Chapter 9 Chapter 8 Cuiwei

Balcony Mountain is located among the mountains to the north of Cuiwei Mountain. Because of the elegant forest and springs and the excellent terrain, it was selected by Emperor Chengzu as the royal Taoist temple, and Chaotian Palace and other temples were built. It has grown in scale for more than 100 years.The mountains are also dotted with villas of the royal family in central Beijing and dignitaries.The first emperor indulged in alchemy and cultivating Taoism. During the Wan'an period, Taoism flourished, Yangyang Mountain became more and more popular, and palace chariots came and went like flowing water.After Jinshang ascended the throne, Taoism was liquidated with the support of Empress Dowager Xu, a group of Taoist priests who "bewitched the master" were killed, and the master Zhengyi was driven back to Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi. The abbot of Chaotian Palace was replaced and relegated. A group of officials attached to Taoist priests.Only then did Yangyang Mountain gradually become cold, and now only Empress Xu in the palace would take care of this place.

Yang Lian only took one trusted bodyguard with him, set off from the tomb on Cuiwei Mountain, and rode two fast horses to the back mountain of Yangyang Mountain in less than half an hour.He left his guards and horses in the middle of the mountain, and went to climb the western peak alone.This was a path he had been accustomed to since he was a child, even if he closed his eyes, he would not go wrong.The balcony mountain is not too high. When he was a child, it took him more than an hour to walk to the Mianxue mountain house on the top of Xifeng Peak.At that time, I only hated the long road and the slow walking of the attendants around me, and wished I could fly up with wings.He did not ask his father's permission until he was nine years old, and he could go to the mountain to visit the emigrated princess on the tenth day of every month.From the thirty-first year of Wan'an to the thirty-fourth year of Wan'an, he had seen it thirty-nine times—if not counting the vague memories of his childhood, the fate between him and his biological mother was only thirty-nine times.Later, both his parents died, and he went to Lou Kong, and he himself was detained beside the queen mother and was not allowed to leave the palace at will, and then went to Hangzhou.It was not until he returned to Beijing the year before last that he went back to the balcony mountain. He found that the Mianxue mountain house had remained the same as when the princess lived there.It turned out that Lu Daochang of Chaotian Palace had been cleaned and cared for by Empress Xu for six full years.

On the night of May 17th, Concubine Shu gave birth, and the palace was in a hurry.The first thing that the emperor thought of was to go to Tianshou Mountain to sweep the emperor's tomb and pay homage to the ancestors.Qin Tianjian checked and found that the next day was an auspicious day.It's just that it's not easy to prepare the holy car in a hurry, so the important task of sweeping sacrifices is handed over to Zhengwang, the highest-ranking clan in Beijing.After the sacrifice and sweeping, he returned to Beijing to restore the decree, and immediately received a new task-the tomb of Prince Zhuang Jing on Cuiwei Mountain was in disrepair for a long time, and the internal officials were ordered to repair it, and the king Zheng personally built a hut to guard it.

Yang Lian knew why.Because of Qin Taiwei's lawsuit, Xie Yili had an accidental premature birth, and the emperor was so angry that he couldn't speak, wishing he could send him far away.The birth of the third prince made the situation in the palace more delicate, and the changes in the court situation were only in sight.As a clan with an embarrassing status, it's fine for him to avoid it, not to mention he doesn't want to face that newly recruited concubine. It's just that Feng Zhuangyuan didn't forget the agreement on the tenth day of June.Not long after Yang Lian settled down next to the prince's tomb, Arita Zhihui entrusted his confidant and internal official to deliver a letter.Yang Lian faced a group of internal officials all day long, feeling very dull and boring.In addition to the daily worship, there is nothing more than reading, taking a walk, and pondering over the vegetation on the edge of the tomb.At this time, a young civil servant came to chat with him, which was also gratifying.So it was still agreed to meet on the balcony mountain on the tenth day of June.

It was still early, and the morning mist in the mountains had not receded. The cool wind poured into the sleeves of the robe like water, and it was suddenly cool and sweatless.Yang Lian sat in the tea pavilion by the roadside for a while, watching the shadow of the sun move slowly on the opposite hillside, and the vast expanse of lush forest in early summer was as quiet as the boundless deep sea. "Have a cup of tea, Your Highness." When he looked back, his face was full of joy: "Mr. Zheng!" Zheng Banshan put the cattail bag in his hand on the table, took out the copper teapot, the water was still warm, and said: "Always don't even bring a waiter."

Yang Lian shook his head, smiled and drank the tea slowly, his thoughts had changed a few times: "Has Mr. Unknown already met Feng Juefei?" Zheng Banshan said: "I haven't seen it yet. He asked the Tongchun Medicine Bureau to bring a message, saying that it was Lao Yu's intention, and asked me to accompany His Highness." Yang Lian frowned and said, "Is there something important?" "It must be." Zheng Banshan lowered his eyes. Feng Juefei also came alone, as soon as he showed up, he repeatedly apologized, saying that he was not used to mountain climbing, the road was unfamiliar, and unexpectedly kept His Highness and His Excellency waiting for a long time, he deserved death.He is very eloquent, and he is also full of witty words when exchanging greetings, but Yang Lian can't get in a few words.Looking at this person coldly, I feel that he is heroic, hearty and generous, very likable, but among the changing expressions, he can't even catch a certain expression.Probably not the same kind of person as Qin Lingxian, Yang Lian thought so.

Because each other didn't wear public uniforms, the big ceremony was omitted, and they just bowed together once.Feng Juefei asked King Zheng to sit down, and suddenly said: "This year is the year when His Royal Highness is weak. I am here to present a small gift to Your Highness." Then he knelt down again, and took out a delicate one from his sleeve. The western enamel box is presented with both hands.Yang Lianxu gave him a little support, then took the box and opened it, inside was a dragon tablet carved with hibiscus stone. Not to mention that Yang Lian's birthday is still half a year away, even if it's tomorrow, he still doesn't believe that Feng Juefei took so much effort to invite him and Zheng Banshan out just to give a piece of hibiscus stone.As he thanked him, he saw Zheng Banshan's face slowly changing.

"May I ask Mr. Feng, is this Yu Wuwen's meaning?" Zheng Banshan asked. Feng Juefei smiled and said: "It is indeed Mr. Yu who personally picked the gift. The lower official also knows that it is not the right time to give it, but Mr. Yu has explained to the lower official that you don't have to wait for the exact date, the sooner the better. It's just that the lower official is doing business. Ineffective, after all Xu Anzhao came to Beijing." Zheng Banshan nodded when he heard the words: "He thought of something with me." "Mr. Zheng, can you explain?" Yang Lian asked.

