Chapter 3 second quarter

On the morning of the third day of the twelfth lunar month, my western tour team passed through Dehuimen in mighty strength. The road was crowded into two dense human walls, and they hoped to see the appearance of King Xinxie, but the dragon chariot I was riding was completely covered by the yellow mantle and red silk, and the common people could not see my face at all.I heard someone shouting loudly, "Long live Your Majesty, long live King Xie."I wanted to open the hidden window on the hood to see the people outside, but Jin Yiwei, who was escorting the chariot, dissuaded me nervously. He said, Your Majesty must be careful, there are often assassins hiding in crowded places.I asked him when he could open the windows, he thought for a while and said, after leaving the capital, but for His Majesty's safety, it is best not to open the windows.I immediately yelled at Jin Yiwei, do you want to suffocate me?If I can't open the window all the time, I won't drive west. If I can't see the people and scenery in the outside world at will, what's the point?Of course, this is just a thought in my head, and it is not appropriate for me to tell Jin Yiwei this kind of thought.The palace's convoy speeded up after exiting the gate of the capital, and the people watching on both sides of the market gradually thinned out. The wind blew from the wilderness, rustling the flags on the car.There was an unpleasant fishy smell in the air. I asked Jin Yiwei where the smell came from. He told me that the people in the suburbs of the capital are mainly engaged in the fur industry. To dry in the sun, now both sides of the official road are covered with furs of various livestock and wild animals.

The old woman who blocked the dragon chariot suddenly appeared among the chariots and horses. The hussars in front and the guards on both sides of the dragon chariot didn't notice her at first.The old woman had been kneeling on the left side of the official road with a piece of animal skin covering her body for a long time. She threw off the animal skin and rushed towards my dragon chariot. The guards were shocked.I heard a commotion outside the car. When I opened the dark window, the guards had forcibly carried away the white-haired woman. I heard her crying out loudly. She said, my little girl, put my Return Xiao'ezi to me, Your Majesty will be gracious to let Xiao'ezi out of the palace.

What is she yelling for?Who is Xiao'ezi?I asked Captain Jin Yi.I don't know about the servants, maybe they are palace maids selected from the people.Who is Xiao'ezi?Do you know Xiao Ezi?I asked a maid in the carriage through the window again, and I felt that the crying of the old woman made people panic.Xiao'ezi served beside the late king, who was buried with the coffin after the late king's death. The maid replied tearfully, and she covered her face and sobbed and said, poor mother and daughter, they are going to meet on Huangquan Road. I tried my best to recall the appearance of Xiao'ezi, a strange court lady, but I couldn't remember anything. You must know that the eight hundred court ladies in Daxie Palace are all beautiful and beautiful, and they are very similar to each other.They swayed and grew quietly like some flowers and branches among the Sangong and Sixth Courtyards, and then bloomed or withered without leaving any traces. I couldn't remember the appearance of Xiao'ezi, but I remembered the mausoleum under Tongchi Mountain, and the countless deep With the coffins and dead bodies buried in the ground, a deep cool air miraculously entered my nostrils. I sneezed, and I suddenly felt a little cold in the car.

His Majesty was startled.Jin Yiwei said that the old woman should be beheaded with a knife.I wasn't startled, I just thought of dead bodies.I put on a peacock cloak and fastened a suede waist protector. I said, the field is much colder than the palace. You should try to prepare a small clay oven for me. I want to warm up in the car.For the first time, I saw the countryside of Xie country.Those villages are surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the igloos are scattered like chess pieces by the ponds and woods.The fields in early winter are barren, and some withered leaves remain on the branches of the mulberry trees.The sound of woodcutters chopping firewood on the distant hillside echoed in the valley, and some salt traders pushed their wheelbarrows on the small road beside the official road.Every village my convoy passed caused the sound of dogs barking and people making noises. The farmers with shabby clothes and withered faces gathered at the intersection. They were ecstatic and excited because they saw my appearance with their own eyes. They were led by the old man to me. Three knocks and nine bows, when the dragon chariot had passed through the mulberry trees and left the village, I looked back and saw that the pious ceremony of the farmers was still going on. Countless dark foreheads knocked on the loess road again and again, and the sound was like thunder in spring.The countryside is poor and dirty, and the peasants are hungry and pitiful. These are the first impressions of Xieguo's countryside, which are quite different from my imagination.I can't forget a child who climbed on a tree. The child's clothes in the cold wind were just a piece of torn rag. It took me a long time to see what was digging inside. He was digging out a kind of white tree worm, and the food he chewed was this white tree worm.I almost vomited, I asked Jin Yiwei, why did that kid eat bugs?Jin Yiwei said that he was hungry, his family ran out of food and had to eat worms.People eat like this in the countryside. If there is a disaster year, even the bugs on the trees will be robbed, so they have to eat the bark. If the bark is also stripped off, they will go out to beg for a living.If they were really hungry during the begging, they would grab the loess from the official road and eat it, and they would swell to death after eating.The bones His Majesty saw just now were not cow bones, but actually the bones of dead people.

I am silent when it comes to the dead.I don't like this topic, but people like to talk about it everywhere.I suddenly slapped Jin Yiwei and warned him not to talk about dead people anymore.After the convoy passed Crescent Lake, I was happy again.The water of Crescent Lake is golden and silvery in the twilight, and the water and sky are the same color. The reeds all over the lake are fluttering in the wind, and the soft reed flowers and water birds are circling together, making the sky by the lake half yellow and half white.What surprised me even more was that a group of wild ducks with bright feathers lived beside the water. After being disturbed by the wooden wheels and horseshoes, they flew straight towards my dragon chariot. I ordered the driver to stop and jumped off the dragon chariot with a bow. In response to the sound of my bow and crossbow falling to the ground, I shouted with joy. Yan Lang over there has already picked up the wild duck that was shot by the arrow, and ran towards me with one hand held high. Your Majesty, it is a female duck.I asked Yan Lang to carry the wild duck in his arms, and when we got to the palace, we would cook it and eat it.I said to Yan Lang.Yan Lang obediently put the injured wild duck into his arms, and I saw that his Dian Luo shirt was soon stained red with the blood of the wild duck.By the Crescent Lake, I was full of interest, and all the horses and horses stopped to watch my posture of bending my bow and shooting the eagles.It's a pity that after several arrows missed, I was so angry that I threw away the crossbow in my hand.I thought of the scenery of Crescent Lake in the poems I chanted in Jinshantang in the past. I recalled it hard but I didn’t think of it. The wild duck even won the applause and applause of the accompanying civil servants.University scholar Wang Hao proposed to go to the pavilion to look at the remaining inscriptions of the ancients, and I readily accepted.A group of people came to the gazebo, and found that the bluestone inscriptions had disappeared, and the ink marks left by the past literati on the pillars of the pavilion were also wiped away by the wind and rain. What is amazing is that there is a hut in the bamboo forest on the side of the gazebo out of thin air. .Officials who have been to Crescent Lake all said that the thatched hut was built strangely. Some people went straight to push open the firewood door and reported that there was no one in the hut. When they raised the lamp to look again, they shouted. There is an inscription on the wall, Your Majesty, come and see it .

