The off-string arrow flew against the wind, with a threatening momentum.The thrilling sharp arrow pierced into a position slightly off the bull's-eye, and it froze for a while after a tremor. The man who shot the arrow was Mang Shi. Seeing this scene, his expression immediately sank.Before he could put away his disappointed expression, he hurriedly observed the soldiers lined up on the right.Everyone was full of embarrassment and surprise. At the same time, the soldiers lined up on the left burst into high-pitched cheers.A young officer looked nervous, and stood where Mang Shi was just now, drawing his bow fully.

"Hey, Tianshou! You must shoot horizontally!" "Don't forget, the wine and meat tonight depends entirely on you." Tianshou stared at the bull's-eye, his eyes were full of tension, but he didn't seem impatient.I saw him swallowing his saliva calmly, and shot the sharp arrow that he couldn't wait for.The arrow went like a rainbow and went straight to the bullseye.In an instant, the empty shooting range fell into an even more empty silence.In order to determine the location of the target, Tianshou narrowed his eyes and observed carefully.at this time-- "bingo!"

"Victorious!" The soldiers on the left raised their hands and swarmed up.Until this time, the tension on Tianshou's face gradually faded away, and he walked towards the target. "It's great, Tianshou! Thanks to you, I can have a delicious meal tonight." "Just get drunk tonight!" The soldiers patted Tianshou's back enthusiastically, but Tianshou pushed aside the crowd and walked towards the target.Looking closer, he found that only the arrowhead was inserted into the target, and the arrow shaft was lying alone on the ground.Tianshou couldn't help being taken aback, but he soon calmed down, thinking to himself that this is not a big deal.When he reached out to pick up the arrow shaft that fell on the ground, his body suddenly became stiff.The whole right hand was bloody.He looked at the bow and arrow suspiciously, but saw that the string that had been taut just now had broken weakly.

Tianshou panicked and turned to look at his companions.His face immediately turned earthy gray.The companions were raising their arrows in unison, aiming at Tianshou's chest.Mang Shi was also among the crowd, blinking at him slyly. The officers aiming at Tianshou slowly shortened the distance to Tianshou.Tianshou wanted to retreat reflexively, but his legs couldn't be controlled.Tianshou froze, unable to move his legs.He wanted to run away, but the officers were already close in front of his eyes. "Quickly stop this terrible joke!" he wanted to shout, but he couldn't even open his mouth.

They are not kidding.Just in case, Mang Shi drew his bow full.At this time, the soldiers also shot the arrows in their hands in unison.A stream of arrows fell from the sky like a downpour, Tianshou had no choice but to shake his bloody hands indiscriminately. "Ah, don't, don't!" Tianshou thought he finally opened his mouth, but found that the eyes suddenly opened up. "Am I dreaming?" The morning light passed through the crack of the door and shot into the room. The bottom of the body is moist.Tianshou wiped off his cold sweat and looked down at his palms.No blood.

"It turned out to be a dream." Although there was no trace of blood on the hand, the injured part in the dream was burning with pain.How strange. With an order to stand in two rows, the officers who had gathered together scattered in search of their own positions. "You know you're going to lose, why do you want to compete?" On the surface, he was talking to himself, but the tone of his voice clearly wanted the other party to hear him.Tianshou looked at the lingering Manshi again and again, although it was a nightmare, Manshi's eyes with a bow and arrow in his hand and a ferocious smile on his face appeared in front of his eyes, lifelike.

"Hey, Tianshou, it's our Red Army's turn to win today." Tianshou buried his head in his chaotic thoughts and didn't hear Mang Shi's words. "Hey, Tianshou, I'm talking to you!" "Ok?" "You man, why are you listless early in the morning? Could it be that you used too much force last night?" "No." "Then why can't you hear me?" "What did you say?" "Look, look, ignore what I said! I want you not to work too hard during the game. Every time you lose to the Blues, the lieutenant is vicious, as if he wants to eat us alive, scaring people to death!"

"The game always has to decide the outcome. What is the solution? Everyone must rely on strength to win." "Okay, you bastard! You speak so badly, hahaha." Mang Shi smiled exaggeratedly, and returned to the Red Army team after speaking. "Could it be that I will encounter difficulties in this competition?" Looking at Mangshi's back, Tianshou thought to himself.Why did I have such a terrible dream last night?This is nothing more than a very small-scale gamble between the soldiers of the inner guard. It is actually closer to a game than an archery competition.

"Hey, Xu Tianshou! What's wrong with you, I just saw you out of your mind?" Tianshou who was in deep thought was awakened by the urging voice to be an official (temporary official position in the Joseon Dynasty——Translator's Note), and he was finally freed from the nightmare that tightly gripped his heart. The Naejeon Guard is the army that guards the king and has the highest salary among all the troops in the Joseon Dynasty.From the time of King Sejong, all the soldiers of the Imperial Guard came from the children of Yiguan* (an official position attached to the Central Council in the late Joseon Dynasty——Translator’s Note), and almost all of them were talented in civil and military skills and handsome in appearance.Soldiers feel that they have a special status, and their speech and behavior inevitably reveal their conceit.

There was a gentle breeze on the shooting range.Mang Shi walked out of the Red Army team on the right, and the nervous expression on his face could be clearly seen from a long distance away. The officer raised the command flag, and Mang Shi tried his best to draw his bow.The arrow flew out in response and landed at a position slightly off the target.The Red Army soldiers sighed regretfully. Tianshou suddenly remembered the dream he had just forgotten.Why is it the location in the dream?Tianshou was a little scared.He stepped forward, and his feet were unprecedentedly heavy. The cheers and cheers of the Blue Army resounded in my ears, and Tianshou shot the arrow just as he took aim.The thoughts that appeared in Tianshou's mind had nothing to do with winning or losing, he just hoped that this moment would pass quickly.