Zheng Banshan flicked up his sleeves, restrained his face and said: "A few years ago, Yu Wuwen and I made a private agreement..." He suddenly stopped and looked at Feng Juefei. Feng Juefei immediately said: "When the things are delivered, the task of the lower official will be completed. The lower official will leave for the time being." Yang Lian and Zheng Banshan exchanged glances, and then said something to persuade him to stay: "Master Feng has been working hard from afar, why don't you have a cup of tea before leaving?" Feng Juefei turned his head to look at Yang Lian, his eyes suddenly cleared up.He lied just now, but in fact he was not late, he just hid aside and observed secretly.Yang Lian's appearance was exactly the same as what Yu Wuwen described. I don't know how he cultivated such a demeanor for a young man who is not even in his teens.In the future, he will meet Yang Lian and Zheng Banshan again, but the opportunity to meet these two at the same time is rare.He smiled slightly, and suddenly said: "Your Majesty forgot one thing, you should congratulate His Highness first."

Hearing this, Yang Lian's face changed suddenly - the prince's taking of the concubine was just a trivial matter in the palace, how did a seventh-rank editor outside know?Even if he knows, is this something he can ask?He wanted to glare, but found that the other party looked calm, but he didn't mean to "congratulate him" at all, and he couldn't help feeling suspicious: Could it be that Feng Zhuangyuan actually knew Qin Lingxian... "It's because the official is being abrupt," Feng Juefei sensed the change in his expression, and hurriedly added, "This time Prince Zhongjing's son came to Beijing..."

What he was talking about was not Qin Taiwei, but Miss Xu San.Yang Lian breathed a sigh of relief, he couldn't help but feel that it was funny, so he said lightly: "This is a verbal agreement between King Zhongjing and me three years ago. The empress dowager presided over the marriage and the emperor ordered it, but I can't make my own decisions. .” Feng Juefei smiled secretly in his heart, but still put on a worried face and said: "Your Highness should strive to get married as soon as possible." "Why?" "There are only two surnames in the court, the Yang family and the Xu family, which side does His Highness stand on?" Yang Lian was silent. "His Royal Highness is surnamed Yang, but he can only stand on the side of Xu. The second emperor of my dynasty was not Chengzu, but the grandson of Emperor Taizu. Chengzu ascended to the Great Treasure with his brothers and brothers. The whereabouts of the grandson of the emperor No one knows until now. But you, Your Highness, are able to pamper you, become a prince, and stay in the capital. This is because of the protection of the Empress Dowager Xu, and also because His Highness was married to the Xu family back then. Therefore, His Highness can only stand on the side of the Xu family. With the Empress Dowager, His Highness will be there. A hundred years after the Empress Dowager, if there is a concubine surnamed Xu, there will be His Highness. Your Highness will forgive me for saying such treasonous words." Feng Juefei said. Since Yang Lian was not irritated as Feng Juefei guessed, he just waited quietly for him to continue speaking, it can be seen that these words had been circling in his heart many times.He is not a person who will lose his sense of justice when people talk about his thoughts. Feng Juefei saw it, and he felt a little more confident: "Your Highness is going to be twenty years old, you can't hesitate any more about these things." "Did Mr. Yu ask you to say these words?" Yang Lian asked. "I also have my own thoughts." Yang Lian smiled: "Lord Feng is very insightful. Now that the son of Xu has entered Beijing, the emperor has promoted Zhu Baoliang, a member of the military department, to go to the south to inspect the frontier affairs and rectify the coastal defense. Zhao Chongxun, the minister of the military department, has been put aside. I don't know what you think ?” "The princes of the Ministry of War are headed by Zhao Chongxun, most of whom are the privates of King Zhongjing, but this Zhu Baoliang is somewhat at odds with the Xu Party. He was brought out by the Qin Supervisor, and he has a good relationship with Shen Hongrang and the group of Qingliu, so In the past few years in the Ministry of War, he has been overwhelmed by Zhao Chongxun. The emperor's sudden use of him is a big wake-up call for Xu Dang." Yang Lian said thoughtfully: "In terms of the origin, the qin supervisor can be regarded as Xu Dang." "Your Highness is very aware." Feng Juefei smiled, "The Qin Supervisor used to be a scholar who ruled Haiphong back then. He was invincible and brave. In fact, he was trained by the old Prince Zhongjing himself. Only he became a man of his own, and he was with him. Xu Gongye disagreed with each other, so they distanced themselves from the Zhongjing mansion and moved closer to the former prince. Xu Gongye and his son must have been dissatisfied with him for a long time. Last year, Qin Zongxian defeated the navy, and the Xu family took the opportunity to take the piano ruthlessly. Fortunately, the prestige of the Qin Supervisor is still there, and the emperor has the heart to protect him, so the Xu family can't do too much, so people like Zhu Baoliang have never been implicated by Qin Zongxian." "Before the emperor reused Qin Zongxian, he intended to embarrass the Zhongjing Mansion. It's a pity that Qin Zongxian has a lack of ambition, and he really failed the Sacred Heart." Yang Lian said lightly, "I don't know how talented this Zhu Baoliang is?" Feng Juefei said: "I heard that Mr. Dai mentioned this person, saying that he