Dajiaoguan in the harem of Daming Palace, a special "guest" came today - the emperor, Li Shimin.

After Concubine Yin De lived here, it was the first time that the emperor came to visit. The Dao aunts who were watching up and down were flattered, but before they could come forward to greet them, they were repulsed.

Li Shimin's face was a little ugly, and all the Dao aunts knew that something was wrong, and they didn't want to come forward to touch the moldy head, so they all hid in the room.

Li Shimin walked to the quiet room where Concubine Yin De lived, looked at the dustless windows and lintels a few times, and said to himself: "There is still a habit of cleanliness. ”

Pushing the door in, Concubine Yin De was sitting on a dumpling, burning a furnace of incense and reading a scripture, her eyes were lightly closed, and a few whiskers of dust and snow silk were on her arms, dancing gently.

"When the wind blows, the dust moves. It's still not solid......" Concubine Yin De said as if talking to herself.

Li Shimin didn't mind that she didn't get up to greet her, the twenty-year-old husband and wife, in private, seem to have weakened these vulgar etiquette, and they are always used to getting straight to the point.

"You can sit still." Li Shimin slowly paced behind her with his hands on his back and said.

In the extremely quiet meditation room, you can hear the embroidery needles falling on the ground. Li Shimin's words were not loud, but they seemed extremely abrupt. The silence in the room added majesty to his words.

"So what can I do?" Concubine Yin De still didn't look back at Li Shimin, her face was slightly raised, staring at the statue of Lao Tzu riding a green ox above her head.

Li Shimin also raised his eyes and glanced at the statue of Lao Tzu, took two steps forward and made a gesture, and did not face Concubine Yin De, as if he was flat: "Look at the situation, have you heard everything?" ”

"Naturally, not as much as His Majesty knows." Concubine Yin replied calmly.

"What do you think?" Li Shimin also asked indifferently.

Concubine Yin De's face trembled slightly, as if she had been severely traumatized but tried her best to endure it, pursed her lips, and said, "People outside the square, don't ask about mundane things. ”

"In front of me, you don't have to be coy." Li Shimin snorted coldly and said, "What kind of home are you from?" My heart is still full of what you call mundane things. Tell me about Li You's rebellion, what do you think? ”

The painful expression on Concubine Yin De's face seemed to have deepened a few times, but she still tried her best to endure it and said calmly: "Qin Mubai, I will not participate in the rebellion. ”

"What did you say?" Li Shimin was surprised.

"Qin Mubai will not participate in the rebellion." Concubine Yin De repeated it at the same speed and tone.

"Strange." Li Shimin sneered again, "According to your temperament, you must be in a hurry to jump up and down at this time, and you want to see me the most." The purpose of wanting to see me is nothing more than to intercede for your unscrupulous son. Moreover, this time even Gao Yang is with him, so you have even more reason to do so. But now, I have come to see you, and you seem to ignore it. Talking to you, instead of pleading for Li You to excuse Gao Yang, you said such an inconsequential sentence. I'm really getting more and more incomprehensible about you. ”

"Perhaps, you never understood me." Concubine Yin De gently closed her eyes and took a long breath slowly, trying her best to control her emotions.

"What do you mean?" Li Shimin's face showed a trace of gloom, and he was more puzzled - what are you kidding, will you understand the husband and wife of 20 years?

"Nothing else." Concubine Yin De said, "Perhaps, I have never known Your Majesty. ”

"We've been husband and wife for twenty years, and you actually say such a thing?" Li Shimin said with both annoyance and puzzlement, "Could it be that in your heart, I have always been just your father-killing enemy?" ”

Concubine Yinde's face trembled slightly, and her heart felt as if she had been wiped by a dagger blade. At first, I didn't feel pain, but after a while, I realized that I had been cut by the dagger blade with a deep wound, and the blood was not stopping.

Li Shimin's words are like knives!

"Love him dearly! Force yourself to defuse hatred with twenty years of unreserved deep love! - He actually brought it up again twenty years later! ”

For a while, Concubine Yin De felt that she had lived in vain in the past 20 years...... In particular, now his brother and son and daughter are still on the opposite side of the emperor. My 20 years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice have all come to naught in an instant!

She didn't speak, her eyes were closed, her lips were trembling, and tears flowed out of her eyes.

Li Shimin's heart is as careful as a hair, and he has already noticed her emotional changes. For a while, he also regretted it a little, knowing that he had just been angry for a while, and he had indeed said the wrong thing.

