Chapter 3 Chapter 25 Huiguo
The body is hot.
It's like dry frying in a pot without oil and water.
I wanted to moisten my throat with cold water, but my body couldn't move.Sticky sweat crawled out of the pores like leeches and spread all over the skin.
He knew he was sick.
There is no such unpleasant feeling inside the body.But maybe my heart, liver and other internal organs have already begun to rot.
Between breathing, it seems that you can also smell the stench of internal organs decaying.This is probably the case for any body over sixty years old.
In this world, there is nothing that can stay forever - he knows this truth well.
It is an unchanging truth of the universe that the physical body will gradually wither and lose its function.
The tangible things will eventually die—that kind of die-off, and now it is fulfilled in itself.
This body probably won't last a few more years.
He has no fear of the phenomenon of death.
He has understood that many sentient beings are born from the universe as "individuals", and that "individual" will eventually return to the universe.The so-called death is just a ritual of returning to the universe.
So far, many "individuals" and many lives have continued to repeat this ritual, and now I am also participating in it—that's all.
Huiguo thought so.
If there are still regrets, it is that I haven't found a suitable successor to continue the two esoteric teachings of the Taizang Realm and the Vajra Realm that I have studied, but I have passed away.
To say it is an attachment is indeed an attachment.
Late at night—Huiguo was sleeping.
In a deep sleep, he could be aware of his sleeping body and feel the temperature of that body.The temperature does not come from outside the body, but the temperature and rancidity derived from the body.
He consciously recognizes this.
In this state, when you observe the temperature and odor of your physical body with your conscious mind, it is like being in a dream.Just like another self who calmly observes his own actions in a dream, the current self is observing his own body, the temperature felt by the body, and the rancidity released.
So is this really a dream? Is there another me dreaming of myself gazing calmly at my body and consciousness in my sleep?It's an uncanny sense of confusion.
Huiguo is enjoying the chaos.
Suddenly—a small voice rang in Huiguo's ear.
"Huiguo..." the voice called.
"Huiguo..." Is it the voice in the ear, or the voice directly from the bottom of my heart? The voice is too weak to be recognized.
"Huiguo..." The voice called his name.
Who is it? Who? Why did you call me? Besides, when did the voice calling your own name get so close? Ah, is that? That rotten stench.
The previous rot—the rot that I thought was carrying someone’s consciousness and sneaking into myself.
No, maybe the other party turned into rancid and gradually approached him.The opponent turned into rancid, and then seemed to be derived from his own body, sneaking into the depths of his consciousness silently.
"Come here..." said the voice.
Come here? "Where are you going?" Huiguo involuntarily responded in his dream.
no.
Huiguo's dream consciousness was so dark.
If one responds to hallucinations or auditory hallucinations—especially those deliberately manipulated by someone—the responding person will gradually fall into its spell and cannot extricate themselves.
But—once he refuses, the other party may stop calling him.
I didn't expect that someone would dare to play tricks on himself in this Qinglong Temple—and it's my Huiguo's room—that's interesting.Huiguo thought.
"Who is it?" Huiguo asked.
"Oh..." The other party happily said loudly: "I am the unifier of this phenomenal world, the supreme one—" The so-called phenomenal world, in other words, is the world where people or lives are born, live, and die.
A world where things come and go, change.That is, this universe.
"The Supreme One—" Hui Guo called out, "Where should we go?"
"First of all, get up, get up first." Hui Guo got up as he said, left the bed and stood up.
Bare feet touch the cold floor.
"Come here," said the voice.
Huiguo walked in the direction of the sound.
Bare feet on the floor, submerged in the night air--the night air is cold.
Although spring was near, the nights were still cold and covered with a thin layer of frost.
Stepping on the ice-like stone road, Hui Guo walked down the corridor.
"Come here..." He walked towards the main hall.
The pale moonlight slanted from the roof to the eaves.
The moonlight reflected Ju Huiguo's feet, showing a blue color.
The gate of the main hall was opened, and one walked inside—one or two lights were lit inside.
On the front is the statue of Dainichi Nyorai made of gold.
The height of the seat is about twice that of ordinary people.
The thumb of the left hand of the Buddha statue is bent, held in the left hand, and the index finger is upright - and the index finger holds the thumb again, which is the Vajra Fist with four fingers holding the thumb in the palm.
Vajra Fist, also known as Zhiquan Seal, is the legal seal of Dainichi Tathagata.
Great Day Tathagata - Sanskrit Mahavaimcana, transliterated into Chinese characters, is "Maha Vairocana".
The fundamental principles and truths of the universe are all called by the Buddha title of "Big Eyed Tathagata".Different from Sakyamuni Buddha, it is a symbolic representation, a Buddha that does not have a physical body.
In the center of the main hall, there is an eight-leaf lotus pedestal, where the Tathagata sits.
All the Buddhas sit around the Tathagata statues, and there are gods guarding the directions of horses in the east, west, north, south corners of the main hall.
The East holds the country sky.
Western Guangmu Tian.
Southern growing days.
The north hears a lot.
In the dark of the main hall, the Buddhas and gods are lifelike, swaying in the light of the lights.
The golden skin of Dainichi Tathagata, with the red light of the lamp, dyed the surrounding darkness into a golden yellow.
All the Buddhas and gods breathe their golden color gorgeously in the darkness.
"Huiguo, are you here?" Da Ri Tathagata whispered with his lips twitching.
"So it was you?" Hui Guo asked.