"bingo!" "Victorious!" Tianshou couldn't believe his eyes.Aiming speciously, and shooting arrows carelessly, they hit the bull's-eye just right, impartially.His eyes first searched for the shaft of the arrow stuck in the target.It can be seen clearly from a distance that the shaft of the arrow is intact and inserted where it should be.The stone in Tianshou's heart finally fell to the ground. When Tianshou came to the target, he stretched out his hand to pull out the arrow, but the arrow shaft fell to the ground weakly.Tianshou slowly raised his trembling hands, suddenly felt the darkness in front of his eyes.The palm of the hand is actually full of blood! "Oh, Tianshou, what happened to your hand?" "My God, his hands are bleeding!" Soldiers from the Blue Army swarmed over and surrounded Tianshou.He stared blankly at the blood drops that wet the ground, feeling like a big dream just now. "What are you all doing? Why don't you stop the bleeding quickly?" It was clearly Mang Shi's voice that came from behind. At this time, a strange man walked into the shooting range, dressed as if he was an envoy of Seungjeongwon* (an officer in the government office and military camp-translator's note).The man walked up to the officer and whispered something, and then the two disappeared under the awning of the base camp. "What is the envoy of the Chengzheng Yuan here for?" While Mang Shi raised Tianshou's arm to stop the bleeding, he muttered to himself while looking in the direction of the base camp. "It doesn't look like a good thing..." Tianshou was also talking to himself, wondering how the envoy of Chengzhengyuan came to the shooting range. "That's right. Seeing him walking in a hurry, you can tell that nothing good is going on." Not long after, the officer in charge pushed open the awning and came out.He looked at the scattered officers and soldiers one by one with a tragic expression.His eyes rolled quickly, and finally landed on Tianshou's face. "Xu Tianshou!" Suddenly, Tianshou's heart seemed to stop beating. "And Li Mangshi!" "arrive?" "Hurry up and get ready, come with me." Before they had time to ask the reason, the officer had already urged them to go on the road. "It seems that this matter is not trivial? Could it be related to the nightmare last night?" Having said that, Mang Shi followed the officer without hesitation. One noon in August, the mountain road was dark and gloomy.The white pennisetum blooming on the roadside swayed in the wind.Naejeon Guards are engaged in riding horses to clear the way, followed by Gyeongbang Seongji* (a five-rank official position in the Joseon Dynasty, responsible for etiquette, reception, etc. - Translator's Note) Lee Sejo, Uijinbu* (a judicial institution in the Joseon Dynasty) ——Translator’s Note) Dushi, historians, officers and soldiers.Everyone is gloomy. "Master Lingjian* (the name of officials from the second rank and the third rank in the Joseon Dynasty——Translator's Note)!" There was only the sound of horseshoes on the mountain road, and the deep voice of the officer broke the long silence.But Li Shizuo looked ahead and didn't answer. "Master Commander!" "She was not exiled, but confined." "..." "She just went out of the house when she was confined. Is this also an unforgivable capital crime?" "..." "Besides, why did she go out, didn't she just want to take a look at her son from a distance?" The officer tried his best to explain, but Li Shizuo remained silent all the time. On his expressionless face, only the eyelids were active, which closed occasionally and then slowly rolled back up again. "I'm smothered to death, but you should say something, Lord Lingjian." "This is an imperial decree, what can I do?" "She is the biological mother of Yuanzi* (the eldest son of the king, called Yuanzi before he was canonized as the son of the world—translator's note). When Yuanzi ascends the throne..." "Don't worry, nothing will happen." Hearing the word Yuanzi, Li Shizuo's face darkened immediately, and he cut off the official officer decisively.A burst of brown-eared bulbul chirping came, and then dispersed desolately, taking away Li Shizuo's words. The figures of Tianshou and Mangshi were also mixed in the middle of the team.The two of them walked ahead carefully holding a red bundle, and the scribes, officials, and inner guards followed behind them.A dark cloud hangs over everyone's face. From the depths of the lush woods came the call of the harrier.At this moment, Tianshou hoped that he could cry like a harrier.Is the nightmare last night a sign of today? "Would you like a drink?" Mang Shi took out a bottle of wine from his pocket and whispered to Tianshou.Mang Shi had probably already had a drink, and a smell of alcohol came to his face.Tianshou shook his head vigorously. "Take a sip! You are so sober, how can you face such a situation?" Tianshou kept shaking his head.While the officials were not paying attention, Mang Shi swallowed another sip of wine. The officer was still at the front eagerly persuading Li Shizuo. "If you go out once in the confinement state, you will