Qin Shuang'er's face was flushed, her head was lowered, the corners of her clothes were twisted, and she looked ashamed that she wanted to say goodbye, and chirped in a low voice: "Third brother, don't you know everything, what else do you ask......

Qin Mubai smiled: "Hasn't the third brother been away from home for three years, how much can you remember, and I don't know what happened between you later." Say, what else is there to hide in front of my brother? ”

Qin Shuang'er flashed her big eyes and smiled shyly, nodded, and explained the matter.

It turned out that because Qin Shubao was Li Shimin's former minister of the Qin Palace, the children of the Qin family got closer to Li Shimin's children as early as childhood. After coming and going, Qin Shuang'er and Li Ke became good friends of childhood sweethearts. Later, when he grew up, Li Ke had the intention of having a heart, and the two were expected to get married, but there was a barrier between their marriages.

One of the biggest obstacles is the concept of doors. Although Qin Shubao is a general of Shangzhuguo, Zuo Wuwei and Yiguo, he has a humble background and starts from recklessness. The Li family is an old nobleman from Guanlong, and it is the family of the emperor. Qin Shuang'er is a concubine born in the side room, and compared to the noble prince Li Ke, her body is extremely low.

Another obstacle is Qin Shubao. I don't know what he thinks, although Qin Shubao has no dislike for Li Ke, he is opposed to his daughter's marriage to King Wu.

In today's Zhenguan Dynasty, the concept of the door is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, although it cannot be seen or touched, but it is an insurmountable gap in people's hearts. Just like the Qin family, a new wealthy family that started from poverty, no matter how big the official is now, in the eyes of the world, it is not as noble as the blood of the old clans. Moreover, the marriage is a major event, and the words of the matchmaker are ordered by the parents, since there is Qin Shubao's opposition, even if Li Ke is the dignified Prince of the Tang Dynasty, he does not dare to force it.

In this way, Li Ke and Shuang'er have become a pair of bitter mandarin ducks who have no fate. Two years ago, seventeen-year-old Li Keying married the daughter of the former Sui royal nobleman Yang, and Qin Shuang'er almost broke off the idea of marriage in a sad state - no matter what, with Qin Shubao's character, she would never be allowed to marry as a concubine.

But the friendship between the two is difficult to erase. Therefore, whether it is Li Ke or Qin Shuang'er, he can only hide his feelings and communicate in private, but he does not dare to cross the thunder pool by half a step.

After hearing this, Qin Mubai shook his head, he couldn't imagine that there was such an emotional entanglement between the fourth sister and King Wu.

"Third brother, why are you just shaking your head...... Tell me, what should I do? Qin Shuang'er said with a sigh, looking at Qin Mubai pitifully.

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Silly girl, King Wu has already married a wife, even if your father agrees, are you willing to marry a widow (the prince's concubine)?" ”

In the Tang Dynasty, like many feudal dynasties, concubines have no status and respect at all, no matter how noble your background is, if you marry as a concubine, you will be the same as the livestock of the male master's family, and you can be beaten and scolded at will and even bought and sold. Among the nobles and wealthy families of the Tang Dynasty, there is also a custom of exchanging concubines to have fun, even if it is the prince's concubine.

The Tang law even clearly stipulates that if the head of the family and the wife kill the concubine, they can pay a fine to offset the crime. Moreover, generally speaking, concubines cannot be straightened. If the male master dares to abolish his wife and establish a concubine, he must be sentenced to one and a half years of exile.

Although the folk customs of the Tang Dynasty are relatively open, and the status of women is relatively high, it is precisely this environment that led to the emergence of a unique female emperor in history, but it still cannot change the nature of this patriarchal society - concubines are playthings, and the reality is so cruel.

Qin Shuang'er's face really changed, she lowered her head in frustration, there seemed to be tears in her eyes, and muttered, "But, I really only like him...... If I can't marry him, I'm willing to die alone or become a monk. ”

Seeing this scene, Qin Mubai's heart throbbed slightly.

Judging from his concept in the 21st century, free love is too normal, and the little sister has a deep love for Li Ke. But now, the old feudal customs in front of them are simply an insurmountable mountain.

"Don't be sad, little sister. It's man-made, and the third brother will definitely find a way to help you. Qin Mubai squeezed the fourth sister's little hand in the palm of his hand, patted it gently, and nodded affirmatively.

"Hmmm! …… It's still the third brother who loves me the most! In Qin Shuang'er's smart eyes, two lines of tears flowed down. Qin Mubai stretched out her hand to wipe it off for her, and Qin Shuang'er immediately burst into laughter, and turned her face away to wipe away her tears.

The brother and sister chatted for a while before Qin Shuang'er returned to the room.

