Chapter 2 first quarter

In the first month of the fourteenth year of Yuanhe in the Tang Dynasty, because of a news, the imperial capital Chang'an fell into a madness. The people rushed to tell each other that the emperor was going to welcome the Buddha bones! It is said that in the twelfth lunar month of last year, the meritorious envoy wrote to the emperor saying: "Fengxiang Famen Temple has Buddha bone relics, which are opened every 30 years. It will bring prosperity and peace to the people. It should be opened in the coming year, please welcome it." The emperor readily agreed. On the twelfth day of the first lunar month in the fourteenth year of Yuanhe, an imperial edict was issued to welcome the bones of the Buddha to the capital.

This will be the sixth time to welcome Buddha bone since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. In the Famen Temple in Fufeng County to the west of Chang'an, there is a real finger bone relic of Buddha Sakyamuni.In the fifth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty welcomed the relics for the first time, but he only opened the foundation of the Famen Temple and held a ceremony there, but did not welcome the bones of the Buddha into Chang'an City.The second time was in the fourth year of Gaozong Xianqing, when the Buddha bone was brought to Chang'an for offering, and then sent to Luoyang, the eastern capital.It took four years to return it to Famen Temple, and the ceremony was grand.The third time to welcome the Buddha bones was in the fourth year of Chang'an. Empress Wu Zetian ordered the eminent monk Fazang and others to welcome the Buddha bones to Chongfu Temple in Chang'an on New Year's Eve, and then to Luoyang, the god capital on the 11th of the first lunar month of the following year. The event was unprecedented.In the same year, Wu Zetian abdicated and then died.As a result, the Buddha bone was stranded in Luoyang, and it was not until the second year of Jinglong that Emperor Zhongzong ordered it to be sent back to Famen Temple, and the relic pagoda of Famen Temple was officially designated as the "Pagoda of Protecting the Real Body of the Country".

After the Anshi Rebellion, Emperor Suzong and Emperor Dezong held the fourth and fifth times to welcome Buddha bones respectively.Because the Tang Dynasty has declined from prosperity, the vassals and towns were separated, and the people's livelihood was difficult, so the scale of the two Buddha bones was relatively small, the time was short, and the property bestowed by the royal family was not much. Older people in Chang'an still remember that in the sixth year of Zhenyuan, Emperor Dezong greeted the bones of Buddha in a somewhat shabby way.Unknowingly, thirty years passed in a flash, and it was the turn of Emperor Dezong's eldest grandson, the wise and mighty present-day saint, to welcome the Buddha bones.

This is not what it used to be.Today's Tang Dynasty is like a phoenix in nirvana. With the emperor's painstaking efforts, he finally showed the appearance of ZTE.At this time, welcoming the Buddha bones, doesn't it just symbolize the Buddha's rebirth in protecting the Tang Dynasty?This will be an unprecedented grand event! In the half month from New Year's Eve to Shangyuan Festival in previous years, people bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year at home, and the number of travelers entering and leaving the capital was much less than usual.This year is a different story.Monks and believers from all over the world, as well as envoys from various countries, flocked into Chang'an City in order to see the bones of the Buddha that were held once in thirty years.

The eleventh day of the first month of the fourteenth year of Yuanhe.Just the day before welcoming the Buddha's bones, a blizzard fell from the sky. Thirty miles east of Chang'an, on the Languan Road deep in the Qinling Mountains, the snow all over the sky dyed the high mountains into silver white in a short while.The snow covered the horse's hooves quickly, and was crushed into deep marks by the wheels.People frantically spurred their horses forward. They all went to Chang'an from Luoyang and other places to visit the Buddha bones, and they had to enter Chang'an city before sunset today.

But a carriage crossed the narrow mountain pass, blocking the way. The carriage was dilapidated, and there was a bony old horse tied to it.The wheels slid due to snow and got stuck in the ditch beside the road.The driver kept beating the old horse, but the poor animal was too weak to move. People gathered around and found that this car was going in the opposite direction from everyone else, leaving Chang'an and heading east.Suddenly there was a commotion—— "Why go out of the capital at such a time, why don't you stay at home and spend the new year before leaving!" "That's right, I still carry so much luggage, and I don't want to spend money to hire a good car. Isn't this a waste of time for everyone!"

