Chapter 68

"Alright! Guanyinbi, you must have your reasons for being so persistent."

"Then I will wait for your good news."

"But one thing, no matter what, you must ensure your own safety!"

Li Er nodded helplessly; although he still strongly refused in his heart, he agreed.

He believed Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou would give him a perfect answer!

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou breathed a sigh of relief, secretly making up her mind.

Must hurry!

There are still many things to do later.

The next day.

Fang Fang Xuanling met Qin Mu again and, on behalf of Great Tang, agreed to the two conditions he proposed.

Hearing this news.

There was not a trace of joy in Qin Mu's heart; instead, there was a feeling of emptiness.

.......Seeking flowers...0

At the railing of the Potala Palace square.

Qin Mu looked at the massive palace without saying a word.

It was quiet all around.

Except for the whistling wind, there was no other movement.

Perhaps...

They are leaving, right?

The negotiations had concluded successfully, and according to the agreement, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou and Princess Changle should soon follow the Great Tang envoy group back to Chang'an.

But for some reason.

A trace of reluctance suddenly arose in Qin Mu's heart.

"Heh!"

"It seems my cultivation is still not enough; I actually developed womanly benevolence toward this mother and daughter."

Qin Mu shook his head in self-mockery, clenching his palms tightly.

As an emperor who carries on the past and opens up the future, one must never have such womanly benevolence!

This feeling must be completely eradicated!

"Brother-in-law!"

Just as Qin Mu was struggling internally, a familiar sound suddenly came from behind him.

The silver-bell-Wu Li Ke voice sounded exceptionally pleasant in the empty palace.

"What do you want with me?"

Qin Mu turned his head and asked coldly, looking at Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou and Princess Changle, the mother and daughter, standing behind him.

This child.

Looking at Qin Mu's cold expression, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou sighed helplessly in her heart.

"Your Majesty, I have a request."

"What is it?"

"It is truly a great thing that Great Qin and Great Tang can turn hostility into friendship this time. I wonder if Your Majesty can let us stay?"

"What?"

A light suddenly flashed in Qin Mu's eyes, then quickly dimmed.

They are not leaving?

But Princess Changle, this girl, seems to have taken a liking to this place and hopes to live here for a while longer.

An irrepressible joy gradually permeated Qin Mu's heart.

"Brother-in-law, what's wrong with you? Mother and I plan to stay here for a while longer; don't you welcome us?"

Princess Changle blinked her dark, bright eyes, tilted her head, and smiled.

Confirming it again, Qin Mu suddenly felt a special sensation throughout his body.

In this biting cold wind, it was so warm and intimate!

Is this the feeling of family?

An unrealistic thought appeared in Qin Mu's mind.

Family...

This is a word very far away from him!

"Stay if you want, leave if you want; it's up to you."

Even so, there was still no ripple on Qin Mu's face; after speaking, he walked straight toward the direction of the Lizheng Hall.

No one saw it.

At this moment, Qin Mu was secretly smiling!

It was a kind of...

Satisfied and happy smile!

"Mother, Brother-in-law is such a strange person."

Looking at Qin Mu's departing back, Princess Changle's eyes were full of confusion.

It's really hard!

When we were eating hot pot before, he was clearly so warm; how did he become an ice block these past two days?

Strange!

"Silly child, you don't understand."

"This child is not old, yet he has tasted the coldness of the world and encountered the bloody storms of being hunted by the entire Great Tang; who knows how much suffering he has endured."

"Who knows how many hellish trials he experienced after coming to Tubo before he achieved today's success?"

"His heart is Wu Li Ke a hedgehog, tightly wrapped up."

"Anyone who wants to get close risks being pricked."

"But for some reason, I believe that deep down, he is not Wu Li Ke this. He should be a gentle and kind child."

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou's eyes were filled with deep affection.

It was a mother's love that could tolerate all the child's faults!

......and.

Evening.

Qin Mu held a grand banquet at the Potala Palace.

All the civil and military officials in the royal city were present.

This banquet had two purposes.

The first was to celebrate the successful conclusion of the negotiations!

However.

This success is a bit interesting.

Both sides feel they have gained, and the other side has lost.

It depends on what changes the subsequent trade will bring to their respective countries.

The second was to officially welcome Fang Fang Xuanling's Great Tang envoy group.

Of course.

Qin Mu's main goal was still Fang Fang Xuanling.

He had always been trying to poach Great Tang's talent.

If he could poach Fang Fang Xuanling, he could disgust Li Er and add rare talent to Great Qin.

Wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?

If Li Er knew of this intention, he would probably be grinding his teeth in anger again.

Inside the main hall of the Potala Palace.

It was a scene of peace and prosperity.

The music was pleasant, and the guests were clinking glasses.

A lively and festive atmosphere permeated the entire hall.

Qin Mu sat before the throne.

On the left were the Great Tang envoys led by Fang Fang Xuanling, with Li Er sitting side-by-side with Fang Fang Xuanling.

On the right was the Princess Consort Li Li Xueyan, as well as Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou and Princess Changle, the mother and daughter.