"But what can be done to solve this problem of the little sister?" Qin Mubai lay on the bed and secretly thought to himself: The biggest obstacle between the little sister and Li Ke is naturally the gap between the family's background. My mother is the step-concubine, in case Uncle Qin's treasure is eternal, it is difficult to say whether she, the concubine, can stay and continue to live in the Qin Mansion, it depends on whether the eldest brother of the two in-laws is kind.

My little sister and I are both concubines of the Qin family, without any titles and inheritance rights, at most our status is slightly higher than that of ordinary people, and we are not welcomed at all in the eyes of nobles and wealthy families. Unless...... Unless I can become a real high-ranking official and nobleman, it is possible to change this status quo!

"Oh, my own fate, my mother's fate, and my little sister's fate all depend on me. It seems that it is really impossible not to struggle! ”

……

Winter in Kannai is bitterly cold. At dawn, the clouds poured water into ice.

In the Qin family's backyard polo field, a string of sonorous horses' hooves sounded. Qin Mubai was wearing a thin Hu costume and riding a white horse, practicing riding and archery and marksmanship.

The plan of the day lies in the morning, the ancients smelled the chickens and danced, Qin Mubai didn't want to be lazy and slack.

Zhenguan Datang is a positive and enterprising era, "striving for progress and self-improvement" is the main theme of this era, and it is also one of the mysteries of the "Han and Tang Spirit" that is famous in later generations.

Now, Qin Mubai is grateful that the fate of the spoof gave him a buffer period. After coming to Zhenguan Datang, he had a relatively ample period of time to adapt to this era and had a better environment to improve his adaptability. Instead of being caught off guard at the beginning, he was thrown into the great torrent of this era, and was instantly submerged in the magnificent river of history.

Qin Shubao's casual words had the effect of enlightenment for Qin Mubai - "Have great ambitions, good!" Hopefully, this is more than just rhetoric. ”

Having a goal and confidence, even if you put in more efforts, it does not mean that you will be successful, the most important thing is to have considerable ability.

If you want to settle down in the era of Zhenguan Datang, it is far from enough to rely on some strange prostitutes and tricks, or the shadow of the father's court - literary talent and martial virtue are all indispensable, this is the most fundamental and useful thing.

Qin Mubai is convinced that opportunities have always only favored those who are prepared. No matter what era you are in, opportunity and luck are the same thing, and always working hard and walking a little faster than others is the basis for success.

"Heh, heh!" A rebuke rang out on the polo field.

Today's practice of gunnery is more proficient, and the riding and archery are obviously much more proficient and accurate than last time, and he has more mental and moral experience of martial arts, Qin Mubai is very satisfied. Don't seek a thousand miles a day, but seek to improve every day, accumulate steps to thousands of miles, and this is enough.

When he returned to his house sweating profusely, the servants in the house got up one after another, and Qin Mubai ran to the kitchen to boil a pot of water and took a bath. The servants were surprised and ashamed, this third young master was not the same character as before, not only did he lose his previous coquettishness, but he also became so low-key and diligent.

"Third Young Master, in the future, the little one will get up an hour early every day and boil hot water for you first."

After eating breakfast hastily, Qin Mubai went to greet Qin Shubao and his mother respectively. The Tang Dynasty governs the country with filial piety, and it is indispensable for the children at home to serve in the morning and dusk. In his father's room, the father and son discussed the martial arts of guns and arrows for a while, and when they left, Qin Shubao said: "San Lang, I am very pleased to see you so diligent for your father. You will soon become a seven-rank minister, and you will be a minister in the same house as your father. The Father has something to say to you. ”

"Father, please."

Qin Shubao nodded and said, "How to be an official and how to be a person, you can learn these things slowly." My father only tells you one thing: no matter where you are an official, don't get into a whirlpool. ”

"What whirlpool?"

"The dispute between princes and concubines." Qin Shubao's voice was slightly heavy, and he said word by word.

Qin Mubai's heart sank, and he bowed his hand: "The child has written it down." ”

"For the sake of the Father, there is no need to say more. You keep that in mind. ”

"Remember, child."

Back in his room, Qin Mubai began to practice calligraphy and study books.

The so-called Wen Taowu strategy is the capital to make a living in the current environment, and it is also the capital to strive for upward climbing. Since you have come to the Zhenguan Tang Dynasty that ruled the country with Confucianism, you must have some understanding of the classic doctrines and literary and historical canons of Confucianism.

Freezing three feet is not a day's cold, and it is impossible to cultivate into a giant Confucian in a short period of time. Therefore, Qin Mubai targeted the legal statutes, political system, and historical materials of this dynasty. These may be more practical for him now, and they will improve his adaptability.

So, Qin Mubai found a way to find a lot of canonical books and wild history notes on the rule of law, military system, official system, etc. Fortunately, I am not very unfamiliar with classical culture, and I have a little cultural foundation, so it is not difficult to learn and understand. He thought that martial arts had his father's guidance, and he would have to find a good teacher with knowledge to teach cultural lessons in the future.

