Chapter 14 Chapter Fourteen

The peach blossoms in Beijing are blooming as well as last year. I took the car out of Suzaku Gate and headed towards the southern suburbs. It didn't take long to see the peach blossoms stretching, a pink stretch almost reaching the horizon.The river water in Chunri was extremely clear, and as the carriage drove along the river, we had already arrived at the Temple of Flowers. The plantain tree next to the Huashen Temple has four or five small plantains this year, and it is full of greenery.Sheng Yan got out of the car, stood in front of the Temple of Flowers, looked up, the Temple of Flowers became more and more decayed, and every beam and column felt crumbling.

She saw at a glance, King Rui who was slowly pacing in the Temple of Flowers, the sunlight behind him slanted and superimposed her shadow on King Rui's shadow. She was looking down, and Rui Wang Shangjie had already walked over. He is still the same as last year, still wearing light blue casual clothes, with profound facial features, and the corners of his slightly pursed lips make him look indifferent, only a pair of dark eyes, such a color as deep as an abyss, if she falls into it, I am afraid Never fall to the bottom. He saw her, and a gentle light gradually shone in those dark eyes, and it was the smiling expression that softened his eyes.

Sheng Yan silently grasped her skirt, for some reason, she felt a suffocating weakness in her chest, and her breathing began to be difficult. King Rui walked up to her, stood shoulder to shoulder with her, and said, "Look, this is the place where we met last year today." Yes, this place. The girl who was timidly catching the rain from the eaves at that time is now the imperial concubine Sheng De. The man who smiled and asked her about the content of the signature was now her most hated enemy. The same place, the same two people, the world is impermanent, yet they are so different.

Such is life, such is fate. She opened her mouth slowly and said, "Yeah, it's really fast... It's only been a year, and everything in the world has changed." The bright spring sun shone on them, and the two walked into the small temple together without knowing it. Sheng Yan clasped his hands together, closed his eyes in front of the flower god and prayed for a while, King Rui stood beside her and watched her eyelashes tremble slightly, feeling extremely beautiful and heart-pounding. When she stood up, he couldn't help laughing and asked, "What did you say to her?"

She lowered her head and smiled lightly, and said, "I just wish that she would bless Shangxun to wake up as soon as possible... I also hope that my mother's spirit in heaven can see us." King Rui's expression darkened immediately, and he said, "You don't have to say this in front of me in the future." She wanted to retort and ask him why she couldn't miss her husband and mother, but seeing his gloomy face, she still bit her lip and swallowed everything. Seeing that she was silent, his face softened again, and he reached out to hold her hand, and said in a low voice, "There are so many people in front, let's go to the back of the temple and have a look, maybe the scenery is not bad."

Sheng Yan's hand landed on his palm, and she pulled it hard but couldn't retract it. She had no choice but to follow him around the back door of the temple. A small open space is covered by mountains and temples, like a natural bottom, quiet and uninhabited. The blue sky shrouded their heads, and the peach blossoms bloomed brilliantly underneath. The peach blossoms on the trees were in full bloom, and a layer of fallen flowers like rouge had been spread on the ground.All the colors are bright in the sunlight, bright sky blue, delicate pink, and soft green are intertwined, and the strong colors are so brilliant that the eyes are almost unbearable.

King Rui took her hand and walked into the falling flowers. The two of them sat leaning against the tree. The sun shone through the dense flowers and dappled on their bodies. When the breeze blew, the light and shadow flowed on them. Like running water. The whole world is extremely peaceful, there is no trace of the past or the future, only this small place behind the temple in front of the mountain is left in the world, the color is beautiful, and there is nothing left of the past. It was a warm spring day, and they sat under the tree, looking at each other, but they didn't know what to say.

After a long time, he held her hands and said in a low voice, "You marry me." Like a bolt from the blue, he said the same thing to her last year, in the peach blossoms, but now, he said the same thing to her again. She opened her eyes wide, looked up at him in disbelief, her lips trembled, but she was speechless for a long time. He stretched out his hand to pull her into his arms, put it next to her ear and asked, "What's the matter? You don't want to?" She tremblingly said: "Prince Rui, I... have never heard that my brother's concubine can marry my brother again."

But he was indifferent: "He is no different from dead now, who else dares to object?" "Maybe no one dares to object, but I... can't marry you." She pushed him away forcefully and said firmly. He looked at her and frowned: "Sheng Yan, I asked you to marry me before, and you agreed." "That was before, between us... so many things have happened now, you can pretend that nothing happened, but I can't, I will never be able to pretend nothing happened." "It's so funny." He stared at her, and started to get a little annoyed, "Who is sorry for whom more? Now I am willing to choose to forgive you, and I only hope that we can start all over again, back to the beginning—back to the place where you promised to marry me At that time, just pretend that we haven't experienced it this year, but why don't you forgive me now?"

Sheng Yan sneered: "I'm sorry for you? Lord Rui, you killed someone close to me, but you still think I owe you more? Is there such a reason in the world?" "Shang Xun's matter has nothing to do with me." He said sharply. "Prince Rui is very clever, no one will know who is planted by my side, and of course he will not leave any evidence!" She finally spoke sharply. "Up to now, the situation is in my hands. If I did it, don't I dare to admit it?" King Rui was so angry that he stretched out his hand and pressed her to the ground, leaning down and staring at her. After all, I am a brother, even if I really want the throne, I will naturally have methods that are aboveboard, why do you have no military power or power, and you can only use such insidious methods to plot against your opponents?"

