Chapter 59: Chain Reaction

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  Qin Mubai returned to the Hundred Riders' camp, only to run into a bewildered Li Junxian. Before Qin Mubai could even open his mouth, Li Junxian dragged him to a quiet spot and began speaking rapidly: "I'm telling you, Mubai, you really dare to do anything!"

  "What's wrong?" Qin Mu Bai asked in shock.

  "Are you still pretending to be stupid?" Li Junxian was anxious and stuttered, "T-t-those... those few palace maids, did you order them to be arrested?"

  "You're talking about those little girls, haha, right, it was I who ordered their capture." Qin Mu Bai said with a careless smile.

  "Good grief, you can still laugh about it!" Li Junxian was so angry that he didn't know where to vent his anger, staring at Qin Mu Bai with a pair of wide eyes as if sizing up a monster, and shouted in a nearly furious tone, "Are you really stupid or pretending to be clever? What kind of person is Princess Gao Yang? No one under the sky dares to provoke her, she's the emperor's treasured darling!"

  "What's it to you?" Qin Mu Bai shrugged indifferently, "It's my duty, I have no choice but to offend her. Am I supposed to neglect my duties for her sake?"

  "Goodness gracious, you're clearly a sensible person, why are you pretending to be obtuse?" Li Junxiang said anxiously. "Princess Gaoyang and the Emperor, no matter what, they're still father and daughter, family. We, as subjects, are outsiders. Since ancient times, it's been that way - those who are distant don't intervene in family matters. What business is it of ours how they deal with each other? Furthermore, Princess Gaoyang isn't just any ordinary princess. For so many years, the Emperor has favored her the most among his daughters. To say something truly irreverent, even if she were to set fire to the imperial palace, His Majesty would probably just laugh it off."

  "Is it that exaggerated?" Qin Mu Bai raised his shoulders and widened his eyes, putting on a very shocked and frightened expression as he looked at Li Jun Xian.

  "Cough...exaggerated, it's just a bit exaggerated." Li Junxiang knew that Qin Mubai was just being playful, and he couldn't help but shake his head with a mixture of laughter and tears. "However, you really shouldn't have provoked her. This Gaoyang is absolutely the number one villain in the world today. I've been following the Emperor for many years, how could I not know? There are still several things that make me worry to this day."

  "Let's hear it." Qin Mubai leisurely crossed his arms and rested them on his chest, wanting to crack some melon seeds while waiting for Li Junxiang's gossip.

  "More than two years ago, when Empress Changsun was still around. One time, Your Majesty held a family banquet, and all the princes and princesses came." Li Junxian said, "At the banquet, all the princes were cautious and well-behaved, but Princess Gaoyang alone refused to sit in her own seat and insisted on sitting on Your Majesty's lap before she would eat. Not only did Your Majesty not get angry, but actually picked her up and had this meal with her."

  "What's the big deal, haha!" Qin Mubai burst out laughing.

  "Huh, you don't know about this? Empress Changsun is the model for all women and manages the harem with great importance on etiquette. At family banquets, the Crown Prince and Princesses are present, and seating arrangements follow seniority and birth order. But Gao Yang Gongzhu, a concubine's daughter, not only didn't sit in her own seat but also snuggled into Your Majesty's lap. Given Empress Changsun's temperament, she would never allow such a thing to happen. Yet, Your Majesty has always been extremely respectful towards Empress Changsun, but because of your favoritism towards Gao Yang, you ignored the Empress's warnings. Tell me, how much do you dote on Gao Yang?" Li Junxian continued talking nonstop, telling many stories about how the Emperor made exceptions for Gao Yang and showed her extraordinary kindness and magnanimity.

  In short, for some reason, Li Shimin was particularly fond of Gao Yang; moreover, Gao Yang had been lively and mischievous since childhood, often playing pranks. Li Shimin, who had always emphasized laws and rules, was exceptionally indulgent towards this daughter.

  After listening for a while, Qin Mu Bai finally became somewhat impatient: "I say... General Li, this doesn't seem like the usual you?"

  "What's wrong?" Li Junxian was taken aback.

  "How did you suddenly become so nagging?" Qin Mu Bai smiled and said, "The person has been caught, the thing has already happened, what else can be done? However, I still want to thank you for telling me so many interesting stories, see you later."

  Having said that, Qin Mubai turned around and left.

  "You... you!" Li Junxian pointed at Qin Mubai's back, unable to speak for a moment, and said with hatred, "You really don't know what's good for you! Qin Mubai, I'm telling you, you've messed with Princess Gaoyang, so be careful!"

  "Got it!" Qin Mubai waved his hand and strode away.

  Li Junxian shook his head: "This stinky kid, really is a newborn calf not afraid of tigers, dares to do anything... However, this is probably also the reason why the Emperor appointed him as the commander of the Hundred Riders? The creed of the Hundred Riders is also simple, obedient, and wholeheartedly protecting the emperor... Ah, we old guys are really out of touch!"

  Just as he sat down, Pang Fei rushed in hastily and said with a difficult expression: "General, what to do with those four palace maids? Since they were caught, they have been shouting loudly. We can't beat them or scold them. The whole camp is full of Buddhist monks and soldiers, and their wailing has made the brothers feel uneasy... I heard they are people of Princess Gao Yang?"

  "Who told you to shut me up? If you're not honest with me, I'll have you flogged! What kind of nonsense is this that you're asking me?" Qin Mu Bai glared at him with some annoyance.

  Pang Fei was taken aback and hastily cupped his hands in respect, saying: "Your subordinate understands, I'll go take care of it right away!"

  "Halt, come back!" Qin Mu Bai called him back, grabbing his ear and growling, "You don't need to know whose people they are, just knowing they're prisoners is enough! In the Hundred Riders, there's only military orders, nothing else. If anyone forgets, go back and copy out the military orders a million times for me!"

