The next day, Qin Mubai took the memorial that took several days to write and wrote a new one in a yellow silk memorial. The thick stack was like a book. Then, it was handed over to the special envoy of the Dudu Palace and presented to Chang'an.
Qin Mubai stood by the second-floor window of the Governor's Mansion, watching the four special envoys rushing out of Lanzhou City and heading east towards Juechen. I thought to myself: The world today is full of turmoil and undercurrents. Whether it is going smoothly or is on the verge of breaking out, in fact, it is only a thin line. I hope that when this memorial of mine reaches Chang'an, it can put an end to all the troubles in front of me, and allow the Tang Dynasty to return to tranquility and enjoy the peace and fruits of the war.
"Although I have never thought that I, Qin, am so great, and I have never thought of being a savior or a hero. However, I don't want to see the results of my hard work with my father and all the soldiers destroyed before my eyes! "Qin Mubai took a deep breath, with a smile on his face, and said to himself, "I traveled through thousands of years and came to the Tang Dynasty. I fell deeply in love with this era and country, and there were people around me who loved me deeply and were with me. My beloved; I don’t want Datang to suffer any loss because of me, nor do I want my relatives and friends to suffer any disaster.”
"It's over! Everything should be over! I've done what I want to do and what I should do. Just when you all thought that I, Qin Mubai, was going to be arrogant and domineering, I took the initiative to give up everything in my hands." Qin The smile on Mubai's face became more and more relaxed and indifferent, "Many people may have overlooked one thing - the ultimate goal of war is actually for peace, not as a way to get promoted and get rich. Continuous wars have made me, Qin Mubai, Fame and power, but this is not what I want. Only those who have been on the battlefield and experienced the killing will truly understand the fragility and preciousness of life. The accumulation of glory and wealth in life is actually unbearable; unless I am ignorant of my conscience, how can I hold on to it and pursue it diligently
"I've had too many killings in the past few years. If I have the chance, I would like to go to the Protectorate Heavenly King Temple in Chang'an Imperial City and ask Master Qingshan to explain Zen to me... Concubine Yinde and Ling'er don't know what they are doing now. How are you doing?”
…
The night is already vast, and in the Penglai Hall of the Daming Palace, the palace lanterns are bright and silent.
Concubine Yin De and her daughter were waiting in front of Li Shimin's bed, both looking haggard. Both of them looked at Li Shimin who was lying quietly on the couch, frowning.
"Mom, it's late at night, you go and have a rest!" Princess Gao Yang said softly, "I will guard your father's place. When it gets daybreak, mother will come and let me rest."
"That's fine..." Concubine Yin De sighed softly, stood up and left.
Several of the attendant palace maidens and eunuchs also changed their shifts, adding lamp oil to the room and doing chores. They all moved lightly and did not dare to make a sound. After a while, two imperial doctors came to check on Li Shimin's condition. After taking the medicine and putting it down, they all left.
Princess Gaoyang felt sad when she saw that her father, who was once a heroic and mighty dragon, was now so sick and haggard. The palace ladies on the left and right were ready to serve Li Shimin with his medicine. Princess Gaoyang felt upset when she saw her father being "tortured" by them in this way, so she kicked them and the eunuchs out of the room and came to feed Li Shimin herself.
After a lot of effort, Princess Gaoyang finally helped Li Shimin to sit up, put a big pillow behind his back, and then gave him medicine by the spoonful. Li Shimin was still in a coma and had difficulty swallowing, and the potion was spilled all over his body. Princess Gao Yang secretly cursed herself for being useless and felt sad again, with tears streaming down her face.
After finally finishing the medicine, Princess Gaoyang helped Li Shimin lie down. She was tired and sleepy, so she held Li Shimin's hand and lay beside him, and she fell asleep so groggyly.
Half asleep and half awake, Princess Gaoyang felt something touching her head. She didn't understand it at first, so she said in a daze, "Mom, don't touch me, I'm going to sleep..."
"Ling'er, I'm sorry for you..." A voice was vaguely heard.
Princess Gao Yang woke up with a shudder. When she raised her head and opened her eyes, she saw Li Shimin looking at her with a sickly and tired look on his face, with a smile on his pale face. A big hand was raised, it must have been him who touched Princess Gaoyang's head just now.
"Father, you're awake!" Princess Gaoyang threw herself into Li Shimin's arms and cried with joy!
"Yes..." Li Shimin gently stroked Princess Gao Yang's head and sighed longly.
Princess Gaoyang was overjoyed again: "Father, can you speak now?!"
Li Shimin patted Princess Gaoyang's head gently, and the smile on his face was only kind.
