Chapter 272 Thousands of miles of knives

In the big corner view of the harem of Daming Palace, a special "guest" came today - the emperor, Li Shimin.

After living here from Yin Defei, it was the first time that the emperor came to visit. The Taoist aunts were flattered, but they were reprimanded before they came forward to greet them.

Li Shimin's face was a little ugly. The Taoist aunts knew that it was not good, and they didn't want to touch the moldy head, so they all hid in the room.

Li Shimin walked to the quiet outdoor where Yin Defei lived, looked at the dusty window edges and door linths, and said to himself, "I still have a cleanliness fetish."

Pushing the door and entering, Yin Defei was sitting on a pudding, burning a furnace of incense to read a scripture, her eyes were gently closed, and a few strokes of dust and snow silk on her arm, dancing gently.

"Together with the wind, the dust will move. The Taoist heart is still not solid..." Yin Defei said as if she were talking to herself.

Li Shimin didn't mind that she didn't get up to welcome him. The 20-year-old couple seemed to have faded these vulgar gifts in private, and they were always used to coming straight to the point.

"You can sit still." Li Shimin cut his hands on his back and slowly followed her and said.

In the extremely quiet Zen room, embroidered needles can be heard when they fall to the ground. Li Shimin didn't say a loud sentence, but it seemed extremely abrupt. The quietness in the room added to his words.

"What can I do?" Yin Defei still didn't look back at Li Shimin. She raised her head slightly and stared at the statue of Laozi riding a green cow on her head.

Li Shimin also raised his eyes and looked at the statue of Laozi. He took two steps forward and made a bow. He did not look at Yin Defei, as if he said in the air, "Look at the situation, have you heard about it?"

"Of course, your majesty doesn't know as much." Yin Defei replied calmly.

"How do you feel?" Li Shimin also asked indifferently.

Yin Defei's face trembled slightly, as if she had been traumatized with severe pain and patience. She squeezed her lips and said, "People outside don't ask common things."

"In front of me, you don't have to be pretentious." Li Shimin snorted coldly and said, "What kind of family are you from? My heart is still full of what you call common things. Tell me, what do you think of Li You's rebellion?"

The painful expression on Yin Defei's face seemed to be a little deeper, but she still tried her best to endure and said calmly, "Qin Mubai will not participate in the conspiracy."

"What did you say?" Li Shimin was very surprised.

"Qin Mubai will not participate in the conspiracy." Yin Defei repeated it intact with the same speed and tone.

"Strange." Li Shimin sneered again, " According to your temperament, you must jump up and down in a hurry at this time, and you want to see me most. The purpose of wanting to see me is nothing more than to plead for your unworthy son. Moreover, this time even Gao Yang is with him, so you have more reason to do so. But now, I take the initiative to see you, but you seem to ignore it. Talking to you, instead of pleading for Li You to excuse Gao Yang, you said such a irrespectful thing. I really can't understand you more and more.

"Maybe you have never understood me." Yin Defei gently closed her eyes, took a long breath slowly, and tried her best to control her emotions.

"What do you mean?" Li Shimin's face showed a trace of disgrace, which was more puzzled - what a joke, will the 20-year-old couple not understand?

"There is no other intention." Yin Defei said, "Maybe, I have never known your majesty."

"We have been husband and wife for 20 years, how can you say such a thing?" Li Shimin said with both chagrin and puzzlement, "In your heart, I have always been just your father's enemy?"

Yin Defei's face trembled slightly, and her heart seemed to have been wiped by a dagger blade. At first, I didn't feel any pain. After a while, I realized that I had been cut a deep scar by the dagger blade, and the blood flowed.

Li Shimin's words are like a knife!

"Love him deeply! Force yourself to dissolve hatred with 20 years of unreserved deep love! - He actually mentioned this matter again 20 years later!"

For a moment, Yin Defei felt that she had lived in vain in the past 20 years... Especially now, her brothers and sons and daughters are still on the opposite side of the emperor. My 20 years of efforts, efforts and sacrifices have all disappeared in an instant!

She didn't say anything. She closed her eyes, her lips were trembling, and tears flowed out.

Li Shimin was so careful that he had already noticed her emotional changes. For a moment, he also regretted more or less. He knew that he was just angry for a while and said something wrong.