be sentenced to death? Such a punishment is too serious!" "Hmph, you! Then what do you want? Don't let me resist the order?" "What I mean is that death is death now, and death will be death in the future. Isn't it obvious that the day Yuanzi ascended the throne is the day when Master Lingjian and I were beheaded?" "She is indeed a poor woman, but there is nothing I can do. Do you want me to resist?" Li Shizuo was firm.When it came to this point, the officer had no choice but to keep silent. A group of people walked through the mountain road and stopped in front of a bridge.This bridge is connected with the village of the abandoned queen's mother's family.Li Shizuo crossed the bridge and entered the village with a heavy heart, with an extremely solemn expression on his face, even a bit tragic. "Walk!" Li Shizuo gave an order, and the officer immediately took out something from his sleeve.A small awl.While the people around were not paying attention, he quickly stabbed the mount's buttocks with an awl.The horse's head kicked up suddenly, and the officer fell to the ground slumped. "Uh-ah!" The screams of the officers were extremely distressing.Tianshou was standing behind him, so he quickly put down the burden in his hands and ran forward.It was with great difficulty that Mang Shi managed to control the madly galloping horse.Li Shizuo dismounted and came over, and asked worriedly. "You, you, are you okay?" "Uh! Ugh!" The officer clasped his ankles tightly with both hands, moaning desperately. "You show him!" Li Shizuo ordered.Tianshou came over, and as soon as he touched the officer's ankle, he screamed desperately. "Ugh! My God! I'm dying!" "How about it?" "Looks like I sprained my ankle." "Ok." "No... I'm sorry, Master Ling, Ma suddenly..." The officer gritted his teeth and tried to explain, but Li Shizuo remained silent.At this time, Mang Shi suddenly interjected. "Hey, even the horse ran away like crazy, it seems that it doesn't want to go there. Hahahaha..." Along the way, Mang Shi almost drank the entire bottle of wine, his mouth was full of alcohol, and he laughed out of boredom.Li Shizuo frowned. "Why does your mouth taste like alcohol?" Li Shizuo said coldly.Mang Shi immediately fell to the ground. "Ling... Lord Lingjian, the little one deserves to die." "How dare those who carry out the imperial decree be so disloyal?" "Please... please execute the villain." "Even if I kill you right away, it won't be enough to dispel the hatred in my heart, but I don't have time to deal with you now, so let it be your fate. How is the officer? Can you walk?" "yes." The officer was very happy to reply, but he didn't stand up immediately.After finally standing up, he screamed and fell down. "We cannot delay here." "Yes, Master Lingjian. Even if I need someone to help me, I must follow the orders." "Okay, okay, what purpose do you serve like this?" "Oh no, I can do it!" "No! Come here!" Li Shizuo's cold eyes turned to Mang Shi. "Yes, Lord Commander!" "We'll settle your crimes later in the autumn, and send the officer to the hospital first." "Follow...obey." Li Shizuo got on his horse and left without saying a word.Mang Shi hesitated a little, and also carried the officer on his back.Tianshou seemed to have nothing to do with himself, watching the excitement from the beginning to the end. "It's getting late. Let's go!" Li Shizuo lifted the reins violently and stopped drinking.Tianshou took Mangshi's things and hugged them to his chest, and followed closely behind the team.Mang Shi stuck out his tongue at Tianshou.There was an expression of peace on the officer's face. "After the abolition, Yin's nature is sinister, greedy, tyrannical, evil, and sinful. As the birth mother of Yuan Zi, she was extra merciful, gentle and gentle for a long time, and failed to deal with it early. Unexpectedly, it caused disturbances in state affairs, so much so. The book is about to On August 16th, Ci died at home." When reading the imperial decree, Li Shizuo's voice was clearly trembling.The waste queen was wearing plain clothes, sitting with her head bowed in front of the medicine gift bottle, her expression looked so calm. "I want to meet His Highness." Yin's voice was very low, but very firm. "If His Highness personally gave me the poison, I would definitely take it without hesitation. Invite Your Highness here!" "A person who wears a sin, dare to be presumptuous? This is an imperial decree!" "Impossible! How could Your Highness want me to die... This is impossible! Your Highness will never make my young Yuanzi sad. I am a mother. I ran out barefoot to take a look at Yuanzi. Is this also impossible?" Is it a death penalty for forgiveness? Your Highness will not give me poison because of this, it must be a traitor trying to murder Yuanzi. Invite Your Highness here!" "Sinners are not allowed to be rude, and are not allowed to insult His Highness!" "You bastard! How dare you..." "Sinner, hurry up and take the medicine as ordered!" "No! I will never take any medicine until I see His Highness!" "Shut up! You are already a deposed empress, and