As soon as the emperor's golden mouth opened, everyone, including Princess Gaoyang, was quite surprised-why did he suddenly mention the marriage between Princess Gaoyang and Qin Mubai at this time?

Li Shimin didn't seem interested in explaining anything, but continued: "It is unusual for the Son of Heaven to marry a daughter. Marriage should be made first, for a period of one year, and then the next marriage. After the funeral of King Qi is completed, Ke'er, you will preside over the engagement ceremony of the two of them. ”

Li Ke was very surprised, and said without thinking: "Father, the son does not dare to accept the order!" ”

"What did you say?" Li Shimin was also surprised, and looked at him incredulously.

Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang were also quite stunned and puzzled.

"Erchen...... Just lost his wife, quite ominous. It's not good to take this ominous air and rush the joy of the royal sister and the horse. also asked his father to think twice and choose someone else to preside over the wedding. Li Ke bowed his hand and bowed.

"Third brother, how are you ...... That's what a talk! Princess Gao Yang shouted in surprise and annoyance.

"Gao Yang, don't make noise. Your third brother has a reason to be worried. Li Shimin nodded lightly, "Okay, I'll think about it again and make another choice." ”

Qin Mubai stood aside without squinting and said nothing. He thought to himself, Li Ke was deliberately looking for an excuse to push, the purpose was nothing more than to keep a distance from him. In fact, when he was playing chess just now, Qin Mubai could see it. After returning to Beijing this time, Li Ke was very cautious. In fact, Qin Mubai knows very well that his chess skills are definitely not below Li Shimin. When he just ate the horse, he hesitated again and again, and must have seen that it was an ambush and trap set by Li Shimin, but he still ate it "decisively", and as a result, he lost a beautiful game.

Li Ke began his taoguang cultivation again.

Only Princess Gao Yang didn't know why, and she was still a little angry now, glaring at Li Ke with slanted eyes from time to time. If it weren't for the presence of the emperor, I am afraid that he would have asked Li Kexing for his guilt a long time ago.

At this time, Li Shimin said: "In the past few days, the world has been eventful. From Xiangzhou to Dengzhou, some things that Li You made shocked the world and the government and the opposition uneasy. However, that is all in the past, and there is no need to mention it in the future, and you do not need to explain anything in front of me. ”

Li Ke immediately bowed down with gratitude: "My father's heart is like a mirror, and my son admires him." ”

"Get up!" Li Shimin said lightly, "Those who are clear are self-purifying, and those who are turbid are self-turbid." It's not that my heart is like a mirror, but that things are not their own, and there are laws in the world. ”

"Thank you, Father!" Li Ke still bowed solemnly a few times, and then stood up respectfully, with a look of sincere fear and immortality.

"Ke'er, since you have come to Chang'an, you don't have to rush back to Xiangzhou again." Li Shimin said suddenly.

Li Ke was startled, but he didn't dare to speak, probably thinking in his heart: Don't you trust me, why do you want to dismiss my official again?

"Don't get me wrong, that's actually the case." Li Shimin said eloquently, "After the Dengzhou incident, the courtiers had many admonitions, saying that the hereditary assassination system has many drawbacks. The Dengzhou rebellion was caused by the drawbacks of the hereditary assassination system. Therefore, the ministers tried their best to persuade me to abolish the hereditary assassination system. I thought about it again and again, and felt that they had a point. At the end of the year, he was ready to abolish the new hereditary assassination system, and transfer the princes and princes who were transferred to other places back to Chang'an, and only gave the official position of inspector, and never again went to Fengyi to serve as officials. ”

"The father is wise, and the sons should obey their orders!" Li Ke hurriedly replied.

Li Shimin nodded, sighed lightly, turned his head to look at Princess Gaoyang, and said in a low voice: "King Qi has come to this day, and I do have an unshirkable responsibility. In the future, I will do my best to fulfill my responsibilities as a father and accompany and supervise you well. After that, you all stay with me, and don't go anywhere! ”

"Yes, Father's ......," Li Ke and Princess Gao Yang both replied softly.

