The next day, Qin Mubai wrote a new copy of the recital that had taken a few days to write, using the recital of the yellow silk monograph, a thick pile like a book. Then, it was handed over to the envoy of the Governor's Mansion and presented to Chang'an.

Qin Mubai stood by the window on the second floor of the Governor's Mansion, watching the four envoys rush out of Lanzhou City and head to the east. I thought in my heart: Now that the world is full of undercurrents, whether it is smooth or imminent, in fact, it is only between the lines. I hope that this letter of mine will be folded to Chang'an, which can stop all the disturbances in front of me, so that Datang can return to tranquility and enjoy the peace and fruits after the war.

"Although I never thought how great I was, I never thought about what I was a savior or a hero. However, I don't want to see the fruits of my hard work with my father and all the soldiers ruined in front of my eyes! Qin Mubai took a deep breath, a smile appeared on his face, and said to himself, "I came to Datang through thousands of years, and I fell deeply in love with this era and country, and there are people around me who love me and love me deeply; I don't want Datang to suffer any losses because of me, and I don't want my relatives and friends to suffer any disasters. ”

"It's over! It's time for it to end! What I wanted to do and what I had to do, I was done. Just when you all thought that I, Qin Mubai, was about to be arrogant and domineering, I took the initiative to give up everything in my hands. The smile on Qin Mubai's face became more and more relaxed and indifferent, "Many people may have overlooked one thing - the ultimate purpose of war is actually for peace, not as a way to get promoted and make a fortune. The successive wars have made my Qin Mubai's reputation and power, but this is not what I want. Only those who have been on the battlefield and experienced killing will truly appreciate the fragility and preciousness of life. It will be a success, and ten thousand bones will wither! - The glory and wealth that have been piled up with blood and life are actually unbearable; Unless I have a bad conscience, how can I cling to it? ……”

"I've been killing too much in the past few years. If I have the opportunity, I would like to go to the Protector Tianwang Temple in the Imperial City of Chang'an, and ask Master Qingshan to explain my doubts for me...... Concubine Yin De and Ling'er, I don't know how they are now? ”

……

The night is already vast, and in the Penglai Hall of Daming Palace, the palace lights are silent and silent.

Concubine Yinde's mother and daughter were waiting in front of Li Shimin's sickbed, all looking haggard. Both of them looked at Li Shimin, who was lying quietly on the couch, and frowned.

"Mother, it's late at night, you go and rest!" Princess Gao Yang said softly, "Father is here, I will guard it." When the day dawns, my mother will come to me again to rest. ”

"It's okay......" Concubine Yin De sighed softly and got up to leave.

Several attendant palace ladies and eunuchs also changed shifts, adding lamp oil to the room to do some chores, and all of them did not dare to make a sound lightly. After a while, the two imperial doctors came to check on Li Shimin's condition, boiled the medicine and put it down, and then they all retreated.

Princess Gao Yang looked at her father, who was a former hero, Gai Shi Longwei, who was now so sick and haggard, and she felt sad for a while. The palace wives on the left and right were ready to come to serve Li Shimin to take medicine, and Princess Gaoyang was upset when she saw her father being "tossed" by them like this, so she expelled them and the eunuchs out of the room and fed them herself.

After a lot of effort, Princess Gaoyang finally helped Li Shimin to sit up half-sitting, pillowed a big pillow behind his back, and then fed him medicine spoonful-by-spoon. Li Shimin was still in a coma, it was difficult to swallow, and the potion was dripping all over, and Princess Gaoyang secretly scolded herself for being useless, and she was sad again, and tears fell straight down.

Finally finished feeding the medicine, Princess Gaoyang helped Li Shimin to lie down, she was also tired and sleepy, holding Li Shimin's hand and lying beside him, groggy and actually fell asleep.

Half-asleep and half-awake, Princess Gao Yang felt that something was touching her head. At first, she didn't understand, and said in a daze, "Mother, don't touch me, I'm going to sleep......"

"Ling'er, it's hard for you......" I vaguely heard a voice.

Princess Gaoyang woke up violently, looked up and opened her eyes, Li Shimin was looking at her with a sickly and tired face, and there was a smile on her pale face. A big hand was being raised, presumably he was the one who had stroked 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 Gaoyang's head and sighed long.

Princess Gaoyang was overjoyed again: "Father, can you speak?!" ”

Li Shimin gently patted Princess Gaoyang's head, and the smile on his face was only kind.

