Chapter 453: Mingzhu Comes to Invite Him

Chang’an City was divided into two districts by Zhuque Street: Wannian County to the east and Chang’an County to the west. Traditionally, the Jinwu Guard had been responsible for maintaining order in the streets day and night, arresting criminals. Gold-plated copper staffs of the Jinwu Guard could be seen shining in the sunlight everywhere along the city gates and main streets.

But starting from early that morning, the residents of Chang’an County noticed that the once imposing Jinwu Guard soldiers had disappeared, replaced by soldiers in different attire. They wore black helmets, fine black armor, carried bows and arrows on their backs, and had long silver knives at their waists. Some soldiers walked, while others were on horseback—steedly magnificent and imposing. From the silver knives, many residents of Chang’an County guessed their identity: they must be the Qianniu Guard, though their armor was completely different from that of the Jinwu Guard.

Soon, the truth became clear. Proclamations were posted everywhere in Chang’an’s streets and city gates, informing the people that from that day onward, the Jinwu Guard would only be responsible for maintaining order in Wannian County, while Chang’an County would be under the jurisdiction of the Qianniu Guard. The proclamation was signed by Li Qing’an, the general of the Qianniu Guard.

In other words, Chang’an County was now under the control of the Anxi Army. This news filled the people of Chang’an County with joy. The Anxi Army was renowned for its strict military discipline. It was said that they had established military discipline inspection offices even while in Guannei Road to strictly enforce discipline among their soldiers. When this news reached the Western Market, the merchants rejoiced even more, with the sound of firecrackers echoing from morning till noon.

In the morning, a young woman stood beside a large tree near Mingde Gate. Since early in the day, she had been anxiously looking in the direction of Mingde Gate, seemingly waiting for someone.

If we looked closer, we would recognize that this young woman was none other than Mingzhu. By now, she was no longer the mischievous girl of years ago; she had grown into a beautiful woman with a delicate face and charming appearance. Compared to her sister Mingyue, she was slightly shorter in stature, but her skin was snow-white, smooth as butter, and glowing with a rosy hue. The dimples on her cheeks made passersby stop and look back—whose beautiful daughter could this be?

She wasn’t alone. Behind her stood several strong and robust women, each holding a horse. With fierce looks in their eyes, they scared away any lecherous men who tried to approach her.

Mingzhu had come here today at her mother’s orders to wait for Li Qing’an to enter the city. She had already inquired with the Qianniu Guard soldiers, who said their general would return that morning. Just then, a maid rushed over from Mingde Gate, out of breath, and said, “Miss, he’s here! I saw his procession coming!”

Mingzhu was excited. She looked toward the city gates eagerly. After a while, some cavalry began to enter the city—only about five hundred of them. Soon, Mingzhu saw a large carriage coming through the gates, and she immediately ran over, lifting her skirt as she went.

“Brother-in-law!” she called out loudly. Several bodyguards pointed their spears at her and shouted sternly, “Don’t come any closer!”

“I’m looking for your general. He’s my brother-in-law.”

Inside the carriage, Li Qing’an was reviewing reports sent from Anxi when he suddenly heard a young girl’s voice—very familiar. He pulled back the curtain and saw it was Mingzhu outside. He smiled at his guards and said, “Open the door. Let her in.”

The carriage stopped, and the door opened. Mingzhu ran over happily. “Brother-in-law, I’ve been waiting for you for so long!”

“Come! Let’s talk inside.”

Li Qing’an extended his hand and gently pulled her into the carriage. Once inside, Mingzhu waved at the maids and said, “Aunt Liu, you guys can go back first! I’ll return on my own later.”

The maids had no choice but to lead the horses away. The carriage door closed, and the convoy moved forward again. Inside, Mingzhu sat down and took out a bronze mirror to check herself. Thankfully, her hair hadn’t gotten messy from running. She felt relieved.

“Now you’re paying attention to your appearance too?” Li Qing’an teased her, handing her a cup of tea.

“What do you mean, now? I’ve always paid attention. You just didn’t know that.”

Mingzhu glared at him before taking a few sips of tea. She looked at Li Qing’an again, slightly dissatisfied, and said, “It’s been so long since I returned. Why haven’t you come to see my parents-in-law?”

“Don’t you know I’ve been really busy? As the Right Prime Minister before, I had so many documents to handle every day.”