"That's right, it is Dainichi Tathagata who is calling you."
"What's the matter?"
"Huiguo, don't worry." Da Ri Tathagata released his wisdom fist seal and put his hands on his knees.
"Dezong is dead..." Tathagata said, activating his golden lips.
"yes."
"That's what I did."
"Is it you?"
"That's right. Because the man lived too long."
"This--"
"Next."
"Are you planning to kill the emperor too?"
"It's not surprising. The birth and death of the world are all in the palm of Mahavirojana..." What the Tathagata said was correct.
Dainichi Tathagata is the truth that controls the universe.If so, everything in this world, regardless of the life and death of people, the life and death of vegetation, insects and beasts, can be said to be under the control of Dainichi Tathagata.
"I will kill him. You try to protect him." Dainichi Tathagata raised one knee and stood up slowly.
In an instant, all the Buddhas and gods who were sitting quietly stood up, and those who were standing all raised their hands and shouted in unison.
"Try to protect it!" Chi Guotian said.
"Try to protect it!" Guangmutian said.
"Try to protect it!" Zhang Changtian said.
"Try to protect it!" Duowentian said.
"Try to protect!"
"Try to protect!"
"Try to protect!"
"Try to protect it!" All the Buddhas and gods raised their hands high, stomped their feet on the ground, and giggled loudly.
Da Ri Tathagata pressed on top of Hui Guo's head, opened his bloody mouth and grinned grinningly.
Hui Guo smiled at Dainichi Tathagata as if nothing had happened.
Under the long white eyebrows, he narrowed his eyes happily.
"Master Tathagata, can you show yourself?" Hui Guo looked up at the great day Tathagata and began to recite the mantra.
Nianmo mother pack wild.How wild is Moda.Nangmo Sangha wild.Nang Mosu Gan Yu.Take the chewing posa to write... This is the mantra of the Peacock King Ming-the mantra of the Peacock King Ming.
When Huiguo finished reciting the mantra of Peacock King Ming in a low voice, Dari Tathagata still sat quietly, did not get up, and always held the wisdom fist seal.
All the Buddhas and gods also sit in their original places, or stand in their original places.as before.
In the cold and silent darkness, all the Buddhas and gods silently surround the Dainichi Tathagata.
There were only two candles lit by unknown persons, flickering faintly on the candlesticks.
Between the two candles—before the Great Sun Tathagata, a black shadow appeared.
There is a goma altar in front of the big-eyed Tathagata, and there is a pedestal for people to sit on the front side.There was a person sitting on that pedestal.
If it's normal, that's Huiguo's position.Across the goma altar, sit facing the big day Tathagata.
This is the normal way to sit.
However, the figure was sitting with his back to Dainichi Tathagata and facing Huiguo.
The swarthy figure sitting upright—like the darkness that melted in an instant, entrenched in it.
Slightly.
Slightly.
Slightly.
Slightly.
A low chuckle came from where the shadow was sitting.
"Huiguo, are you eliminating disasters?" Shadow said.
"you……"
"It's been a long time..."
"So you're still alive?"
"Of course." Shadow replied, "However, your days are numbered. You, who are younger than me, have to leave first—"
"Everything is destiny..."
"How do you feel?" Shadow asked.
"How about what?"
"What you just said."
"—"
"I'm serious--"
"you……"
"I want to kill Emperor Yongzhen."
"what?"
"How? This is a long-lost spell battle. You use the magic power of the secret religion to try to save the emperor's life."
"Then, Emperor Dezong is—"
"That's right, I was the one who cursed to death with a spell."
"Even if you don't shoot, he will die..."
"Heh, heh, heh..." Shadow sneered and said, "After Yongzhen, the next emperor, and after that, the next emperor..."
"Why do you want to do this?"
"I hope the Tang Dynasty will perish completely."
"what?!"
"It's just a repeat of the past decades ago. In short, Danlong will eventually participate in this fight—"
"Danlong..."
"Even if you don't want to, Emperor Yongzhen will send someone to beg you sooner or later, asking for your protection. At that time, can you refuse?" Shadow continued: "The last time was not empty, but this time you are on the stage. Huiguo—”
"Bailong..." Huiguo called out to the shadow.
"Bailong."
"Oh." Shadow replied.
I don't know if it is superfluous, but the shadow seems to be approaching Huiguo.
"I miss the name you call."
"Where have you been so far?" Hui Guo asked, but the shadow didn't make a sound.
Hehe—only a low smile sounded.
"My master Huang He has returned to the west, and your master is not empty and is no longer alive..."
"—"
"Huiguo. When did I first meet you?"
"Two years of Zhide."
"Forty-eight years ago."
"The location is Lishan Huaqing Palace."
"True."
"I will go with Master Bukong."
"How old were you then?"
"Twelve years old."
"So young..." Shadow said to himself with emotion.
"We are both..." Hui Guo also muttered to himself in a nostalgic tone: "I originally thought that the demon cat in Liu Yunqiao's mansion and Xu Wenqiang's cotton field incident were all related to the incident in the second year of Zhide. Is it related?"
"Ok."
"If that's the case, Qinglong Temple can't get away from it."
"Indeed..."
"Why did you do this?" Huiguo asked.
However, the shadow did not respond.
There was a long silence.
"Isn't that all over already?"
"No." Shadow replied: "No, it's not over yet. Everything is not over yet." The low voice sounded like boiling muddy water.
"You still resent?"
