"Treat wine as a song, life is just like morning dew, every day will be bitter -"
Li Mu recited Cao Cao's "Dan Ge Xing", raised his head and took a sip of wine. He looked at the person opposite, looked up and down, and said, "Are you from Silla?"
"yes."
"You said that my second wife is your King Zhenping's only daughter? Is she an illegitimate child?"
"right!"
"King Jinpyeong wants his only daughter to inherit the throne of Silla?"
"It can't be done according to the rules, but since the king said it, it should be possible. This is the news I've received, but I can't guarantee it."
Li Mu took another sip of wine, picked up the bowl in front of him, threw it to Jin Chunqiu, poured him a glass of wine, and said, "What benefits did King Zhenping promise you?"
"People of the Ming Dynasty will not speak secretly. Your Majesty will grant me the position of Prime Minister."
"Do you have the talent to be a prime minister?"
"Silla is not as good as the Tang Dynasty and has fewer things to deal with. I pride myself on having such talent."
Li Mu pondered for a while, then looked up at Jin Chunqiu and said, "Can you return to Silla smoothly?"
Jin Chunqiu was silent and said: "If the king is not dead and enters the Silla territory, he will be safe."
Li Mu chuckled lightly and said: "In other words, you don't dare to guarantee it? Then why did you come to me?"
"I secretly thought that the Marquis also wanted your second wife to live."
Li Mu looked at Jin Chunqiu for a long time, then nodded and said: "I really have no choice. You guessed it right. Okay, you can write a letter to His Majesty. But don't say that he asked her to go back and inherit the throne. Just say that King Zhenping is seriously ill.
Out of filial piety, ask her to go back and see her once, and then come back. Only if you say this, will she go back with you."
"Thank you, Mr. County."
Jin Chunqiu stood up and saluted, Li Mu waved his hand, and Jin Chunqiu excused himself and left.
…
The next day, Jin Chunqiu's memorial was passed through the Ministry of Rites and placed on Li Shimin's desk. Li Shimin also learned the whole story from Yuan Tiangang's investigation. Li Zhien's identity was just a concubine of Li Mu, and she was not pregnant yet. To Li Shimin
In other words, it is a dispensable role.
After meeting Li Mu, Li Shimin felt full of guilt. He knew that Jin Chunqiu had met Li Mu, so this memorial must have been approved by Li Mu. And he was also very clear about the reason why Li Mu agreed. Li Mu believed that
, he was already about to die and did not want to implicate his woman. He brought this matter out, and Li Shimin had no choice but to disagree.
"Send this memorial to the queen. After the queen reads it, she will know how to deal with it."
Eunuch Gao reached out to take it, turned and left.
…
At the Li Zheng Palace, Li Zhien met Jin Chunqiu, who had been granted admission to the palace. Queen Changsun arranged a separate meeting for the two of them. Jin Chunqiu described the original words of King Jinpyeong in detail. After hearing this, Li Zhien couldn't stop crying.
But after crying for a while, she still chose to refuse to go back.
"The king's days are numbered, and he may not be able to survive this autumn. Your Highness, princess, do you really have the heart not to see him?"
"Although he is my father, he has never taken care of my mother and me. After I arrived in Silla, he did not dare to recognize me, which caused me to be sold to the Tang Dynasty by human traffickers. If I hadn't met my husband, I would be here now.
I have long become a lowly maid, a slave at my command, and my life and death are unknown. My husband dotes on me and loves me, and my wife protects me and loves me. Only in this home can I feel the slightest warmth. Now that my husband is in great trouble, how can I
Can you leave him? You don’t have to say it anymore, I will never leave."
"Your Highness Princess!" Jin Chunqiu knelt on the ground and cried: "You and the county prince are still very young, and you still have a lot of time to get along. But the king's time is running out! As people say, filial piety is the best thing.
First of all, even if the king has made countless mistakes, you can't just forgive him temporarily when he is on his deathbed, go back to see him, and then come back to the Tang Dynasty, isn't that okay?"
"But my husband also..."
"Your Highness the Princess!" Jin Chunqiu said anxiously: "I dare not deceive Your Highness the Princess. Before I came, I had already met the County Duke. The County Duke told me that although Your Majesty imprisoned him and suspected him, there was no real evidence. Your Majesty is a wise king.
The county prince is a virtuous minister. If there is no solid evidence, which wise monarch would kill a virtuous minister? Moreover, His Majesty's relationship with the county prince is well known to everyone, and the county prince himself said that your majesty will not kill him."
