Chapter 32: Golden Cicada Leaks Out of Shell

Li Longji had already arrived at the Daming Palace. Although there were many beauties in the Daming Palace, they were unable to soothe Li Longji's anxious heart. Until dusk, Li Longji finally got news about Yu Chaoen.

"Your Majesty, news came from Chen Mingzhong that Li Qing'an took his wife to the mansion in the afternoon, and then went to the slave market to buy more than 30 servants. The Gu Du Mansion and the Gao Lishi Mansion also each gave them ten servants. The Dugu Mansion also sent a large number of bedding and porcelain and other items, and the new mansion was already being arranged."

"Um!"

Li Longji put down a little of his heart, and he nodded and said, "But send more people, they must keep an eye on it. Li Qing'an will never allow him to take the person away."

"Slaves obey the order, and then make arrangements."

"Wait a minute!" Li Longji called him again.

He thought about it and ordered: "I will order someone to summon Wu Xianyi, and I will favor her tonight."

Yu Chaoen hurriedly left, and Li Longji walked slowly to the window with his hands behind his back, staring at the lush spring scenery outside the window. At this moment, the country was no longer important in his heart. What was important was the beauty. Every corner of his heart was filled with the shadow of Dugu Mingyue. This pain that he could not get was almost unbearable.

Li Qing'an's carriage was still parked outside the gate. It was just dark and the gate opened. A team of cavalry drove out of the mansion, sprinting like thunder, everyone was wearing a cloak on their shoulders, driving away like a gust of wind. Several monitors hiding in the opposite alley immediately became nervous. They stared at the cavalry team intently. In the middle of the team, they saw Li Qing'an surrounded by soldiers, but did not see Dugu Mingyue, and there was not even a woman dressed in a man. Several monitors breathed a sigh of relief.

They did not go with Li Qing'an. Their mission was to keep an eye on where Dugu Mingyue left the mansion. There were people monitoring each door on both sides, but they didn't take it too seriously. Today was the second day of Li Qing'an's marriage. On the third day, they had to go back to their parents' home. This was the marriage ceremony. There should be nothing wrong these days.

Li Qing'an's cavalry rushed out of the city gate. At this time, the sky was already dark, and a lonely moon hung in the deep blue sky, with a warm atmosphere in the wind.

After rushing out of the city gate, the cavalry team slowly slowed down. Li Qing'an pulled away the cloak that was hanging on his body, revealing Dugu Mingyue hiding behind her. She had already changed into a black short suit, hugging Li Qing'an's back waist tightly, and galloping quickly, making her face a little pale due to the bump.

"Mingyue, how are you?"

Mingyue restrained the nausea between her chest and abdomen and whispered: "It's no problem to slow down the speed. It's too fast, so it's a bit unbearable."

"Okay! Let's go slow."

Li Qing'an carried Mingyue to the front of the war horse, wrapped her tightly in a cloak, slowed down the horse speed, and headed smoothly towards the military camp.

Two carriages had already been parked at the gate of the military camp. Everyone turned over and dismounted. The carriage window opened. Mingzhu smiled and waved to Mingyue and Li Qing'an, "Sister, brother-in-law!"

Mingyue stepped forward and smiled, "You weirdo, you sister is going to owe you a favor again this time."

"It's okay! It's better that I can go to Anxi." Mingzhu smiled, with a hint of begging in her eyes, and looked at Li Qing'an.

"It depends on your luck. If you are lucky, you can go to Anxi. If you are not lucky, you can only go back to the capital for your sister."

Li Qingan smiled and asked her again, "Do your father know if you come out?"

"Mom didn't tell her dad, by the way, I asked me to tell you that it's not important for my sister to go back to the door. What's important is that you want to return to Anxi safely, and I hope my sister can go smoothly."

"Okay! We're ready to go."

Li Qingan walked to Mingyue, gently held her shoulder and smiled, "You go first, I will come later."

Although Mingyue was reluctant to leave, she also knew that the situation was urgent. If she could not escape, the consequences would be serious. She nodded silently and turned to the carriage.