"Of course..." The voice sounded like a sigh, but it also seemed to deliberately and slowly express the excitement in his chest.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Shadow groaned.
The voice was full of mourning.
Huiguo thought the shadow was crying.
After a while, the sound became an unbelievably deep sound.
Slightly.
Slightly.
Slightly.
Slightly.
Suddenly, the voice turned into a low-pitched laughter.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Shadow laughed.
However, to Huiguo, that laughter seemed like weeping.
"My ah, this hatred will last forever..." The shadow said: "Don't forget this, Huiguo." After finishing speaking, the shadow repeated: "Huiguo, don't forget this." The shadow walked slowly in the light Stand up slowly.
white hair.Wrinkled.
"Even if you are old, your hair is all gray, and your wrinkles are as deep as valleys, don't forget..." Shadow said like a song.
"No matter how old you get, no matter how time passes and the situation changes, in the depths of your heart, there will always be an unforgettable past." As if dancing, the shadow took a step forward.
"Those who live must perish, it is common sense in the world..."
"Huiguo, stop talking nonsense."
"Everything in the world, together with people's thoughts, is essentially empty."
"What did you say? Could it be that the feast of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, the poem recited by so many poets, the tune played by many musicians, and the Anlu Mountain Rebellion were all in vain?"
"Exactly."
"You mean it was a dream, a phantom?"
"Exactly..."
"In this case, it is because of that dream, that phantom that we meet again here today."
"This--"
"Listen, Huiguo. This is a feast. It is our feast. Whether it is a dream or a fantasy, in short, for this feast, we meet again here. Danlong and you, me, three People will meet again in front of the peony flowers, preparing to perform a feast..."
"feast?"
"That's right, it's a feast." Shadow took another step forward: "It's a feast of spells. We will do our best to stage this feast."
"Conjuration?"
"Other than that, what else is there? For me, for you, for Danlong, what else is there? Just do your best and cast the spells you have learned. You should also be eager to try it." Right. This time, you can finally cast spells you have never cast before. Before you die, you can cast your own spells. Don't you feel happy?"
"—" Hui Guo's forehead was slightly sweating.
"For this feast, what we offer is not a jade cup. Nor a golden crown. Nor gorgeous poems or music—"
"What the hell would that be?"
"It's the destruction of the Tang Dynasty..." After finishing speaking, the shadow jumped to the floor: "Dance. Dance with all your strength. This is our last feast!"
With a sound of "Dong", the shadow trampled on the floor vigorously.
In an instant, the two lights went out, and a mass of darkness surrounded Hui Guo.
The shadow also disappeared without a trace.
There was unrest in the palace.
Strange things have happened one after another recently.
Not long after Shunzong came to the throne, the following happened: During the banquet, the yueqin played by the musician suddenly broke.
The performance was interrupted, a new string was replaced, and the string was played again, but the string broke again.I don't know if the strings are old, or they are defective.Puzzled, the musician replaced all five strings with new ones and played them again.
Unexpectedly, this time the five strings broke at the same time.
Shunzong left the meeting in a bad mood because of this.
People rumored that this was an ominous omen, and the musician was banned from entering the palace.
Another time, when Shunzong was preparing to eat, a fly flew by.
The fly hovered stubbornly around the imperial dining room, and landed on top of the food.It was a big black fly.There was an ominous golden-green light between the thighs.
The attendants around Shunzong ordered someone to cull the fly.
When the emperor was eating again, another fly flew by.
Like the previous one, this one was a big black fly.
A green light flickered between the thighs.
And, this time, two.
For some unknown reason, these two flies were still hovering and staying on the imperial meal.
They were culled again.
When Shunzong was about to eat again, the annoying sound of flapping wings sounded again, and the flies came again.
Still big, black flies.
This time there are four.
The flies still stubbornly coiled around the emperor and landed on the imperial meal.
These four were also culled.
The flies that stay on the imperial meal are effortless to cull.
Shunzong was very unhappy.
He ordered someone to replace it with new food, and when he was finally about to have a good meal, he heard the sound of wings beating again, and the flies flew.
This time it was eight.Was culled again.
Then, sixteen flies came again.
No matter how you kill them, the flies will multiply and keep coming.
Moreover, it only stayed on Shunzong's imperial meal.
Flies completely ignore other people's food.In fact, the food that Emperor Shunzong ate was not special.
The same dishes also appear on other dishes.
The attendants tried to exchange other plates of food in front of the emperor, but the flies changed their attitude of ignoring them and gathered on these food all at once.
Finally, the flies came in swarms.
And it seems that he is only interested in the food in front of the emperor.
Shunzong stopped eating and left the table on an empty stomach.
Just as he was about to leave, the team of flies that were only sucking on food suddenly shifted their positions and buzzed around Shunzong.
Rather than saying that he was furious, it would be better to say that he was creepy.
Another day—at night, Shunzong tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Although sleepy, but unable to fall asleep.
When he was about to fall asleep, he woke up again.
In a daze, it was all nightmares.
I can't sleep no matter what.
Covered with a quilt, he was covered in sweat.
It was as if there was a huge, slippery, warm leech entangled and sucked around the whole body.
The quilt was heavy.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes and saw a big black cat sitting on the quilt near his chest, staring at Emperor Shunzong intently.
The golden green eyes are shining brightly.
Shunzong wanted to call, but he couldn't make any sound.
In the darkness, the black cat suddenly raised its hind legs and began to dance.
What a horrific scene.
The black cat stared at the emperor while dancing: "Next is you..."
