Before the demon's scream had settled, a rapid sound sounded by the edge of the window. The demon with a keen sense of hearing suddenly felt a chill on his back and his sweat hair stood on end, and there was obviously a strong hostility and murderous aura in this voice!

was also in a hurry, and the demon easily knocked the pot of chicken soup to the ground, and then shouted: "Ah!! ”

The thudding sound and the demon's screams obviously frightened the people outside the window, and they immediately heard him fleeing. At this time, a manservant and two maids who were cleaning in the adjacent bath also hurried over, and hurriedly asked the demon girl if there was something wrong?

The demon was already frightened, but it was inconvenient to say more to the subordinates, but he just said that he accidentally knocked over the chicken soup and screamed in fright. The servants and maids were ashamed to admit their mistakes and said that they should not leave the demon alone in the kitchen, and quickly cleaned up.

At this time, Shuang'er came back, and said with a smile: "You'er, the third brother and the princess are back, now it's okay, we can all put our hearts back...... Hey, what's wrong with you, your face is so bad? ”

"Nothing...... I just accidentally spilled the chicken soup and was scared. You'er forced a smile and said, "What about the third brother? I want to see him. ”

"Let's go, I'll make a special trip to call you. The third brother is already in the front hall, and he and the princess are greeting their mother together! ”

The two daughters went to the front hall together, and the family got together, and naturally celebrated. But the demon was always a little uneasy in her heart, and she was very worried when she saw everyone drinking tea, for fear that it would also be poisoned. So he simply told the matter in public.

Everyone was taken aback after hearing this, Qin Mubai frowned and said, "It seems that someone wanted to harm me and sneaked into the mansion to poison me." Mother, from now on, the government will strengthen vigilance, and any eating utensils, including well water, must be strictly tested for poison. In addition, Gao Yang, I am going to transfer the Hundred Cavalry Guards to protect my family. During this time, everyone should not go out and leave an order easily. Demon, don't go to Qin Immortal Pavilion for the time being, stay at home and be safe. ”

The momentary joy was suddenly swept away, and everyone's hearts tensed. Princess Gao Yang nodded and said, "Listen to you, transfer the guards to protect your family to feel at ease." But who would be harming us? In this way, I am in the light and in the dark, and I can't prevent it! ”

"I don't know." Qin Mubai wrinkled his eyebrows and shook his head, and said, "Prince, among Li Yuanchang's group, everyone wants me to die. In addition, I have killed and offended many people over the years, and there are many people who want my life. Now at such a stormy juncture, be vigilant! ”

"Okay......" Everyone was speechless, so they had to promise.

After a short time, Qin Mubai personally checked the house for a while, and found a string of men's footprints behind the kitchen, and there were traces of the window edge. The footprints lead from here to the backhouse polo field and climb over the wall. Judging from the footprints, it should be a man, not short and very athletic, he should be a practitioner. There is only one string of footprints in the house, but it is not excluded that some people should be in the same party outside.

The family carefully examined the well water, food, and anything else that might have been poisoned, but fortunately nothing else was found. At dinner, they carefully checked for poison with silver needles, and they were all worried.

After the meal, Qin Mubai rode a fast horse to the palace in person, and transferred the guards left by Princess Gaoyang in the Xianju Palace, and all thirty hundred horsemen were arranged to be on duty in the old Qin family in turn, and they were on guard day and night in three shifts.

Although Qin Mubai was very confident in the hundred horses, such a tense day and night vigilance, like white terror, the tranquility and tranquility of the past were gone, and everyone's hearts were covered with a layer of dark clouds. Qin Mubai was not angry, and secretly wondered what way to catch the black hand hidden behind the scenes, and cut the grass and eradicate the roots.

Qin's mother and Shuang'er both said to just report to the official, Qin Mubai laughed, and said that I am an official, what else should I report to an official? Can the two county offices of the capital and Chang'an be better than me and the hundred horses?

In this way, the Qin family lived in fear for nearly half a month, but fortunately, they were safe and sound. So everyone gradually relaxed, and the shadow of this matter finally faded, and the Qin family also returned to some normal life.

In the past half a month, Qin Mubai deliberately stayed at home and stayed at home, but always paid close attention to any wind and grass above the court.

As he expected, the emperor was still bedridden, and the eldest grandson Wuji and Chu Suiliang turned into left and right, assisting the young Jin King Li Zhi to supervise the country, and did a series of things that were enough to affect the entire Chinese history.

First, the three divisions will try the case of the rebellion of the crown prince Li Chengqian. In the end, the bill was reached, and the prince admitted that he had the intention of rebellion, but fortunately, he repented in time and set things right, and he did not die for the crime of meritorious service. So he demoted the prince to a concubine and exiled him to Lingnan. No conscription by the imperial court is allowed to enter the palace. On the same day, the prince's family moved out of the East Palace and was escorted to Lingnan to serve their sentence by the Imperial Historical Observatory.