Qin Mubai's heart was beating the drum: at the beginning, the reason why Li Shimin wanted to implement the hereditary assassination system was to disintegrate and divide some of the party forces in the court, so that he could control the situation and prepare for the establishment of the prince. In fact, a shrewd politician like Li Shimin, of course, knows that the hereditary assassination system is actually no different from the division of the feudal princes, and there are many drawbacks. He was not a stopgap measure at the time; Now that Li You's affairs are in trouble, he has to give up this expedient measure in advance - but does that mean that Li Shimin's heart has made a decision on the candidate for the prince? Or is he already able to completely control the two forces of succession above the court?

Li Shimin, the emperor, is essentially a politician; No matter what he does, even if he deals with family affairs, there are traces of a politician's thinking everywhere.

"Ling'er." Li Shimin called softly, paused, and said, "If you have time, spend more time with your mother." ”

"Hmm......" Princess Gao Yang bit her lip and nodded slightly. There were already some tears glistening in his eyes.

"Alright, it's okay, you guys stand down!" Li Shimin smiled and waved his hand gently. In the smile, there is a little tiredness.

The three of them said goodbye and left. Out of the imperial study, Li Ke looked at Qin Mubai deeply, didn't say a word, and walked away directly.

"Hey, third brother, third brother! …… Third brother, why are you like this! Princess Gaoyang called a few times, but Li Ke didn't mean to stop, which made her a little angry.

"Forget it, Ling'er." Qin Mubai persuaded her with a smile and said, "Your third brother...... It doesn't seem to pay much attention to us. ”

"Why? Aren't we always the best? Princess Gao Yang asked with annoyance and puzzlement.

Qin Mubai sighed and shook his head: "In this officialdom, there are no eternal friends and no eternal enemies. I'm afraid...... It's something wrong that offends him. ”

"What's the matter?" Princess Gaoyang had to break the casserole and ask to the end.

Qin Mubai shook his head in embarrassment: "Forget it, let's not talk about it." Let's go, go see your mother. ”

"No, you have to say it!" Princess Gaoyang stubbornly stood in front of Qin Mubai, frowning and refusing to let him go forward.

Qin Mubai smiled bitterly: "Ling'er, don't you never care about these things with me?" ”

"That was before, and now I have to take care of it. Have you forgotten our covenant and have no more secrets from each other? Princess Gao Yang said, "What's more, the matter is also related to the third brother!" It's been so long, and we've shared glory and disgrace together, and we've gotten along so well! How do you say that you turn your face and turn your face? I said why did Sanke suddenly quit the errand of presiding over the engagement ceremony for us just now, it turned out that there was a conflict with you? ”

Qin Mubai nodded helplessly: "If you have to know, I will tell you." But you have to promise, can't you let others know? ”

"Uh-huh." Princess Gao Yang nodded again and again, and said eagerly, "Say it quickly!" ”

"Actually, here's the thing......" Qin Mubai began to be blind, and he said-

"At that time, His Majesty the Emperor issued an order to Xiangzhou, summoned him back to Beijing, and ordered me to protect the territory and the people without moving. But at that time, I disobeyed the holy decree and raised troops without authorization, and I also had a few arguments with King Wu in public. Actually, it doesn't matter. The point is that later, I also used my personal friendship with several generals in his palace to transfer some of his own soldiers to me to help me in the war. At that time, I thought he had left Xiangzhou, but I didn't think he had left! When he knew about this, of course he was not happy—if you think about it, his men obeyed my orders, and he could be happy? What's more, I resisted the order and raised troops like this, which made him very angry. First, it is certain that he will be scolded here by His Majesty the Emperor, because he, the assassin, did not assist Chu Suiliang to restrain me, which is at least a crime of dereliction of duty; Secondly...... He is a prince, and he can't even restrain me, can His Majesty the Emperor not scold him for being incompetent? The generals and soldiers in Xiangzhou only listen to me, can he not be angry? So I ......"