Sheng Yan met his gaze without fear, and retorted: "Anyway, the truth will never be known, and you have a hundred reasons to defend yourself." "You..." He was almost mad with anger, and said: "The truth, I will find out for you when I come back from the south. Anyway, I will definitely give you an explanation. If I find out that I did not do it, then will you Staying by my side is not a question of whether you want to or not." Sheng Yan stared at the blue sky above her head, the whole sky seemed to cover her body, making her breathless. He sat by the side and looked at her, seeing her short of breath in the falling flowers, her complexion was bleak, like a flower with faded color, his heart was obviously full of resentment, but at this moment, there was nameless pity.After a long time, he shook his head again and said in a low voice: "Sheng Yan, don't test the bottom line of my tolerance. Before you, no one who has offended me is still alive." She kept silent, sat up and looked at him, her lips trembled like petals about to wither in the wind, but she couldn't speak. King Rui bowed his head and kissed her, as if the quarrel just now hadn't happened at all. In spring, the sun is shining, and the whole world is full of flowers.When the wind blows, the airflow in the small plate swirls, and countless fallen flowers are like pieces of rouge straight up to the sky and fall to nowhere. On the day King Rui left the capital, all the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty went out of the city to see off the soldiers. Iron armor and red tassels, yellow dust filled the sky.Even if Sheng Yan couldn't go out, she could still see the dust raised by the soldiers and horses on the walls of the outer palace city, covering half of the sky and heading southward. She stood and watched for a long time, the south, a warm place.There should also be peach blossoms and weeping willows everywhere, right? Seeing her standing in the turbulent wind and gazing at the south, Diao Mu said in a low voice, "Don't worry, Empress Defei, there is nothing wrong with Prince Rui. Xiang Yunhuan is not my opponent." She nodded slightly and said, "Yes, there is nothing to worry about..." It was a good time in March, the morning mist gradually faded, and the wind was blowing in all directions, making the clothes and belts flutter in the wind.The inside and outside of the imperial city was filled with red, pink and green, and the whole world woke up from a deep sleep, only her body was cold, as if it was still in the severe winter. The nails pricked her palm until it was bleeding. Sheng Yan stood on the top of the city tower, watching the smoke and dust gradually go away. There was a man inside who once said to her, marry me. Now, you and I are saying goodbye, forever. Because we cannot coexist in the same world. After King Rui left, there was nothing new under the sun. Many people in the palace were talking about Yuncheng Palace, and some people asked Diao Mu about Sheng Yan and King Rui. How will Concubine Sheng De be dealt with? After all, she was the one who almost killed King Rui together with the former emperor, but now she is the one who spread rumors with King Rui in the palace. While admiring her methods, everyone also speculated whether she could successfully charm King Rui, make him forget the past grievances, and save his own life—but no one inquired about the truth. The battle ahead excited the spirits of the people in the capital. King Rui was invincible after he arrived in the south. The scene, the breath of realgar and mugwort permeated the entire capital. Naturally, there are timely rice dumplings in the palace. When Sheng Yan and the emperor and empress were sending their servants to the mansions of officials to distribute, someone from the military department came in and said, "Prince Rui has a secret letter to present to Concubine Sheng De." Sheng Yan thought it was a battle report, and said casually, "Just hand it over to the imperial court for discussion." "Prince Rui named Concubine Sheng De under seal." He said. Only then did Sheng Yan slowly take the silk handkerchief beside him, wiped her hands, and took the letter in his hand.The king and queen didn't understand, so they asked: "Didn't King Rui ask you to help him look at the court affairs before? Maybe it's because of this?" Sheng Yan turned over the seal and looked, and sure enough the seal was tightly pasted, indicating that she was the concubine Sheng De.She took off the gold hairpin from her head, cut open the envelope, and flipped through the contents. "In April in the south of the Yangtze River, flowers bloom on Moshang, like brocades thousands of miles away, charming eyes. After the war, I wore blood to watch the setting sun. The sky and the earth were blood red, and thousands of flowers faded away. I feel that life and death are impermanent in the past and the present. Only when I miss you, I suddenly feel the body Where is it? It must be the beginning of May when the letter arrives. All is well, and we will meet again in autumn. " A few words, no nominations and