Chapter 453: Mingzhu is here to ask

Chang'an City is divided into two counties with Zhuque Street as the boundary. Wannian County is on the east and Chang'an County is on the west. For a long time, the street patrols and security in Chang'an are mainly handled by the Jinwu Guard. They inspect day and night and arrest the traitors. The gold-plated copper sticks of the Jinwu Guard can be seen everywhere in Chang'an Chengmen Street.

But starting from this morning, the residents of Chang'an County discovered that the formerly majestic Jinwu Guard soldiers had disappeared and turned into soldiers in another costume. They wore black helmets, black fine armor, bows and arrows on their backs, and long silver swords on their waists. Some soldiers were walking, and there were cavalry teams, war horses were majestic. Many Chang'an County residents guessed their identities from the silver swords. They should be Qianniu Guards, but their armor was completely different from the Jinwu Guards.

Soon, the truth was revealed. There were notices posted on the streets and city gates of Chang'an, informing the people of Chang'an that from now on, the Jinwu Guard will only be responsible for the public security patrol in Wannian County. Chang'an County will be taken over by Qianniu Guard. The following signature is Li Qing'an, the general of Qianniu Guard.

In other words, Chang'an County was taken over by the Anxi Army. This news made the people of Chang'an County happy. The Anxi Army has always been known for its strict military discipline. It is said that they established the Military Discipline Inspection Office when they were in Guannei Road to strictly investigate soldiers' violations. When this news reached Xicheng City, the merchants were even more cheerful. From morning to noon, the sound of firecrackers were constantly ringing.

In the morning, a young woman stood by a big tree near Mingde Gate in Chang'an. From early in the morning, she looked anxiously towards Mingde Gate, as if she was waiting for someone.

If we look closer, we will recognize that this young woman is Mingzhu. At this time, Mingzhu is no longer the naughty girl from a few years ago. She has grown into a pretty girl with a beautiful face. Compared with her sister Mingyue, her figure is slightly shorter, but her skin is white, fine and as fine as fat, pink as greasy, and her cheeks are as smiling as the rippling glow, making passers-by stop and look back. Whose beautiful woman is this?

She was not alone. Behind her were several tall and strong women, each tied a horse with fierce eyes. Several Dengtuzi who wanted to come forward to chat with him were so scared that they dared not approach him.

Mingzhu was ordered by her mother to come here to wait for Li Qing'an to enter the city. She had already inquired about the soldiers of Qianniu Guards. Their general would come back this morning. At this time, a servant rushed from Mingde Gate and said breathlessly: "Girl, here you are here! I saw his team coming!"

Mingzhu was excited and looked towards the city gate. After a moment, cavalry began to enter the city. There were not many cavalrymen entering the city, only more than 500 people. Soon, Mingzhu saw a wide carriage coming in through the city gate. She immediately ran up with her long skirt.

"Brother-in-law!"

She shouted loudly, and several guards pointed their spears at her and shouted loudly: "Don't get close!"

"I'll look for your general, he is my brother-in-law."

In the carriage, Li Qing'an was reviewing several reports from Anxi, and suddenly heard the voice of a young girl. He was very familiar with him. He opened the curtain and saw that it was Mingzhu outside. He smiled at his personal soldiers and said, "Open the car door and let her come up."

The carriage stopped, the door opened, Mingzhu ran forward happily, "Brother-in-law, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

"Come on! Let's talk about getting in the car."

Li Qing'an handed her hand and gently pulled her onto the carriage. Mingzhu got onto the carriage and waved to several servants and said, "Auntie Liu, you guys go back first! I'll come back by myself later."

Several servants had no choice but to lead the horse away. The carriage door was closed and the team slowly advanced again. Mingzhu sat down in the carriage and took out the bronze mirror to look at it. Fortunately, her hair was not messy when she ran just now, so she felt relieved.

"What, do you have to pay attention to your appearance now?" Li Qingan brought a cup of tea to Mingzhu and joked with her.

"What people have noticed now, but you don't know."

Mingzhu glared at him, picked up the tea and took a few sips. She looked at Li Qing'an again, and said a little dissatisfied: "I have been back for so long, why don't I come to see my father-in-law and mother-in-law?"

"You don't know that I'm really busy. I was the right prime minister some time ago, and the documents I have to process every day are so high."

Li Qing'an made an exaggerated gesture and smiled, "I finally pushed that exhausted position to your uncle, but I encountered another war. I'm just back today and I want to see you several times, but I don't have time."

"What about now? Do you have time now?"

Li Qingan smiled and said, "It's better now, I'm going to see you tomorrow or the next day."

Seeing that Li Qing'an agreed, Mingzhu turned anger into joy, and she said proudly: "Tell you, if you don't come to see me again... I will go to Anxi to find my sister and say you don't respect your elders."