is open-minded, open-minded, and skilled in side affairs. I think the people who come to the Qin Supervisor's attention are always good. I heard that he mentioned it to others in private before he left Beijing. , This inspection of the border affairs is to take the opportunity to clean up the accounts of the Municipal Shipping Department, and after the accounts are cleared, the ship tax system will also be revised." Yang Lian's face changed slightly.Checking the accounts of the Municipal Shipping Department means checking the old background of the Zhongjing Mansion, so that the Xu family will no longer be involved in the ship tax.What the emperor wanted to do was actually something that the prince could not finish at the beginning. "Your Majesty is quite ambitious." Feng Juefei said slowly, "Back then, Crown Prince Zhuang Jing died suddenly, and the late Emperor was lingering in his sick bed. His Highness was supposed to be the grandson of the Emperor in order to inherit the great line. However, the Empress Dowager took the name of Guo Lai Changjun, and King Xuanqing came to Beijing to add the Crown Prince. Why? Because Prince Zhuang Jing has supervised the country for many years and has a very wide network of contacts in the court. The masters of His Highness are all heroes. Even if His Highness ascended the throne at a young age, it is still not at the mercy of the Xu Party, so it is better to support him. A vassal king who married a concubine named Xu came to be the emperor. Seven years have passed, and the foundation of the emperor has been stabilized. How can he be subject to his relatives for a long time? We also need to promote the son of Duke Wei. If Zhu Baoliang's trip goes well, by the end of this year, the court situation will be very different. Can your Highness think about how to deal with it?" "According to Master Feng, how should I deal with it?" Yang Li asked back, "Master Feng just asked me whether to stand on the side of the Yang family or the Xu family. " "Hehe," Feng Juefei said, "If His Highness wants to be safe, he will naturally follow the Queen Mother's arrangement to remarry Miss Xu, and return to Hangzhou to live in Zhongjing Mansion." "Master Feng also said," Yang Li interrupted him, "The emperor is going to attack the Xu family." The two looked at each other unconsciously and smiled. "Does Your Highness..." Feng Juefei paused, carefully choosing a word, "Do you have any grudges against the Emperor?" Yang Lian nodded slightly, agreeing. Feng Juefei said: "Your Highness, don't worry. If the emperor wants to deal with the Xu family, he must take advantage of Qingliu and use the prince's old party. His Highness occupies the title of the late emperor's grandson, and the Emperor has always established himself with filial piety. Yours. The century-old foundation of Prince Zhongjing’s mansion is deeply entrenched, and it must not be cleaned up in a short while—this is a great opportunity for His Highness in this chaotic situation.” The word "opportunity" made Yang Lian tremble all over.He calmed down a bit, but said with a smile: "Master Feng is joking, how can I meddle in the affairs of the court as an idle feudal lord?" "Your Highness does not need to intervene in court affairs. But His Highness can pay more attention to palace affairs." Feng Juefei said. Yang Lian's heart trembled, and he unconsciously asked, "What is Mr. Feng referring to?" "If you talk about the palace, the first thing to do right now is to establish a crown prince." Feng Juefei said softly, "In this dynasty, there is a heir to establish a heir, and no heir to establish an elder. The emperor's eldest son is like that. It stands to reason that the second prince should be established Chu, the emperor was so slow to speak that he obviously didn't like him. Now that the third prince is born, the emperor's wish goes without saying, but he may not be able to escape the order of seniority. The second prince will be fifteen years old next year, and he will be the vassal of the king. It’s still time to prepare for the East Palace, and there will be a break.” Thinking of Yang Xi's bulging face every day, chasing after him to call him cousin and asking him about his book lessons, Yang Lian suddenly lost his mind. Noticing Yang Lian's expression, Feng Juefei said: "I heard that the second prince is trying to get married with Prince Zhongjing's mansion to win the support of the Xu party. You must know that his mother and uncle are members of the Xu family, especially very close to Xu Anzhao. Suppose the second prince is married this year. Chu, it can be seen that in the future, King Zhongjing will still be half of the world, His Highness...with the Empress Dowager to look after, His Highness may be able to take one side and continue to idle." It was the third time to provoke him with these words, and Yang Lian couldn't help frowning. "If it wasn't for him," Feng Juefei said with a slight smile, "then, everything can be figured out gradually." He said this in a very gentle way, but when he thought about it carefully, it was extremely dangerous, Yang Lian couldn't help interrupting him: "What do you mean?" "It's just to remind His Highness to be careful, there is no other meaning." Feng Juefei smiled, "After all, he is his own son. Even if the emperor has the intention of abandoning the elders and raising the younger ones, he may not be able to do it. It depends on the variables in the palace." Yang Lian unconsciously looked at Zheng Banshan, but saw him nodding his head slightly.He understood in his heart: "I should pay attention." After Feng Juefei talked for a long time, he also felt the corners of his lips and tongue were dry, took a sip of herbal tea, and said, "Does Your Highness