Chang'an ancient meaning

Following the chariots of Taiping and Li Dan, Xue Chongjian went out of the Zuoyanming Gate, that is, to the Hengjie outside the Yudao.Here are parked the carriages and horses of civil and military officials going to court, and the slaves are still dozing off under the shade of the trees across the street because they have not heard the drum report of the dispersal of the court.Hearing the greetings from us on duty, the servants of Princess Taiping's mansion and Prime Minister Li Dan's mansion saw that their masters had come out, and rushed to greet them.Shi Chun came to Xue Chongjian's side, and said in a low voice: "Mr. Lang, my lady, please go to her car and say something." Xue Chongjian followed the direction he pointed, and saw a car parked quietly under the palace wall in the distance. He was stunned for a moment, and said to Taiping: "I'll go and have a look." Then he hurried forward.

Xue Chongjian got into the car, and saw that the compartment panel was pulled open, although Wu Linglan was sitting, she was leaning on a soft pillow, her expression was very weak.The light in the car was dim, and Xue Chongjian couldn't tell whether her unpainted face was blue or white, but felt that it was a dim moonlight, which seemed to be covered by dark clouds at any time.Xue Chongjian stepped forward to sit beside her, and gently embraced her in his arms.Wu Linglan said: "Is everything safe?" Xue Chongjian gently kissed her hair, and whispered: "Let's go home."

Wu Linglan thought, this is the scene she has been looking forward to for so many days and nights. She is sitting in the gilded car, looking at her young and handsome husband-in-law, with a purple gold belt around his waist and a scarlet shirt, coming out from the court gate.He came under the car and stretched out his hand to himself, with the fragrance of imperial smoke still on his sleeve.She asked him if everything was alright and he smiled and said we're going home.The willows are like smoke, the birds are singing, and their fragrant cars are slowly passing the green brick-paved sky street under the envious eyes of passers-by.Are you in a dream now?She smiled slightly and said: "I can't go back... I came here to wait for you because I want you to send me to a different courtyard of your house, any place is fine - if your mother doesn't want to, my house still has some A few properties." Xue Chongjian understood what she meant. Now that she had learned the truth, she could no longer live under the same roof with her mother. Hearing her last words, he felt a sharp pain in his heart, and his arms tightened slightly. By the ear, she said: "You are my wife, the one I love, and I will love it all my life." After a moment of silence in the car, Xue Chongjian forced a smile and said, "I have a villa in the south of the city, facing the Kunming Pool. Quiet, suitable for you to recuperate. I will take you there first, and let them bring your things in the evening." Wu Linglan smiled faintly: "Life is like morning dew, there is nothing you can't let go."

A servant got Xue Chongjian's order and ran back to report to Taiping that Erlang was going to send his wife to a villa in the south of the city.Li Dan was taken aback, and asked Taiping in a low voice: "Does she know?" Taiping smiled shyly and said, "Fourth brother, guess who saved us, it is Wu Sansi's daughter."

Li Chengqi was right next to his father, and when he heard this sentence, he remembered that Huanu told him seven days ago that Alan was pregnant, and his heart felt a pang of guilt.He watched the ox cart start slowly and headed west. The willows planted under the imperial wall floated in the morning breeze with long willow silk. It brushed over the roof of the black cart, as if trying to hold the cart, but was abandoned behind by the bullock cart one by one.Li Chengqi suddenly remembered the time when they went to the Wei Bridge together. At that time, they stood under the bridge and watched others go west to Yangguan. Now he is the only one left on the bridge.

That night Xue Chongjian stayed in the villa with Wu Linglan.The maid turned off the lamp, only a pool of faint moonlight came through the window, painting the room as hazy as ink.In the shadow of the trees shaken by the wind outside the window, there are occasionally one or two scattered crows, and the rustling singing of the weaving in the grass, which makes the night more silent.