"Father! ......" Princess Gaoyang choked up and couldn't speak, "I'll tell the good news to the concubine immediately!" ”

"No need." Li Shimin gently stroked Princess Gaoyang's face, wiped the tears from her face, and said softly, "It's late at night, your mother is asleep." I've worked hard for you these days, so let her rest! ”

"Hmm!" Princess Gao Yang nodded heavily, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

"Have a lot of things happened in the days I've been in a coma?" Li Shimin asked.

Princess Gaoyang wiped her tears, and said while folding the quilt for Li Shimin: "Father, you just woke up, don't ask about this, let's have a good life!" ”

"It's okay, tell me about it!" Li Shimin smiled and said, "I, I'm already a person who has gone through the ghost gate, what else is there to worry about?" ”

Princess Gaoyang hesitated for a moment, and seeing Li Shimin's resolute attitude, she had to nod helplessly, "Okay!" ”

So, Princess Gaoyang told Li Shimin the details of the investigation of Li Ke's assassination, the suicide of Wei Ting, the imperial historian, the disappearance of Li Zhi, the king of Jin, and the self-binding and plea of guilt of the Qin brothers.

While speaking, Princess Gao Yang observed Li Shimin's expression. Seeing that his mood was stable and normal, he dared to continue cautiously.

After listening, Li Shimin's reaction was indeed calm, and he nodded lightly and said: "Although I am in a coma, I know these things more or less; Even if you don't know, it's mostly expected. Ling'er, you didn't tell me about it, did you? ”

Princess Gao Yang bit her lip, "Father, I don't want to say it!" ”

"Something to do with Mu Bai, don't you want to talk about it?"

"Father...... You know it all? Princess Gao Yang was surprised.

Li Shimin smiled noncommittally, "So many things have happened, how can it not involve your lover?" Ling'er, if you refuse to tell me, do you have any scruples? ”

"Father!" Princess Gao Yang suddenly said excitedly, "Do you believe that Mu Bai will rebel?!" I don't want to talk about this kind of alarmist thing!! ”

"Did I say 'faith'?" Li Shimin smiled indifferently, "If I can't trust him, I won't hand over half of the Tang Dynasty and most of the soldiers and horses to him." ”

"Then you still ......" Princess Gaoyang was halfway through speaking, feeling that her tone was too strong and too intense, so she changed to a soft voice, "Then why did you still let Li Jing command the soldiers and horses in the capital and take strict precautions against Guanxi?" ”

"Ling'er, everything is not as simple as you think." Li Shimin slightly wrinkled his brows and said, "I am sick, and the country has no owner. This is an extraordinary period, even my son has someone who dares to assassinate, who can guarantee that no one will raise troops in Chang'an at this time? I asked Li Jing to raise some soldiers and horses in the capital to strengthen the defense, this is an emergency measure, for the safety of my Tang Imperial Capital and the stability of the government and the opposition, not for Kansai. ”

When Princess Gao Yang heard this, this explanation was reasonable. But when she thought of the rumors that "Qin Mubai in Kansai wants to rebel" that has been rumored by the outside world now, the knot in her heart can't be solved.

Li Shimin saw her sad face, and smiled: "Ling'er, how I have treated Mu Bai for so many years, don't you understand if others don't know?" ”

Princess Gao Yang nodded lightly, "Father treats Mu Bai as if he were his own son......"

"Yes! I had fantasized more than once that it would be nice if Mu Bai was my biological son. Speaking of this, Li Shimin raised his hand and gently tapped his thigh, sighing, "It's a pity! Although the son-in-law is better than half a son, it is separated by a layer after all; Add to that the estrangement between us...... I can trust Mu Bai, but Mu Bai can't believe me! ”

"What did my father say?" Princess Gao Yang frowned a little displeased, "Mu Bai is loyal to the Tang Dynasty and his father, and he has no dissenting intentions!" ”

Li Shimin smiled a little lonely, "Then at that time, I sent Chu Suiliang to Lanzhou to pick up your little couple, why are you the only one here, but Mu Bai is in the future?" And you came alone, and you didn't bring your daughter. I and your mother just want to see you, and your newborn granddaughter. Isn't it human nature to be a parent? ”

Princess Gaoyang knew that she was a little unreasonable, bit her lip and thought for a while, and said, "At that time, Mu Bai had already led an expedition. Little Dier...... Shortly after birth, I couldn't bear the fatigue of the journey. Didn't the emperor explain it to his father a long time ago? ”

Li Shimin smiled, "Ling'er, what you think in your heart, you know it yourself." I know my own daughter, and I know it well, so why should you quibble? ”

Princess Gao Yang gritted her teeth and knew that she couldn't be blinded, so she simply said, "Yes!" At that time, I was worried that some people in the court were jealous of Mu Baigong's high shock, and it would be unfavorable for him to cut his military power! I'm also worried about whether I can return to Mu Bai when I come to Chang'an this time, so I ......"

