Chapter 6 Chapter 5 Flower Withering

Twilight.Beijing Normal University Dali Temple. "Who is it? Don't go in!" Two guards at the gate of Dali Temple stopped the two people who wanted to enter, and angrily reprimanded them.But when the man took off his bamboo hat, the officer's expression changed immediately, and he said tremblingly, "A god arrest?...Oh, you are here! Please come inside, the master has been waiting for you all day." The iron-faced god catcher only nodded, and led the person behind him inside.Less than ten steps into the Dali Temple, the voice of the temple supervisor came from afar: "Impenetrable arrest, thank you! Have the criminals been brought? The old man will wait for you."

The monastery supervisor hurriedly greeted him, and when he saw Li Sihan standing behind him, he couldn't help but look suspiciously at the iron-faced god catcher. "She is Li Sihan, the girl in snow." The voice of the iron-faced god arrester was very calm, "I have already brought the prisoner." The eunuch with a hooked nose scolded the other party in his heart for being so condescending that he didn't even put him in shackles, but on the surface he still had a smile on his face: "God catches thousands of miles away and solves many years of unsolved cases in one fell swoop. It's so powerful!— —Where are you coming, put the prisoner under my custody and beat him to death!"

There was a promise from the left and right, and two "clicks", two pairs of heavy and cold handcuffs and fetters had locked her hands and feet.Li Sihan didn't say anything, just glanced at him, and then walked away with the two guards. This may have been a farewell... But just now she only saw the half of his face wearing the iron mask, so cold, ruthless, majestic and unapproachable. "God catcher, please come inside! The officer has prepared a banquet to wash you off." The temple supervisor smiled flatteringly—he really didn't dare to neglect this legendary figure, if he hadn't solved a lot of serious cases one after another, His position as the supervisor of Dali Temple has long since been lost.This time he brought the giant thief Xue Yinu to justice, Zhou Chang made another contribution, maybe there will be another reward from the court.

Tie Mian God Catch did not answer, his sword eyebrows were slightly frowned, a trace of fatigue appeared on his cold and solemn face, and his left hand subconsciously caressed the corner of Tie Mian's forehead.There seemed to be a fire burning there.What a voice... what a voice struggling and shouting in the fire!Why?Why is there such a reaction when wearing an iron mask? Tie Mian ShenChuan was startled suddenly, turned his head and said: "My lord, the banquet is unnecessary. However, I have something to ask..." Inside the Nan'an Palace, there was silence. After offering incense to the sandalwood Buddha statue in the central hall, the King of Nan'an stroked his beard and pondered worriedly in the study—the emperor's father was dying of illness. There was no response when the silver needle was pierced into Tiaobai acupoint in the middle of the knee. The only reason why he didn't go into the coffin was because the emperor's heart was still beating.

Although the emperor had actually returned to the west on a crane, but his breath continued, his subordinates would never dare to establish a new emperor.As a result, there was no one in the country for a month, and everything was in chaos. The King of Nan'an is not worried about this, the only thing he is worried about is that once his father dies, the battle for the throne will be inevitable.And although he is the eldest son among the princes, he has been deposed as the prince for four years.This time I heard that the emperor had made a decree while he was ill, and appointed a new crown prince.Once the father dies of illness and the will is made public, there is a very high possibility that his favorite third prince, King Beijing, who is born of the empress of the palace, will become the emperor!

King Nan'an kept stroking his beard and pondering, his brows almost knit together.It's not that he and the other princes have never thought of bringing down the common enemy of the third prince, but the third prince is deep and sophisticated, and he is meticulous in his work, making it impossible for people to catch him. "My lord, Zhou Chang, the supervisor of Dali Temple, is asking to see you outside!" Yun Fu, the close servant, softly reported.Because he understood that Zhou Chang, the supervisor of Dali Temple, was an extremely secret accomplice of the prince, seeing that the emperor was getting worse and worse, he must have come to discuss countermeasures with the prince.

"See you soon!" Nan'an Wang Xiang grabbed a life-saving straw and said anxiously. Zhou Chang came in, and after the visit, he sat down to drink tea, and did not take the initiative to explain the purpose of his visit. "I don't know what is the important matter for Master Zhou's night visit?" King Nan'an couldn't hold back, first put down the teacup and asked. "May my lord hear that the female thief 'Xue Yi Nu' who committed serious crimes in Quanzhou, Hanyang and other places has been escorted back to Beijing?" Zhou Chang asked with a smile, and put down the teacup.

Seeing that what he said was such a trivial matter, King Nan'an couldn't help being disappointed: "This kind of matter is naturally organized by the Ministry of Punishment and your Dali Temple, how does this king know?" Zhou Chang stroked his beard and shook his head, an unfathomable smile appeared on his chubby face: "My lord doesn't know something, this female thief is not simple! Let's not say that the silver she stole is a huge amount of 1.5 million, and Even the iron masquerade pleaded with me on her behalf, and she must not make things difficult for her in prison! —— You said, this female thief is not simple, right?"

King Nan'an couldn't swallow a sip of tea, he nodded in a daze, and then said: "Implicitly begging? That's really terrible!" Zhou Chang looked serious, and directly brought the topic to the core: "My lord, I am here tonight, and I have something important to tell - the background of this female thief is indeed not simple: last night, someone secretly visited and gave the lower official 50,000 yuan in silver." Two, ask the lower officials to try their best to suppress the case and not to start a trial." "Oh? It's a bold move, so bold!" King Nan'an couldn't help but blurted out.