know about Mr. Dai's recent situation?" Yang Lian knew a thing or two, but he hadn't walked around. Feng Juefei sighed: "His Royal Highness always observes etiquette and does not dare to make friends with officials. But Mr. Dai is also His Highness's tutor after all..." "Master Feng is right. This is indeed my negligence." Yang Lian nodded, and suddenly asked: "Master Feng Gui Geng?" Feng Juefei froze for a moment, then smiled and said, "Twenty-five." "Master Feng is young and promising, with a bright future." Yang Lian smiled. Feng Juefei stared at Yang Lian for a while, this young man was born too beautiful, people worried that he violated a material taboo, and his life was inevitable.But who of them believed in fate?He unscrupulously provoked his ambitions, pointing him to a dangerous path in the poor mountains and rivers, but he couldn't tell whether there was a valley in his heart, but who was instigating whom?Feng Juefei didn't answer Yang Lian's question, but said: "Your Majesty has another sentence, which Mr. Yu brought to Your Highness." "Speaking." "Mr. Yu said that no matter what choice His Highness makes, he will fully support it. When His Highness was a child, he yearned to sail the sea, to Penglai and Lanyingzhou. If that day comes... If there is an opportunity in the future, Mr. Yu will prepare for it." Get off on the huge Mulan boat to wait for His Highness." Feng Juefei smiled, "There are also a few small boats in the lower official's house, and I would like to drive them for Your Highness." Having said this, Feng Juefei was satisfied, so he said goodbye.Yang Lian and Zheng Banshan both stood up with smiles, sent him outside the pavilion, and watched him disappear into the jungle with brisk steps. Yang Lian slowly put away the smile on his face, took out the enamel box from his sleeve, and flashed it at Zheng Banshan. Zheng Banshan said: "There is one thing. Back then, Yu Wuwen and I agreed that we would not tell you solemnly until His Highness turned twenty years old. Now that the situation has changed, Brother Yu can't wait. Fortunately, Your Highness It's big enough." Yang Lian lowered his head and smiled, Yu Wuwen and Zheng Banshan are elders who are both teachers and friends, but their temperaments are quite different.Zheng Banshan has lived in the deep palace for a long time, and has always been forbearing and rebellious. Although he has a loud voice, he seems to be invisible; I want to send a disciple to guard the capital, lest I live in the imperial capital for a long time, indulge in peace and happiness, and lose my true nature. "What Mr. Zheng wants to say," he said slowly, "is it related to my late father?" "It is indeed about the prince." Zheng Banshan said, "His Royal Highness, do you want to hear it?" Yang Lian was silent. "Mr. Yu is afraid that I will marry the Xu family again and be attached to the Zhongjing Mansion for the rest of my life. He is too worried." He said, "No matter why, I will never be the son-in-law of the Xu family again. He can rest assured. Therefore, If Mr. Zheng thinks he can wait, then don’t rush to tell me.” Zheng Banshan stopped talking.From the age of fourteen, Yang Lian's mind became unfathomable, far beyond his and Yu Wuwen's expectations.He might have heard something a long time ago, after all, no one knew that rumors would emerge from that corner of the palace.Or he has been able to know the whole truth just by guessing.Since he doesn't want to talk about this matter at this time, why not take it easy, after all, it is not a past event that can be easily talked about. Zheng Banshan thought for a while, and then said: "Based on the current situation, the Xu family's marriage is indeed hindered. Not to mention anything else - the night when the queen bestowed Miss Qin to His Highness, it is said that Miss Xu San lost her temper. Your Highness..." When mentioning what happened that night, Yang Lian quickly turned his face to the outside of the pavilion, seeming a little embarrassed.Seeing this, Zheng Banshan sighed: "Your Highness asked the queen to ask for Miss Qin, is this the idea?" Yang Lian gave a noncommittal "hmm". "Does it have to be like this?" Zheng Banshan frowned. "Finally, I have her in my hands, so I don't have to worry about it anymore." Yang Lian smiled with his eyes bent, "How can I let go of such a great opportunity?" "Have you ever thought about it, Your Highness..." Zheng Banshan stopped suddenly—is this considered to be against ethics?It's just too late to say anything now.Yang Lian's smile was not calm, half-blind and half-dark seemed ferocious, which made him sigh secretly: I don't know if he will regret it in the future if he did such a thing just to show off his enthusiasm. "Sir, don't worry about her." Yang Lian sarcastically said, "She is a canary in a cage now, why should I have trouble with a sparrow?" Zheng Banshan was not used to Yang Lian like this, so he couldn't help being a little annoyed, and said: "This bird is sick, do you know?" "I know, the person Cheng Ning sent to deliver the books told me about it." Yang Lian said, "She said she had a cold occasionally, and I told them to take care of her, and she must have recovered—how did you know, did you visit her?" "I wanted to take a look, but I was stopped by your people." Zheng Banshan said. Feeling the difference, Yang Lian was taken aback. "I still heard about it from Cao Dianji of Kunning Palace." Zheng Banshan said coldly, "Because the queen gave some things as rewards, Miss Qin said she was sick and couldn't thank her, so several female officials went to visit the sick with Yi's decree. According to Cao According to the classics, Miss Qin has been ill since that night, and the situation is very bad." It can't be