I walked into the hut first, and by the light of the pine lantern, I saw the strange inscription on the wall, King Xie's reading place.According to the handwriting, I can tell at a glance that it was done by the monk Juekong.I believe this is the last teaching he left me when he retired to Kuzhu Mountain.So I casually said to the attendants, don't be surprised, this is just a monk's graffiti.Under the thatched hut by the lake, I imagined a monk in black walking on the snow at night, and felt that the pale face of Kong Qingzhen became blurred and elusive.I don't know if this book-loving monk has arrived at the distant Kuzhu Temple, and is reciting those tattered and moldy scriptures under the lonely lamp of the cold window.

Overnight in Huizhou Palace.The plague was spreading in Huizhou, and the state officials lit a kind of wild wormwood around the palace. The smoke was lingering, and the acrid smell made me cough.The main hall where I stayed also blocked the doors and windows with silk, making it suffocating everywhere. It is said that this is to prevent the plague from invading the palace.I was full of resentment but could not vent it. I never expected to come to this unfortunate Huizhou to stay overnight, but the attendants told me that this was the only way to go on the west tour of Fenghuang Pass. Yan Lang and I played the game of thread stretching for a while, and then I let Yan Lang sleep side by side with me. The unique mint-like fragrance of Yan Lang was elegant and pleasant, and it improved the dirty air in Huizhou Palace.

It was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month when I passed Pinzhou, and I could hear the festive sound of gongs, drums and music in the city of Pinzhou from a distance.I have long heard that Pinzhou is a rich and prosperous place in the territory of Xie Kingdom. The highly respected Western King Zhaoyang worked hard to govern the territory allotted by Duke Xie. The people of Pinzhou are famous for their silk weaving and merchants.My convoy approached the city gate of Pinzhou, and I looked up at the gold-cast horizontal plaque above the gate, with the four characters Pinzhou Fudi written on it. It is said that when the late king was alive, he asked his uncle Xiwang Zhaoyang for this horizontal plaque. He was politely rejected, and the late king later sent a group of hussars to sneak here late at night, but all the cavalry who climbed the ladder fell with arrows. It is said that that night, Xi Wang Zhaoyang personally went to the tower to guard against theft, and all those who stole plaques died in the hands of Xi Wang Zhaoyang's poisonous arrows. .Xiwang Zhaoyang and Daxie Palace have a long history of feuds. The civil and military officials who accompanied me were cautious. They disguised my dragon and phoenix as a caravan and entered Pinzhou City. The caravan was in a secluded street. After weaving through the alleys, we finally arrived at the luxuriously decorated Pinzhou Palace. Xiwang Zhaoyang didn’t know the news of our arrival.The festive gongs and drums in Pinzhou City made me feel restless in the palace, so I decided to take Yanlang and the two of them for a private visit.I didn't want to secretly find out what bad deeds were hidden behind Xi Wang Zhaoyang's great political achievements. What I was interested in was how much joy the folks had in making Laba, and how the people of Pinzhou lived in peace, devoted themselves to their work and had fun.It was getting late, and Yan Lang and I put on soap jackets and sneaked out to the back door of the palace. Yan Lang said that he once sold ironware with his father in Pinzhou City, and he could be my guide.

Except for the occasional buzzing sound of silk reeling from a few textile workshops, the alleys in Pinzhou City are empty, and the stone pavement between the streets and alleys glows with a clean luster under the winter sunset.Yan Lang led me towards the buzzing Dazhong Pavilion. On the way, I came across a small wine shop that was closed in a hurry. The owner of the wine shop was standing on the bench and took off the cover in front of the door. He waved the mask at us. The wine is yelling, let's go, the dragon and snake dancers are faster than the big bell pavilion.It was the first time in my life that I walked two miles in Pinzhou City. Yan Lang took my hand and squeezed into the crowd at the Dazhong Pavilion. The soles of my feet already had blisters.No one paid attention to me and Yan Lang, the joyful and ecstatic crowd rushed to and fro in the open space of the Dazhong Pavilion, and I was always worried that the hemp clogs on my feet would be trampled off.For the first time in my life, I was among the common people, and my body was swayed here and there by the people chasing the fire. I had no choice but to hold Yan Lang's arm tightly, lest I get separated from him.Yan Lang was nimble and nimble like a loach, leading me to and fro in the crowd, don't be afraid, Your Majesty, there are so many people in Laba.Yan Lang leaned into my ear and said, I will let His Majesty see all the interesting things, first on the land, then on the water, and finally on the market.This microservice outing was an eye-opener for me.The carnival atmosphere in Pinzhou City is in stark contrast to the gloom in Huizhou City.The former king's enemy Xi Wang Zhaoyang ruled such an excited and crazy city, which made me feel a little bit worried. Here I watched the famous Pinzhou Laba performances with my own eyes. There are more than ten kinds, such as distributing tea and making water, stepping on rolling logs, walking ropes, playing pans, singing, birds, water puppets, Taoist tricks, swallowing knives and spitting fire, lifting wheels, kites, and meteor explosions.These are all Yan Lang's so-called land tricks.Yan Lang also took me to the lake to see the boats on the water, saying that there were more people there because all the fresh and wonderful commodities were sold on the boats during the Laba Festival.I was staring at a juggler who was walking in the air, and when I was struggling to decide something, a black-faced man came from behind the cloth man in the juggling class, and his eyes were shining as he looked straight at me.Child, what a light body, he stretched out his hand and squeezed my waist, the pain made me scream.I heard the black-faced man say with a southern accent, boy, come with me, and I will teach you how to walk.I smiled at him, Yan Lang turned pale with fright, he said hastily, His Majesty ran quickly, took my hand and squeezed out of the crowd watching the juggling.Scared me.After running for a while, Yanlang let go of my hand. He still said with a pale face that the juggling class is the best at abducting people. If His Majesty really lets them abduct people, I will die.What are you afraid of?I think Zou Suo is more powerful than Dang Xie Wang, and that is the hero.I thought about the difference between me and a cable artist, and said seriously, I don't like being King Xie, I like a cable artist.

If your majesty goes down the rope, I'll ride the log.Yan Lang said.Why do you talk so cutely like an old court lady?I twisted Yan Lang's cheek.Immediately, Yan Lang's face was full of embarrassment, and I said, don't blush, why are you always shy like a girl? Yan Lang bit his lip, his eyes were like a frightened deer, he said, the servant deserves to die, and he will never blush and be shy again, I wonder if His Majesty still wants to see the excitement elsewhere? Go ahead and have a good time now that you've slipped out. Yanlang and I finally came to the Xiangliu Lake on the west side of Pinzhou City.The lakeside is really another fairyland, with countless painted boats, singing girls and dancing girls on the small boats, string music and flute, and the boatmen list countless rare treasures to attract tourists, including poles, theater sets, flower baskets, painted fans, colorful flags , sugar fish, powder bait, seasonal flowers, mud boys, etc., and the stalls on the shore are full of various playthings such as pearl crown combs, gold colored satin, rhinoceros tin lacquer kilns and so on.I was dazzled and sighed that I didn't carry any silver with me.Yan Lang said mysteriously, just order whatever His Majesty wants, and the servant can get it without spending a penny.I pointed to the painted clay kids on the bow and said, I want those clay kids, go and get them for me.Yan Lang asked me to stand there and wait for him. I stood under a big willow tree, wondering about Yan Lang's easy promise.In an instant, I saw Yan Lang pushing aside the crowd and walking towards me, taking something out of his arms as he walked, first he took out a clay boy, and then another clay boy, four in total, holding them in his hands and laughing at me. Hee to smile.Is it stolen?I suddenly realized, I took the four mud boys and asked Yan Lang, how did you steal them with so many people guarding them?

