Chapter 18: Joyful Events Fill the Doorway

  "A great family with a grand gate, and a heroic and elegant demeanor - these are just the two most basic conditions." Wu Mei Niang, still young in years, yet with an air of mature calculation, her slender fingers gesturing as she spoke, "There are also two more important conditions. Firstly, my father was one of the eight prime ministers back then, and now that he's passed away, he's been posthumously conferred the title of third-grade secretary. He's always been the person I most admire, so my future husband must not be inferior to him."

  "Is that all?" Qin Mu Bai couldn't help but laugh. This was similar to the beauties he had met in his previous life, who would say "I want a car and a house" as soon as they opened their mouths. Although it sounded a bit worldly, it was indeed a very practical problem. Not surprising.

  "Of course." Wu Mei Niang raised her face, looking like a proud little peacock, and said loudly, "Although many famous officials in the world are noble and consider wealth to be worthless, I think that without money, nothing can be accomplished. Therefore, my future husband must be rich beyond compare."

  "Holding an official position of third rank and being listed among the prime ministers, yet still wanting to be the richest under heaven?" Qin Mu Bai burst into loud laughter.

  "What are you laughing at? Don't laugh! Hmph!"

  "Mei Niang, I can promise you these things. But remember, I'm not doing them just for you, a woman. In other words, even if you didn't propose such conditions, I, Qin Mu Bai, would still strive towards this goal. One day, I will achieve it." Qin Mu Bai said with a smile, "However, also remember that no one can guarantee that when that day comes, I, Qin Mu Bai, will still be willing to marry you. Or rather, you still have the chance to become my official wife."

  "What did you say?!" Wu Mei Niang's eyes widened in astonishment, as if she had just heard a heavenly scripture.

  "You didn't hear wrong, that's right. I don't guarantee things that can't be done, this is my usual way of doing things." Qin Mu Bai still smiled calmly and said, "As you said, if I reach that day, as a third-grade official and prime minister, and also the richest man in the world... do you think I will still lack women by my side? Under this vast sky, whether it's humans or animals, outstanding males always have more females, no matter how dissatisfied or jealous others are, or how much they criticize, it can't change this fact. Tell me, who can guarantee that at that time, there won't be other women who get to you before you do?"

  "What did you just say?!" Wu Mei Niang was shocked and stared at Qin Mu Bai with a mixture of surprise and anger, unable to utter another word.

  "So." Qin Mu Bai still had a smile on his face, stretched out one hand, and gently hooked her chin with his index finger, softly saying, "Although I'm now infatuated with you and willing to marry you, you must behave yourself and not be naughty. Otherwise, what you'll get is likely a divorce paper or the fate of being a concubine."

  Wu Mei Niang was speechless. She wished she could bite off Qin Mu Bai's frivolous fingers with one snap of her jaws.

  Although she was shocked and angry, she was also a little afraid. This man... humph, he's quite domineering when boasting!

  "It's indeed stunningly beautiful, to the point of being ruthless." Qin Mu Bai's mouth corners slightly curled up, revealing a signature smile that was charming but not flirtatious. He withdrew his hand and leaned in close to Wu Mei Niang's ear, whispering: "However, I still hope to grow old with you. So, what I most want to see is your obedience."

  "Don't even think about it!" Wu Mei Niang suddenly came back to her senses, took two steps back, and glared at him furiously. The injustice combined with shock and anger seemed to bring tears to her eyes.

  It's really a small fierce horse, with a challenging temperament. In the past, whenever I met any woman, after going through half of this process, she should have been obedient.

  Qin Mubai still smiled at Wu Meiniang and said, "Meiniang, you are ultimately mine. As long as I want you, you can't escape. We'll meet again."

  "Hmph...can't say!" Wu Mei Niang puffed out a cold hum, turning her face away. This round was thoroughly lost, but she just couldn't admit defeat with her mouth.

  "Goodbye." With a slight bow of his hand, Qin Mu Bai laughed loudly and strode away.

  A woman like Wu Mei Niang is like a one-of-a-kind, yet thorny and delicate rose. She can be admired from afar, but not touched or plucked, lest one gets pierced and bleeds profusely.

  Ke Qinmu Bai had always liked picking such flowers, and he never got tired of it. Because the harder it was to get, the more fulfilling it was when he finally did. So, he never visited prostitutes. He thought that only incompetent men would go to those places to find a vent for their desires like a stud horse.

  "Hey!!" Just a few steps away, Wu Mei Niang suddenly called out to Qin Mu Bai again from behind him.