"Wow!" Shunzong finally propped up his upper body, but the black cat disappeared.
It is said that such things happened one after another.
Something is licking the ear.
Rough, warm stuff.
A wet, slippery little tongue.
The tongue slowly finished licking the ear, and then crawled into the ear hole slippery and sticky.
call.
The old man woke up.
What's going on? What happened? The old man was under the quilt, stretching out his hands to his ears that felt warm just now.
Right ear - wet.
Feels like it's been licked by something.
The old man pushed away the quilt and raised his upper body.
The lights went out completely.
It was dark all around.
However, there was a faint light in the dark room.
The unexpectedly cold night air was gurgling.
Silk quilts--Wall--A clay jug rests against the wall.
These items can be vaguely seen.
squint sideways.
The round window in the wall was open.
A round of blue moonlight reflected from the window on the slate floor.
It turned out that it was the moonlight that illuminated the room with the lights out.
No wonder the night air is cold and flowing, and no wonder the scene inside the house can still be vaguely seen even when all the lights are off.
However—who opened the window? It should have been closed last night before going to bed.
Suddenly—the old man noticed something.
A strange black object crouches above the window.
What is that? The old man couldn't help getting off the couch and standing on the floor.
His face was wrinkled and tired.
About seventy years old.
Have a beard.
His beard and hair were as white as wool.
One step—two steps—the old man approached the window.
Wearing a purple cotton nightgown.
Clothes trailed across the floor.
The edge of the window is about the width of a palm.
There appears to be a black object crouching there.
The moonlight reflected on that thing from behind.
The old man stopped.
At this moment, the black object stood up.
It's a black cat.
The black cat reared up on its hind legs.
Under the moonlight, the silhouette of the black cat emits a misty blue light.
The black cat's shining golden-green eyes were staring at the old man.
"Oh, it's you..." the old man said to himself.
"It's been a long time..." the black cat opened its mouth and whispered.
It is a human voice.
Because there is a lot of exhalation leaking from the lips and teeth, it sounds very laborious, but it is still recognizable as a human voice, and what is more, it is speaking in Tang dialect.
The voice was high-pitched.
Among the sharp white teeth, a wriggling red tongue can be seen faintly.
It was the tongue, the old man thought to himself.
It was that tongue that licked his ear just now.
"Where have you been? Why haven't you contacted me so far..." said the old man.
"There are too many things, I've been busy all the time—" the black cat smiled silently, with the corners of its mouth raised.
That's an unpleasant smile.
"I have something to tell you." The old man said with a dry voice.
"Got something?"
"It's what's happening in the palace right now."
"What's up?"
"Don't play dumb. The only person who would do something like that is you..."
"What kind of thing?"
"Flies are flying around on the imperial table, and the musician's yueqin is broken one after another..."
"yes?"
"Didn't you still sneak into the emperor's bedroom and threaten the emperor? I heard it's a black cat." Hush.
Hush.
Hush.
The black cat grinned grimly while exhaling.
"You, that woman..." the black cat said regardless of the old man's words.
"woman?"
"That's right. Didn't you keep a letter box in a woman's house..."
"Letterbox?"
"It's the letter box you stole from Liu Zongyuan's mansion." As soon as the cat finished speaking, the old man suddenly became nervous.
"Well, I stole it because you asked me to steal it. After you asked me to steal it, I stored it with Xianglan. I just did what you told me..."
"You still have the nerve to say it? Isn't it you who stole things?"
"That's because you threatened me that if you don't do this, you will tell everything..."
"hehe."
"You left Taoist priest Zhou Mingde in that room, and you told me to."
"That man, he's dead..."
"Uh, dead. I jumped into the boiling pot and scalded myself to death."
"Cluck..."
"Is that you? Was that your fault too?"
"This is—"
"The cat that appeared in the emperor's bedroom said to the emperor: You will be next, and then disappeared. What does that mean?"
"Dezong died, and then Li Song..." the black cat said like singing.
Then, the black cat raised one foot and made a dance-like movement.
"what?!"
"Emperor Yongzhen must have heard this sentence before. That man should know the meaning of 'you are next'." Li Song - was Shunzong's name before he ascended the throne.
After the death of Emperor Dezong, he succeeded as Emperor Datang.
Emperor Shunzong once heard that shortly before Dezong's death, a black cat appeared in the mansion of the official of the Jinwu Guard, that is, Liu Yunqiao, and predicted the death of Emperor Dezong.Moreover, he also heard about Xu Wenqiang's dark night conversation in the cotton field that confirmed Dezong's death, and then the terracotta warriors crawled out of the ground and other strange things.
Later, he also knew very well the words written on the bulletin board erected on Chang'an Avenue.
The bulletin board reads: "Dezong died, and then Li Song." This is exactly what the black cat is saying now.
"That guy Yongzhen, I'm afraid he's worried..." the black cat said happily.
"Is it you? Is it really you?"
"So what?"
"So, what about that?" the old man asked with an emphasis.
"Which one?"
"dream."
"What dream?"
"The dream I told you about. We said that we want to change this capital..."
"Didn't it change?"
"Not yet! I haven't accomplished anything yet. Haven't I just started? No, I haven't even started yet. What happened to our agreement?"
"Agreement?"
"Isn't it agreed? You and I..."
"I'm keeping the promise."
"Abiding by the agreement?"
"As we agreed, haven't I already shortened Dezong's life?"
"So, how can we explain what happened to Emperor Yongzhen this time? Because of his existence, I can change this country."