But if he admits his mistake, it will never be possible.

"You're not a minister, and I'm not here to ask you about your judgment on the case of rebellion. Rather, I want to know, what do you think of your rebellious son at this moment? Li Shimin's tone was softer, and he said, "Do you think I'm here to be sarcastic and mean to you?" I'm not idle yet. But after all, he is the son of the two of us, and of course you have the right to say something. ”

"In the past, I always wished I could talk more to His Majesty. Now Your Majesty is generous and allows me to speak at times like these. But I felt like I didn't want to say anything more. Concubine Yin De still sat like that, letting her tears flow down like beads of broken threads and not wiping them, forcibly suppressed her choked throats, and said, "Your Majesty has an opinion, and you don't need others to say more, does it?" ”

"You're still angry with me at this time?" Li Shimin couldn't help but be a little annoyed. On the contrary, he hoped that Concubine Yin De would be a little more excited, sad or frightened, than to be half-dead and sneering at him now.

"It's not a gamble." Concubine Yin De was still as calm as water, and said, "Mourning is greater than dying." For a person whose heart is dead, in fact, nothing matters anymore. There are many things in this world that can not be changed by what the human heart wants. It's like You'er rebelling, it's a fact. Your Majesty has made up his mind in his heart, and who can change this outcome? Rather than being useless, it is better not to be bothered by metrics. ”

"So that's what you think." Li Shimin nodded lightly, "That's right, I have sent Li Tao to lead troops to quell the rebellion. The outcome will be known in a few days. ”

"A mere son of a rebel is so aggressive. Did Your Majesty see that the invincible and cautious General Li Tao was too idle, so he sent him an errand to move his muscles and bones so that he could be promoted and make a fortune in the future? Concubine Yin De showed a sneer.

"Have you said enough?" Li Shimin was angry and shouted, "Now, it seems that it is wrong but I am wrong!" ”

"Of course it's you who are wrong." Concubine Yin De was not in a hurry, nor was she angry, and said calmly, "If the adopted son does not teach, who is at fault?" Will the world still blame me, a half-dead woman? ”

"It's not that your good brother Yin Hongzhi has been instigating him! I knew that today, I shouldn't have listened to your pleas and spared his life! Li Shimin said with hatred.

"Since Your Majesty knows, why don't you get rid of my 'good brother' as soon as possible?" Concubine Yin De continued to sneer and said, "Instead, you have to complain with me afterwards." Could it be that as a girl, it is wrong to sacrifice yourself to save your brother? ”

"Yes, yes, you have a mouth all over your body, and I have always been unable to tell you!" Li Shimin really can't do anything about this soft and hard concubine who doesn't eat needles in cotton, for so many years, the two rarely get angry and quarrel, and they have always respected each other like guests. But among so many concubines in the harem, including the late Empress Changsun, no one dared to provoke him with Li Shimin's backlash. It's just that this Yin De Concubine, who has always been gentle like water and seems to have no desires, is really energetic, but even Li Shimin can't do anything about her.

"Then why is Your Majesty bothering to find yourself bored?" Concubine Yin said lightly.

"I will definitely kill Yin Hongzhi!" Li Shimin said suddenly.

"Kill! He has earned twenty years of life for nothing, and it is time to be content. Concubine Yin De was ruthless and said almost word by word.

"I have always hated the disrespect and disharmony between my flesh and blood relatives the most!" Li Shimin said again.

A very slight smile crossed the corner of Concubine Yinde's mouth, and she said lightly: "Is it just like His Majesty Emperor Gaozu of Wude back then?" ”

"You! The sentence ......", like a needle, pierced deeply into Li Shimin's heart, and made him suddenly think of the scenes of Xuanwumen back then. He suddenly raised his palm, and really wanted to slap Concubine Yin De's face.

But at this moment, Concubine Yin De did not have a look of fear and fear, but turned her head with a smile, and on her beautiful and cold face, her beautiful eyes with tears looked at him for a moment.

Li Shimin snorted, put down his hand, and turned his head angrily.

"You're the only one who dares to speak to me like that!"