It is absolutely impossible for him to admit his mistake.

"You are not a minister, and I'm not here to ask you about your judgment on the conspiracy case. Instead, I want to know, what do you think of your rebellious son at this moment? Li Shimin's tone softened and said, "Do you think I'm here to be sarcastic about you? I'm not free yet. But after all, he is our two sons. Of course you have the right to say something.

"In the past, I always expected to talk more to your majesty. Now Your Majesty is generous and lets me speak at such times. But I feel that I don't want to say anything more. Yin Defei still sat like that, allowing tears to flow down like broken beads without wiping them. She suppressed her choking and said, "Your Majesty has your opinion, and there is no need for others to say more, right?"

"Are you still angry with me at this time?" Li Shimin couldn't help but be a little annoyed. On the contrary, he hoped that Yin Defei would be more excited, sad or afraid, and better than sneer at him now.

"It's not anger." Yin Defei was still as calm as water and said, "There is no greater sorrow than the death of heart. For a dead person, in fact, nothing is important. There are many things in the world that can't be changed as people want. For example, it is true that You'er's rebellion is already true. Your Majesty has made a conclusion in his heart. Who can change this ending? It's better not to disturb mediocre people than to be useless.

"So that's what you think." Li Shimin nodded gently, "Yes, I have sent Li Xun to lead the army to suppress the rebellion. The result will be known in a few days.

"An evil rebellion is so big. Does your majesty see the invincible and cautious General Li Xun? Is he too idle, so he sent him an errand to move his muscles and bones so that he can get promoted and get rich in the future? Yin Defei showed a sneer.

"Dear enough!" Li Shimin was angry and shouted, "Now, it seems to be wrong, but it's me!"

"Of course it's you who are wrong." Yin Defei was not in a hurry or angry. She said calmly, "If the adopted son doesn't teach, which is the fault? Will the world still blame me, a half-dead woman?

"It's not your good brother Yin Hongzhi who has been instigating him! If I had known today, I shouldn't have listened to your plea for a moment and spare his life!" Li Shimin shouted angrily.

"Since Your Majesty knows about it, why don't you get rid of my 'good brother' early?" Yin Defei continued to sneer and said, "On the contrary, you have to follow me after the incident. As a girl, is it also wrong to sacrifice your life to save your brother?

"Yes, yes, you are full of mouths all over your body. I can't say anything about you!" Li Shimin really can't do anything about this soft and hard Yin Defei who doesn't eat the needles in cotton. Over the years, the two have rarely quarreled angrily and always respected each other. But among so many concubines in the harem, including the late Empress Changsun, no one dared to talk back to Li Shimin like this to make him angry. However, this Yinde Concubine, who has always been as gentle as water and seems to have no desire, is really energetic, but even Li Shimin has nothing to do with her.

"Then why did your majesty come from looking for fun?" Yin Defei said faintly.

"I will definitely kill Yin Hongzhi!" Li Shimin suddenly said.

"Kill it! He has earned 20 years of life for nothing. It's time to be content. Yin Defei was cruel and said almost word by word.

"I have always hated the disrespectful and discord between relatives!" Li Shimin said again.

A very slight smile flashed across the corners of Yin Defei's mouth and said lightly, "Is it just like His Majesty the Emperor of Wude Gaozu in those years?"

"You! ..." In a word, like a needle, it penetrated deeply into Li Shimin's heart, which made the scene of Xuanwu Gate come to his mind. He suddenly raised his palm and really wanted to slap Yin Defei in the face.

But at this moment, Yin Defei did not have a look of fear and fear. Instead, she turned her head with a smile on her beautiful and cold face, and her beautiful eyes with tears looked at him for a moment.

Li Shimin snorted, put down his hand, and turned his head angrily.

"Only you, who dare to talk to me like this!"

Concubine Yinde didn't care, and her expression returned to indifferentness and said, "Your Majesty is here to transfer a cavity of anger to me to vent. Or see me panicked and sincerely begging you for mercy, right? Apologize, I disappointed Your Majesty. You'er will have today. In fact, we all know it in our hearts. It's not surprising. Since childhood, you, a father, and those close ministers and meritorious officials around you, who really regard him as a prince? When looking at him, doesn't the first thing ever think of his mother is the daughter of the Yin family? If it were an adult, he could not stand such prejudice, let alone a child? Among the many children, your majesty has always disliked Youer the most. Isn't that true? Otherwise, why was he the first to be appointed as an official in other places? Without her parents and lack of control, You'er has indeed changed day by day. There is nothing I can do to become a mother. At this point, what else can I say?