"Change this country? You're just a player who doesn't play the game of Go. When did you make such a fortune?"
"How do you plan to deal with the emperor?"
"Listen, the only promise I made was to shorten Emperor Dezong's lifespan. As for Emperor Yongzhen, I didn't make any promises." The black cat let out a deep hoarse laugh again.
The old man wanted to grab the black cat forward, but it stretched out its front legs as if to stop it, and squatted down.
"Slow down." The old man couldn't help but stop.
"I'll teach you a good way."
"what?"
"Listen well, when you see Yongzhen in the palace tomorrow, you can tell him this: Your Majesty, the person who can solve the recent troubles is none other than Qinglong Temple Huiguo——"
"Hui Goa Ge Pear?"
"That's right. Pull that man out."
"—"
"That's all there. All..."
"all?"
"Everything. So ready to begin—"
"Start what?"
"feast."
"feast?"
"Yes, feast..." The black cat finished speaking and stood up.
"Remember, you have to spread the word well. The only one who can save Emperor Yongzhen now is Monk Huiguo—" As soon as he finished speaking, the black cat jumped into the courtyard from the window.
The old man hurried to the window and looked down at the courtyard, but there was no sign of the black cat.
The trees in the courtyard, bathed in the blue moonlight, swayed gently with the breeze.
In the cold night air, the plants that are waiting to welcome the spring bloom sweetly and fragrantly, as if for the arrival of a feast.
The slender Hui Guo quietly entered the room, the old man still covered his face.
White stucco walls.
A round window.
It was a modest room with very little furniture.
The floor is paved with ashlar, on which there is a wooden table.
Put two chairs opposite each other across the table.
The old man sat in one of them.Prop your elbows on the table and bury your face between your hands.
"We're here—" The person who led Hui Guo to this room greeted him, and then closed the door.
As soon as the door closed, the old man slowly raised his face.
"Sorry, please come here—" The old man was about to get up.
"Sit down and stop busy..." Huiguo stopped the old man: "Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, it's fine." The old man got up and motioned Hui Guo to sit on the opposite chair.
"Please sit down—" Hui Guo sat down and looked at the old man carefully.
The old man was now slowly returning to his original chair.
Wang Shuwen——For Huiguo, this is not the first meeting.
When the current emperor was still the prince, the old man was by his side.
He is a chess master.
In addition to teaching chess, he also won the trust of Crown Prince Li Song.
After the death of Emperor Dezong in the first lunar month, Crown Prince Li Song ascended to the current throne.
Behind the current emperor, it is this Wang Shuwen who is controlling.
Or it can be said that he is the highest authority behind the Tang Empire.
He can export and intervene in the personnel and policies of the new regime, and put them into practice.
During various court ceremonies, Hui Guo met him face to face and talked to him countless times.
However, in this kind of place, meeting so alone was the first time.
Wang Shuwen should have dismissed others.No one was around.
Huiguo didn't dislike the old man.
Or rather, he liked the old man.
He seems ambitious, but in fact he is gentle and considerate in his dealings with others.
Hui Guo also guessed what Wang Shuwen wanted to do with the real power behind the scenes.He even intends, if the situation permits, to help him.
Although he has no ambitions, this man does, and he hides them well.
However, when seeing Wang Shuwen's face, Huiguo was startled.
He seemed to have aged ten years in one breath.
Emaciated.
Before Huiguo arrived, he seemed to have been tortured so much that the wrinkles on his face deepened a lot.
Huiguo thought to himself that he should be younger than herself.
But now his face is blue and his face is full of sickness.
"Do you want to call someone over?" Hui Guo asked.
"No, no need." Wang Shuwen raised one hand and waved it left and right.
I don't know if he didn't get enough sleep, but his eyeballs were bloodshot.
There was darkness under the sunken eye sockets.
"You seem unwell—"
"I fully understand my affairs. I also understand in my heart how others see me. I know everything very well, that's why I asked you to come here, Huigo Agoli—"
"Yes." Huiguo nodded.
This morning, the carriage brought an envoy to Qinglong Temple.
He brought a secret letter from Wang Shuwen.
Open the letter, it says: important matters need to be discussed, please take the time to meet.If possible, please come to the palace with the messenger.
Oh, so I have something to look for.
Huiguo thought.After taking care of things briefly and explaining other things to the disciples, he took the messenger carriage and came to Wang Shuwen's mansion.
However, he never expected that Wang Shuwen would be so haggard.
"Anyway, what's the matter with you?" Hui Guo urged Wang Shuwen.
Wang Shuwen took several deep breaths, adjusted his breath and said: "Huiguo Ageli must have heard about some things that happened in the palace—"
"If something strange happens around the emperor..."
"Well, that's right. That's why Huiguo Ageli was invited." Wang Shuwen briefly explained to Huiguo the strange things that happened around the emperor.
"After that incident, the emperor was very troubled, and gradually he couldn't eat anymore."
"this is not good."
"That's why..." Wang Shuwen wiped the countless tiny drops of sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, "Therefore, some people in the palace believe that the cause of the strange incident is that someone cast a spell to harm the emperor."
"Ok."
"If that's the case, I would like to ask Huigo Agali to use his magic power to protect the emperor and keep him away from the curse—"
"This matter is inescapable—"
"Then I will leave everything to you."
"However, I can't rush to the palace. Does your majesty know that you asked me to come?"