  "Ah ah ah!" Pang Fei covered his ears and shouted in pain and fright, hastily saying, "No, I didn't dare forget! If any other brother forgot, I'll make him copy the military orders a million times!"

  "Get out!" Qin Mubai kicked him and scolded, "When you're a soldier, just be a good soldier, do your own job well and that's enough. What's the point of gossiping like an old woman about so many useless things? How vulgar!"

  "Yes! ——" Pang Fei fled in a flurry.

  After dinner, it was the time when Li Shimin had an appointment with Qin Mubai. He prepared to go to Daming Palace at this moment. When he walked out of the Yushu Lou and passed by the front hall of the deputy envoy's mansion, he happened to see Changsun Gan and Wei Baoyun huddled together, whispering in a low voice. As soon as they saw Qin Mubai, they immediately stopped talking and forced a smile on their faces to greet him.

  "What are you two talking about, looking so happy?" Qin Mu Bai walked over and asked casually. Ever since the last time they returned from Qu Shui Liu Yan, Chang Sun Ruan had been very honest and hadn't caused any trouble or left any handles for others to grasp. He was also very polite to Qin Mu Bai, not daring to be presumptuous. Qin Mu Bai knew that this kid with a stomach full of sinister intentions was afraid that he would catch him off guard and take revenge on him.

  Chang Sun Bao clasped his hands together and replied with a bright smile: "Qin brother, we didn't discuss anything important, just some casual chatter after dinner, nothing significant."

  "Yes, yes, doesn't matter, doesn't matter." Wei Chi Baoyun also dryly laughed.

  Qin Mubai glanced at him and secretly laughed in his heart. Changsun Huan was nothing, but Wei Chi Bao Yun was such a straightforward and simple-minded person that when he told a lie, the words "don't believe me" were written all over his face. In fact, without guessing, it was clear that these two guys were discussing something mysterious and then covering it up, and nine out of ten, they were discussing the matter of the four palace maids.

  "Oh, go ahead and chat then." Qin Mu Bai walked away with his hands behind his back, a look of nonchalance on his face. He stopped after taking two steps and said, "Oh, I almost forgot something. Today, four palace maids intruded into the palace and startled the emperor. I've already caught them. Now I have some things to attend to, so you two will take turns keeping watch over these four serious offenders. Remember, unless you see my military order, no one is allowed to see them, and they absolutely cannot be let loose."

  In an instant, Changsun Wanjing and Wei Zifu's faces changed.

  Chang Sun Bo cursed in his heart: Not seeing the military order, not releasing people... With Gao Yang Gongzhu's temperament, eight or nine out of ten would be furious and directly kill to come over to demand people. At that time, you Qin Mu Bai are not there, but it is us who confront her. Release people, violate military orders; do not release people, directly offend Gao Yang Gongzhu! ——Qin Mu Bai, you bastard!

  Qin Mubai blinked his eyes and looked at the two with a bitter face, exclaiming: "What doubts do you two have?"

  "Cough... this, Brother Qin." Changsun Yan forced a smile and said, "I also know about the four palace maidens. Actually, there's no need to make a big deal out of this kind of thing! Let's just downplay it, what's the point in having an awkward confrontation with Princess Gaoyang?"

  "Can a big thing be made small, and a small thing be made nothing of?" Qin Mu Bai looked up at the sky with a bewildered expression, deep in thought, muttering to himself: "In the Hundred Riders' Code, there doesn't seem to be such a rule!"

  Having said that, he walked away with his hands behind his back.

  Eight words left Zhang Sunyan and Wei Chibao Yun speechless for a long time, watching Qin Mubai walk away with a smile.

  "Looks like Qin's going to give us a hard time today." Wei Chi Baoyun hung his head in frustration, gritting his teeth. "Changsun brother, that guy hasn't been bothering us for some days now, what's gotten into him all of a sudden?"

  "Don't blame me, it's none of your business." Chang Sun Yan swallowed a mouthful of resentment, shaking his head in frustration and despair, "No use talking more, hurry up and think of a way to deal with Princess Gao Yang!"

  "Damn it, what bad luck!" Wei Chi Baoyun cursed in frustration.

  Months have passed, and Changsun Wudi and Wei Chi Baoyun have also truly experienced Qin Mubai's ferocity. They can't win in a battle of wits or strength, and playing tricks is also undoubtedly doomed to fail. Now that they've encountered Qin Mubai putting shoes on for Xiaoxue, Wei Chi Baoyun can only loudly lament their bad luck, completely losing the anger and temper she had before.

  Zhang Sun Bian was both angry and regretful, scolding Qin Mu Bai in her heart, then scolding herself: Am I not humiliating myself? What's wrong with me forcing him to recite poetry for no reason, I must have been possessed by a ghost at that time!

  As he walked out of the barracks, Qin Mubai couldn't help but think about the expressions on Changsun and Wei Chi's faces earlier, and he almost burst out laughing. He thought to himself, "I didn't expect that four little palace maids would cause such a long chain reaction in the hundred riders." Being a servant in the imperial palace wasn't as easy as it seemed. Li Shimin had said he would personally handle the matter of Princess Gao Yang, and maybe right now he was meeting with his "long-separated" beloved daughter in the rear palace. After their conversation, Princess Gao Yang definitely wouldn't come to the hundred riders to cause trouble again. Otherwise, she would have come earlier.

  Zhāng Sūn Huàn, this time just consider it a scare to scare you guys and let you learn a lesson. In the future, don't dare to fantasize about being on equal terms with me or trying to be clever. Otherwise, even if I were to give you a pair of small shoes to wear, it wouldn't be so easy to bear.

  .??，！