Chapter 7 Section VI

There is also a kind called a cape.It melted the green lead and sprinkled it on the back and shoulders together with the boiling oil.Yan Lang said, I watched Li Yizhi's flesh burn little by little, and the blood beads and boiling oil condensed and flowed in all directions. Li Yizhi's body really looked like he was wearing a red coir raincoat, which was very similar. The most shocking thing is the fifth type of capital punishment, the name is also very nice, called hanging hydrangea.They ordered the ironworker to make a small bayonet in advance. There were four or five small hooks on the knife, which went in smoothly. Pulling, the muscles splashed out, and some bright red meatballs were made alive.

I left when I saw the fifth type. I heard that they used eleven types of capital punishment on Li Yizhi. I didn’t witness the calabash, fly the dragonfly, and cut the boot. I didn’t dare to tell His Majesty.Yan Lang said. Why did you leave the class halfway, why didn't you finish reading the eleven types of capital punishment?When I was hanging the hydrangea, a meatball flew to my face for no reason. I was so frightened that I couldn't bear to look at it anymore.The slave is convicted, and the next time he encounters the death penalty, he must watch all of them and report to His Majesty.If I had known it was so interesting, I would have gotten up to watch the execution in person.I say it half-truthfully.that's when i realized

I have shown an abnormal interest in Li Yizhi's torture. It reminds me of the similar crimes I committed on the deposed concubine in the cold palace when I was young. I have been afraid of bloody killings for many years. I think this return of nature is related to My mood was related to the situation, and then I closed my eyes and imagined the remaining six executions. It seemed that I could smell Li Yizhi's blood permeating the Qingxiu Hall, and I felt a little dizzy. I hate this incompetent woman's dizziness disease. Is Li Yizhi really not pleading guilty?Did he survive eleven types of capital punishment without even saying a word?Finally I asked Yan Lang.

I said a word.Yan Lang hesitated for a while, then replied softly, he said that the torture has reached this point, people are not as good as beasts, and the end of Xie Kingdom is coming. Coincidentally, Li Yizhi's incantation is exactly the same as that of the lunatic Sun Xin who died for many years, which made me horrified.Duanwen has been in Beijing for more than half a month, staying at the mansion of his brother Duanwu, Prince Ping.The spies I sent came back and reported that the blue lanterns that refused to receive visitors were raised on the eaves of the gate of Prince Ping's mansion, but there was still an endless stream of princes, nobles and court officials who came to congratulate the door. A list submitted by the spies recorded The names of all important people, including Prince An Duanxuan, Prince Feng Duanming, Northwest Wang Dayu, Minister of Rites Du Wenji, Minister of Officials Yao Shan, Zou Boliang, Minister of the Ministry of War Liu Tao, Yushi Wenqi, Zhang Hongxian and dozens of others, and Among them are the six Hanlin bachelors who were conferred in the year I ascended the throne.What are they up to?I pointed to the list and asked Yan Lang.Your Majesty don't need to be suspicious, those who come to celebrate are just playing on the occasion.The wolf's ambition is obvious.I sneered, circled all the names into a string with a Chinese ink pen, and then asked Yan Lang, what do you think this picture looks like?Like a bunch of grasshoppers.Yan Lang thought for a while and replied.

Not like a bunch of grasshoppers, but like an iron shackle.I said that these people took the opportunity to conspire to change the dynasty, it is really abominable, they are strung together like an iron shackle, and they want to put it on my hand. Then His Majesty put the iron cuffs on their hands first.Yan Lang blurted out.Easier said than done.I pondered for a while, then sighed and said, what kind of shit king am I?I am the weakest, most incompetent and most pitiful emperor in the world. When I was a child, I was at the mercy of nurses, eunuchs, and court ladies. When I was enlightened, I was at the mercy of monk Juekong. When I became King Xie, I was at the mercy of Mrs. Huangfu and Mrs. Meng every day.Now that the national conditions have changed drastically and the people's hearts are in turmoil, it is too late for everything.I clearly knew that there was a knife cutting towards my neck, but I could only sigh here and there.Yan Lang, what do you think I am a king of asshole Xie?After some impulsive words, I burst into tears. This cry came suddenly, but it was also a release of emotions that had accumulated for a long time.Yan Lang was dumbfounded, the first thing he thought of doing was to close the door of the bedroom, he probably kept in mind that the emperor's cry was taboo in the palace.The maids and eunuchs outside the door still heard my cries, and someone promptly informed Mrs. Meng of Zhuyin Hall about this abnormality.Mrs. Meng hurried over, followed by my group of nosy concubines.I noticed that they all tried a kind of powder makeup that day, and everyone's face had a similar amethyst color, and the cinnabar on their lips was either dark or light, which seemed to me like a bloodstone in water.You flock here, what do you want to do?I said as if nothing had happened.What was His Majesty doing just now?Mrs. Meng asked retortly with a sullen expression on her face.Nothing was done.What powder makeup are you using today?I turned my face and asked Concubine Jin who was standing beside me, plum blossom makeup?Dai'e makeup?I think it looks like chicken blood makeup, how about calling it chicken blood makeup in the future?Chicken blood makeup?It's an interesting name.Concubine Jin clapped her hands and laughed, but suddenly found that Mrs. Meng was giving her a supercilious look, so she immediately covered her mouth and kept silent.

Mrs. Meng asked the maid to bring a copper mirror, she said, go to your majesty, let him have a look at your emperor's appearance.When the palace lady held up the bronze mirror in front of me, Madam Meng let out a long sigh, her eyes were inexplicably red, and she said, when the late king was alive, I never saw great joy or great sorrow on his face, let alone a single tear. trace.You mean I'm not worthy to be the king of a country?I flew into a rage and kicked the bronze mirror in the hand of the maid, and I said, don't let me cry?Then I can always laugh.It's okay not to cry, I will laugh every day from now on, so you don't have to worry about it.You can't laugh either, Mrs. Huangfu's death date is not past March 7th, how can His Majesty laugh for no reason regardless of the filial piety?

Don't let me cry or laugh, what should I do?to kill?You don't care how many people I kill, just don't make me cry or laugh.What kind of shit king am I?I looked up to the sky and laughed, I took off the black panther dragon crown on my head and threw it into Mrs. Meng's arms. I don't want to be this bullshit King Xie.Mrs. Meng was caught off guard by the sudden deterioration of the situation, and finally sobbed uncontrollably. I saw her trembling all over while holding the black panther dragon crown, and the powder makeup on her face was washed half red and half white by tears.The concubines left my bedroom one by one under Yan Lang's hint, and I heard Queen Peng say to Concubine Lan in a mocking tone that Your Majesty has been a little crazy recently.Many years later, a group of white ghosts came to my dream again.They sneak into the south window with the wind, dragging a vague and mysterious band of light.They hide between the sides of my pillowcase and my clothes, standing still, jumping or dancing, like a harem girl when crying, like a warrior on the battlefield when furious.I was almost suffocated in that kind of compulsion.No one came to drive away the group of white little ghosts, and the monk Juekong was sleeping dreamlessly in the distant Kuzhu Temple.When I struggled to get up from the nightmare, I faced the panicked Concubine Jin.Concubine Jin covered her lower body with a piece of silk, and stood barefoot under the bed, her eyes were full of doubt and fear.I knew it was my screams in the nightmare that frightened her.Your Majesty's dragon body is not in order, I have already sent someone to preach to the imperial physician.Jinma said timidly.

Don't be too medical, go find someone who can catch ghosts.I still wake up and see those white goblins, only smaller and blurred by the candlelight, and now they stand on pins and tables and panes making that horrific clamor.Did you see them?I pointed to the white shadow on the flower table and said to Concubine Jin, that group of white little ghosts, they are coming again, and the disaster of Xie Kingdom is about to come.Your Majesty is confused, it is a pot of four seasons crabapple. If you look closely, the little white ghost is hiding under the crabapple leaves.You see it turns its face away, and it is mocking you women for your stupidity and ignorance.Your Majesty, there is really nothing.His Majesty saw the moonlight.Concubine Jin was so frightened that she began to cry, crying and calling the name of the night watch eunuch outside the door, and then the brocade-clothed guards rushed over.I heard the air in Yunxiu Hall burst into a loud and crisp sound, and the group of white ghosts gradually disappeared like blisters under the swords of the guards.No one believed that I saw ghosts in a waking state. They would rather believe those ghost stories that didn't make sense, but they didn't believe my detailed description.You can see it in their sleepy faces.They even looked at me suspiciously, a supreme emperor, an emperor who speaks eloquently, don't they know that I am not the Emperor Daxie?

My nights are as unsettling as my days, and now the mantra of the old madman Sun Xin is ringing true in my ears, you will see ninety-nine ghosts, and the disaster of Xie Kingdom is about to come.The plan to assassinate Duanwen started brewing after a drunk.The conspirators at the banquet included Minister of the Ministry of War Qiu, Minister of Rites Liang Wenmo, the inspector Jizhang in front of the palace, and the chief eunuch Yanlang.When I poured out the worries in my heart without any scruples with a three-point drink, these confidants with a good heart had complex expressions and tried each other.They carefully captured Duanwen's name and various rumors about him. I remember that I suddenly smashed the white jade bottle at Qiu's feet and killed him. I roared concisely and unrestrainedly, and Qiu jumped up in fright.kill.He repeated my will.Then the subject took a sharp turn and touched on this secret plan.The conspirators agreed that they were very familiar with the implementation of this matter, and the only concern was to anger the other descendants of the late emperor, those vassal kings scattered in various parts of Xie Kingdom, and their conflicts with Daxie Palace became more and more serious with the death of Mrs. Huangfu. Intensified, especially the close relationship between Xiwang Zhaoyang and Duanwen is even more worrying.

kill.I interrupted the conspiratorial analysis and became very emotional. I want you to kill him.I jumped up against the table and pulled the ears of the four people in turn. I kept yelling against those ears, did you hear me?I am King Xie, and I want you to kill him.Yes, Your Majesty, if you want to kill him, he must die.Jizhang knelt down and wept. He said, then your majesty will pass the Duanwen into the palace tomorrow, and I will fulfill this wish for your majesty.The next day Yan Lang went to Prince Ping's mansion according to the order.Yan Lang's white horse was tied to the stumbling block of Prince Ping's Mansion. Pedestrians and vendors gathered in the market and crowded the road. They wanted to see the appearance of Yan Lang, a generation of eunuchs, and even more wanted to see the appearance of the legendary Duan Wen. style.It is said that when Duanwen knelt down to receive the decree, he had a strange expression and clapped his hands three times on the ground. Yan Lang was surprised by the stagnant clapping, and he couldn't fathom Duanwen's psychology at that time.Duan Wu, Duan Wen's brother, stood guard in front of Zhaobi, loudly and rudely insulting passers-by who were watching outside the door.

Duanwen led his horse across the red threshold of Prince Ping's mansion, and covered his entire face with a black cloth, only showing his indifferent narrow eyes.Duanwen rode his horse through the crowded street in the posture of a masked person, without looking sideways, and indifferent to the cheers and discussions of the people around him.People don't know why a hero with great merit should pass through the streets masked.According to Yan Lang's later explanation, something unexpected happened near Caishi Street. An old beggar in rags who was begging in the capital suddenly squeezed in front of Duanwen's horse. The black cloth mask on his face, this movement came suddenly and quickly, Duanwen yelled, he wanted to grab the black cloth mask in the air, it was already too late.Duanwen's pale and broad forehead was exposed to the sun, and some onlookers found two tadpole-sized green characters tattooed on his forehead: King Xie.Caishi Street suddenly fell into an inexplicable commotion.Duanwen returned to his horse, stroked his forehead with one hand, and drove away the swarming pedestrians with his sword in the other. His expression was painful and ferocious, and his roar hit the top of people's heads like a blunt weapon.Duan Wen galloped away on the Jade Rabbit horse, but was intercepted by Yan Lang and several Jin Yiwei halfway.The interception was useless, and Yan Lang said later that he was kicked off the horse's back by Duanwen's volley, and in his desperation he only grabbed one of the tail mane of the Jade Rabbit Horse.In this way, Duanwen disappeared from the chaotic market.The poisoned arrow shooter set by Jizhang waited all afternoon above the turret of Xie Palace. The last thing I saw was Yan Lang and his party who had returned without success. The mysterious calamity hindered this plan. From a distance, I heard Yan Lang's elephant wat fall to the ground, the voice was weak and weak, and my tense heartstrings suddenly relaxed. It was God's will that he spared his death.I said to Jizhang.If I want him to die and God wants him to live, then let him be. Your Majesty, do you want to send troops to seal the city gate?I reckon Duanwen is still in the city, since we have already started to scare the snakes, we might as well arrest Duanwen for the crime of treason.Jizhang suggested.But Duanwen's heroic story has spread to every corner of Xie country.People have begun to doubt their King Xie, and they have learned to judge the good from the bad.And I never want to refer to black as white or deer as horse. My sensitive nature tells me that you must kill this all-powerful hero, that’s all, I don’t want to give more explanations to Jizhang.Let it be fate.I said to the gathered conspirators, maybe Duanwen is really King Xie, and I feel that there is a divine power helping him.As for Duanwen, kill him if he can, and let him go if he can't.It's just a joke I made when I was drunk.The four conspirators stood on the top of the turret with their hands down and looked at each other. From their expressions, we could see a trace of doubt and a trace of shame. It was obvious that they were dissatisfied with my resignation and indecision.The afternoon wind stirred the bell ropes on the turret, and the inner wall of the big clock gave a faint humming echo.Everyone on the turret listened intently to the strange ringing of the bell, and no one dared to easily break the awkward silence, but everyone, including myself, predicted that the future of Daxie Palace was lurking.The sun was very strong this summer afternoon, and I saw the white light of disaster pervading the glazed red tiles and green bushes under the turret.The Jinyi guards searched the city for two days and two nights, but found no trace of Duanwen. On the third day, they returned to Prince Ping's mansion, and finally found a tunnel entrance in the abandoned well in the backyard. Two Jinyi guards entered the tunnel with candles. After groping in the dark for a long time, when they came out, they found a pile of old hay, and they found themselves standing in the oak forest outside the north gate.There was a torn sleeve hanging from a tree branch at the entrance of the cave, and Jin Yiwei saw a row of blood written on the sleeve: The day Duanwen returned to Beijing, the day Duanbai died.They brought the white sleeve to Qingxiu Hall, and handed it to me as the only evidence left by Duanwen.Looking at the row of strong blood characters on the sleeve, my heart was deeply hurt.I cut the white sleeve into a pile of pieces with a pair of iron scissors, and an interesting and cruel method of revenge sprouted in my mind.When it was said that Duanwu entered the palace, I yelled loudly to the palace supervisor, I want him to swallow this mourning banner into his stomach.Duan Wu was still arrogant and unruly when he was pushed into the Qingxiu hall. He stood on the jade steps and looked at me with a challenging look, and he still refused to kneel down.The guards rushed up to hold him down and forced him to kneel down, but Duan Wu, who is highly skilled in martial arts, pushed down the three guards and shouted, "If you want to kill, you can kill him, there is no way to kneel." How can I get him to kneel down?I was silent for a while and asked Yan Lang next to me.Cracking his kneecaps with a hammer was the only way.Yan Lang replied softly.Then go get the hammer, he must bear the punishment he deserves for Duanwen.With a scream, the hammer smashed Duanwu's kneecap.I saw Duanwu collapsed on the jade steps in pain, two guards ran over to hold his arms, and the other hugged his waist and pressed down, so Duanwu knelt in front of me in a strange posture.Let him swallow the fine rags now, this is the delicious meal Duanwen left for him.I laughed out loud as I said that, and stepped down from the imperial couch to pat Duanwu on the shoulder, you will have a good meal, won't you?Duan Wu raised his face and stared at me with difficulty, the arrogance in his eyes had turned into desperate excitement, as if he was about to bleed, I heard him say in a sleepy voice, you are not King Xie, Duan Wen is the real one. King Xie, the day Duanwen returns to Beijing is the day of your demise.Yes, we all believe in that.I suppressed my smile, grabbed a handful of rags from the ground, and then clamped Duanwu's chin with one hand, and stuffed the rags into his mouth with the other, I said, but I Now that I am still King Xie, I can do whatever I want.I don't want to hear you talk so you can't talk.The revenge against Duan Wu lasted for an hour, and I was quite tired.When the guards let go of Duanwu's arms, he could no longer stand.I saw Duanwu crawling on the ground for a while, his slender legs were as stiff as broken wood.He crawled to my feet while retching, and grabbed the corner of my python robe, and I found an innocent smile suddenly appeared on his face. Did you see the tattoo on Duanwen's forehead? I didn't see it, but the people on the street saw it. Duanwen's desire to conspire and usurp the throne is well known.Do you know who tattooed the word Xiewang on Duanwen's forehead?I was about to ask you, did you stab it?Or did he stab it himself?No, it is the ghost of the former king.One night Duanwen dreamed of the former king's hand, a shining golden needle, and when he woke up in the morning, those two words appeared on his forehead.Nonsense.Duanwen was so arrogant that he dared to challenge me in the palace. If I saw that damned forehead with my own eyes, guess what I would do?I'll goug them out bit by bit with the dagger until he wakes up.No.That is the reappearance of the holy spirit of the former king. No matter you or Duanwen himself, no one can hide those two words, and no one can erase them from Duanwen's forehead.Duan Wu let out a heroic and passionate laugh, then he let go of my python robe and rolled down the jade steps.The guards went up and dragged him out of the Qingxiu hall, the blood oozing from his knees dripped away, looking like a snake from a distance.After a long distance, I still heard Duan Wu, who had a broken leg, laughing wildly all the way, which was creepy. The late King Xie, my illustrious father, still casts a heavy shadow over my head many years after his death.There are different legends about the cause of his death. Some people say that he died by taking fake pills by mistake. Some people say that he died in the embroidered couch of a generation of beautiful concubines, and some people even secretly say that Mrs. Huangfu murdered her own child with dove poison. son.And I only believe in my own judgment. I believe that anxiety, fear, and indulgence form a rope that leads to death, and this rope can lead anyone to hell at any time.I believe that my father died with my own hands and the rope tightly held by my hands. Since the summer, I have seen my father's huge black hairy hand many times. It appeared on the Fanxin Hall during the Hajj, like a cloud swimming over the crown belt of the courtiers. The rope in the hand is covered with mold and black insect eggs. , roaring and throwing at me.It appeared more often in my night dreams, I dreamed that the father's hand was gently touching the forehead of another son, he was the eldest son Duanwen, I really dreamed that the father was holding a golden needle on the forehead of Duanwen Stab the word Xie Wang. You are not real.Father Wang said. The real King Xie is the eldest son Duanwen.Father Wang said. They told me that Duanwen had fled to Pinzhou, where he hid in a coffin to avoid being searched by patrolmen along the road.It was the coffin of Li An, the governor of Qing County, who died suddenly. The porters who carried the coffin transported it to Pinzhou, Li An's hometown, for burial. They said that Duanwen lay under Li An's dead body and arrived in Pinzhou City.When you arrive in Pinzhou, you will be in the world dominated by the Western King Zhaoyang. Zhaoyang has always loved Duanwen, and he was also one of the four vassal kings who advocated that Duanwen inherit the throne.It is almost certain that Duanwen is now lingering in Xiwang's mansion to lick his wounds, and he finally found a relatively safe shade. My mother, Mrs. Meng, was as anxious as I was. She clearly realized that Duan Wen's departure had left a disaster for the Daxie Palace. After complaining, she hurriedly summoned Prime Minister Feng Ao to the palace for a secret discussion.Mrs. Meng said, either the fish died or the net was broken. Zhaoyang and Duanwen must not be allowed to wear a pair of trousers. Duanwen will undoubtedly be punished. Prime Minister Feng Ao came to Zhuyin Hall in a hurry, his thoughts were quite different from Mrs. Meng's.The strange thing is that I became a bystander when their conversation gradually deepened.I suddenly remembered the scene of traveling in Pinzhou City with Yan Lang in microservices many years ago, and the people who were full of carnival atmosphere in Laba that day.I clearly saw the juggling troupe drifting from the south. Tired and happy jugglers were scattered in the middle of the crowd. Juggling equipment such as boards, pots, rackets, pans, rolling logs, lifting wheels, and puppets were piled up in the open space. Beautiful and full of fantasy, then the high-altitude rope reappeared in front of my eyes, it was like a neon light running between Zhuyin Hall and Pinzhou City, I saw a rope artist in white clothes and trousers, with arms stretched out , with a smile on his face, he took three steps forward and one step back, his stunts were so dangerous and so graceful.I saw him turn his head amidst the cheers of the crowd, and I recognized him as my other soul and another body.The Western King Zhaoyang has 20,000 elite soldiers and brave generals. If the imperial court crusades against Pinzhou, it may be difficult to match.Prime Minister Feng Ao said that the power of Zhaoyang was above the eight vassal kings, and it was not a day's cold to freeze three feet. The former king regarded Zhaoyang as a hidden danger when he was alive, but he was powerless to stop his edge.Now that the ruling and opposition parties are in internal turmoil and foreign aggression, the Heaven Worship Society has just been abolished, and there are riots in the Fengzhou area of ​​Tang County. Gathering troops to crusade against Pinzhou can only be done on paper.Feng Ao smiled ambiguously as he spoke, his sly and shrewd eyes flicked across Mrs. Meng's face, and finally landed on the carved window pane of Zhuyin Hall, on which a fly fluttered.Feng Ao said with a pun, do your majesty and madam hate flies?The best way to deal with a fly is not to swat it, but to open the window and let it fly outside. What if it refuses to fly away, what if it still wants to fly into your face?Mrs. Meng said.Then you need a best fly swatter.Feng Ao sighed, he said, it's a pity that I didn't see the best fly swatter, maybe I just had to turn a blind eye and let it go.What a resourceful Prime Minister Feng.Mrs. Meng became pale, and a malicious sneer suddenly appeared on her melancholy and sad face. I saw her grab a green glazed ear pot from the rosewood table and throw it at Feng Ao. Do you want us to sit in the palace? Middle dead?Mrs. Meng jumped up from the seat, pointed at Feng Ao's nose and said, I don't believe the nonsense of you cowards, I will show you how powerful my old lady is.The humiliated Feng Ao covered his swollen face with his long sleeves and remained silent.I was also quite astonished by Mrs. Meng's obscenity.This is the first time she has exposed her bad habits in front of important court officials.I think it's a fateful connection that makes Mrs. Meng as angry and crazy as I am.I forgive Mrs. Meng's words and deeds like a shrew in the market, but Prime Minister Feng Ao has a high self-esteem, and he seems unable to accept the fact that he was humiliated by a harem lady.After a few days, the news that the two generations of prime ministers Feng Ao had dismissed from office and returned to his hometown spread throughout the capital.In August, the imperial envoys sent to the palaces of the vassal princes returned without success. The content of the memorials of the vassal princes they brought back was exactly the same. The Eastern King Dajun and the Southwestern King Daqing said that they were ill and could not return to the court. And the Northeast Wang Dacheng is said to have personally led his troops out to collect miscellaneous taxes that the counties had owed for many years.I realized that the echoes of the feudal lords were not a coincidence. This was a very dangerous signal. From this point of view, using the power of the feudal lords to blackmail Zhao Mien was just a childish fantasy.The only one who was allowed to enter the palace was Da Yu, the Northern King who survived in name only.Da Yu has been wandering in the capital for many years, and he is still addicted to wine and sex and cannot extricate himself.I saw Da Yu broke into Fanxin Hall drunkenly, with a suspicious red mark on his cheek, I guess he just came out of a karaoke brothel. Only a drunkard came, maybe I can only discuss the great cause of society with him.I smiled wryly to myself, and asked the servants to bring Dayu the medicine nine to sober up.Da Yu crushed the pills and threw them on the ground, saying that he was not drunk, and that today was his most sober day.I saw him staggered into the chair and hiccupped brazenly.Sit for a while and go, they haven't come, they won't come.I looked at that red face covered with thorns in disgust, there is nothing worth discussing, you can just burp a few more and leave. Has Your Majesty heard of Binuer from Liuying Tower?She is a Persian woman with unsurpassed beauty, good at playing and dancing, and her drinking capacity is even more astonishing.If Your Majesty is so free, I have a way to get her into the palace.Sure enough, Da Yu hiccupped for the second time, and then his body slowly moved towards me. I smelled a mixed smell of wine and powder, and then I heard him say in a sincere tone, Although His Majesty's Liugong Fendai are all charming, but no one can compare with Binuer. Doesn't Your Majesty want to see the style of Persian women? It's okay, then you can bring her into the palace tonight.Da Yu laughed happily.I knew he was happy to arrange any court affairs, which was another of his obsessions.The strange thing is my attitude, I fell into Da Yu's peachy trap in an extremely bad mood.Putting Duanwen and Zhaoyang aside for the time being, throughout the ages, many emperors have sat on volcanoes hugging beauties and chatted to comfort themselves. I don’t think I’m the only one, and it’s not my fault.That night, Da Yu quietly led Binuer into the side hall of Qingxiu Hall, and I smelled the breath of death coming from Binuer's crystal clear and plump body like white jade.Binuer's wrists and ankles are covered with gold bracelets and silver chains. They play delicate and beautiful music during the dance. The beautiful and bold Persian woman dances the famous belly dance in her hometown, jumping from the table to the ground, Jumping to the side of Beiwang Dayu, and then jumping from Dayu's side to my arms, the blue-black eyes made no secret of provocation, and the passionate hands created a heart-pounding dance.I was dumbfounded, I felt the beautiful Grim Reaper touching me softly, flowing down my head and heart like a stream of cold water.I heard a deep and sad voice from the depths of the sky, King Xie has been debauched so far, and the end of Xie Kingdom will soon come. Since Concubine Hui left the palace, I haven't heard any news from her. Sometimes when I walk across the stone bridge over the Yuhe River, I will subconsciously look under the bridge, but things are different, and the grass is luxuriant under the willow trees, and I no longer wear clothes. A girl in white imitates a bird and runs along the river.I thought of the girl from Pinzhou who had escaped into Buddhism now, and the love affair I had with her, and I couldn't help feeling sad. Discord and battles among the concubines continued.These ignorant and shallow women half understood the precarious situation of Daxie Palace. They were keen on some gossip about beauty, clothing, childbirth and conception, and made absurd attempts.Once I saw Concubine Lan smear her face with rice vinegar and sit in front of the Lanhua Palace to bask in the sun. Her eyes were choked with rice vinegar and she couldn’t stop crying. The corners of her eyes were red, swollen and festered for many days. Later, I heard from the palace ladies that Lan The imperial concubine misused the folk beauty secret recipe, and ended up in an unspeakable end. In a fit of rage, Concubine Lan slapped the court lady who slapped her with vinegar three times. What's even more ridiculous is that piece of medicinal note that was secretly circulated among the concubines. It is said that it is a good medicine for conception. Busy cooking herbs on a small tandoor.No matter which concubine's residence I went to in those days, I would always smell a strange smell of medicine.Later, I learned from Concubine Han that the medicinal notes were passed down from her hands. Concubine Han was immersed in the farce atmosphere created by her. She said in a narrow and complacent tone, aren't they all jealous of me?Don't they want to conceive the son of heaven and dragon fetus like crazy?I just made up a random prescription, anyway, it won't kill anyone, so I will fulfill their wish, so as to save them from staring at my body and swallowing saliva all day long.I took a look at the medical note that Concubine Han had scribbled randomly, and there were more than a dozen kinds of herbs listed on it, including Coptidis, Fennel, Fangfeng, Fritillaria, Angelica, Angelica, Frankincense, Forsythia, Polygonum multiflorum, Honeysuckle, Cistanche, etc. The blind medicine clearly shows Concubine Han's teasing and revenge on those who take the medicine, and the last blind medicine turned out to be a pair of pig urine.I think that's also the origin of the fishy smell in the medicine jar. Pitiful.I wanted to laugh but I couldn't. I tore up the medicine paper and imagined the concubines pinching their noses to take the medicine. I looked at Concubine Han's proudly swollen belly and stroked it for a while. Then I asked Concubine Han, Do you feel very happy now?Of course I am happy, Your Majesty, how can I not be happy?The little emperor will be born in two months.Concubine Han's face was blushing with joy, she asked innocently, isn't His Majesty happy? God knows if I'm happy.I avoided Concubine Han's lingering and enthusiastic gaze, lowered my head and played with a jadeite Ruyi, and I said, are you afraid?Are you afraid of a sudden disaster?Are you afraid that you will end up like Concubine Hui in the end? not afraid.I have the shelter of Your Majesty and Mrs. Meng, they dare not frame me wantonly, if another disaster occurs, Your Majesty and Mrs. Meng will decide for me, right?Concubine Han approached me and tentatively sat on my lap, her bloated body made her tenderness look clumsy and dull.At this moment, I realized that the pressure I was under was so complicated and terrible. They were like boulders washed away by mountain torrents, building one after another on top of my fragile crown.The disaster comes from outside the palace walls. If even the Daxie Palace is destroyed by the disaster, and everyone is in danger, who can help whom?That day is coming.I suddenly stood up and pushed Concubine Han away, and walked out of Concubine Han's bedroom as if fleeing.When I walked outside the door, I was suddenly controlled by a manic and angry emotion, so I kicked the Yingluo bead curtain of the Wanyue Tower to the east and west, and I shouted at the frightened Concubine Han, telling those lowly women, Let them untie their middle clothes and wait at the gate of the palace. Duanwen is coming, and Duanwen is coming to impregnate you.I gradually stopped my bed life with the concubines, and lived alone in the Qingxiu Hall every night.The sudden hidden illness is hard to tell, it is related to my depressed and hopeless mood.I don't want to ask the imperial doctor for panacea to cure the disease, I play deaf and dumb to the various spying methods of the concubines, and reject all temptations and hints.I feel that I am welcoming the end with the most tragic gesture. Those were my last imperial years, my heart was ashamed, my loyal servant Yan Lang replaced the beautiful woman, and stayed by my side all day long.I remember a thunderstorm night, I had a long talk with Yan Lang holding a candle, and I recalled the court life when I was young and ignorant. Of course, the most talked about was that trip in micro-service in Pinzhou City. We found out that Pinzhou City was busy with Laba. The crowd left an indelible impression on each other.Thunder roared in the night sky, and the building of Qingxiu Hall trembled from the splash of rainstorm and water. The candlelight beside the couch flickered and then went out suddenly. The golden light of thunder in the darkness made me jump from the dragon couch, I wanted to close the window, but my hand was caught by Yan Lang. Yan Lang said, don't be afraid, Your Majesty, it was a flash of lightning, and lightning never enters the emperor's palace.No, maybe the lightning bolt just hit the top of my head.I stared in horror at the tree branches outside the Qingxiu Hall swaying in the wind and rain. Now I don’t believe in anything. I told Yan Lang that I only believe that the disaster is approaching Daxie Palace step by step, and the end of Xie Kingdom is coming.Yan Lang stood in the darkness with his usual crooked posture, I couldn't see his face clearly, but I heard his choked up voice, just like a weeping woman.I know Yan Lang understands my fear, my sadness. If I can escape the catastrophe, if I can leave Daxie Palace alive, Yan Lang, what do you think I will do?Go find the juggling troupe in Pinzhou City and walk the rope. Yes, go to that juggling crew and walk the ropes. If your majesty goes to walk the rope, the servant will go to the rolling log. I hugged Yan Lang's shoulders tightly. On this ominous thunderstorm night, I hugged and wept with an eunuch from a humble family background, mourning the end of the eight-year imperial career in advance. On the twenty-sixth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, General Duanwen of Guanglu and Wang Zhaoyang of the Northwest drove out of the gate of Pinzhou City. Behind them was a flourishing army that stretched for several miles. On the 1st, the sound of horns resounded throughout the Northwest.This 10,000-man army advanced towards the capital of Xieguo with unstoppable momentum, and reached the border of Chizhou, sixty miles west of the capital, on the third morning. On the morning of the third day, the most famous battle of Chizhou in the history of Xie Kingdom broke out.The 10,000 officers and soldiers deployed on the Chizhou defense line fought hand-to-hand with the rebels, and their flesh and blood flew across the fields and rivers outside Chizhou City.The battle lasted for a day and a night, with countless casualties on both sides. At noon of the next day, the bodies of the dead were thrown into the Chihe River by the survivors, so as to make enough space for the final battlefield.Those dead bodies blocked the channel of the Chihe River, forming countless floating pontoons. The officers and soldiers who fled in fear sneaked across the Chihe River from the pontoon bridges of dead bodies, and fled to their hometown with the smell of blood all over them. The weapons discarded along the way were later recast by local farmers into The spokes of the plow and hoe and the hay cart have become a permanent memorial of this war. My beloved general Jizhang was knocked off his horse by Duanwen's Halberd, foretelling that the Battle of Chizhou would end in a disastrous defeat for the officers and soldiers.端文把吉璋的尸体拴在马腹下沿河岸急驰了一圈，他额上神秘的刺字在正午的阳光下熠熠发亮。白马所过之处，残余的官兵都清晰地看见了端文前额上的刺字，燮王，他们被那道光环所慑服，燮王，燮王，他们像一丛秋草被端文的旋风席卷着，跪伏在那匹白马下俯首称降。六十里以外的大燮宫沉浸在死亡气氛中，我在角楼上远远地看见一辆辎重马车停在王后彭氏的烟霞堂前，来自彭国的黑衣武士在车前车后忙碌着，他们奉彭王昭勉之命将公主接回彭国躲避战乱，我依稀听见了彭氏沙哑的哭声，我不知道她在为谁而哭，也许她已经意识到这是一次去而不返的行程？我第一次对这个骄悍任性的妇人产生了怜悯之心，她和宫中的所有嫔妃一样，红粉幽梦突然惊醒，她们将陪着一个倒霉的帝王坠入黑暗的深不可测的空间。 那天正午我枯立于角楼凭栏西望，视野里除了湛蓝色的天空和京城的灰黑色屋顶，就是几缕赶路商贩的马蹄腾起的黄尘，京城的百姓在战祸来临之际闭门不出。我什么也看不见，看不见五十里以外的最后的战场，看不见我的蚁群般蜂拥于街市的布衣子民。我的心空空荡荡。后来我听见角楼上的大钟被谁敲响了，我知道那是丧钟的声音，但是角楼上空寂无人，也没有风吹过，我不知道是谁敲响了丧钟，于是我注意到那根黄棕编织的钟绳，它在凝固的空气中神奇地律动，不可思议的是我在钟绳上发现了八个白色小鬼，它们竟然出现在光天化日之下，它们攀附在钟绳上敲出一种冰凉的死亡的钟声。我不记得是从哪儿拾起了那册灰尘蒙蒙的，僧人觉空远离大燮宫已经多年，临别之际他要求我读完这部著名的圣贤之书，但我从来没有想到过此事，我把沉重的书册摊放于膝上，目光所及却是一片空白，我知道我已经没有时间读完这部。后宫里到处可闻妇人们哭哭啼啼的声音，宫监和宫女们神色凄惶，在亭台楼堂之间像无头之蝇一样转来转去。我母亲孟夫人带着几个手捧白绢的宫监出现在贵妃们的居所，白绢赐死的仪式已无需用语言表达，孟夫人眼含热泪，亲眼督察了兰妃和堇妃自缢于屋梁的全部过程，最后她将剩余的那条白绢带到玩月楼。身怀六甲的菡妃对孟夫人进行了疯狂的抵抗，拒不从死，据说她用一把剪刀剪断了白绢。小天子还未降生，我绝不能死。菡妃抱着孟夫人苦苦哀求，别让我死，假如一定要死，就等到小天子降生以后再赐白绢吧。 你怎么这样糊涂？孟夫人也已经泣不成声，她说，你太糊涂，难道你还能有那么一天吗？即使我免你一死，端文也不会放过你，端文的人马马上就要进宫了。 别让我死。我怀着天子，我不能死。菡妃尖厉地叫喊着，赤足跑出了玩月楼。孟夫人看见菡妃披头散发地朝冷宫的方向跑，她猜菡妃是想将自己藏匿在冷宫的废黜嫔妃中间。孟夫人制止了宫监们的追赶，她苦笑着说，糊涂的孩子，这样一来她会死得更惨。冷宫里的那些妇人会把她撕成碎片的。菡妃在迷乱中选择的藏身之处果然就是她的停尸之地。后来我听说她闯进了黛娘的囚室，她让黛娘用干草把她埋藏起来，黛娘照办了。黛娘的舌头早就被割除了，她不会说话，黛娘的十指也已被铁钳夹断，因此她朝菡妃身上埋干草的动作显得迟缓而笨拙。后来黛娘依靠她唯一的健全的双脚疯狂踩踏草堆下的菡妃，直至菡妃的呼救声渐渐衰竭，枯黄的干草染上一层稠酽的血红色。 我没有看见陈尸于冷宫干草堆上的菡妃。也没有看见我的骨血是如何被一个疯狂的废妃活活踩出母胎的。在大燮宫中度过的最后一天对我而言是静止和凝固的。我手持等待着灾难临头，心情竟然平静如水。后来从光燮门那里传来沉闷的木桩破门的声音，我抬起了头。我看见燕郎垂手立于门外，他用一种冷静的语气禀告道，太后娘娘薨了，菡妃薨了，堇、兰二妃也已薨了。 What about me?我是不是还活着？ 陛下万寿无疆。Yan Lang said. 可是我觉得我正在一点一点一滴一滴地死去，恐怕我来不及读完这部了。 杂沓的马蹄声终于像潮水一样冲破光燮门涌入王宫，我用指尖堵住耳孔说，你听见了吗？燮国的末日就这样来临了。八年以后我和我的异母兄弟端文在宫墙下再次相遇，他脸上的仇恨和阴郁之光已经消失，作为这场漫长的王冕之战的胜利者，端文的微笑显得疲倦而意味深长。相视无言的瞬间就是漫漫流年，多少年的宫廷烟云从我眼前一掠而过，白马上的那个英武的百折不挠的身影确确实实是先王的化身。你就是燮王。I say.端文会心地朗声一笑，我记得这是他的唯一的笑容。他仍然默默地注视着我，目光中有一种古怪的怜悯和柔情。一个十足的废物，一具行尸走肉，当初他们把黑豹龙冠强加于你的头上，是你的不幸，也是燮国百姓的不幸。端文跨下白马朝我走来，他的黑色披风像鸟翅一样扑闪着，卷来某种酸涩的气味，他前额上的两个青色的刺字散发着网状光晕，刺痛了我的眼睛。看见我前额上的刺字吗？端文说，是先王的亡灵留下的圣诏，我原本想让你第一个看到它，而后从容赴死，没想到一个老乞丐的打狗棍改变了整个命脉，现在你成了最后一个目睹者，谁是真正的燮王。你就是燮王。I say.我就是燮王，这是整个世界告诉我的真相。端文将一只手搭在我的肩上，另一只手做了一个令我愕然的动作，他像一个真正的兄长那样抚摸了我的脸颊，他的声音听来是平静而深思熟虑的。从宫墙上爬出去吧，端文说，到外面的世界去做一个庶民，这是对一个假帝王最好的惩罚。爬出去吧，端文说，把你最忠实的奴才燕郎带上，现在就开始你的庶民生涯吧。我站在燕郎柔软的肩背上，我的身体像一面残破的旗帜升起来，渐渐远离我生活了二十多年的帝王之地。宫墙上野草伏在我的手背上，锯齿形草叶割痛了我的皮肤。我看见宫墙外的京城，一只沸腾的悬浮的太阳，太阳下的街衢、房舍、树木如山如海，那是一个灼热的陌生世界，我看见一只灰鸟从头顶飞掠而过，奇怪的鸟鸣声响彻夏日的天空。亡......亡......亡。