Li Shimin was speechless for a long time. He knew that Yin Defei had always been gentle like water and never said a word, but her heart was always like a mirror and never confused. What she said today is unpleasant enough, but it is indeed the truth.

And at this moment, they are talking in the name of their parents, not in the name of emperors and concubines. Otherwise, it is absolutely difficult for him to hear such a big truth.

After a long time, Li Shimin seemed to be a little helpless and said angrily, "I'm really not a good father? The prince lost his virtue, Gao Yang refused to marry, and the king of Qi rebelled. Who will be next?

"You are a good emperor. But he is by no means a good father. Yin Defei said concisely.

"Why?" Li Shimin asked loudly.

"Because..." Yin Defei smiled and said, "You are too excellent, great and strong. Your children are born under your strong shadow and pressure. Moreover, you always have the hope of a prince for your children, and your requirements for them are quite strict. I hope they all become as outstanding as you. Is this possible? After all, children are children. Let nature take its course, which is the best way to let them grow up.

"Wang Zi Cheng Long, is this also wrong?" Li Shimin said puzzledly and helplessly.

"You're right. The wrong thing is that you are an emperor. Yin Defei said.

"The bastard truth!" Li Shimin was a little annoyed and punched him in the lap.

Yin Defei shook her head gently with a smile: "I can't even communicate with your majesty, not to mention your children who are terrified when they see you? Once, once, three times, so it gradually faded away. The greater the hope you give, the greater the pressure, the more they want to break free from these shackles and become more rebellious. So, you can think of everything.

"That is to say, there is a Li You today, and there will be a second and third in the future?" Li Shimin stared at Yin Defei angrily and said.

"Your Majesty is going to kill him as an example. Naturally, there will be no second person who dares to do this." Yin Defei said coldly, "However, I'm afraid it's difficult to achieve your majesty's long-cherished wish to become a dragon."

"I don't believe it!"

"The monk, don't bet."

"..." Li Shimin was choked, took a deep breath and said, "I'm going to catch Li You to the capital, in front of you, ask him what he thinks, and what he is fascinated by!"

"There is no chance." Yin Defei said faintly, "Your Majesty, at most, I can only see You'er's... body."

"You're talking nonsense!" Li Shimin scolded fiercely, "I gave Li Xun a secret order to catch him alive!"

Yin Defei's extremely beautiful lips gently raised a trace, outlining a cruel and bitter smile: "So, you don't know your son at all."

"Well, let's wait and see!" Li Shimin snorted unconvincedly, and suddenly turned his head to look at Yin Defei. "Say, why did you suddenly say that Qin Mubai would not participate in the conspiracy just now? Do you know my original confidant better than me?

"No. I only know Gao Yang better than you. I also know Gao Yang's love. Yin Defei said lightly, "The man Gao Yang falls in love with will never betray and will not do stupid things."

"Because of this?"

"Isn't it enough?"

Li Shimin nodded thoughtfully: "What you mean is that you actually want to say that Linger was hijacked by Li You and Yin Hongzhi, rather than taking the initiative to rebel. And Li You and Yin Hongzhi just took advantage of Linger's identity to stir up trouble and confuse people and deliberately create chaos, right?

"So I said, Your Majesty has already made up his mind, so why bother to condescend to this cold Taoist temple and ask for fun?" Yin Defei sneered.

"Humph!" Li Shimin stood up angrily, "I really want to kill you!"

"Listen to me. Mother's son is precious, and mother's death has always been a royal rule, hasn't it? Yin Defei's reaction was very calm.

In Li Shimin's heart, he added another block and almost hit people angrily.

"I don't know the same as you!" Li Shimin hummed and threw down this sentence and was ready to go out. Before leaving, he said, "You live well for me until Li You kneels here and make it clear to face!"

Yin Defei smiled faintly, looked up at the statue of Qingniu Laozi, closed her eyes and didn't say anything.