Although Li Zhien was smart, she knew too little information and naturally could not judge. She frowned and thought, if Li Shimin would not kill Li Mu, it would not matter if she went back to see King Zhenping before he came back. Although Li Mu was suffering in prison, but
Now that she is under house arrest in the palace, what can she do? Instead of feeling uneasy while enjoying fine clothes and food every day, she might as well go back and fulfill her filial duty.
Thinking of this, I felt a little shaken in my heart: "Have you really met your husband? Did your husband really say that?"
"It's absolutely true!" Jin Chunqiu vowed, raising his hands and swearing: "If there is any lie, I will die. If the princess does not believe it, I can file a petition to His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and ask him to allow you to meet with the county magistrate and let him speak personally.
Tell you."
"This..." Li Zhien hesitated and said, "Let me discuss it with Madam first."
"I'm waiting for you."
Li Zhien returned to Bai Qiaoqiao's residence. At this time, Bai Qiaoqiao had learned the whole story from the queen's mouth, and also knew what Li Mu meant, and she had a plan in her heart. Seeing Li Zhien coming over, she pretended not to know, turning over the books in her hand.
Book, waiting for her to say.
"Madam, I, I have something to tell you."
"Huh?" Bai Qiaoqiao put down the book and looked at Li Zhien with a puzzled expression.
When Li Zhien saw Bai Qiaoqiao looking over him, he felt very ashamed and didn't want to say anything anymore. Seeing her look, Bai Qiaoqiao guessed what she was thinking, so he came over and took her hand and said, "Zhien,
We are a family, is there anything else we need to hide?"
"No, but this matter..." Li Zhien lowered his head, his voice became smaller and smaller, and said, "I don't know what to say."
Bai Qiaoqiao joked: "Why, you have fallen in love with someone else and don't want your husband?"
"No, no, how is that possible!" Li Zhien explained hurriedly. Seeing the teasing look on Bai Qiaoqiao's face, he stamped his feet angrily: "Madam, you are making fun of me."
Bai Qiaoqiao's face turned pale and she said, "Okay, tell me quickly, what is it that makes you so embarrassed?"
Li Zhien hesitantly told the story. Bai Qiaoqiao listened and said very naturally: "It's time to go back. My husband did the right thing."
"Huh?" Li Zhien looked up at Bai Qiaoqiao and said, "Madam, you think so too? Doesn't Madam think that I didn't accompany my husband to share the hardships..."
"Oh, you idiot." Bai Qiaoqiao touched Li Zhien's hair and said, "Husband, isn't it okay? But your father is already seriously ill. Isn't it obvious that you are worried about something? Let's forget it.
If you stay, what can you do to help? I can't help you. How have we helped with your husband's matter? If you go back to visit your father now, maybe when you come back, your husband will
Got out of prison."
"But……"
"Didn't that man also say that he has met my husband? If my husband didn't agree, he would have already said he didn't agree, and he must have agreed. And don't forget that your husband is a filial son, and you are his
Madam, if you are unfilial, won't you ruin his reputation?"
The ancients valued reputation more than life. Li Zhien recalled that there was a censor who was chased to the Dali Temple prison and chopped into pieces by Li Mu because he talked about the Sun family, and finally nodded.
"I still want my husband to tell me personally before I go."
"Okay." Bai Qiaoqiao looked at Li Zhien, hugged her, and said, "Didn't that person say that he would ask His Majesty's permission to let you meet? It would be good to meet before leaving. After all--" Bai Qiaoqiao said
Qiaoqiao thought in her heart that it might be the last time they meet, but when it came to her mouth, she said: "——After all, it takes half a year to go to and from Silla, and you can't see each other for half a year. Why don't you want to die?"
Li Zhien blushed and said angrily: "Madam, you made fun of me again."
Jin Chunqiu's request was quickly answered. Eunuch Gao led him and Li Zhien to the Dali Temple Prison to meet Li Mu. Li Mu learned in advance that he had finished dressing up and returned to his usual appearance. Li Zhien saw his state
As usual, I feel relieved a lot.
After telling the story in tears, Li Mu smiled and said, "What do I think it's about? That's it?"
"Won't your husband blame me?"
"I will blame you if you don't go." Li Mu looked into Li Zhien's eyes and said, "How can a person be unfilial? Don't say I won't die, or I will die -" Li Zhien quickly covered Li Mu's hand
Mouth, said: "No way, they say that Your Majesty is reluctant to kill my husband."
