Chapter 15: The Swing in the Wall

  。

  In response to the imperial court.

  A grand mansion with vermilion walls and green tiles, its eaves flying high, yet somehow exuding a hint of desolation and decline. Even the large pillars in front of the gate have some peeling paint.

  Li Ke and Qin Mubai stood like two rogues in front of the gate, simultaneously revealing a sly smile.

  "Your Highness, is it proper for us to barge into the Duke of Ying's residence like this?" Qin Mu Bai asked. In fact, he wanted to ask who the Duke of Ying was, fearing that they might be walking into a trap.

  "There's nothing wrong. I am the noble guest that they cannot invite even if they want to." Li Ke smiled carelessly, jumped off his horse and threw the reins to a nearby servant, clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the dull signboard with a tsk, "It's really a case of 'the world is changing'! I remember hearing that when Wu Xuan married Yang Shi, daughter of the Sui dynasty imperial family, it was my royal elder princess who presided over the wedding. What glory that was! Who would have thought that just two years after Wu Xuan passed away, the Wu family would fall to such a state, even the paint on their front gate has peeled off."

  Many words must be lost, Qin Mu Bai did not respond, but in his heart he was thinking: Ying Guo Gong Wu Shi Yun... Wu Shi Yun, why does it sound so familiar, as if I've heard it many times on TV?

  The gate of the Guo Gong Fu was wide open, and there were no servants or guards at the entrance. The two vagrants walked in with big strides, seeing that many places in the courtyard were covered with weeds and wild grass, and many places on the corridors and walkways had accumulated thick dust, which didn't look like a prosperous noble family at all.

  "Could it be that this is the residence of Duke Yingguo, and no one has lived here for many years until recently?" Qin Mu Bai asked.

  "It's definitely true." Li Ke said, "Wu Shi Yun was the governor of Jingzhou and died in office. This mansion of Duke Ying of Long'an has been uninhabited for many years. It was only after Wu Shi Yun passed away more than a year ago that the imperial court issued an edict allowing the Wu family to move back to Long'an, so they must have just moved here recently. Otherwise, it's impossible that even the servants and attendants are so few. Miao Bai, let's not discuss this kind of thing - haven't you heard that Wu Shi Yun's second wife is a very capable person?"

  "What method is this?" Qin Mu Bai asked.

  "Having daughters is fierce!" Li Ke's handsome face revealed a hint of a sly smile, and he said in a low voice, "After she married Wu Shi Yun, she gave birth to three daughters in a row. Each one was more beautiful than the last, like flowers made of jade. Especially that second daughter... Although the Wu family lives far away in Jingzhou, their reputation has already spread throughout Chang'an City!"

  "That's indeed beautiful to a certain extent." Qin Mubai couldn't help but laugh.

  Two men brought five or six guards into the government office, and after a while, surprisingly, no one from the government came out to greet them. Although "the road is not picked up at night and the door is not closed" is an exaggeration, the security in Chang'an City has always been very good, and the wealthy families never close their doors during the day to show their openness. However, a mansion like Wu's that was so deserted and careless was truly rare.

  Li Ke stopped in his tracks and looked around, waving his hand slightly impatiently. The five or six armored soldiers beside him shouted loudly: "Is anyone there?"

  After shouting several times, two young men in their twenties finally rushed out with two elderly servants, looking somewhat startled at the sight before them, and hastily came to greet us.

  "In the lower Wu Yuanqing, Wu Yuanshuang - there is a loss of distant welcome. I don't know how to address the noble guest?" The two young men looked alike, seemingly a pair of twin brothers, and asked with a nervous bow.

  "How dare you! Is it your place to ask about the name of His Majesty King Wu?"

  Yu Qing and Yu Shuang, two brothers, trembled with fear, hastily kowtowing: "Your humble servants are guilty, we hope Your Majesty will show mercy and forgive our crimes!"

  Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang are a pair of sons of Wu Shiying.

  The warrior's body was in front, although he was a noble one-product public, and had been glorious in the early Tang Dynasty, not only was he one of the eight prime ministers, but also the commander of the Imperial Forest Army, extremely favored at that time. However, that was already over a decade ago. He was a favorite minister of Emperor Gaozu, after Li Shimin's Xuanwu Gate Incident, he was once ostracized by the old officials of the Qin Wangfu, and was demoted to an official position, never returning to court again. Although after his death, Li Shimin also gave him a posthumous recognition as a third-grade Shangshu, and allowed his descendants to inherit his title, land, and return to Chang'an to live, it was just a superficial gesture. The current Gongguo Duke's mansion, among the royal nobles, can be said to be worthless.

  The decline of the Wu family is an unchangeable fact. It's no wonder that the two young masters of the Wu family, having come to Chang'an City where aristocrats are as common as dirt, can only be servile and not even dare to breathe loudly, let alone when facing members of the imperial family.

  "Ignorance is bliss, let's drop it." Li Ke said casually, "I just strolled around and dropped by to visit you guys, no need to be tense - lead the way." After saying that, he picked up the colorful ball and weighed it in his hand.

  Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang hastily got up, seeing the colorful ball in Li Ke's hand, they already understood seven or eight parts. For a moment, the expressions of the two brothers became strange. It was unknown whether it was surprise or joy, worry or fear.

  A sudden visit from a noble king to a declining martial family is like a golden phoenix landing in a remote and impoverished village - but what did this golden phoenix come for? To grant blessings or impose punishment?

  With a nervous heart, Wu brothers carefully led Li Ke and Qin Mubai to the polo field in their backyard.

  "It's none of your business, leave!" Li Ke waved his hand and shooed the Wu brothers away like he was ordering his own servants around. The armored soldiers who had followed them also kept a distance and didn't follow up.

  If the large horse arena has not been repaired for many years, the withered grass is piled up and yellow. However, among this decline and desolation, there are several women in bright clothes, like a group of fairies chasing and playing together, the vitality of youth has turned this bleak scene into a spring-like scenery.

  The two of them stood far away and admired for a moment, saying in unison: "It was worth the trip."

  "Off you go!" Li Ke threw the ball in his hand to Qin Mu Bai, a strange smile, "The beauty has an appointment."

  "Now that you're here, why don't we go have some fun together?" Qin Mu Bai asked with a hint of puzzlement.

  "I still have something else to attend to." Li Ke smiled even more strangely, waved his hand and said "Go on, a group of beauties are waiting for you!" After that, he actually turned around and left.

  "Strange..." Qin Mu Bai looked at Li Ke's back, puzzled for a moment, then suddenly had an epiphany and smiled.

  This Li Ke is indeed meticulous. Think about it, if he were to go with me now... a prince and a seventh-grade official, which one would those girls focus their attention on? No need to say, I would definitely become a mere decoration and a lamp post. So, it seems that today he actually intentionally helped me have a romantic encounter.

  Having a sense of justice.

  Just as Qin Mubai was walking and thinking, the group of girls seemed to have also noticed him, surrounding each other in a whispering discussion.

  "Hey, who is that person? When did he come?"

  "Hehe, you're quite handsome!"

  "Look, isn't that the kickball we just kicked away in his hand?"

  "Wow, could it be that King Wu sent someone to punish us?"

  ……

  Qin Mubai stored these words in his ears, smiled in his heart and put on a serious face, took big strides to walk closer and said loudly: "This ball, who kicked it over?"

  A group of women suddenly fell silent, shrinking together in a heap and staring at him with some alarm, not even daring to breathe.

  "You've really come to ask for punishment..."

  The tables have turned. Qin Mubai smiled to himself, weighing the ball in his hand and said: "No one kicked it, did it fly over by itself?"

  Taking a glance at the group of women, there were seven or eight people in total. Three of them were young mistresses, while the others were obviously maidservants. Just as Li Ke had said, these three sisters were each more beautiful than the last.

  Among them, a little girl with a peach face was the most eye-catching and outstanding. Her almond eyes, willow eyebrows, and powdered face were as white as snow, her skin was smooth and delicate, and her small breasts were full and plump like peaks. A pair of bright big eyes shone with curious light, looking at Qin Mu Bai with a flicker, but unlike other women, she didn't have a hint of shyness.

  "This little girl absolutely has the potential to be a national beauty and a legendary seductress. If she were born in the 21st century, she would be a future idol superstar in the making." Qin Mubai fixed his gaze on her, sizing her up from head to toe, admiring her in his heart.

  Breathtakingly beautiful.

  In Qin Mu Bai's eyes, who had been with countless women and considered himself to be romantic, the number of women that could be described as "stunning" was already very small.

  "Was it you who kicked?" Qin Mu Bai pointed his hand at her without hesitation.

  The peach-faced woman exclaimed in surprise and blurted out: "Wow, how did you know?"

  "Haha......" The woman beside him suddenly burst out laughing. Obviously, Qin Mu Bai hadn't intimidated them. In fact, Qin Mu Bai hadn't pretended to be too fierce either, and didn't let them really feel any hostility.

  An older woman stepped forward, bowed respectfully and said: "Your Excellency please forgive me, this has nothing to do with my sister. This kick was accidentally made by me, Wu Shi, a humble wife of the He family. I don't know how to address you, what is your position in the Wu King's palace?"

  "This woman should be the eldest of the three sisters, and is a simple and dignified character. She calls herself 'concubine', and it turns out that she has already married into the He Lan family as someone's wife." After thinking to himself for a moment, Qin Mu Bai smiled and said, "I am Qin Mu Bai, the accountant of the Wu Wang Fu."

  Nei zhàng jiào wèi, is the close bodyguard of the imperial prince. Qin Mu Bai said this, and it really seemed like he was sent by Li Ke to interrogate him.

  "It was General Qin, forgive me." The woman's face changed slightly and she looked a bit flustered, then bowed again. "We were rude and offended the King of Wu, please ask General Qin to intercede on our behalf in front of the King..."