Li Shimin brushed his sleeves and went out of the door. He was sulking for a long time. Now, even he himself is surprised why he can get angry and lose his temper so easily today.

"For good, she is not an outsider. Now, I can only tell her these words and things. Hey..." Li Shimin looked back at the wooden door in the room and walked away.

In the room, Yin Defei lit a few oil lamps, stroked a yellowed ancient book with a slightly trembling hand, and said to herself, "Ling'er, Mu Bai, I've tried my best. I hope you take care! ...Youer, in the afterlife, don't be born in the emperor's family!"

......

On the Han River, on the divine fish spacecraft in front of Xiangyang Military Port.

Qin Mubai sat on the bow deck in a formal suit, squinting his eyes and staring at the floating autumn river, with a grim expression. The horizontal knife, which was given when he was honored as a hundred horsemen, has not yet come out of its sheath and see blood. At this moment, it has been untied by Qin Mubai with the scabbard. The tip of the sheath was on the deck. Qin Mubai put the palm of his right hand on the handle of the knife, and his left hand was attached to his right hand. He supported the knife with both hands, and occasionally flashed sharp light in his eyes.

Pang Fei and some generals from all over the military palace stood behind him. He didn't know what he was thinking, and no one dared to talk to him.

Just yesterday, a " lobbyist" was sent from Dengzhou. With Li You's handwritten letter, he openly came to cross the river to persuade the king of Wu and Qin Mubai to "do a grand event together and achieve great things together". That's all. The lobbyist also specially said that Princess Gaoyang misses General Qin very much. She looks at the door across the river and looks forward to it. She misses tea and rice day and night. She only hopes that Qin Mubai will cross the river as soon as possible and meet him.

This is **naked "blackmail"!

Of course, the lobbyist has no good end. Although Li Ke and Qin Mubai did not personally tear him into pieces, they condoned the hot-tempered Yuwen Hongtai, flattened him, broke his broken teeth on the ground, and rushed back to Jiangbei.

Since then, Qin Mubai's face has not been good. Pang Fei and others dared not touch him.

For two consecutive days, Qin Mubai spent time on the boat. He sat with a knife like this every day. He didn't know what he was waiting for and what he was looking forward to. Everyone didn't dare to ask, so they had to wait with him.

At this time, a shuttle boat that moved very quickly and quickly slid on the surface of the river like skating, and rowed under the big warship to report: "News--! The water whistle in front of me found two big ships, which were coming to the Eight Ghosts!"

"Can you find out who is coming?" Pang Fei came forward and asked.

"Both ships were stopped and questioned by our navy. One of the ships came from the imperial court; the other ship was Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia!"

"Here we go!" Qin Mubai's eyes, which had been slightly closed, suddenly opened, and a ray of light appeared in the corners of his eyes.

"I know! Go back and give the order, let the sailors escort and welcome them to the Eight Ghosts!" Pang Fei, the commander of the navy, gave the order.

"Yes!--" The shuttle rowed away again. After months of strict practice, the current Bailang Water Army is well-trained, as if it is worthy of the title of "Cunning Dragon in the Wave".

"General, why did the king of Jiangxia go and return?" Pang Fei walked back to Qin Mubai and asked in a low voice.

Qin Mubai blinked his eyes and said, "He came, and he came. Invite him to my boat. In addition, take the imperial history directly to the Assassin's Mansion, and you don't have to bring it here.

"Yes." Pang Fei didn't dare to ask more questions, so he hurried to do it in person.

Qin Mubai clenched the handle of the knife with his hands, took a deep breath, spit it out, and said secretly, "It's time!" ...Linger, wait for me!"

......

Soon after, two large ships sailed to Xiangyang Pier one after another. One docked at Baguidu, and the next group of court officials went to Xiangzhou Assassin's Mansion without stopping; the other one walked a few miles and turned directly into the military port of Xiangzhou Military Mansion.

Li Daozong stood in the bow with his hands cut on his back. Looking at the ships and military appearance in the military port, a smile appeared on his face clearly written with determination and seriousness: "Qin Mubai, you are really a general!"

Qin Mubai saw the coming boat. He got up and walked to the side of the boat and greeted him with his fists: "Your Majesty, the last general is here to welcome you!"