The driver was anxious, and retorted: "You are unreasonable, everyone walks in the sky, why should we be singled out!" "We are all rushing to the capital to meet the Buddha's bone, but your car is driving in the opposite direction, blocking everyone's way and ruining everyone's luck. Of course we will scold you!" When the curtain of the car was lifted, an old man in blue poked his head out from the car, and said solemnly: "To worship the Buddha, you must first be kind. The Buddha taught not to speak falsely or speak harshly. If you speak evil words like this, even if you worship the Buddha's bone, What good news can there be?"

Frost and snow blew on the old man's pale face. His voice was not high, and his description was very haggard, but he had a strong character.Everyone was not angry in their hearts, and they were speechless for a while. In the middle of a stalemate, a fast horse ran from the east of the mountain road and arrived in front of the car in a blink of an eye.Immediately, Lang Jun shouted: "Uncle!" Han Yu was taken aback for a moment, and then saw his nephew Han Xiang get off his horse and hurried forward to salute him.Han Xiang's head and body were covered with snowflakes, and his hair and eyebrows turned white.

"Why are you here?" Han Yu was both surprised and delighted. "Uncle, I've heard everything!" Han Xiang exhaled a lot of heat as soon as he opened his mouth, "I came here specially from Zhongnan Mountain to see my uncle for a ride. I just don't know when my uncle will be on the road, so I hurried , Unexpectedly, we met here at Languan! What a coincidence!" He looked around, "Why...just this car?" "I know that there will be heavy snow today, so I asked the others to stay overnight at Baqiao Station and set off after the snow stops."

"Then you..." Han Yu sighed heavily: "The emperor's order must not be violated, I must rush to Chaozhou as soon as possible to take up my post." What else to say to take office!Han Xiang sighed in his heart. It has been rumored a long time ago: Uncle was relegated to Chaozhou by the emperor because he made a copy of the "Admonition Buddha Bone Table" and stood up to prevent the emperor from flattering the Buddha bone, which offended Tian Yan.Chaozhou is a wild land in the south of the Five Ridges, and the hardships and ups and downs of my uncle's trip can be imagined.