Second, during the trial and thorough investigation of the prince's rebellion case, the eldest grandson Wuji and others went all out to chase and beat the prince and his party and eradicate dissidents. Above the court, there are no less than fifteen senior officials above the fifth grade "falling off the horse". The lightest punishment is to demote the official and release him, and the heavier one is to thoroughly investigate and deal with the demotion to the rank of a commoner who will never be hired, and the worst is to cut off the head of the family who is ruined.

Among them, two people particularly attracted Qin Mubai's attention. One is, of course, Fang Xuanling, who is still seriously ill. It is said that Fang Xuanling still sleeps in the same room with the emperor and does not leave the house, and no one knows what his condition is. Naturally, no one dared to run in and move Fang Xuanling. As a result, Fang Xuanling, who was supposed to rise and fall with the crown prince, was temporarily unharmed.

The other person is Hou Junji, who has occasionally met with Qin Mubai before, but has a lot of origins, and one of the bigwigs in the military world. Before and after the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Hou Junji had been following Li Shimin. On the march to war, he is an absolute good hand; Charge into battle and lead the way. He is a rare member of the Tang Dynasty today, and he is a handsome talent of the Mesozoic Generation. Earlier, when Qin Mubai assisted his father in Lanzhou to fight against the Tubo people and recover Dafeichuan, Hou Junji defeated the Tubo army in the Songzhou area of Xichuan in Jiannan. The two lines of soldiers and horses won a big victory in both directions, and the Tubo people were beaten to the ground. And at that time, Hou Junji's triumphant sound was also played first. Because he has followed the emperor for a long time, he was extremely active after the emperor ascended the throne, and he was more famous than the Qin family father and son in the army and the court. He is now recognized as a military boss who quickly rose up after Li Jing, Li Tao and others.

Such a figure was purged in the case of the Prince's Rebellion. In fact, Hou Junji has a close relationship with the East Palace and has always been a staunch princeling, which is well known. Whether he participated in this rebellion or not, Qin Mubai did not know. But according to the words of the eldest grandson Wuji, he is involved. Although he was not seen on the battlefield, he "planned and commanded" and was "responsible for training and mobilizing" soldiers and horses.

This kind of imaginary thing is not uncommon in the renewed court party struggle. The eldest grandson Wuji made it clear that he wanted to purge Hou Junji to prevent future troubles, and there was no excuse for the crime he wanted to add? That is to say, when you Hou Junji was squatting in the toilet one day, he insulted the emperor for having a disobedient heart, and was heard by a squatting toilet next door, then you can only accept your fate.

Ironically, Hou Junji was not sentenced to death for such a "heinous" crime, but was very dramatically relegated to a place that almost everyone did not expect - Sima Liangzhou.

Liangzhou, a front-line military town under the rule of the Lanzhou Metropolitan Governor's Office. There, the assassin Shi Zhiwen was in charge of the martial arts, and although the long Shi Sima was a high and generous position, he had little real power and not much to do. This kind of official position is the recognized "pension official" in the current Tang Dynasty officialdom.

The beautiful Luguo Gong, the official secretary, and the handsome and fierce general of the dynasty, were swept out of the house in an instant, and went to the border of Liangzhou, where chickens don't lay eggs, birds don't, and he became an idle official who was dispensable and waited for death.

Moreover, he is also a direct subordinate of Qin Mubai, the governor of Lanzhou.

Qin Mubai seemed to smell a bit of the emperor's handwriting from this paradoxical to unreasonable measure. If you press the wrist of the eldest grandson Wuji, it is reasonable not to kill the prince, but people like Fang Xuanling and Hou Junji must be eradicated. But now Fang Xuanling is not, although Hou Junji fell from the sky to the ground, but fortunately, there is still a life, leaving Qingshan here.

Qin Mubai secretly analyzed and felt that although Li Shimin had the intention to re-establish the prince, he did not want the court to lose too many backbone elites, so he purposefully protected it. There is also a deeper intention, perhaps, the person the emperor trusts and relies on the most is the eldest grandson Wuji, but it is impossible to hand over the government to him 100% and let him do whatever he wants above the court. At that time, if there are no more courtiers comparable to the eldest grandson Wuji, how can you control it as a human king?

Giving trust and power, and slightly restraining those who do not allow them to raise tigers and hurt their masters, is Li Shimin's consistent method.

Two days ago, Cheng Huaibi, the deputy envoy of the hundred horses, secretly came to the old Qin mansion and told Qin Mubai something. He said that according to Qin Mubai's orders, Li Yuanchang, the king of Han, was tortured for more than ten days in a row, and he couldn't survive but die, and he was rescued after committing suicide several times. Late one night, Emperor Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia, mysteriously appeared in the prison of the Hundred Cavalry Camp and talked with Li Yuanchang for a while, and no one could get close.