because...Yang Lian thought of Qin Taiwei's tear-stained face, he was stunned for a moment, bit his lip and couldn't speak. "I heard about this and wanted to take a look, but your housekeeper lady said that Miss Qin had recovered from her illness, and concubines in the inner house are not suitable for seeing people—so I can't do it." Zheng Banshan said, "This is still a matter of the beginning of the month. , now I don’t know what to do.” "Is it Chen Yanluo?" Yang Lian thought about it. "Who else is it if it's not her?" Zheng Banshan wanted to urge Yang Lian to say a few more words, but seeing that his face was stiff and cold, he just bowed his head and walked forward, not wanting to say a word. The noon sun passed through the forest and fell on Yang Lian's body in mottled patterns, flickering with the swing of his clothes, like the young man's incomprehensible thoughts.Zheng Banshan once again had hidden worries in his heart.At that time, when he heard that Yang Lian had accepted Qin Taiwei, he felt it was unbelievable.The matter of Qin Lingxian has always been Yang Lian's heart disease.Now that Qin Taiwei is in front of him, I am afraid that this heart disease will not be resolved, it will only intensify.But what can he do besides wait and see? Everyone in Zhengwang's residence only knew that the day when Yang Lian returned to the residence was June 13th.But on June 11th, Yang Lian suddenly appeared under the eaves of Qingfu Hall, everyone was caught off guard.Yang Lian scanned the crowd and found that Qin Taiwei was not among them, he knew that he probably killed the right one with the carbine this time.After Cheng Ning replied a few words, he first asked about Qin Taiwei's condition.Chen Yanluo then led him to visit the patient in the backyard.There are only two courtyards in Qingfu Hall, and Yang Lian lives in the front courtyard by himself.Due to the vacancy of the princess, the main room in the backyard has been vacant, and the side rooms are divided into a wing room for each. Qin Taiwei was placed in a dark side room in the east.When Yang Lian saw it, he frowned.Seeing this, Chen Yanluo had no choice but to say: "She was originally allowed to live in the East Wing with Madam Lin. It's just that she has been ill for too long, and she was afraid that others would get sick, so she moved here temporarily." Yang Lian didn't say anything, opened the curtains, and saw Qin Taiwei buried in a pile of crumpled bedding, thin and pale like a ghost, only her cheeks were dyed a strange red.She heard someone coming, and raised her eyelids to look blankly.It seemed that after a while, she remembered who he was, and suddenly bit her lip and turned her face away.Yang Lian put down the curtain, was silent for a while, turned around and saw the doctor Lu Shi was kneeling beside her, and asked for the prescription to check. These are just some ordinary prescriptions, although they are not considered clever, there is no big mistake, they are enough to deal with a small wind and cold, how could they prolong it to a terminal illness?Lu's tremblingly lowered his head, he only said that Lady Qin was not born with congenital inadequacies and her emotions were internalized, so the effect of medicine and stones was negligible.Yang Lian grabbed Qin Taiwei's wrist, carefully touched her veins, tried for a long time, and suddenly felt something different. Everyone knows that King Zheng is proficient in medical skills, the doctors enshrined in the mansion and even the imperial physicians invited from outside, but it is hard not to be noticed by him who is not dedicated to diagnosis and treatment.Seeing that he came back early, Mrs. Lu was so frightened that she didn't dare to say a word.Yang Lian looked at her suspiciously, and then at the two little palace servants who were waiting for Qin Taiwei, wondering: "Could it be that she hasn't taken any medicine at all?" He thought of something, his heart turned cold, and he immediately turned her face to look carefully.Although she was so angry that she didn't say a word, she stared at him very vigilantly. She didn't look like someone who wanted to die... He smoothed her hair with his fingers, then turned to Cheng Ning and said, "Take it!" Here comes the stretcher, and carry Mrs. Qin to the white room—this place is dark and damp, how can I recuperate?" The Xubai Room is on the other side of the water, on Mount Penglai.Because of the small size of the Qingfu Hall and the humble courtyard, the Empress Dowager chose two unique pavilions on Penglai Mountain for Yang Lian to study and rest.The Xubai Room is a separate pavilion facing the water, just below the Tianlai Pavilion. The two places are connected by a climbing corridor, surrounded by lush trees and shadows of bamboos.Yang Lian loved its tranquility, so he built a small study room, and occasionally stayed overnight, so all the bed curtains and furnishings were ready-made.Such a place was given to a concubine to recuperate, which surprised everyone secretly.After a while, a stretcher came over, and everyone rushed to lift Qin Taiwei down, wrapping it airtight with a quilt.Qin Taiwei hangs with only one breath left, and almost faints to death.Yang Lian also secretly asked Chen Yanluo and others to follow them all the way to the island without any mistakes. After they all left, Yang Lian sat down by the bed, leaned forward to search, and sure enough, he found a small white porcelain water bowl from under the quilt, and there was still brown medicinal juice in it.It turned out that she really refused to take the medicine, and quietly poured it all into the water basin.Yang Lian sniffed the medicinal juice carefully, and realized that it wasn't just the medicinal ingredients on the prescription, and his