"Father!..." Princess Gaoyang was so choked that she could not speak. "I will tell my mother and concubine the good news right away!"
"No need." Li Shimin gently stroked Princess Gaoyang's face, wiped away the tears on her face, and said softly with difficulty, "It's late at night, and your mother and concubine are asleep. You have worked hard these days, so let her Have a good rest!”
"Yes!" Princess Gao Yang nodded heavily, and her tears couldn't stop flowing down.
"Did a lot of things happen during the days when I was in coma?" Li Shimin asked.
Princess Gao Yang wiped away her tears and said while tucking Li Shimin into bed: "Father, you have just woken up, so don't worry about these things, just get well and recover!"
"It's okay, tell me about it!" Li Shimin said with a smile, "I've already been through hell, so what else do I have to worry about?"
Princess Gao Yang hesitated for a moment, but seeing Li Shimin's firm attitude, she had no choice but to nod her head, "Okay!"
Therefore, Princess Gaoyang told Li Shimin the details of the investigation of Li Ke's assassination, the suicide of Wei Ting, the imperial censor, the disappearance of Jin Wang Li Zhi during his northern inspection tour, and the Qin brothers' suicide plea. .
While talking, Princess Gao Yang observed Li Shimin's expression. Seeing that his emotions were stable and normal, I dared to continue speaking cautiously.
After listening, Li Shimin's reaction was indeed calm. He nodded slightly and said, "Although I am unconscious, I know these things more or less; even if I don't know, it is probably expected. Ling'er, You didn’t tell me anything important, did you?”
Princess Gao Yang bit her lip, "Father, I don't want to say it!"
"Don't you want to talk about anything related to Mu Bai?"
"Father... do you know everything?" Princess Gao Yang said in surprise.
Li Shimin smiled noncommittally, "With so many things happening, how could it not involve your lover? Ling'er, are you worried about not telling me?"
"Father!" Princess Gao Yang suddenly said excitedly, "Do you believe that Mu Bai will rebel?! I don't want to talk about such false and alarmist things!!"
"Did I say 'believe'?" Li Shimin smiled calmly, "If I couldn't trust him, I wouldn't have handed over half of the Tang Dynasty and most of the troops to him."
"Then you still..." Halfway through the sentence, Princess Gaoyang felt that her tone was too harsh and fierce, so she changed to a soft voice, "Then father, why did you let Li Jing command the troops and horses in the capital and impose strict measures on Kansai?" What about prevention?”
"Ling'er, everything is not as simple as you think." Li Shimin frowned slightly and said, "I fell ill and the country has no owner. This is an extraordinary period. Even my son dares to assassinate. Who can Can you guarantee that no one will raise troops to cause trouble in Chang'an at this time? I asked Li Jing to mobilize some soldiers and horses in the capital to strengthen the defense. This is an emergency measure for the safety of our imperial capital and the stability of the government and the public. It is not aimed at Guanxi. "
When Princess Gao Yang heard this, she found this explanation to be reasonable. But when she thought of the rumor that "Kansai Qin Mubai wanted to rebel" that was circulating outside, she couldn't get rid of the knot in her heart.
Seeing her sad face, Li Shimin smiled and said, "Ling'er, how have I treated Mu Bai over the years? Don't you understand that others don't know how I've treated Mu Bai?"
Princess Gao Yang nodded gently, "Father treats Mu Bai as if he were his own son..."
"Yes! I have fantasized more than once, how wonderful it would be if Mu Bai was my biological son." At this point, Li Shimin raised his hand and tapped his thigh gently, sighing, "What a pity! Although the son-in-law is better than the son-in-law, there is still a layer of separation between us; coupled with the estrangement between us as king and minister... I can trust Mu Bai, but Mu Bai can't trust me! "
"Why did your father say that?" Princess Gao Yang frowned a little displeasedly, "Mu Bai is loyal to the Tang Dynasty and his father, and has never had any different intentions!"
Li Shimin smiled a little lonely, "Then I specially sent Chu Suiliang to Lanzhou to pick up you and your young couple. Why were you the only one who came, but not Mu Bai? Moreover, you came alone, and you didn't even bring your daughter with you. Come. I and your mother-in-law just want to see you and your newborn granddaughter. Isn't this human nature?"
Princess Gaoyang knew that she was a little unreasonable, so she bit her lip and thought for a while, then said: "Mubai had already led his army on an expedition at that time. Little Dier... was just born and couldn't bear the fatigue of the journey. Didn't the emperor explain it to his father a long time ago? ?”
Li Shimin chuckled, "Ling'er, you know what you are thinking. I also understand my own daughter, so why do you have to quibble?"