Li Qingan said to his personal military commander Jiang Xiaonian: "I'll ask you for your safety, remember to leave Guanzhong as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, General! I will definitely protect my wife."

He turned his horse's head and lowered his order. The carriage slowly started. Two hundred personal soldiers guarded Mingyue's carriage and headed west. The curtains were pulled up, and Mingyue waved to Li Qing'an to say goodbye.

Li Qingan kept watching the carriage disappear into the darkness, and then he turned the carriage path: "Go back to the city!"

Hundreds of cavalry and horses were launched together, galloping towards Chang'an City like lightning.

The next morning, Li Qing'an's new mansion began to make a lot of shopping. Dugu Mingyue, dressed by Rushi, also appeared several times. She sent someone to the Dongshi Satin Shop to buy a lot of good brocade, and then went to the Huren Jewelry Store to order a lot of expensive jewelry. Soon, the Huren Jewelry Store's staff personally delivered the jewelry to their doorstep for choice.

The person who was monitoring outside the mansion immediately asked the jewellery man who sent the jewelry, who bought the jewelry? The answer was General Li's newlywed wife, who chose jewelry worth 2,000 stale.

In this way, two days of busy life passed, and Li Qing'an also brought his wife back to the door normally, and did not return until night. On the morning of the third day, a team of cavalry rushed out of Mingde Gate. The horse was very fast and the hooves were thunderous. The report immediately shouted: "Doway ahead, Anxi urgent military information!"

The defenders at the city gate were so scared that they dodged by quickly and did not dare to stop them. The news reported that the cavalry ran on Zhuque Street. The people on the street dodged to both sides. When they heard them shouting for Anxi's emergency military situation, everyone was reminded of it. What happened to Anxi again? The news of the accident in Anxi quickly spread in Chang'an.

The cavalry rushed into Jingshanfang, galloped to Li Qing'an's new house and stopped, turned over and dismounted and rushed into the mansion and shouted: "General, Anxi urgent military information!"

Not long after, Li Qing'an walked out of the mansion, got on the carriage, and drove straight towards Xingqing Palace. Something big happened in Anxi, and he wanted to return to Anxi urgently.

Li Longji had already returned to Xingqing Palace. He had just fallen asleep and was combing his hair when a eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, the governor of Anxi sent an emergency military information. He begged His Majesty to agree to him to return to Anxi immediately."

Li Longji was stunned and asked, "What emergency military information should I show you."

The eunuch handed over the military information report submitted by Li Qing'an. Li Longji opened the report and saw it read: "The Tubo army increased 20,000 troops to the south of Xiaobolu, and there were signs of counterattacking Xiaobolu."

Li Longji pondered for a moment and immediately ordered: "Come Yu Chaoen to me."

After a moment, Yu Chaoen hurried over, "Sister meets Your Majesty!"

"I'm here to ask you, is there any news from Lingcheng on Anxi?"

"The slave hasn't had time to pay attention."

"Go and ask now, I want the latest news!" Li Longji shouted angrily.

"Slaves obey the order, let's read the news."

Yu Chaoen was so scared that he ran towards the eunuchs and supervisors' yamen. Li Longji looked at the military situation again and frowned. According to Li Qing'an's plan, he should have returned to Anxi in five days to prepare for the war, but Anxi suddenly heard news that the Tubo army had signs of counterattacking Xiao Bolu. It should be said that this is indeed possible. It is obvious that the Anxi Tang army's plan was to point to Tocharo. The Tubo people increased their troops at this critical moment, just to take back Xiao Bolu while the Tang army was fighting with Dashi. Both sides had no time to clone them, to seize Xiao Bolu, intervene in Tocharo, and gain the benefits of the fisherman.

However, in this way, conditions were created for Geshuhan's Longyou Battle. Tubo divided troops to Tochar, and they could not start a war on both sides at the same time. Geshuhan encountered much less resistance in Longyou.