you expect to see the Supreme King His Highness!" "I am Motoko's biological mother who inherits the royal lineage!" Hearing this, Li Shizuo's attitude became more determined. "Bring Yuanzi!" "No. Come here! Give medicine to sinners!" "You... If you want me to die, then bring Yuanzi here! I want to receive the death-giving medicine in front of Yuanzi." "Why are you dawdling? Why don't you give medicine to the sinner?" The abolished empress was domineering, Li Shizuo was as cold as ice, and Tianshou was caught in the middle, feeling in a dilemma, and stood there sweating profusely.The soldiers of the inner guards were the first to take action, and they were slowly shortening the distance between them and the abolished queen.Tianshou had no choice but to take heavy steps against his will. "You bastards! Why don't you quit quickly?" Hearing the angry voice of Waste Empress, Tianshou stopped in his tracks.At this moment, Li Shizuo also yelled loudly, "Why don't you rush to drug her? Don't you want to resist the order?" Tianshou closed his eyes tightly, feeling dizzy in his head.When he opened his eyes again, Tianshou tried not to look towards Feihou, but kept urging the soldiers. "Press the sinner firmly!" Before they could take a few steps, the soldiers were startled by the voice of the abolished empress. "Stop! Don't you hurry up and stop for me?" "Whoever dares to disobey the imperial decree among you will be executed!" There is no way out anymore, Tianshou only hopes that this nightmare can end as soon as possible. "Back off! Back off! Back off!" Fei Hou clenched her teeth, spitting out every word with great difficulty.When Tianshou walked up to the waste queen and stretched out her hands, a look of despair finally appeared on her face. "Don't touch me! I... I am the mother of this country. I drink it myself!" The bright August sun is suffocating, and it is mercilessly shining on the heads of the onlookers at this moment.On the zelkova trees outside the fence, cicadas were neighing in unison. Empress Yin slowly raised the medicine bowl containing the death-giving medicine.Until then, the mother Shen who had been crying silently by the side ran towards her. "My queen!" In a daze, Tianshou used his whole body to block the running Shen Shi.Shen struggled hard on Tianshou's chest. "No, no! Empress Dowager!" The abandoned queen stared at the crying mother, her eyes gradually moved into the distance.Tears filled her eyes, could it be that she was looking for the palace where Yuanzi was? "Yuanzi! You must inherit the throne and avenge your mother's blood!" The tears condensed in the eyes seemed to be dripping down soon, but in an instant, Queen Waste drank the poison in the bowl in one gulp.When the medicine bowl fell to the ground, Shen broke free from Tianshou's resistance and rushed forward. Dark red blood flowed from the corner of Yin's mouth. "The empress..." The elderly mother was helpless and could only watch her daughter go to death. Her crying was so sad that it made people sigh.The person who vomited blood was the empress dowager, but there seemed to be blood flowing in the empress' mother's mournful cries. At the last moment before dying, the waste queen took out an undershirt, a satin undershirt with the remaining breath and all the strength in his body.The gushing blood instantly stained the undershirt. "Tell Motoko... tell Motoko... the viciousness and domineering of these people... must... must... tell... Motoko..." Speaking of which, the empress dowager seems to have died.However, at the last moment, she barely propped up her eyelids that were about to close, and glared fiercely at Tianshou. "The crimes you committed today... one day... I will make you pay with blood..." This curse is Yin's last words after the abolition.Breathing had stopped, but she still refused to close her eyes.The dead man's eyes stared straight at Tianshou, his gaze was sharper than that of the dead man when he was alive.Tianshou was sweating profusely, and he could even feel every goosebump on his body. Shen helped her daughter close her eyes and cried bitterly.At noon in summer, even cicadas are too lazy to cry, it is the cry of the old man that tears the silence of noon.Tianshou couldn't bear to watch this miserable scene, so he turned his eyes to the distant sky, which was also sadly blue. The sound of swaying leaves floated in the night wind, a deep and desolate feeling that had never been seen before.Although this mountain road passes twice every morning and evening, it feels strange to be here for the first time.Tianshou kept looking back.The pine leaves illuminated by the moonlight are like the helpless hand stretched out by the empress, calling Tianshou mournfully.Only three cups of shochu made Tianshou's body tremble.A screech owl screeches in the oak treetops.On such a night, even his own breathing is so terrifying. Tianshou gradually accelerated his pace.The sound of the leaves swaying in the wind seemed to be the whimper of the queen.Once such a terrifying thought appeared in his mind, the sense of terror would