"Of course. Husband, I am so handsome and so talented that even a foolish king would not let me go. Your Majesty is a wise king, so how can you let me go? I am just making a metaphor. It is just a metaphor." Li Mu continued, very seriously:
"Even if I die, you should still visit your father. This is filial piety. As a person, filial piety is what I value most. If you are an unfilial person, you are not worthy of being my wife, Li Mu."
"Husband..."
"I can only be a little maid!"
Li Zhien laughed through tears and gave Li Mu a small pink fist. He held his hands. Li Mu looked at Li Zhien carefully: "When you return to Silla, you must miss me. Didn't I draw a self-portrait for you? You
Carry it with you and take a look when you miss me. After arriving in Silla, you will be a princess. If your father finds a consort for you, do you know what to do?"
"I will tell my father that I already have a husband."
"Be good." Li Mu hugged Li Zhien and said in her ear: "The journey is long, and you don't know what things you will encounter on the way. Be careful. If Your Majesty lets me go early, I will pick you up. If you come back early,
Come on, remember to bring some local delicacies back, you can’t buy them in Chang’an.”
Li Zhien heard the reluctance in Li Mu's tone, and hugged him tightly, saying, "I know your husband, I will definitely come back as soon as possible."
"Yeah." Li Mu let go of her, his eyes still reluctant to part, but he still said: "Okay, go ahead, go back early."
Li Zhien bit his lips and said in a voice like a mosquito: "I'm not in a hurry for this day. Husband, can I stay overnight today..."
"This is not allowed!" Eunuch Gao had sharp ears. When he heard this, he hurriedly said: "Li Mu, this is a prison. You must not break the rules. Your Majesty will be angry if he finds out." After saying this, he looked at Li Zhien and said:
"You can't mess around. If Your Majesty knows that he is angry, what if the punishment is aggravated?"
Li Mu understood what Eunuch Gao meant and followed his words: "Okay, His Majesty is angry. Let's not be angry with him. Let's go. If our love lasts for a long time, how can we stay together day and night? I'll wait for you to come back, husband."
I love you day and night."
"Well," Li Zhien pinched Li Mu's sleeves, glanced at him, and said coyly: "It's settled."
"It's settled."
Li Zhien reluctantly left. Li Mu watched her disappear, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, and he fell down along the wall. He held his head and couldn't stop crying. He never thought that there would be a day.
Today, he sends his woman away in this deceptive way.
"Brother." Li Chongyi's voice suddenly came from the door. Li Mu looked up and saw him and said, "Why are you here?"
When the imperial army came to take over the Dali Temple prison that day, Li Chongyi had already been let out. Even if he asked to accompany Li Mu, he was refused.
"General Cheng told me that His Majesty had a decree and allowed me to come to see you." With that, Li Chongyi was about to enter the cell door. Li Mu was stunned for a moment, and instantly understood what Li Shimin meant, stretched out his hand to hold Li Chongyi, and said: "
Big man, big brother, I want to ask you something, can you risk your life and help big brother do it too!"
"Brother, tell me!" Li Chongyi's eyes were about to turn red again, and he said with all his strength: "Are we going to fight out? Don't worry, even if I don't have an ax in my hand, I can still fight my way out, and I can grab
weapon!"
"What are you thinking about in your head?" Li Mu jumped up and slapped Li Chongyi on the forehead, saying: "There are 100,000 forbidden troops in the city and outside the city. How many can you kill by yourself? It's not that far. Your Majesty, isn't it?
Kill me?"
"Then what is the big brother talking about?"
Li Mu explained the matter again and said: "You help my elder brother send Zhien to Silla and protect her safety along the way."
"She?" Although Li Zhongyi was bought back by Li Mu together with Li Zhien, his relationship with Li Zhien has never been good, and the two of them usually don't talk much: "Brother, I, I don't want to go to Silla, I want to stay with you
around."
"I can't die!" Li Mu was furious: "If my woman dies, I would rather die. Are you my brother? If you are my brother, go ahead. If you are not my brother, don't go. Go on."
If you don’t go, you can think about it yourself!”
Li Chongyi had never seen Li Mu so angry before, and said quickly: "Brother, don't be angry, I'm going. I will listen to you in everything, but after I come back this time, you can't drive me away again."
"I know." Li Mu grabbed Li Chongyi's big hand and said, "Good brother, I will live in vain if I have a brother like you in this life."
Li Chongyi didn't understand why Li Mu said that, so he also said: "Brother, me too."