Chapter 16 third quarter

When I returned to Yuchenguan, I bumped into Liu Bi coming out of the main hall where Princess Yong'an lived with a smile on her face. Seeing Pei Xuanjing, Liu Guoshi immediately put on a deadly expression, and walked away without saying hello.Pei Xuanjing passed by the main hall, and said according to the etiquette: "Your Highness, I am back." Princess Yong'an replied inside: "Is it Master Pei Lian? Please come in." Pei Xuanjing had no choice but to step in. As the sun slanted to the west, the main hall to the east appeared dim.Princess Yong'an's face is covered with shadows, making her look sad and haggard.

"Master Lian has been busy all day?" She said insincerely. Pei Xuanjing simply replied: "Follow the orders of the Holy Majesty." She had something on her mind and didn't want to be perfunctory with Princess Yong'an. "Oh," Princess Yong'an said angrily, "Brother Huang still believes in Master Pei Lian after all." Pei Xuanjing smiled bitterly: "Trust me?" "Of course. He didn't care about me, and he didn't even talk to me in the past two years." Pei Xuanjing lowered her eyes. "Brother Huang despises me. In the past, when my mother was here, he still showed some affection for me. Now that my mother is gone, I'm really afraid of him..."

The more Pei Xuanjing listened, the more something was wrong, she frowned and said, "Your Highness, what happened? Did Liu Bi do something to you?" "He, he wants me to accompany him to practice. I have to go every night." Princess Yong'an said with tears. "What else? Why didn't you refuse him?" "I can not." "Don't dare? Your Royal Highness, please forgive me, you really don't have to be so patient with Liu Mi. What kind of thing is he!" "He said that Brother Huang ordered me to accompany him in the practice."

"It's a joke." Pei Xuanjing felt that her patience was about to run out, "Why would His Majesty care about such a thing? Even if there is such a will, it must be the result of Liu Bijin's slander." "But what should I do now?" Yong'an finally cried out, "I really don't want to go, but if I don't go, I will be disobeying the order. Master Pei Lian, what do you think I should do?" Pei Xuanjing really wanted to say, what can I do if you suffer on your own.But she still managed to hold back her temper and asked, "What ritual is Liu Mi going to do?"

"It is said that a vision occurred in the Lingyan Pavilion of the Taiji Palace a few days ago, and it was suspected to be caused by ghosts, so the Holy One ordered Liu Guoshi to do it. It would be fine if it was in the Daming Palace, but it was in the Taiji Palace. That The place is gloomy even if I go there during the day, I really don't want to go..." Tai Chi Palace!Lingyan Pavilion!vision! Pei Xuanjing stared at the weeping Princess Yong'an, and suddenly said, "Your Highness, let me go for you." "you?" "How did Liu Bi arrange you?" "He said that the ceremony will be held at the hour of the day, and the horse-drawn carriage will come to Yuchen temple to pick me up at three o'clock."

"That's fine." Pei Xuanjing said, "It's already dark at three o'clock. Your Highness and I were already about the same size, but it's even more difficult to distinguish each other after wearing Taoist robes. No one will see the clue when we get on and off the carriage. of." "Is this... really possible?" Pei Xuanjing smiled faintly: "Trust me." "But," Yong'an said again, "Liu Mi will always find out." "It was too late when he found out." "Will he tell Brother Huang?" "No." Pei Xuanjing said decisively, "I have a way to make him shut up."

"Oh—" Princess Yong'an showed a relieved expression. Pei Xuanjing was thinking, although He Niang died tragically, at least Li Mi was still alive.Of the several major events that prompted him to enter the Daming Palace, only Cui Miao's life experience has not yet been ascertained.Judging from the emperor's attitude, finding out the truth is by no means easy, but it also proves that there must be a very important secret hidden in it.In any case, it's useless to waste it.The two years of dormancy have yielded nothing, and the whereabouts of Li Mi and He Niang have been found just as soon as they started to act, and they also figured out the mystery of the Jinxianguan Catacomb by the way.