"Hmph, the third brother is too cautious!" Princess Gaoyang suddenly shouted angrily, "He's jealous!" ”

"No, you can't say that." Qin Mubai hurriedly said, "Actually, I did go too far, I didn't think much about the dignity and face of his prince, he was too sharp." In Xiangzhou, I also completely overshadowed his reputation and limelight. He also has his self-esteem and the face of the prince, and I behave like this, and it is inevitable that anyone will be a little unhappy. ”

"Hey, I really don't understand you men!" Princess Gaoyang frowned depressedly, "What should I do, could it be that from this time on, you will not get along with the third brother from the old age?" ”

"I don't know." Qin Mubai pursed his lips innocently, "He made such a prevarication directly in front of the emperor, depending on the situation, I am afraid that he has the intention of breaking off friendship with me." Since he doesn't care about me anymore, can't I still go to his cold ass with a hot face? ”

"Hey! ......" Princess Gaoyang sighed again, shook her head, and was puzzled.

The two walked and chatted and slowly walked out of the Penglai Palace. On both sides, there were armor soldiers and eunuch palace women. These people, without exception, are Li Shimin's henchmen. When Qin Mubai said these words, he not only pretended to be cautious, but also deliberately said a little louder. It is estimated that the guards on the left and right are probably listening to it. It won't take long for it to reach Li Shimin's ears.

Moreover, Qin Mubai knew Princess Gaoyang too well. She is an anxious person, and when she sees something unpleasant, she can't hide it in her heart, and she will find a way to solve it. Qin Mubai and Li Ke had an awkward quarrel, which must be the most unhappy thing for her.

What would she do, according to her nature? - There is no doubt that first of all, she will go to Li Ke and persuade him to "reconcile" with Qin Mubai; Then, this "untrustworthy" guy will definitely take these words to his father, the purpose is to clarify in front of Li Shimin that "she and Qin Mubai have no contradiction with Li Ke".

Li Shimin is most worried about the contradictions between his children and daughters, after Li You's incident, Princess Gaoyang must also have a shadow in her heart, of course, she doesn't want her father to see that she and Qin Mubai, a pair of people, have an awkward relationship with Li Ke.

In this way, the purpose is achieved.

If there is no contradiction between Qin Mubai and Li Ke, it will also be "reconciled" by Princess Gaoyang.

"This is a use of 'good intentions', not deception...... I'm sorry, Ling'er! I can't say these words to anyone, but Li Ke and I know it in our hearts. Qin Mubai said secretly in his heart, and he did feel a little guilty.

After all, whether it is good or malicious, he is indeed "using" Gao Yang.

There is no way, officialdom and the battlefield, let alone such an extraordinary period, I have to use some extraordinary means...... As long as it doesn't hurt anyone, that's fine.

"Alright, don't think about these troubles." Qin Mubai took Princess Gaoyang's hand and looked at her with gentle eyes, "Ling'er, we are finally going to be together." ”

"Hmm......" Princess Gao Yang finally smiled lightly, staring at Qin Mubai, her eyes shone with a little excitement and sadness, and said softly, "It's just that in this situation, I really don't know whether to be sad or happy." If only my brother and uncle were still alive and healthy as before, and could share this joy with us. ”

"The deceased is gone, and the condolences are passing. Those who are alive should cherish more. Qin Mubai said, "Let's go, let's go and say to Concubine Yinde." ”

"Good! My mother will be happy! …… Hey, I don't know if she should be happy or sad at this time! ”

"Don't think about it, let's go!"

The two came to Dajiaoguan, but they heard the Taoist aunt say that Concubine Yin De had just left the Taoist temple and went to the Huguo Tianwang Temple in the north garden of Daming Palace.

"Oh, no! My mother is really going to lose her hair and become a nun. Stop it! Princess Gao Yang exclaimed.

Qin Mubai's heart was also tight, and he couldn't take care of it anymore, so he ran around the palace with Princess Gaoyang. There was a distance from Dajiaoguan to the Protector Tianwang Temple, Qin Mubai simply tore off a cavalry of the Imperial Forest Army who was patrolling, and flew up with Princess Gaoyang, riding his horse and whipping wildly.

All the Royal Forest Army sergeants were dumbfounded, all of them looked at each other, but they didn't dare to let go of a fart.