  "It's easy to say." Qin Mu Bai smiled and was about to continue speaking when the little girl with the peach-like face suddenly jumped out, hummed a sound and said: "Hold on, Captain Qin. This has nothing to do with my sister. I'm the one who kicked this ball over here. If you want to take someone away, then take me!"

  "Second sister, you can't be rude!" Wu's older sister hastily pulled her back and apologized to Qin Mu Bai again, "My younger sister was too abrupt, General, please don't mind."

  "Sister, what are you doing? This ball was obviously kicked over by my younger sister!" The peach-faced girl broke free from her older sister's grasp and took a step forward without any fear. She stretched out one hand in front of Qin Mu Bai, revealing her slender, red fingers and delicate wrist as white as jade. Her small mouth pouted, "Come on, lock me up then!"

  Qin Mubai's mouth corners slightly raised, looking at this beautiful and demonic little hand, for a moment he had an unusual craving.

  She is so beautiful that one can feast his eyes on her.

  "What's your name?"

  "Bu zhao!" The little girl with a peach-like face said loudly and clearly, one word at a time.

  "What's going on?!" Qin Mubai furrowed his brow, feeling astonished in his heart.

  "Wu Zhao la!" The little girl with a peach face suddenly chuckled, her beautiful eyes, like shiny black gemstones, curved into a crescent moon shape as she smiled at Qin Mu Bai and said, "You're still young, aren't you hard of hearing?"

  "Oh dear, Second Sister is being impolite, how can you talk like that?"

  ……

  Takezo! The second daughter of the Takezo family!

  Warrior! Answer the country's call!

  The eldest daughter is married to He Lan's family!...

  That peach-faced little girl in front of me, isn't she the future... Empress Wu Zetian of history?! - She's still so young and hasn't been summoned into the imperial palace yet!

  Although I don't know much about the history of the Tang Dynasty, there are countless TV dramas related to Wu Zetian. Qin Mubai probably doesn't know these, it's also difficult.

  As soon as he heard the name of Wu Zetian, Qin Mubai only felt a sense of familiarity. But who isn't familiar with the two characters "Wu Zhao"? Later, before and after Wu Zetian's ascension to the throne, she created a new character "Zetian" which was homophonous with "Zhao", and from then on, the name Wu Zetian shook ancient and modern times.

  A cold wind swept through the withered grass, flying high. Qin Mu Bai didn't know why, but he felt a hint of coolness. Yet in his heart, there was a faint sense of excitement.

  "I'm actually... teasing the only female emperor in history. And, I even fantasize about having a romantic encounter with her, it's really sinful!" Qin Mu Bai shook his head unintentionally, a strange smile appearing on his face, "But if I could really have something to do with the only female emperor in history, it would be truly thrilling! Well, she can't even enter the palace now, let alone being an empress..."

  "Hehe, sister, look! This handsome guy is stunned!" Wu Zhao patted the little hand that had frozen to a bright red and chuckled, "This man is really interesting, he doesn't seem like someone who's here to ask for punishment, but rather like a foolish mortal who's been enchanted by your beauty."

  "Second sister, your mouth is truly... General Qin, please forgive me!" The eldest daughter of the Wu family hastily apologized.

  "It doesn't matter." Qin Mu Bai smiled slightly and looked up and down at Wu Zhaoyin several times, saying: "Actually, Your Highness the King of Wu is here to return the ball. However, there's a condition."

  "Please speak, Lieutenant."

  "If kicking the ball could win me over, then this ball would still belong to you, and I'd throw in a piece of silk as a bonus." Qin Mubai spoke freely, using the piece of silk he had just won by shooting an arrow as a stake. He held up the colored ball and said, "If we lose, you two sisters from the Wu family might as well grant us the pleasure of sharing a cup of thin wine together."

  Qin Mubai spoke ambiguously about "us", seeming to hint at the existence of something, and revealed a corner of Li Ke's arrival at Yingguo Gongfu, letting them guess. It seems that even if they wanted to refuse, it would be difficult for them now.

  "It's better to obey than to show respect." The eldest sister of the Wu family smiled and seemed to understand that Qin Mu Bai was not there to ask for punishment, but rather to make an excuse to have fun.

  Furthermore, Qin Mubai's affable and approachable nature itself had a certain charm that easily attracted women, causing the atmosphere to become relaxed.

  Wu Zhaohui smiled mischievously: "Jun Ge, come on, throw the ball over. I'll kick it first! See if you can kick it higher than me, even my sister can't kick as high as me, hehe!"

  "This is too boring and has no technical content." Qin Mubai smiled, pointing his hand at the two small trees by the polo field, "Pull a net between those two trees, whoever can kick the ball into it from twenty steps away wins."

  "Hehe, this is a new way of playing, great!" Wu Zhao, although a bit overdeveloped and mature for her age, was only thirteen or fourteen years old. She was more lively and active than any of the other girls, and not at all shy around strangers. With one jump, she snatched the ball from Qin Mu Bai's hand and boldly ordered her maid to pull up the net.

  "Hmm, having a penalty shootout with the future empress should be quite interesting." Qin Mubai couldn't help but laugh.

  .??，！