Chapter 57: The Elf Storms the Palace

  On a summer afternoon, the sweltering weather made people drowsy. Qin Mubai came to the Wude Temple's imperial study as usual for inspection. The several hundred riders who were about to doze off hastily stood up straight, silently cursing their bad luck.

  At noon and dawn, people tend to relax and slack off. Qin Mubai was afraid that the soldiers would be lazy at this time, so he often came to inspect at this time. Whoever was caught dozing off or slacking off would be severely punished.

  Qin Mubai glared at the soldiers and didn't say anything more. At this time, the emperor was probably taking a nap, and waking him up would not be good.

  After finishing this shift, I should also take a break. The four-day family leave every month is the rare relaxing time. Qin Mubai had already thought about it and planned to use these few days to go to Yao'er's place to teach her piano, and also invite his sister Shuanger to come together to learn. Although they can't learn anything in just four days, it's good for them to get in touch with this new instrument first.

  The eunuchs who served the emperor came out of the study and said that the emperor had indeed dealt with some memorials and was now resting on the couch in the study. Qin Mubai planned to wait for a while, see if the emperor had anything to entrust him when he woke up, and then go on vacation himself. Over the past two months, Li Shimin's trust in Qin Mubai had also deepened day by day, often entrusting him with some private matters. For example, passing messages to which imperial concubine, taking the young prince to the back garden for a stroll, or inviting which minister to enter the palace for a conversation.

  In the past, these things were handled by eunuchs. Now that Li Shimin has his hundred riders, he often feels that it's more reliable to have them handle matters and they can also demonstrate the imperial dignity. Gradually, Qin Mubai almost became like a "secretary" in the emperor's heart. Occasionally, Li Shimin would also discuss some simple military and government affairs with Qin Mubai, as if intentionally testing him on some issues.

  After two months of taking office, Qin Mubai indeed learned a lot from Li Shimin about the political system, operation mode and most of the court officials of the Great Tang Dynasty.

  It was a sweltering summer day, and the hundred or so soldiers were all wearing thick armor, each one drenched in sweat. But this degree of hardship was nothing compared to the rigors of training, and nobody paid it much mind.

  Li Shimin still hadn't woken up after a long time, so Qin Mubai slowly paced back and forth in front of the Wude Hall, patiently waiting.

  At this moment, a group of people appeared under the Longwei Road. It seemed to be several palace maids wearing colorful palace clothes, holding oil-paper umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun, walking step by step towards the Longwei Road.

  Li Shimin had a habit of not allowing anyone to disturb him when he was sleeping, including his personal eunuchs who had to keep a distance. His ministers were also very mindful and unless it was a major state affair, no one dared to disturb the emperor's rest at this time.

  Qin Mubai saw the group of women approaching from afar, and his eyebrows furrowed involuntarily: What were those Qian Niu guards at Long Wei Road doing? Why didn't they stop them? ...Or was it that some big shots had arrived, and they didn't dare to block their way?

  Just as I was hesitating, the group of women approached me.

  Qin Mubai couldn't help but feel a flash of brightness before his eyes.

  Those palace maids were all quite young, probably around sixteen or seventeen years old on average. The little girl under the oil-paper umbrella was obviously their mistress.

  This young girl is about twelve or thirteen years old, with phoenix eyes and peach cheeks, her skin as white as snow, like a water lily about to bloom, exuding an air of noble elegance. The girls of this era seem to be somewhat precocious, but she, despite her tender age, has developed well, already quite tall, almost reaching 1.7 meters, wearing a snowy white palace-style feathered robe, looking slender and elegant.

  On such a drowsy summer afternoon, the sudden appearance of this woman made Qin Mu Bai and the soldiers feel as if they had been bathed in a refreshing breeze, their minds suddenly cleared, and their eyes brightened.

  "Halt." Qin Mu Bai stepped forward, hands spread wide, his face expressionless. "Who dares to intrude? State your name and title."

  "Reckless driving? You dare to say that the princess is reckless?" A maid who followed her sneered coldly, "Get out of the way! The princess wants to see His Majesty the Emperor!"

  The white-clad young woman turned her face away, not even giving Qin Mu Bai a proper glance. She fiddled with the ends of her hair, looking distracted. Almost humming through her nose, she said: "They must be from the Hundred Riders, Father's elite guards, their discipline is much stricter than ordinary soldiers. Qing E, go ahead and report my name."

  "Now, listen up! This is the Emperor's most beloved - Princess Gaoyang! My princess doesn't socialize with just anyone, scram!" Qing'e said.

  Princess Gaoyang?

  "What a legendary figure! I finally get to see her in person today!" Qin Mubai exclaimed inwardly - wasn't she the same High Princess Gaoyang from history, who married Fang Yili, had an affair with Monk Bianji, and even participated in a rebellion? This woman was quite unconventional and bold, even among the thousands of years of Chinese history. As early as the Tang Dynasty, she personally staged a sensational extramarital love affair, making her a pioneer of "free love"!