Then Li Daozong left. At that time, the hundred cavalry guards checked on Li Yuanchang, and everything was as usual, so there was no suspicion. However, Li Daozong walked for less than an hour, and the hundred cavalry guards found Li Yuanchang bleeding to death in the room.

After that, there were eunuchs who wiped their butts for this kind of thing to collect the corpses. Wrapped in a sack and put into a thin coffin, he took it away.

And now, the news circulating outside is that Li Yuanchang, the king of Han, has died in the rebellion in the East Palace. Because he betrayed his ancestors and rebelled, he was not allowed to enter the ancestral shrine after his death, so he was hastily buried at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain. His family members were all arranged by Zongzheng Temple to find a way out or an ending......

Li Yuanchang, the king of gentlemen who was once famous for his poetry and paintings, and whose romance in Chang'an was even more harmful, ended with such a hasty and mysterious death, which became the talk of the people of Chang'an.

The court, the stormy waves; Chang'an, the wind and clouds change color.

The Qin Mansion is unusually quiet.

At this time, it was the end of the month, and the demon said that he had to go to Qin Xian Pavilion to take stock once a month, and there was no room for mistakes in such things, and asked Qin Mubai to allow him to go out. Qin Mubai thought, he couldn't even live a normal life because he was so cautious, couldn't it be because he was choking? So I agreed. Thinking about it, it has been boring enough in recent days, and it is not bad to go to Qinxian Pavilion to relax by the way.

Princess Gaoyang did not shout for the first time that she wanted to follow. Because of the arsenic matter, she didn't go out for half a month, and the previous idea of going to Famen Temple to practice things came to naught, so she was bored and found a job to dispel herself - learn to cook with Shuang'er.

As a result, a rookie master and a rookie apprentice often made the kitchen of the old Qin family a miasma. That's not all, they still have to use some strange things that can't be judged from the appearance, claiming to be food, to poison the taste buds and stomach of the family.

As it turns out, Frost's cooking progress is obviously at a turtle speed, and the dishes she makes are still shockingly unpalatable; Princess Gaoyang is really not a cook, but has a little potential to become the blue phoenix of the Tang Dynasty (the leader of the Five Poisons Sect).

Princess Gaoyang finally found a new thing to do, and decided to stay in the house today to study how to bake the "Jushengnu" big baked cake with Shuang'er. It saved Qin Mubai a lot of words and ended up clean, so he got into the car with You'er and took a few guards to Qin Immortal Pavilion together.

The two of them haven't been alone like this for a long time, and the demon is actually a little uncomfortable and blushing.

"Third brother, when this turmoil passes, are you going to Lanzhou again?" The demon asked cautiously.

"Hmm." Qin Mubai said, "If this matter hadn't been delayed, I would have gone a long time ago." The situation in Lanzhou is a bit tense right now, and I'm worried that my father won't be able to keep busy alone. If there is to be a war, I can't be missing. ”

The demon nodded lightly, and said in a soft voice like a gnat: "Third brother, I have a small request......

"Hehe, what else is polite to your family, just say it if you have something to say!" Qin Mubai said with a smile.

"Well, well, then I said it......" The demon grinned very sweetly, and a little shy, and said, "I really want to go out of Chang'an and go outside to see somewhere!" I can't see with my eyes, but I can smell the air outside. I haven't left Chang'an for several years, for a long time. ”

"Just this little wish?" Qin Mubai smiled, smiled a little ashamedly, and said, "I should have taken you to Xiangyang last time I traveled." Okay, I'll see what the weather looks like tomorrow. If the weather is good, how about we go out into town together? Don't go too long or too far, go up to Zhongnanshan for a walk, or go to Dongguan to play for a while. Spring is coming, the ancient temple Taoist temple on Zhongnan Mountain is going to usher in the worship of good men and women, the scenery of Luoshui should also be good, there will be many tourists to go green, and it should be very lively at that time. ”

"Really? Thank you so much, Third Brother! You'er said happily, her voice full of excitement.

Qin Mubai nodded with a smile, thinking that the demon couldn't see it, and hurriedly said, "The third brother will never lie to you." ”

"Well, I believe in the third brother." The demon smiled and said, "Actually, the demon is already very satisfied in this life, and there are only some small wishes left, all of which are related to the third brother......

At this point, the demon was stunned, her face turned red, and she had an expression that she had missed her mouth.