"It's all in good and sound!" Li Daozong stepped on the board between the two boats, strode into the boat, stared at Qin Mubai and nodded and smiled slightly: "It seems that you are well prepared."

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "The prince went and came back. I don't know what the intention is?"

"Of course, I'm not worried about your rebellion." Li Daozong said loudly as if he were a joke.

Qin Mubai waved his hand to reprimand the soldiers and said, "Then the prince will come and have some advice?"

"No." Li Daozong replied very simply and said, "I like young people, but it doesn't mean that I like to poke my fingers and be a good teacher. You can make your own decisions and deal with your own troubles. I'm here to give you something in my personal name.

"The prince came back and forth thousands of miles to give gifts. This friendship alone is priceless." Qin Mubai said, "The last general, how to suffer?"

"It should be yours, it's yours. It's just that I think it's more appropriate to give it to you at this time. Li Daozong crisply untied the knife on his waist and sent it to Qin Mubai with his hands flat. "Take it!"

"This is..." Qin Mubai couldn't help but be a little surprised.

Li Daozong stared at the knife. His eyes were like looking at his good friends for many years, or brothers who share difficulties. He smiled and said, "You forgot, Guiyi Dao."

"Oh? ..." Qin Mubai was slightly shocked and remembered the scene of the competition with Li Daozong when he was still in the Jiangxia Palace in Jinzhou. At that time, he had a comparison with Chen Yan and Li Daozong. Chen Yan drew with him, but Li Daozong said that she had some reservations and sighed that her skills were not as good as others, so he gave her a "absolute sword". At the beginning, he couldn't beat Li Daozong. Although he intended to give the "Guiyi Knife", he didn't want it. He also said that if he can defeat him one day, he will "taking the knife" again.

"Your Majesty, do you want to compete with the last general?" Qin Mubai couldn't help laughing.

"I don't want to fight with you now." Li Daozong also smiled, but he smiled meaningfully. He said, "Sending a knife is sending a knife, and it's nothing else."

"Okay, thank you for the gift!" Qin Mubai gritted his teeth and nodded seriously, taking the knife with both hands.

It's very heavy. There are also traces of chislashing on the scabbard, which are neither gorgeous nor high-end, but faintly desolate and simple. The blade is still hidden in the wooden sheath, but it is majestic and scattered!

"Good knife!" Before Qin Mubai drew his knife, he couldn't help praising, "This is a good knife that has killed people and has seen blood and has aura!"

"Very good, you really know the goods." Li Daozong smiled with satisfaction, "This knife on your waist is gorgeous and beautiful. It must be of great value and unusual. However, good-looking may not work well. The king's Guiyi knife is specially designed for killing and beheading. A knife is a knife. Why is it so fancy? Now, what you need is a killing knife, not a beautiful decoration!"

In Qin Mubai's heart, there seemed to be a rhinoceros flash, and his mind woke up!

Do you need a killing knife, not a beautiful decoration? Li Daozong obviously has something to say. He is not the kind of idle and boring old man. He will really come back for no reason in such an extraordinary period, turning back thousands of miles just to send a knife.

"The meaning of his words is that I should be cruel when I should be cruel, and those who should be killed should be killed! ...The name of the knife is 'return to righteousness'. Do you also want to tell me that if it is difficult to have both feelings and righteousness, righteousness should be the most important? - Is he asking me to destroy my relatives?"

When Li Daozong saw that Qin Mubai fell into meditation for a moment, he just nodded and smiled and said, "In a matter-prone place, I don't want to stay for a long time, but don't eat cold arrows. Say goodbye, take care!"

Then, he walked towards his boat without looking back. As soon as he got on the deck, he waved his hand hard: "You don't have to see me off - drive the boat!"

"Thank you - the prince gave me a knife!" Qin Mubai stood on the side of the ship, holding a knife in his hands and bowing.

The boat started immediately. Li Daozong stood on the side of the ship with his hands cut off his back and stood on the side of the boat. He looked at Qin Mubai with a deep meaning and smiled and said, "In the coming spring, I will come to Xiangyang again. At that time, I hope you and Linger can go fishing with me.

Qin Mubai nod seriously: "It's a deal. Someone, I won't live up to my promise!"