heart was shocked.He pondered for a while, then went back to his study to write another prescription, and ordered it to be decocted immediately.Then someone called Cheng Ning back, explained something, and ordered him to arrest the doctor and torture him in secret.Then he had time to sit down and drink a cup of tea, changed his clothes again, and slowly went to the empty room. People stood all over the place in the small annex.It turns out that when Qin Taiwei first entered Zhengwang's mansion, everyone only thought that she was reluctantly accepted because of a taboo. During the bridal chamber, she broke up with King Zheng. Although she was Concubine Shu's cousin, there seemed to be no one except Kunning Palace. Come to inquire, but I heard that the Queen Mother is very displeased.For all these reasons, no one wanted to talk to her.Now King Zheng suddenly went to war for her, as if he really valued her, who would dare to neglect her for a while. "She is a patient, so why should you have so many people around her?" Yang Lian frowned and said, "Except for those who are close to her, everyone should go back—Yanluo, take them all away." Seeing Yang Lian approaching, Qin Taiwei stood up and reluctantly said thank you.Yang Lian leaned into her ear and asked softly, "Why don't you take the medicine?" These words made Qin Taiwei flustered for a moment, and it took him a long time to spit out two words: "I'm afraid..." Yang Lian's heart skipped a beat.How familiar is he with the feeling of facing the abyss. "...Afraid of suffering." She continued in a panic. She didn't dare to tell the truth, her eyes were still full of fear, like a deer waiting to be slaughtered in a cage.Yang Lian sighed silently, wondering who else he could get the words out of.Someone brought freshly made medicine, he turned his head and smiled at her, "This is the prescription I prescribed for you, it's different from before. You can try again to see if it's bitter or not." The palace servants helped Qin Taiwei to feed the medicine, but she turned her face to the side and just stared at Yang Lian.She knew that there was something wrong with the previous medicine, but she couldn't figure out whether Yang Lian in front of her wanted her dead too.Seeing her shining eyes, Yang Lian didn't understand what it meant.So he took the medicine cup and inspected it carefully, tasted it again, and then took a small spoonful and fed it to her lips.Qin Tai hesitated for a moment, and finally closed her eyes and swallowed.Yang Lian had never done this kind of service before, and he was afraid of scalding her and spilling the medicine. Seeing her grievance, he wondered if the medicine was really too bitter, so he managed to coax her to down a bowl of medicine. .Seeing fresh cherries with pits and cane juice on the table, he scooped up a few and gave her medicine: "This one is not bitter. But cherries are hot in nature, so you can't eat more." The cherry juice was sweet, and Qin Tai took a sip, and suddenly shed a line of tears.Yang Lian looked at her silently for a while, then wiped away her tears, helped her back to the pillow and lay down.Qin Taiwei saw that there was no one else in the room, so she lightly tugged on Yang Lian's sleeve, and glanced at the palace servant who brought the medicine. Yang Lian understood, and called the little palace man to the bedside to ask.The little palace man was called Zhun Zhun, but he was also clever. Seeing Yang Li's face turned down, he immediately knelt down and begged for mercy: "I don't know anything..." Yang Lian said: "Miss Qin didn't take medicine before, you always know that?" "No..." Zhun Zhun said. Yang Lian said calmly, "If you don't even know about this, what do you servants do? I'd better send it to the Clothes Bureau." Gritting his teeth earnestly, he said, "This servant knows." Yang Lian sneered and said, "Say." "One day, the maidservant went...to get something from the front, and walked under Mrs. Chen's window, as if she heard someone say... why don't you order some heavy medicine and send it away quickly. At that time...only Lady Qin was eating it in the palace. Medicine, the servant heard... and was very frightened." "Who is that?" "Listening to the voice is not from our palace." "Since you are afraid, you must remember the day clearly." "It happened on the fourteenth of last month." Yang Lian thought, this is really a caring girl.But he sneered and said: "You just overheard a sentence, but you don't know what it means—maybe you are talking about rats, so you dare to play tricks and not let Mrs. Qin take medicine?" "The servant did not tell the truth, the servant dare not..." Zhunzhun was too anxious to say anything, kowtowed repeatedly. Qin Taiwei struggled to get up, panting: "I heard her talking to another girl..." Yang Lian immediately understood that it must be because he earnestly wanted to remind his wife, but he was afraid of worrying about right and wrong, so he purposely said it for her to hear. "Since you have heard it, you should report it. If you don't look for Mrs. Chen, there is Cheng Cheng." Yang Lian said leisurely, "If you talk about it behind your back like this, isn't it called gossip? The lady's illness is caused by you. Delay. If you don't punish your crime, there will be no royal law in this mansion." Everyone in the mansion knows that Yang Lian has a ruthless face and a heart. If he says he wants to punish someone, he must punish him to death.Hearing this, Zhunzhun burst into tears and kowtowed like garlic begging for mercy.Yang Lian watched her cry coldly, but quietly shook Qin Taiwei's hand.Qin Taiwei's heart moved, and she said again: "Your Highness, please spare her... It is thanks to her service for a month, if she leaves..." Yang