The main dish of the banquet was hot pot.

Everyone had a pot and many side dishes in front of them.

Li Er, Fang Fang Xuanling, and the others had never seen such a way of eating and found it very novel.

Seeing their clumsy appearance, Princess Changle scoffed.

Pfft!

So unsophisticated!

Today, Qin Mu was quite happy, drinking cup after cup, and soon he was already a bit tipsy.

"Your Majesty, it's rare to see you so happy."

Fang Fang Xuanling raised his wine cup, looking at Qin Mu with a face full of smiles.

Li Er, next to him, looked sour and displeased.

Watching his closest minister call someone else Your Majesty, his heart...

Always felt a bit sour!

"Hahaha, I am indeed happy today." Qin Mu laughed heartily: "Minister Fang, do you know why I am holding such a grand banquet today?"

"The foreign minister naturally knows! Your Majesty is celebrating the successful negotiation between the two countries and also seeing off our Great Tang envoys."

Fang Fang Xuanling drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, feeling it go to his head.

This wine is really strong!

"Not so, not so."

"Minister Fang, I did it all for you!"

Qin Mu grabbed Fang Fang Xuanling's hand and patted it gently.

What???

Seeing this scene, everyone widened their eyes.

Especially Li Li Xueyan, who was trembling all over.

Heavens!

Why treat me Wu Li Ke this?

"Cough, cough, cough!"

"Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?"

Hearing this "passionate confession" from Qin Mu, Fang Fang Xuanling choked and coughed incessantly.

I am a straight, pure man!

What on earth do you mean, kid?

"Minister Fang, I have appreciated your talent for more than just a day or two. What is so good about that Great Tang Emperor of yours? Why don't you just abandon the darkness for the light and be a Prime Minister in my Great Qin?"

Qin Mu looked at Fang Fang Xuanling with a smile.

Hearing this, everyone except Li Er breathed a sigh of relief.

So it was just the mutual appreciation of gentlemen!

But Li Er, sitting on the side, had an extremely ugly expression.

Damn it!

Poaching my talent right in front of me.

You brat, you're really something!

"Your Majesty's kindness, the foreign minister has no way to repay! It's just that this life has already been pledged to Great Tang, so I ask Your Majesty to forgive me." Fang Fang Xuanling was so embarrassed, his eyes constantly glancing toward Li Er.

What is this called?

Sigh!

It turns out being excellent is also a trouble!

Li Er was drinking his sorrows away cup after cup, his face flushed red with anger.

"Sigh!"

"Forget it! I knew you would say that."

"Let's not talk about this today, come, drink!"

Qin Mu waved his hand generously, raised his cup, and drank it in one gulp again.

"Great Qin Ruler, is my Great Tang Emperor really as unbearable as you say?"

Li Er couldn't hold back any longer and, emboldened by the alcohol, loudly questioned Qin Mu.

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings went silent.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou, Li Li Xueyan, and Princess Changle all held their breath.

Your Majesty, please don't be impulsive!

Fang Fang Xuanling was also startled and hurriedly signaled to Li Er.

Your Majesty, oh Your Majesty!

Didn't we agree to just eat and drink and not speak?

"You?" Qin Mu put down his wine cup, squinted at Li Er, and muttered: "I remember you, the person who publicly refuted me in the hall earlier, right?"

"It is indeed me!"

Li Er nodded and admitted it without fear.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats.

Fearing that Li Er would be recognized by Qin Mu.

"Very good! You can be considered a person with courage."

Qin Mu didn't pay much attention to Li Er, just nodded faintly.

He drank a cup of wine to himself and continued: "Since you want to know, then I will give a brief evaluation."

Hearing this, everyone quieted down.

Li Er's expression was even more solemn.

He wanted to know too much!

He wanted to know what kind of person he was in Qin Mu's eyes.

Perhaps this is the mutual appreciation between emperors?

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou, Li Li Xueyan, and Princess Changle also pricked up their ears.

They wanted to know Qin Mu's evaluation of Li Er.

"A few years ago, outside Xuanwu Gate, the then-Prince of Qin audaciously launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, cutting down the former Crown Prince and his third brother Li Li Yuanji, and executing their entire families. From this, it can be seen that the Prince of Qin was ruthless, decisive, and poisonous enough!"

"Even if such a person becomes emperor, there is basically only one path left, and that is to leave a bad name for ten thousand years!"

Hearing this, the emotions in Li Er's heart were complex; he didn't know if it was sadness or disappointment.

The bloody scenes from back then quickly surfaced in his mind.

That is a nightmare Li Er cannot shake off!

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou's expression was also not very good.

This is indeed an inglorious past.

"However..."

Just as everyone was bowing their heads in thought, Qin Mu's voice sounded again.

"If I were him, I would have done the same!"

"In an age of great contention, one is either the butcher or the fish. People only have the right to speak if they are alive."

"All right and wrong in this world are merely written by the victors."

Boom!

Once dead, everything vanishes Wu Li Ke smoke!

The words left Li Er's scalp tingling.

I really didn't expect!