Hurried to the Huguo Tianwang Temple, which is located in the northwest corner of the Daming Palace, a temple in the palace. The Li family worships the Tao, but does not exclude Buddhism, there are many people in the palace who believe in Buddhism, and the incense of the Buddha Tianwang Temple is also at its peak, and the temple is full of monks, of course, there are no nuns.

At this time, Concubine Yin De had already untied her frosty snow-white hair and spread it behind her head, kneeling in front of the Buddha's golden body, and clasped her hands together. A group of monks gathered around her and chanted Sanskrit, and the abbot master held a razor in his hand, repeatedly asking Concubine Yin De to think clearly, but Concubine Yinde's attitude was very resolute, and she must leave home.

The abbot sighed twice, picked it up, and prepared to cut her hair and shave her.

At this moment, Princess Gao Yang shouted and broke in: "Stop-"

Everyone was taken aback, the abbot's hand also stopped, and Concubine Yin De turned her head in surprise: "Ling'er? ”

"Mother, you can't be a monk!" Princess Gaoyang rushed forward, hugged Concubine Yin De, and glared angrily at those great monks: "Stand down, you all stand down!" If you dare to touch a single hair of my mother's concubine, I will demolish your broken temple! ”

All the monks were taken aback, and slowly withdrew with a wry smile.

"Ling'er, don't be rude to the monks." Princess Gao Yang said angrily, "I have made up my mind, and you don't need to persuade me anymore." ”

"Mother, I don't allow you to leave the house!" Princess Gaoyang stubbornly shouted, her eyes rolled, and she said, "Father and the emperor don't allow you to leave the house!" ”

"Him?" Concubine Yin De sneered, "He wishes I could go far away, out of sight and out of mind." Did you hear him persuade me for half a sentence? ”

"Yes, yes!" Princess Gaoyang was in a hurry and blurted out, "He just called me and Mu Bai to Penglai Hall and promised our marriage!" Mother, mother! Mu Bai and I are about to get married, how can he have a mother-in-law who is a nun? - Father did this, in fact, he also intended to keep you from becoming a monk, right? Otherwise, how could he suddenly promise our marriage at such a time? When marriage matters, parents are in charge. When I get married, I want you to comb my hair and give me a dowry! Isn't this my father's mind? ”

Qin Mubai walked in at this time, and sighed in his heart, Gao Yang's clever mouth really gave birth to flowers. But she does have some point. is now organizing Li You's funeral, but he took the initiative to make a marriage contract, it is indeed possible, and it also has the intention of keeping Concubine Yin De and persuading her not to become a monk.

Regardless of the relationship between the husband and wife, Concubine Yin De is one of the four concubines in the palace, second only to the queen in the harem. If she leaves home, where will Li Shimin's face go?

Concubine Yin De was silent for a moment, speechless.

Princess Gaoyang shook her elbow, pleaded in a low voice, and kept giving Qin Mubai a look, signaling him to come and persuade him.

Qin Mubai walked over, squatted down, and said, "Concubine De Niangniang, even if you want to practice Buddhism and reincarnate in the past life with your heart to the Buddha, you don't have to leave home...... Isn't it enough to lead the practice and participate in Zen and worship the Buddha every day? Buddha clouds, Bodhi has no tree, and the mirror is not a platform; There was nothing at all, and there was nothing like dust. All karma and evil are actually in the human heart. What is the difference between this and not, why stick to one form, and make it difficult for His Majesty the Emperor and Princess Gaoyang to be human? His Royal Highness King Qi has a spirit in the sky, and he definitely doesn't want his mother to really become a bald nun, right? ”

"Puff......" Concubine Yin De was actually amused and smiled bitterly.

She shook her head and sighed: "I'm really old, I can't resist you." Well, I'm not going to be a monk for a while. But he wants to promise me one condition, I must be allowed to leave the palace at any time and go to Famen Temple to visit You'er! ”

"Okay, okay, promise you!" Princess Gao Yang nodded excitedly and exclaimed.

"You kid, so arrogant, do you dare to give an order on behalf of your father?"

"Hey, hey! The child has his own way of convincing his father! Mother has not forgotten that the person who can deal with his old man the best in the world is your daughter-me! ”

Qin Mubai couldn't help laughing on the side: This Gao Yang is really talented!