Lian was silent for a while before saying: "Since the lady is begging for mercy for you, remember this matter first." Zhunzhun hurriedly wiped away tears to thank you, thanked you again and again, and said: "Your maidservant must serve the lady well, and make meritorious deeds." Yang Lian couldn't help frowning, he secretly taught Qin Taiwei to show his favor, but he was punctured by a word, this girl is too clever.He stood up and took a few steps, thinking about what to do next, but he saw Cheng Ning waiting outside the curtain. Cheng Ning said in a low voice: "The doctor recruited her, saying that Mrs. Chen taught her to add a taste of Tripterygium wilfordii to Mrs. Qin's medicine." Yang Lian nodded slightly, he indeed smelled the smell of tripterygium wilfordii in the water bowl.This medicine has good antipyretic and analgesic effects, but it is also a medicine for tigers and wolfs. If you take it for a long time, you will die.It is indeed a good idea to kill with a slow knife.It's just... "You recruited so quickly?" He asked suspiciously. Cheng Ning said: "The servant has used some torture, and now he is kneeling outside waiting for His Royal Highness to punish him." Yang Lian saw a woman kneeling on the porch from a distance, ten fingers were bloody, suddenly felt sick, but told Cheng Ning to call all the concubines here, he wanted to give a lecture. There are four concubines in Zhengwang's mansion.Back then, because the princess Xu Anlan was weak and sick, the Xu family specially sent two beautiful and capable maids, one from the Chen family and one from the Meng family, both of whom were taken over by the princess.After the death of the princess, the Meng family fell ill because of missing the mistress, and died of a miscarriage. Only Chen Yanluo followed Yang Lian to the imperial capital.After entering Beijing, he was crowned prince, and the emperor personally designated Wen Canran, a female official from Qingliu, as his concubine wife. The queen mother also bestowed Lin Juanjuan, the daughter of Lin Liang, who was waiting for an imperial edict in the painting academy.So Qin Taiwei is the fifth concubine.Although both Wen and Lin are wives, because Chen Yanluo has been in the mansion for the longest time, she still takes care of the house chores. Yang Lian walked into the main hall of the Xubai Room, picked a Taishi chair and sat down comfortably to drink tea.Before a cup of tea was finished, all the ladies from several houses rushed over, holding their hands and holding their breath, for fear of offending him.Yang Lian didn't teach them to sit down, but first let the doctor come in and asked, "How many years has Mother Lu served in the palace?" "If you go back to His Highness, it will be thirteen years." Lu said with a gray face. "Experience is the most important thing for a doctor. Thirteen years is not a short time, but you can't even look down on a little cold?" Mrs. Lu was in doubt, she had already confessed to being poisoned, but what did Zheng Wang mean by this, she could only continue to say: "The servant girl is only ignorant, she lost her sight for a while, let alone Mrs. Qin..." Yang Lian slammed the teacup on the table: "Since you can't see the disease well, don't see it from now on. I don't support idlers here, so I kicked it out immediately." Mrs. Lu was taken aback. He thought that the poisoning would be a big deal, and his life must have been lost in it, but he didn't expect that he just gave up so lightly, and hurriedly kowtowed to thank him. "It's just that you've been here for a long time," Yang Lian said, "How can the affairs of the palace be understood by outsiders..." "Your Majesty of the Tian family, how dare this servant speak nonsense, since she should be honest and not utter a word," Lu Shi caught a glimpse of Yang Lian's sad face, felt more fear in his heart, and kowtowed, "I would rather press my tongue it's here……" "Okay." Yang Lian glanced at Cheng Ning. Immediately, several internal officials came up, and they held up Lu Shi and wanted to cut his tongue with a knife.At this time, Mrs. Lu regretted and begged for mercy again and again, Yang Lian stopped and asked again: "What else do you want to say? If you don't say it now, you won't be able to say it later." Lu Shi was stunned for a while, and finally shook his head. Seeing her like this, Yang Lian knew that she must have made a life-and-death sign, and he couldn't find anything to ask, so he waved his hand: "Drag it outside and clean it up, don't scare the patient." Lu's blood-splattered screams echoed on the water outside, and everyone heard it, and they were too frightened to breathe out.Yang Lian shook his sleeves with a sneer, looked around the three concubines, and suddenly said, "Ladies, please sit down." The three beauties bowed their heads to thank each other, each picked a chair and sat sideways.Yang Lian put on a gentle face, and said in a gentle voice: "Cuiwei Mountain is far away from the hustle and bustle, and the water, trees and clear flowers are extremely clean. I have recuperated for a few days, and I feel refreshed, much more at ease than in the palace." The three of them looked at each other, not knowing what to say.Yang Lian sneered secretly, and said again: "In addition to sweeping the tomb of his father, he also visited several tombs of previous dynasties. I remember one tombstone was dilapidated, overgrown with weeds, and there was not even a stone workshop. It seemed that no one had taken care of it for many years. Carefully To identify the inscription, it was originally the mausoleum of a prince in the Chengzu Dynasty. Which one do you think it is?" According to the practice of the country, the vassal kings all built mausoleums in their fiefs, and there was no reason to bury them in the emperor's mausoleum, unless——Wen Canran knew what it meant, so he asked, "Could it be Ning Shuren?" “不错。”