After pausing, she asked curiously again: "Brother-in-law, are you really not the right prime minister?"

"What's there to lie to you? I've really resigned."

"But... Isn't it a good thing to be the right prime minister? My dad has been thinking about it for so many years but can't be the one. You still don't want to be the one. No wonder my dad is so disappointed!"

Seeing that she was so old and was still childish, Li Qingan smiled and said, "Have you found her husband's family?"

Mingzhu blushed and said, "I think so, but no one wants me."

"Do you want others, or do others want you?"

"There are all! There are also people who ask me for a marriage, but I don't like it."

Mingzhu glanced at him, bit her lower lip gently and said, "But I like it, but I don't like me, what do you think of?"

"Mingzhu, believe in fate. If fate comes, it is yours and you can't escape it."

Li Qingan smiled and asked again: "You are in a hurry to find me, is there anything wrong?"

Mingzhu saw that Li Qing'an had opened the topic, and she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed, but after another thought, she suddenly understood the fate that Li Qing'an said, and her heart suddenly had infinite hope. A light of joy appeared in her eyes. Her round little mouth pouted slightly, and said coquettishly: "Can't you come to you if you're fine?"

"Of course, it's just that when you come to me, you run out secretly. There won't be a servant, right?"

Mingzhu laughed and said, "You are quite smart, um! You have something to come to you. It was your mother-in-law who asked me to come. She said she had important things to discuss with you. Please come here today."

"No problem, I'm going to go to Daming Palace. You're staying in the carriage. I'll go back with you later."

When Mingzhu heard that Li Qingan didn't drive her away, she was extremely happy and said, "I happened to be fine, so I'll wait for you."

The carriage accelerated, Li Qing'an continued to review documents, while Mingzhu sat aside, pretending to hold a book in her hand, and her beautiful and cute eyes secretly glanced at Li Qing'an from time to time. At this time, she suddenly remembered something and whispered: "Brother Li, my mother was sick some time ago."

"What's wrong with her?" Li Qingan stopped writing and asked.

"She is Sister Missing. Although she didn't say it, I understand what she thinks."

Li Qingan pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "I plan to let your sister come back and have children, so that my grandmother can see him too."

"But... aren't my brother-in-law worried about safety issues?"

"Don't worry, the entire Chang'an County has been controlled by me. As long as the security is strengthened, there will be no problem with safety. But you, I also hope that you can move to Chang'an County, so that I can feel more at ease."

"Actually, I can do it. My mother said that there is a house in Taipingfang. My brother-in-law can discuss it with her."

Li Qingan nodded. At this time, the carriage stopped and had already arrived at the Danfeng Gate of the Daming Palace. Li Qingan looked outside and smiled and said, "You wait for me in the car, I should be able to come out soon."

"Don't worry, brother-in-law! I will wait for you."

Li Qing'an got off the carriage and quickly walked under the escort of several personal soldiers.

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An hour later, Li Qing'an's carriage stopped in front of Dugu Mansion. Li Qing'an's arrival had already alarmed the old and small people of Dugu Mansion. Twenty or thirty members of Dugu Mansion came out, each with a passionate and flattering smile.

An old man with a white beard excitedly held Li Qing'an's hand and said repeatedly: "Your Highness, King Zhao, I will celebrate my birthday the day after tomorrow. Your Highness must enjoy the glory!"

Li Qingan could no longer remember who the old man was. He seemed to be a lonely elder. Mingzhu whispered behind him: "This is Grandpa Three!"

Li Qingan suddenly remembered Dugu Jing, the former prefect of Huazhou, had already retired from the officialdom. He quickly bowed and smiled, "The Third Master is on his birthday, how could I not go? I must come."

"Okay, we're determined, hey! Mingyue was the most loved by me when she was a child. When will she come back to see me, a man who is about to fall into the ground?"

"Don't worry, Master Third, Mingyue will be back soon."

At this time, Dugu Haoran came over and smiled slightly at Li Qing'an and said, "It's a coincidence that my family was holding a clan meeting, and the whole family was with me."

Li Qing'an bowed and said, "See your father-in-law!"

"We are all our own people, so don't be polite, come! Come and go to the mansion with me. Mingyue's mother has something to discuss with you!"

Dugu Haoran is currently the secretary of the Eastern Palace, which is the leader of all officials in the Eastern Palace. In terms of official positions, this is also a senior official of the third rank, but the emperor was young and had no prince yet, so he was also a free official, with nothing to do or power.

Although Dugu Haoran had a little unpleasant memory of Li Qing'an in the past, it was already a thing of the past. Now Gu Du Haoran naturally fully supports his son-in-law. Not only him, but their entire Dugu family will rely on Li Qing'an in the future. This son-in-law is their family's golden rice bowl, how could they not hold on to it?