"Your Majesty!" Yu Chaoen ran back, "There is news from Bian Lingcheng! The flying pigeon has just been sent."

He handed over a pigeon letter. Li Longji opened the small pigeon letter, and saw only one sentence on it: "The news came from Xiao Bolu that Tubo showed signs of increasing troops."

It was true, and Li Longji had no doubts anymore and said, "Let Li Qing'an return to Anxi immediately, so he can ask Taisun Yu to see Li Qing'an off for me."

He waved to Yu Chaoen again, whispered a few instructions to him, and Yu Chaoen took the order.

News of the emergency military situation in Anxi quickly spread throughout the court and the country, which meant that Li Qing'an had to rush back to Anxi immediately. In the morning, more than a dozen courts rushed outside the city to see Li Qing'an off.

Crown Prince Li Yu was commissioned by Li Longji to see Li Qing'an off, followed by Wang Gong, Minister of Justice, Zhang Yun, Minister of Revenue, Minister of Works, Wei Huan, Minister of War, Pei Min, etc., more than a dozen important officials of the Eastern Palace Party, even Minister of Personnel, Yang Guozhong, and Minister of War, Wei Jiansu, also came to see him off.

Nearly a thousand Li Qing'an's personal guards were lined up, with flags waving and ready to go. There were several large carriages among them, which were Li Qing'an's family.

A simple banquet was already held in a farewell pavilion next to him. More than a dozen important officials were here to practice for Li Qing'an. Li Yu picked up a glass of wine and said, "The General is going to Anxi, and the Longyou Campaign is about to be launched. I hope the General will cooperate with the Longyou battle from the west and send good news early."

Li Qing'an also raised his glass and said, "Please rest assured that I will sweep away the Tubo army on the western front and create conditions for the victory of the Longyou Battle."

"Okay! We have drunk this cup and wish the general a good journey."

Li Yu raised his glass and looked around. The important officials raised their glasses one after another. Everyone drank them all. Li Qing'an smiled at everyone and said, "Okay, I will say goodbye. I will go to Beijing to report my work next year."

At this time, Zhang Yun glanced at the carriage and suddenly smiled and said, "Have the general taken away his newlywed wife?"

Before Li Qing'an could speak, Yang Guozhong smiled and said, "Shangshu Zhang doesn't know that the general's parents and ancestors are all shattering leaves. The general is going to take his wife to pay homage to his parents and ancestors. Does Zhang Shangshu understand?"

Li Qingan was slightly stunned. He had never communicated with Yang Guozhong. Unexpectedly, Yang Guozhong would say this. He glanced at Yang Guozhong, and Yang Guozhong also looked at him. The two of them smiled tacitly when they touched their eyes.

The two of them had fought for so many years and had never agreed to each other. Only in this matter, the interests of the two were consistent. Yang Guozhong wanted to protect the rights and interests of the Yang family. No matter what, he would not allow Dugu Mingyue to enter the palace. He already knew that Li Qing'an was going to take his wife away, so he remained silent on this matter. For him, not opposing it is actually support.

Li Yu immediately interfered: "The general took his wife to worship the spirit of his parents and ancestors. This is human relations and Gu agreed. This matter will be borne by Gu Yili."

Since His Royal Highness spoke, no one said anything. Pei Min walked forward and patted Li Qing'an on the shoulder hard, "Take care all the way!"

Li Qing'an nodded and smiled, "Uncle might as well send the Pei family's children to the Anxi army for training. I will give them a chance to make meritorious contributions."

"Yes, I will send the Pei family's children to Anxi."

Li Qing'an smiled, then clasped his fists at everyone and said, "Your Highness, all ministers, Qing'an has said goodbye."

Ordinary important officials bowed their hands to return the gift: "The general has a smooth journey!"

Li Qing'an flew out of the pavilion, turned over the horse, waved to everyone, and whispered: "Go!"

The team slowly started and headed west along the official road. Li Yu looked at the team gradually moving away and frowned slightly. Li Qing'an took his wife so smoothly, but the emperor did not stop him, which made him feel a little uneasy.