So, still have to act.Action will trigger a series of consequences. In fact, before seeing Princess Yong'an, Pei Xuanjing began to think about how to intervene in Lingyan Pavilion.In the Daming Palace, Song Ruozhao was the only friend who cherished Pei Xuanjing.She also helped Pei Xuanjing in the "Xuan Ji Tu" case back then.In Lingyan Pavilion today, even though Song Ruozhao was vague, there was no doubt that he wanted help.Now, Princess Yong'an has provided Pei Xuanjing with an unintentional opportunity.Although Princess Yong'an is hateful, she is a pitiful person after all.Being able to kill two birds with one stone and help Song Ruozhao and Yong'an, Pei Xuanjing has no hesitation.

The three quarters of Mao will arrive soon.Unlike other seasons, the night is deepened layer by layer.Now it is the harshest winter of the year, and the night is like a whole black curtain, swishing down from the sky, heavy and domineering, making people feel flustered. Sure enough, no one was suspicious, Pei Xuanjing got into the carriage smoothly and drove towards Tai Chi Palace. It was completely dark.When the carriage entered the Tai Chi Palace, Pei Xuanjing lifted the curtain and looked out, only to see a darkness that was so thick that it couldn't be melted away.The trees that have grown for many years are too luxuriant, blocking the light of the stars and the moon. In the darkness where you can hardly see your fingers, only the faint yellow light in the stone lanterns is left scattered. different.No wonder Princess Yong'an regards the Taiji Palace at night as a daunting way, if there is no extraordinary courage or compelling reasons, no one would really want to come to this place.

The carriage traveled for a long time, and Pei Xuanjing had no idea where he was before the carriage stopped. It was a small clearing, but it was brightly lit by a ring of torches and lanterns.The incense table has been set up in the center, and there are incense burners, offerings and other things on it. Liu Bi put on his blue Taoist robe embroidered with clouds and decorated with crane feathers and wings again, like a male peacock with its tail open, and greeted him with a pleasant smile. "His Royal Highness..." His smile froze instantly. Pei Xuanjing said: "Princess Yong'an is not feeling well, I will come here on behalf of the princess."