Li Qing’an made an exaggerated gesture and added with a smile, “I finally managed to pass that exhausting position on to your uncle, but then there were wars. That’s why I only returned today. I’ve tried to visit you several times, but I just haven’t had time.”

“And now? Do you have time now?”

Li Qing’an smiled. “It’s better now. I plan to visit you in a day or two.”

Seeing that Li Qing’an had agreed, Mingzhu’s anger turned into joy. She said proudly, “Let me tell you—if you don’t come to see us again, I’ll go to Anxi and tell my sister that you disrespect elders.”

After a pause, she asked curiously, “Brother-in-law, are you really not the Right Prime Minister anymore?”

“What’s there to lie about? I’ve indeed resigned.”

“But… isn’t being the Right Prime Minister a good thing? My father has tried for so many years without success. It’s no wonder he was so disappointed when you refused to take the position!”

Seeing that she was still so childlike at such an age, Li Qing’an smiled slightly and asked, “Have you found a husband yet?”
Mingzhu’s face turned red as she replied, “I do want to, but no one wants me.”
“Is it that you don’t want others, or that others don’t want you?”
“Both! There are those who have asked me to marry them, but I don’t like them.”
Mingzhu glanced at him, bit her lip gently, and said, “But what if I like someone, yet they don’t think highly of me? What should I do then?”
“Mingzhu, believe in fate. When the time comes, if it’s meant to be yours, you won’t be able to escape it.”
Li Qing’an smiled and asked again, “You rushed to see me—is there something urgent?”
Seeing Li Qing’an change the subject, Mingzhu felt a bit disappointed, but then she suddenly understood what he meant by fate. A surge of hope filled her heart, and joy shone in her eyes. Pouting slightly, she said playfully, “Can’t I come to see you if there’s nothing urgent?”
“Of course you can, but whenever you come to see me, you sneak away without any servants around, right?”
Mingzhu laughed and said, “You’re quite smart. Well! There is indeed an urgent matter. Your mother-in-law sent me. She said there’s something important to discuss with you, and asked you to go there today.”
“No problem. I’ll go to Daming Palace. You stay in the carriage; I’ll come back with you soon.”
Hearing that Li Qing’an wasn’t pushing her to leave, Mingzhu was overjoyed. She said, “I have nothing to do anyway, so I’ll wait for you.”
The carriage sped up, and Li Qing’an continued to review documents while Mingzhu sat beside him, pretending to read a book. Her beautiful eyes kept sneaking glances at him. Suddenly, she remembered something and said softly, “Brother Li, my mother was sick some time ago.”
“What happened to her?” Li Qing’an asked, putting down his pen.
“She missed my sister. Although she didn’t say it, I understand how she feels.”
Li Qing’an pondered for a moment before smiling and saying, “I also plan to have your sister return, along with the child, so that your grandmother can see them too.”
“But… won’t my brother-in-law worry about safety?”
“There’s no need to worry. The entire Chang’an County is under my control. With strengthened security, there won’t be any problems. As for you, I hope you can move to Chang’an County too, so I can be more at ease.”
“Actually, that’s possible. Mother said our family has a house in Taiping Fang. My brother-in-law can discuss it with mother.”