Concubine Yin De didn't care, her expression returned to indifference, and said: "Your Majesty is here to transfer your anger to me and talk about it. Or see me frightened and beg for mercy from you, right? Apologize, I have disappointed Your Majesty. You'er will have today, in fact, we all know it in our hearts, which is not surprising. Since childhood, you, the father, and those close ministers and heroes around you, who really regards him as a prince, and who doesn't first think that his mother is the daughter of the Yin family when he looks at him? In other words, an adult who can't stand such discrimination and prejudice, let alone a child? Among the many children, His Majesty has always disliked You'er the most, isn't that true? Otherwise, why was he the first to be assigned to a foreign place as an official? Leaving her parents and lacking discipline, You'er is indeed changing day by day. I, as a mother, can't do anything about it. Now that this is the case, what else can I say? ”

Li Shimin was speechless for a long time. He knew that Concubine Yin De had always been gentle like water and never said more than half a word, but she had always been like a mirror and never confused. What she said today was ugly enough, but it was really the truth.

And at the moment, they are talking in the name of their parents, not the emperor and the concubines. Otherwise, it would have been absolutely difficult for him to hear such a big truth.

After a long time, Li Shimin seemed a little helpless, and said with a little annoyance: "I, am I really not a good father?" The prince lost his morality, Gao Yang refused to marry, and the king of Qi rebelled, who else would be next? ”

"You are a good emperor. But, by no means a good father. Concubine Yin De said succinctly.

"Why?" Li Shimin asked loudly.

"Because ......," Concubine Yin De chuckled, and said, "You are too good, too great, too strong. Your children have been born under the shadow and pressure of you. Moreover, you always have the hope of a prince for your children, and you are quite strict with them. Hopefully, they'll all become as outstanding as you are. Is this possible? Children are children after all, and going with the flow is the best way to let them grow up. ”

"Jackie Chan, is this also wrong?" Li Shimin was puzzled and said helplessly.

"You're right. The wrong thing is that you are an emperor. Concubine Yin De said.

"Bastard truth!" Li Shimin was a little annoyed and angry, and smashed his fist into his thigh.

Concubine Yin De shook her head gently with a smile: "Even I can't communicate with Your Majesty, let alone your sons and daughters who are sincerely afraid when they see you?" Once so, three times, and then drifted away. The more hope you give, the more pressure there is, and the more they want to break free from these shackles, the more rebellious they become. So, everything can be imagined. ”

"That means that there is a Li You today, and there will be a second or third one in the future?" Li Shimin glared at Concubine Yin De in annoyance and said.

"Your Majesty is going to kill him to set an example, naturally no second person will dare to do this." Concubine Yin De said coldly, "However, Your Majesty's long-cherished wish to see his son Jackie Chan may be difficult to achieve." ”

"I don't believe it!"

"Monks, don't bet."

"......" Li Shimin was choked for a moment, swallowed hard, and said, "I want to arrest Li You to the capital, in front of you, ask him what he is thinking in his heart, what is he being confused by!" ”

"Not a chance." Concubine Yin De said lightly, "Your Majesty, at most, you can only see it, You'er's ...... Corpse. ”

"You!" Li Shimin scolded sharply, "I gave Li Tao a secret order to capture him alive!" ”

Concubine Yinde's lips, which were extremely beautiful, curled up slightly, outlining a cruel and bitter smile: "So, you don't know your son at all. ”

"Hmph, then we'll wait and see!" Li Shimin snorted unconvinced, and suddenly turned his head to look at Concubine Yin De, "Say, why did you suddenly say a sentence just now, Qin Mubai will not participate in the rebellion?" Do you know this confidant of mine better than me? ”

"Nope. I only know Gao Yang better than you. I also understand Gao Yang's love. Concubine Yin De said lightly, "The man Gao Yang fell in love with will never betray or do stupid things." ”

"That's it?"

"Isn't that enough?"

Li Shimin nodded thoughtfully: "What you mean by what you mean is actually to say that Ling'er was hijacked by Li You and Yin Hongzhi, not actively rebelled." And Li You and Yin Hongzhi just took advantage of Ling'er's identity to fan the flames and confuse people's ears and deliberately create chaos, right? ”

"That's why I said, Your Majesty has already made up your mind, so why bother bothering to come to this cold Taoist temple and be bored?" Concubine Yin De sneered.

"Humph!" Li Shimin stood up angrily, "I, I really want to kill you!" ”

"Listen to me. Mother is more precious than child, and mother is dead, it has always been a royal rule, isn't it? Concubine Yinde's reaction was calm.

Li Shimin's heart added another block, and he was almost so angry that he started to beat people.

"I'm not as knowledgeable as you!" Li Shimin snorted and threw down this sentence, ready to go out, and said before leaving, "You give me a good life, live until Li You's unscrupulous son kneels here, and make it clear to his face!" ”

Concubine Yin De smiled faintly, looked up at the statue of Qingniu Laozi, closed her eyes again, and did not speak.