Qin Mubai didn't laugh at her, and said softly: "Demon, if you have any wishes, just tell me." As long as the third brother can do it, it will satisfy you. ”

"No, nothing...... Actually......" You'er lowered her head, a little snorting, and said softly, "Actually, as long as I can hear the voice of the third brother and smell the smell of the third brother every day, I will be satisfied." This is the greatest wish in this life. If you can accompany the third brother to travel to the north and south, listen to the wind in the Western Regions, smell the taste of the East China Sea, raft on the rivers, play the piano on the top of the mountain, and ...... No regrets in this life! ”

Qin Mubai's heart throbbed slightly, he reached out and took the demon's hand and patted it gently, and said softly: "What's so difficult about this?" When the third brother returns to Beijing Province next time to take a long vacation, he will take the demon and his family to tour the mountains and rivers, and go wherever he wants! ”

"Hmm......" You'er bit her lip, nodded slightly, and said, "It's a pity that I can't see the appearance of the third brother with my indisputable eyes." I really want to know what the third brother looks like when he smiles, it must be the most beautiful smile in the world......"

"You can touch it!" Qin Mubai picked up her hands and put them on her face, a smile appeared on her face, and said, "How is it, can you feel the way I smile?" ”

"It's silly, it's silly, it's funny, but it's so happy! The third brother, the princess and the owner are so lucky, because you love them and spoil them for a lifetime...... But I'm luckier than them, because at this moment, I'm holding the smiling face of the third brother! ”

……

When he arrived at Qin Immortal Pavilion, the demon went to settle accounts with the Wu brothers and others, Qin Mubai had always ignored such things, so he took a few guards with him to listen to Xiaoqu and drink imperial wine.

Coincidentally, as soon as he arrived at the wine pavilion, Qin Mubai met his second brother Qin Bin, who had just come in alone. So the two brothers had a companion and sat together in an accord.

Qin Bin usually doesn't talk much, and his personality is relatively calm. Today, it seems that there is a lot on the mind. Qin Mubai asked him what he was worried about, Qin Bin sighed, stared at Qin Mubai and said, "Third brother, let's move to Lanzhou together with our three brothers!" ”

"Why?" Qin Mubai asked with a twisted eyebrow.

Qin Bin drank a glass of wine and sighed heavily: "If such a major event happens in the court, everything will change. Where should we go now? ”

Qin Mubai suddenly realized this, and asked in a low voice: "Eldest Sun Wuji wants to win you over?" ”

Qin Bin nodded vigilantly and said in a low voice, "It's not just me, but also your eldest brother." In fact, we know his intentions very well. Although the two of us are the eldest sons of the Qin family, everything in the Qin family is already supported by you. The eldest grandson Wuji knocked on the side, he wanted to draw our two useless brothers into his camp first, and then use family affection to restrain you, so that you had to join his faction. ”

Qin Mubai nodded and said, "Second brother is wise, the eldest grandson Wuji's hand, I almost expected it. I just didn't expect that he didn't come to me directly, but through you...... I'm afraid he also thinks I'm not very good at talking, or too sensitive, so he will play a side drum from you first. ”

"What do you think about the third brother?" Qin Bin said, "Now the government is decided by the eldest grandson Wuji and Chu Suiliang, and the two of them assist the king of Jin, and they are already in power." Moreover, Chu Suiliang is obviously not comparable to the eldest grandson Wuji. Now, the eldest grandson Wuji is under one person and above ten thousand. If your eldest brother and I serve him, we will make you and your father passive. I know that you have never intended to get too close to your eldest grandson, Wuji, let alone your father. Moreover, as the commander of His Majesty the Emperor's personal guard, if we stand in the camp of the eldest grandson Wuji, then ...... The ending can be imagined. On the other hand, if we don't serve the eldest grandson Wuji, can we be the enemy of him? Hou Junji, such characters have been purged, what are we? ”

"Second brother, don't worry, let me think about this matter. In the past two days, you have made an appointment with the eldest brother, when will you be free to come home together, how about the three of us brothers discuss it carefully? There are many people in the wine shop here, and the walls are mixed with ears, so I won't say much about it first. Qin Mubai said.

"It's fine. The day after tomorrow, I will take turns with my eldest brother, and then I will go to Lao Qin's Mansion to visit my mother. ”

"Okay."

It is rare for the two brothers to drink together, and Qin Mubai has not relaxed for a long time, so he drank more casually today. I didn't control the wine glass for a while, but I drank too much, and the two brothers got drunk together, and both fell asleep in the Accord.

When the demon finished his work, it was already late at night. When he came to Qin Mubai and found that his brothers were drunk, he asked the guards to carry the two of them lightly into the carriage and send Qin Bin to his home first. Then the demon got into the carriage and returned home with him.

Qin Mubai snored like thunder and slept like a dead pig, the demon sat beside him with a smile on his face, his slender ten fingers gently and slowly stroked his face, and the smile on his face was so sweet and warm that it was intoxicating.

Walking into the Lifang Hutong, which must be passed every day, it is only 200 steps away from Lao Qin's house. You'er suddenly became inexplicably flustered.

She is no stranger to this kind of mood! That's how it felt when arsenic was found in the kitchen that day!