Love Affairs in Chang’an

Chapter 56: Li Tai’s intentions

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The reception is over. The officials and scholars left in droves, and many took the initiative to say hello to Qin Mubai, offering gifts or greetings.

Qin Bin smiled and said: "Third brother, after this meandering water comes down, you will definitely be famous in Chang'an."

"As for it?" Qin Mubai asked.

"Of course." Qin Bin said, "Chang'an has always been a popular place for poetry and articles. Here are the most outstanding literati in the world. And in the palace of the King of Wei, there are a large number of the best literati. Got it. Their recognition and approval is equivalent to the approval of the literati in Chang'an and even the entire Tang Dynasty. I believe that your song "Come Into the Wine" will be widely circulated from today on. A talented man."

"Haha!" Qin Mubai laughed. He really wanted to tell his second brother that his poem was plagiarized. On second thought, I decided to forget it. If someone breaks the casserole and asks the truth, how can I justify myself? There is only one person like Li Bai in all ages. A wonderful poem like "The Wine Will Come in" cannot be compiled by just any cat or dog.

The two brothers chatted and left, having already left Prince Wei's Mansion. Just as he was about to board the car, a man who looked like an official came over in a hurry and stopped the driver. He stepped forward and cupped his hands and said, "May I ask who is Mr. Qin, Mubai, Qin?"

"That's it. What do you call me?" Qin Mubai got out of the car and returned the greeting.

The man bowed his hands and said, "Young Master Qin, please forgive me. I am Jiang Yaqing, who joined the army in the Record Office of the Prince of Wei. I am the one who recorded the poems when I was drinking wine in Qu Shui Shui."

"Oh, what does Jiang Canjun have to say?"

"I don't dare." Jiang Yaqing said, "I have great admiration for Master Qin's poems. I have also been ordered by the King of Wei to engrave the Master's poem "Journey into the Wine" into a monument. Therefore, I still have some small matters to ask for advice. Please excuse me for a moment. Take a break."

"Oh... okay then." Qin Mubai agreed and asked Qin Bin to take the car back to the palace first, and followed Jiang Yaqing into the palace.

The two of them returned to Prince Wei's Mansion. All the officials and scholars in the manor had left, and it seemed relatively quiet. Qin Mubai thought to himself, why would you let me come down to discuss matters if you have a small record office and joined the army? I guess it was probably the King of Wei Li Tai who wanted to invite me back to talk. People outside are talking too much, so you made excuses.

Walking to a quiet attic in the backyard, Jiang Yaqing stopped and bowed, "Master Qin, please come up."

"Okay." Qin Mubai smiled knowingly: That's right. It must be Li Tai looking for me.

Just as he walked up to this exquisite small building, the door upstairs was pushed open, and Li Tai's iconic chuckle came out: "Brother Mu Bai is here, I'm sorry, Xiao Wang is afraid that there will be too many people to see Mu Bai." My brother is in a dilemma, so I decided to ask Jiang Yaqing to invite you."

"Your Highness's thoughts are reasonable." Qin Mubai smiled in return and walked into the room. He thought to himself: This Li Tai thinks about all kinds of things, is as meticulous as a hair, considers everything thoroughly, treats people with kindness, and greets everyone with a smile. But why does it make me feel that he is...a bit sinister? In contrast, I think Li Kegeng is more upright and has a similar temperament to me.

"Brother Mubai, please sit down." After Li Tai asked him to sit down, he personally held the pot and poured tea for him. He said with a smile, "Brother Mubai's song "Brother Mubai" will definitely be popular in the Tang Dynasty and will be famous for generations. Xiao Wang is right I am so impressed by your talent.”

"You dare, you dare." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "It's just random nonsense. Your Highness, please don't make fun of me."

"Haha, you can reach such a level with your nonsense. I think Mubai's talent is very comparable to others." Li Tai seemed to understand the principle of "a thousand things to wear, but flattery can't wear it", and he praised Qin Mubai eloquently. It was a mess.

Qin Mubai was rarely happy. Firstly, this poem was originally plagiarized, and the more people praised it, the more guilty he felt; secondly, to express love without any reason was either adultery or theft, and his relationship with Li Tai was very ordinary. Isn't the reason why people are so proactive in trying to get close to each other because he is a "Hundred Cavalry Envoy"

"Brother Mubai has such a talent, it would be a great pity in the world if he didn't write more poems and essays! People of my generation boast that they are extremely talented in writing, but together they are not as good as Brother Mubai's sudden burst of talent." Li Tai said, "Therefore, Xiao Wang has a merciless request. I wonder what Brother Mubai wants?"

"Your Highness, come and listen?" Qin Mubai said.

"Xiao Wang wants to... ask Brother Mubai to condescend and come into Xiao Wang's 'Literature Hall' to worship him. How about that?" After Li Tai finished speaking, he looked at Qin Mubai expectantly with a naive smile on his face.

"Isn't this... I'm afraid it's inappropriate?" Qin Mubai said, "His Royal Highness also knows that, as an envoy of a hundred cavalry... Why do you suddenly change the court? His Majesty the Emperor will definitely be displeased."