Li Shimin brushed his sleeves and went out, with a long sullen breath. Now, even he himself was surprised how he could be so easily angry and out of shape today.

"The good thing is that she's not an outsider. Now, these words and these things can only be told to her. Hey......" Li Shimin looked back at the wooden door of the room as if he was embarrassed and annoyed, and walked away.

In the room, Concubine Yin De lit a few oil lamps, stroked a yellowed ancient scripture with a slightly trembling hand, and said to herself: "Ling'er, Mu Bai, I have done my best. I hope you guys, take care! …… You'er, in the next life, don't be born in the emperor's family! ”

……

Han River, on the Shenyu spaceship in front of the Xiangyang Military Port.

Qin Mubai sat on the bow deck of the ship in a military uniform, staring at the gently floating autumn river with slightly squinted eyes, with a grim expression. The horizontal knife that was given when he was honored as a hundred horsemen has not yet come out of its sheath and seen blood. At this moment, it has been untied by Qin Mubai with a scabbard. The tip of the sheath paused on the deck, Qin Mubai put the palm of his right hand on the hilt of the knife, attached his left hand to his right hand, holding the knife with both hands, and his eyes occasionally flashed with fierce light.

Pang Fei and some generals from the military government stood behind him, I don't know what he was thinking, and no one dared to come forward to ask.

Just yesterday, a "lobbyist" was sent from Dengzhou, holding Li You's handwritten letter, and openly crossed the river to persuade King Wu and Qin Mubai to "participate in the grand event and achieve great things together." That's not all, the lobbyist also deliberately said that Princess Gaoyang misses General Qin very much, looking across the river and leaning on the door, thinking about the tea and rice day and night, and only hoping that Qin Mubai will cross the river as soon as possible and get together with him.

This is naked "blackmail"!

The lobbyist naturally didn't end well, although Li Ke and Qin Mubai didn't tear him to pieces with their own hands, but they connived at the hot-tempered Yuwen Hongtai, flattened him, dropped a broken tooth, and rushed back to Jiangbei.

Since then, Qin Mubai's face has not looked good. Pang Fei and the others didn't dare to provoke him.

For two days in a row, Qin Mubai spent time on the boat, sitting on a knife like this every day, and he didn't know what he was waiting for or hoping for. The crowd didn't dare to ask, so they had to wait with him.

At this time, a shuttle boat with extremely fast and sharp movements glided on the surface of the river like an ice, rowed under the large warship and reported: "Report——! The water outpost ahead found two large ships, heading towards the Eight Ghost Crossing! ”

"Have you found out, who is coming?" Pang Fei stepped forward and asked.

"Both ships were stopped and questioned by our navy, and on one of the boats, it was the imperial court Yu Shi Qincha; The other ship is Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia! ”

"It's coming!" Qin Mubai's eyes, which had been slightly closed, suddenly opened, and a fine light bloomed from the corner of his eyes.

"Got it! Go back and give the order, let the sailor brothers escort them well, and welcome them to the Eight Ghost Crossing! Pang Fei, the commander of the navy, ordered.

"Yes! - "The shuttle boat rowed away at a rapid pace. After months of strict training, the current Bailang Navy is well-trained, as if it is worthy of the title of "cunning dragon in the waves".

"General, why did King Jiangxia go and return?" Pang Fei walked back to Qin Mubai's side and asked in a low voice.

Qin Mubai blinked his eyes: "He came, he came for his own reason." Invite him to my ship. In addition, it is not necessary to bring the imperial history of the imperial court directly to the Assassin's Mansion. ”

"Yes." Pang Fei didn't dare to ask more, so he hurriedly went to do it himself.

Qin Mubai's hands clenched the handle of the knife tightly, took a deep breath, spit out, and said secretly: "It's time!" …… Ling'er, wait for me! ”

……

Soon after, two large ships sailed to Xiangyang Pier one after another. One docked at the Eight Ghost Crossing, and a group of court officials went to Xiangzhou Assassin's Mansion non-stop; The other ship traveled a few more miles and turned directly into the military port of the Xiangzhou Military Government.