signatures, and a piece of mugwort leaf attached is also withered and flimsy. She looked over and over again, but in the end she only saw one point, Qiu Ri. If he was not sure, how could he point it out so clearly.He never broke his trust. Sheng Yan smiled slightly, autumn is really a good time. Sheng Yan bid farewell to the Queen, and took Tie Fei to the Ministry of War to inquire about Jiangnan affairs. Jun Rongfei sent her to the gate of the palace, and said worriedly: "Help me bring a letter for my elder brother. Although I know he must be very busy, I hope he finds time to report that he is safe." Sheng Yan then said: "If you have something, bring him something, but he is in the back line, so he probably won't go to the front line, so don't worry." Jun Rongfei nodded, turned around and picked up a Dragon Boat Festival sachet for her, and said, "Today's Dragon Boat Festival, let him use this to ward off evil spirits." Sheng Yan took it over and said with a wry smile, "I'm afraid that by the time it arrives, May will have already passed." Jun Rongfei hesitated and said, "Then let me think about it..." "No need, this is fine." She held it in her hand, said goodbye, went back to her hall to change clothes, and said to Tie Fei: "Come with me to the Ministry of War." Today's Shangshu Sun Yefang of the Ministry of War was single-handedly promoted by King Rui. Although he was respectful to Concubine Sheng De, who once murdered King Rui and was now in command of the rooster, he was actually disdainful in his bones.She pretended she didn't see it, and after inquiring about the situation of the battle, she asked again: "It's hot and humid in the south of the Yangtze River. Will there be epidemics spreading in the army?" Sun Yefang said: "Military doctors have been dispatched from various places, not to mention that King Rui has also recruited part of the army in the south of the Yangtze River, and there are already ways to resist the local climate. Concubine Shengde should not worry about everything." "That's enough." Sheng Yan said, while taking out Jun Rongfei's sachet, handed it to him and said, "This thing was ordered by the Queen to be given to her elder brother, so don't miss it." Sun Yefang took it, looked up at Tie Fei, saw him nod his head slightly, took out a thick envelope, sealed it with a sticker, and said, "Concubine De, please don't worry, together with the official document, it will be over in half a month." Arrived." Sheng Yan looked up to see that the sun was noon, and then she also got up and went back.As soon as she returned to the palace, she saw people from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Rites waiting, she just asked, "What's the matter?" Immediately, she saw the engineering drawings in their hands, the double towers in the mountains, and the bedroom behind the road , The pines and cypresses are green. She stood there, motionless, in the incense of the Dragon Boat Festival, slowly pressing her chest. Minister of the Ministry of Industry saw her pale face, so he could only say cautiously: "Qi Concubine De, the emperor has been in a coma for several months. Seeing... King Rui also wrote to ask about it recently, so we, as ministers, first drew up the shape of the mountain mausoleum." ..." He is not dead yet, but they are already preparing his grave. It seems that Shang Jie is not going to let him wake up. Sheng Yan stretched out her hand to hold the railing behind her, took a deep breath, and said after a long time, "It's enough to find a few people from the Ministry of Industry and the Internal Bureau... I won't read it." "Yes, I'm waiting to leave." Seeing that her condition was not good, they hurriedly left. "Remember..." Sheng Yan ordered again: "It must be done as soon as possible, preferably...before autumn." "yes." Only Sheng Yan turned back to the hall, ordered the back office to bring ginseng soup and rice porridge, helped Shang Xun who was in a coma, put a pillow under him, and gently massaged his body. Diao Ku and Tie Fei watched from the side, and heard her softly say to Shang Xun: "Today, according to King Rui's order, the imperial court built a mountain mausoleum for you... From his point of view, he really doesn't want you to wake up. Woolen cloth." Everything was silent, Shang Xun unconscious, not even a twitch of eyelashes. The sachet filled with wormwood didn't arrive in Jiangnan until half a month later.Opening the sealed envelope, Jun Rongyu took out the Dragon Boat Festival sachet to look at it, and asked amusedly, "Did the Queen order it for me?" The messenger also felt that it was a bit of a fuss, he smiled and said: "Exactly, the Queen entrusted Concubine Sheng De to take it out of the palace and hand it over to the Ministry of War. But now half a month has passed since the Dragon Boat Festival, so there is no need for it anymore." Jun Rongyu nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work, little brother." He went back to his room, the south of the Yangtze River was already very hot, especially in the south of the Five Ridges, when the weather got a little later, the