Chapter 55: Li Tai's Wholeheartedness

  The wine party has ended. The guests are leaving one after another, and many people take the initiative to greet Qin Mubai, either by bowing or exchanging pleasantries.

  Qin Bin smiled and said: "Third brother, after this round of 'Flowing Water and Turning Cups', you will surely become famous in Chang'an."

  "What's going on?" Qin Mu Bai asked.

  "Of course, it goes without saying." Qin Bin said, "Chang'an has always been a place of elegance for poetry and literature, gathering the most outstanding scholars and writers from all over the world. The Wei Wangfu is a collection of the essence of these scholars and writers. Having gained their recognition and approval is equivalent to gaining the approval of all the scholars and officials in Chang'an, and even the entire Tang Dynasty. I'm sure your poem 'Will Progress' will be widely spread. From today on, you can also be considered a talented scholar."

  "Haha!" Qin Mubai burst out laughing. He wanted to tell his second brother that the poem was actually plagiarized. But after some thought, he decided not to. What if someone asked him about it and he couldn't come up with a convincing explanation? A person like Li Bai is only born once in a thousand years. A magnificent poem like "Bring In The Ale" isn't something just anyone can come up with.

  The two brothers chatted and walked, and had already left the Wei Wang Fu. Just as they were about to get in the carriage, a man who looked like an official hurried over and blocked their way, bowing his head and saying: "May I ask which one of you is Qin Mu Bai, the young master of the Qin family?"

  "What's your honorable surname?" Qin Mu Bai got off the carriage and returned the courtesy.

  The young man cupped his hands and bowed, saying: "Qin Gongzi please forgive me. I am Jiang Yaqing, the recording officer of the Wei Wangfu, and it was I who recorded the poem just now at the winding stream wine ceremony."

  "Oh, General Chiang, what instructions do you have?"

  "I dare not," said Jiang Yaqing, "I have always admired Mr. Qin's poetry. Moreover, I am entrusted by King Wei to engrave Mr. Qin's poem 'Inviting the Wine' into a stone tablet. Therefore, I would like to ask for some advice on a small matter, and trouble you to rest for a moment."

  "Oh... alright then." Qin Mu Bai agreed and let Qin Bin take the carriage back to the mansion first, while he followed Jiang Ya Qiong into the Wang Fu.

  The two returned to the Wei Wang Fu, and the officials and scholars in the mansion had all left, making it relatively quiet. Qin Mu Bai thought to himself, "You're just a small record-keeping military officer, what makes you qualified to keep me here for discussion? I reckon it's probably because King Li Tai of Wei wants to invite me back for a chat. Since there are many people outside and rumors spread easily, that's why you made up an excuse."

  Walking up to a quiet attic in the backyard, Jiang Yaqing stopped and bowed his hands: "Please ask Master Qin to go upstairs."

  "Good." Qin Mu Bai's heart understood and smiled slightly: That's right. It must be Li Tai looking for me.

  Just as he stepped onto the exquisite little building, the door upstairs was pushed open, and Li Tai's signature hearty laughter came out: "Mu Bai brother has arrived, sorry for the inconvenience. Xiao Wang is afraid of too many people and miscellaneous eyes making it difficult for Mu Bai brother, so he resorted to this inferior plan and asked Jiang Ya Qian to invite you here."

  "Your Highness has a good point." Qin Mubai smiled and returned the courtesy, then walked into the house. He thought to himself: This Li Tai is thoughtful in every way, with a mind as fine as silk, considering everything carefully, and treating everyone with a warm smile. But why do I feel that this person... is a bit sinister? In comparison, I think Li Ke is more straightforward and sincere, and his temperament is more compatible with mine.

  "Please sit down, Brother Mubai." After Li Tai invited him to take a seat, he personally poured tea for him and smiled, saying, "Brother Mubai's 'A Toast to the Future' will surely be a sensation in the Tang Dynasty and be renowned for centuries. I, Xiao Wang, admire your talent with utmost sincerity."