Zhou Chang lowered his voice: "The man claimed that he was entrusted by the third prince, and he wanted his subordinates to act according to this, and promised that if the third prince ascended the throne in the future, he would be greatly thanked——the person who came also showed the third prince's personal passport. The 'Pearl of Peace in the World' is the token!" King Nan'an's complexion changed, and he sneered: "What a king of Beijing! The idea of ​​flirtatiousness has moved to the head of the female bandit..." However, his eyes rolled immediately and he laughed loudly: "Haha, that's right! Didn't that snow-clothed woman kill several county magistrates in Lingnan and rob the granary? I think the robbing of grain is fake, and it's true to send killers to eradicate dissidents in private." !——I will play him a book tomorrow, and at this moment, I will shake this matter out, and see if he can clean himself up?!"

The more he talked, the more excited he became, and his eyes shone brightly - how could he let go of the other party's trick at last? Zhou Chang hurriedly dissuaded him from the side: "My lord, there is no need to rush this matter! Now we don't have any proof, how can we win the third prince with the 50,000 taels of silver notes left behind? It would be bad if he bites back. - Think long-term!" King Nan'an gradually calmed down, nodded, and showed a trace of ruthlessness in his eyes: "Okay, let's take it slowly! Mr. Zhou, you torture that female thief for me - she must be recruited!" Since he was suddenly taken into this room yesterday, he has not closed his eyes for a full ten hours. Various tortures were imposed on him one after another. In the hands of cruel officials, even an iron-clad King Kong would bend his knees, not to mention she is a girl? "Ah, I forgot, you people in Jianghu have martial arts, how can you get you with this finger?" A middle-aged jailer with a goatee looked at the finger that was broken on the ground, and sneered. In the torture room, only a pot of fire was lit, and when the fire went out, his face was reflected like a devil! Just now he clamped her ten fingers with his fingers, and when he tightened them, she felt a heartache!She yelled, she yelled, she shed tears...but she never begged for mercy! "Tell me, who sent you to assassinate the imperial court official? Is it the King of Beijing?" The cruel official Ge Yisuo asked eccentrically, shaking the shining steel skewer, "If you do it obediently, you won't suffer the next one." gone." Li Sihan shook his head decisively: "No!" The steel skewer was inserted into her right thumb in an instant, tearing off the entire nail! She was so painful that she almost fainted, and Ge Yisuo asked again: "So, where did the stolen money go?" Li Sihan hesitated for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "I spent it all." Before the voice finished, Her right index finger was bloody again! She kept silent, let her ten fingers be pried off one by one, and finally couldn't help but passed out! "Hmph, don't think you can deal with it by pretending to be dead!" Ge Yisuo sneered, unmoved, "I have seen a lot of dealing with this kind of gangster! Come here, pour cold water on her to wake her up, hang her up again, and let her go I hit hard!" He took a sip of tea and wiped his bloody hands on his sleeves. "Master Ge, the prisoner has passed out again!" A jailer came over and said in a low voice.Ge Yisuo sneered a few times, but showed a little interest: "Wow, is this female thief very stubborn? She refuses to recruit her desperately. I'll see how long I can last!" During the whole night of torture that followed, she finally muttered something in a coma. "Stop." Ge Yisuo ordered, walked up to her, and hurriedly leaned over to listen carefully. "Yue... Ji... Yun..." He only heard a few extremely weak words, and as if he had found a treasure, he hurriedly turned his head and asked his subordinates to write down: "This person named 'Yue Qiyun' must be an accomplice, hurry up!" Report to the temple supervisor and arrest him quickly." He proudly waved the whip in his hand and sneered darkly: "I, Ge Yisuo, as long as the prisoner has a little bit of energy, no matter if he is a man of iron, I will make him confess!" In the Beijing Prince's Mansion, someone was furious. "What did you say? Sihan was interrogated in secret? Or Ge Yisuo, an old dog?" The King of Beijing was shocked, and the teacup in his hand fell to pieces!Regardless of the status of the prince, he grabbed the collar of the man who sent the message, and asked sharply, "Is this true? Why didn't you tell me earlier, you slave!" The boy in Tsing Yi saw his master's ashen face, and stammered in fright: "My lord... my lord... was, was meeting with the king and the prime minister at that time, the little one... the little one, no, dare not... go in and report, and later ……later……" "You forgot later and went to bed by yourself, didn't you?" King Bei Jing asked almost word by word through gritted