poisonous insects would breed in the swamp, and the blackness would strike.Fortunately, the cities he was in charge of dealing with the aftermath were relatively calm. Although the people in the cities were far away from the capital, they had no attached meaning to Xiang Yunhuan, and there was no worry of another disturbance. He took the sachet back to his temporary office in the county government, threw it casually on the table, and waited until he was about to return to his residence, then he took it back casually, stuffed it in his sleeve and took it back. After dinner, after taking a bath, and when he was about to go to bed, he picked up the sachet, put it under his nose and smelled it carefully for a while, pressed it, and after a long time, he finally took it apart and found it. After a long time, I finally found a small scroll inside. Unfolding the small scroll, there were a few small words scrawled inside: "The deployment of the capital is correct, Xiang Yunhuan can do it after his death." He burned the note on the candle, crushed and blew the ashes away, got up and washed his hands, his face was as usual. Summer is over, and when autumn is approaching, it is the hottest time in the whole world. "It's so hot, how can it be..." Li Yao, the commander of the capital's defense department, came back from the yamen, passed the alley, looked up at the sky, and sighed. It was already dusk, but the heat still persisted, and the entire capital city seemed to be shrouded in steaming heat. His deputy, Liu Yuanzhi, was beside him, and said, "It is said that the south is hotter. I don't know how the soldiers in front are doing now?" "With Prince Rui here, what do we need to worry about? Waiting for him to return in triumph, and change his status." Li Yao laughed. "That's true." Liu Yuanzhi smiled, and suddenly turned his head, looked at the other side of the alley, and asked in surprise, "Hey, what is that?" Li Yao turned his head subconsciously, and just wanted to see what was there, but he felt a chill on his neck, a cold blade slashed across his neck, hot blood spurted out immediately, and he fell down without saying a word go down. The people behind suddenly shouted: "Liu Yuanzhi, how dare you kill your boss?" Liu Yuanzhi sneered and said, "I am the confidant of King Rui, who is ordered by the emperor to kill the traitor in the capital." "The emperor... Hasn't the emperor been in a coma for half a year?" "The emperor has woken up, and now is the time to clean up the universe and revive the country!" Liu Yuanzhi said, turning around to see the chaos in the capital, the guards all around gathered to respond, and the turmoil in the Imperial Forest Army also began. . Starting with Liu Yuanzhi, deputy envoy of the Beijing Defense Department, ambushing his immediate boss Li Yao, the capital changed, and Jun Lanxie sent people to control nearly 20,000 soldiers and horses of the Beijing Defense Department, and started a scuffle with the Imperial Forest Army newly brought up by King Rui.Fighting with weapons in the inner alleys of the capital, everyone is in danger, and the house is closed during the day. Sheng Yan and Shang Xun waited for the news in the Chuizi Hall. The two stayed up all night, holding each other's hands tightly. If they succeed, they will wash away their hatred together and share the world. If they fail, they will die together, with a miserable end. On the afternoon of the second day of the turmoil in the capital, people from the Defense Department opened the city gate to welcome the old commander of the Imperial Forest Army into the city. The new commander was killed at the gate of the Imperial Forest Army Academy, and the military power in the capital returned to the emperor. The mass cleansing began immediately, and the troops sent by King Rui were seriously injured. Although a few escaped hastily, the distance between the capital and King Rui who was in the south was far away, so King Rui couldn't come back for a while.Shang Xun ordered the mobilization of troops and horses from the surrounding prefectures to gather in the capital. Although the prefectures did not know what happened, they still had to follow the order from the central government. Although there were some mutterings and prevarications for a while, under the transfer of the soldiers' talismans, they still Or lead troops to the capital. "It is estimated that within ten days, more than 50,000 soldiers and horses will be stationed in the capital, and it will take at least 20 days for King Rui to receive the changes in the capital and lead his troops back. By then, we will be able to fight against King Rui's army." Liu Yuanzhi reported to them full of energy. Jun Lanxie was also very proud: "Rongyu came to report this morning with a pigeon. On the 24th, King Rui defeated Xiang Yunhuan. That night, while King Rui's army was celebrating, he led his army to ambush King Rui's right-wing army and successfully beheaded General Li Zongwei. The gates of the city taken over by the imperial court have been closed tightly, and without Narui's army, he has no