With quick eyes, quick hands and quick legs, Yan Lang smiled, touched his scalp and said, my third brother taught me, my third brother can steal anything, once he even stole a pig under the nose of a butcher.Why didn't you tell me that you have this skill?If I had known earlier, I would have asked you to steal Mrs. Huangfu's Yu Ruyi.How about you go and steal the golden plaque on the gate of Pinzhou City?Those are my favorite things.I told Yan Lang both true and false.That can't be done, the head will be beheaded, and the slave will never dare.Yan Lang turned his head and looked towards the lake, he tugged on the corner of my clothes, please go, Your Majesty, I am afraid that the boatman will come after him if he finds out.On the way back to the palace, Yan Lang carried me on his back, because I couldn't walk anymore.We passed through the joyous streets of Pinzhou City, and heard passers-by talking about the news that King Xie had come to Pinzhou.I covered my mouth and snickered on Yan Lang's back, I swore this was the happiest and freest day I've had in fourteen years.Later, I told Yan Lang that I would drive Xi Wang Zhaoyang out of Pinzhou City and move the capital of my Xie Kingdom to Pinzhou.Yan Lang sneered under my body, he said, that would be fun, I can go steal mud boys for His Majesty every day.The four painted clay children were lost one by one during the later west tour.Later, I passed through many towns in Xie Kingdom, and the impression of the Laba Festival carnival in Pinzhou City gradually faded.But on drowsy winter afternoons, on bumpy and muddy country lanes, I thought many times of that juggler high in the air, his red cape and black boots, his wild smile and freedom. With a light figure, he looks like a mountain antelope when he is galloping on the thin iron chain.I also think of that dark-faced man with a southern accent many times, he said to me, child, come with me, I will teach you how to walk.The snow is falling on the western frontier, and the snow covers the boundless wilderness and desolate market town.There have been constant wars and disasters over the years, and the migration of residents has made it sparsely populated. Within a hundred miles, the sound of chickens crowing and dogs barking cannot be heard.I have long heard that Dayu, the king of the Northwest who governs this place, is greedy for wine and sex. In his mansion, I saw countless wine tanks and jars, and a huge and unfathomable wine cellar, filled with the wine of the Northwest King's mansion. Qi makes people dizzy, and Northwest Wang Dayu's ugly, red and swollen face reminded me of the macaque's buttocks. As soon as I saw him, I pointed to Dayu's face and said, have you seen the macaque's buttocks?Your face is like a macaque ass.Da Yu laughed out loud after hearing this, without showing any sign of displeasure.He summoned a group of dancers to sing and dance in the hall, including a few blue-eyed women with nose augmentation.Northwest Wang Dayu clapped his hands and groaned while drinking, his alcohol-smelling face approached me and whispered, does Your Majesty care about those girls?I can give it to His Majesty and bring it back to the palace in the capital.I shook my head, and I saw that all the dancers had their bellies exposed, and they painted a kind of shiny red powder and gold leaf on their bellies, which made them very coquettish and gorgeous when they twisted.I burst out laughing as I was reminded of the macaque's ass again.This time, the Northwest King couldn't hold back his face anymore. I saw him roll his eyes to the sky, and complained to his attendants in a low voice, "You shit, King Daxie, you don't understand anything, you only know about the macaque's butt."I originally planned to go to Fenghuangguan the next day to meet the soldiers on the border.But the next day it snowed heavily and the weather was extremely cold.I huddled on the wool warm couch of the Northwest King, unwilling to step out of the palace. Through the window, I saw the attendants preparing chariots and horses in the snow. Yang Song, who joined the army, came on time to urge me to get on the horse and go west, and I scolded him. I said, do you want to freeze me to death?Don't go now, wait until the snow stops and the sun comes out before going.The wind and snow outside did not subside, but became more and more violent. Yang Song, who joined the army, came to ask when to start driving again. I was so angry that I drew out my dragon and leopard sword and said to Yang Song, if you come to urge me again, I will use your head as a question. It's so cold today that I'm too lazy to drive.Yang Song stood under the couch with his head bowed, tears welled up in his eyes, I heard him whisper in a mournful voice, the officers and men of Fenghuang Pass were waiting for King Xie to see him, and now King Xie’s decree will be three nights If the situation changes, the morale of the soldiers guarding the pass will inevitably change overnight. If Peng Guo's battle list is issued today, it may be difficult to keep Fenghuang Pass.I