I just hit the road and encountered heavy snow. Is it really unfair? The two of them didn't say a few words, and the crowd around the audience got impatient and shouted again.Han Xiang didn't want to chatter with them, so he rolled up his sleeves and went to push the cart, wanting to help the old horse.However, the car was too heavy, and he struggled, but the wheels were still stuck in the ditch. "Uncle, why are you pretending to be so heavy?" "It's all books..." Han Xiang was about to cry, but stretched out a few big hands from the side: "Let's do it." Looking back, it turned out to be a few barbarian men with shaved heads, all wearing yellow monk robes. At a glance, they were the barbarian monks who had rushed to Chang'an to visit the Buddha bone. The Hu monks were strong and strong, and pushed the carriage out of the ditch with a few strokes. Han Xiang quickly thanked him, and the Hu monks returned the salute and continued on their way.The people who had been stuck in traffic for a long time also rushed to catch up. On the Languan Mountain Road, which was still crowded just now, Han Yu was the only carriage left in a blink of an eye. Han Xiang looked at the backs of the crowd and sighed: "People's hearts are not old. I didn't expect a few Hu monks to help in the end." Han Yu said: "You should go too, or you won't have time to enter Chang'an City any later." "I don't want to see any Buddha bones." Han Xiang smiled, "I'd better send my uncle out of the Qinling Mountains." "No! You must go to Chang'an immediately!" Han Xiang looked at his uncle's cloudy face in surprise. Han Yu said in a deep voice: "I wrote in "Admonishing the Buddha's Bone Table", 'Serving the Buddha to seek blessings will bring more misfortune', and I also said, 'Serving the Buddha is becoming more and more serious, and the age is advancing'. The Holy One thinks that I am cursing him. As a result, Longyan was furious and almost killed me. But he didn't know that what I said was from the heart. I didn't want to curse the Holy One, but I was worried about him! What is the Buddha bone? It's a 'decayed bone, filthy and filthy', how could it not bring disaster! Han Xiang, now I order you to go to the capital as soon as possible, and stay in my mansion, pay close attention to the matter of welcoming the Buddha bone, If there is any abnormal situation, try to contact Pei Xianggong immediately, and remove the evil for the Holy One!" "This..." Han Xiang never expected that sending his uncle would send such a sub-task.Since he was expelled from the mansion by Han Yu in the twelfth year of Yuanhe, he has not set foot in Chang'an City for two full years.What happened to Pei Xuanjing, Cui Miao and others made Han Xiang very disappointed with the people of the world, and he just wanted to stay away from the world and go to the mountains to practice Taoism.From the bottom of his heart, he didn't want to get involved in any right and wrong anymore, but he should refuse now, because his uncle's expression of worrying about the country and the people made him quite embarrassed. Seeing that Han Xiang was still hesitating, Han Yu tremblingly took out a pen from his sleeve and said, "Just now when you were pushing the cart, I wrote a poem in my stomach. You came here to give me a gift today, and I Let this poem be a gift." He motioned Han Xiang to flatten the lower lapel of his robe, and swiped it on it: "A letter from the imperial court to the nine heavens, and an evening relegation to Chaozhou Road to eight thousand. If you want to eliminate the evils of the holy dynasty, you will be willing to cherish the dying years. Yun Heng Where is Qinling's home? Snow embraces Languan and horses don't move forward. Knowing that you are far away, you should be interested, so that you can take my bones to the side of the river." Every time Han Yu finished writing a word, there would be snowflakes falling on it, and there would be faint ink stains like tears. Han Xiang couldn't help calling out: "Uncle!" Looking at Han Yu again, he was already in tears.Han Xiang's heart became hot, and he knelt down on the snow, and said loudly: "Uncle, please rest assured, Xiang will enter Beijing immediately, and do everything according to Uncle's instructions." Until Han Xiang's back disappeared into the heavy snow, Han Yu still stood on the mountain road, staring at the direction of Chang'an for a long time, and muttered: "May God bless the Tang Dynasty, Your Majesty, you must take care of yourself!" Flying snow howled on Languan Road, shaping his figure into a vigorous white statue. In order to advance to Chang'an City in Mugu, Han Xiang hurriedly left the Qinling Mountains against the wind and snow. When approaching Chang'an, the snow stopped.The sky became more and more hazy, and the leaden twilight fell heavily on the tower of Chunming Gate. The sky was in chaos, half bright and dark, as if something treacherous and dangerous was gathering at the end of the sky. At this moment, what gathered under Chunming's gate was a huge crowd of people, all of whom were people who wanted to rush into the city at the last moment. The twilight drum sounded. The crowd became more and more restless, desperately squeezing into the city gate.Han Xiang found that the number of Jinwu Guards at the gate of the city today was obviously more than usual, but because the interrogation was more stringent, it