follow him around, tightly grasping the back of his head.Tianshou almost ran, looking back frequently while running.The leaves swaying gently in the moonlight are like the messy hair of the abandoned queen. Tianshou desperately ran forward.When he looked back again, the trees that had been severed at the root behind him were chasing after him with disheveled hair.Tianshou was already out of his wits, unaware that he had already run out of the road.Tianshou ran and ran, and suddenly stepped on a leaf and slid down the mountain. When he opened his eyes, Tianshou found himself lying in a cave, with the sound of dripping water coming from his side.Hearing the sound of dripping water, Tianshou felt that he was already conscious, so he tried to sit up, but finally gave up.I don't know where I was injured, and I couldn't stretch my arm. "Are you awake?" At first, Tianshou thought the sound came from far away.However, the chiseled figure sitting cross-legged under the kerosene lamp is a human being.When he gradually got used to the light, he could see clearly that sitting there was an old man in Taoist robes, an extraordinary old man. "Your arm is injured and you may not be able to move around in the short term." "I seem to have stepped on the ground from the hillside... so you are the Daoist..." "Take this medicine first." There is a bowl of medicine in front of the bed.Tianshou tried his best to sit up.The medicine is a bit bitter, with a hint of sweetness in the bitterness. "Thank you, I don't know how to repay your kindness..." The old man closed his eyes and remained motionless. "Please tell me how to get out of here." "..." "Senior! This junior bid farewell. The way out from here..." "It looks like you don't look like a harmful person, but why is there blood in the tiger's mouth?" Tianshou turned pale with shock, and quickly looked at the old man carefully.The old man still had his eyes closed, Tianshou really couldn't read the old man's heart. "You, what did you say..." "It's a fateful life... Your enmity with women in this life is deep and deep." "Senior! Oh, Daoist! What's wrong with my fate? Why do you see that my fate is so short-lived?" The old man opened his closed eyes, and his eyes were piercing. "Three women hold your destiny." "Three women?" "The first woman, you tried to kill her, but she couldn't die." "I... I will kill women?" "The second woman, you saved her, but she died because of you." Tianshou was speechless when he heard this. "The third woman, she killed you, but saved more people." Hearing that he would be killed, Tianshou was very surprised. "Is this really my fate? Then what should I do to get rid of this fate?" "..." "Master! Please tell me what to do." "Escape is the best way." "How do you avoid those women?" "Haven't you already seen it?" Tianshou was tongue-tied again. "The woman I have met and killed, isn't that the abolished Empress Yin?" Tianshou was terrified, and felt the cold sweat on his back. "That was not my intention." "So, your fate is doomed to misfortune." "Daoist! As long as I can avoid the third woman, can I survive? What should I do to avoid the third woman?" "Actually, it's not. You just need to avoid the second woman." "The second woman? Then please tell me how to avoid the second woman." The old man stood there silent. "Master!" Tianshou kept calling, but the old man still refused to speak.Tianshou looked at the old man, feeling very disappointed in his heart, when he decided to give up, he saw the old man took a pen and ink and wrote something on the paper. After a while, the old man threw the three pieces of paper to Tianshou.Tianshou caught it in a hurry, and hastily opened it to read. The three words "妗", "Shun" and "Good" were written on the three pieces of paper. "What... what does this mean?" Tianshou looked up, but only the gloomy cold wind remained in the place where the old man had just sat.Tianshou forgot the pain and ran out quickly. "Daoist! Daoist!" The eager voice turned into an echo, and resounded in Tianshou's ears.The old man disappeared without a trace and has never been seen again. "The word '妗' means frivolous, the word 'shun' means docile, and the word 'hao' means beautiful. Do these characters all represent women?" "Is there any meaning?" "How should I put it, a frivolous woman, a docile woman, a beautiful woman... I can't know the meaning based on these alone. According to the poor monk, I have to tear down the words." "What's the meaning of tearing down?" "On the eve of Taizu's founding of the country, the story of 'Muzi won the country' was widely circulated among the people. Does the benefactor know?" "Master, I am getting more and more confused. What you said are all inexplicable words..." "Muhezi, what's the combination of words?" "It's the word 'Li'." "Yes. The so-called 'Muzi Deguo' refers to the people surnamed Li ruling the country. Just like this, if the inner mystery cannot be seen on the surface, it can only be dismantled. The word '妗' is composed of '女' and Composed of '今', if you take it apart, it is the woman you met today. When