ignored Yang Song's advice to join the army.Later I heard Yang Song caressing his horse and crying bitterly in the snow, like a madman.I don't know what to cry about. I don't believe that my change of purpose will really lead to the fall of Phoenix Pass. At lunch, I drank a cup of tiger bone wine and ate some venison, fruits and vegetables, and felt my body was hot again.I played a game of chess with Northwest Wang Dayu, and I won easily.I picked up a chess piece and stuffed it into Da Yu's upturned nostril, Uncle, you are so stupid.I say.Da Yu hiccupped and said disapprovingly, I am stupid, and stupid people deserve their lives. Didn't anyone say that Duke Xie's descendants are all stupid?Most of the kings of past dynasties were stupid people, all because of excessive drinking and sex.I corrected the fallacy of Northwest Wang Dayu, and I said, I am not greedy for wine and sex, and I am not stupid at all.Northwest Wang Dayu laughed loudly again. He said, His Majesty is only fourteen years old, and His Majesty will gradually become stupid. If you are always smart, it will be difficult to sit on the throne.Da Yu's words sounded a bit harsh, I lost my temper, and walked away from the chess table, Da Yu followed me and said repeatedly, "Your Majesty, calm down, what I said is all drunk nonsense, let's play another game to win or lose." .I turned around and said, I have already won you, and I will never play chess with a fool like you again.Da Yu shouted again, Your Majesty, let me take you to the wine cellar to taste the century-old wine.I said, don't keep pestering me, I hate your mouth full of alcohol.The tiger and deer meal of Northwest Wang Dayu made me unbearably hot, so I had no choice but to go outside into the wind and snow, I think now I can leave Fenghuang Pass.The strange thing was that there were only chariots and horses in the snow, but no one was there. I asked Yan Lang beside me, where did Yang Canjun go?Yan Lang's answer surprised me. He said that Yang Song, who had joined the army, led a group of hussars to Fenghuang Pass without authorization.I said why I didn't know the battle started and when the battle started.Yan Lang said that when His Majesty was playing chess with the Northwest King.Now Liang Yushi and General Zou are watching the battle from the watchtower.Yan Lang held up the big umbrella of the canopy and led me to the archery tower.The people watching the battle gave me the highest terrain and pointed to the billowing wolf smoke in the northwest.At that time, the snow cleared up, and I saw countless flags moving like cloud shadows in the distant valley, and heard the faint whimpering of the painting horns and the clattering of horseshoes, but I couldn't see anything else.I can't see anything clearly, how can I tell the situation where the two armies are confronting each other?I asked Li Chong, the general of the hussars.Li Chong said anxiously that His Majesty only needs to see how the flags of the two armies advance and retreat to know who has the upper hand. Now that Daxie's black panther flag is fighting and retreating, it seems that the battle is not going well.Once the Phoenix Pass is lost, Jiaozhou will be in jeopardy. It is time for His Majesty to drive back to Beijing.I said, when will I be lucky enough to see the soldiers on the border?A wry smile appeared on the corner of Li Chong's mouth. It seems that His Majesty's westward tour can only end here, and it is difficult for dragons and phoenixes to travel under the flames of war. I was at a loss standing on the watchtower, I knew nothing about the battle on the battlefield, I just vaguely realized that my random change of purpose might lead to serious consequences.But I think it's mainly due to the bad weather in the Northwest Frontier, who made the weather so cold and bad.When I was about to go down the archery tower, I saw Liang Yushi, the chief inspector of the Western Tour, asking Hushi General Li, how far is Fenghuangguan from here?General Li said that it was about twenty-eight miles away.Liang Yushi yelled loudly, and he began to drive away the accompanying palace servants who were crowded on the watchtower to watch the battle. Everyone, get down quickly, and prepare the chariots and horses to drive back at any time.According to Yang Song's advice to join the army, unfortunately, at dusk, the first batch of defeated troops retreated from the forest in the west without their armor and armor.It was at this time that my huge group of chariots and horses left the Northwest Palace, and the team was filled with a noisy and hurried atmosphere of fleeing.Northwest King Dayu's chariot and horse followed behind, and I heard his concubine crying and crying in a mess on the embroidered cart, while Dayu, riding on a mule horse, was furious at his attendants, and loaded my wine jar into the cart, Da Yu brandished his whip and lashed out at the servants who were in distress. He shouted loudly, go back and put my wine tank on the car.I think Northwest Wang Dayu really lives up to his reputation for being greedy