Liu Bi scolded with a sullen face: "Nonsense! The dojo is not a child's play, how can you change people casually!" Pei Xuanjing looked around and found that the people holding torches were all Shence soldiers. Does it need to be so heavily guarded to be a dojo?At the top of the dense forest in front, the moonlight shone on the top of a small building like rippling clear waves. It was Lingyan Pavilion. Pei Xuanjing turned around, and said to Liu Bi calmly: "Master Liu, since you want to practice something, why don't you just use the Tiantai of Sanqing Palace?" "That's the royal forbidden area!" Liu Bi was furious. "It used to be, because there are Tubo hostages locked in the dungeon below." Pei Xuanjing said calmly, "But Liu Guoshi must have heard that Tubo spies sneaked into the dungeon in an attempt to rescue the hostages. The guards were defeated, Lun Mangti had already been put to death, and the other Tubo spies, except those who stubbornly resisted and died on the spot, were all captured. Therefore—the sacrifice to Tiantai is absolutely safe. Why don’t Liu Guoshi think about it and change places?" Liu Bi didn't answer, her eyes were flickering.The fact that he once colluded with Tubo was held in Pei Xuanjing's hands, which really made him feel stuck in his throat, and he couldn't think of a suitable countermeasure for the time being.He knew that he was at a disadvantage, but Pei Xuanjing didn't report himself directly to the emperor, which made Liu Mi uncertain: what exactly is Pei Xuanjing planning? "Master Liu, Master Pei Lian." The two turned their heads together, and Song Ruozhao was saluting to them: "Thank you, both of you." When she raised her head, Pei Xuanjing's eyes intertwined with hers, clearly seeing the surprise and gratitude in it.Pei Xuanjing had an idea, and asked: "Song Si Niangzi, did you invite Liu Guoshi to come to Lingyan Pavilion to do something?" "Exactly." Song Ruozhao answered comprehensibly, "Since a month ago, strange things have happened frequently in Lingyan Pavilion, and ghosts are suspected to be behind. It hurt the lifeblood of the Tang Dynasty, so I asked the Holy Master Liu Guoshi to do the exorcism. Unexpectedly, Master Pei Lian also came. Now I am more at ease. With two shots, the evil spirits in Lingyan Pavilion will definitely be able to remove." Liu Mi let out a "hum" from her nose. Pei Xuanjing said: "May I ask Si Niangzi, what happened in Lingyan Pavilion?" It turned out that one night exactly a month ago, the Shence Army patrolling the Taiji Palace suddenly discovered that the windows of Lingyan Pavilion were lit up. Song Ruozhao explained: "Lingyan Pavilion was built to enshrine the portraits of meritorious officials. No one comes in and out at night, so there can be no lights. When the Shence sergeant came closer to check, he found something moving inside the window." He said in a mysterious tone, "According to them, they saw a monkey jumping inside the window, and the monkey was playing with three fireballs in its two forearms." "Monkey? Fireball?" "Yes." Song Ruozhao said, "This scene lasted for a long time before it disappeared. The Shence Army did not dare to enter Lingyan Pavilion without authorization, and they were not allowed to enter Lingyan Pavilion until they reported to the general the next morning. But nothing was found. Everything in the pavilion was as usual, there were no monkeys, let alone fireballs. However, just ten days later at night, the same scene appeared again. Because of preparations, this time only half an hour later He was allowed to enter the pavilion for inspection at around 2:00 p.m., but apart from smelling some incense, he still found no clues. The Holy Majesty was very worried when he learned about this, because tonight, another ten days later, he was afraid that ghosts would appear again in Lingyan Pavilion , that’s why Liu Guoshi was invited to do it.” Pei Xuanjing asked: "That is to say, there may not necessarily be a vision tonight?" "It's not certain. Maybe Liu Guoshi's spells are so powerful that he can suppress the ghosts, and naturally there will be no more abnormalities. In that case, we can all breathe a sigh of relief." Song Ruozhao said, smiling at Liu Mi He signaled, "Let Master Liu Guo show his skills." Although Liu Mi's face was clouded, she still came to the incense table and began to perform rituals in a serious manner.After all, it was the emperor's will, and with Pei Xuanjing and Song Ruozhao watching, he dared not neglect it. The incense was lit, and Liu Bi was chanting words.Pei Xuanjing stared at the depths of the pine forest for a moment, and an indescribable fear arose spontaneously.She glanced at Song Ruozhao beside her, only seeing a pale side face with no expression. After a while, an unknown person said: "There seems to be a light in Lingyan Pavilion!" Pei Xuanjing looked