teeth, "So they just... tortured Sihan for two days and one night!" With a backhand palm, the boy in Tsing Yi was sent flying straight out! Without saying a word, Jin Chengjun held the sword firmly with both hands, and strode out. "Where are you going?" King Beijing Jing grabbed him, calmed down his boiling emotions, and asked. "I'm going to jailbreak!" Jin Chengjun said word by word, his eyes were terribly bright, "You can't save her at all! I have to come by myself!" "Stop! You are going to die!" King Bei Jing calmed down, his mind still clear, "Someone must be doing something secretly! Otherwise, how can a female thief in Sihan be tortured? Someone must be targeting Me, want me to mess up at a critical moment in order to save her... You went at this time, you are throwing yourself into a trap!" Although the young prince's face was full of excitement, there was still astonishing sensitivity and shrewdness. Jin Chengjun suddenly turned around, and asked coldly: "Then, little prince, what are you going to do? You want to stand still and wait until they slowly torture Sihan to death, and when you ascend the throne, then issue an edict to save her?" There was deep sarcasm in his voice, King Bei Jing let go of his hand in a daze, and fell back into the chair, thinking with his head down, his body gradually trembling, suddenly there was a flash of lightning like light in his eyes! As if he had made a big determination, he suddenly raised his head and said word by word: "Okay, I'll save her!" "Come here, listen to me, the fastest way to rescue Xiao Han is—" He whispered something in Jin Chengjun's ear.Jin Chengjun's face suddenly changed!He looked at Prince Jing in shock and was speechless. "Didn't you say that you would do anything for her?" King Bei Jing said slowly, with a strange tremor in his voice. Only then did Jin Chengjun come back to his senses, and asked, "You...are you serious?" "That's right!" King Bei Jing said categorically, "Once a word is spoken, it's hard to follow!" After a long time, Jin Chengjun nodded slowly: "If you are willing, of course I will." His gaze changed suddenly, and there was a hint of enthusiasm in his bleakness: "You are really a cruel person...Little prince, you will definitely become the overlord of a generation. If Xiaohan will be taken care of by you in the future, I...I can rest assured." King Bei Jing nodded and said word by word, "Don't worry." The gazes of the two people were a little sad, and the slow and cautious conversation seemed to be saying goodbye. Because, what the King of Peking said was—— "Kill my father for me!" The night in the Beijing Prince's Mansion was exceptionally quiet.In the secret room, King Bei Jing personally handed a bottle of something to Jin Chengjun, both of them looked extremely solemn. "This is the medicine I personally prepared. After removing the cork, the medicine turns into steam, and the poison enters the internal organs after smelling it. It will last for half a day. It will not leave any trace." King Beijing said slowly with a solemn face. , "Father is bound to die a long time ago, and he has been breathing continuously until today, leading to chaos in the government and the public. As a son of man, this matter has to be done as a last resort. But the matter is of great importance, Brother Jin must succeed immediately." Jin Chengjun's eyes flickered for a moment, and a serious expression appeared on his already pale and thin face: "Don't worry, my lord, no matter whether it succeeds or fails, my lord will never be hurt—my lord is willing to take this risk for Xiao Han, and I really remember it." King Bei Jing sighed and smiled wryly: "I'm too bold this time, I just hope things go well." King Bei Jing smiled slightly, paused for a moment, changed the subject again, and said solemnly: "I heard that Dali Temple is planning to execute Li Sihan and his colleagues immediately, so we must not be too slow. You can do it tomorrow night." Gong I have already drawn the middle route, guarding the soldiers and palace guards along the road, I will make an excuse to transfer them away, you be careful. This matter is of great importance, don't reveal the slightest word to anyone!" Jin Chengjun nodded slowly, said only two words: "Don't worry" and walked away without looking back. Looking at his back, King Bei Jing suddenly let out a long breath—— Yes, he used Jin Chengjun!Zhou Chang is from Nan'an King's side, with his usual shrewdness, how could he make such a bad move of bribery? ——He just wanted to use this to push Li Sihan into a dangerous situation, so that Jin Chengjun, one of the best masters in the world, could remove the old emperor and consolidate his throne as soon as possible. He wants this world!No matter who it is, no one can stop him from ascending to that position! "Listen, this female thief is calling again!" Zhang Paitou shook his head and sighed, throwing a peanut into his mouth, "I'm barely breathing, and I haven't been calling day and night, it's really annoying. " Xiao Zhao, who was also on duty next to him, couldn't help asking: "Why does she always call 'Yue Qiyun', and what else is 'Brother Chengjun'?"