Wu Linglan was lying in Xue Chongjian's arms. Xue Chongjian was afraid that she would not be able to bear the cold and hard white porcelain pillow during her illness, so she put her gnat's head on her left arm.Her disturbed black hair was piled on his shoulders and neck like a black cloud.A layer of soft reed mats was laid on the cool and watery jade mat. Xue Chongjian held a fan in his right hand and slowly fanned Wu Linglan. Both his arms gradually became sore, but his heart felt a little bit of the soreness. peaceful.In the dark, he couldn't see the eyebrows of the person in his arms clearly, he could only hear her thin breathing, and saw her body covered in quilt undulating like a gentle mountain.His chest was pressed against her back, and he could feel the painful beating of the heart, pouring out the unvoiced sobs for her.

They didn't fall asleep that night, listening to the singing of Zhizhi gradually fell into a languid silence, and watched the morning light invade the thin gauze tent again and again.In Wu Linglan's slightly drowsy mind due to a sleepless night, she remembered a few sentences that she didn't know where they came from: I wish to be a candle at night, to shine on the jade in the two couplets, to mourn the light of the hibiscus, to hide the light when the scene is dying .She knew that this was the last night between him and her, but this night passed after all.

Since that time when the court turned against each other, both Princess Taiping and Prime Minister Li Dan have lived in seclusion, and have never had any conflicts with Queen Anle for a while.Empress Wei used the pretext of the prince's rebellion to expel all the officials who did not attach herself, made her confidant Zong Chuke Wei Juyuan and other ministers, and replaced Wanqi and the commanders of left and right Yulin with Wei's family.The emperor's weak spirit and body were not enough to stop the queen, and the queen, concubines and princesses went their own way. They were free to enter and leave the palace, and they were placed in the government office to keep their servants in front of them.The imperial concubine's outer house is full of people, while the emperor lies lonely in the harem. He lives only to protect the power and joy of these women.

All the subjects in the world looked at the double-eave Feiyu surrounded by floating clouds in Taiji Palace with worried eyes. Behind every worried look, there was the same question. Could it be that Chang'an City will usher in a second empress?Di Renjie has long since passed away, and Wei Yuanzhong retreated with all his attention. It seems that no one can guard the troubled Li's ancestral temple anymore.

On June [-]rd in the fourth year of Jinglong, an astonishing thunderbolt made the officials of the Manchu Dynasty dizzy again.The queen summoned the prime minister of Nanya and her elder brother Wei Wen into the palace, and cried loudly to them in plain clothes, telling them that the emperor died in the Dragon Palace last night.Then Shangguan Wan'er, who walked out slowly, was holding the emperor's edict, which made the emperor's youngest son, Wen Wang Chongmao, the crown prince, the empress knew about political affairs, and Xiang Wangdan was a consultant in political affairs.The prime ministers Wei Anshi and Su Gui were still in horror and before they could speak, Zong Chuke said loudly: "It is not reasonable for the prime minister to assist the government; besides, when the queen and sister-in-law don't know how to ask, why do you think that when you listen to the court?" Ritual?" Wei Wen, Wei Juyuan and others agreed one after another, saying that the prime minister should not assist the government, Su Gui carefully tested a sentence: "Your Majesty's edict, how can it be changed lightly?" Wei Wen and Zong Chuke glared at him, Su Gui was nothing more than a mere Scholar, also had no choice but to retreat in embarrassment.

Because the little emperor had not yet ascended the throne, he enlisted 5 soldiers from various governments to garrison the capital according to the order of the empress dowager, and enlisted the captains-in-law Wei Jie, Wei Guan, Wei Weiqing Wei Wei, Zuo Qianniu Zhonglang Wei Wei, and Chang'an Ling. Wei Bo, Lang Jiang, Gao Song, etc. divided the leadership, and Wei Yuanyu, a member of Zhongshushe, patrolled the six streets.Pei Tan, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, Zhang Xi, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Zhang Jiafu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Cen Xi, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and Cui Shi, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, are all in the same order.The people in Chang'an City were horrified to see that all kinds of city gates in Chang'an were under martial law overnight, and soldiers and horses galloped among the market places. In front of the house of the Five Kings of Xiangwang Mansion in Longqingfang and Princess Taiping's house in Xingdaofang, they stood again. He defeated the Habayashi Army in uniform and holding a halberd.

