
Qin Mubai's eyes lit up and her eyebrows slightly raised to look at Li Xueyan. She was taking in Qin Mubai's subtle expression in her eyes and said with a smile: "So, the general must have thought of it."
Qin Mubai looked away, took a sip of tea, and nodded.
"Does the general think that Xueyan should go to Tubo and marry the abandoned sect Nongzan (the Tang Dynasty's name for Songtsen Gampo)?" Li Xueyan asked.
This question can be said to be a sensitive and tricky one. This is not just a question of what should be done, but a question of political stance.
Children's words are unbridled.
Qin Mubai couldn't help but smile and said, "This problem is complicated."
"What if Xueyan wants the general to answer in the simplest way?" Li Xueyan smiled, with a hint of subtle cunning in his gentleness. Bingxue was smart but also naughty.
Qin Mubai felt like he was laughing. He paused for a moment and said, "It should be done, but it shouldn't be done either."
"The general is so cunning. This answer means no answer. Xueyan is not satisfied." Li Xueyan looked at Qin Mubai with a smile, poured him a cup of tea, and asked again, "If the general refuses to explain clearly, just simply Just give it a one-word or two-word answer.”
"It shouldn't be."
[Ten minutes later, the second update today. Eight thousand words in total]