Li Daozong stood on the bow of the ship with his hands on his back, looking at the ships and military faces in the military port, and a smile appeared on his face full of fortitude and seriousness: "Qin Mubai, a real general!" ”

Qin Mubai saw the coming boat, got up and walked to the side of the boat and hugged his fists to greet him: "Lord Wang, the last general is here to greet you!" ”

"Don't come unharmed!" Li Daozong stepped on the board between the two boats, strode onto the boat, stared at Qin Mubai and nodded and smiled slightly: "It seems that you are very well prepared." ”

Qin Mubai smiled slightly: "The prince went and returned, I don't know what the intention is?" ”

"Naturally, I'm not worried that you will rebel." Li Daozong said loudly as if mocking.

Qin Mubai waved his hand to rebuke the sergeants, and said, "Then the prince is coming, there must be advice?" ”

"Nope." Li Daozong replied very simply, and said, "This king likes young people, but it doesn't mean that I like to point my fingers and poke good teachers. Make your own decisions and deal with your own troubles. I'm here to give you something purely in the name of a private person. ”

"The prince traveled thousands of miles to give gifts, and this friendship alone is priceless." Qin Mubai said, "The last general, how to live and suffer? ”

"What should be yours is yours. It's just that this king thinks it's more appropriate to give it to you at this time. Li Daozong simply untied the matching knife on his waist, and sent it to Qin Mubai with both hands, "Take it!" ”

"This is ......" Qin Mubai couldn't help but be a little surprised.

Li Daozong stared at the knife, his eyes were like looking at his friends who had been friends for many years, or brothers who shared weal and woe, smiled slightly, and said, "You forgot, Guiyi Knife." ”

"Oh? ......" Qin Mubai was slightly startled, remembering the scene when he was still in the Jiangxia Palace in Jinzhou, when he competed with Li Daozong. At that time, he and Chen Yan each had a competition with Li Daozong. Chen Yan fought to a draw with him, but Li Daozong said that she had reservations and lamented that her skills were not as good as others, so he gave her a "ruthless sword". At the beginning, he was no match for Li Daozong, although he intended to give away the "Guiyi Knife", but he didn't ask for it. He also said that if he could defeat him one day, he would come to the justifiable "sword".

"Lord Wang, do you want to have a fight with the last general?" Qin Mubai couldn't help laughing.

"This king doesn't want to fight with you now." Li Daozong also smiled, but he smiled deeply, he said: "Sending a knife is sending a knife, there is nothing else." ”

"Okay, then the general will thank the prince for the gift!" Qin Mubai gritted his teeth, nodded seriously, and took the knife with both hands.

It's heavy. There are traces of chisel on the scabbard, which is neither gorgeous nor high-end, but it has a desolate and simple atmosphere. The blade is still hidden in the wooden sheath, but it is scattered in all directions!

"Good knives!" Before Qin Mubai drew his sword, he couldn't help but praise, "This is a good knife that has killed people and seen blood, and has a sharp aura!" ”

"Very good, you really know the goods." Li Daozong smiled with satisfaction, "This knife on your waist is both gorgeous and beautiful, and it must be worth a lot of money and has an unusual origin." However, good looks may not be easy to use. This king's knife of righteousness is specially used to kill people and cut off heads. A knife is a knife, so why be so bells and whistles? Now, what you need is a murder knife, not a nice ornament! ”

In Qin Mubai's heart, there seemed to be a spirit flashing, and he woke up in his mind!

Need a murder knife, not a pretty ornament? Li Daozong obviously had something to say. He is not the kind of bored old man, he will really go and come back for no reason in such an extraordinary period, and return thousands of miles just to send a knife.

"What he meant was that I should be ruthless when I should be ruthless, and I had to kill what I should kill! …… The name of the knife 'Guiyi', is it also trying to tell me that if it is difficult to achieve both love and righteousness, righteousness is the most important? - Is he asking me to kill my relatives in righteousness? ”

Seeing that Qin Mubai was deep in thought for a while, Li Daozong only nodded and smiled, and said, "In an eventful place, this king doesn't want to stay for a long time, but don't eat cold arrows." Farewell, take care! ”

Then, without looking back, he walked towards his boat. As soon as he landed on the deck, he waved his hand vigorously: "You don't have to send each other off - sail!" ”

"Thank you, the prince gave you a knife!" Qin Mubai stood on the side of the ship, holding knives in both hands and clenching his fists in worship.

The boat started immediately, Li Daozong stood on the side of the boat with his hands on his back as when he came, looked at Qin Mubai with deep meaning, nodded and smiled slightly, and said, "In the spring of the next year, this king will come to Xiangyang again." At that time, I hope you and Ling'er can accompany me to fish. ”

Qin Mubai nodded seriously: "A word is a certainty." Some, I will not live up to the promise! ”