"The emperor knows. Regarding this matter, everyone in the palace believes that Huigo Agori must be the one to break the spell. This matter has also reached the emperor's ears—"
"It's so fast."
"The emperor also thinks that only Huiguo Ageli from Qinglong Temple can do it. In fact, it is the emperor's intention to find you."
"If possible, can I pay homage to the emperor?"
"anytime."
"I want to see for myself first, which kind of spell caused it? After that, I will go to the palace when I am ready." After speaking, Hui Guo nodded in greeting.
Sure enough—Huiguo lowered her head and thought to herself.
Things are exactly as Bailong predicted.
"Sooner or later the palace will summon you—" Sure enough.
Although I don't know how much mana I have left, I can only do my best.
The moment he raised his head, he made up his mind.
"In that case, can I have an audience with the emperor today?" Hui Guo asked Wang Shuwen in a deep and steady voice.
Wang Shuwen's current official position is the living room of Hanlin Bachelor.
The content of the job is to record the emperor's speech in writing.
In the past, he was just a chess player playing against the crown prince, but now he is the closest person to the emperor.
From the point of view of official position, he is only from the sixth grade, and he is not considered a high-ranking official. However, his job is to record the emperor's "words".
A position similar to it is Living Lang, who is in charge of recording the emperor's political affairs and actions, that is, recording the "things" of the emperor.
The writings recorded by the Living Sheren and the Living Lang will become the main materials for compiling official history in the future.
When browsing Chinese history, from an academic point of view, those records are "history", and the compilation of so-called history books is a national undertaking.In the history of the world, no nation spends all its energy on recording the history of the nation like the Chinese nation.
Therefore, although the above two official positions were not high, they played extremely important roles.
Moreover, because the living roomers want to record the emperor's "words", they must always accompany them.
Naturally, he had far more opportunities to talk to the emperor than Qi Zilang.
During this period, among the courtiers closest to Emperor Shunzong, female officials ranked first, followed by eunuch Li Zhongyan.
Then there is Zuo Sanqi's regular attendant Wang Bi.
Then came Wang Shuwen.
According to records, Li Zhongyan and Wu Zhaorong were responsible for taking care of Shunzong's daily life, while decisions about politics or personnel affairs fell on Wang Shuwen and Wang Ti.
Like Wang Shuwen, Wang Bi was just the artistic tutor of Prince Li Song, teaching Li Song calligraphy.After Dezong's death, Li Song ascended the throne and became Emperor Shunzong, and Wang Bei was also promoted and reused just like Wang Shuwen, the master of Yiqi.
Last year—that is, in August of the 20th year of Zhenyuan when Kukai entered the Tang Dynasty, Li Song suffered a stroke and fell ill.
At present, he has finally recovered a little, but his body is still unable to move freely, and his left hand can hardly move.
Although he can express in words, his articulation is not flexible.
Wang Bi is from Wu.
He spoke Wu dialect—which is today's Shanghai dialect.At that time, Wu dialect was a dialect.He was often ridiculed for his accent.
He was short and unremarkable.
Naturally, he is also proficient in writing.
It can also be said that Li Song, who fell ill, took a fancy to his talent for writing and talking.
However, it was the Imperial Academy, to which Wang Shuwen, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, belonged, who actually formulated the new policy.
In other words, Wang Shuwen is the person who holds the real power of the Tang Dynasty.
Whether it is Wang Wu, Li Zhongyan or Wu Zhaorong, they are all just intermediary roles, responsible for conveying Wang Shuwen's opinions to the emperor.
Wang Shuwen once ordered the abolition of the notorious Gongshi, and also dismissed Chang'an Jingzhaoyin Li Shi, who was equivalent to the mayor of the capital.
What Wang Shuwen wants to do is to completely reform the Tang Dynasty like a torrent breaking a dike, going down the river in a mighty way.
There is such a record: Uncle Wen is quite self-sufficient, knows the meaning of the text a little, and is good at talking.
He was a man of great confidence, knowledge and eloquence.
This Wang Shuwen accompanied Hui Guo to Zichen Hall in the afternoon.
Emperor Shunzong was lying on a bed surrounded by silk curtains.
I can't move my upper body freely, and I can't speak clearly. Coupled with the recent strange events, I am really exhausted physically and mentally.
The floor is covered with Hu country carpets, and the windows are hung with silk curtains.
On the red sandalwood table, there is a phoenix inlaid with jade and agate.
A piece of finely carved ivory—carved with designs of Immortal Kingdom.It depicts the country where the famous immortals have transformed into fairy queens since ancient times.
Hu Guo pots, South Sea shells, and golden Buddha statues.
A turtle made of gold swims above a water dish filled with mercury.This is a combination of mercury, which is considered the elixir of immortality, and a turtle, which symbolizes longevity.
An extremely luxurious bedroom.
In the center of the bedroom is the bed platform.At this moment, Emperor Shunzong was lying on it alone.
The curtain was raised, and Shunzong's figure could be seen faintly.
The person standing by the bed was the eunuch Li Zhongyan.
"Master Huiguo and Lord Wang Shuwen have an audience with the emperor." The female officer who led the way announced in a low voice, and then quietly retreated.
Wang Shuwen and Hui Guo walked into the bedroom slowly.
There were several soldiers guarding the palace, and only Wang Shuwen, Hui Guo, Li Zhongyan and Emperor Shunzong were left inside.
He had already notified Huiguo's entry into the palace in advance.
"I have brought Master Huiguo here." Wang Shuwen stopped at the entrance and reported respectfully.