Princess Gaoyang gritted her teeth and knew that she could not be deceived, so she simply said: "Yes! At that time, I was worried that someone in the court was jealous of Mu Bai's great achievements and wanted to reduce his military power, which would be detrimental to him! I was also worried about whether I would be able to come to Chang'an this time. Return to Mu Bai, so..."
"Ling'er said 'there is someone in the court', does that person refer to me?" Li Shimin closed his eyes and smiled bitterly, and said softly, "I know that Mu Bai has always been very smart, so he must have expected it, so he took the first step. Wei Qiang led the army to the expedition. As for you... Ever since your marriage to Fang Yiai, my status in your heart has been far inferior to that of Qin Mubai, right? "
Princess Gaoyang was stunned for a moment, speechless and silent.
"Ling'er, you and Mu Bai have both misunderstood me." Li Shimin opened his eyes, looked at Princess Gaoyang with a sad and sad look in his eyes, and said, "I called you back, firstly, because both I and your mother and concubine miss you. Secondly, I really don’t want Mu Bai to conquer the Western Regions anymore. There is another reason, which is actually the most important. Have you thought about it?”
"Wait a minute!" Princess Gao Yang's eyes lit up, interrupting Li Shimin and saying, "Father, why don't you let Mu Bai personally conquer the Western Regions?"
"He is tired of conquering Tubo, and his contribution is great enough." Li Shimin did not hide it, and said bluntly, "It may not be a bad thing to give some of the credit to subordinates such as Su Dingfang and Xue Rengui. Ling'er, it's not that I'm worried about Mu Baigong. Lord Gao Zhen, I’m not worried that Mu Bai will be too strong to defend himself, I’m just thinking about your future!”
"How, what do you say?" Princess Gao Yang was confused for a moment and asked.
Li Shimin shook his head with a wry smile, "Ling'er, think about it, now that I am still alive, I don't have to worry no matter how great Mu Bai is. Just like, I have never been afraid of suppressing any of the founding heroes; but, once I Long Yu has passed away. No matter which prince takes over the throne, with Mu Bai's achievements and reputation, who can restrain him? And which minister can compare with him... No matter what dynasty or generation, who alone has the power? The ministers in both the government and the public have no good end, and it has nothing to do with whether the king is wise or virtuous!"
Princess Gao Yang was suddenly startled and said in surprise: "Then... what should we do now that Mu Bai has pacified the Western Regions?"
Li Shimin waved his hand, "Don't worry, there is always a solution to everything. Aren't I not dead yet?"
"Father... don't say such words!" Princess Gao Yang felt very uncomfortable after hearing this.
"Actually, another reason why I want you to return to Chang'an is also the most important, and that is..." Li Shimin frowned, looked at Princess Gaoyang seriously, and said, "I want to ask Mu Bai about establishing a prince. clear attitude!”
Princess Gaoyang was shocked again!
"Father...why do you need to ask Mu Bai about this kind of thing?"
"How can you not ask?" Li Shimin asked back, and then answered to himself, "I have seen the government and the public, and the ministers and generals who founded the country with me have grown old and died, and there are not many left. There are not many left alive. They are already old, and they will not live for a few more years once I die. Among the young rising stars in both the government and the public, Mu Bai is undoubtedly the most capable, the most accomplished, and the most famous. I want him to serve as my right-hand man to assist the new king I have chosen. Therefore, this new king must first be approved by Mu Bai; but Mu Bai’s approval alone is not enough. If there are differences between the two sides, it will not work. I have to take the time to work hard to reconcile during my lifetime - isn't this right? At the same time, this is also the reason why I summoned Mu Bai back to the court in advance - he cannot monopolize too much military power, so that no one in the government or the public can compete with him in the future. I am fighting against him for the sake of his long-term future!”
"Father!..." After hearing all this, Princess Gaoyang suddenly understood. She threw herself into Li Shimin's arms and cried bitterly, "It turns out that you have such good intentions, but we have all misunderstood you!"
"Hey!... Everyone in the world knows that kings are good, but who knows that being a king is not easy?" Li Shimin gently stroked Princess Gaoyang's face and said leisurely, "A king's heart is as iron as iron, and sometimes he must be cold-hearted and deny his relatives. But I want to be a good emperor as well as a good father. You and Mu Bai, as well as your eldest brother, the third brother, King Wu, the fourth brother, King Wei, and the ninth brother, King Jin, don’t understand what I am doing. A father’s…good intentions!”
"Father, I understand now!" Princess Gaoyang burst into tears, "Father's love is like a mountain! Like a mountain!..."