"No, no, no, Brother Mubai has got it wrong." Li Tai said hurriedly, "Xiao Wang's Literature Museum is not a yamen institution. It has no official positions and no salary. It is just a spontaneous gathering of a group of officials and scholars. The purpose is also In order to compile books and biographies, and compose poems and lyrics, everyone usually has their own duties; when they have free time, they gather together like today to discuss poems and essays. "

Qin Mubai felt embarrassed: It's so simple! Those intellectuals who gather in your literary museum do not have statutory salaries or official positions, but in fact they are all your disciples. Most of them do not have formal occupations and they are supported by you. If I agree to you, won't I be a member of your King Wei's command from now on? Good Li Tai, are you trying to drag me down by acting like an 'established fact'

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I have very compelling reasons, and I'm afraid I can't agree to it for the time being." Qin Mubai apologized with his hands in hand.

"Actually, Brother Mubai doesn't have to worry too much. There are many courtiers and officials gathered in Xiao Wang's Literature Hall! For example, the Censor, Youcheng Liu Jie, the Censor, Wei Ting, the Censor, Du Chuke, the Minister of Industry, etc. Wait." Li Tai didn't give up and said hurriedly, "I don't know what other concerns Brother Mu Bai has. Why don't you tell me?"

Qin Mubai smiled bitterly and stopped talking: "Your Highness doesn't know something. My father..."

"Oh, what are your instructions to Duke Yi?" Li Tai asked.

Qin Mubai shook his head, looking very embarrassed, and said: "My father was born in the military. He usually dislikes me dancing poems, writing essays, playing music and enjoying music, doing these arty things, talking about my status. I am scolded many times for being a disciple of a general but not doing my job properly. In fact, I don't want to be a general. I just want to gather with poetry friends in the mountains and rivers to sing about the wind and the moon in a relaxed manner. However, I have no choice but to run for Baiqi due to pressure from my father. Ahem... Nowadays, not only do I dare not dance and write poems, I also dare not play the pipa, and I no longer dare to read poems and books. I can only hold military books and tactics every day and fight with the sweaty military school warriors. Great at the gun dance.”

"Oh? Haha, that's it." After Li Tai showed regret, he lowered his eyelids thoughtfully and nodded, "I understand, I understand. Your Majesty, Duke Qin, is a hero, and it is natural for him to hope that his son will inherit his father's legacy. Xiao Wang has also heard for a long time that although your second brother Qin Bin is a civil servant, he is also good at martial arts. It is not difficult to become a general in battle. From this point of view, the Qin family is indeed a military. The family tradition of the Wu family is very strict!”

Qin Mubai smiled bitterly: "Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness. I have been thrown into the army by my father since I was a child and have been left to fend for myself for many years. My second brother is the legitimate son, and I am the bastard... I have no status in the family. My father said One, dare I say two? Furthermore, my father is not in good health, and I really don’t dare to disobey him and make him angry. Therefore, I can only temporarily accept my father’s kindness. His Majesty's literary library, where he spends all day with poetry, will definitely make him vomit blood with anger. Therefore... "

"Well, a gentleman doesn't force others to make things difficult for him." Li Tai chuckled innocently, "Since Brother Mubai has such privacy, Xiao Wang will not force it. However, if Brother Mu Bai has time, he will invite him to the Xiao Wang's Mansion. Sit down and enjoy the wine with Xiao Wang, it’s a wonderful thing in life!”

"Your Highness is very kind, but I am disrespectful." Qin Mubai cupped his hands and said, "I am just working in the palace every day and have little leisure time. If there is any negligence, I will forgive you."

"Haha, Brother Mubai works in the palace, and Xiao Wang also attends the palace every day. It will be easy to meet and talk in the future." Li Tai said with a smile, "Besides, Brother Mubai is often in the palace and rarely goes out. , if you have something to take care of outside the palace but have no time to attend to, you can tell Xiao Wang. Although Xiao Wang is not talented, he has many friends in Chang'an. I believe there is someone who can help Brother Mubai. ”

"Your Highness is so kind and kind, I can only be extremely grateful." Qin Mubai thanked him and thought to himself: Is Li Tai hinting at Wu Meiniang's side of things? According to his words - he can take care of me "meticulously", love the house and make the best wine in the world rich and popular, and can also destroy the best wine in the world in an instant... In other words, I, Qin If people want to be safe and precious, they have to listen to you obediently from now on

This damn fat man couldn't use the excuse of the literature museum to win over me, and now he wants to use Wu Meiniang to blackmail and control me! —Sure enough, it’s a sinister bird of prey!

This trick may work against other people, but I, Mr. Qin... have always hated this method the most!

After chatting for a while, Li Tai didn't stay long, and Qin Mubai said goodbye and went home.

When he returned to the courtyard, he saw Qin Shubao sitting in the main hall from a distance, so he went up to pay his respects.

"What does Li Tai want you to do?" Qin Shubao said straight to the point.

Qin Mubai did not hide anything and told the truth.

"That's very good." Qin Shubao stroked his gray beard and said without saying much. He narrowed his old eyes and said, "Li Tai seems to be loyal and loyal, but in fact he is sinister. Now that the crown prince is on top, he, as the emperor's younger brother, is not a loyal minister. It is well known to everyone that Sima Zhao is coveting the East Palace and scheming every step of the way - if you act like this, there will be disaster sooner or later. "

"My child thinks so too." Qin Mubai breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The King of Wei must be a meddlesome master. No matter whether he succeeds or fails in the future, following him will inevitably lead to trouble. It's better to keep a distance. "

"Sanlang must remember six words: don't offend, don't flatter." Qin Shubao said in one sentence, "That's all."