Chapter 2: The Overlord Removes His Armor

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  Fifteen bowls down the hatch, Yuwen Hongtai got up unsteadily and stumbled away: "I'm not drinking with this madman anymore, it's like he has a vendetta against wine. I'm going back to rest!"

  "Corpse!" Qin Mubai, who was feeling depressed, threw the wine bowl and fell over onto the bed.

  Yuwen Hongtai felt a chill in his heart and thought of Empress Longsun lying in the Yuan Palace, so he shrank his neck and slipped out.

  After walking out of the door and taking a few steps, Yuwen Hongtai was blown awake by the cold wind, but he felt an urge to urinate. Dazed and confused, he walked to the edge of the plank road to relieve himself, when he heard a faint sound of horseshoes. Following the sound, more than ten riders appeared on the mountain path in the darkness.

  Smoke and dust fluttering, riding skills exquisite.

  "Who is that?... A group of civilians in plain clothes, daring to gallop horses at the Mausoleum of Emperor Taizong, are they tired of living?" Yuwen Hongtai tightened his pants with a quiver and strode towards the plank road. The thunderous voice shouted: "Who comes here, daring to ride horses within the territory of the Mausoleum of Emperor Taizong, are you fed up with life?"

  "Rebel with audacity—"

  A swift horse like lightning, a sword was placed on the neck of Yuwen Hongtai, scaring him so much that he trembled all over and his intoxication disappeared. Suddenly seeing clearly the person in front of him, Yuwen Hongtai's eyes widened and he knelt down: "Your Majesty!"

  The newcomer was none other than Emperor Taizong of Tang — Li Shimin!

  "Ignorance is no crime, let him go. You all stay here and don't disturb others, Li Junxian follows me to Zhao Mausoleum."

  The guards at Zhaoling were on high alert and all civilians had been cleared from the area. The Emperor of Tang, Li Shimin, and his companion, Li Junxian, dismounted their horses and walked towards the tomb.

  The sky had grown dark, and Li Shimin sat down in front of the tomb of Empress Changsun, looking at the heavy stone gate, a rare hint of sorrow added to his normally resolute face.

  Li Shimin didn't bring any offerings either, but instead brought a pipa and plucked its strings with a golden plectrum.

  "Girl (the nickname of Empress Changsun 'Guanyin Girl'), today is your birthday. People say that the deceased are only remembered on their death anniversary, but I don't care about these things, so I secretly came out of the palace to see you. I built a high platform in the imperial palace to gaze at your mausoleum, but was scolded by Wei Zheng and had to dismantle it... Never mind, let's not talk about this. This is your favorite tune, today I'll play it for you as a birthday gift." After whispering like lovers for a few sentences, Li Shimin held the pipa horizontally and began to play.

  A low and mournful Pipa melody echoed in the sky of Zhao Mausoleum. Li Junxian listened from afar, and couldn't help but shake his head with a sigh: "Your Majesty is indeed a sentimental person, and your feelings for the Empress are too deep. This tune makes even me, a ruthless warrior, want to shed tears."

  Drowsy Qin Mubai vaguely heard the sound of a pipa, and like a conditioned reflex, he reached out to take it and held it in his arms, plucking the strings.

  "No way, I must go back through time again!"

  The quiet night sky of Zhao Mausoleum was suddenly filled with two pipa sounds.

  During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, pipa was played with a "wooden pick" or "iron pick", and the melody was inevitably intermittent and lacking in vigor. Qin Moyi's "pushing hand for pipa, pulling hand for pa" used fingerpicking to produce continuous and flowing sounds. Moreover, he played a piece called "The Hegemon Lays Down His Armor", which was the same tune that had been played when his soul had first transmigrated - a typical stirring martial melody, whose bold rhythm immediately drowned out Li Shimin's elegant court music.

  Yuwen Hongtai, who was not far away, was suddenly stunned: Old Bai, old Bai, you're fine just "standing as a corpse" and playing the pipa at this time, startling the emperor is okay, but the sound actually covered him... Woe, he's done for!

  Li Junxian took a deep breath of cool air and gritted his teeth in anger: "I'll go take a look at which reckless individual dares to be so bold!"

  Slow!

  Li Shimin suddenly stood up and handed the pipa to Li Junxian, waving his hand to signal him to listen patiently. Li Junxian was only seething with anger, where did he have the mind to listen to any melody?

  Li Shimin, however, was a lover and master of pipa music. As he listened intently to the tune, his expression gradually turned solemn, then suddenly revealed a look of astonishment.

  "Abdicating the Armor of the Hegemon" was composed during the Ming and Qing dynasties, with a total of 16 sections. It is based on the scene of Xiang Yu, the Overlord of Western Chu, in his final battle at Wujiang River. The first part mainly describes the scenes of setting up camp, deploying troops, and engaging in battle, hence it is majestic, stirring, and powerful.

  "The silver vase bursts, the water splashes, the iron cavalry rushes out, and the swords and guns roar", the stirring melody combined with Qin Mu Bai's skilled performance makes one feel as if they are on the scene. Li Shimin, who has been through a hundred battles, seems to have returned to the passionate battlefield of that year, holding the heavenly sword in his hand, leading the troops forward like electricity, and the blood and flesh flying everywhere!

  The following paragraph is a poignant and tragic description of the fall of the Chu State, with the sound of Han troops approaching from all sides: "The Han army has taken over the land, the sound of Chu songs fills the air. The king's spirit is exhausted, what's the point of my humble life?"

  The endless heroic blood, the unbroken tender fingers. The sound, appearance and smile of Empress Changsun, faintly appeared in Li Shimin's mind.