"Ling'er said 'there is someone in the court', does that person mean me?" Li Shimin closed his eyes and smiled bitterly, and said softly, "I know that Mu Bai has always been very smart, and he must have expected it, so he took the lead to lead the army first. As for you...... As for the marriage between you and Fang Yuai, my status in your heart is far inferior to Qin Mubai, right? ”

Princess Gaoyang was stunned, speechless, and silent.

"Ling'er, you and Mu Bai have both misunderstood me." Li Shimin opened his eyes, looked at Princess Gaoyang with sadness and sadness, and said, "I summoned you back, first, because I and your mother miss you; The second is that I really don't want Mu Bai to conquer the Western Regions again. There is another reason, which is actually the most important, have you thought about it? ”

"Wait!" Princess Gaoyang's eyes lit up and interrupted Li Shimin's words, and said, "Father, why don't you let Mu Bai personally conquer the Western Regions?" ”

"After beating Tubo, he is very tired, and the credit is big enough." Li Shimin did not hide it, and said bluntly, "It is not necessarily a bad thing to give a little credit to subordinates like Su Dingfang and Xue Rengui." Ling'er, it's not that I'm worried about Mu Bai's high achievements, nor I'm worried that Mu Bai will support his own troops. I am thinking about your future! ”

"How, what?" 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, no matter how high Mu Bai's achievements are, I don't have to worry." Just as I have never been afraid to suppress any of the founding heroes; But, once I return to heaven, no matter which prince takes over the throne, with Mu Bai's merits and fame, who can stop him? And who courtier can compare with him in terms of weighing and conditioning? …… No matter which dynasty or generation, the courtiers who respect the power alone will not end well, which has little to do with whether the king is virtuous and holy! ”

Princess Gaoyang was suddenly stunned and exclaimed, "That's ...... So now that Mu Bai has pacified the Western Regions, what should I do? ”

Li Shimin waved his hand, "Don't worry, there is always a solution to the matter." Didn't I die yet? ”

"Father...... Don't say such words! When Princess Gao Yang heard this, she felt very uncomfortable.

"Actually, I want you to go back to Chang'an for another layer of intention, and the most important, that is, ......" Li Shimin twisted his brows, looked at Princess Gaoyang seriously, and said, "I want to set up a prince, and ask Mu Bai's clear attitude!" ”

Princess Gaoyang was shocked again!

"Father...... Why do you have to ask Mu Bai about this kind of thing? ”

"How can you not ask?" Li Shimin asked rhetorically, and then replied to himself, "I have been looking at the government and the opposition, and the ministers and generals who opened the state with me have died of old age, and there are only a few left." Those who are alive are all old, and once I die, they will not live for a few more years. Among the rising stars of the younger generation in the military and political circles of the government and the opposition, Mu Bai is undoubtedly the most capable, the most meritorious, and the most prestigious. I want him to be my right-hand man to assist the new monarch I have chosen. Therefore, this new monarch must first be recognized by Mu Bai; But it is not enough for Mu Bai to agree, but also for other important ministers. If there is a disagreement, I will have to spend my time trying to reconcile in my lifetime—isn't that right? At the same time, this is also the reason why I summoned Mu Bai back to the court in advance - he can't monopolize too many military exploits alone, resulting in no one in the government and the opposition being able to compete with him in the future. I'm thinking about his long-term future! ”

"Father! ......" Princess Gaoyang heard all this, and suddenly realized in her heart, and threw herself into Li Shimin's arms and cried bitterly, "It turns out that you have such good intentions, we all misunderstand you!" ”

"Hey! …… Everyone in the world says that kings are good, but who knows that it is not easy to be a king? Li Shimin gently stroked Princess Gaoyang's face, and said leisurely, "The gentleman's heart is like iron, and sometimes it is true that he must be cold-faced and cold-hearted. But I want to be a good emperor and a good father. You and Mu Bai, as well as your eldest brother of the crown prince, the third brother King Wu, the fourth brother King Wei and the ninth brother King Jin, do not understand my ...... as a father Good intentions! ”

"Father, I understand now!" Princess Gaoyang couldn't cry, "Father's love is like a mountain!" Like a mountain! ……”