for wine and sex. Occasionally, in the oatmeal field beside the road, the bodies of dead soldiers were discarded. They died halfway, and the military officials who escorted the wounded soldiers dropped the wounded soldiers who had just died anytime and anywhere in order to reduce the burden on the horses.I saw those dead bodies lying like broken logs in the oatmeal field after the snow, with a faint trace of blood floating.They remind me of those concubines and palace servants who were buried in the royal tomb of Tongchi Mountain. Compared with those buried in red coffins, they are considered lucky.I counted the dead bodies in the oatmeal field on the dragon carriage, and there were thirty-seven dead bodies in total. When I counted to the thirty-eighth dead body, I screamed because I saw the dead body suddenly crawling in the slush, He raised one hand in the air with difficulty, as if trying to shout, but I couldn't hear anything.The man's face was covered with blood, and the red war robe was torn into several pieces of red cloth that were fluttering in the wind. I saw his other hand pressing on his bare belly. I finally saw that what he was pressing was a purple-red The intestines of a man cut off by a sharp knife.I want to vomit, I covered my mouth and said to Yan Lang beside me.Yan Lang opened his palms and said, Your Majesty spit on my hands.When I retched at Yan Lang's palm, I heard Jin Yiwei on the other side let out a suppressed sob with his helmet covering his face.I'm surprised, why are you crying?Jin Yiwei's sobs stopped abruptly, and he pointed to the dying general in the oatmeal field and said, Your Majesty, that is Yang Song who joined the army.Please Your Majesty be kind enough to bring Yang Canjun back to the palace.I looked at that person by the window again, and it was indeed Yang Song who joined the army and rushed to Fenghuang Pass to help the army without authorization.Now he stood unsteadily on the snow, the intestines hanging through his fingers, the blood staining the white snow beneath his boots.What I saw was Yang Song's eyes buried in the blood-stained wound, sad and desperate eyes, his lips moved but there was no sound, I couldn't hear his cries or moans.I don't know whether my mood is horror or fear, anyway, I suddenly retracted and shouted a short unreasonable syllable to Jin Yiwei.Jin Yiwei was trembling all over, his face was pale, and he looked at me suspiciously.Kill, I patted the quiver on Jin Yiwei's back and repeated. I saw Jin Yiwei put his bow and arrow on the window and did not shoot. I said, shoot quickly. If you dare to resist the order, I will kill you together.Jin Yiwei turned his head and whimpered and said, the chariot was bumpy, so he might not be able to shoot correctly.I snatched his bow and arrow, you are all useless, I said, let's see my archery.In the end, I leaned against the window and shot three arrows at the dying Yang Song, one of which was inserted into Yang Song's chest with unusual precision.When Yang Song fell on the snow, I heard screams from the cars in front and behind. Perhaps the followers had already discovered that the person soaked in black blood was Yang Song. They waited silently for my will, and my three loud arrows undoubtedly What shocked some, no doubt rejoiced and relieved others.kill.I put away my bow and arrow and told the stunned Yan Lang that Yang Song had been punished for leaving his post without permission, and now that he was a successful general, he had to be killed. Your Majesty is good at archery.Yan Lang agreed softly.Yan Lang's small face was full of mixed expressions of horror and flattery, and his hands were still holding a pool of filth I spit out.I heard him repeating my words, the defeated general must be killed. Don't be afraid, Yan Lang.I only kill those I don't like.I whispered a few words in Yan Lang's ear, whoever I want to kill must die, otherwise I don't like being King Xie.You can tell me who you want to die, Yan Lang, who do you want to die?I don't want anyone to die.Yan Lang raised his head and thought for a long time, he said, Your Majesty, shall we stretch the thread?My westward tour was ruined by a surprise attack by Peng Guo's army, and perhaps the more important culpability lay with myself.The ending of fleeing in embarrassment made this mighty western tour seem absurd and ridiculous.The accompanying civil and military officials slandered each other and complained, and the drivers were ordered to travel day and night, trying to drive the western patrol car and horse away from the dangerous zone as soon as possible.I sat on the dragon chariot with a gloomy expression, remembering the scene of divination by the heave master in front of Li Palace, he said that once a hidden arrow is shot, it will be broken by the north wind.I feel that there is indeed a hidden arrow chasing my whereabouts in the dark, but I don't know where the north wind came from, and how the north wind broke the hidden arrow. Maybe the words of the hexagram teacher are just nonsense.At the post station in Peizhou, I