One seat, one case, one book, baking the fire and burning sandalwood, Qin Mubai and the room of this ancient case and book are integrated, showing an elegant demeanor.

"Hehe, the third brother is actually reading!" A string of silver bell-like laughter sounded outside the window, and the fourth sister came.

"Girl, you come to disturb you knowing that the third brother is studying? Come inside, it's cold outside. Qin Mubai put down the book, got up and opened the door.

"Whew, whew! It's cold. Qin Shuang'er jumped in the door, rubbed her hands and stomped her feet, ran to the stove and sat down, and said with a smile: "Third brother, my mother just told me today that you were appointed by the emperor, and I came to congratulate you!" Great, the third brother will also be an official in the future! Hee-hee! ”

"Silly girl." Qin Mubai smiled, rubbed a few handfuls on her frozen red face, and said, "Say, what's the matter with coming to me?" ”

Qin Shuang'er's face turned red, and she smiled hehehe: "Third brother, you will be an official in King Wu's mansion in the future, and you can see him every day!" ”

"Well, I know what you're trying to say." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "Don't worry, your third brother will always take your affairs to heart." If it's convenient, it can also take you to his house for a walk. ”

"Hehe...... Qin Shuang'er lowered her head and snickered, her face flushed, and said: "When my mother was chatting with me just now, I said that you are not young, it is time to kiss you." When you start a family, a man without a wife is like a tree without bark. ”

"Let's talk about it, I don't have any plans to do that right now." Qin Mubai smiled.

"My mother seems to be very anxious."

"I'll make it clear to her. Why does the eldest husband have no wife, what do you say, little sister? ”

"Hehe, the third brother has really changed, he is diligent and confident! Yes, yes, this is a good man! If I were a girl from another family, I would definitely like a man like the third brother. ”

"That means, you don't like your third brother now?"

"Hee-hee! That's different! ”

The brother and sister were chatting happily, and a servant from the house outside the door said, "Third young master, there is a guest visiting." ”

"Who's coming?" The brother and sister couldn't help but glance at each other, and thought at the same time: Could it be King Wu?

"Back to the third young master's words, the visitor claimed to be the signature of the Taichang Temple Taile Department, surnamed Zeng. I made a special trip to visit the third young master. ”

"Oh, I'm here to learn the lute!" The brother and sister said in unison. Qin Shuang'er's eyes lit up, and she said with a smile: "I forgot, third brother, you seem to have learned a wonderful pipa, and even the emperor praises it." You teach others to teach, why don't you teach your little sister first? ”

"Absolutely." Qin Mubai got up, "But now, I'm going to meet that Zeng first." ”

The Taile Department is one of the subordinate institutions of Taichang Temple, which is responsible for providing court music. Taile signed an order, from the seventh grade, it is half a level lower than Qin Mubai, the East Pavilion of the Prince's Mansion from the seventh grade.

Therefore, he had ordered to enter the mansion of General Qin Qiong of Shangzhu State, but he didn't dare to say that he wanted to see Qin Shubao, and he knelt and sat upright in the living room, waiting for Qin Mubai to arrive without squinting and trembling.

"It's rude to let Zeng sign the order for a long time." Qin Mubai sat down on his seat and smiled.

"Xiaguan Zeng Hongyou has seen Qin sacrificial wine." Taile, who is over forty years old, signed the order, straightened his waist and bowed his hands, and said with low eyebrows.

"I once signed an order not to be polite, and I am a junior below." Qin Mubai returned the salute and said, "I don't know what happened when the agency condescended to visit?" ”

"The lower officials are instructed by His Majesty to come to apprentice and learn to play the pipa." After saying that, Zeng Hongyou stood up, shook his robe and bowed down, and was about to bow to Qin Mubai.

"Wait!" Qin Mubai is not used to always worshipping like this, let alone an old man who comes to worship himself, and after stopping him, he said, "I said, I am a junior, how can I receive a big gift." Since His Majesty has a will, and the ministers should obey their orders, I will teach you the pipa is this apprenticeship and you will be exempted! ”

Zeng Hongyou was slightly stunned, then he raised his eyes and saw Qin Mubai clearly, and couldn't help but hesitate in his heart: I heard Your Majesty say that the Qin family Saburo's stunt with one hand on the pipa is amazing, and it is unique in my dynasty, let me treat him modestly and respectfully, not to be abrupt and rude, and not to rely on the old and sell the old. If it weren't for His Majesty's mouth, you wouldn't have joked, and no one would have believed it. Because the third young master of Uncle Qin's Bao family has always had a reputation for being unscrupulous. Now, I feel that he is virtuous and knowledgeable, which is not the same as the rumors? Odd......