city to occupy now, food and grass are depleted, and I believe it will be difficult for him to go north." It sounds like the situation is going well, and Shang Xun finally heaves a sigh of relief.Although he had been awake for a while, he hadn't recuperated after all, so he leaned back on the chair exhaustedly, and let out a long breath. Sheng Yan glanced at Tie Fei who was standing behind her, and asked again: "From your point of view, is there any change for King Rui this time?" The former Minister of the Ministry of War, Zhang Jiayuan, who has now logically replaced the Shangshu of the Ministry of War, said immediately: "In my opinion, the rebel King Rui has been exhausted recently, and he will never make a comeback in a short time. Now that he is trapped in the south, The battle with Xiang Yunhuan damaged many of his generals. They killed each other, and the imperial court benefited from it. It was really a clever plan arranged by Lord Zhongshu and the emperor. Moreover, the imperial court also took over the nearby cities, and King Rui strengthened his walls and cleared the country , Grain and grass have always been transported by the imperial court, and he has no supplies of his own at all, so it can be said that he has absolutely no hope of rebelling against the imperial court this time." Tie Fei stood behind Sheng Yan, as if she didn't hear it, her face remained expressionless. Jun Lanxie said again: "King Rui's army will definitely go north. The imperial court has sent Qi Zhigao to intercept it. Can the emperor trust him?" "Qi Zhigao was a former subordinate of the Prince Regent, I believe Jun Zhongshu knows better than me." Shang Xun said a little tiredly. "Then, what does Concubine Sheng De mean..." Jun Lanxie looked at Sheng Yan again. She shook her head slowly, and said: "I'm just a woman, how can I understand this, everything is up to you, Your Majesty." She got up and left the Chuizi Hall, regardless of Shang Xun calling her in surprise behind her, wanting to keep her. She walked through the narrow palace road, high palace walls stood beside her, and the hot summer wind passed by her, blowing her thin gauze and flying in the air.But her face was pale, and her heart was sad and cold. Tie Fei followed behind her, step by step, silent like a shadow. Sheng Yan was walking under the shadow of the palace wall. Suddenly, she stopped and didn't look back, but Tie Fei could hear her low voice: "Aren't you... don't you worry about King Rui?" Tie Fei said softly but without doubt: "Prince Rui will not be defeated." Sheng Yan leaned against the red palace wall, not caring that her clothes would be stained.She looked up at the sky, as if she wanted to laugh at him, but Tie Fei clearly felt that her voice was trembling and hoarse: "I don't know where your blind trust comes from?" Tie Fei, who had been following her all this time, felt a strong desire for the first time, wanting to go up to see her current expression. He thought to himself, how desperate and painful a person who makes such a voice must be . But now her wish has come true, her husband finally wakes up, and joins hands with her to face the turmoil of the country, her greatest enemy is already in the most difficult situation, why is she not happy at all? But in the end, he restrained himself. He stood faithfully behind her, and said in the most ordinary tone: "When the prince was fourteen years old, he was a hostage in Monty. When he knew that his father had passed away, he immediately He fled back to the country with 126 people, and after the bloody battle, only 18 people could follow him to the country...and I was one of those 18 people." Sheng Yan stood there motionless, letting the wind in the slit pass through at a high speed, cutting her cheeks painfully. "Concubine Sheng De, I think it's useless for you to do anything, you just need to wait for him to come over and accept your failure." She didn't speak, and from the beginning to the end, she didn't turn around and glance at him. She stood there, motionless, only the wind, imposed on her frail body, seemed to never stop. However, although the imperial court was considered optimistic about the situation, the capital quickly lost news of Jun Rongyu. The imperial court guessed that he had firmly closed the gates of the city and King Rui besieged the city, so they lost contact. But the siege of the city would not last long for the King Rui's army who had been cut off from food and grass, and the reinforcements would arrive soon, so although they were a little worried, everyone still focused their attention on the troops entering Beijing.Fortunately, everything went well, and the army horses from various states arrived one after another and stationed outside the capital. "I'm very uneasy. What's ahead...is it really okay?" When Shang Xun and Sheng Yan were sitting under the lamp at night, he suddenly said this. A secret worry floated in Sheng Yan's heart, but she still comforted him: "Don't worry, the situation is now under the control of the imperial court. Now that the soldiers and horses from all the states