  "Does Mei Niang have any more teachings?" Qin Mu Bai stopped and turned around with a smile.

  "Although I hate you very much, but today... still want to thank you!" Wu Mei Niang seemed extremely reluctant to finish this sentence, and then turned her face away with her hands clasped over her chest.

  It seems Mrs. Yang has told her everything that happened today.

  "There's no need to say that in the future." Qin Mu Bai smiled slightly, "Between husband and wife, do we still need to thank each other? It's like the left hand will never say it needs to thank the right hand. Goodbye!"

  "... Wu Meiniang was completely speechless, her teeth clenched with a faint clicking sound. After a brief daze, Qin Mubai's figure had already disappeared into the courtyard."

  "This guy, he's a complete scoundrel, a big bad egg." Wu Meiniang stomped her foot, her face flushing red with anger and embarrassment, and a hint of tears in her eyes. She muttered to herself, "Why did Mother want to marry me off to such a guy? And she said he was 'a clever and talented young man', humph! I think he's just good at talking big and making people happy. If this keeps up, who knows how many women will flock around him in the future, trying to steal my thunder... Ah, why am I thinking about this? Who wants to marry that big bad egg anyway, humph!"

  Qin Mubai walked to the front of the Wu Wang Fu, hesitating for a moment: Should I enter through the main gate of the palace or enter from the side door like I did early this morning?

  The little soldier on duty in front of the government office had already come up with his fists and said, "Commander Qin, you're back?" Then he gestured with his eyes, asking Qin Mu Bai to enter from the main gate.

  "Hmm... I've finished some things and came back." Qin Mu Bai said, walking naturally towards the main gate. He took a glance at the little servant, who had thick eyebrows and big eyes with lively eyesight, not an unpleasant appearance, looking quite clever, so he asked: "What's your name?"

  "Xiao Xing Yin, single name Yang. From now on, I will be one of the traveling generals under General Qin's command. Please take care of me and promote me in the future." The little soldier clasped his fists and bowed, saying in a low voice, "General Qin, actually this morning it was that Fan... Ah no, Fan Ziju deliberately made things difficult for you, not allowing you to enter through the main gate. I saw it, but also didn't dare speak out."

  According to the military system of the Great Tang, ten men formed a fire unit, and the smallest officer was the fire chief. Five fires formed a team, with the team leader as the team leader; two teams formed a brigade, with the commander as the brigade commander; and two brigades formed a division. Qin Mubai, this captain who had 200 soldiers under his command, was the highest commander of the division. And Yin Yang, this brigade commander, was his most trusted subordinate, no wonder he was so eager to get close to him.

  Qin Mubai smiled slightly and patted Yin Yang's shoulder armor: "There is still one more general."

  "Returning to the topic, the Wu King's mansion has just moved from Anzhou and was converted from the Metropolitan Governor's mansion to the Imperial Prince's mansion. The personnel establishment of the royal army is not yet perfect, and currently there is only one humble general under my command." Yan Yang replied.

  Qin Mubai's heart moved slightly, and he nodded: "I know. You have a future, you work hard."

  "Thank you, Captain Qin!"

  Qin Mubai walked into the Wang Fu, and Yin Yang said to the soldiers beside him: "See, this Captain Qin is much easier to get along with than that Captain Fan before!"

  "It's true! General Qin, who came from a prestigious family and a military background, also treated people with courtesy. But that Fan guy always looked down on us, trying to show off his power, hoping we'd serve him like servants."

  Qin Mubai faintly heard the discussions of the soldiers behind him and couldn't help but smile to himself: being polite to the weak, this is elegance. Obviously, that guy with the surname Fan doesn't understand these things. There's still a lack of a commander under me, isn't Yuwen Hongtai just suitable? I also promised him before... go tell Li Ke about it.

  At this moment, Li Ke was lying comfortably on a soft chair in the courtyard, with two beautiful maids attending to him. One gently massaged his shoulders, while the other fed him delicate pastries.

  Very enjoyable, very cozy.

  Qin Mubai had just walked near when Li Ke saw him first, sat up and waved his hand, the two beauties beside him knew the hint and floated away.

  "Mu Bai, when people encounter happy events, they should be in high spirits. Why do you look so gloomy?" Li Ke chuckled and smiled playfully.

  Qin Mubai shook his head with a bitter smile: "Your Highness, what are you singing today? I really don't know if it's just a sudden impulse or a premeditated plan."

  "In short, it's a perfect combination." Li Ke laughed and said, "No matter what, Wu Zhao... oh Wu Mei Niang, are both top-notch women, who can be met but not sought after. I thought to myself, letting her marry you as your wife is very suitable. So I came up with a plan, and that's how it happened."