Li Qing’an nodded. At that moment, the carriage came to a stop—they had arrived at the Danfeng Gate of the Daming Palace. Li Qing’an glanced outside and smiled, saying, “Wait for me in the carriage. I should be out soon.”
“Don’t worry, brother-in-law! I’ll wait for you.”
Li Qing’an got out of the carriage and walked quickly, escorted by several personal guards.
…
An hour later, Li Qing’an’s carriage stopped in front of the Dugu family’s residence. His arrival had already alerted everyone in the Dugu family. Twenty or so members of the family came out to greet him, each wearing an overly flattering smile.
An old man with gray beard eagerly shook Li Qing’an’s hand, repeating, “Your Highness, the Prince of Zhao, please grace us with your presence at my birthday celebration the day after tomorrow!”
Li Qing’an could no longer remember who this old man was; he seemed to be an elder of the Dugu family. Mingzhu whispered behind him, “That’s Granduncle Third!”
Li Qing’an immediately remembered—Dugu Jing, the former governor of Huazhou who had retired. He quickly bowed and smiled, saying, “How could I miss Granduncle Third’s birthday? I will definitely be there.”
“Good then. Let’s make it a deal. Ah! Mingyue was my favorite when she was young. When will she come back to see this old man who’s about to pass away?”
“Don’t worry, Granduncle Third. Mingyue will return soon.”
At that moment, Dugu Haoran came over and smiled slightly at Li Qing’an, saying, “It’s quite a coincidence—today we’re holding a family meeting, and everyone is here.”
Li Qing’an bowed and said, “I pay my respects to my father-in-law!”
“It’s just our family; no need for formalities. Come! Follow me inside. Mingyue’s mother also has something to discuss with you!”
Dugu Haoran was currently the Chief Minister of the Eastern Palace, the head of all officials in the Eastern Palace. In terms of rank, he was a high-ranking official of the third grade. But since the emperor was still young and had no crown prince, his position was largely nominal, with little power or responsibilities.
Although Dugu Haoran had some unpleasant memories with Li Qing’an in the past, that was long gone. Now, he naturally supported his son-in-law wholeheartedly. Not only him but the entire Dugu family would rely on Li Qing’an in the future. This son-in-law was their golden ticket—how could they not hold onto him?
The Dugu family had always been part of the imperial aristocracy and was one of the Eight Great Families of the Sui and Tang dynasties. Though they didn’t produce as many talented individuals as the Pei or Cui families, they had extensive connections and intermarriages with other prominent families. Most of the Dugu family members served as officials outside the capital—three as governors, seven as county magistrates, along with several lower-ranking officials in the court. There were also many serving as county assistants, clerks, and palace guards, making them another prominent family in Chang’an.

Li Qing’an also needed the support of this family, but the Dougu family alone was not enough; there were also the Pei family, Lu family, Changsun family, and other prominent families, all of whom would be targets for Li Qing’an to win over in the future.
Surrounded by everyone, Li Qing’an entered the main hall, which happened to be lunchtime. As people were about to eat, Dougu Haoran gave Li Qing’an a subtle signal. Li Qing’an then bowed to them with a smile and said, “I’ll go talk to my father-in-law and mother-in-law first. I’ll join you for a drink later. Please start eating without waiting for me.”
Seeing Li Qing’an’s humble demeanor, everyone felt fond of him and said, “Your Highness, the Prince of Zhao, go ahead. We’ll raise a toast to you later.”
Li Qing’an smiled and followed Dougu Haoran inside the residence. After passing through a door, Dougu Haoran, seeing no one around, whispered to Li Qing’an, “Seventh Brother, you might not know this yet, but Jingzong’s death might be related to the regent.”
“Where did Father-in-law get this information?” Li Qing’an asked calmly.
“My third uncle’s grandson, the Third Master you saw just now, has a grandson who was one of the guards at the imperial estate at that time. He was released from prison a few days ago. According to him, the assassin never even approached the building where Emperor Jingzong was. Emperor Jingzong died from poisoning. Before he died, he cried out for his father. Just then, the military commanders from Guanzhong surrounded the entire imperial estate and killed all the assassins. They insisted it was the assassins who shot Emperor Jingzong with poisoned arrows. It’s very strange!”
Li Qing’an nodded and said, “I actually suspect the same thing. With Emperor Jingzong’s death, the regent became eager to ascend the throne—this must have been part of his plan all along.”
“Hmph! Even a tiger won’t eat its own cubs, yet he’s willing to kill his own son. Where is justice in this?”
Dougu Haoran was filled with anger. At that moment, the sound of jewelry came from ahead. Lady Pei, dressed in a light brocade dress, came over accompanied by her daughter Mingyue. She encountered her husband and Li Qing’an from afar and smiled, “Why did Seventh Brother come home only today?”
Li Qing’an had always been grateful to Mingyue’s mother, who had resisted Li Longji’s pressure and refused to send Mingyue to the palace. If she hadn’t stood firm, Li Qing’an might have lived with regret for the rest of his life.
Li Qing’an quickly stepped forward to pay his respects, saying, “Mother-in-law, I’ve been busy with state affairs and only returned to Chang’an today. Please forgive me.”