  "I sit and possess the rivers and mountains of ten thousand miles, gazing out over the world, yet I am unable to retain the fleeting life of my beloved wife, my closest friend, my crimson beauty..."

  Suddenly a sound of four strings playing in unison, like tearing silk cutting through the air and then stopping abruptly, the music ended with an eerie silence.

  Li Shimin's expression changed slightly, and although he was not moved by the sword rain, he couldn't help but tremble lightly. He took a deep breath and hummed: "This is truly divine skill! And this melody is so in tune with my mood, it must be my kindred spirit! - Take a look!"

  Li Junxuan raised an eyebrow in surprise, thinking to himself: I've followed the Emperor as a royal bodyguard for so many years, and rarely have I seen him so visibly moved!

  Although the wine is light, its aftertaste is full. Qin Mubai had already gotten drunk lying down, but his hands didn't stop, dazedly and endlessly playing "The Hegemon's Armor".

  The room was in disarray, with wine vessels used for worship scattered all over the floor, cups and plates were messy on the table, and a drunkard lay on the bed playing the pipa.

  Li Junxian first gently pushed open the door, saw the scene in front of him and couldn't help but get angry, glaring at Qin Mubai with a fierce gaze, having a strong urge to draw his sword and kill him. The next moment, he was shocked again, staring at Qin Mubai's face with wide eyes, his expression becoming extremely surprised.

  "What's wrong, Jun Xian?" Li Shimin walked in and asked.

  "Your Majesty, this little fellow..." Li Junxian exclaimed in surprise, "looks exactly like Qin Shubao, the Duke of Wing State!"

  "Huh?" Li Shimin slightly raised an eyebrow in surprise, and motionlessly waved his hand. "You go ask someone."

  "Yes..." Li Junxian nodded and responded, then backed out and closed the door.

  Soft-soled cloud boots stepped lightly and silently, Li Shimin walked to Qin Mubai's side and sat down, carefully examining Qin Mubai. He smiled to himself, thinking: Sword-like eyebrows, broad forehead, straight nose, majestic and dignified appearance, indeed similar to Shu Bao in eight parts. Born with a handsome and elegant appearance, only lacking a few strands of beautiful whiskers. Could he be Shu Bao's third son? He remembered that Qin Sanlang had indeed enlisted early and entered the Imperial Forest Army.

  Before he could think further, Li Shimin was already deeply attracted by the pipa being played by Qin Moyi.

  "Who knew the pipa could be played like this? Not held horizontally, but vertically in his arms, not with a plectrum but with his hands. His fingers danced like a snake on the four strings, swiftly sweeping across them. His left hand pushed, pulled, struck and plucked the strings. And this melody was unlike any soft and elegant pipa tune from the palace, it was bold and powerful, full of ups and downs, like a whole orchestra playing... truly a divine skill!" Li Shimin watched in rapt attention for a long time, secretly marveling at the performance.

  After finishing the song, Qin Mu Bai got even more drunk and didn't know where he was. He only knew that his head was spinning and he was extremely thirsty. He shouted out randomly: "Auntie, pour me a cup of tea to drink!"

  At home, there was a young and beautiful little babysitter, whom Qin Mu Bai always jokingly called 'Obasan'.

  "Old lady? Let me pour you some tea...... this stinky little kid!" Li Shimin couldn't help but laugh and didn't get angry, really poured him a cup of tea. Qin Mubai also didn't mind, took the tea and drank it all up, his eyes almost never opening as he continued to lie down and play the pipa.

  Li Junxian stood outside the door, listening to all of this and getting more and more annoyed, his teeth itching with hatred, unable to rush in and kill the rude Qin Mubai. But thinking that even the Emperor didn't care about it, what's the hurry? Plus, there was that famous Qin Shubao... Li Junxian secretly trembled with fear, not daring to act rashly.

  Qin Mubai had played "The Conqueror Abdicates" three times and fell asleep, snoring.

  "Heh heh, among the tomb guards of Zhao Mausoleum, there is such a strange person. How did I not know about it before?" Li Shimin didn't wake up Qin Mubai, but instead quietly walked to the outside of the door.

  "Your Majesty, I have investigated thoroughly. This young man is indeed the third son of Qin Xiang, the Duke of Wing State, named Qin Liang, also known as Qin Mubai. He has been very mischievous since childhood and was sent to the army by his father at the age of 15 or 16 to discipline him. Due to the special instructions of the Duke of Wing State, Qin Mubai has been serving as a regular soldier in the Left Guard of the Imperial Forest Army for three years without any promotion. Two years ago, during a horse riding training session, he accidentally fell off his horse and injured himself, which made him slightly... dull-witted."

  "A bit silly?" Li Shimin smiled slightly, "If a foolish person can play the pipa so well, how can we normal people bear it?"

  Li Junxuan was taken aback for a moment, and didn't say much. The Emperor had a great love for music, especially the pipa, which was almost common knowledge. It seemed that this time, the Emperor had taken an interest in Qin Mubai, who played the pipa with skill despite his absurd and rude behavior.

  "Uncle Bao, as a founding merit subject and holding the position of Left Wuwei General, his own son joined the army but was only an ordinary small soldier. Such a great righteousness is really worthy of being a model for all ministers." Li Shimin said thoughtfully, "In recent years, Uncle Bao's illness has worsened due to his lifelong battles, and his body has weakened year by year. His two eldest sons are busy with official duties and can't take care of him at home. Let this Qin Mubai return home to serve Uncle Bao's sickbed - Jun Xian, make arrangements."

  "Your humble servant obeys!"

  .??，！