"Okay..." Emperor Shunzong said inflexibly.
Since falling ill, Shunzong could only respond with brief words.Once the other party couldn't understand what he meant, Shunzong would be in a bad mood.
Saying "yes" in this situation means that the visitor can approach.
Wang Shuwen motioned to Huiguo, and the two moved forward.
"The emperor's body is all right?" Wang Shuwen stopped and asked Li Zhongyan.
After saluting respectfully, Li Zhongyan said: "The emperor's mood..." Wang Shuwen turned to Shunzong again.
"Uncle Wen..." Shunzong stammered with his inflexible tongue.
"The minister is here."
"It's gone too far," Shunzong said.
Wang Shuwen immediately understood the meaning of this sentence.
What Shunzong meant was that reforms were done too hastily after the change of the throne.
"Yes—" Wang Shuwen lowered his head silently.
"It's too urgent, isn't it?" Shunzong repeated.又说：“应该很十艮吧……”这意思是指，那些因改革而被罢黜贬谪之人。
“尤其是李实……”李实是前皇帝德宗时代——也就是两个月前的长安京兆尹。
他是荼毒百姓、横行长安、渎职收贿的中心人物。
可以说，李实是改革派王叔文、柳宗元、刘禹锡、陆淳、吕温、李景俭、韦执谊等人的死对头。
李实深得德宗宠幸，所以拥有莫大权力，正是在李实的威名下，五坊小儿才会进行榨取、残暴之事。
为政猛暴。
《旧唐书》留下如此记载。
他是虐政之主，大量屠杀阻碍他或看不顺眼的人。
德宗一死，李实权力尽失，新取得权力的王叔文等人将他罢黜，贬到通州。
他在通州的位阶是正六品。与京兆尹从三品相较，算是重大降级。
这是迟早会被“赐死”的左迁。
李实的党羽宫市及五坊小儿中，有不少人因恶行暴露而被诛杀。
唐朝子民为此改革莫不鼓掌大叫快哉。
“即使在'谅暗'之中，李实杀害之人不下数十。”王叔文压低声音说道。
所谓“谅暗”，是指皇帝驾崩之后举国服丧期间。
在这期间，杀人被视为重大罪行，一律死刑处罚。
想到此事，有关李实的人事处置，一点也不出人意表。
“李实失势，百姓欣喜雀跃。”
“我明白。”顺宗答道：“朕所说的，不管是李实或被诛杀之人，大概都很怨恨朕……”
“当有可能。”王叔文斟字酌句答道。
“是他们这些人做的吗?”顺宗问。
顺宗是以大家都知道宫内所发生的怪事为前提，而说出这句话。
顺宗想问的是，自己周遭净发生些不吉祥之事，难道这是因改革而遭诛杀者，或李实党羽所为?“是谁对朕施咒?”顺宗又问道。
“这事暂且……”出声的是一直默默聆听顺宗和王叔文谈话的惠果。他跨前一步，低下头说道：“贫僧惠果。”
“喔，是惠果阿阁梨啊……”
"yes."
“你终于来了……”顺宗从寝台抬起上半身。
李忠言拿来两个丝枕塞在顺宗背下。
顺宗以撑起上半身的姿势，环视众人。
面容憔悴不堪。
因左半身无法行动，连表情也显得僵硬。
他的左半边脸也无法动弹。
脸颊凹陷，肤色干涩而苍白。
虽然包裹在金银丝线刺绣而成的华丽衣裳里，其精气尽失的身躯反而更加引人注目。
眼眸暗淡无光。
乍见之下，不由得令人错愕，这是帝王之尊吗?怎会如此虚弱。
眼前是皱纹浮现，宛如即将死去的病人。
四十岁上下。
未老先衰，完全是一副老人模样了。
“惠果啊，你怎么看这事呢?”顺宗问。
“皇上，您是指，施咒的人是否是为被整肃而心怀恨意的人吗?”
"yes……"
“这也不无可能，不过，我认为还有更深一层的根源。”
“惠果，你是否得知什么?”顺宗的问话，让惠果痛苦地闭上双眼：“是——”颔首答后，再度睁开双眼。
“你知道些什么?”
"this……"
"Say it."
“目前不过是我的想象，现在说出来，恐怕皇上会因此心烦。”
“想象的也罢，说吧。这是我自身的事。”顺宗不太灵活地说道。
不知是否因为兴奋，他全身竟微微颤抖起来。
“明白了。今天来觐见皇上，贫僧早有觉悟，要将这件事说出来。不过，在说之前，我能否先确认一件事?确认过后就可说出来了。”
“你想确认什么?”
“我想确认的是，是否真的有人向皇上施咒。”
"Oh……"
“假如没有的话，那我即将要说的事，皇上就当它是笑谈吧。”
“如果真有人施咒，那又如何?”
“那皇上就当它是大唐的秘密，请用心倾听。”
“秘密?”
“是的。贫僧也非全盘知情，并无把握说得条理分明，总之，请听我陈述。”
“此事旁人可知情?叔文啊，你听说过吗?”顺宗将视线投向王叔文。
“不，臣未曾听闻。”王叔文额上冒出细微汗滴，行礼致意。
“贫僧从未向旁人提过此事。惟一知情者，是贫僧师父不空阿阎梨。不过，不空师父也和其他人一样，已入鬼籍——”
“已入鬼籍?”