  "Yet bold, yet bold." Qin Mu Bai smiled and said, "It's just a momentary impulse of reckless talk, Your Highness shouldn't take it seriously."

  "Haha, speaking nonsense can also have such a realm, I suppose Qin Mu Bai's talent and emotions are already beyond ordinary people. Li Tai seemed to understand the principle of 'thousand holes and million holes, only horse fart is not pierced', and he praised Qin Mu Bai with a mouthful of flowers."

  Qin Mubai, however, was unusually delighted. Firstly, this poem was originally plagiarized, and the more others praised it, the more he felt a twinge of guilt; secondly, offering excessive flattery without reason is either deceitful or thieving, and his relationship with Li Tai had always been quite ordinary. The reason they were so actively trying to get close to him was precisely because he was a "Hundred Riders Envoy".

  "Brother Mubai has such talent, if he doesn't write more poetry and prose, it would be a great loss to the world! We people who boast of our literary talents can't even compare to Brother Mubai's occasional bursts of inspiration." Li Tai said, "Therefore, I have an impolite request for you, Brother Mubai, what do you think?"

  "Your Highness, please go on," said Qin Mu Bai.

  "Xiao Wang is thinking... Please, Brother Mu Bai, come and visit my 'Literary Temple' to pay respects, what do you say?" Li Tai said with a silly smile, full of expectation as he looked at Qin Mu Bai.

  "This... doesn't seem right, does it?" Qin Mu Bai said, "Your Highness also knows that I am now a hundred riders messenger... how can I suddenly change my allegiance, the Emperor will definitely not be pleased."

  "No, no, no, Brother Mu Bai misunderstood." Li Tai hurriedly said, "Xiao Wang's literary pavilion is not an official institution, nor does it have official positions or salaries. It's just a group of scholars and literati who gather spontaneously, with the goal of compiling books, revising biographies, writing poetry, and composing lyrics. Normally, everyone has their own duties; only when they have free time do they gather like today to discuss and critique each other's poetry and articles."

  Qin Mubai's heart skipped a beat: That's easy for you to say! Those scholars and literati gathered in your literary pavilion may not have official salaries or positions, but in reality, they are all your retainers. Most of them don't have formal occupations and are being supported by you. If I agree to this, won't I just become one of your followers under the banner of King Wei? You're trying to create a fait accompli and drag me into this, aren't you, Li Tai?!

  "Your Highness, please forgive me. I have an unavoidable and distressing reason, and I'm afraid I won't be able to comply with your request for the time being." Qin Mu Bai bowed his head in apology.

  "In fact, Brother Mu Bai doesn't have to worry too much. Many court officials and high-ranking officials gather at Xiao Wang's literary pavilion! For example, the Attendant Censor-in-Chief Liu Jian, the Grandee Secretary Wei Ting, the Minister of Works Du Chu Ke, and so on." Li Tai didn't give up, hastily saying, "I don't know what Brother Mu Bai is still worried about, why not speak out and let's hear it?"

  Qin Mubai smiled wryly and was about to speak but stopped himself, saying: "Your Highness is unaware. My father..."

  "Oh, what instructions does your esteemed father, Duke of Wing State, have?" Li Tai asked.

  Qin Mubai shook his head, looking very embarrassed, and said: "My father is a military man, and he has always disliked me for writing poetry, playing music, and appreciating art. He says that as the son of a general, I should focus on my career instead of indulging in these frivolous pursuits. In fact, I never wanted to be a general, I just want to gather with a few friends by the mountain stream, and carefreely recite poetry under the moonlight. Alas, due to my father's pressure, I had no choice but to participate in the selection for the Hundred Riders. *sigh*... Now, not only do I dare not write poetry or play music, I don't even dare read books of poetry. All I can do is hold military strategy books and practice martial arts with those sweaty military officers every day."

  "Oh? Hehe, so that's how it is." Li Tai's face showed a hint of disappointment, and he nodded thoughtfully, lowering his eyelids. "I understand, I understand. Your esteemed father, Qin Gong, was a hero in his time, and it's only natural to hope that his son would follow in his footsteps. I've also heard that your second brother, Qin Bin, although holding a civil position, has also cultivated excellent martial arts skills. If he were to take the field as a general, it wouldn't be difficult at all. From this, it can be said that the Qin family is indeed a military household with a strict family tradition!"

  Qin Mubai smiled bitterly: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your understanding. I was thrown into the army by my father since childhood and have been on my own for many years. My second brother is the legitimate son, while I am a bastard... with no status in the family. If my father says one, how can I dare say two? Moreover, my father's health is not good, and I really don't dare to disobey him and make him angry. Therefore, the king's kind intention, I can only temporarily acknowledge it in my heart. If my father finds out that I joined Your Highness's literary institute, spending all day with poetry and literature, he will surely become furious and vomit blood. So..."

  "Alright, a gentleman doesn't force others to do what's difficult for them." Li Tai chuckled and said with a silly smile, "Since Brother Mu Bai has such a hidden intention, I won't press the issue. However, if you have some free time, please come visit me at my humble abode and let's drink wine together, recite poetry, and enjoy ourselves to our hearts' content - that would be one of life's greatest pleasures!"

  "Your Highness is too kind, but I dare not accept it." Qin Mu Bai bowed his hands and said, "It's just that I am busy with my duties in the palace every day and rarely have any leisure time. If there is any negligence on my part, please forgive me, Your Highness."

  "Haha, Brother Mu Bai is serving in the palace, and I am also attending to my duties every day. It's easy for us to meet and chat from now on." Li Tai smiled and said, "Moreover, Brother Mu Bai is often busy in the palace and can't go out much. If there's anything that needs to be taken care of outside the palace but you don't have time to attend to it yourself, feel free to ask me. Although I'm not talented, I have many friends in Chang'an, and I believe they can help Brother Mu Bai in some way."

  "Your Highness is too kind, I can only express my gratitude in every way." Qin Mu Bai thanked him and thought to himself: Is Li Tai hinting at the matter with Wu Mei Niang? Analyzing his words, he was able to take care of me "meticulously", letting the number one wine's wealth and popularity soar to unprecedented heights... and also destroy the number one wine in an instant. In other words, if I, Qin Mu Bai, want to ensure my safety and well-being, I will have to obey his orders from now on?

  This dead fatty, using the literary museum as an excuse to pull me in, now wants to use Wu Mei Niang to coerce and control me! - Indeed sinister!

  This trick may work on others, but for me, Qin... I've always hated such tactics!

  After chatting for a while, Li Tai also didn't stay much longer, Qin Mu Bai bid farewell and went home.

  Returning home to the courtyard, he saw Qin Shubao sitting in the main hall from a distance, and then went forward to pay his respects.

  "What's Li Taiyu doing here?" Qin Shubao asked straightforwardly.

  Qin Mubai did not conceal anything and told him the truth about what had happened.

  "So be it." Qin Shubao stroked his grey beard, and without saying more, he narrowed his old eyes and said, "Li Tai seems loyal and honest, but in reality is sinister. Now that the Crown Prince is above him, as a younger brother of the Emperor, he doesn't follow the rules of a minister, with a mind full of envy for the Eastern Palace, carefully planning and scheming everywhere - this kind of behavior, sooner or later will bring disaster."

  "The child also thinks so." Qin Mu Bai let out a light breath and said, "The King of Wei must be a troublesome master. In the future, whether he succeeds or fails, following him will inevitably lead to trouble. It's better to keep a distance."

  "Sanlang carefully remembered six words: 'Don't offend, don't fawn.' Qin Shubao summed it up in one sentence, 'Just this and nothing more.'"

  .??，！