did the benefactor get these words?" "yesterday." "Did you meet any special woman yesterday?" Tianshou's eyes were dark. "Could it be that the abolished Empress Yin is the first woman?" The color on Tianshou's face suddenly disappeared. "Looking at your pale face, you know that such a woman does exist." "Master, please explain the other two words for me." "According to the poor monk, the word 'Chuan' on the left side of the word 'Shun' means water, and the word 'Yang' on the right means head. Perhaps the mystery lies in these two characters." "The river that represents water, the page that represents the head..." "As for the word 'hao', it is closely related to the 'female' of a daughter and the 'zi' of a son." "Daughter's daughter, son's character... I don't understand, I really don't understand, what is related to daughter's daughter and son's son?" "The poor monk is incompetent, it's just a little dismantling." "Since the master can't figure it out, how can I understand it?" "You haven't seen the women who represent 'Shun' and 'Good'? Only the wisdom eyes of a Bodhisattva can see these two women you will meet in the future. Namo Amitabha, Avalokitesvara..." It seemed that there would be no accurate answer if we waited any longer, so Tianshou put the paper into his sleeve and clapped his hands together as farewell to the master. Before stepping out of Yizhu Gate, the sound of wooden fish just happened to stop Tianshou's footsteps. He turned and looked back at the temple he had just left. When someone opened the door and came in, Tianshou was putting on his shoes.Mang Shi, whose lower body was still in the yard, only leaned in with his upper body, his face looked like a split watermelon. "Are you OK?" Tianshou lowered his head and put on his shoes silently. "I know that after the new king came to the throne, you have been anxious. In fact, your self-blame is superfluous." A dragonfly landed on the pickle jar outside the door and flew away quickly.The morning sun is fresh and bright, warm and peaceful, which is a harbinger of the approaching autumn. "Fourteen years have passed in a blink of an eye, you should forget about those things." For fourteen years, Tianshou whispered silently.Has it been so long?However, instead of forgetting, that summer noon became increasingly clear, like a dagger stuck firmly in his heart, and that's how it has been for these years. "You just listen to the nonsense of a crazy old man. A man of forty years old still refuses to get married. What on earth do you want to do? Even if you don't have to marry, why are you so indifferent to women and don't even look at them?" After hearing this, Tianshou smiled softly. "Poor man! Even if you forget the past and start a family, you will not be happy, and you are ending your military career?" The more Mangshi thought about it, the angrier he became.But Tianshou completely disregarded Mangshi's emotions, got up and put away the military uniform hanging on the wall, and for the first time he felt that he had such deep feelings for this old military uniform. "It turns out that you simply ignored my words, so how do you make a living after resigning from your post as an officer?" "I want to leave." "Leave? Where?" "To a place far, far away." "When are we leaving?" "Leave the next morning after the last shift is over." "When are you on duty?" "Nowadays." "I've never seen such an impersonal person like you. You, you, what should I do if you leave?" Mangshi made a face full of tears, and secretly glanced at Tianshou. "During the plague last time, I lost my wife. I have been dependent on you for so many years. How could you be so cruel and leave me alone?" Listening to Mang Shi's words, Tianshou felt his nose sore. "Sorry……" "If you really feel sorry for me, then don't leave. Where else can you go? The two of us stay here and live together until we die. Do you have to live with your wife?" "I'm sorry, but I have to go. I can't stay here." "Why are you like this? Is that crazy old man's words more important than mine? The old man was just talking casually, and you actually scared him so much that you left me alone?" Mangshi felt Tianshou's resoluteness, so he simply got entangled. "You make me so sad! Stupid fellow! Heartless fellow!" "I can't forget that look." "Eyes? What eyes?" "The resentful look thrown at me by the empress dowager before she died." Perhaps wanting to get rid of the troubled eyes, Tianshou took off his military uniform roughly, but the belt couldn't be fastened anyway. "If you want to say that the Holy Majesty is true, killing the head of the deer is enough. How can you kill the teacher as well? Thinking of this incident, I get goosebumps all over my body." It seemed that goose bumps really arose all over his body. At the end, Mang Shi shook his body violently. During this period, Lord Yanshan's tyranny was widely spread among the people, and two incidents were even more turbulent in the city. First, Lord Yanshan shot dead the deer cherished by the former king. The grievances between Lord Yanshan and the deer can be traced back