have arrived, even if the southern army makes trouble, there will be no leader. Support from all over the world is not expected." Shang Xun could also hear the uncertainty in her tone, but having her by his side to talk with him was something that made him feel at ease.He held Sheng Yan's hand under the lamp, and said in a low voice: "Ayan, I think my current body may not be able to be with you for the rest of my life, but as long as I can kill my brother, you will be by my side in the end. In this way, my life can be regarded as complete.” She looked at Shang Xun's faint and bitter smile, and didn't know what to say. Seeing that the sky outside was dark, it seemed that it was going to rain, and the wind picked up in bursts. She stood up and went to close the window, and in that moment, it started to rain, and the raindrops as fine as a cow's hair drifted into the hall along with the wind, and half of her body was wet. The thousands of palaces in the distance, obscured by the heavy rain, surrounded her, but what was the loneliness and melancholy of not knowing where tomorrow would be, and the time when she was warming up with her mother back to back under the leaking eaves? What is the difference? A Yan, live well. Suddenly, the world turned back, and overwhelming sorrow overwhelmed her. When she went back, she helped Shang Xun undress and put him to bed. He had not recovered from his serious illness, and now he was working hard, and soon fell asleep, but she couldn't feel sleepy, so she sat by the bed and could only look at him quietly. He is still elegant and noble, a beautiful young man, although he is thin and slender, with a faint sadness between his brows, but he has not changed, he is still him. If he is not the emperor, he is a prince who is far away from the government, or if he is just an ordinary boy who is right with her, that would be great.It would be great if they could live an ordinary life like ordinary teenage couples. As if feeling her gaze, Shang Xun slowly opened his eyes, seeing her staring at him, a faint smile appeared on his face, and he called her softly: "Ayan." Seeing the calm smile on his face, Sheng Yan seemed to feel relieved, she nodded and smiled, leaned against his side, and whispered: "You are tired, let's go to bed early." Shang Xun turned over and hugged her in his chest, the two of them didn't speak, just quietly listening to the dense wind and rain outside.After a long time, he suddenly whispered: "After this storm, the weather will be cooler... Autumn is coming." "Well, autumn... is coming." She closed her eyes and murmured. She suddenly thought of the letter Shang Jie wrote to her, he said, come back in autumn. It seemed like a long time later, when she finally calmed down and was a little drowsy, she heard Shang Xun whispering in her ear again: "Ayan, if one day, you find that I am not a good person... I have done a lot. I'm sorry about your matter, will you...will you still love me?" Sheng Yan said in a low voice in a half-dream and half-awake state: "I have done too many things to be sorry to you, since you can forgive me, and since we are still here today, then, what else do you have, I cannot forgive you where?" He was silent, hugged her tightly, and buried her face in his chest. After a long time, he whispered: "But Ayan, I don't regret it... because, at least now, you are with me." In the darkness, the dim lights outside the tent cast a slightly fluctuating light on his face, and the corners of his lips slightly raised, joyful, complete, and wishful. The night was full of wind and rain, the sound of the storm, and the depressing state of mind made Shengyan unable to sleep peacefully. She felt in a trance that she was still in the days when she was in Yuncheng Palace, and the sound of water was rushing against her chest. The dream, like yesterday reappeared, King Rui was sitting in front of his bed again, staring at himself with those burning eyes in the dark. She was in a sleepy trance when she was suddenly awakened by the sound of slight and hurried footsteps, and then the eagle rushed in and called her in a low voice through the brocade tent: "Mother..." Sheng Yan was still in a haze, not knowing whether what she heard was real or a dream, but seeing that she didn't respond, Diao Kuo was so anxious that she ignored her identity, opened the curtain and rushed in, calling in a low voice: "Ma'am!" She sat up, looked at the sleeping Shang Xun, made a gesture of "silent", then got off the bed lightly, and came out with her clothes on.The sound of the wind and rain in the outer hall was even louder, and all the curtains shook uncomfortably under the light, like water waves. In this trance-like water wave, Diao Kuo whispered, "King Rui has entered the city!" Sheng Yan was taken aback for a moment, then slowly asked: "What did you say?" "King Rui joined forces dispatched from various state capitals, and now he has led his troops into the city overnight. I heard... they will enter the inner palace soon!" "How did he have time to come here? How did he come here?" Sheng Yan asked hastily.But