  Having served by the Emperor's side for two months, I have only just seen this Princess Gao Yang for the first time!

  "No." Qin Mu Bai quickly glanced at Princess Gao Yang again, still expressionless. "The imperial edict is strict: during the noon rest, unless it's a major national affair, no one is allowed to disturb. Your Highness, please return for now and come back after three o'clock."

  "What did you say?" The palace maid Qing'e was stunned, and the other accompanying maids also froze, staring at Qin Mu Bai like they were sizing up an alien.

  "I said, Your Highness, please come back at three o'clock in the afternoon." Qin Mu Bai repeated.

  "This man is sick!" The palace maids almost spoke in unison, then cursed and scolded in a cacophony of voices:

  "Even if it were His Imperial Majesty himself, he would not refuse to see Her Highness the Princess!"

  "The princess stayed in her hometown of Taiyuan for over two months and just returned, eager to see you. How dare you block her way? The emperor will surely severely punish you when he finds out!"

  "This person is so ungrateful!"

  ……

  "Shut up!" Princess Gao Yang was calm, dismissed the palace maids and stepped forward, looked at Qin Mu Bai with a raised head, and revealed an eerie smile.

  Qin Mubai couldn't help but feel a slight chill in his heart: this smile... was actually so bewitching!

  Just a moment ago, she seemed like a typical innocent and pure little loli, relatively quiet, even with a bit of shyness. But now this smile completely gives her away - if she weren't extremely cunning, how could she smile so seductively? At this moment, her eyes are flowing with smoke and waves, as if there were thousands of ideas for her to choose from.

  Qin Mubai secretly raised his vigilance - this little girl might be thinking of some small trick to deal with him!

  "Your Highness, please forgive me. The Emperor's decree is strict and no one can disobey." Qin Mu Bai still observed the formalities, clasped his fists and performed a military salute, "Please, Your Highness, do not make it difficult for me to carry out my duty."

  "Hehe - to be honest with you, if I didn't think you looked somewhat decent, I would have ruined you by now!" Princess Gao Yang smiled recklessly, revealing two small dimples and a pair of small tiger teeth. At the same time, her eyes intentionally glanced down at Qin Mu Bai's lower body, making his heart feel a chill.

  Are you actually trying to kick me in the groin?

  It's really that you can't judge a person by their appearance. A 12 or 13-year-old little girl, who is still a noble lady from an imperial family, is actually so... evil!

  "Your Highness, please return." Qin Mu Bai made an effort to remain calm and expressionless, saying, "It is my duty, unless the Emperor himself personally changes his orders, I absolutely dare not let Your Highness enter to see him."

  "Oh, you little military school student, still daring to argue with me?" The young face of Princess Gao Yang rose slightly, and a more enchanting smile appeared on her childish face, as if the clear eyes sparkled with a meaning that didn't match her youth.

  This means that Qin Mubai felt a little familiar. Whether in his past life or this life, he had not met fewer flower-crazy women, and those women looked at him with the same eyes. Only, in the eyes of Princess Gao Yang, there was a bit more teasing and disdain. This situation is just like some old masters looking at their newly bought concubines... treating them as playthings, treating them as tools for venting.

  This made Qin Mubai somewhat annoyed. His eyebrows slightly furrowed, and his face also became a bit colder.

  "Your Highness, please return quickly. The sun is high in the sky, don't get heatstroke." Qin Mu Bai said calmly.

  "You're a bold one, you thieving military school student." Princess Gao Yang didn't get angry, but her pale face showed a hint of redness from excitement. She gritted her silver teeth and hummed, "I'll give you one last chance, scram and let me in. Otherwise, you'll definitely regret it."

  "Hmph!" Qin Mu Bai sneered, saying indifferently, "Is Your Highness threatening me? Or perhaps you want to force your way into the palace? His Majesty has given a special decree to the Hundred Riders, that anyone who attempts to force their way into the palace without being summoned or warned will be beheaded first and reported afterwards."

  "You, have you eaten the heart of a bear and the gallbladder of a leopard? You don't even ask clearly who I am?" Princess Gao Yang obviously didn't expect Qin Mu Bai to be so tough, and even said such words - "beheading first and reporting later".

  "I know. Your Highness is Princess Gaoyang. It's said that you're also one of the most favored princesses by His Majesty." Qin Mubai said calmly.

  "Not one of them!" Princess Gao Yang finally got angry, stomping her little foot and pointing at Qin Mu Bai, "Get out!"

  "Please take care of yourself, Princess." Qin Mu Bai remained still as ever. The other military officers also gathered around at this time, although they were a bit nervous in their hearts, but still firmly stood behind Qin Mu Bai and said in unison: "Princess, please return, we have our duties!"