to when Lord Yanshan was still the heir.Once, the former king Chengzong called Shi Zilong to teach him how to be a king.Hearing his father's call, Long immediately ran over.Just as he was about to get close to his father, a deer suddenly ran over and licked Long's clothes and the back of his hands.Long was furious, and forgot that his father was watching him, so he kicked the deer violently.Chengzong was furious and reprimanded Long severely.The first thing Long did after ascending the throne was to find the deer and shoot it to death with random arrows. The rumors don't stop there.Long has two masters, Xu Chen and Zhao Zishu, both of whom are highly respected scholars, who were invited by Chengzong to educate the prince.The tempers of these two masters are very different, Zhao Zishu is strict and meticulous, while Xu Chen is generous and generous.Long would play truant at every turn, and the stern Zhao Zishu often threatened Long that he would report his truancy to the king.Xu Chen's attitude was in stark contrast to this, he always smiled kindly, and even blamed him with a pleasant face.After Long ascended the throne, he first killed his master Zhao Zishu. Mang Shi sighed for a long time, but the resentment that was hard to resolve was still lingering in his heart. "Have you heard that too? Being a teacher for one day and being a father for life, you can even kill your own master. Who else can't kill him?" Not only heard!It was because of hearing these things that Tianshou resolutely decided to give up his status as an officer and go away. "Yes. If the old man is really a Taoist priest with clever calculations, for your safety, maybe leaving is the best policy." Manshi's frustrated words hit Tianshou's heart heavily.For Tianshou, Mangshi is a good friend worthy of life and death. "Don't be too sad, as long as you are alive, we will meet again sooner or later." "Have you figured out where to go?" "Hey! Let's go around first, then find a place to stay, and live in peace." "Then it must be a place without women." "may be." "Gee, that must be boring." "It's even more boring if you're not here." One is a widower and the other is an old bachelor. The two good brothers looked at each other and turned their heads in unison.The eye circles of the two men were red. The sky above Jianchun Gate is as clear as blue.Of course, Tianshou was among the soldiers standing at the entrance, with a burly figure and well-fitting uniform, which was enough to show the demeanor of an inner guard officer guarding the king. Yeonsangun usually lives in Changdeok Palace, if he goes in and out of Gyeongbokgung Palace, it means that he is going to hold a banquet.In order to receive the envoys of the Ming Dynasty, Qinghui Tower was specially built in the water.On every road leading to the Qinghui Tower, there are court ladies rushing in haste. On the surface, Tianshou seems very strict, but deep in his heart is filled with infinite regret.Cheonsu’s father was a military officer. Seeing his eldest son’s talent in archery, he personally taught him the flag gun* ) and batting* (Korean and Goryeo military generals practiced martial arts while riding horses while playing with wooden sticks, also called playing or throwing balls——Translator’s Note).Cheonsu had won the first place in the wooden arrow, flying arrow, iron arrow competitions, etc. When he passed the annual test* (the scientific examination held every three years in the Joseon Dynasty-Translator's Note), the old father who had a stroke Insist on sitting up to accept the big gift from his son.After the post-abolition incident, Tianshou gradually lost his former fighting spirit and was in a trance all day long.Soon, his father passed away.Two years later, my mother also passed away with my father.The parents eagerly hoped that their son would get married as soon as possible, but passed away prematurely. "As a military officer, as the eldest son and grandson of the Xu family, I have not fulfilled my responsibilities and obligations, should I just leave like this?" The corners of Tianshou's eyes were moist. There was a burst of noise from the banquet hall inside the door, and then it gradually became quiet.Although he couldn't see the scene inside, he knew that the banquet deep in the palace was being prepared bustlingly. A little farther away from the banquet hall, there are large and small awnings.这是为宴会临时搭建的“内熟说所*（朝鲜时代为王宫宴会而搭建的临时性厨房——译者注）”。 男女侍从们穿梭于遮阳篷之间，待令熟手*（在宴会或其他大型活动时负责准备宫廷饮食的男厨——译者注）打开最大的遮阳篷正要进去。 御膳和宴会用膳分别由不同的人在不同的调理室内进行，君王的日常用膳由厨房尚宫负责，每逢宫中举行宴会或庆典时，则由待令熟手负责。 负责厨房事宜的厨房尚宫通常都是十三岁进宫，跟随固定的一位师傅学艺满二十年，等到了三十三岁时才能正式任命。“手艺娴熟随时待命”的待令熟手并不直接调制食物，只是负责准备宴会和接待事宜。待令熟手和尚宫所属机构也不相同，他们从属于吏曹下辖的内侍府。 “嬷嬷，请问您有何吩咐？” 待令熟手走进遮阳篷，垂首请示提调尚宫。 “圣上想吃鸡参熊掌，崔尚宫已经备好了材料，你看一看。” “是，嬷嬷。” 待令熟手认真检查了整理好的熊掌和其他材料。 “这些够吗？”提调尚宫问道。 “是的，崔尚宫准备得很充足。” “那就好，一定要准备好，确保万无一失。” “是，嬷嬷。” 提调尚宫回头看了看崔尚宫，终于松了口气。崔尚宫紧绷的脸上也少了些紧张。 “御膳房里也不能有半点闪失，你告诉御膳房内人*（朝鲜时代尚宫以下的宫女称为内人——译者注）了吗？” “是的。最高尚宫正亲自准备王后娘娘的膳食呢。” “我还忙着准备宴会顾不上那边，越是这种时候，越是马虎不得。” “是，嬷嬷。” 崔尚宫垂首侍立，极尽谦恭。提调尚宫朝她轻轻点了点头，目光中充满了深深的信任。 与此同时，崔内人正在御膳房里烹炒鲍鱼。负责君王和王后膳食的地方叫做御膳房或烧厨房，烧厨房又分为内厨房和外厨房，内厨房负责御膳，外厨房负责宴会或祭祀所需的食品。 