she also knew that Diao Kui would not have an answer for her.She hurriedly turned her head to look at the inner hall, where Shang Xun was still sleeping peacefully. If possible, she really hoped that all the wind and rain of the day and place would be imposed on her, so as not to hurt Shang Xun in his sleep in the slightest. "Now, he is already at the gate of the palace city... the guards came in to inform him." Diao Kuo said in a panic again. "I...I'll go out right away." She said, pulling the clothes next to her with trembling hands, and putting on the coat, and Diao Kuo helped her tie the belt. She took a hairpin from the dressing table and wanted to put herself Her hair was coiled up, but because her hands were shaking all the time, she couldn't do anything. Diaogu hurriedly reached out to help her take the hairpin, but Sheng Yan shook her head, managed to gather herself together, and said, "Forget it, you'd better go see the queen and concubine Yuan first, don't let them be surprised..." Before she finished speaking, she caught sight of the person who turned from the entrance of the hall. She was stunned, loosened her fingers, and the golden hairpin in her hand suddenly fell to the blue brick floor with a "ding". But he came over very casually, helped her pick up the golden hairpin on the ground, then stood up, gently rolled up her hair, helped her fix it with the hairpin, and asked with a smile: "Ayan, why are you so flustered?" Sheng Yan's complexion was pale, and the lights in the hall were flickering in the strong wind blowing in from the door, making the world in front of her flickering, and she couldn't see clearly. She took a deep breath and finally said in a low voice, "You really keep your word... You came back just after the beginning of autumn." "I was thinking of you all the time, so I couldn't wait to come back. You don't mind?" He still smiled and asked softly in her ear. Seeing King Rui's intimate tone and movements, Diao Ku was so frightened that goose bumps came out all over his body. Fortunately, Tie Fei came in from outside the hall at some point, grabbed her hand, and pulled her out. Immediately, only King Rui and Sheng Yan were left in the hall, the candlelight was dim, the rain was bitter and the wind was bitter. Immediately, only King Rui and Sheng Yan were left in the hall, the candlelight was dim, the rain was bitter and the wind was bitter. She opened her mouth, not knowing what to say. Do you praise him for his outstanding ability, reprimand him for making trouble, or beg him to let you and Shang Xun go? However, King Rui walked past her, looked at the door of the inner hall, and smiled, as if greeting each other in the most usual way, calling the person at the door of the hall in a relaxed tone: "Shang Xun, did you wake up?" Sheng Yan's heart skipped a beat, and she slowly looked back.The light from the red gauze palace lantern above his head shone on Shang Xun's body, and the orange-red light brought a strange blood color to his cheeks, showing an unreal blood tide. King Rui stared at him, and said casually: "I still have a lot of things to deal with tonight. Liu Yuanzhi has died in the rebellion, but Jun Lanxie, who caused me a lot of trouble, is currently being taken to the gate of the palace. Yes, I want to take a look first... I know that you are coerced by these traitors, you can't help yourself, and you don't really want to embarrass me, so I just have a look at you first, and we can talk about it in a few days Tell me about your thoughts after parting." Sheng Yan knew that he said it lightly, but in fact, how many people would die unexpectedly and their families would be ruined in this night.But it's all the same. Just a few days ago, the imperial court also executed a group of people. The bloody storm in the capital didn't just start now. The wind and rain outside were getting worse, Shang Xun finally spoke up and said, "I just want to know, how did my brother lead the army to the capital in less than ten days when there was a lack of food and grass?" King Rui chuckled and said, "How could I be so stupid as to entrust everything I have to the court after signing a contract with them? Jun Lanxie just wanted to use me to fight with Xiang Yunhuan, just to fantasize about benefiting from it." , so after I captured Xiang Yunhuan alive, I immediately brought him and a few teams of elite soldiers north to the capital, but I deliberately delayed the release of the news for a few days. Jun Zhongshu’s inexperienced son stayed in the The secret reports from the spies were guarded in the city, but I didn’t know that those spies would contact me. But the only thing I didn’t expect was that he was able to kill Li Zongwei, which is admirable.” Sheng Yan kept silent, knowing that he and Shang Xun had been completely defeated this time, Shang Xun was weak since childhood, she was just a woman in the harem, and Jun Lanxie was only used to intrigue in the court, who could compete with King Rui ? "It's really not right to disturb people's dreams in the middle of the night. I'd better go first. You can continue to catch up on sleep for a while. After a while, the crown prince will come to see you. I think he will have something to say to you." He said, turning to go out At that time, whether intentionally or not, he raised his hand to stroke Sheng Yan's hair, and said in a low voice: "Concubine Sheng De, the emperor just woke up, and he seems to be not in good health, you have to take care of him carefully." Seeing him turn and walk out, Sheng Yan couldn't stand anymore, and staggered to Shang Xun's side.Shang Xun hugged her shoulders, but Sheng Yan found that he was very calm, even smiling. He hugged her shoulder comfortingly, and said in a low voice, "Look, God really didn't favor us, and actually gave us the worst ending." Sheng Yan bit her lower lip slightly, and said in a low voice, "Fortunately... our tomb has already been finished." They were at the window, watching King Rui, who didn't stop taking a step, strode across the corridor and disappeared into the rainstorm. And it is more difficult for them to stay here and wait for disposal than to put them to death immediately. He is his own younger brother, he single-handedly supported the emperor who ascended the throne and was emptied of his rights, but he declared him a treason, stabbed him personally, and put him in prison; , cutting off his back from the rear, can be said to be his biggest enemy. But she had promised to marry him, but she entered the palace and became his brother's concubine; he always believed that she had prepared the poisonous knife that stabbed him in the chest for Shang Xun; she wrote the imperial edict to kill him; she lied to him Carry out peace talks; after the conclusion of the contract, she murdered him in the rear. How much he should hate them. 他更恨的，估计是他们居然，一起联手谋害他。 盛颜心乱如麻，明明觉得自己恐慌极了，可是张开口，却胸口堵塞，一声也发不出来。 “我们本想给他致命一击，但是如今失败了，只能认输。”看着她焦虑的样子，尚训却若无其事，只思索着另外重要的事情：“如今我们的烦恼是，要是我们死后，他不让我们同穴可怎么办？” “或许我们一起烧成灰会比较好？”盛颜问。 “要是在黄泉中，我们看到对方焦黑的样子，一定会认不出来的，还是别做这个打算吧。”他说着，伸手抚上她的脸颊，“而且，阿颜，你这么美。” 她咬着自己的下唇，默默地，感觉到自己的脸颊微微温热，眼泪滑落下来。 外面雕菰惶急的声音响起：“殿下，殿下，不能进来啊……” 果然，如尚诫所说的，行仁来了。 尚训与盛颜本不想理，但盛颜想了想，还是无奈地推开尚训，低声说：“天色还没亮，不知道他过来有什么事。” 尚训皱眉，却也没说什么。 既然瑞王吩咐行仁连夜过来，那么，必定是有什么事，他不想留到天亮再解决。 盛颜叹了口气，站起来走了出去。行仁一看到，立即奔到她的身边，牵住她的手，怯怯地叫她：“母妃，瑞王进城了……我是不是一定会死了？” 盛颜摇头，自己也没有把握地安慰他：“放心吧，不会的。” “那……你会死吗？”他看着她问。 盛颜勉强笑了一笑，说：“何必担心我呢？我以前那样对你，你不记恨我吗？” “不会啊，我觉得你比那些想等我出了差错再狠狠惩处的人好。”他说。 这个小孩子，真是洞若观火，这么早熟，在皇家有什么好处？盛颜不忍心再看他，伸手抚摸他的头，低声说：“瑞王想必不会和你一个小孩子过不去的，只是你以后的一生，可能会艰难点。” “别骗我了，母妃。”他倔强地说，“他才不会让我活下去呢。” 这个孩子说这样的话，让盛颜觉得心里不舒服，她转了话题，问他：“你夤夜进宫，有什么事情？” “嗯……我有重要的事要见父皇。”他说。 盛颜示意他进内去，看着这个小孩子跑进去，她一时觉得无比疲倦，站在外面，看着外面已经渐渐变小的雨，想着明天，自己与尚训的命运。 谁知道会怎么样呢？是生离，还是死别，全都在别人的手上，不是她与尚训可以掌控的。 她正在出神，耳边忽然传来“砰”的一声，是什么东西落地的声音。她迟疑了一下，在疏落的雨声中，听到了尚训的声音——“阿颜！” 他的声音急促沉重，让盛颜的心顿时一跳，转身急奔进去，却发现他正跌坐在床上，嘴角有血流下来。 他的手按在胸口，就在当初他胸口的那个伤口上，又有血如崩裂一般涌出来。 在尚训的对面，是握着一把短短匕首的行仁，他手中握着那把匕首，转头看着她，低声，乖巧地叫她：“母妃。” 盛颜顾不上行仁了，她一把抱住尚训，急忙撕开他的衣襟查看，一边朝外大叫：“雕菰，雕菰……传太医！” “不必了，还不如这样干净。”尚训却抓住她的手，脸上露出惨淡的微笑。 盛颜眼看着他的胸口，迅速地蒙上一层青紫，蔓延向全身，然后，他软软地瘫倒在她的怀中，口中尽是鲜血涌出。 她感觉到他的手，在最后的时刻，紧紧地抓着她的手腕，他抓得这么紧，舍不得放开她一分一毫。 她抱着他，颤抖的手不停地替他擦拭嘴角的血，可是，却怎么也没办法止住那涌出来的血流，他的生命，就在这些鲜红的液体中，渐渐流逝。 “尚训……”她低声，惶急地叫他。 他抓着她的手，艰难地，往上移动，与她十指相扣。 就像他们常常在午夜梦回的时候，无意识地握住对方的手。就像诗经里曾经说过的，执子之手，与子偕老。 盛颜紧握着他的手，呜咽着，泪流满面。 尚训感觉到她的眼泪滴在自己的脸上，但他已经看不到面前的东西，他曾经听说，人在临死前，总是会看见自己一生中最幸福的时光，借以来麻痹自己，忘掉死亡的痛苦。而他看见的，果然是他最珍惜的那些事情—— 初见时的暮春初夏，她站在假山的紫藤花下，春日艳阳迷离，她在艳丽的紫色花朵下，仿如散发出炽烈光华，容光流转。 她帮他抓落在衣领中的女贞花，气息轻轻唿在他的脖颈处，和落花一样茸茸触人。The green shade is full of daytime, the breeze is blowing, and the sound of flowers blooming and falling can be heard. 去见她母亲的那一夜，两个人坐在廊下，风把雨丝斜斜吹进来。他拥着微微寒噤的她，两个人的体温融合在一起。 还有，第一次见面时，在云间应和的两缕笛声，使得满庭风来，日光动摇。只可惜，最后却是两处沉吟各自知。 一刹那间，就像是相信有来生一样，他微微地笑着，最后再握了一握她的手，闭上眼睛。 盛颜的手，骤然落空。眼睁睁看着他，从自己的掌心滑脱，无力地垂落。 她坐在那里，抱着尚训，一动不动地看着他平静如睡去的脸。她神情枯藁，就像自己的春天一夜死尽，悄无声息。 看着尚训死去，行仁才站起来，说：“母妃，我先告辞了。” 就好像，他碾死了一只小虫子，现在要去洗手一样。 盛颜茫然地回头看她，问：“为什么？” “因为，他是害死我父皇的凶手之一，我没能力对瑞王下手，现在能把他干掉了，我也就有脸去见我娘了。”他歪着头，看着她怀中的尚训，说，“他这次是真的死了，再没有奇迹了。” 盛颜只觉得心中一凉，一种冰冰凉凉的东西涌上来。她慢慢地抱紧已经渐渐失去温热的尚训，低声问：“你告诉我，去年秋狩的时候，那一箭，是不是你射的？” 他点点头，说：“是。可惜我虽然瞄准了，却手上无力，不然那一箭早就让他死了！” “那么，尚训去世的那一夜，你不停地拉着我的手……后来他中了龙涎的毒，那毒……也是你？” 他抱紧自己的膝盖，低声说：“嗯……我娘就是死在这个毒之下，她只在唇上沾了一点就死了。我听说他的药都是你换的，我想是不是会有可能让你帮我给他的伤口下点毒……没想到一下子就成功了。” 第一次见面的时候，她帮行仁画了完整的一个圆，杀死了万千蚂蚁。 他杀死尚训的时候，她也帮着他，完成了另一半的圆。 将毒染在她手上的行仁，和将毒染在尚训伤口的她，哪个，才是凶手？ 盛颜终于再也忍不住，她放下尚训，慢慢站起来，走到自己面前这个无邪的孩子，抬起手，一巴掌狠狠地打在他的脸上。 这一掌盛颜下手极重，他雪白的脸颊顿时红肿起来，但是他却只是看着她，什么话也没说，良久，才说：“母妃，等一下瑞王一定会杀我的，所以我也不回去了，你别生我的气。” 盛颜还不明白他要干什么，却只见他伸出左手食指，用舌尖舔了一下。 龙涎是沾唇即死的剧毒，只不过一眨眼的时间，行仁身体抽搐，脸色瞬间转为青紫，随后便全身无力地顺着梁柱滑了下去，萎顿在地。 在剧烈的抽搐间，他忽然双眼看向盛颜，嘴角扯出一点似笑非笑的弧度，说：“母妃，我最后送你一个礼物……要是你不想落在瑞王手里的话，也像我一样……舔一舔就行了……” 盛颜看着他，慢慢醒悟过来，她抬手看看自己牵过他的手，身体微微颤抖。 一室，又重归于安静，外面的天色，已经渐渐地亮起来。 她身边，是两具尸体，一具在她的怀中，是她的爱人；还有一具，是杀死她爱人的凶手，送给了她，追随爱人而去的礼物。 她低头看着自己的手，微微颤抖。 只需要点在自己的唇上，只需要，舌尖尝到那一点味道。 她就能，永远地离开这些烦恼和悲哀。 就像是受了甜美的诱惑，就像刚刚出生的蜜蜂，想要尝一尝花心的味道，她将尚训安放在枕上，抬起自己的右手，慢慢地凑近自己的唇。 双唇微启，她的舌尖，试探着，缓缓地想要舔一下手指尖的味道。 可，就在即将碰触的一刹那，旁边有人扑上来，一把抓住她的手腕，将她用力拉扯开，远离那些正在渐渐变冷的尸体。 她用力挣扎，却并没奏效，他拖她到檐下盛水的大缸前——这是每个宫都会有的，以备起火的时候有不时之需，然后急促地将她的手按在水中，帮她清洗。她的手刚刚浸水，水中养着的小鱼便肚皮翻白，被剧毒杀死。 等洗过一缸之后，他拖着她又换一缸，直到水中的鱼再没有死掉，他才放开她，低声说：“我不会让你死的。” 但她却似乎没有感觉到，她穿着被水溅得湿漉漉的衣服，站在外面的微雨天气中，一动不动。 天色已经渐渐地亮起来，天边朝阳初升，被秋雨洗过之后，整个皇宫在阳光下艳丽无边，金黄的琉璃瓦，朱红的门柱窗户，莹白的汉白玉殿基，在高远的天空之下，一切颜色都亮丽夺目。 仿佛是被眼前鲜明的颜色刺痛了双眼，她只觉得眼前一黑，失去了意识。