around. Indeed, there was a faint light shining from a certain place on the dark building of Lingyan Pavilion, but it was very faint and could not be seen clearly. Song Ruozhao shouted to the Shence Army: "Please put out the torches, please!" Pei Xuanjing immediately understood what she meant, she wanted to make the surroundings darker so as to highlight the light in Lingyan Pavilion. The torches were all extinguished.Across the dense black shadows of pines and cypresses, the light from the window of Lingyan Pavilion suddenly became extremely dazzling, perhaps because it was too clear and bright, this light did not make people feel warm at all, but chilled. Liu Mi even forgot to chant sutras, and followed the crowd staring forward blankly. The shadows of the two trees were clearly reflected in the white light.One stands upright and flourishes, while the other withers and falls to the ground. Pei Xuanjing blurted out: "Aren't they monkeys and fireballs?" "Yes, it's the thirty-third elephant..." Song Ruozhao's voice trembled violently. Pei Xuanjing asked: "What is the thirty-third elephant?" Song Ruozhao didn't seem to hear what she said, but murmured: "The thirty-third elephant, it's really the thirty-third elephant..." "Fourth lady!" Pei Xuanjing grabbed her arm and shook her vigorously, "We should immediately enter Lingyan Pavilion to check! Immediately! Now!" Song Ruozhao came back to his senses, and asked tremblingly, "What if there really are ghosts?" "Then you have to see it to find out!" The door of Lingyan Pavilion was opened, and the Shence Army held up lanterns, surrounded by Pei Xuanjing and Song Ruozhao standing in front of the door.In the pavilion, which was bright as day in an instant, everything was as usual: the partition, the table case, the golden chamber, and the portraits of the loyal ministers one after another, in the suddenly broken silence, they still maintained a serene and detached demeanor, which was better than any other. It is more realistic at all times, and it seems that it will walk out of the painting at any time. "Nothing?" Shence Sergeant asked blankly, "Where are those two trees?" Pei Xuanjing looked back and forth, left and right, and then leaned over to check the ground.Then come to the partition and check the table case and the golden chamber on the case.Finally, she turned around and asked Song Ruozhao: "Is there anything Si Niangzi wants to investigate?" Song Ruozhao, however, seemed to have been greatly frightened, and leaned palely in front of the pillar beside the partition, just shaking his head without saying a word. Pei Xuanjing suddenly remembered, and asked, "Where is Liu Guoshi?" The Shence Army at the door replied: "Master Liu Guoshi was still there just now..." Before the words finished, there was the sound of a carriage speeding past from outside the door——Liu Mi ran away. Pei Xuanjing thought for a while, then lowered her voice and asked Song Ruozhao: "Si Niangzi, what do you mean by the 33rd elephant you just mentioned?" Song Ruozhao took a deep breath, collected his mind, and said to Shence Army who was guarding the door: "Please leave the pavilion for now, and Master Pei Lian will continue to practice in the pavilion." The Shence Army retreated and closed the door.It was quiet again in Lingyan Pavilion, and the four walls were brightly lit with candles. Song Ruozhao took out the small golden key from his pocket, and opened the golden chamber on the table. "Master Pei Lian, the thirty-three elephants are inside." Isn't the book of prophecy "Tui Bei Tu" written by Li Chunfeng in the Golden Chamber? "I want to start with "Tui Bei Tu"." Song Ruozhao seemed to have seen through Pei Xuanjing's question, and sighed, "Oh! It's a long story." Since Li Chunfeng wrote "Tui Bei Tu", there have been special personnel in the palace trying to decipher it.But the meaning of "Tui Bei Tu" is too mysterious, and the representation is quite obscure. It is really difficult to grasp the so-called providence.So far, apart from the two paintings at the beginning and the end, which are used to guide and end the whole story, the remaining fifty-eight images have only the third, fourth, and fifth images that have definite explanations. Song Ruozhao took out the third, fourth and fifth images of "Tui Bei Tu" in turn from the golden chamber, and asked Pei Xuanjing to look at them one by one. The third elephant, Bingyin, is titled: Tianshan Dun.It depicts a woman wearing a golden crown, holding a parrot in her left hand and a golden hammer in her right hand, beating a drum. The prophecy said: "When two meet in the golden seal, love knows nothing. The Central Plains is still disturbing, and there are many ants and insects in all countries." The poem said: "There was a woman surnamed Wu who was born in Zhongtu with a golden talisman in her hand. She wore a multi-colored robe