took more time for each person to be released, so the backlog of people outside the gate of the city was increasing. There was a sense of extreme tension in the cold and biting air, as if the bowstring was stretched to the point of breaking. Han Xiang was inexplicably surprised. Could this be the eve of welcoming the Buddha bones?In his memory, Chang'an City has never had such a weird atmosphere, let alone during the New Year's Eve.Why does everything feel unwarranted panic? Suddenly, there was a commotion in front of the city gate. Immediately afterwards, several Hu monks were pushed out of the team entering the city by the Jinwu guards: "No entry into the city without a customs clearance certificate, get out!" Han Xiang took a closer look. Aren't they the ones helping push the carts on the mountain road? He hurried over: "Masters, what happened?" The Hu monks also recognized Han Xiang, and shouted in unison: "Oh my lord, we have encountered a thief!" "thief?" "The customs clearance certificates of the few of us suddenly disappeared. They were well carried along the way, why did they get lost?" Hu monks were about to cry, "Tomorrow we will welcome the Buddha bones, but we can't enter Capital, how can this be done!" Han Xiang said: "Look again? Even if you are a thief, what's the use of stealing your customs clearance documents?" "I've searched all over my body. We are monks, so we don't have much property, but we lost the most terrible customs clearance document, alas!" The monks beat their chests anxiously. Han Xiang thought for a while, and said: "Don't worry, don't worry. It doesn't matter if you can't enter the city. I'll give you an idea. Tonight, go around from the outside of the city to the Mingde Gate in the south. We will first enter the capital through the Mingde Gate. You wait there, isn’t it the same to greet the Buddha bones?” The Hu monks burst into tears and laughed: "Lang Jun is right. Thank you for your advice, then we will go now." "go quickly." "Amitabha." The Hu monks thanked Han Xiang solemnly, and then walked south. Finally, I can do a little favor to others, and I can repay it.Han Xiang felt a little more relaxed, and quickly squeezed into the team in the city again.At last the last one was let into the city before the Evening Drum had finished beating. Chang'an, the imperial capital after two years' absence. Although the gates of the city were heavily guarded, there was no curfew in the city on time.This is a common practice. During the period from New Year's Eve to Shangyuan Festival every year, the Jinwu guards will open their doors. After the evening drum is knocked, they will not close the gate immediately, but let the people continue to buy new year's goods, visit relatives and friends, Drink and have fun, and enjoy the New Year's Eve to the fullest.On the day of the Lantern Festival, there is an all-night carnival, and then the normal curfew system is restored, and the year is over. Han Xiang rode his horse and headed towards the Han Mansion in Jing'an Square.It was already night, and the pedestrians on Fang Street were still bustling with each other. The shops on both sides raised red lanterns high up, and every family's business was booming, and everyone's faces were beaming. The situation was completely different from that outside the Chunming gate in the evening, Han Xiang was a little confused, could it be that he was worrying unnecessarily? When they arrived at the Han Mansion, it was another scene.It was deserted and deserted everywhere, and the courtyard was pitch black, except for the housekeeper who was left to light a small oil lamp in the ear room. Han Xiang asked the servant for a lantern, and was about to go back to the room where he lived to rest. The servant picked up a shovel from the wall and handed it over. Han Xiang wondered, "What is this for?" "Your Majesty doesn't know something. There have been a lot of thieves in Chang'an City recently. I heard that there is a flying thief who can fly over the walls and enter the hospital through walls. Didn't I ask you to be on guard." "Look, you're nervous." Han Xiang laughed, "Which time will there be no thieves around the end of the year? Besides, the rich and wealthy families in Chang'an City, the flying thieves who steal into the impoverished Han's house, are too blind to see, right? ?” He patted the saber on his waist, “I have this, I don’t need your shovel.” "Oh, that flying thief is amazing, he doesn't like to steal valuable things..." The servant was still muttering, but Han Xiang had already left with the lantern. When walking through the corridor and courtyard, I saw sundries scattered all over the place, which showed how hurried my uncle was walking.Back in the room, it was as cold as an ice cave.Han Xiang sat on the dusty couch in a daze, with mixed feelings in his heart. Definitely won't be able to sleep tonight. Tomorrow is going to meet the Buddha bone, what will happen?Why is the uncle sure that disasters will befall the Tang Dynasty, even endangering the emperor's life? But no matter what, Han Xiang felt that it was difficult for him to make a difference.On Languan Mountain Road, he agreed to his uncle impulsively. Now that he calmed down, Han Xiang began to regret it. It was snowing again outside, and Han Xiang walked into the courtyard, wanting to blow the cold wind to wake up.Suddenly, he noticed a bright light in the direction of Han Yu's study. Han Xiang was startled, is it really a thief? He tiptoed over.The door of Han Yu's study room was ajar, and there was a figure leaning over the desk with his back turned outward. Han Xiang held the door, gripped the hilt of the sword with his right hand, and shouted sharply, "Who is it?" The man's back froze, as if he was also taken aback. Han Xiang drank again: "Turn around!" He turned around slowly, but it was the face of a literati, yellow and thin, with gray beard and hair, and a stooped back, with an appearance of premature aging. Han Xiang was not sure: "Who... are you? Why are you in my uncle's study?" "Your uncle?" The man's expression relaxed slightly, "Oh, Li Fuyan, I'm Master Han's guest. I went back to my hometown a few days ago, and I just came back today, but Master has already left." "I see." Han Xiang also heaved a sigh of relief.He didn't remember such a person among his uncle's followers, but he had been away for more than two years, so this person must have come later. "I'm Han Xiang, and I just came back to the mansion today." He cupped his hands at Li Fuyan carelessly, "Uncle was demoted to Chaozhou, and I only know that all the disciples have dispersed like birds and beasts. I don't want to meet Brother Li— —Hey, what are you doing?" Li Fuyan said: "I saw people in the mansion go to the empty building. I didn't intend to stay for a long time. I remembered that I had handed over some clumsy essays to my master for review before I left. The writing was rough and crude, and it was my painstaking effort. So I came to the master's study to search for it. I took a few articles away, but disturbed the young master, I hope you will forgive me!" Saying this, he made a deep bow. "Why are you polite?" Han Xiang asked, "Did you find the article?" Li Fuyan shook his head, looking a little frustrated. Han Xiang's doubts disappeared, so he wanted to chat with this person for a long night.His personality is familiar, and he never intentionally guards against others, so he sat down on the couch next to him and said with a smile, "Then you keep looking, I'll be here with you." Li Fuyan glanced at Han Xiang, then buried himself in searching again.Han Xiangxian was extremely bored, so he simply told him how he met Han Yu on the Languan Road during the day, and he also recited the poem Han Yu gave him verbatim.Of course, what Han Yu said about the impending disaster of the emperor did not mention it. Li Fuyan searched and listened, but didn't strike up a conversation, but let out a few suppressed low coughs from time to time.When he coughed, his back became even more hunchbacked, and his thin body dangled in his robe, making him look extremely weak. Han Xiang couldn't help worrying for him: "Is brother Li sick? Why don't you rest first and look for it tomorrow." "I'm fine." Li Fuyan covered his mouth and coughed for a while before he stopped, then he said in a low voice, "Come and see this." "What?" Han Xiang leaned over. Li Fuyan sent a piece of poetry paper under Han Xiang's eyes: "This "Huashan Girl" should be a poem by the master, and it criticizes Buddhism at the beginning." ""Huashan Girl"?" Han Xiang recognized his uncle's unique majestic handwriting at a glance, so he read it from the beginning, "Teaching Buddhist scriptures on the east and west streets, ringing bells and blowing conchs to make trouble in the court. Widely spread sins and blessings to lure and threaten the audience. It’s just a row of duckweed. It’s really a curse on the Buddhist scriptures, so I’m so happy!” Read on, “……Huashan’s daughter’s family is a Taoist, and she wants to drive away the paganism and return to the gods…” Han Xiang’s brows furrowed . Han Xiang was completely stunned when he read the words "The nobles of Tianmen sent an edict, and the six palaces wished to know the teacher's face. The Jade Emperor nodded and promised to go back, and came to Qingming on a dragon and a crane." In Han Yu's poem "Huashan Girl", it is clear that a female Taoist priest was favored by the emperor because of her beauty and true skills, and was called into the palace. Wuge is in a trance, and there are many emerald screens and deep golden screens. Immortal ladders are difficult to climb, and the common fate is heavy, and the waves are connected to Ding Ning by blue birds." Others may not be able to see it, but Han Xiang immediately concluded that the "Huashan girl" described by my uncle is Pei Xuanjing! It has been two full years since the answer to the mystery they were looking for together.At that time Cui Miao died tragically, and the whereabouts of He Niang and Li Mi were unknown. After Pei Xuanjing followed Pei Du back to Chang'an, there was no news from then on.Han Xiang asked his uncle many times, and finally got the answer: Pei Xuanjing went to an unknown place to live in seclusion and practice Taoism. Han Yu didn't tell the truth!It turned out that Pei Xuanjing was locked into the Daming Palace by the emperor, and thus isolated from the world! how is she nowIs she okay?What had she suffered for two years?Is it possible to see her again?After entering a place like Daming Palace, can she still get out in this life? "Han Lang, what's the matter with you?" Li Fuyan asked. "Oh," Han Xiang forced a smile, "I think this poem is completely new, as if my uncle wrote it not long ago."