  Qin Mubai smiled and shook his head, thinking to himself: It's obvious that Li Ke is trying to curry favor with me and the Qin family. His goal is probably to marry my fourth sister, Shuang'er... This charming guy can easily win over women, so why does he have a special affection for Shuang'er?

  "Then I thank Your Excellency for your kindness." Qin Mu Bai bowed his hands and said, "Actually, I have always had a question that I wanted to ask Your Excellency for guidance."

  Li Ke waved his hand and stood up, with both hands clasped behind his back, strolling away, indicating that Qin Mu Bai should follow him for a walk. As they walked, he said: "I know you want to ask me about the matter between me and Shuang Er, right?"

  "Your Highness is clever."

  "Mo Bai, I think you're also a sentimental person. Let me ask you, no matter how charming and flirtatious a man is, doesn't he always have an indelible shadow in his heart?" Li Ke asked.

  Qin Mubai was slightly stunned and nodded slightly.

  Li Ke's words are quite right. No one is born to be romantic, everyone has been young and naive before, and everyone will have their own awkward first love.

  First love for men means a lot, sometimes even more so than women's feelings, it can be deeply ingrained.

  "Frost is irreplaceable to me." Li Ke's face relaxed into a gentle smile as he said this. At this moment, the frivolous and flirtatious expression on his face was gone, replaced by the awkward yet innocent look of a young man who had just fallen in love.

  "I see." Qin Mu Bai nodded and smiled. It turned out that Shuang Er was Li Ke's first love, the green apple of his youth.

  Men, whether they are romantic or not, who doesn't treasure their first love like a precious gem?

  "Alright, let's stop here." Li Ke smiled and changed the subject, which made him feel a bit awkward. "Today's banquet has been arranged, and it's being prepared now. You go back home later and personally invite Wing Guo Gong Xian to attend the banquet. I've been confined all day and can't do anything, so I'm glad to have something to do. Let's make it lively and enjoyable for everyone."

  "Thank you, Your Highness." Qin Mubai responded and then told Li Ke about the matter of summoning Yuwen Hongtai to come to the Prince's Mansion.

  Li Ke readily agreed and said that it was a small matter, he would just send one of his men with the Wu Wang Fu's letter to take care of it.

  Qin Mubai thanked Li Ke and prepared to go home to ask his father and mother. When he went out, he handed over the matter to Yin Yang to handle, and he himself went straight to the Wing State Duke's Mansion.

  Returning home, I found a lively and bustling scene.

  Liu's mother and his sister Shuang'er, overjoyed, welcomed Qin Mu Bai and pulled him into the house to try on new clothes. The two of them had already changed into their beautiful new attire and were eagerly urging Qin Mu Bai to take off his deep green official robe and change into a brocade robe cut from the finest fabric in the western market.

  "Third brother, haha, congratulations! Xiang'er hugged Xiaofen and jumped up laughing. "I heard you married the famous Wu family's second daughter, that's a renowned beauty! Haha, great, I'm going to have an older sister!"

  Before the fourth sister's words fell, Mrs. Liu also smiled with joy: "Child, mother has finally waited for this day! Don't say anything else, hurry up and dress nicely, let's go to Wu Wangfu together as guests. Mother must take a look at what kind of beautiful appearance this daughter-in-law has, whether she is auspicious, and whether her buttocks are big enough to give birth to children!"

  Qin Mubai was taken aback and hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or not, saying: "Mother, it's still too early!"

  "Haha! Can't I be happy for a moment?" Liu's wife hugged Si Mei, and the two of them laughed together in joy.

  At this moment, a servant came in and said: "Third Master, the old master is calling you!"

  Qin Mubai arrived at his father's room, only to find Qin Shubao sitting on the couch in a daze, staring blankly at a large pile of clothes in front of him.

  "Dad, what's wrong?"

  "It's best if Sanlang comes." Qin Shubao cleared his throat, wanting to be serious but with a hint of awkward smile, and said, "You quickly help pick one out for me. Which clothes should I wear to attend the banquet at Wu Wangfu? Should it be official robes, military attire, Hu dress with a headscarf, or brocade robe with a wise crown? It's been three or four years since I've left the house and seen people, and I'm afraid of being ridiculed for not dressing properly!"

  Qin Mubai was momentarily stunned and lost his smile, this is indeed a happy trouble! ... Good things are coming one after another, even the usually stoic old father seems to be truly delighted today!

  .??，！