The Dugu family has always been a royal relative and one of the eight major families of the Sui and Tang dynasties. Although they are not as talented as the Pei family and the Cui family, they are also very connected and have marriages with each other. Most of the Dugu family's children are outside officials, with three prefects, seven county magistrates, and some middle and low-level officials in the court. As for the county magistrate, chief clerk, palace guards, etc., there are many people, and they also belong to the famous family in Chang'an.

Li Qingan also needs the support of this family, but the Dugu family is not enough. There are also the Pei family, the Lu family and the Changsun family with great relationships with the Dugu family. These big families will be the targets Li Qingan will strive for in the future.

Li Qing'an walked into the lobby surrounded by everyone. It was lunch time and everyone was preparing to have a meal. Dugu Haoran gave Li Qing'an a wink. Li Qing'an bowed and smiled at everyone, "I'll talk to my father-in-law and mother-in-law first, and come and have a few drinks with everyone later. Everyone eat first, so don't wait for me."

Seeing that Li Qing'an was humble and had a good impression of him, everyone smiled and said, "Your Highness Zhao will go first, we will toast later."

Li Qingan smiled and followed Dugu Haoran to the inner house. After passing a door, Dugu Haoran saw that there was no one around, so he whispered to Li Qingan: "Maybe Qilang doesn't know yet! Jingzong's death may be related to the regent."

"Where did you get the news of my father-in-law?" Li Qingan asked quietly.

"My third uncle's grandson is the third master you met just now. His eldest grandson was one of the guards of the imperial village at that time. He was just released home two days ago. According to him, the assassin did not approach the small building where Emperor Jingzong was located. Emperor Jingzong died of poisoning. When he died, he shouted "father" and at this moment, the Guanzhong army surrounded the entire imperial village and killed all the assassins. He insisted that it was the assassin who shot Emperor Jingzong with poison arrows. It was very strange!"

Li Qing'an nodded and said, "Actually, I am quite suspicious. When Emperor Jingzong passed away, the governor was impatient to ascend the throne. This should be a plan he had already made."

"Hmph! The tiger poison is not alive, but he even wants to kill his own son. Where is the way of heaven?"

Dugu Haoran was very angry. At this time, the sound of the pendant rings in front of him sounded. Mrs. Pei, wearing a long thin brocade dress, walked over with her daughter Mingzhu. She happened to meet her husband and Li Qing'an. She smiled from a distance: "Why did Qilang come home today?"

Li Qingan has always been grateful to Mingyue's mother. She had resisted Li Longji's pressure and did not send Mingyue into the palace. If she had not insisted, Li Qingan might have been resentful for the rest of his life.

Li Qing'an hurriedly stepped forward and bowed: "My mother-in-law, my son-in-law is busy with court affairs. I have just returned to Chang'an today. Please forgive me."

Mrs. Pei was just talking. Now she is the mother-in-law who likes her son-in-law. The more she looks at her son-in-law, the more she likes her. Her son-in-law is not only the most powerful figure in the Tang Dynasty, but more importantly, although he is the King of Zhao and has become a prime minister. He is inferior to one person and is above ten thousand people, but he is not as lewd and unrestrained as other royal families. He takes wives and concubines and cares for his daughter very much. It is her blessing to marry such a husband. Mrs. Pei smiled and said, "Tell me first, let's go to have a meal right away."

Dugu Haoran also smiled and said, "Let's just say a few words, Qilang is still hungry!"

The couple took Li Qing'an into the inner house and sat down. Mingzhu served a cup of tea for her parents and Li Qing'an. Mrs. Pei looked at her daughter in surprise and couldn't help but smile: "This dead girl actually has tea. If it weren't for your brother-in-law's arrival, I might never have the tea I served in my life."

Mingzhu's face was flushed with shame, and she pushed her mother behind her back and said, "Mom, stop talking nonsense, it's time to serve you tea!"

Dugu Haoran also stroked his beard and smiled: "This means that our Mingzhu has finally grown up."

Li Qing'an also smiled but said nothing. At this time, Mrs. Pei said, "Qilang, I heard Mingzhu say just now, you plan to let Mingyue return to Beijing, is that true?"

Li Qing'an nodded and said, "Actually, I have made this plan a long time ago. After all, I will go back to Chang'an sooner or later. In the past, I was mainly worried about the safety of their mother and son. If I were not in Chang'an, I was worried that their mother and son would become hostages, but now I am not worried. In the future, the Anxi Army will be stationed in Guanzhong, especially Chang'an County, and so on. In this way, if something happens, they can also leave Chang'an calmly."
To be continued...