Li Qing'an traveled westward. Two days later, the team arrived at Fengxiang. The team had just arrived at Fengxiang City Gate. At this time, a large group of horses suddenly surged out of the city, with thousands of people. They lined up and blocked Li Qing'an's way.

"General, it seems to be the Yulin Army!" A personal guard recognized the army.

Li Qingan smiled coldly and came, as expected. As he expected, a general ran out of the team, Chen Xuanli, the general of the Right Yulin Army.

He galloped to Li Qing'an and bowed, "General of Jiedushi, I will question the general on your order, why did I not follow the convention and keep my family in Chang'an as a charity?"

Li Qingan smiled slightly and said, "General Chen was surprised by this. Since the Emperor changed to the Central Official Military Supervisor System in the Kaiyuan period, there has been no saying that his family members are kept in Beijing as a magistrate. Moreover, since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, we have always adhered to the censors and military supervisors. There has never been a magistrate of generals and military supervisors in Beijing. I wonder where General Chen's words come from?"

"this....."

Chen Xuanli was a little speechless. He said for a while: "Although there is no formal regulation, it has always been a common practice for the governors to keep their wives in Beijing. Whether it is An Lushan, Geshuhan or Gao Xianzhi, it is like this. Why is it special to the general? The emperor trusts the general, and the general should also repay him with courtesy!"

Li Qingan smiled and said, "I understand General Chen's meaning, and I have not broken the precedent. My original intention is to take my wife back to Saiye to worship his parents and ancestors. This is human ethics, and then return to Chang'an. Your Majesty should be able to understand this. Besides, Your Highness Crown King also approved my request, please forgive me."

Chen Xuanli also heard about this matter. He heard that the emperor had a crush on Li Qing'an's wife, but he did not dare to rob him clearly, so he could only use conventions to restrain Li Qing'an and not allow him to take his wife away. But Chen Xuanli also knew that Li Qing'an did not violate the rules. There was only a military supervision system in the Tang Dynasty's military system, but no hostages. It was just a custom of keeping his wife in Chang'an. If you really pursue it, there was no clear article and the rules were made. It was beyond reproach to take it away. Of course, no one would offend the emperor for this.

Although Chen Xuanli understood this, his task was to stop Li Qing'an from taking his wife away. He apologized: "General, I'm sorry, I'm going to do it on orders. Since the general has special circumstances, you can apply to the emperor. Of course, the emperor will understand the general's human relationship and arouse the general's wife to Saiye to worship his parents-in-law. However, the premise is that the general should make this request to the emperor, and should not do anything without authorization, resulting in this misunderstanding. Therefore, in order to avoid this misunderstanding, the general should send his wife back to Chang'an first, and then the general will apply to the emperor. In that case, I will never make things difficult for the general again. Please do not make things difficult for me."

Li Qing'an was slightly angry, and he said coldly: "General Chen, I have urgent military information to return to Anxi. You go and ask me to go back to Chang'an again. If the military information is delayed, can you bear this consequence?"

"I dare not delay the general's military information. Even if the general goes to Anxi, the general's wife please return to Chang'an first. As long as the emperor approves, I will send troops to guard her to Anxi, and will never delay the general's human relationship."

Chen Xuanli's attitude was very tough. This was the decree given to him by Li Longji. No matter what excuse Li Qing'an used, he must take Li Qing'an's wife back.

Li Qingan suddenly laughed, "Since General Chen must persist, please go back to Chang'an!"

"What?" Chen Xuanli didn't understand what Li Qing'an meant.

At this time, the curtain of the carriage was opened, and Mingzhu smiled and said, "General Chen, I am not my sister. You have found the wrong person!"

She jumped out of the carriage and opened the door. It was empty inside. A carriage behind her was also opened. Two twin sisters who looked exactly the same. Chen Xuanli met Mingzhu, and he was stunned. "General, what's going on?"
To be continued...