of multi-colored rays, and she held a golden hammer to beat the golden drum." Song Ruozhao said that this picture refers to the matter of Emperor Wu.Both Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng had foreseen Empress Zetian's ascension to the throne, and they facilitated this in the name of destiny, so the woman in the third image, Wu Zetian, never objected. "Tianshan Dun" is the seventh hexagram "Dun" in Qian Hexagram, which means to retreat.Used in this image, it means that Wu Zetian avoided disaster and became prosperous.When Li Chunfeng wanted to make this picture, it was Emperor Taizong who wanted to kill the woman surnamed Wu, but was stopped by Li Chunfeng.Wu Zetian escaped a catastrophe, and only then did she become emperor later. The woman in the picture is wearing a golden crown, which is the image of Wu's usurping the throne.Holding a parrot not only refers to Zetian's surname, but also means that she is eloquent.The golden hammer beats the drum, which symbolizes that it is in power and commands the world.The seven-character poem can be described as straightforward and needs no further explanation.As for the prophecy that "the two meet the golden seal, love knows nothing", it can be interpreted as a relationship between Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu who both need each other and inevitably hurt each other. The two sentences "The Central Plains are still disturbed, and there are many ants and insects in all countries" refer to the chaotic situation when Emperor Wu was in power, the palace struggle was fierce, the descendants of the Li family were tortured, and the children of the Wu family who had no virtue and talent were reused. The fourth image Dingmao: "Heaven and Earth No" and the fifth image Wuchen: "Fengdi View" also had clear explanations before the Yuan and Dynasty.The fourth image refers to Di Renjie Kuang Fu Datang Sheji.The fifth image refers to the Anshi Rebellion, Concubine Yang Guifei died in Mawei Post, and Emperor Xuanzong was lucky to Shu. The picture of the fourth elephant shows a person holding a torch in one hand and a golden bell in the other, with a dog opening its mouth in front of it.Dog and fire are combined into a word "Di".The prophecy said: "Xu Qun Wu Huazi, whose family is in Wentai Township. After about two months, I will see Long Zhiyang again." It can be understood that the descendants of the Wu family failed to inherit the throne in the end, and the artifact of the Tang Dynasty returned to the Li family, that is, Long Zhiyang .The seven-character poem is even more clear: "It is planned to separate the society in disorder, but the eighteen skills of the gods, relying on loyal ministers and dogs, can only strengthen the old Tang Ji." The picture of the fifth elephant shows a mountain with a deer at the foot of the mountain, with a saddle on its back, and a woman lying dead on the ground.The prophecy said: "The spring is just right, and the glory is only two branches. When the wood is easy to break, it will startle the dust in Taiyuan." The poem said: "Yuyang beats drums and passes Tongguan, this day is the king of Huajian Mountain. Wood Yiyan meets ghosts under the mountain, The golden ring is set to be mourned here." This image needs no further interpretation.Pei Xuanjing feels that the fifth image in "Tui Bei Tu" is very similar to the poem mentioned in Xue Tao's quiet room in Qingcheng Mountain, and its implication is self-evident for future generations. Li Chunfeng was able to make such accurate predictions about the future events during the Zhenguan period, which is indeed amazing.But later generations did not become vigilant and guarded against it just because they saw "Tui Bei Tu", which may be in response to Li Chunfeng's "destiny is hard to break".What will happen will happen, and it will not be changed because of the foresight of a wise man. But if this is the case, what is the significance of prophecy? Pei Xuanjing asked Song Ruozhao: "Are these three pictures solved before or after?" "What does the refiner think?" When Song Ruozhao asked such a rhetorical question, Pei Xuanjing also felt that she was redundant.Whether or not these three prophecies were solved beforehand, they are all history.For "Tui Bei Tu", it only proved its magic and correctness. Just as he was thinking, Song Ruozhao put another page of "Tui Bei Tu" in front of Pei Xuanjing. In the upper part of the picture are three bright pearls that shine like flames, arranged in the shape of characters.The lower part of the picture is mountains and rivers, and a monkey is drawn in front, holding hands and playing happily. "The ape is playing fireball!" Pei Xuanjing was taken aback. The image of the ninth image in "Tui Bei Tu" turned out to be the vision that the Shence Army saw twice in the window of Lingyan Pavilion during the night patrol!