杨楝含笑道，“夫人既熟知国朝典故，不妨说来大家听听。” 文粲然道：“宪宗朝有一位宁王，因王妃经年无出，遂纳了姬妾冯氏，育下庶长子。后来王妃偶得良方，生下麟儿，宁王便欲立嫡子为世子。岂知冯氏多年愿望落空，心有不满，便串通府中长史官，谋害了王妃与嫡子。宁王自是盛怒。然而彼时正值宪宗皇帝起意削藩，宁藩一支又多年不得圣眷，故而宁王十分怕事，又念及膝下仅余一庶子，竟将王妃横死之事轻轻掩过。只是人命关天，终于败露，果然天子雷霆之下，将冯氏及其庶子尽皆处死。宁王亦被夺爵，还京后孤老而死。宁藩一支并无后人，被趁势削除。想来宁王之墓无人祭扫，亦是这个缘故。内宅不宁，祸及一族，此是国朝第一例。” “说得不错。”杨楝淡淡道。 却没有更多的话。三位姬妾细细体会，亦知杨楝为皇帝深深忌惮，若内宅不谨，姬妾相斗，说不定祸及全家，覆巢之下无完卵。这番敲打是说给众人听的，亦包括躺在里面那一位。今日之事，亦决不能闹将出去。 “琴娘子的外祖母是先帝最宠爱的妹妹，她的表姐又是今上眷顾之人，连我都要敬她三分。”杨楝道，“若她和家中哭诉，说这里薄待了她，诸位谁愿意出去顶这个罪名？” 其实琴太微自入徵王府来，别说谢府无人探问，就是淑妃那里也不曾有过只言片语。然而无人过问，不等于无人在暗中盯着，毕竟牵连甚多。杨楝既有这番交代，诸人也只得连连应声：“妾等不敢。” “你们都是贤德的，只好我认了这个不是吧。”杨楝冷笑道，“陈娘子——” 陈烟萝忽听见唤她，连忙起身，只见杨楝笑容粲然，一双明眸闪烁如新磨明镜般：“这次扫墓，我倒想起一桩事情来。我们在京中住了年余，王妃的坟墓无人祭扫，想来钱塘江畔亦是芜草丛生。我想要派个得力的人过去看看。想来想去——这件事只你做得。” 徵王妃的坟茔自有忠靖王府帮忙看着，逢年节有人祭扫，怎会荒草丛生？陈烟萝心知这是要远远地遣开了她，不由得瞪着杨楝，目中渐泛水光。 杨楝微笑道：“你的父母还在忠靖王府中，回杭州亦可省亲。咱们的王府白白空了许久，也不知院子里的海棠今年开得如何。你替我好生收拾着。过不了一两年，我们还是要回去的。” 话中意思竟是陈烟萝要从此留在南边了。陈烟萝紧紧抿了嘴唇，再不吭一声。文、林二人一旁听着，心中俱是百味杂陈——陈烟萝虽无十分宠眷，毕竟是徵王身边第一倚重的侧室，如今骤然被逐，于她二人而言，第一自是少了个对手；第二则是琴氏才入门，竟受如此厚待；第三却是跟随了五六年的爱姬说赶就赶，徵王何等薄情。一边思量着，一边又听杨楝道：“陈娘子走后。内宅反正只有你们两个——” 文、林二位连忙起身，又听他道：“——你们凡事商量着办吧。文夫人入门早几天，多听她一点，今后别再让我为你们这些家务事操心。” 二人俱是一凛，忙敛衽应声。文粲然正想问琴娘子怎么办，杨楝又道：“今晚你们从这里出去，各回各房，以后就不要再到这边来了。没有我的许可，谁也不准打扰琴娘子。” 文氏和林氏不由得换了个眼神，并不敢再说什么，联袂告退。陈烟萝慢慢地跟在后面，俟那二人出了院门，忽然转过头来奔向杨楝：“殿下，不是我！” 杨楝知她还有话，早在那里等着：“你既肯说，我就问问你——上月十四日，是谁来看你了？” 陈烟萝目色一暗。她晓得杨楝的脾气，最恨有人背着他玩弄手段，但凡被他知道了，说清楚还可，不说定是万死不赎。 “我猜——”杨楝笑道，“是不是徐三小姐的什么丫鬟，自小跟你交好啊？” 陈烟萝咬牙道：“徐三小姐房里的翡翠，她确实有些出格的话。可那也只是气话，谁能当真？” 杨楝冷哼了一声。 “我跟随殿下多年，”陈烟萝强压着喉中的哭声，“殿下可曾见我是那样糊涂的人？” 杨楝捏住她的下巴仔细察看。烟萝的一双妙目被泪水浸透，恍惚如风浪迭起的湖水，却是一脸粉妆都残败了。他暗自叹了一声，靠在椅背上，忽然笑道：“我是知道你的。只是徐家若有这样想法，你夹在中间也难做人。我如今教你远离这是非之地，岂不好？” “谢谢殿下恩典。”她屈膝告退。退至门边忽又回首，没来由地说了一句：“殿下要小心。” 杨楝微怔一下，旋即含笑点头，神情如温顺少年。 琴太微躺在床上，将外面的动静听了个一字不漏。杨楝非要在这边处理家务，其实是说给她听的。她心中漾出几声冷笑，却因过于虚弱，连那冷都不彻底，只是拂过心间一缕淡淡的凉意而已。帐顶挂着一只鎏金银香球，繁复的花纹之间溢出脉脉香气，沿着青罗软帐缓缓游走，似有人步履徘徊逡巡，又似有人欲语又塞，低回万端。 最后连陈烟萝也走了，房中再无旁人，只有守夜的侍儿偶尔发出一声清咳。初夏的夜风撩动着檐下铁马，发出金器摩挲的瑟瑟声。她心中暗祷杨楝别再进她的屋子才好。而杨楝果然也没有再进来。不知是良药有效，还是熏香安神，她终于沉沉睡去，发了一身薄汗，却连梦也不曾做一个。 杨楝在外间独坐了良久，觑着廊外的水面上渐渐映出天河的倒影，细碎如繁星。他心知此事蹊跷，一时也只能如此。陈烟萝纵是冤枉，也只得先打发了。可叹家中不过这几个，却是人人都信不得近不得。他这时深深后怕起来，若不是郑半山提醒，待他过两天再回来时，琴太微是死于无药治病，还是被暗中的凶手直接做掉？到那时如何收场？迟迟钟鼓初长夜，室中少女犹自沉酣，暗香隐透帘栊。他只觉心中一片枯冷，水天茫茫。 程宁提了羊角灯过来接他回清馥殿。他责备地瞥了一眼，低声道：“程公公……” 程宁苦笑道：“奴婢实在猜不出殿下打算将她怎样，所以不好插手……” “还能怎样？”杨楝叹道。 白玉石桥掠过太液池水，连着蓬莱岛和清馥殿。走过桥头回身远望，虚白室一带灵巧水廊浮于静夜之中，如一痕月中清梦，杨楝收回目光，对程宁说：“还得劳烦程公公分些心思，亲自照看着她吧，千万别再出半点差池。” 程宁恭谨称是。 次日郑半山再到西苑来，总算是见到了琴太微，知并无性命之碍。事已至此，郑半山少不得安慰琴太微一番，教她仔细服侍徵王，诸事多放宽心肠。琴太微未免口应心不应。 “殿下是我看着长大的，他自幼脾性温和，必不为难你。”郑半山说着这话，自己心中倒也没什么把握，又道，“便是令尊也曾与殿下交契，深得殿下尊重。” “咦？”琴太微这里倒是第一次听说，“可是爹爹从来没有跟我提过他。” “藩王不可结交外臣，令尊自然不能提。”郑半山道，“你须心中有数，却也不必在人前说起此事。” 琴太微并不知郑半山为何如此交代，不由得暗中遐想一番。 看过琴太微，郑半山又回清馥殿这边向杨楝道别，却见杨楝立在水边，像是专门等着过来，神情悒悒不乐。 “琴娘子被人下药的事，殿下认定是徐家的人在做手脚吗？”郑半山问。 “不是他们还能是谁？这府里，到处都是王妃留下的徐家人，一两年间也清理不干净。”杨楝淡淡道。 “程宁他们几个，还是信得过的吧？”郑半山又问。 “是。”杨楝简短道，“郑先生，这件事不必去和太后说。” 徐太后不喜琴太微，是故按下不提也罢。郑半山叹了一声，正欲告辞，杨楝忽然拉住了他的袖子。这是他小时才有的动作，郑半山意外地迎上他的目光。只见他的瞳孔极黑极亮烈，蒙着薄薄一层雾水，似冰层下有火苗在执拗地燃烧：“先生，那是圣旨……还是懿旨？” 郑半山一惊，忽然见他手中捏着昨日得的那块芙蓉石龙牌，这才悟出他说的是什么。 杨楝又急急地追了一句：“祖父不会做那样的事——必是懿旨。那是鸩酒，还是白绫？” “原来殿下一直都是这么想的吗？”郑半山怔了一会儿，幽幽叹道。 杨楝望了一眼远处的侍卫，低声道：“当初我跟着先生学习医术时，有意结交了一位太医令。去年我借他之便，查了太医院的旧档。万安三十四年十一月二十一日，太子染疾，起初症候只是风寒脑热。三日后薨逝，病案里居然写的是中风。他才三十岁，素来健朗无疾，纵然幽禁之中情绪郁结，何至会中风？” “太子不是被赐死的，也不是被谋害的。”郑半山道。 杨楝显然不信。庄敬太子薨逝时，他不过十二岁。很多事情，后来用记忆的碎片慢慢拼成的。万安三十四年，重阳节刚过，太子杨涣即上表自请废储，举朝哗然。自万安二十八年起，先帝便称病不再临朝，躲入西苑炼丹修道，命太子监国，徐皇后协理国事。太子与皇后早已母子离心，这是上下皆知的秘密，朝中为此分成了两派，一派拥护储君正统，一派站在外戚徐氏的身边。太子临朝不久，便打起了削弱外戚的心思。这场拉锯战持续了五六年，满朝文武、宗亲贵戚几乎无人能置身事外。到万安三十四年，太子着手清理海防，动了徐家的根本，矛盾终于被推向了顶点。 自请废储，到底是太子终于向生母屈膝，还是想以退为进呢？满朝官员们经过惶惶不可终日的三天之后，避居万寿宫多年不理政事的先帝忽然降下旨意，免除太子监国之权，责其闭门思过，不得干预朝政，但储君绝不可废。 杨楝幼时备受先帝宠爱，时常出入万寿宫伴驾。他记得万安三十四年，祖父的身体已如风中残烛，朝不保夕。之前几位老臣亦曾多次上书，希望皇帝出面调停太子和皇后的矛盾，但皇帝根本没有精力去顾及。这道突如其来的圣旨把众人都吓了一跳。 后来杨楝慢慢体会到先帝的用意。监国的太子毕竟只是太子。但只要再等一段不长的时间，太子就会成为真正的皇帝，到那时他才能真正施展手脚，而朝廷中愿意真正为他效力的人也会更多。可惜，太子竟然没有等到君临天下的那一日。 圣旨既下，太子被禁足于重华宫。几日之后，皇孙杨楝被徐皇后领到坤宁宫去教养。那时他还不明白祖母带走他的意义，直到有一天忽然传来了父亲的死讯。 此后关于储副的人选，朝中又有一番搏杀。太子的拥趸们坚持祖宗旧制，恳请帝后即刻立杨楝为皇太孙。而徐党却搬出“国赖长君”之说，支持皇后嫡出的次子庆王杨治。这次争执便很快就有了结论。万安三十五年元夕一过，庆王从庆州藩邸出发，踏着二月春风回到帝都，成为重华宫的新主人。杨楝在坤宁宫的清暇居中度过了一个寒冷难挨的冬日。新太子受封之后，他亦则得到了一个名号：临安郡王。如此终于尘埃落定。 幽禁中的太子忽然身故，朝中并非没有议论。当日重华宫的宫人、内侍大多以“侍奉不周”的罪名而处死，其余人等亦星散，远远发至南都、皇陵及武当山等处，詹事府的一众官员乃至朝中的太子旧党更是在一两年间被清理干净。杨楝不曾为父亲送终，甚至关于父亲的死状，他也只得到了两个字——“病故”。从万安三十四年到神锡二年这三年之间，他自己时时徘徊于死亡的阴影中，毒药、行刺、谋杀、赐死……这些事情从未自心底散去。而关于父亲的真正死因，他亦生出万种想象，然而竟都没有猜中真正的答案。 “太子是自尽的。”郑半山道。 杨楝错愕，脑中轰然一声空白，天旋地转，雷鸣贯耳。郑半山的嘴唇一张一合，他却一个字也分辨不出，过了很久，似乎才听见“太子托人秘授手书与臣，云先帝百年之后，请臣等尽力辅弼殿下。臣等惭愧……辜负了太子的嘱托”。 “他为什么！”杨楝哑着嗓子追问。 “太子没有写下原因。”郑半山想了想，尽量轻描淡写道，“但也不难猜测：当时太子虽已还政，朝议却并未平息。他没有退路，只能寄希望于来者。殿下——” 杨楝退了半步，避开郑半山的搀扶，过了一会儿才问：“那——他用的什么？先生知道吗？” “那年入秋之后，太子便咳嗽得厉害，以此为名要了很多阿芙蓉。谁都没有想到……”郑半山没有说下去。 海上贡品阿芙蓉，乃是暹罗奇药，价同黄金，一向只供奉内廷。此药治疗虚劳咳嗽、湿热泄沥均有显效，只是止病之功虽急，亦是杀人的利剑。余无闻送来的芙蓉石龙牌，原来是暗示这个。阿芙蓉镇咳，仅需些微之量。攒够一次致死的阿芙蓉需要多长时间呢？总不是一天两天吧。他是从何时起存定了必死之念？一定是在他被幽闭之前就开始了，甚至远远早于他和徐党的争斗达到封顶之前……那么，在最后那段日子里，他为自己讲书、握着手练字的那些时刻，心中竟满满地存了弃世而去的心愿？ 杨楝捏着那块龙牌，指力几乎将芙蓉石碾为齑粉。扫过眼角的日光一道道明烈如刀，他眨了眨生痛的眼睛，垂头望向太液池水。蓬莱岛远在水中，林莽郁郁，佳木葱茏，此时看来却宛如一垄高坟。正午的炎风拂过足底，一身虚浮迟缓，竟忘了自己是在哪里。 “殿下，”郑半山见他这般神情，又不免后悔话说得太急，“我送殿下回去？” 杨楝摇了摇头，快速道：“不必了。我自己回去就是。” 杨楝并未再有一言，拔腿朝清馥殿那边走去，背影摇摇，似乎抬了下袖子。郑半山想起万安三十四年冬天，他求得徐皇后的许可，到清暇居看望皇孙。不知是谁将太子的死讯告诉杨楝的，十二岁的少年端立于巨大的书案后，凝神练字，静得如同雪天里的小松树，一时间让人误以为他从未伤心过。可是一旦杨楝看清来人是谁，立刻抛下笔管扑过来，把脸埋在他的袖子里，窸窸窣窣的哭声如同碎叶在风中打转儿。 他不会再像那样哭了，郑半山心想。 回到清馥殿，杨楝正撞见宫使等候。皇帝念着侄儿顶了暑热天气奔波于天寿山、翠微山之间，十分劳苦，特意遣人送来一份赏赐。杨楝谢恩如仪，又与宫使攀谈了几句，才拱手送走。 不过是些循例的金银、果品之类。居然还有粽子，却是存放太久，硬得如同石头。杨楝捏了捏，不由得去想这粽子会不会也有毒。旋即又记起冯觉非的话——“他如今不能动你”。自家亦苦笑起来。 当初皇帝不容他，他不得不在太后的庇佑下存活，所以暂不要知道太子的死因为好——这大概就是郑半山和余无闻的想法。如今皇帝有异动，他才有机会挣出来，于是他们告诉他的第一件事就是这个，敦促他与徐家早早决裂。 杨楝摸出那块芙蓉石的龙牌，摩挲了一会儿，忽然扬起手，把它砸在了地上。 响动声引来了值殿的内官，杨楝背对着把他们喝退了。芙蓉石碎成了一瓣瓣血色落英，泼溅在白石地上。苌弘化碧，望帝啼鹃，是怎样的内心辗转才能做出如此决断。只不过一年，只要再等不到一年，他就能重获自由，登上那至高无上的位置。可是他却抛下自己匆匆走了。太子当年虽年轻，却极端方严正，时时以古时圣贤自律，一言不失，一行不苟，堪为天下之表率。杨楝自幼跟在太子身边读书，受其言传身教，孺慕之情极深。他相信世间若真有圣贤，大约就是父亲那样。可是，圣贤也会吞阿芙蓉自尽吗？ “朝议不息。” 这个圣贤竟是被他的臣子逼死的