  "Wow, this is outrageous! You bunch of useless eunuchs, not even the Emperor dares to scold me, and you dare... Fine, I'll storm into the palace today and see if you have the guts to behead me!" After saying that, Princess Gaoyang bit her lip, lifted up her long palace dress with both hands, puffed out her chest which was barely visible under her clothes, and was about to charge forward. The other several palace maids surrounded her on either side, forming a rugby-like formation.

  Qin Mubai couldn't help but want to laugh at this scene: a group of little girls, really got arrogant. What's wrong with the princess, what's wrong with the emperor's favorite princess? I am loyal to my duty, now cleaning you up, the emperor will not say anything, on the contrary, he will praise me.

  "Bring in the men and take these palace maids away!" Qin Mu Bai gave an order with a wave of his hand.

  Princess Gaoyang's eyes widened, and the other palace maids' eyes went straight. The crowd of women stared in shock - this guy, he really dared to not take responsibility?

  A hundred cavalrymen have always been obedient and never uttered a single disobedient word. Several military officers with swift hands quickly subdued the palace maids in no time.

  "For the time being, take her into custody. Wait for His Majesty to wake up and deal with it personally." Qin Mu Bai's expression remained calm, still standing in front of Gao Yang Gong Zhu, looking down at her from a superior position, coldly saying: "Your Highness, please don't force me again."

  Those palace maids were screaming and shouting, being dragged away by the soldiers.

  "You, you actually dare to take someone from me? I...I'll fight it out with you!" Princess Gao Yang had been spoiled since childhood and everyone, including Emperor Li Shimin, usually gave in to her. When had she ever met someone like Qin Mu Bai?

  At this moment, Princess Gaoyang was so angry that she spoke recklessly, like a mad lioness, baring her teeth and brandishing her claws as she rushed towards Qin Mubai.

  Xiao Fen's fist pounded against the chest armor, making a loud noise. Princess Gao Yang cried out in pain. Qin Mu Bai didn't move at all, but finally couldn't help revealing a hint of a smile.

  "Thieving general, stinky man, you actually dare to laugh at me?" Silver teeth clenched, apricot eyes spewing fire, Princess Gao Yang lifted her skirt and flew up with one foot, kicking Qin Mu Bai's crotch. Qin Mu Bai had long been on guard, his knees clamped together in the middle, pinning down one of Princess Gao Yang's jade feet.

  "Your Highness, I am a military officer, not an eunuch! You're being too vicious!" Qin Mu Bai said.

  "I, I, I'm going to kill you!" Princess Gaoyang exerted herself and kicked out with all her might, but Qin Mubai used just a bit of strength, so she couldn't get her foot out. As a result, one foot stomped on the ground, jumping up and down, and stood unsteadily. Qin Mubai relaxed his knees, and Princess Gaoyang let out a miserable cry as she fell backwards!

  "Good grief!" Qin Mu Bai cried out in his heart, behind him was the Dragon Tail Path with its hundreds of steps. If this little girl were to tumble all the way down, wouldn't she be smashed beyond recognition even by her own parents?

  Princess Gaoyang lost her balance and flailed her arms wildly, wailing loudly. In a flash of lightning, Qin Mubai appeared out of nowhere like a ghost, swiftly grabbing Princess Gaoyang's wrist with one hand and stroking her fragrant shoulder with the other.

  "Ah ah ah!" Princess Gao Yang was still screaming in terror, when she suddenly came to her senses and found a face right next to hers.

  Four eyes met, and Princess Gaoyang was stunned for a moment. In an instant, she suddenly felt a surge of energy and was about to jump up, shouting - "Stinky man, let me go!"

  Qin Mubai exerted a bit of force to steady her in his arms, shaking his head with a smile: "Now, Your Highness can get down. Please don't make any more trouble, or else you'll wake up the Emperor and that won't be good."

  Princess Gaoyang was so angry that her teeth itched, and after being frightened, she hadn't even caught her breath yet. How could she listen to Qin Mubai's words? At this moment, her eyes rolled around, and with a loud cry, she took a step forward towards the Longwei Road, but one foot stepped on her own skirt, and she cried out in shock as if she was about to fall down.

  Qin Mubai was right beside her, letting out a helpless bitter laugh as he once again grasped her shoulder and held onto her hand, not letting her fall.

  "This skin is as smooth as jade, the touch feels great..." Before Qin Dongtu could indulge in his fantasy for even a second, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right wrist.

  The two rows of silver teeth of Princess Gaoyang were biting down on his wrist, biting with such force that her cheeks were trembling.

  "I'll get you, you little scoundrel! You're worse than a dog!" Qin Mu Bai was both in pain and annoyed, almost shouting out loud. He used some trick to pull back his wrist, but the Crown Princess Gao Yang ran off like the wind, her little buttocks shaking as she went. As she ran, she kept turning her head to curse: "Bandit, stinky man, just you wait! I'll get my revenge and make you regret everything you've done today, definitely! Definitely!"

  .??，！