heard the news that Peng Guo occupied Fenghuang Pass and the fifty-mile valley of Xie State inside the pass.The people of Peng Guo burned the palace of Northwest King Dayu and destroyed countless wine vats and wine jars. After hearing the news, Dayu cried bitterly. Come down and drink.I witnessed Da Yu's grief indifferently.The purpose of my western tour of Fenghuangguan was originally just for fun. Now that Fenghuangguan has fallen into the hands of Peng Guo, the remaining thing is how to return to the palace safely. I think of all kinds of adventures and accidents that the kings of the past dynasties have experienced when they patrolled the mountains and rivers. I am both yearning and suspicious.Behind the feed shed at the Peizhou post station, Yan Lang and I played the most interesting game of the trip. We exchanged and put on our respective clothes, and then I asked Yan Lang, who was in the golden crown and dragon robe, to ride around the post station. Said, I want to see if there is a stab in the back.Yan Lang rides his horse and gallops like a generation of emperors and emperors, and he is also deeply intoxicated in the game of being King Xie.I sat on the haystack and watched the movement around Yan Lang. Those servants who were busy feeding the horses didn't notice this game, and no one noticed that the real King Xie was crawling on the haystack at the moment. Everyone was watching Yan Lang. His horse dismounted and bowed down.No backstabbing, Your Majesty.Yan Lang told me after walking around, his little face was full of joy brought by curiosity, he asked me, Your Majesty, do I want to ride to the farmer's house?come down.I suddenly feel unhappy.I almost dragged Yanlang off the horse viciously, and made him change his clothes quickly. I realized the importance of the Golden Crown Dragon Robe to me, and even in the short game of changing clothes, it also reflected my attachment to it.I can't describe the confusion and melancholy I felt when I watched Yanlang riding a horse on the haystack. I suddenly found that my King Xie's attire looked fit and mighty on others, and you became a castrate when you put on the yellow coat of castrates. What a terrifying experience it is to wear the emperor's dragon robe and become an emperor. Yan Lang was puzzled by the suspension of the game. He looked at me suspiciously while taking off his clothes and shoes. I warned him sharply to move more quickly. I said, if Mrs. Huangfu finds out about this, you will die. Yan Lang was frightened and cried, and later I found out that his trousers were also wet. Fortunately, he had already taken off the dragon robe and returned it to me. If my dragon robe was also wet by him, the consequences would be disastrous.Peizhou made me suffer from fever one day.Perhaps the origin of the disease lies in the dressing game between Yan Lang and I. You must know that we changed our clothes behind the hay pile at the post station, and the wind and cold soaked into my weak body.But I didn't tell anyone about it.The accompanying imperial doctor made me take a pill and promised that my sick body would recover the next day.The pill was very smelly. I suspected it was made of animal or human blood. I ate half of it and vomited half of it. As a result, I felt unwell as soon as I left Peizhou City the next day. The accompanying civil and military officials panicked and threw All the carriages and horses stopped on the road, waiting for the results of the imperial doctor's pulse diagnosis.The imperial doctor sent the black and red pill again, but I kicked it away.I shouted to him in confusion, don't give me blood, I don't want blood.The imperial doctor picked up the broken pills and whispered something to Liang Yuli.Then the chariot continued on the road.They decided to rush to Pinzhou day and night. It is said that in the palace of Xiwang Zhaoyang, there are three imperial physicians with the best medical skills in Xie Kingdom.During the days when I stayed in Pinzhou City again, I fell asleep on the bed and knew nothing about the amazing events that happened around me.During this period, Xi Wang Zhaoyang brought three imperial physicians to my side many times, but I couldn't remember their appearance and words.I later heard from Yan Lang that the imperial physician Yang Dong poisoned the decoction. Yan Lang was very nervous when he secretly disclosed this concealed incident. He was once threatened not to disclose any clues about this matter, otherwise he would be killed disaster.I remember the silence in the West Palace that morning, and the faint sunlight shone through the lattice windows on my recovering body, like thorns pricking me deeply.I grabbed the sword next to my pillow and cut off a flower table. I was so frightened that Yan Lang fell to the ground. He begged me not to mention his name when Xingshi asked for his crime.I summoned Liang Yushi and others, and they knew my furious expression, and they knelt down on the couch together and waited for my questioning.Only Xiwang Zhaoyang, who had long beard, sword