Madam Pei was just talking casually. Right now, as a mother-in-law, she was growing fonder of her son-in-law by the day. Not only was he the most powerful figure in the Tang Dynasty, but more importantly, despite being the Prince of Zhao and also serving as Prime Minister—positioned above everyone else—he didn’t indulge in debauchery like other noble families. Instead, he cared deeply for his daughter. It was her good fortune to marry such a husband. Madam Pei smiled and said, “Let’s talk for a while first; we’ll go eat soon.”
Dugu Haoran also smiled and said, “Let’s keep it brief—Seventh Brother is still hungry!”
The couple led Li Qing’an inside the house and sat down. Mingzhu served tea to her parents and Li Qing’an. Madam Pei glanced at her daughter in surprise and couldn’t help but laugh, “This little rascal can even serve tea now! If not for your brother-in-law, I probably wouldn’t have gotten to drink tea served by you in my lifetime.”
Mingzhu blushed deeply and pushed her mother from behind, pleading, “Mom, stop talking nonsense. It’s only natural to serve tea to you!”
Dugu Haoran stroked his beard and smiled, “This shows that our Mingzhu has finally grown up.”
Li Qing’an also smiled without saying anything. At that moment, Madam Pei asked, “Seventh Brother, I heard from Mingzhu just now that you plan to have Mingyue return to the capital. Is that true?”
Li Qing’an nodded and said, “Actually, I’ve had this plan for a while. After all, I’ll have to return to Chang’an sooner or later. Before, I was mainly worried about their safety. If I wasn’t in Chang’an, I feared they might become hostages. But now I’m not worried anymore. In the future, the Anxi Army will be stationed permanently in Guanzhong, and Chang’an County will also be under my control. That way, if anything happens, they can leave Chang’an calmly.”
Seeing that Li Qing’an truly wanted his daughter to return, Madam Pei asked happily, “Then when can they return?”
“I’ve already written to Anxi. An army will escort them back. It will take at least two or three months.”
After a pause, Li Qing’an added, “I also hope that my parents-in-law can move to Chang’an County, so that they can visit us often in the future.”
Madam Pei and her husband exchanged a glance. Dugu Haoran smiled and said, “Actually, I mentioned this to your mother-in-law this morning. Since Chang’an County is under the control of our worthy son-in-law, we should also benefit from it. We happen to have a house in Taiping Fang that’s about the same size as this one. So, let’s just move there.”
Thinking that her daughter and grandson would be living there in the future, Madam Pei realized it would indeed be more convenient to live in Taiping Fang. Although she preferred this place a bit more, she agreed. After all, her grandson was Li Qing’an’s eldest and only son—she couldn’t afford to be careless.

After finishing these casual remarks, she shifted the topic to today’s main subject. Lady Pei smiled and said, “Qilang, I asked Mingzhu to summon you today because there’s an important matter I need to discuss with you.”
“Please go ahead, Mother-in-law!”
“It’s this: In five days, it will be my uncle’s 75th birthday. My uncle is the former prime minister, Pei Kuan. His health has been deteriorating increasingly this year, and it seems he won’t live much longer. So the Pei family has decided to hold a grand celebration for him to bring good fortune. All the prominent families in Chang’an will come to offer their congratulations. The Pei family will select seven people to oversee the preparations for the birthday celebration, including your uncle. Your father originally intended to participate as well, but he hasn’t been feeling well lately, and Mingyue’s elder brother isn’t in Chang’an. Qilang, since you’re half a son-in-law of the Pei family, I was thinking of asking you to take on this task. Do you have time?”
“Let me add one more thing,” said Dugu Haoran beside them, stroking his beard with a smile. “Your mother-in-law has told the Pei family that you should go in my place. Everyone in the Pei family agrees—they know of your influence and status, and they all want to meet you. So, Qilang, just agree!”
Li Qing’an was overjoyed. He understood his parents-in-law’s good intentions—they wanted him to be accepted by Chang’an’s elite families, not just as a powerful warlord. Participating in the preparations for Pei Kuan’s birthday meant he could not only strengthen his relationship with the Pei family but also use their influence to connect with various prominent families, which would be crucial for his future plans.
He expressed his sincere gratitude, “Thank you very much for your trust in me. I will do my best.”
“Then go to the Pei family tomorrow. You can start by seeing your uncle first.”
Lady Pei smiled and placed a silver plaque on the table. “This is the plaque for the organizers. With it, you can enter and exit the Pei family’s residence freely. It’s not absolutely necessary, but it’s better if you keep it.”
With that, she turned to look at Mingzhu and said with a smile, “I guess you’re not very familiar with the Pei family. Mingzhu visits there often, and everyone in the Pei family likes her. Let her help you!”