鲍鱼已经收拾停当了。崔内人切鲍鱼的动作既柔和又麻利。改刀完毕，她又开始捣蒜和姜，速度更快了。 离此不远处，朴内人正在切萝卜，准备往萝卜酱汤里放。不知道为什么，她并没有集中精神切萝卜，而是不停地偷瞟崔内人。 崔内人没发现朴内人正在偷看自己，她专心致志地捣蒜。仔细看时，中间好象有几个不是大蒜。朴内人要看的似乎就是这些，她的眼神立刻尖锐起来。 捣完调料后，崔内人把它们放进正在熬制的调料酱。正在这时，最高尚宫进来了。 "Is everything ready?" "yes." 负责指挥内人的气味尚宫站到最高尚宫面前说道。君王和王后用膳之前，先由尚宫对食物进行检验，负责该项工作的就是气味尚宫。这个步骤只是为了检查食物中是否有毒，食物摆上御膳桌前品尝味道则是最高尚宫的职责。 连同早晨七点钟前的初朝饭床在内，包括早餐、午餐和晚餐，王宫里一天要进四顿膳食。初朝饭床和白天的膳食相对简单，而晚餐就不同了，原则上至少要有十二道菜，需要准备的食物很多。 最高尚宫开始检查了，吃一口，如果点头，烹饪这种食物的内人立刻面露喜色。拌香蔬还没入口，只是打眼一看，就被最高尚宫扔到了一边。当事者大惊失色。 “我……重……重新做……” “哪里做得不好？” "This... this..." “你见过这么差劲的东西吗？” “嬷嬷，请饶恕我一次吧。” “到现在还不知道该放多少苏子油才能让圣上满意吗？” "..." “重新做！” “是，嬷嬷。” “不是你！你，再做一遍！” 犯过错误的内人是没有第二次机会的，拌香蔬交给了其他内人，萝卜酱汤则安全通过了检查。 朴内人紧张散去，调匀了呼吸。最高尚宫走到烹饪“松仁野鸡”的内人面前，目光立刻变得犀利。所谓松仁野鸡，就是把炒过的野鸡精肉和黄瓜、鲍鱼、海参、葡萄、梨等材料混合腌制，再准备好以醋、酱油和白糖等调料调过味的高汤浇在上面，最后撒一层松仁。松仁野鸡是今天御膳桌上的主打菜。 “做好了吗？” "yes." “风太大了，香味很容易跑掉。把最后要加的材料单独准备出来，我来做这道菜的收尾工作。” 最高尚宫说完，一刻未停就离开了御膳房。气味尚宫如影随形，紧跟在最高尚宫身后。朴内人的目光追随着她们的背影，目光中充满了矛盾，因而显得有些迷离。她好像做出什么重大的决定似的，快步离开了御膳房。 尽管下了很大的决心，但当她来到气味尚宫门前时，心还是再次抽紧了。深深地吸了几口气，恐惧感才稍微减轻了。 “嬷嬷，奴婢是朴明伊。” "Is there a problem?" “奴婢有事要禀告嬷嬷。” "come in." 门开了，出来的是侍奉内人。气味尚宫使个眼色，侍奉内人便出了房间。 “说吧，有什么事？” "This... this..." 开口之后，却又不知道如何往下说了。朴内人思忖许久的话含在口中说不出来。 “到底是什么事，吞吞吐吐的？” “奴婢要说的是圣上吩咐御膳房给太后娘娘准备膳食的事。” 气味尚宫紧张起来。 “对呀，圣上说太后娘娘患有肥胖症，所以特地吩咐御膳房为太后准备食物，怎么啦？” “对，可是崔内人在给太后娘娘准备食物的时候，把草乌、川芎和蒜放在一块儿捣。” “草乌是治疗肥胖症的药材，这有什么奇怪的吗？” “的确如此，不过生食会使人精神萎靡，关于这点御膳房里每个内人都知道。川芎如果生食，也会导致气血不畅，恐怕还会加重病情。而且川芎也不是治疗肥胖症的药材。” 气味尚宫无言以对。朴内人紧张极了，但是既然说到这里，也只能全部说出来了。 “起先我以为这是内医院给太后开的药方，可是长期这样下去，奴婢担心太后娘娘的病情会更严重，所以……” “你看清楚了吗？” “我亲眼所见，看得清清楚楚。” “从什么时候开始的？” “四天以前。” “四天以前？不就是圣上吩咐御膳房为太后娘娘准备膳食那天吗？” "yes." “竟然出现这种混帐事，除了你还有谁知道？” “这件事我从来没对任何人说起过。” “你做得很好！” “是，嬷嬷。” “我知道了。我会暗中调查清楚并做出处理的，你先退下吧。” 朴内人谦恭地答应着，起身离开了。突然，气味尚宫又把朴内人叫住了。 “这件事千万不要告诉任何人！” “奴婢牢记在心。” 走出气味尚宫的房间，紧张万分的朴内人连忙大口大口地喘息。腊月的寒冷空气搅动着她热烈的心。现在她感觉轻松了许多，同时恐惧之感也更加深了。该做的事情都做了。她安慰自己，但是当她想到接下来即将汹涌而来的波澜，又情不自禁地叹了口气。 无论如何，反正事情已经说完。朴内人努力让自己恢复平静。就在这时，她看见韩内人正从对面走过来。 “白荣！” 韩内人赶紧走过来，匆匆忙忙的样子好像被人追赶着。 “怎么了？我还有要紧事呢！” “我说了。” “跟谁说了？最高尚宫？” “不，我是跟气味尚宫说的。” “你做得对。我也总觉得把崔内人的事告诉最高尚宫不太妥当。那她说什么了？” “调查以后再做处理。” “感觉好轻松啊。” “气味尚宫问我还有谁知道，我没说你。” "why?" “没什么……还不知道会发生什么事呢。” 韩内人正想说点儿什么，等候在旁边的同伴催促起她来。 “白荣，快走吧。” “对了，圣上的御膳里出现了过期材料，现在生果房里正乱成一团呢。” “那可糟了，快走吧，等回到宿舍再谈。” “好吧，呆会儿见。” 韩内人大步流星地走远了。朴内人久久地凝视着韩内人的背影，一动不动站在原地，仿佛被钉住了。与韩内人共同度过的日日夜夜宛若朵朵浪花，正汹涌在心灵深处。如果没有她，也许自己根本就忍受不了宫中的艰难和寂寞。 朴内人沉浸在悔恨之中，突然想起自己离开御膳房很长时间了，心里着急起来。The banquet is about to begin. 朴内人加快了脚步。在通往御膳房的门前，她看见别监*（对男性仆从的尊称——译者注）站在那里，便立刻停了下来，就像凝固了似的。她想假装没看见径直闯过去，不料别监却面露喜色地向她走来。 “我有话要对你说。” “又有什么事啊？” 朴内人问得很不耐烦。但别监似乎并不介意，他从红色衣服中取出一样东西，看上去好象是药材。 "..." “这是从中国弄来的胭脂。” “如果你总是这样的话，我只能告诉尚宫嬷嬷了。” “我又没有别的意思，只是对上次的事表示感谢，请你一定要收下。” 朴内人正在犹豫，别监已经把东西甩给她，匆忙离开了，根本不给她拒绝的余地。 朴内人茫然若失，不知如何是好。这时，御膳房的门开了，一群内人走了出来。 “刚才就没看见你，你在这里做什么呢？” “明伊，你手上拿的是什么呀？” 朴内人吞吞吐吐，不知道该说什么。宋内人走过来一把抢过胭脂。 “这是什么呀？” “别动，这不就是胭脂吗？” “就是中国女人用的胭脂？这么贵重的东西，你从哪儿弄来的？” “明伊，你的命可真好，你一定很高兴吧？” “我们一起用吧，好吗？” "OK." “这胭脂，你是从哪儿得来的？” “这还用问吗？又是那个别监吧。” 宋内人替她做了回答。朴内人不置可否，低头望着拖在地上的裙角。 “不管欠下多大的人情，拿这种东西表达谢意总归有点过分。” “这有什么关系，我要是能得到这么贵重的礼物，可真是别无所求了。” 从前只有耳闻没有目睹的中国胭脂如今终于亲眼看见了，内人们抑制不住心头的兴奋。这时候，从旁走过的气味尚宫和最高尚宫发现了她们。 “你们在这儿干什么？” 突如起来的叱责把内人们吓了一跳，赶紧低头散开。气味尚宫打量着内人们，目光移至 朴内人时略为停顿片刻。她轻轻瞥了一眼最高尚宫，开始催促内人。 “宴会马上就开始，别磨蹭了，快跟我来。” 命令一出，大家立刻排成一列。朴内人手握胭脂，慌慌张张不知道该放哪里放，迟疑了一下，便迅速塞进袖管，而这时别人都已走出很远，她赶紧追赶过去。 巨大的餐桌上，盛得满满的盘子堆起来足足超过两尺。堆砌如小山的食物中间插以鲜花，更增添了餐桌的华丽。参加宴会的人各就各位，专注于自己眼前的食物。负责挪动食物的是内人。每逢宴会，大臣们都享受单独开桌的待遇。这些餐桌由熟手负责移动。 乍看之下，仅是单桌就多达百余张，在旁边伺候的内人和熟手就更多了。以提调尚宫为中心，御膳房最高尚宫以及内厨房、外厨房等各个部门的大房尚宫们全都恭身侍立。 在提调尚宫的监督下，最高尚宫开始检查为御膳桌准备的供君王享用的膳食，并在花样繁多的山珍海味上洒布调料或芝麻，以便结束最后的收尾工作。毫无疑问，她的手艺极其熟练。最后，鸡参熊掌被放在中间，预示着检查工作已经做完。 宽阔的宴会场上，以太后为首的王室成员和大臣们表情十分严肃。宫廷宴会一般分进宴和进馔两种，每逢国家有大型活动时举行进馔，而进宴则在王室有喜事时举行。今天是太后娘娘的诞辰，圣上为此举行了进宴。 燕山君与王后一入场，登架乐演奏就开始了。所谓登架乐，就是在宴会或祭祀时演奏的雅乐，乐曲雄壮而平和，洋溢着与民同乐的旋律。直到这时，宴会的气氛才渐渐热闹起来。 三名尚宫在燕山君身后侍奉，她们分别是负责检查食物的气味尚宫、负责碗盖开合等杂务的尚宫，以及煮杂烩的尚宫。煮杂烩之前，先要准备好火炉和汤锅（煮杂烩专用锅），以便现场烹煮，所以通常都安排某个尚宫专门负责。 鼓声响过七下，舞女们开始跳舞了，宴会气氛达到了最高潮。最高尚宫心急如焚，等候圣上品尝第一口杂烩，御膳房的内人们也在看得见宴会场的门前焦急等待着，紧张得大气都不敢喘。 终于，气味尚宫取过一块鸡参熊掌，今天晚上的主菜，检验之后放到圣上面前。刹那间，内人和尚宫们简直有些不知所措了。所有的视线都齐刷刷地射向燕山大王，盯住他咀嚼食物的嘴唇。 不一会儿，燕山君微微点了点头。这表示味道不错。御膳房所有人的脸上都流露出轻松神色。 最高尚宫向厨房尚宫使个眼色，厨房尚宫立刻打手势示意大家退下。内人们退回到御膳房。 朴内人跟在大家后面，慢吞吞地停下脚步，朝太后望去。气味尚宫和最高尚宫同时注意到她的这个举动，两人目光相遇，相互交换了短暂、强烈而充满疑惑的眼神。 做完手上的活儿，韩内人正往宿舍走去，一个影子拦在她的面前。影子是宋内人。 "Is there a problem?" “最高尚宫有事吩咐。” "It's so late, what's the matter?" “不知道，所有人都得去。” 韩内人无奈，只好跟在宋内人身后，边走边回头朝宿舍方向张望，想必朴内人也被叫到最高尚宫的执务室了。 此时此刻，朴内人正在宿舍做蝴蝶结，顺便等候韩内人。她已经脱掉蓝色长裙和玉色小褂，身上只剩了白色的内衣，露出美丽的曲线，扎在羊角辫上的紫色稠带一直垂到腰间。 这是一条流苏飘带，用粉红、淡绿、紫、蓝、玉等五色彩线编织而成，一看就知道费了不少的工夫。朴内人又将青、红、黄三个单色流苏飘带系在一起，做成了三色流苏飘带。 朴内人停下手上的动作，仔细倾听门口的动静。夜已经很深了，却还不见韩内人回来。 “怎么会这么晚呢？” 她喃喃自语，心里直犯疑惑。正在这时，门悄无声息地开了。突然之间，内人们蜂拥而入，不问青红皂白便蒙住了朴内人的眼睛和嘴巴，又用大木棍把她抬了起来。可怜的朴内人连喊叫的机会都没有。 朴内人坐过的地方，只有尚未完成的三色流苏飘带静静地躺着，玲珑而可爱。 如果猫头鹰朝着某个有人烟的村庄鸣叫，那就是死人的预兆。猫头鹰可是不孝之鸟，就连自己的母亲也能吞食。听着这让人毛骨悚然的叫声，朴内人不寒而栗，头发根根直竖。 黑暗之中，一群内人正沿着宫墙外面的山路奔跑。掠走朴内人的正是她们。韩内人的身影也出现在队伍后面，她剧烈地颤抖着，拿在手上的东西好像马上就要掉落似的。 没有月亮的夜晚，尚宫们出现在密林深处。内人们放下担架，解开包裹，朴内人从里面爬了出来。一位内人眼明手快，替她拿去了堵在嘴和眼睛上的东西。朴内人失魂落魄。 最先出现在眼前的是最高尚宫，她还看见了崔尚宫和气味尚宫愤怒的脸庞。 “你可知罪？” 最高尚宫的声音低沉而威严。 “奴婢不知道您说什么……” “我再问你一遍。你可知罪？” “嬷……嬷嬷，奴婢到底犯了什么罪，竟然被带到这里，我真的一点也不明白。请您告诉我为什么？” “你这个贱女人！你以为装糊涂，我就会放过你吗？” “奴婢真的不知道啊。请您告诉我，我到底犯了什么罪，嬷嬷……” 朴内人的哭诉是那么地悲凄，然而越是这样，尚宫们的目光就越是阴冷。 “宫女是什么？宫女就是圣上的女人。对于宦官以外的男人，看都不许看！难道你不知道吗？” “奴婢时刻铭记在心。可是奴婢从来没有忘记，也从来没有违背过啊！” “从来没有违背过？嗬，真没见过这么不知羞耻的女人。