—calling repeatedly all day long, I think these two are probably accomplices .” "Yes, there must be an accomplice, but it's a pity that the woman is too stubborn and refuses to recruit." Zhang Zhang picked up another peanut and was about to throw it into his mouth when he suddenly opened his mouth wide and couldn't say a word. .Xiao Zhao followed his gaze to look at the door, couldn't help but also widened his eyes, too shocked to say a word! At some point in time, there was a tall man in black standing at the door, with a cloak draped up to his ankles, half of his face wearing a cold iron mask, standing silently at the prison door, listening to all the sounds inside. "Impenetrable arrester, you, your old man is here?" It took a long time for the card to react, and rushed up to say hello.Xiao Zhao was still sitting there, staring at him, his face full of admiration and excitement.He is young, and he is still in the period of worshiping heroes-who in the business of Gangongmen does not regard the iron-faced god as the supreme god in his heart? The iron-faced god catcher didn't look at the two of them, his always lingly and lingering eyes were full of extremely complicated emotions.He shook off the two of them and walked quickly to the front of the prison without answering. He pulled with his hand, and the iron lock broke with a sound! Xiao Zhao looked straight at the side, and admired him even more. "Yue Jiyun, Yue Jiyun..." The person lying in the straw pile kept calling, rolling around in pain on the ground, "Cheng Jun, Brother Cheng Jun..." Tie Mian Shen's catching eyes changed again, a trace of obvious pain flashed on his face and then disappeared - is this still her?I haven't seen you for a few days, and I'm alone, how can I be tortured like this!Lying prone in the straw pile, the whole back was bloody and bloody, the smell of medicine, blood, and rancidity attracted a group of blowflies to suck blood around the wound, which was also mixed with gravel and sand! Even he himself didn't understand why when he heard the call of "Yue Jiyun" at the door, his heart would be deeply shocked again - he hadn't heard anyone call this name for many years!Now, when he saw her miserable scene, a pain that even he didn't expect would tear his heart apart! "Miss Li." There was a tremor in his voice, he stepped forward a few steps, regardless of the smell, leaned over and gently helped Li Sihan sit up.Supporting her with his left hand, his right hand hit several big acupoints like lightning, and his back hand was printed on Baihui acupoint at the top of her head. The extremely strong and warm internal force immediately penetrated from the top of the head and spread to all the limbs. Zhang Paitou and Xiao Zhao stared dumbfounded outside the prison, not understanding why the god catcher cared so much about a female thief—in their view, the head catcher and the thief are completely opposite, let alone the world-renowned number one god catch? After a while, I saw Li Sihan's pale complexion revealed a touch of blood, and slowly opened his eyes.Tie Mian Shen caught her, his eyes were dazed and pained, and turned into surprise. His sharp eyes even captured a moment of joy, but in the end it turned into exhaustion. "Thank you God Catcher for coming to visit." She said in a weak voice, with a wry smile that filled her cheeks—that's enough, everything should be over when she is put into death row, so why bother with it?Why is he doing this?Come to inspect the criminals captured by him?Or sympathize with her, and feel a little grateful to her for saving him? "How did it become like this?" Iron Masked God Catcher asked coldly, taking off his cloak to cover her bleeding back.This familiar action made Li Sihan's heart tremble, and she subconsciously avoided it, but his left hand wrapped around her shoulder like iron, making her unable to move. "It's very simple. They asked me to find out the whereabouts of the stolen money. I refused to do so, and I refused to follow their wishes and plant the money on a pig, so I had to confess." She said it easily, but she grinned in pain when she smiled. The iron-faced god catcher's heart suddenly became clear, knowing that she was involved in the struggle for the imperial court, and she was victimized for no reason.A more serious crisis of trust emerged again - what is right and what is wrong?What is an official and what is a thief?Does the law of Ming Dynasty represent justice? The life principles he established since he was a child are once again faltering. "By the way! You...do you have any news about Brother Cheng Jun?" Li Sihan asked suddenly, and said eagerly, "He should have arrived in Beijing long ago!" A look of unnaturalness flashed across Tie Mian Shen Zhang's face, and he said in a shy voice, "I've never heard of him." "Even you have no news?" Li Sihan sighed, worried, "That's not right, if he arrives in the capital, why doesn't he come to me? Unless he hides on purpose. God bless... he must not be a fool thing." She folded her palms together and begged God with great effort—the iron-faced god's gaze sank, because he saw that the hands had no nails, and were bloody and bloody! He couldn't help turning around to open the medicine box, grabbed her hand, and bandaged her with medicine.He bandaged it nimbly and skillfully, and could even feel his hands trembling slightly. "Thank you for your trouble." Li Sihan's voice was soft and vague, as if coming from a distance, "I'm going to die anyway, so why waste medicine?" She smiled lightly, and the innocent charm of the past could be vaguely seen in the smile, but it was filled with endless desolation-not only for herself, not only for the unexplainable feelings that would never be fruitful even if they were expressed, but also for the sake of her. Although the world is unfair, it is a situation that cannot be changed by manpower! Tears were about to overflow, she finally gritted her teeth to hold back, lowered her head, and looked at the stern-faced prisoner who was bandaging herself, her eyes were full of extremely complicated emotions.Yes, this man made her admire, made her respect, and made her feel safe. My feelings for him were completely different from those of my other friends.Maybe... this is love. But she knew she couldn't say it.The disparity in social status and identity is not enough for her who has always been stubborn and strong to retreat, but the difference in heart, the difference in thinking, and even the views on life and things are an irreparable gap that can never be bridged. Accepting his views on right and wrong, how could he truly understand her? There is not much difference between him and her in their original background and status, but the path of future life is completely opposite!Now after meeting by chance, they still have to separate along their own paths. Zhang Paitou and Xiao Zhao were silent outside the prison, looking at each other in blank dismay—they didn't understand, can officials and thieves get along like this?You know, one is the number one arrester who is famous all over the world, and the other is a female thief who has committed many crimes! "Can you agree to my last request?" She looked at him and asked. "Please say." "I hope you can come to see my execution." She narrowed her eyes, seeming to be smiling, but also seemed to have deep meaning. The firm and tall figure suddenly shook, and there was a look of shock in his eyes, and he looked at her fixedly. "Why, don't you dare?" There was a mocking smile on her lips, and she stared at him aggressively, but sincerely, "I hope you can make sure if you really feel that what you did is Right? ——If you can confirm it, you must stick to it, and hope that nothing will shake you after this time. If..." As if saying too many words at once, the seriously injured prisoner took a long breath, finally held back the pain, and then finished the following words—— "If you think that's wrong... I hope this mistake can end with me!" He looked at her for a moment, the eyes behind the mask were bottomless.In the end, he put her down without saying a word, stood up silently, turned and left. Recently, news came out from the palace that the emperor was dying, and the will had already been drawn up, and it was sealed in a secret letter and would not be changed.Zhou Chang had a secret discussion with the King of Nan'an, and felt that the third prince would inherit the throne, so he decided to get rid of Li Sihan, lest the things that were framed that day would never be revealed. Before the news of his death came out, Dali Temple handled a batch of cases non-stop. Both Li Sihan and Tianfeng's eleven killers were scheduled to be beheaded at noon tomorrow. "Miss Li, eat more. You have to 'go on the road' early tomorrow morning, so don't be hungry." Zhang Paitou persuaded earnestly.In good conscience, he really convinced this girl, she looks delicate and weak, but she has a temper like steel!He has been a prisoner for more than 20 years, how many gangsters and green forest heroes have he seen?But this female snitch made him have to look at him with admiration. "It's no wonder that even the Iron Man thinks highly of her!" He thought to himself. Li Sihan smiled and said: "Uncle Zhang, there's no need, it's a waste anyway! Such a good dish, Uncle Zhang might as well use it with the other poor masters, so as not to waste it." She lay sideways on the grass, and soon fell into a sound dream. same night.Fourth watch.Beijing Palace. The lights in the secret room were kept on all night. Under the light, King Bei Jing watched the hourglass, waiting for something solemnly.Suddenly, there were three light and rhythmic knocks on the west wall. The King of Peking was very happy, and suddenly got up, and turned the handle of the closet.The wall moved away without a sound.A masked man in night clothes stood at the exit of the tunnel. "It's done?" King Bei Jing asked in a low voice, the excitement and excitement couldn't be concealed in his voice. Jin Chengjun nodded, pulled down the scarf, and let out a long sigh of relief.His face was pale, but his eyes were as bright as cold stars—after all, anyone would be very nervous about such a big event as killing the king. "Everything was completed according to plan, and no one was alarmed." Jin Chengjun's voice was a little tired, and he took out the medicine bottle from his arms, his hands trembling a little.Prince Jing Zhanyan smiled and said: "Good skill, worthy of being a Tianshan swordsman." He took the bottle with a sigh of relief, shook it casually, and asked with some surprise: "Why, all the bottles are used up?" Jin Chengjun didn't answer. He sat down at the table and stared at the candlelight quietly. He seemed to be very sleepy, and his head and neck dropped several times. He suddenly said, "I hope you will keep your word, and you must save Xiaohan tomorrow." The King of Beijing Jing said seriously: "Brother Jin, do you still think that Xiao Wang is a treacherous person? The matter of Si Han, Xiao Wang is responsible for it alone-if there is a betrayal, may God make me unstable in this country!" Hearing such a solemn oath, under the brilliant light, Jin Chengjun's pale and haggard face suddenly showed a strange light, and smiled slightly: "This way, I can feel at ease." After a pause, he took out a letter from his pocket: "Please pass this letter to Xiaohan, the third prince." King Bei Jing was startled: "You two will meet tomorrow, why do you..." At this moment, his complexion changed drastically, and he grabbed Jin Chengjun's wrist—that hand was trembling uncontrollably! "You, you... Did you take this bottle of poison yourself?" Shocked, King Bei Jing was at a loss for a while, and hurriedly sealed more than a dozen large acupoints on his heart all the way to prevent the poisonous gas from attacking, and lost his voice, "Why! For a living So do that?" Jin Chengjun smiled lightly: "I...I used enough medicine for the emperor, and the rest... I used it all myself-you don't mind, do you?" "How can this be good? There is no antidote for this medicine!" Hearing his confession, King Bei Jing was stunned for a moment, "Why did you do this? Why!—Are you afraid that I won't trust you, so you want to silence me? I... Am I this kind of person?" However, when it came to the last sentence, his momentum involuntarily weakened. —Yes, he is actually this kind of person... If Jin Chengjun hadn't taken the poison himself, he didn't know what method he would use to eliminate the troubles! "Your Majesty... I misunderstood." Jin Chengjun's face became paler, and even his fingernails turned a strange purple, "After Ruo Lan's death... I have the intention of abandoning the world, and now... Now that Xiaohan is out of danger, there is nothing left to do." read……" The King of Peking hurriedly supported his body that was about to fall. Although he was about to rule the world as he wished, all future troubles were eliminated.But looking at the dying peerless master, he also felt an inexplicable grief in his heart, with tears in his eyes: "Brother Jin...why bother? If Sihan finds out in the future, why would you tell her to be herself?" "Xiaohan...you won't know..." Jin Chengjun struggled, pointing to the letter on the table, "Give the letter to her...please treat her well in the future! Remember..." His voice finally dropped slowly. noon. The moment has finally come.In the prison car, Li Sihan looked at the crowd watching all around, and then at the sun that was about to rise to the center.She suddenly wanted to laugh—is death so easy?It's like watching a play on stage! Suddenly there was noise from the side of the road, and dozens of civilians in the crowd were crying and pushing forward. The leader, an old man, was holding a basket in one hand and dragging a woman with the other. Oh, you are a very good man! Why doesn't God have eyes?" "You are..." Li Sihan pondered strangely, but felt strange for a while. "Two of the six members of my family survived the drought, all thanks to you, my benefactor! My surname is Liu, have you forgotten?" The old man followed the advancing prison car while wiping away his tears. Dozens of people behind him said in unison: "Benefactor! Have you forgotten? We are all from Sheyang County, the drought the year before last..." "And us, benefactor! We came from Chaozhou to see you off!" The group of people yelled, crying and screaming, and became a mess. Rang followed into the arena: "Go down, go down! Poor ghosts, if you keep screaming, you will all be put in jail!" "All you folks, go back!" Li Sihan was afraid that the people would suffer, so he hurriedly said, "I'm already... very happy for you to come to see me!" It pays off!It was not that no one understood her and stood by her.This is enough... The prison van had already approached the execution ground, Li Sihan turned his head cruelly, and did not look at the people again. "Wait a minute!" Someone in the sudden crowd stopped.The prison van stopped.The one who spoke was a tall young man in civilian clothes. He stepped out of the crowd and walked towards the prison car. "I have a few words to say to the prisoner." His tone was commanding, dignified and indifferent.Several officers and soldiers were stunned for a moment, and then cursed: "Boy, are you courting death? Who do you think you are?" The young man in common clothes didn't answer, he stretched out his hand and showed a jade ring. "Ping Luan Jue!" Several officers and soldiers were taken aback, shut their mouths and retreated to the side—then, the highest command talisman given by the current emperor to the Ministry of Punishment can command all yamen in the whole country. "Miss Li." The tall young man in civilian clothes came to the prison car and called softly. Li Sihan could hardly believe his eyes, and asked in a trembling voice, "Is that you?...You, where is the...mask on your face?" That's right, the handsome and upright tall young man in front of him is the world-renowned iron-faced catcher!The lines of his face are resolute and handsome, but the complexion on the left side of his face is slightly pale - she never thought that he would appear in front of the world with his true colors. "Why, why?" she asked tremblingly. The Iron-Masked God Catcher smiled wryly, and said in a shy voice: "It's good—now, no one knows me anymore. Actually...the me they know is just my mask..." He raised his hand, moved his fingertips lightly over the words branded on his forehead, and his voice trembled again: "I finally figured it out, you are right-the court's law does not represent absolute justice, because it does not represent justice." People." An extremely bitter smile appeared on his face again, "Thank you for letting me understand this. "From now on, I will be me. There will be no such person as Iron Face in this world, and he is dead." He turned and walked away, and Li Sihan noticed that his back was trembling uncontrollably—at that moment, she felt that she was trembling violently, as if there were countless voices roaring out of her heart. "Wait a minute!" Before the prison car started driving again, Li Sihan desperately stretched out his hand from the rail, grabbed his hand, and bit his wrist hard! The soldiers around rushed up to stop him, but Li Sihan had already let go.Blood oozed from his wrist, staining her pale lips with blood, which was so red that she suddenly smiled slightly. Holding his right hand, he watched the prison van drive into the execution ground, when a voice suddenly sounded in his ear.The voice asked him softly: "Those people who can leave scars on your body must be pretty amazing, right? "Will you remember them forever?" ——One after another, repeatedly asking.So, that was her last wish? In his mind, in the depths of his heart, he replied, "Yes, it will." He finally turned and left.This was also the last time people saw him. In the following decades, he was like a yellow crane that never came back, lost forever.But there are still many legends about him, but none of them have any evidence.It was not until ten years later that anyone saw him in the tomb of the imperial mausoleum, but after that time, he completely disappeared... No one knew, but this woman who was a thief turned into a scabbard, imprisoning his heart... forever, forever sealing this sharp sword that once symbolized justice! Li Sihan was the first to be executed. Zhou Chang was afraid that the night would be long and dreamy, so he asked the executioner to execute her first. But the butcher's knife did not fall because the imperial decree had already been issued.Emperor Zhezong died of illness in the palace last night. According to his will, the third prince Zhu Xieyu, the king of Beijing, ascended the throne. A criminal. Amnesty orders were everywhere, Li Sihan and eleven righteous brothers survived the knife, and everyone embraced and wept. That night, Li Sihan was sent into the palace by a secret decree. Looking at the person in the bright yellow dragon robe under the cold moon in the palace, he couldn't help crying: "One pig, thank you!" The most grateful thing is that he saved eleven righteous brothers, which made her more grateful than saving herself. Emperor Shenzong couldn't help stroking her hair, and handed her a letter. After reading the letter, Li Sihan remained silent for a long time, his face turning red and turning pale. "What did the letter say?" Emperor Shenzong couldn't help asking, he also wanted to know. "Brother Cheng Jun said...he wants to wander the world alone to forget the pain of the past. He told me not to worry and not to look for him anymore." After a pause, she sighed again, her face showing a confused look , looking at the sky, "He also said that if possible, he would like to entrust you... entrust you to take care of me on his behalf." "Then... what do you mean?" Shenzong asked softly, fearing that something might be alarmed. Li Sihan looked up and saw the eyes under the emperor's crown, she suddenly understood - maybe the chattering she in the past would not understand, but now she already understood the meaning of this look. An extremely complicated emotion surrounded her with warmth and desolation, relief and sadness. "There will be no such thing as Tie Mian in this world anymore, he is dead too." Suddenly, Yue Jiyun's last words resounded clearly when he left.Iron Face is dead?Perhaps, once the iron mask is taken off, it also means that a person will never return. She has been eager to bridge the gap with him and reach a consensus in heart and mind.She has always longed for him to understand her and agree with her existence, but she also understands that once he accepts her ideas, there will no longer be that majestic, upright, ruthless person in the world, and there will be no hero who is like the embodiment of justice. Because he himself was lost.The iron mask she loved has disappeared from this world... But facing the gaze of the young emperor, she pondered for a moment, finally resisted the turbulent tide in her heart, and said softly: "Thank you... Anyway, let me think about it for a while, and I will answer you after a while." ——Yes, she did not give up! In the next year, she traveled all over China, from north to south, from desert to Miao border, looking for him.她想再看看他，看看岳霁云，看看这个人身上还是否留着让她眷恋的东西……她想再次站到他的面前，告诉他，其实他昔年的所作所为，是不应该被否定的。 这世间的有些制度，虽然严苛，虽然会误伤一些人，虽然会被另一些人利用，但是，它还是有它存在的必要性——只要它能建立起一个稳定平和的世界，只要它能庇护大部分的百姓，那么，就有存在下去的理由。 而他，就是那个舍弃了性命和一切感情、来维护它的人；而她，却是那个站在秩序之外，不停的用其他手段来检验和修正制度的不足之处的人。 ——他们双方无论谁，其实都是对的。 可厉思寒从未找到过他，甚至也没听到任何他的消息。 也许，上天注定了她一生中最值得怀念的时间只有短短三个月，那三个月的押解之途！ 神宗熙平二年，宫中多了一位叫南雪衣的贵妃。 在容貌上并不算艳压后宫的她，不知为何却深得皇上独宠，为其兴建了披香殿，封为西宫之主，而宠爱之盛更是凌驾于诸妃之上。 那位南贵妃的出身非常神秘，众人却传说纷纭，隐隐透出她往日出身的不高贵，可从未有人敢提起。随身的宫女们都说这南贵妃平日谈吐虽开朗，可仿佛眉间总有难言的忧郁压抑。更有人私下传言，说南贵妃虽得独宠，却不专房，皇上甚至不在披香殿中留寝…… 神宗也先后宠过不少其他的妃子，她们也一个个貌美多才，行止动人，可多则半年，少则一月，便又失宠。厉思寒看在眼里，在心里冷笑：宠爱是会过去的，特别是在这众星捧月的环境中，失去皇帝的关注，只是时间先后而已。 ——而她知道，自己之所以能得到长久的关爱，恰恰因为她并不是他真正的妃子。 稳定的环境，安适的生活，甚至可以秘密见见旧日老友，“南贵妃”的生活是极其奢华安逸的。可这……就是“照顾她一辈子”么？有时厉思寒不禁自问。 可她累了，也倦了，她已经不想再回到江湖。她是真正感激“猪一只”，也愿意寻找一个平静的港湾，就在他君临天下的怀抱中终此一生。 厉思寒甚至不知道自己在怀念什么，是铁面？他已不复存在了，她甚至没有对他真正表白过心迹。当初她是死囚，不能说；如今，她是贵妃，更不能说了。她明白，在自己一生中，真正快乐的时光，只有在威海海滩上，那相对无言的一夜…… 某一个深秋的夜里，厉思寒遣开了宫女，一个人在房中对着灯发呆。她入宫后已渐渐习惯晚睡，一个人在夜深人静的时候静静地对灯想心事。 已四更了，她准备就寝——但习武之人的直觉告诉她：窗外有人！ 她推窗而视，准备呼人，却未料到是他。 神宗朱燮爔此刻居然站在庭中，就那样穿过扶疏的花木，静静地看着她。 厉思寒心头一震，发觉他居然只穿了里层单衣，却未加外袍，在深秋的半夜长久伫立。她忙拿了一裘长衣，一按窗口，轻轻跃入中庭。 “皇上，月下风寒露重，快加衣吧，身体要紧。”她边说边为他加上了外袍。 “小丫头，”神宗突然笑了起来，饶有兴趣地看着她，“还是本性不改，一急就从窗口跳出来了！” 厉思寒面上一红，忙低头道：“皇上别取笑臣妾了。” 她想了想，又细声问：“不知皇上到来，所为何事？” 可神宗却没有说话，过了很久，才缓缓道：“厉姑娘，你在这儿过得开心么？” 厉思寒盈盈下拜：“禀皇上，臣妾很开心。” 神宗抬手扶住她的手臂，示意她平身，目光闪电般注视着她：“你可知欺君何罪？” 厉思寒愣住，怔怔地看着他，不知他此话从何而来。神宗看了她许久，眼里神色转换，终于吐了口气，轻轻笑了笑：“你不开心的，朕看得出。刚才在梦里，朕还见你在哭来着……所以、所以朕……就忍不住过来看看。看你在灯下坐了很久，倒也没哭，只叹了不少气而已……” 厉思寒心中蓦然一震，心中体会到他轻描淡写几句话中的深情，心中乍现一缕柔情。 她明白，神宗一定是在梦中见她不如意，午夜梦回，再也忍不住过来看她，又不愿惊动宫人侍从，才一个人飞檐走壁的匆匆过来的。 厉思寒不由问：“皇上一路上没见着一个侍卫么？” 神宗英俊的脸上突地显出一丝捉狭的笑容，得意地竖起食指放在唇上：“嘘——你别忘了，以朕的身手，又岂能被守卫的侍卫发觉？” 皇帝威严霸气的脸突然间变得象个小孩子，对着她眨眼睛笑。 厉思寒心中感动。要知他以帝王的尊，居然要三更半夜飞檐走壁地偷偷来看自己的妃子，简直是不可思议之事——一直以来，这个人，似乎都不象个皇帝的模样呢。 她忽地想起了昔年的事，忍不住脱口：“朱屹之，你……” “大胆，居然敢呼朕为猪一只？”神宗半开玩笑半认真，“南贵妃，你该当何罪？” ——他似乎又恢复到了当年在京师大街上初见雪衣少女之时，满口的调侃。 厉思寒不语，只静静看着他。这一刹间，感激转成了爱。 神宗熙平三年春，南贵妃真正宠冠后宫。 神宗下朝后只去披香殿，两人或闲谈，或散步，兴致好时甚至会拔剑切磋一下武艺。当然，一向都是以南贵妃失败而告终，而神宗往往大笑而止，并兴致极高地亲手教她一些武学诀窍。 两人琴剑相谐，在宫中过着神仙一般的日子。厉思寒有时甚至会无缘无故地笑出声来，她以为自己的一生，经历过如此多的坎坷风浪，终于也能有真正的幸福，能与一位真心爱她而她也爱的男子，坐拥天下地过完一生。 而她却没想到，她的一生，竟以噩梦而告终！ 那天用完早膳后，她一个人在庭中练剑，突然长剑从手里脱手滑落，指尖竟起了无法控制的颤抖！厉思寒大惊失色，强自运气压住体内的不适，吩咐左右侍女快去找皇上来——她已感觉到了一种强大而又阴毒的力量，在侵蚀她的五脏！ 毒，她中了毒！ “小寒，小寒！”从大殿议事中抽身返回的神宗心胆俱裂，抱着昏迷的她大声呼喊。 不错，他很熟悉这种毒，这本是大内才有的杀人无形的“木犀清露”！ 当年，为了早日攫取到王位，明知周昌是南安王那边的人，他却故意去贿赂、在思寒陷入险境的时候，利用了金承俊用此毒毒杀老皇帝，金承俊随后用其自杀。可如今，厉思寒竟也中了这种无药可解的毒！ 是天遣么？是天终于要惩罚他的恶毒和不择手段？ ! 神宗一遍遍地用内力输入她体内，勉强护住她心脉，厉声呼叫御医，状若疯狂。在御医赶来之前，厉思寒终于睁开了眼睛，看着他不说话，也说不出话了。 神宗心神俱乱，他这时才发觉，他最爱的原来不是权利，不是王位，而是怀中这个垂危的人！他曾那样地看重过手中的地位和权力＋但是时至今日，他却甚至可以用所有的一切，向老天换取她的生命。可是，却已没有机会了…… It's his fault!It's his fault! 她是一只自由自在的白鸟，而他是一只锁在金笼子里的凤凰。他们本不是一类人，甚至本不该相遇和相爱——可他却试图不顾一切地去抓住她，而她，最终也为他削去了羽翼，来到了这个笼子里与他一起生活，放弃了外面那一片高远的天空。 以她纯良的天性，本就不适合在这个阴险毒辣、危机四伏的后宫里生活。 ——宫闱斗争的残酷他并不是不知道，可是他却没有保护好她！ 一直到死，厉思寒神智都很清楚，目光一直看着他，张开了口，却无力说出一个字。她努力地抬起手，慢慢摸索着他的脸颊，轻轻为他拭去了眼角不停落下的泪水。 “皇帝……不可以哭。”她突然轻轻说出了一句话，死灰色的脸上绽出了微笑，手便重重垂了下来。 神宗果然没再流泪。抱着宠妃的尸身，他整整三天没说一句话。 第四日，他一反常态，上朝议事，下令刑部追察此案。 一个月后，皇后与淑妃被赐死，据说与合谋毒死南贵妃一案有关。皇后一族在朝中势力颇大，朱燮爔当年也因为这个才立她为王妃，但他如今却不顾所有人的求情，于熙平四年六月二十日，用白绫缢死皇后淑妃于披香殿。 熙平四年六月二十五日，神宗下旨追封南雪衣贵妃为皇后，谥号端孝贞慈皇后，宣布国丧，以皇后之礼丧于皇陵内，同时大赦天下以志哀。神宗不但亲自送殡，还在陵前素衣守墓呆了三天，才回朝议事。 表面上，他仍平平静静地当着天子，有着三宫六院，歌舞升平。可他常常会想起以前，想起在朱雀大街上的初见，想起她当时的娇憨任性，想起她的自立坚贞，也想起她多难的一生。特别是她在临死之时，那望着自己的目光，深情缠绵，却又伤心入骨，至今让他想起来就痛不欲生。 神宗知道，他虽富有天下，可失去了比天下更珍贵的东西。 十年后，神宗病逝，年仅三十七岁，正当英年。太医诊断，竟是死于区区的风寒高热。只是他不请医治疗，也不运功驱寒，终致病情一步步恶化。 熙平十四年三月初七，神宗入葬于皇陵，与端孝皇后同穴合葬。 据说，在某一日的黄昏，有人在那儿看见一个披着黑色斗篷的人在默默祭奠，看身形很象已失踪很久的铁面神捕，只是他脸上已不再有面具，所以，谁也不认识他。 谁也猜不透他在王陵干什么，又是祭奠谁。 这也是关于铁面神捕的最后一个消息，那以后，江湖广大天地茫茫，却是谁也没有再见过他了。 涸辙之鲋，相濡以沫，相煦以湿，曷不若相忘于江湖。 也许，真的，不如相忘于江湖。 (Finish)