temples, white robe and soap boots, knelt by the door with his knees bent, his hands clasped behind his waist, and he seemed to be holding something in his hands.Xiwang Zhaoyang, what is in your hand?I pointed my sword at Zhaoyang and asked.It is the head of my imperial physician Yang Dong.As Xi Wang Zhaoyang said, he suddenly raised his hands, and in his hands was indeed a man's bloody head.Xiwang Zhaoyang's eyes were inexplicably filled with tears. He said that Zhaoyang deliberately took Yang Dong's head personally, and came to kowtow to His Majesty to plead guilty.Did you instigate Yang Dong to poison me?I turned my back and didn't look at the head, because I was afraid that I would vomit again if I couldn't help it. I heard Xi Wang Zhaoyang let out a short mocking laugh, so I suddenly turned around and shouted angrily, what are you laughing at?How dare you laugh at me?Your Majesty has taught me, I dare not laugh at it, I just lament that your majesty's young heart is ignorant of world affairs, it is difficult to withstand wind and rain and swords, and it is difficult to judge east, west, south, north, south, if I ordered the poisoning, if I really have the heart to kill the king, why bother me in the mansion?And why bother to do it under the hands of my imperial physician, isn't it a better opportunity for His Majesty to travel in micro-clothes during the Laba Festival?I was at a loss for words for a while, it seems that the footprints of my trip back to Pinzhou City were all in the eyes and ears of Xiwang Zhaoyang.I looked at the group of officials under the couch, they looked cramped and remained silent.They all seem to be afraid of offending the venerable Xiwang Zhaoyang.Why did imperial physician Yang Dong murder me?Then I asked calmly. Those who wield the sword will be wounded by the sword, Your Majesty.The imperial doctor Yang Dong is the brother of Yang Song who joined the army, and they are like brothers. Yang Dong knew that it was His Majesty who shot and killed Yang Song who had contributed to joining the army in Jiaozhou.西王昭阳的脸上再次浮现出悲切之色，他的炯炯目光逼视着我，杨松擅自带兵援阵凤凰关守军，虽未经陛下恩准，但是英勇报国之举，虽败犹荣，昭阳不知道陛下为何将他射杀在莜麦地里？我终于弄清了太医杨栋的来历。我无法回答西王昭阳尖锐的问题，尤其是他的逼人的目光使我恼羞成怒，于是我把手中的宝剑朝他扔 去，我对他说，你滚，我想杀谁就杀谁，用不着你管。我听见西王昭阳仰天长叹了一声，他自言自语地说，燮王年幼而暴虐，燮国的灾难就要降临了。说完就提着杨栋的首级退了下去。我觉得西王昭阳的话听来耳熟，细细一想他的悲悯之言竟和老疯子孙信如出一辙。 出品州城前遇到了罕见的冬雨。车辇途经法场，在沥沥雨线中我看见法场上人迹寥寥，木杆上悬挂着的人头被雨洗测一新，每张脸都焕发着新鲜的气息，在五个死犯的人头之间飘动着一张黄褐色的人皮，他们告诉我那就是太医杨栋的人皮。西王昭阳将杨栋的首级呈奉给我，将杨栋的人皮悬挂于法场示众，而杨栋无首无肤的尸身已被西北王昭阳厚殓埋葬于陵墓之中。奇怪的是杨栋的人皮竟然从木杆上突然坠落，恰恰落在我的龙辇篷顶上。所有的目击者包括我自己都被这种巧合吓了一跳。人皮坠落时愤怒的形状以及砰然炸响的声音，给我留下了深刻的记忆。在昏昏沉沉的回京路上，我无数次陷入白日梦呓之中。我看见杨氏兄弟一路追逐着我的踪迹，杨松按住他的血红的肠子，而太医杨栋则挥舞他的人皮紧跟在他的兄弟身后奔跑。刺客，刺客。我在昏睡中重复叫喊着。我不准车辇中途停栖。后来我依稀看见一群妇人也加入了杨氏兄弟的行列，她们张大空洞无舌的嘴或者一路抛下粉红的手指，乱发飘飞、裙裾破碎，像一群狂奔着的白色小鬼。我看见业已淡忘的杨夫人和妃子黛娘，她们向我尖声叫喊着什么，杨夫人边跑边喊，你不是燮王，燮王是我的儿子端文。黛娘追逐我的形象则是充满色情意味的，我看见她的罗裙在奔跑中随风飘走，黛娘坦露出酥胸白臀对我喊，陛下，到我身边来吧。我听见我虚弱的声音只是喘息和呻吟的混合。我想对她们说，别过来，你们再过来我就杀了你们，但我突然发不出任何声音了。我用力蹬踢着脚下的紫铜脚炉，手指甲在锦衣尉的脸上抓挠出道道血痕，龙辇里的宫人不知所措，他们后来告诉我在昏厥中我只是重复喊着一个字：杀。 卧病清修堂的那些日子是寂寥而无奈的，每天都是北风充耳，枯树萧瑟之声使这个冬天更显凄凉。我母亲孟夫人总是跑到我的榻边来嘘寒问暖或者暗自垂泪，她担心宫里有人利用这个机会制造宫变事件。她还怀疑祖母皇甫夫人在此间设下了什么圈套和毒计。我讨厌孟夫人的喋喋不休，有时候她放我想起笼中的鹦鹉。舞姬们在炭炉边闻乐起舞，乐师们则在堂外奏响琴瑟，他们的努力其实是徒劳的。我仍然处于极度的焦虑和恐惧中，透过舞姬们的长袖薄裾和金钗银簪，我依稀看见许多血淋淋的人肠在清修堂里盘缠舞动，许多人皮在乐声中低空飞行。杀，杀，杀。我突然持剑跳到舞姬们中间胡乱砍击。吓得她们抱头鼠窜。太医说我中了邪毒，病情一时不会好转，需要到春暖花开之日才会恢复。辍朝已经七天。祖母皇甫夫人尝试着与我交谈，我仍然只会说一个字，杀。She is disappointed.她把我的途中染病归结于随驾官员的失职，对他们一一作出了惩罚。随驾总管梁御史自觉无颜回宫，当天就在私宅中吞金自杀了。到了第八天，皇甫夫人与丞相冯敖商议，决定让我带病临期。为了防止我在朝议中信口胡说，他们想出了一个骇人听闻的办法，在我的嘴里塞上丝绢，然后把我的双手缚在龙椅上，这样前来朝觐的官员们可以看见我的面目，却听不见我的声音了。可恶的老妇人，可恶的奴才们，他们竟然以对待囚犯的方法对待我，堂堂大燮王。 这年冬天我第一次蒙受了巨大的耻辱。当我口含丝绢坐在龙椅上接受文武百官的例行朝仪时，眼睛里噙满了屈辱和愤怒的泪水。 燮国的版图已经被画师再次修改，焦州凤凰关一带的百里疆土现在已经归属新兴的彭国。画师姓张，他在绘制了新的燮国版图过后，用裁纸刀切下自己的手指包卷在图中呈送入殿。宫中一时对此事议论纷纷。 我见到了那张血迹未泯的新版图。燮国地域的形状原来酷似大鸟，在父王那辈大鸟的右翅被东邻的徐国斩除，现在大鸟的左翅就断送在我的手上。现在我的燮国看上去就像一只死鸟，再也飞不起来了。 我记得久病初愈的那天天气晴和而温暖，在太医的建议下我来到后宫的树林里聆听各种鸟禽的鸣唱，太医认为这对恢复我的语音有所裨益。我看见树林里悬挂着几架秋千，有几只锦鸡和山雉像人一样站在秋千架上左顾右盼。鸟声啁啾，我模仿鸟类鸣叫了几声，声带果然畅通了许多，这个早晨很奇妙，它使我在以后对鸟类有了格外的兴趣和百倍的钟爱。隔着茂密蓊郁的槐柏树林，我还听见有人在冷宫里吹响笙箫。其声哀怨凄怆，似一阵清冷之水漫过宫墙。我坐在秋千架上，我的身体在箫声中无力地荡起来，落下去。我真的觉得自己像一只林中禽鸟，我有一种想飞的欲望。飞。我突然高声大叫。这是多日来我恢复的第二个语音。飞。我连续地亢奋地大叫，树林中的宫监们跟着我一齐叫起来，他们的表情又惊又喜。 后来我拉着绳索站在了秋千的座板上，我将双臂伸展，在秋千板上走了几个来回。我想起在品州城见到的走索的艺人，他们自由而飘逸的姿态给我留下的印象是如此强烈，使我无法忘却。我模仿走索艺人又走了几个来回，秋千板在我的脚下不停地晃悠，但我的平衡能力有如神助，我像一个真正的走索艺人控制了我的身体，也控制了那副悬空的秋千架。你们猜我在干什么？我对下面的宫监们喊。宫监们面面相觑，他们也许真的不知道，他们只是惊诧于我的病情在瞬间里消失殆尽，后来是燕郎打破了沉默，燕郎仰起脸露出一个神秘而灿烂的微笑，他说陛下在走索，陛下正在走索。已经很久没有听到我的兄弟端文的消息了。在我西巡回宫的第二天早晨，端文收拾了他的弓袋箭囊和诸子籍刊去了铜尺山下的近山堂，随行的只有三五个仆役书童。近山堂是我即位前读书的地方，我母亲孟夫人认为端文选择近山堂读书是居心叵测之举，以端文的年龄已过授室之年，但他却迟迟不婚，沉迷于刀枪弓箭和孙子兵法中，孟夫人觉得端文多年来一直对燮王的传位耿耿于怀，心中必有图谋不轨的念头。而祖母皇甫夫人对此有另外的看法，她对所有的王子皇孙都采取一种宽容和慈爱的态度。让他出宫，皇甫夫人后来对我说，一山不容二虎。你们兄弟素来不睦，与其搅在一起明争暗斗的，不如送走一个，我做长辈的也少操一份闲心。我说我无所谓，端文在不在宫里都跟我无关，只要他不再想暗算我，我就不会去阻止他的任何行踪。 我真的无所谓，我一直觉得端文端武兄弟心中潜伏的杀机只是蚍蜉撼树，除非借助至高无上的老祖母皇甫夫人，他们无力伤害我一丝毫毛。我想起端文那张阴沉而忧郁的脸，想起他骑在枣骝马上援弓射雕的勃勃雄姿，心中便有一种古怪的疑虑和猜忌。我怀疑在我和端文之间发生过某次严重的错位，有时候我真的怀疑被殉葬的杨夫人说的是一句真话，我是假燮王，端文是真正的燮王。我觉得我不像一个真正的燮王，而端文比我更像一个真正的燮王。 这是一块无处诉说的心病。我深知不能对任何人谈论我的自卑的猜疑，即使是最可亲近的燕郎。但在我最初的有惊无险的帝王生涯里，它像一块巨石压迫着我脆弱的冠冕，波及到我的精神状态。我就这样成为一个性格古怪顽劣的少年天子。我很敏感。我很残暴。我很贪玩。其实我还很幼稚。孟夫人始终不放心端文在宫外的行踪，她派出的探子乔装成砍柴的樵夫，远远观察和监视着近山堂的动静。探子说端文晨读午练，夜间秉烛而睡，一切都很正常。可是有一天探子慌慌张张地跑到迎春堂，报告端文拂晓西行的消息，孟夫人说她早料到这样的结果。她猜测端文会投奔品州的西王昭阳，昭阳的宠妃杨氏是端文兄弟的嫡亲姨母，端文的西逃充分暴露了他不满现状的野心。 你一定要截住他，否则无疑于放虎进山。孟夫人向我陈述了端文与西王府势力勾结后的种种弊端，她的目光异常焦灼，她一再嘱咐截道之事需要瞒住祖母皇甫夫人，以免那个可恶的老妇人从中作梗。我听从了母亲孟夫人的意见。一个深宫中的妇人对于宫闱大事也会有独到和深刻的见解。我深知孟夫人把她的权柄维系在我的王位上，她所有的智慧一半用于与皇甫夫人的明争暗斗中，另一半则投注在对我的燮王冠冕的监护上，因为她是我的生身母亲，因为我是至高无上的燮国君主。骠骑兵的快马在柳叶河渡口堵住了端文。据说端文当时夺路狂奔，企图跳上渡河的舟楫。他站在冰凉没膝的河水里，回首向骠骑兵射发了三支响箭。驾船的船夫因为受惊将舟楫划向河心，端文最终没有登上渡船。他朝河心追赶了几步，再次回首望了望岸上的骠骑兵和旗手手中的黑豹旌旗，他的脸上出现了一道悲壮而绝望的白光，然后他企图自溺于柳叶河中，迅疾地将整个身体沉下去。岸上的骠骑兵们大惊失色，他们一齐策马下河，将湿漉漉的端文捞上了马背。被掳回的端文在马上沉默不语，沿途的百姓中有人知道那是宫中的长王子端文，他们以为这是一队征战返宫的人马，有人在路边树枝上点响爆竹。爆竹和欢呼声响起来的时候，马上的端文潸然泪下。直到返回铜尺山麓的近山堂，端文的阴郁的脸上仍然泪迹未干。在端文被囚禁于近山堂的那段日子里，我曾经去见过他一次。清寂的近山堂物是人非，鹭鸟在冬天不知去向，而堂前的老树枯枝纵横，石阶上仍然残留着多日以前的积雪。我看见端文在寒风中独坐石凳，以一种无怨无恨的表情等候我的人马到来。你还想往品州逃吗？我没有想过要逃。我是想去品州购买一副新的弓箭，你知道只有在品州才能买到上乘的弓箭。 买弓箭是假，图谋作乱才是真的。我知道你心里想的什么，你一直以为父王是把王位传给你的，你这样想，端武也这样想，我从来不想，什么也不想，可我现在是燮王，我是你的君主，我不喜欢你眼睛里阴郁的火，躲躲闪闪的仇恨，还有那种该死的倨傲和藐视。有时候我真想把你的眼睛挖掉，你知道吗？I know.不仅是眼睛，假如你不喜欢我的心，你还可以把我的心也挖掉。你很聪明，但我不喜欢你聪明过头，更不喜欢你把聪明用在谋权篡位上，否则我就割下你聪明的脑袋，给你按上一只猪或者一条狗的脑袋，你喜欢做一头猪还是做一条狗？假如陛下一定要置我于死地，我情愿自求一死以免遭污辱。我看见端文从石凳上站起来，返身走进近山堂内，少顷携剑而出。锦衣侍兵立刻簇拥上前，紧密关注着端文的举动。我看见端文的脸色苍白如雪，嘴角上却浮现出若有若无的笑意，紫铜短剑闪着寒光被高高举起，那刃寒光使我在瞬间丧失了意识。我的眼前再次闪烁了西巡途中杀戮场面的血肉之光，看见参军杨松手托肠子站在莜麦地里的身影，看见杨松之兄杨栋的血淋淋的怒目金刚的头颅，一阵致命的晕眩使我倒在锦衣侍兵的怀中。No.别让他死。死人让我感到恶心。我呢喃着说。锦衣侍兵上前夺下了端文的短剑，端文现在倚树而立，眺望沐浴在冬日阳光中的铜尺山山峰，他的神色无悲无喜。从他的眉宇之间我发现了已故先王的影子。 求生不能，求死不允，陛下到底想让我干什么？端文仰天长叹。什么也别干，我就想让你在近山堂面壁读书，我不允许你走出近山堂十步之遥。离开近山堂前我用剑刺在大柏树下划了一条线，这是我给端文划定的活动界限。当我无意间抬头打量那棵大柏树时吃了一惊，柏树坚硬的树皮上布满了坑坑洼洼的白斑，我知道那是箭簇留下的痕迹，无疑也是端文在近山堂卧薪尝胆的见证。囚禁端文的秘密很快被好事的宫人走漏风声。我祖母皇甫夫人闻讯大怒，她没有更多的指责我，但孟夫人却被她杖打三次，孟夫人受到了史无前例的叱责和痛骂，自觉失尽脸面，差一点投入迎春堂后的水井中。 事情闹大后大燮宫外的朝廷重臣纷纷入宫进谏，所谏之言大体都是同室兄弟干戈相见的弊端。唯有丞相冯敖提出了一条务实的建议。他建议从速商定端文的婚姻大事，使端文充满危险的生活相对地稳定下来。冯敖谏言的关键是在端文完婚后所要采取的步骤，他提议封长王子为蕃王，这样便可遣派端文出宫守关，以免大燮宫内同室操戈的尴尬局面。冯敖须发皆 白，声若洪钟。冯敖是燮国的两朝丞相，权倾江山，也深得祖母皇甫夫人的信赖，在冯敖滔滔不绝的进谏声中，皇甫夫人不停地颔首称是，我知道冯敖的建议将很快被采纳了。我成了一名旁观者。我不想也不能干涉皇甫夫人的决定。出于一种好奇心，我想看看皇甫夫人为端文选择一个什么样的女子。大燮宫里枯守着众多先王留下的嫔妃，如果按照我的意愿，我会把其中最老最丑陋的妇人许配端文，但我知道那是违反天伦的，也是不可能的。我母亲孟夫人怀着仇恨的心情预测了端文的婚事，她对我说，你等着看吧，那老不死的母狼肯定要把娘家的女孩子塞给端文，大燮宫早晚会变成皇甫家族的天下。孟夫人的预测不久被事实所证实。端文果然娶了吏部尚书皇甫彬的六小姐，其实也就是皇甫夫人的侄孙女。我知道那是个脸孔黑黄眼睛有点斜视的女孩。对于端文被动的婚姻宫内流言纷纭，老宫人们感叹昔日的骄子端文如今沦落成老夫人手中的木偶，年龄幼小的宫女和阉宦在婚典之日则喜笑颜开，他们躲在窗廊后尽情嚼咽着杂果糕点。我有些幸灾乐祸，同时也萌动了兔死狐悲的恻隐之心。端文第一次给我某种可怜弱小的感觉。娶了个斜眼女子。我对燕郎说，那个皇甫小姐就是给我做婢女都不配，端文也够倒霉的。端文的婚典在侧宫的青鸾殿举行，按照大燮祖训君王不可参加臣子的婚丧仪式。婚典之日我在清修堂回避，听见侧宫的方向传来钟鼓弦乐之声，我无法抑制我的好奇心，带着燕郎从后花园的耳门潜入了侧宫。青鸾殿前的卫兵认出了我，他们张大嘴巴惶惑地望着我站到燕郎的肩背上，燕郎缓缓地直起身子，我就慢慢地升起来。这样我从窗格中清晰地窥见了青鸾殿内的婚典场面。大鼓再次捶响，红烛之光将婚典中的人群描上了朱砂色的油彩，王公贵族们肥胖的身影形同鬼魅，峨冠博带与裙钗香鬓一齐散发着盲目的欢乐气息。在人群中我看见了母亲孟夫人，她的脂粉厚重的脸上荡漾着虚伪的微笑，皇甫夫人手执寿杖安坐在椅子上，她的松弛的长满赘肉的颈部左右摇晃着，这是一种高贵的疾病，在摇晃中皇甫夫人欣赏着她亲手安排的宫廷婚姻，无比慈爱，无比闲适。 我恰恰目睹了新郎端文掀红布帕的情景。端文的手在半空中迟疑了很久，然后猛然掀去那块红布帕，那只手无从掩饰主人的失望和沮丧，皇甫氏的眼珠一如既往地朝两侧斜视，她的羞赧的神情因而显得很可笑。我在青鸾殿外忍俊不禁，我的不加节制的笑声无疑惊动了殿内的人，他们一齐朝窗上张望，我看见端文的脸在大婚之日仍然阴郁而苍白，他朝窗上张望时嘴唇努动了一下，我听不见他到底说了什么，也许他什么也没有说。我从燕郎背上跳下来，飞快地逃离了青鸾殿。从侧宫到凤仪殿的路上，悬挂着无数喜庆灯笼。我随手摘下一盏灯笼，一路跑着回到清修堂。我跑得很快，燕郎不停地劝我跑慢点，他怕我摔倒。可我仍然提着灯笼跑得飞快，我不知道我害怕什么，似乎后面的钟鼓声在追逐我，似乎是害怕那场可怕的婚典在追逐我。夜里下起了冻雨，我在龙榻上遥想日后我的婚事，心里空洞而怅然。清修堂外的宫灯在夜雨中飘摇，火苗忽闪不定。更役在宫墙外敲响三更梆声，我猜想端文已经挽着斜眼新娘的手步入了洞房。那群白色小鬼再度降临我的梦中。现在我清晰地看见了他们的面目，是一群衣衫褴褛通体发白的女鬼。他们在我的龙榻边且唱且舞，是一群淫荡的诱惑人的女鬼，冰清玉洁的肌肤犹如水晶熠熠闪光。我不再恐惧，不再呼叫僧人觉空前来捉鬼。在梦中我体验了某种情欲的过程。我梦遗了一回，后来自己起来换下了中衣。端文不久就接受了光裕大将军的封印，率领三千骑兵和三千步卒开往焦州，他的使命是驻守边界以抵御彭国的扩张和侵犯。端文在繁心殿接受封印，并索取了已故先王遗留的九珠宝刀。当他跪下谢恩时我看见他的腰带上系着那只刻有豹子图案的玉如意，那是祖母皇甫夫人的赠物，也就是我多次索取而未得的祖传宝贝。这个发现使我的自尊心受到了严重的打击。在朝臣们向端文恭贺道别的时候，我从繁心殿拂袖而去。我不知道皇甫夫人翻手为云覆手为雨的目的是什么，我讨厌她遍洒甘露于每一个子孙的权术。她已届风烛残年，为什么还在殚精竭虑地驾驭大燮宫的人人事事？我甚至多疑地猜想皇甫夫人与端文之间存在着某些勾结。 What are they up to?我曾就这个疑问请教翰林院大学士邹之通。邹之通是一个学识渊博文章冠群的儒生，但他在回答我的疑问时张口结舌，不知所云。我知道这是因为他们害怕皇甫夫人的缘故，若是僧人觉空在宫里就好了，可惜他现在已经归隐遥远的苦竹山。我听见有人躲在幕帘后低声啜泣。who is there我撩开幕帘一看原来是燕郎，燕郎的眼睛已经哭肿了。啜泣声戛然而止，燕郎立刻跪地告罪。why cry?Who bullied you? 奴才不敢惊扰陛下，实在是疼痛难忍。 Where does it hurt?传太医来给你诊治一下吧。 奴才不敢。疼痛马上会过去的，奴才不敢惊动太医。到底是哪里疼？我从燕郎哀楚的神情中发现了蹊跷之处，便想问个水落石出，从实禀来，我沉下脸威胁燕郎说，你若敢欺君缄口我就传刑监来鞭笞问罪。 后面疼。燕郎以手指着臀后，再次呜咽起来。我茫然不解，燕郎半遮半掩的陈述终于使我明白过来。我以前听说过太子端武与京城伶人厮混不清的传闻，大学士邹之通谓之断袖邪风。但我没想到端武的断袖之手竟敢伸向宫中，而且伸向我素来骄宠的燕郎身上。我觉得这是端武兄弟对我的又一次示威。我勃然大怒，当即传端武到清修堂兴师问罪。燕郎的小脸吓得煞白，他伏地求我不要声张此事，奴才受点皮肉之苦是小事，张扬出去就会惹来杀身之祸。燕郎跪在我脚下捣蒜似地磕头。我望着他奴颜卑膝的模样，突然觉得厌恶之至，飞起一脚踢在他的臀部上，我说，你下去，我并非为你伸冤，端武一向骄横自大，我早就想惩治他了。 刑监们依照我的吩咐在堂前摆好了宫刑器具。一切准备就绪，传旨的宫监也先自回到清修堂，宫监回禀道，四太子正在沐浴更衣，随后即到。 在宫监们的窃笑声中端武来到清修堂前，我看见他大摇大摆地走到放刑具的矮几前，信手拈起一柄小刀把玩着，你们在玩什么？他毫无察觉地询问旁边的刑监。刑监没有搭腔，我正欲步下台阶，燕郎尖声大叫起来，陛下发怒了，四王子快逃吧。端武闻声大惊，脸上乍然变色。我看见他转身就跑，提着裘角，趿着皮屐，撞开了前来拦堵的宫监，老太后救我！端武一路喊着仓皇逃逸，他的行状既狼狈又可笑。宫监们追了一程又退回来，说端武真的朝老太后的锦绣堂跑去了。对端武暗施宫刑的计划错过了。我迁怒于通风报信的燕郎，我不理解他为什么如此卑贱。可恶的奴才，现在你替端武受过吧。我令刑监们鞭笞燕郎三百下，作为对他背叛我的惩罚。但我又不忍心目击燕郎受刑之苦，于是我愤愤然回到堂上，隔帘听着下面皮鞭笞打皮肉的噼啪之声。我真的不理解燕郎的卑贱，抑或卑贱的铁匠父亲传留了卑贱的血统？卑贱的出身导致了燕郎卑贱的人格？响亮的噼啪之声不断传来，传来的还有燕郎的呻吟和妇人般的哭诉，燕郎说奴才皮肉之苦是小社稷大事是大，燕郎还说为了陛下四王子不致结下怨仇奴才死而无憾。 我心有所动，突然害怕瘦小的燕郎会死于皮鞭之下，于是我让刑监停止了鞭笞。燕郎从刑凳上滚落在地，强撑着跪拜谢恩，即使是现在他的圆脸仍然不失桃红之色，双颊上热泪涔涔。still hurt?不疼了。撒谎，鞭笞一百怎会不疼？ 陛下的释恩使奴才忘却了疼痛。 我被燕郎矫饰的言词逗笑了。有时我厌恶燕郎的卑贱，但更多的时候我欣赏或享受着燕郎的卑贱。 我最初的帝王生涯里世事繁复，宫墙内外的浮云沧桑都被文人墨客记载成册，许多宫廷轶事在江湖上广泛流传，但对于我来说，记忆最深的似乎就是即位第一年的冬天。第一年的冬天我十四岁。有一天适逢三九大雪，我带着一群小宫监到花亭去打雪仗，父王生前的炼丹炉被闲置在花亭一侧，炉边的积雪尤其深厚。我无意间踩到了一块绵软的物体，扒开积雪一看，竟然是一个冻毙在风雪中的老宫监。冻毙者是我所熟识的疯子孙信。我不知道在昨夜的弥天大雪中他为何要枯守在炼丹炉前，也许孙信已经糊涂到了不可救药的地步了，也许孙信想在风雪之夜再次升起先王的炼丹之火。孙信的手中紧紧捏着一爿未被点燃的木柴。在大雪的覆盖下他的面容一如孩童姣好而湿润，两片暗红的嘴唇茫然地张开着，我似乎听见了孙信苍老而喑哑的声音，孙信既死，燮国的灾难就要降临了。