“如玄宗皇帝、晁衡大人、高力士大人……”
“这……”顺宗低呼出声：“这……”惠果说的，是如此出入意表的名字。
“距离今日，那已是五十年前的往事，包括其他人，应该都已作古——”
“为何说是'应该'?”
“是的。如果还有依然健在者，那么，该人可能就是今日令皇上烦忧的施咒者了……”
“你是说，有人施咒?”
“这正是我讲述事件之前必须确认的事。”
“能确认吗?”
"can."
“如何确认?”
“可以取皇上一根头发吗?”
“朕的头发?”
"yes."
“要做什么?”
“人的头发一向对咒术敏感，要向某人施咒时，只要利用头发，效果可以倍增。
而被施咒者，其头发也一定会受到咒术影响。这就是我现在要确认的事。 "
“朕准可。要拔十根、二十根都随你。这太容易了。”
“是。”惠果颔首继续问：“可以靠近皇上吗?”
“无妨。”顺宗答道。
惠果走近顺宗寝台，停住脚步。
“皇上，请将头靠向这边。”
“唔。”顺宗语毕，将头靠向惠果那侧。
“失礼了。”惠果伸出双手。左手轻托顺宗的头侧，以右手拇指、食指夹住一根黑发。
“要拔了。”惠果拉回手指，从顺宗头上拔下一根头发。
他以右手食指和拇指捏住这根毛发，往后退了几步。
接着，惠果走到紫檀木桌前，将放在桌上的那只玉制凤凰挪开。
他将左手伸进怀里，取出一尊可搁在手掌上的佛像。那是一尊黄金打造的小佛像。
开屏的孔雀上，安座一尊明王。
原来是佛教尊神孔雀明王像。
“看不清楚。朕也想看一看。”顺宗在寝台上说。
王叔文和李忠言闻言，两人合力将紫檀木桌搬到寝台边，方便顺宗观看。
因李忠言将凤凰像撤下，桌上仅剩下黄澄澄的孔雀明王独坐着。
擦拭净亮的桌面上，映照出黄金色的明王尊像。
“此佛像搁在我每日诵经的房内。在我之前，是不空师父诵经——”惠果以手示意黄金打造的佛像，如此说明：“这尊佛像是不空阿阁梨自天竺带回来的。”
“用佛像做什么?”
“先把皇上的头发，搁在佛像前，然后开始诵念孔雀明王真言。”
"Oh……"
“如果皇上没被施咒，头发就不会起变化。”
“如果被施咒了呢?”
“毛发会移动。”
“移动?”
“是的。如果毛发受到恶念或诅咒的影响，便会因为想远离佛像而移动。”
"really?"
“确然。不过，由于毛发极为细微，所以当我开始诵念真言时，任何人都请不要动。人一动，会扰乱房内空气，使这根毛发移动。
为了避免混淆，请大家都不要动。同样地，也请不要热心探看桌面，或大力呼吸。这事得先和大家说明白。 "
“明白了。”顺宗一本正经地点头。
孔雀明王原是天竺——印度本地的神祗。
孔雀这种鸟类，能吃毒蛇、毒虫，乃以这种能力的象征而被崇拜。
因此，孔雀明王是以具有驱逐象征恶鬼、恶魔的毒蛇及毒虫的能力，而被引入佛教，成为尊神之一。
“那么——”惠果将手中头发，小心翼翼地放在桌面。
双手结了个象征孔雀明王的手印之后，便开始低声缓诵孔雀明王真言。
惠果念的是孔雀明王咒。
谟曩悉。谟曩悉。摩诃谟曩悉。阿多拔他。阿伽多拔他。摩怯他。努摩伽怩。
摩怯娑怩……正当诵念真言时——“喔……”出声的是王叔文。
“看哪。”搁在紫檀木桌上的头发动了。
毛发扭动身子般细微地震动了一下。那动作，似乎要远离黄金孔雀明王像一般。
并非因人的气息或风的吹拂而动。
虽然极其微弱，却的确像是出于自我意志般地震动了。
崦。摩庚·迦兰帝。娑·贺。
随着惠果持续诵念真言，惊人的事情发生了。
毛发震动愈来愈大。像一条细长小蛇欲远离火焰般，在紫檀木桌上扭摆，明显地蜿蜒爬行。
“唔——”诵念真言中，见到这景象的惠果也脱口而说：“没想到如此严重——”他大概也没料到毛发的反应如此激烈。
肯定是极强大的咒力在作崇。
让顺宗看到这一幕，惠果瞬间闪现后悔的表情，随即又继续诵念真言。
这时，毛发有如在铁板上烘烤，在桌面上蠕动起来。
正在观看之时，更令人更惊悚的景象，再度映入众人眼帘。
本欲逃离的毛发，像是突然改变意志，想要挑衅金身孔雀明王，开始朝佛像挺近。
宛如毒蛇扬起镰刀形的头部，毛发在桌面蛇行，还缠绕金身孔雀明王，用力紧勒。
“啊?!”王叔文吓得手脚瘫软。脸上露出深度的恐惧。
此时——缠绕在金身孔雀明王像的毛发，突然发出噗哧声响，冒出蓝色火焰燃烧了起来。
不过是刹那之间的事情。
毛发一下子燃烧净尽，化成一缕白烟。
众人张口结舌，一句话也说不出来。
“没、没想到……”惠果也只能如此喃喃自语。
顺宗皇帝则瞪大眼睛，牙齿直打哆嗦，全身颤动。
“我，我……”顺宗说：“我将会怎样呢?”
Notes:
Notes: