Chapter 2 first quarter

On the morning of the father's death, the frost was heavy and the sun was like a broken egg yolk suspended behind the peaks of Tongchi Mountain.I was reading in the morning in front of Jinshan Hall, and saw a group of white egrets flying low through the tallow tree forest. They circled around the red corridor and black tiles of Jinshan Hall for a while, leaving behind several mournful twitters and a few pieces of feathers. I saw my The gray and loose droppings of egrets were splashed all over the wrists, stone tables, and books.It's bird droppings, my lord.The bookboy wiped my wrists with a silk cloth, and said, "It's late autumn, and it's time for you to go back to the palace to study."

Autumn is deep, and the disaster of Xie country is coming soon.I say.It was at this time that the palace servants who came to report the funeral approached Jinshan Hall. They held a black leopard flag of Duke Xie in their hands.Walking behind were four palace servants carrying sedan chairs, carrying an empty sedan chair, and I knew I would be brought back to the palace by that empty sedan chair.I will stand with people I respect or hate at my father's funeral. I hate the dead, even if the dead is my father, King Xie who ruled Xie Kingdom for thirty years.Now his coffin is placed in the Defeng Hall, surrounded by thousands of golden daisies, and the guards who guard the coffin look like cypress trees in some cemetery to me.I stood on the first step of Defeng Hall, which was carried up by my grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu. I didn't want to stand here, and I didn't want to be so close to the coffin.And my half-brothers were all standing in the back, and I looked back to see them looking at me with similar hostility.Why do they always like to look at me like this?I don't like them.I like to look at the bronze cauldron used by my father to make alchemy. I can see it now. I see it standing alone on the side of the palace wall. An old palace servant was adding firewood to the ashes.I know the old palace servant Sun Xin, who went to chop firewood on the hillside near Jinshan Hall many times. When he saw me, he burst into tears, knelt on one leg, pointed in the direction of Xie Kingdom with a hatchet in his hand and said, Qiu Shen Now, the disaster of Xie country is coming soon.Someone rang the big bell hanging on the porch, and the people in front of the Defeng Hall knelt down together. I wanted to kneel when they knelt, so I knelt down too.I heard the emcee's old and powerful voice resounding in silence, the decree of the former king.King's decree.Will.Purpose.My grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu, was kneeling next to me. I saw a jade ruyi hanging from her belt. It was carved in the shape of a leopard. Now it was lying on the steps, just a few feet away from me.My attention was diverted in this way, I stretched out my hand and quietly grabbed Yu Ruyi, I wanted to tear off the sash on Yu Ruyi, but Mrs. Huangfu noticed my intention, and she held down my hand , she said softly and solemnly, Duanbai, listen to the will.I heard the master of ceremonies suddenly read my name, the master of ceremonies recited in a more emphatic tone, and made the fifth son Duan Bai inherit the title of King Xie.Immediately there was a buzzing sound in front of the Defeng Palace. I turned around and saw the satisfied and stretched smile of my mother, Mrs. Meng. The concubines listening to her left and right had different expressions, some were indifferent, and some showed Angry and desperate eyes.My four half-brothers were pale, Duanxuan bit his lips tightly, while Duanming muttered something, Duanwu rolled his eyes, only Duanwen pretended to be calm, but I knew he felt more uncomfortable than anyone else , Duanwen wanted to inherit the throne wholeheartedly, he may not have thought that his father would pass on the throne of King Xie to me.I didn't expect, I never thought that I would become King Xie so suddenly. The old palace servant Sun Xin who made alchemy told me that autumn is deep, and the disaster of Xie Kingdom is about to come.But what is written in the father's will?They will seat me on my father's golden throne.I don't know what all this means.I'm fourteen and I don't know why I was chosen for the throne.Grandmother Mrs. Huangfu motioned for me to come forward to receive the order. I took a step forward. The old master of ceremonies held out my father's black panther and dragon crown. He is worried.I stood on tiptoe slightly, held my head high, and waited for the black panther dragon crown to press on top of my head.I felt a little shy and embarrassed, so I still turned my eyes to the alchemy furnace by the west palace wall. The old palace servant Sun Xin who was the furnace manager sat on the ground and dozed. The father no longer needed the elixir, and the alchemy furnace was still burning.Why is it still burning?I say.No one heard me.The black panther dragon crown has been fastened slowly and heavily to the top of my head, and I feel that the top of my head is very cold.Immediately afterwards, I heard a mournful cry from the crowd in front of Defeng Hall, it was not him, it was not him, King Xinxie.I saw a woman rushing out from the ranks of concubines, that was Mrs. Yang, the mother of Duanwen and Duanwu. I saw Mrs. Yang go up the stairs through the stunned crowd, and ran straight to my side.She frantically took off my black panther dragon crown and hugged it to her chest.Listen, King Xinxie is the eldest son Duanwen, not the fifth son Duanbai.Madam Yang yelled loudly, and took out a page of rice paper from her bosom, she said, I have a printed copy of the late king's edict, and the late king established Duanwen as King Xinxie, not Duanbai.The edict has been tampered with.There was another uproar in front of Defeng Hall.I watched Mrs. Yang hold the black panther dragon crown tightly to her chest, and I said, take it if you want, I didn't like it in the first place.I wanted to sneak away, but my grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu, blocked my way.A group of guards had already gone up to capture the crazy Mrs. Yang, and someone gagged her mouth with a mourning belt.I saw Mrs. Yang being carried down by the guards and quickly left the turbulent Defeng Hall.I was stunned, I really don't know what all this is for.On the sixth day of my ascension to the throne, my father's coffin was carried out of the palace.The funeral procession flocked to the south foot of Tongchi Mountain, where there are the tombs of the kings of the Xie Kingdom, as well as the grave of my brother Duanxian who died young.On the way, I paid my respects to my father's remains for the last time. The father who used to play with the world, the heroic, arrogant and suave father, is now lying in a nanmu coffin like a piece of withered rotten wood.I think death is terrible.I used to think that the father is immortal, but he is dead, like a piece of withered rotten wood lying in a huge coffin.I saw that the coffin was full of funeral objects, including gold, silver, emerald, agate, and various jewels, many of which I liked, such as a short copper sword set with rubies, and I wanted to bend over. Take it, but I know that I can't just hunt for the funeral objects of my father.The chariots and horses were all parked in the depression in front of the royal mausoleum, waiting for the palace servants to transport the red coffins for the burial of the concubines.They are following us.I counted immediately, and there were seven red coffins in total.It is said that the concubines who were buried with them were given to death with white silk at midnight last night. Their red coffins will surround the father's tomb from the top, bottom, east, and west directions, forming an auspicious shape of seven stars arching the moon.I also heard that Mrs. Yang had also been ordered to die and be buried. She refused to die and fled in the palace barefoot. Later, she was chased by three palace servants and forcibly strangled to death with white silk.When the seven red coffins were dragged up to the royal tomb, there was a muffled knocking sound from one of the coffins, and everyone was shocked.Later, I saw with my own eyes that the lid of the coffin was slowly pushed open, and Mrs. Yang actually sat up from the coffin. Her messy hair was covered with sawdust and red sand, and her face was as pale as paper. She had been unable to repeat for a few days. front cry.I saw her finally shake the seal of the will in her hand towards everyone, and soon the palace servants filled the coffin with sand, and then Mrs. Yang’s red coffin was crucified again. Nineteen long nails were driven into the cover.

All my knowledge about Xie Kingdom comes from the monk Juekong.He was the master appointed by my father when he was still alive.Juekong is knowledgeable, good at dancing swords and guns, playing piano, chess, calligraphy and painting.During those days when I was studying hard in the cold window of the Jinshan Hall, Juekong followed me around. He told me the two hundred years of history of Xie Kingdom and its nine hundred miles of territory, the deeds of successive kings and the stories of soldiers who died in battle. He told me about Xie How many mountains and how many rivers does the country have? It also tells me that the people of Xie country mainly live on planting millet, hunting and fishing.When I was eight years old, I saw some little white ghosts. Whenever the lights were turned on, those little ghosts would jump on my desk, and even jump sequentially among the grids of the chessboard, which made me terrified.Juekong rushed over upon hearing the news, and he drove away the white imp with a swing of his sword.So I have worshiped my master Juekong since I was eight years old.

I took the monk Juekong from near the mountain hall to the palace.Juekong had a desolate expression when he knelt forward, holding a book of Analects with scrolled pages in his hand.I saw several holes in his cassock, and his hemp shoes were covered with black mud. Why does the master carry the Analects of Confucius to the temple?I say. You haven't finished reading the Analects of Confucius, I marked the folding page, and specially presented it to King Xie to finish reading the book.Juekong said.I have become King Xie, why bother me to study?If King Xie stopped studying, the poor monk would go back to Kuzhu Temple to practice.Do not go back to the temple.I suddenly yelled, I took the Analects of Confucius in Jue Kong's hand, and threw it on the dragon couch, I said, I don't allow you to leave me, who will drive away the ghosts for me when you leave?Those little white ghosts, they're grown up now, they'll come under my tent.I saw the little maids on both sides covering their mouths and laughing, they were obviously snickering at my timidity.I was so annoyed that I pulled a burning candle from the candlestick and threw it in the face of a little lady-in-waiting.Do not laugh.I shouted sharply, whoever laughs again I will let her go to the royal tomb to be buried.The chrysanthemums in the palace garden were in full bloom in the autumn wind, and wherever I looked, there was a disgusting yellow color exuding the breath of death.I once asked the gardener to eradicate all the chrysanthemums in the palace garden. The gardener was submissive, but secretly reported the matter to his grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu. Later I learned that it was her intention to plant chrysanthemums in the palace garden. She loves chrysanthemums among flowers. , and Mrs. Huangfu insisted that the fragrance of chrysanthemums was beneficial to her dizziness.My mother, Mrs. Meng, once told me quietly that my grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu, ate a lot of chrysanthemums in autumn. She asked the palace cooks to make chrysanthemums into cold dishes and soups, which was the secret of her longevity and healing.I listened with disapproval.Chrysanthemums have always reminded me of a cold dead man, and I find it unbearable to devour chrysanthemums, like rotting flesh.

The bells and drums rang together, and I summoned the ministers and officials to review the memorials in court.At that time, my grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu, and my queen, Mrs. Meng, sat on both sides.My opinions all come from a wink or a hint from them.I would be glad to be so, even if I were old and learned enough to dispense with the privacy of these two women, and I would be glad to save myself the pain of scribbling and thinking.There is a zizhi pot on my lap, and the black winged zhizhi in the pot will occasionally interrupt the dull and lengthy court meeting and make a few clear calls.I like Chizhi, but I'm just worried that every day in the cool autumn, the palace servants will no longer find this kind of ferocious black winged Chizhi in the mountains.I don't like my ministers and officials. They came to Majesty Dan tremblingly, and raised the issue of food and payment for the border guards and the idea of ​​implementing the land equalization system in Shannan. I can't give up.I'm impatient and I can't help it. The monk Juekong told me that the life of an emperor is spent in gossip and gossip.

Mrs. Huangfu and Mrs. Meng maintained a dignified and gentle appearance in front of the officials. In Yangdian, Mrs. Huangfu slapped Mrs. Meng across the face.I was very surprised. I saw Mrs. Meng ran behind the curtain covering her face, where she was sobbing secretly. I followed and looked at her.I saw a face distorted by humiliation and hatred, a beautiful face with gritted teeth.As long as I can remember, this strange expression has always been on the face of my mother, Mrs. Meng.She is a suspicious woman. She suspects that my brother Duan Xian was poisoned to death. The specific object of her suspicion is Dai Niang, the former king's favorite concubine.As a result, Dai Niang's ten fingers were cut off and she was thrown into a dirty cold palace.I know it's the place of death for erring concubines.

I secretly went to the back of the cold palace.I want to see what Dai Niang's hand with ten fingers cut off looks like.The Lenggong is indeed gloomy and threatening, and the courtyard is covered with moss and cobwebs.From the wooden window, I glimpsed the sleepy Dai Niang. She was sleeping on a pile of hay, and there was a dilapidated toilet beside her. The sour smell that permeated the cold palace was emitted from the toilet.I saw Dianiang turn so that one of her hands was facing me, and it was hanging limply on the hay, hanging to dry in a ray of sunlight passing through the window.I saw that hand was shaped like a black cake, and the festering blood scab on it attracted a group of flies, and the flies perched on Dai Niang's crippled hand without any scruples.I couldn't see Dai Niang's face.There are so many women in the palace, I don't know who is Dai Niang.Someone told me that Dai Niang was the concubine who was good at playing the pipa.I think no matter who she is, once her ten fingers are cut off, she can no longer play the pipa.In the coming festive seasons, will there still be beautiful women holding pipas in the garden, playing the fairyland-like music of pearls and jade?I don't doubt that Dai Niang once bribed the palace cook, and she put arsenic in the sweet soup served by my brother Xian.But I have my doubts about the method of amputating the ten fingers.I once asked my mother, Mrs. Meng, and Mrs. Meng replied after pondering for a moment, I hate her hands.This answer did not satisfy me, so I went to ask my teacher Juekong again, and Juekong said that it is very simple, because Dai Niang can play beautiful music on the strings of the pipa, but Mrs. Meng can't play the pipa.

By the time I ascended the throne, about eleven deposed concubines had been imprisoned in the cold palace in the sycamore forest.At night, the cries from the cold palace linger in my ears. I am so tired of it, but I can't stop the crying in the middle of the night from the cold palace. They are some weird-tempered women who put their lives on the line and sleep with their heads covered during the day , In the middle of the night, I was full of energy, shaking my sleeping Daxie Palace with mournful and mournful cries.I'm really tired of this, I can't let the palace servants stuff the mouths of those women with cotton balls, the cold palace is forbidden to enter and leave at will.My master Juekong suggested that I regard it as a normal sound in the night palace. He said that this crying sound is actually the same as the gong sound of the watchman outside the palace wall. Since the watchman must report the news of the night leak at any time, Concubines in the cold palace must also cry to welcome the dawn.You are King Xie.The monk Juekong said to me, you have to learn to endure everything.I think the monk Juekong's words sound incomprehensible, I am King Xie, why do I have to endure everything?In fact, on the contrary, I have the right to destroy everything I hate, including the midnight cries from the plane trees.One day I summoned the judge in the palace, and I asked him if there was any way to make those women cry. He said that as long as they cut out their tongues, they would be silenced.I asked him again if removing the tongue would kill a person, and the judge said that as long as the tongue is removed correctly, no one will die.I said, then go and gouge it out, I don't want to listen to their cries and howls anymore.

This matter was carried out in absolute secrecy, and no one except the executioner and I knew it.The criminal came to see me later with a bloody paper bag. He slowly opened the paper bag and told me that this time they couldn't cry anymore.I glanced at the paper bag, and the tongues of those crying concubines looked like delicious braised pork tongues.I rewarded the criminal with some silver and told him, don't tell Mrs. Huangfu, if she asks, she will say that they accidentally bit off their tongue.I was very disturbed that night, the direction of the cold palace was really silent, except for the rustling autumn leaves and the occasional sound of night leaks, the entire Xie palace was dead silent.I tossed and turned on the dragon bed, remembering that I ordered those poor women's tongues to be cut off, I suddenly felt a little scared, now there was no sound to torture my hearing, and it was even more difficult for me to sleep.The maid under the couch heard the sound, she said, does His Highness want to relieve himself?I shook my head.Looking at the half-dark lanterns and the blue-purple night sky outside the window, I imagined the scene of women in the cold palace crying silently.Why so silent?I couldn't sleep without sound, so I said to the maid, go and get my cricket pot.The palace lady brought my beloved cricket pot, and then I fell asleep listening to the crisp chirping of black winged crickets every night. How to pass the long night?I am troubled by the crime I have caused the executioner to commit.I secretly observed the reactions of Mrs. Huangfu and the prime ministers, but they seemed unaware.One day after the dismissal, I asked Mrs. Huangfu if she had been to the Lenggong recently, and I said that those women actually bit off their tongues.Mrs. Huangfu looked at me lovingly for a long time, and finally she sighed and said, no wonder the past few nights have been dead, I can't sleep every night.I said, does grandma like to hear those women crying in the middle of the night?Mrs. Huangfu smiled noncommittally, she said, goug it out, just don't let the wind leak out of the palace, I have already ordered the relevant palace people to goug out the tongue of anyone who leaks the wind.The stone in my heart landed calmly.Grandmother Mrs. Huangfu's punishment method was exactly the same as mine, which made me feel a little bit of comfort and a little bit at a loss.It looks like I'm not doing anything wrong.I cut off the tongues of thirteen women in the cold palace, but Mrs. Huangfu thought I did nothing wrong.

The bronze cauldron for smelting elixir still stands on the side of the palace wall, the charcoal fire under the cauldron has been extinguished, and the discolored bronze can be touched with fingers, and the bronze is still warm and scorching.The late king took elixir all the year round, and the master of alchemy was hired by him from the distant Penglai country with a lot of money.The Penglai elixir failed to prolong the weak and indulgent life of the late king. On the eve of the king's death, the alchemist escaped from the palace, proving that the elixir that cures diseases and prolongs life is just a deceptive pill.

Sun Xin, the old servant in charge of the fire, was already gray-haired. I saw him wandering in front of the alchemy furnace in the bleak autumn wind, bending over to pick up the ashes left on the ground.Every time I passed by the alchemy furnace, Sun Xin would kneel up with a pile of ashes in both hands, and he said, the fire has been extinguished, and the disaster of Xie Kingdom is about to come. I know that Sun Xin, the old palace servant, is a lunatic.Someone wanted to expel him from the palace, but I stopped him.Not only do I love Sun Shin, but I love repeating his ominous mantras.I stared at the ashes left by alchemy in his hands for a long time.I said, the fire has been extinguished, and the disaster of Xie Kingdom is about to come.When I was surrounded by flattering eunuchs and officials who smiled and smiled, I often thought of the sad tearful face of the old servant Sun Xin, and I said to them, why are you smirking?The fire has been extinguished, and the disaster of Xie country is about to come.The hunting ground in autumn is full of barrenness, bushes and weeds reach up to my waist and knees, the fires that burn the mountains and drive animals are extinguished on the hillside, the valley of Tongchi Mountain is filled with the burning smell of grass and trees, and the hares, Roe deer and mountain deer are running away in a hurry in the smoke all over the mountain.I heard the sound of arrows and cheers of hunters echoing in the valley of Tongchi Mountain.I love the scene of the annual court hunt.The team with horses and bows was mighty, and almost all the male members of the main clan participated in the hunt.Immediately behind my red-maned pony were my half-brothers.I saw the third son Duan Wu and his elder brother Duan Wen, they looked gloomy or arrogant, I also saw the frail second son Duan Xuan and the stupid fourth son Duan Ming, they followed me like a follower, other than that In addition, I was accompanied by my master monk Juekong and a team of purple-clothed hussars serving as guards. The first assassination I suffered in my imperial career took place on the hunting grounds.I remember a yellow-brown wild deer passing by my horse, its beautiful fur shone in the bushes, I ran after the rein, and heard Juekong shouting from behind, be careful, be careful of the hidden tricks.When I turned my head, the poisonous back arrow just passed my Bailing helmet, and at this moment, the surrounding entourage broke into a cold sweat.I too was taken aback.Monk Juekong rode over and hugged me into his saddle.I took off the Bailing helmet with lingering fear, and found that the snow-white goose feather had been shot off by the arrow.Who is casting cold arrows?I asked Juekong, who wants to harm me?Juekong looked at the forests on the surrounding hillsides, and said in silence for a long time, your enemy, I said, who is my enemy?Juekong smiled and replied, you can see for yourself, whoever hides the furthest now is your enemy.I discovered that all four of my half-brothers had suddenly disappeared.They must be hiding behind some hidden wood.I suspect that the cold arrow was shot by the eldest son Duanwen. Among the five of us, Duanwen has the best arrow technique, and only the sinister and surly Duanwen can design such a seamless assassination trap.When the trumpeters blew the animation horn to call them back to the palace, Duanwen was the first to ride back to the camp with a roe on his shoulder and five or six hares and pheasants tied to his back.Duanwen's quiver was stained with the black blood of the animal spirit, and his white robe was also stained with blood.When I saw his arrogant smile and the heroic posture of the prancing horse, I suddenly felt a strange feeling in my heart.I think the words of the buried Mrs. Yang may be true. Duanwen is very similar to the late father and king, and Duanwen is very similar to King Xinxie, but I am not at all.Has His Majesty shot a wild animal?Duan Wen asked me in a calm tone on the horse, why is His Majesty's horse empty? I almost got shot in the back.Do you know who shot it?I say.have no idea.Your majesty's fur is not damaged, but I pierced Yang with a hundred steps, I think it must not be my arrow.Duanwen bent down slightly, his face still arrogant.It's either you or Duanwu, I can't spare the person who casts the backstab.I gritted my teeth and said.I slapped the whip hard, and the red-maned horse galloped straight away from the hunting grounds.I heard the autumn wind whimpering in my ears, and the wild grass in the valley cracked under the hooves of the horses.My heart is full of chilling atmosphere like Tongchi Mountain in autumn.I was so worried about that back arrow, it made my heart palpitate and made me furious, I decided to let the executioners cut off the fingers of Brother Duanwen and Duanwu like Mrs. Meng punished Dai Niang, I don't want them to bend their bows anymore Archery is showing off in front of me. The paddock incident caused an uproar in the palace.My mother, Mrs. Meng, cried in public during the next day's court meeting. She asked Mrs. Huangfu and the ministers to uphold justice and severely punish brothers Duanwen and Duanwu.But Mrs. Huangfu showed a well-informed and magnanimous appearance. She comforted Mrs. Meng and said, I have seen such things a lot, so you don't need to panic.I can't wrong Duanwen and Duanwu just by guessing. I naturally have a way to find out who the murderer is, and there is still time to punish the murderer severely when the truth comes out.Mrs. Meng turned a deaf ear to Mrs. Huangfu's words. She believed that Mrs. Huangfu had always favored brothers Duanwen and Duanwu. .I saw the eunuch who delivered the order was in a dilemma before Danbi, with a look of bewilderment on his face.I thought this scene was very funny, and I couldn't help laughing.During the long stalemate, Mrs. Huangfu's kind face suddenly changed color, and she raised the rosewood longevity stick to make the ministers retreat.Immediately afterwards, I saw the longevity stick in her hand draw an arc and land on my mother, Mrs. Meng's bun.Madam Meng let out a hoarse and shrill cry, and Madam Meng cursed a vulgar and obscene slang word in the market. I was stunned.The ministers and ministers who had exited the Hall of Fanxin looked back frequently on the steps.I saw Mrs. Huangfu trembling with anger. She approached Mrs. Meng and stabbed Mrs. Meng's mouth with the tip of her longevity stick. What are you cursing?Mrs. Huangfu poked her and said, I was really blind when I let you, a lowly maid from a tofu shop, become the empress of a country.Now that you can't change your mouthful of foul language, why do you still have the face to sit on the Hall of Fanxin?Mrs. Meng began to cry, and she let Mrs. Huangfu's birthday stick poke around her lips. I will stop scolding. Mrs. Meng cried and said, I will let you all collude to plot against Duanbai. Don't worry if I die. up.Duanbai is not your son, Duanbai is the monarch of Xie Kingdom.Mrs. Huangfu reprimanded sharply, if you continue to cry and cry in spite of your dignity, I will send you back to your natal family's tofu shop. You are only worthy of making tofu, not the queen mother of King Xie.I felt that their quarrel was becoming more and more boring, so I sneaked out of the Fanxin Palace in the chaos, and just walked under the big osmanthus tree, when a sergeant in brocade uniform rushed to meet me, he knelt down when he saw me, the frontier invaders invaded, General Zou on the Western Front has an urgent letter to His Majesty.I glanced at the letter with three chicken feathers stuck in his hand, and I said, I don't care, you can give the letter to Mrs. Huangfu.I jumped up and broke off a fragrant sweet-scented osmanthus from the sweet-scented osmanthus tree. I used the sweet-scented osmanthus branch to twitch the buttocks of the kneeling soldier. I don’t care about your business. I have headache.Invasion by foreign bandits?Wouldn't it be enough to beat them back? I walked aimlessly around the palace, and finally stopped in front of the alchemy furnace of the late king. The afterglow of the setting sun made the bronze cauldron emit a strong purple light. I seemed to vaguely see a brown pill spinning in the boiling water. I feel that the alchemy furnace that has been extinguished for a long time still emits a strange smell of medicine and scorching heat. My red python dragon robe is soon soaked in sweat. The alchemy furnace of the former king always makes me sweat profusely.When I swung the sweet-scented osmanthus branch to beat the rotating copper basin, the old servant Sun Xin flashed out from behind the alchemy furnace, and he suddenly flashed out like a ghost.I was startled, I saw Sun Xin's expression was still sad and crazy, he was holding a broken arrow in his hand and wanted to dedicate it to me.Where did you get the broken arrow?I asked in surprise. Tongchi Mountain.paddock.Sun Xin pointed to the northwest, and his withered lips trembled like a leaf and said, it was a poisoned arrow. I recalled what happened during the hunt, and I suddenly became very depressed. The person who shot the arrow in the back was now protected by his grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu, and now the poisonous arrow fell into the hands of the madman Sun Xin.I don't know how Sun Shin found it, and I don't know why he dedicated it to me. Throw away the arrow, I said to Sun Xin, I don't want it, I know who shot the arrow in the back.Hidden arrows have been launched, and the disaster of Xie Kingdom is about to come.Sun Xin threw away the Broken Arrow lightly, his eyes filled with cloudy tears again. I think the old madman Sun Xin is very interesting. His worry about things makes me feel fresh and new.Among all the servants in the palace, I like the old madman Sun Xin the most. Both my grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu, and my mother, Mrs. Meng, have expressed dissatisfaction with this, but I have maintained an unusually close relationship with Sun Xin since I was a child. He often took him to play hopscotch in the open space.don't cry.I took out a sweat towel and wiped Sun Xin's cheeks, and took his hand, let's do the grid, I said, we haven't played grid together for a long time.Just jump the grid, the disaster of Xie Kingdom is about to come.Sun Xin muttered and raised his left knee, he jumped a few steps on the brick floor, one, two, three, Sun Xin said, the disaster of Xie Kingdom is about to come. My plan to punish brothers Duan Wen and Duan Wu did not come true, because none of the criminal officials dared to lay hands on them.A few days later, I saw brothers Duan Wen and Duan Wu walking hand in hand in front of Fanxin Hall, and I couldn't help but feel extremely depressed.I know this is because of the obstruction from my grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu.Now I am full of dissatisfaction with Mrs. Huangfu. I think that since I have to listen to her in everything, I might as well let her be King Xie.Mrs. Huangfu noticed my depressed mood, she called me to her couch in Jinxiu Hall, and looked at me silently.After the powder on her face was washed off, she looked very haggard and old. I even felt that Mrs. Huangfu was about to enter the tomb of the king in Dongchi Mountain.Duan Bai, why are you frowning?Mrs. Huangfu held my hand and said, is your cricket dead?Since you have to listen to everything, why do you let me be King Xie?I suddenly yelled, and I didn't know what to say next. I saw Mrs. Huangfu sitting up suddenly from the couch, a surprised and sullen expression appeared on her face, and I subconsciously took a step back.Who taught you to say that?Is it Mrs. Meng or your master Juekong?Mrs. Huangfu questioned me sharply, and grabbed the longevity stick beside the couch, and I took another step back. I was afraid that she would hit me on the head with the longevity stick, but Mrs. Huangfu didn't hit my head in the end, and the longevity stick was waving in the air After a circle, it landed on the head of a little palace lady. Mrs. Huangfu said, what are you still doing here?Get the hell out of here.I watched the little maid retreating outside the screen with red eye circles, I suddenly couldn't help crying loudly, I said, Duanwen shot me in the back in the paddock, but you refused to punish them, if Juekong reminded me, I would He was shot by their hidden arrows.I have already punished them, four of your brothers, I have struck each of them with three rods, is that not enough? Not enough, I still yelled, I want to cut off Duan Wenduanwu's fingers, so that they can't shoot back arrows in the future.What an ignorant child.Mrs. Huangfu pulled me to sit down on the couch, she gently touched my ears, and a loving smile appeared on the corner of her mouth again.Duan Bai, for the king, kindness comes first, not brutality, how many times have I told you this truth, why do you always forget it?Besides, Duanwen and the others are also the direct descendants of Daxie, the heirs to the throne, how can you explain to the ancestor heroic spirits if you cut off their fingers?And how to explain to the officials and people inside and outside the palace?But weren't Dai Niang's fingers cut off because of poisoning?I argued.That's not the same.Dai Niang is a lowly maidservant, and Brother Duanwen is the blood of King Daxie and my beloved grandson. I will not let them lose their fingers casually.I sat beside Mrs. Huangfu with my head down, and I smelled a mixed scent of musk and Ganoderma lucidum on her skirt, and there was a lovely crystal clear jade ruyi hanging on her dragon and phoenix belt. I grabbed the jade ruyi and stuffed it into the bag, but unfortunately I don't have the guts. Duan Bai, do you know?In our Daxie Palace, it is easy to establish a king, but it is also easy to abolish a king. You must remember my words. I understood the last instructions of my grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu.I strode out of Jinxiu Hall, and spat hard on the chrysanthemum garden in front of the hall.For things that don't die, it's better to die early.I cursed secretly.I heard this kind of swearing from my mother, Mrs. Meng.I felt that cursing would not be enough to vent my righteous indignation, so I jumped into Mrs. Huangfu's beloved flower garden and trampled off some yellow chrysanthemum stems.I raised my head and suddenly found the beaten little maid standing under the eaves, looking towards me in surprise.I saw a blood bag bulging on her forehead, which was caused by Mrs. Huangfu's longevity stick.I thought of Mrs. Huangfu's exhortation about kindness and love, and I felt very funny.I remember reciting a proverb when I was studying in Jinshantang. If words and deeds are inconsistent, it is a disaster for people.I think this sentence has been interpreted in Mrs. Huangfu.It was at this time that Duan Wen and Duan Wu walked into the Crescent Gate in front of Jinxiu Hall.I jumped out of the chrysanthemum bed and blocked their passage.They didn't seem to expect me to be here, and they all looked surprised. What are you doing here?I yelled at them angrily.Say hello to grandma.Duanwen said neither humble nor overbearing. Why do you never greet me?I sweep their jaws with chrysanthemum branches.Duanwen didn't speak.Duan Wu stared at me angrily.I went up and pushed him, and Duan Wu staggered back a step, and after standing still, he still stared at me with those small eyes.I picked another chrysanthemum and threw it towards Duanwu's face.I said, if you dare to stare at me again, I will have your eyes gouged out.Duan Wu turned his face and stood there motionless, he didn't dare to stare at me anymore.Duanwen next to him was pale, and I saw a little tear in his eyes, and his thin lips, which looked like a woman's, were tightened and reddened.I didn't push you and hit you, so what can you feel bad about?I turned to Duanwen and said provocatively, if you have the guts, shoot me another stab in the back, and I will wait.Duanwen still didn't speak, he pulled Duanwu around me and hurried towards Jinxiu Hall.I found that my grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu, was already standing in the porch. Maybe she had been watching there for a while. Mrs. Huangfu was leaning on her birthday stick, with an indifferent and peaceful expression.I don't care about these, I feel that I will not lose if I breathe out now. By the time I succeeded to the throne, there were not many eunuchs left in Xie Palace. This is because the late father hated eunuchs by nature. Batch after batch of collections were collected into the palace, so King Xie’s palace became a world of beautiful women, my father indulged in it, and indulged in his favorite women’s sex and sex in bed. According to my master monk Juekong, this is what caused my father The most important reason for Wang Yingnian's early death. I remember the eunuchs who died under the red wall in front of Daxie Palace one winter, they obviously died of hunger and cold.They waited for King Xie to call them back to the palace, sat under the red wall for a whole winter, and finally lost their will in a heavy snow day, and a dozen of them died hugging in the ice and snow.这么多年来我始终对他们的选择迷惑不解，他们为什么不去乡间种植黍米或者采桑养蚕，为什么非要在大燮宫前白白地死去？我问过僧人觉空，他建议我忘掉那件事，他说，这些人可悲，这些人可怜，这些人也很可恶。 我对宦官阉竖的坏印象也直接来自觉空，我从小到大没有让任何阉人伺候过我，当然这都是我成为燮王之前的生活。我没想到这一年皇甫夫人对宫役的调整如此波澜壮阔，她接纳了南部三县送来的三百名小阉人入宫，又准备逐出无数体弱多病或者性格不驯的宫女，我更没有想到我的师傅僧人觉空也列在皇甫夫人的闲人名单里。 事前我不知道觉空离宫的消息。那天早晨我坐在繁心殿上，接受殿外三百名小阉人的万福之礼。我看见三百名与我同龄的孩子跪在外面，黑压压的一片，我觉得很好笑，但皇甫夫人和孟夫人就坐在我两侧，我不宜笑出声来，于是我就捂着嘴低下头笑。等我抬起头来，恰恰看见那些孩子的队列后面跪着另一个人，我看清了他是我的师傅僧人觉空，他卸去了大学士的峨冠博带，重新换上了一袭黑色袈裟，挺直上身跪在那里。我不知道觉空为什么这样做。我从御榻上跳起来，被皇甫夫人制止了。她用寿杖的顶端压住我的脚，使我不能动弹。觉空不再是你的师傅了，他马上就要离宫，让他跪在那儿向你道别吧。皇甫夫人说，你现在不能下殿。Why?为什么让他离宫？我对皇甫夫人高声喊叫。你已经十四岁了，你需要师傅了。一国之君需要臣相，却不需要一个秃头和尚。他不是和尚，他是父王给我请来的师傅。我要他留在我身边。我拚命摇着头说，我不要小宦官，我要觉空师傅。可是我不能让他留在你身边，他已经把你教育成一个古怪的孩子，他还会把你教育成一个古怪的燮王。皇甫夫人松开寿杖，在地上笃笃戳击了几下，她换了一种温和的语气对我说，我并没有驱他出宫的意思，我亲自向他征询过意见，他说他想离宫，他说他本来就不想做你的师傅了。No.我突然狂叫了一声，然后不顾一切地冲下繁心殿，我冲过三百名小阉宦的整齐的队伍时，他们都仰起脸崇敬而无声地望着我。我抱住了我的师傅僧人觉空放声大哭，繁心殿前的人群似乎被这突如其来的变故惊呆了，我听见我的哭声在周围的寂静中异常嘹亮。 别哭，你是燮王，在臣民面前是不能哭的。僧人觉空撩起袈裟一角擦拭我的眼泪，他的微笑依然恬淡而圣洁，他的膝部依然跪在地上。我看见他从袈裟的袖管里抽出那册，他说，你至今没读完这部书，这是我离宫的唯一遗憾。我不要读书。我要你留在宫里。 说到底你还是个孩子。僧人觉空轻轻地叹了口气，他的目光如炬，停留在我的前额上，然后从我的黑豹龙冠上草草掠过，地用一种忧郁的声音说，孩子，少年为王是你的造化，也是你的不幸。我看见他的手颤栗着将书册递给我，然后他站起来，以双袖掸去袈裟上的尘埃，我知道他要走了，我知道我已经无法留住他了。师傅，你去哪里？我朝他的背影喊了一句。苦竹寺。僧人觉空远远地站住，双掌合十朝天空凝望了片刻。我听见他最后的模糊的回答，苦竹寺在苦竹林里，苦竹林在苦竹山上。我泪流满面。我知道这样的场面中我的表现有失体统，但我想既然我是燮王，我就有权做我想做的任何事，想哭就哭，祖母皇甫夫人凭什么不让我哭呢？我一边抹着泪一边往繁心殿上走，那些小阉宦们仍然像木桩一样跪在两侧，偷偷地仰望我的泪脸。为了报复皇甫夫人，我踢了许多小阉宦的屁股，他们嘴里发出此起彼伏的呻吟声，我就这样一路踢过去，我觉得他们的屁股无比柔软也无比讨厌。 觉空离宫的那个晚上下起了淅淅沥沥的雨珠，我倚坐在窗栏上暗自神伤，宫灯在夜来的风雨中飘摇不定，而庭院里的芭蕉和菊花的枯枝败叶上响起一片沙沙之声，这样的雨夜里许多潮湿的事物在静静腐烂。书童朗读的声音像飞虫漂泛在夜雨声中，我充耳不闻，我仍然想着我的师傅僧人觉空，想他睿智而独特的谈吐，想他清癯而超拔的面容，也想他离我而去时最后的言语。我愈想愈伤心，我不知道他们为什么要把我喜爱的僧人觉空赶走。 苦竹寺到底在哪里？我打断了书童的朗读。在很远的地方，好像是在莞国的丛山峻岭中。到底有多远？坐马车去需要多少天？ 我不太清楚，陛下想去那个地方吗？ 我只是随便问问。我哪儿都想去，可哪儿也不能去。皇甫夫人甚至不让我跨出宫门一步。 这个雨夜我又做了恶梦。在梦中看见一群白色的小鬼在床榻四周呜呜地哭泣，他们的身形状如布制玩偶，头部却酷似一些熟悉的宫人，有一个很像被殉葬了的杨夫人，还有一个很像被割除了手指和舌头的黛娘。我吓出了一身冷汗。梦醒后我听见窗外夜雨未央，床榻上的锦衾绣被依然残存着白色小鬼飘忽的身影，我恐惧万分地拍打着床榻，榻下瞌睡的宫女们纷纷爬起来拥到我的身边，她们疑惑不解，彼此面面相觑，有一个宫女捧着我的便壶。 我不撒尿，快帮我把床上的小鬼赶走。我一边拍打一边对宫女们喊，你们怎么傻站着？快动手把他们赶走。没有小鬼。陛下，那只是月光。一个宫女说。 陛下，那是宫灯的影子。另一个宫女说。你们都是瞎眼蠢货，你们没看见这些白色小鬼在我腿上蹦蹦跳跳吗？我挣扎着跳下床榻，我说，你们快把觉空找来，快让他把这些白色小鬼全部赶走。 陛下，觉空师傅今日已经离宫了。宫女们战战兢兢地回答，她们仍然对床榻上的白色小鬼视而不见。我恍然清醒过来。我想起这个雨夜僧人觉空已经跋涉在去莞国苦竹寺的路上了，他不会再为我驱赶吓人的鬼魅。觉空已走，燮国的灾难就要降临了。我的脑子里突然冒出老疯子孙信的那类古怪的谶语。我觉得悲愤交加，周围宫女们困倦而茫然的脸使我厌烦，我抢过了宫女手中的那只便壶，用力掷在地上。陶瓷迸裂的响声在雨夜里异常清脆，宫女们吓得一齐跪了下来。便壶碎了，燮国的灾难就要降临了。我摹仿老疯子孙信的声调对宫女们说，我看见了白色小鬼，燮国的灾难就要降临了。为了躲避床榻上的白色小鬼的侵扰，我破例让两名宫女睡在我的两侧，另外两名宫女则在榻下抚琴轻唱，当白色小鬼慢慢逃遁后，庭院里的雨声也消失了。廊檐滴水无力地落在芭蕉叶上。我闻到宫女们身上脂粉的香味，同时也闻到了窗栏外植物和秋虫腐烂死亡的酸臭，这是大燮宫亘古未变的气息。这是我最初的帝王生涯中的一个夜晚。初次遗精是在另一个怪梦中发生的。我梦见了冷宫中的黛粮，梦见她怀抱琵琶坐在菊花丛中轻歌曼唱，黛粮就这样平举着双手轻移莲步，琵琶挎在她的肩上，轻轻撞击着半裸的白雪般的腰臀。黛娘满面春晖，一抹笑意妖冶而放荡，我对她喊，黛娘，不准你那样笑。但黛娘笑得更加艳媚使我感到窒息。我又对她喊，黛娘，不准你靠近我。但黛娘的手仍然固执地伸过来，那只失去了手指的面饼形状的手滴着血，放肆而又温柔，它触摸了我的神圣的下体，一如手指与琵琶六弦的接触，我听见了一种来自天穹之外的音乐，我的身体为之剧烈地颤抖。我还记得自己发出了一声惊骇而快乐的呻吟。早晨起来我自己动手换下了湿漉漉的中裤儿，我看着上面的污迹问榻下的宫女，你们知道这是什么东西？宫女们都盯着我手里的裤儿笑而不答，一个年老的宫女抢先接了过去，她说，恭喜陛下了，这是陛下的子子孙孙。我看见她用一只铜盘托着我的中裤急匆匆地退下，我喊道别急着去洗，我还没细看是什么东西呢。宫女止步回答说，我去禀告皇甫老夫人，这是老夫人吩咐的。活见鬼，什么都要禀告老夫人。我发了一句牢骚，看见宫女们已经抬来了一盆浸着香草的热水，她们让我沐浴，我却伏在床榻上不想动弹，我在想夜来的梦是怎么回事，梦里的黛娘又是怎么回事。我没有想明白，既然想不明白我就不再去想了。从宫女们羞涩而喜悦的表情来判断，这似乎是件喜事。她们也许可以去皇甫夫人那里邀功领赏了，这些贱婢们很快乐可我自己却不快乐。 我一点也不快乐。皇甫夫人以八名宦官替代八名宫女来服侍我的起居。她以一种不容商量的语气告诉我，不管你愿不愿意，这些宫女一定要离开清修堂了。她说历代大燮君主都一样，一俟发身成人，就由宦官替代宫女伺候起居，这是宫里的规矩。皇甫夫人这么说我就没有办法了，我在清修堂与八名宫女挥泪告别，看见她们一个个哭得像个泪人似的。我心里很难过，一时却想不起补偿的办法。有一个宫女说，陛下，我以后不容易见到你了，你今天开恩让我摸摸你吧。我点了点头，摸吧，你想摸哪儿呢？那个宫女犹犹豫豫地说，就让我摸摸陛下的脚趾吧，让我能永生永世蒙受陛下的福荫。我很爽快地脱掉了鞋袜，将双足高高地翘起来，那个宫女半跪着满含热泪地抚摸我的脚趾，另外七名宫女紧跟在她的后面。这个独特的仪式持续重复了很长时间，甚至有一个宫女在我脚背上偷偷亲了一下，惹得我咯咯笑起来。我问她，你不怕我的脚脏吗？她呜咽着回答，陛下的脚不会脏的，陛下的脚比奴婢的嘴更干净。新来清修堂的八名宦官是由母后孟夫人精心挑选的。她挑选的宦官大致都长得眉目清秀，而且几乎都来自她的老家采石县。我说过我自小讨厌阉宦，所以他们前来叩见时我采取了横眉冷对的方法。后来我就让他们在堂下玩各式各样的游戏，还让他们跳格子。我想看看他们之中谁玩得更好一些，结果不出所料，他们玩了一会儿就玩不下去了，气喘吁吁或者大汗淋漓的样子令人发笑。只有那个最为年幼的孩子玩得很快活，他在跳格子的时候跳出了许多我不知道的花样。我注意到他的容貌像女孩子般的秀气逼人，他跳跃的姿态也显得轻盈活泼，充满了那种我所陌生的民间风格。后来我就把他叫到了我面前。May I have your name?燕郎，我的奶名叫锁儿，我的学名叫开祺。你多大啦？我笑起来，我觉得他的口齿特别伶俐。十二岁，是属小羊的。 夜里你在我的榻下睡吧。我把燕郎的肩膀扳过来，凑到他耳边悄悄地说，我们可以天天在一起玩了。燕郎腼腆地红了脸。我注意到他的双眸清澈如水，在他的修长的黑眉边缘很奇怪地长了一粒红痣。我很好奇，我伸出手指想把那粒红痣剥下来。也许用力过猛了，燕郎疼得跳了起来。他没有喊疼，但从他的表情可以判断他已经痛不欲生了。我看见他捂着红痣在地上打滚，少顷又很灵巧地一骨碌爬起来。陛下饶了奴才。燕郎朝我磕了个头说。我觉得燕郎是个很有趣的孩子，我跳下御榻走过去把燕郎扶起来，还摹仿宫女们的做法蘸了点口水涂在燕郎的红痣上，我是跟你闹着玩的，我对燕郎说，蘸点口水就不疼啦。我很快忘记了那些含泪离开清修堂的宫女。这一年大燮宫内人事更迭，宫女内监们走马灯似地调来换去，而我的生活一如既往。对于一个十四岁的国王来说，喜欢谁忘记谁都是轻而易举的事。我很想知道燕郎被阉割过的下体是什么形状，我曾经强令他向我袒露下体。燕郎的脸立刻苍白失色，他哀求我不要让他出丑，双手紧紧地按住了他的裤带。我按捺不住我的好奇心，坚持要他宽衣解带。燕郎最后褪下裤子时失声痛哭起来，他背过脸边哭边说，求陛下快点看吧。 我仔细地观察了燕郎的私处，我发现燕郎的疤瘢也与众不同，上面留下了杂乱的暗红的灼痕。不知为什么，我联想到了冷宫里黛娘的手，我莫名地有点扫兴。 你跟别人不一样，是谁替你净身的？我问燕郎。我爹。燕郎止住了哭泣，他说，我爹是个铁匠。我八岁那年我爹特意锻打了一把小刀替我净身，我昏死了三天。为什么要这样，是你喜欢做宦官吗？ I have no idea.爹让我忍着疼，爹说进了宫跟着君王就不愁吃穿了。他还说进了宫就有机会报效父母光宗耀祖。你爹是个畜生。什么时候我碰到他，我就把他也阉了，看他疼不疼。我说，好了，现在你把裤子拉上吧。燕郎飞快地拉上裤子，燕郎终于破涕而笑。我看见他眉棱上的红痣在丝帘掩映下闪烁出宝石般的光芒。秋天将尽，宫役们在宫中遍扫满地枯枝败叶，木工将殿堂楼阁的窗户用细木条封闭住，防备从北方卷来的风沙。几辆运送柴禾的马车从后宫侧门中辘辘地驶来，卸下成堆的规格一致的柴禾。整个大燮宫弥漫着过冬前的忙碌气氛。我的最后一只红翼蟋蟀在十一月无声无息地死去，使我陷入了一年一度的哀伤之中。我让宫监收拢了所有死去的蟋蟀，集中放进一口精巧的状如棺椁的木匣中。这是我给那些可爱的牲灵准备的棺木。我决定把它安葬在清修堂前的庭院里。我让宫监关上了院门，然后我和燕郎在花圃里挖了一个洞穴，当我们协力用湿泥盖住蟋蟀之棺时，老疯子孙信的脸冷不防出现在墙上的圆形漏窗中，把燕郎吓得尖叫了一声。Don't be afraid.他是个疯子。我对燕郎说，别管他，我们继续干吧。只要不让皇甫夫人看见，谁看见了都不怕。他在用石头掷我，他在狠狠地瞪着我。燕郎逃到了我身后求援说，我不认识他，他为什么这样瞪着我？我抬起头发现老疯子孙信悲天悯人的灰暗的眼睛。我站起来朝漏窗那边走去，孙信，你快走开。我不喜欢你这样偷偷摸摸地窥视。孙信好像听不见我的训斥，他突然用脑袋去撞击漏窗的格子，漏窗上响起持续的反弹声。我愠怒地大喊起来，孙信，你在干什么？你不想活了吗？孙信停止了可笑的撞击，然后朝天响亮地打了个喷嚏，燮国的灾难就要降临了。陛下，他在说什么？燕郎在我的身后问。别听他的。他是个老疯子。他翻来覆去的只会说这一句话。我说，你要我赶他走吗？他不听别人的话，但他听我的。他当然要听你的，陛下。燕郎有点好奇地朝孙信张望着，他说，我只是不知道陛下为什么要留一个疯子在宫里？他从前可不是疯子，他曾经在战争中冒死救过先祖的命，他有五世燮国公的免死手谕，所以不管他有多疯，谁也不能给孙信论罪。我告诉了燕郎有关孙信的故事。我喜欢告诉燕郎一些隐晦古怪的宫廷秘事，最后我问他，你不觉得他比别人更有趣一点吗？I have no idea.我从小就害怕疯子。燕郎说。既然你害怕，我就把他赶走吧。我折下一根树枝，隔着窗户捅了捅孙信的鼻子，我对孙信说，去吧，到你的炼丹炉那儿去吧。孙信果然顺从地离开了漏窗，他边走边叹，阉宦得宠，燮国的灾难就要降临了。朝觐时刻是令人难挨的时刻，礼、吏、兵、刑四部尚书簇拥着丞相冯敖立于繁心殿的第一阶石阶上，他们的后面还有朝冠朝服的文武百官。有时候来自燮国各郡的郡王们也前来晋见，那些人的衣带上绣有小型的黑豹图案，我知道他们是我的叔辈甚至祖辈，他们的身上流着先祖燮国公的血脉，却无法登上燮国的王位。燮国公分别册立他们为北郡王、南郡王、东郡王、西郡王、东北郡王、西南郡王、东南郡王和西北郡王。郡王们中有的已经双鬓泛银，但他们进得繁心殿后都要向我行礼。我知道这是没有办法的事情，他们即使心里不愿意也没有办法。我曾听见一个郡王在下跪的时候放了一个响屁，我忍不住大笑起来。我不知道放屁的是东郡王还是东南郡王，反正我笑得喘不过气来，宫侍们匆忙过来替我捶腰敲背。那个郡王窘迫不堪，脸孔涨成猪肝色，紧接着他又放了一个屁。这回我真要笑晕过去了。我坐在御榻上前仰后合，看见祖母皇甫夫人挥舞寿杖敲打郡王的臀部，那个可怜的郡王一边告罪一边拽拉着臀后的衣袍，他向皇甫夫人结结巴巴地解释自己的过错。他说，我星夜兼程三百里前来晋见燮王，路上受了寒气，又吃了两只猪蹄子，所以憋不住地要放屁。他的解释召来了皇甫夫人更猛烈的杖打之罚。皇甫夫人怒声训斥，朝廷之上不可说笑，你怎么敢放屁呢？ 那是我记忆中最为有趣的一次朝觐，可惜是唯一的一次。以我的兴趣而言，与其听皇甫夫人和冯敖他们商讨田地税和兵役制，不如听郡王的一声响屁。 从繁心殿下众臣手中递来的奏疏一封接一封，经过司礼监之手传到我的面前。在我的眼里它们只是一些枯燥的缺乏文采的闲言碎语，我不喜欢奏疏，我看得出来皇甫夫人其实也不喜欢，但她还是一味地要求司礼监当众朗读。有一次司礼监读到了兵部侍郎李羽的上疏，奏疏说西部国界胡寇屡次来犯，戍边将士浴血保国，已经打了十一场战役，奏疏希望燮王出驾西巡以鼓舞军队的士气。 我第一次听到与我直接关联的奏疏。我从御榻上坐起来望着皇甫夫人，但她却没有看我 一眼。皇甫夫人沉吟了片刻，转向丞相冯敖询问他的意见。冯敖绺着半尺银须，摇头晃脑地说，西境胡寇的侵犯一直是大燮的隐患，假如戍边军队一鼓作气将胡寇逐出凤凰关外，大燮半边江山便有了保障，士气可鼓不可泄，燮王似有出驾西巡的必要，冯敖欲言又止，他偷窥了我一眼，突然轻轻咳嗽起来。皇甫夫人双眉紧蹙，很不耐烦地以寿杖击地三次，不要吞吞吐吐，是我在问你话，你用不着去朝别人张望。皇甫夫人的声音中含着明显的愠怒，她说，冯敖，你说下去。冯敖叹了一口气，冯敖说，我忧虑的是燮王刚及弱冠，此去五百里路，一路上风霜雨雪旅途艰辛，恐怕会损坏燮王的金玉之身，恐怕遭受不测风云。皇甫夫人这时嘴角上流露出一丝不易察觉的冷笑，她说，我知道你的意思了。我告诉你，燮王一旦出巡，路途上不会横生枝节，后宫内也不会发生谋反易权之事，有我这把老骨头在大燮宫，请众臣相都放宽心吧。我听不懂他们晦涩暧昧的谈话，我只是产生了一种被冷落后的逆反心理。当他们在商定我出巡的吉日佳期时，我突然高声说，我不去，我不去。 What happened to you?皇甫夫人惊愕地看了看我，她说，君王口中无戏言，你不可以信口开河的。 你们让我去我就不去，你们不让我去我就去。I say.我的示威性的话语使他们目瞪口呆。皇甫夫人的脸上出现了窘迫的表情。她对丞相冯敖说，吾王年幼顽皮，他的话只是一句玩笑，丞相不必当真。 我很生气，堂堂燮王之言从来都是金科玉律，祖母皇甫夫人却可以视为玩笑。皇甫夫人貌似慈爱睿智，其实她只是一个狗屁不通的老妇人。我不想再跟谁怄气了，我想从繁心殿脱身出去，于是我对身后的宫侍说，拿便盆来，我想大解了，你们要是嫌臭就走远一点。我是故意说给皇甫夫人听的，她果然上了当。她转过脸厌恶而愤怒地瞪着我，然后我听见她无可奈何地叹了口气，用寿杖在地上戳击三下，今天燮王龙体不适，提前罢朝吧。整个大燮宫中对我的西巡之事议论纷纷。我的母亲孟夫人尤其忧心忡忡，她怀疑这又是一场阴谋，惟恐我离宫后会发生种种不测。他们都觊觎你的王位，他们千方百计地想暗害你。孟夫人哭哭啼啼地对我说，你千万要小心，随驾人员一定要选忠诚可靠之人，别让端文兄弟一起去，别让任何陌生人跟你去。 我出驾西巡已成定局，这是皇甫夫人的旨意，所以也是不可更改的。对于我来说，我视其为一次规模浩大的帝王出游，充满了许多朦胧的向往。我想看看我的两千里锦绣大河，我想看看大燮宫外的世界是什么模样。所以我用一种轻松的口吻安慰了母后孟夫人。我援引古代经典中的信条说，为帝王者天命富贵，如捐躯于国殉身以民则英名远扬流芳百世。母后孟夫人对于虚无的古训从来是充耳不闻，她后来就开始用各种市井俚语诅咒我的祖母皇甫夫人，她总是喜欢背地里诅咒皇甫夫人。那段时间我的心情有点焦躁，宫侍们经常被我无缘无故地鞭笞拷打。我难以诉说我的忧喜参半的心情。有一天我召来了宫中的卦师，请他测算出巡的祸福。卦师围着一堆爻签忙碌了半天，最后手持一支红签告诉我，燮王此行平安无事。我追问道，有没有暗箭害我？卦师就让我随手再抽一签，他看了签后脸上露出极其神秘的微笑，说，暗箭一出，将被北风折断，陛下可以出巡了。