In the Taiping Mansion, Wu Youji was rubbing his hands in a hurry. Since the death of Wu Sansi, the 40-year glory of the Wu family has come to an end. Although he is still a prince, it is only because of his wife that he put on a false air. .Taiping had already broken with the empress, relying only on the brother-sister relationship with the emperor, now the emperor suddenly disappeared, and the empress stood in front of the princess mansion, obviously without good intentions.He looked at his wife, Taiping came back from the crying spirit in the palace that day, her expression has been unusually quiet, she spent most of her day sitting in the hall with her hands resting on her back, watching the shadows of the trees in the courtyard move slowly. Take a turn.In addition to his fear, he had a little more hope. Although he had never understood Taiping, he had seen her walk on the ground in the mountains of swords and fires for several years. He vaguely felt that his wife would never sit still this time, but with his intelligence, It is really impossible to see a glimmer of hope from the current situation.

That day the servant finally came to report that an official had entered the princess mansion and asked the princess to meet in the front hall.Taiping frowned slightly, and said: "Which official?" The waiter said: "He didn't report, and he was dressed in filial piety, so he couldn't tell his rank. It's just that he is young and very handsome."

"Cui Shi?" Taiping murmured softly to himself, but Wu Youji saw her eyes suddenly shooting out light like quenched swords. She suddenly stood up and ordered: "Take me to see him." Cui Shi is also the queen, In front of Princess Anle and Shangguan Wan'er, she became the youngest servant in the court. From Wu Youji's point of view, this person is no different from any cronies of the Empress Dowager.Although he didn't understand why Taiping was so excited, Taiping's eyes made his heart inexplicably eager, he took a step forward and said: "I'll go with you." Taiping said to Xue Chongjian: "Huanu just follow me. Xue Chongjian agreed, took off the saber from the shelf and hung it on his waist, bent down and moved the small saber in his boots, and went out with his mother.

Taiping passed by Wu Youji without looking at him, Wu Youji's heart sank into the cold again.

---------------------------

Princess Taiping brought Xue Chongjian to the outer hall, and she saw Cui Shi standing beside the incense table, concentrating on stirring the soot in the Boshan furnace with a copper incense spoon.He has a slender figure and a plain suit, which is more handsome and refined than the usual crimson official uniform.With the movements of his hands, an intoxicating fragrance gradually spread. Cui Shi closed his eyes and took a deep breath in satisfaction. Then he raised his head and smiled at Taiping: "Princess Wanfu. I see the incense in the furnace." When it was gone, I thought how could a fairy like the princess have no cigarettes to offer, so I boldly and respectfully went over and over again to light a dragon brain for the princess."

Tai Ping walked forward with a smile and said: "Cui Shilang is a noble person. He put down his sleeves and royal incense. He is naturally not used to my door where the smog is heavy and the water is cold." Withered, there will be another day." Hearing these words, Taiping's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Cui Shi's face, and saw that Guanyu's face always had a slightly charming smile, especially the pair of eyes, which were even more beautiful. The clear water of the spring river is rippling, and in a blink of an eye, a breeze floats up ripples.Taiping felt a little bit of admiration in his heart: His words are not in vain.She chuckled lightly and said, "Doesn't Cui Shilang hear Liu Xiyi's poems? This year the color of the flowers will change, and next year the flowers will bloom again." Cui Shi said with a faint smile: "For thousands of years, the spring breeze of peaches and plums will never be changed by human affairs. change."

Hearing that he mentioned "Tao Li", Taiping's heart moved again, and he said with a smile: "The minister is here today to talk about love with me?" Cui Shi laughed and said: "I will die. I am a princess under the order of the empress dowager today. Send some daily expenses. The family of chickens and pigs has ordered people to take them to the kitchen, and there are some powders, spices, silks and satins that the empress dowager personally picked out for the princess, please have a look." He clapped his hands, and the two habayashi outside the door Carrying a box in, Xue Chongjian almost exclaimed when he saw the man on the left, and his heart couldn't help beating wildly.Princess Taiping giggled and said: "The empress dowager is really thoughtful, let me have a full house with wine and food first, and then give me a golden jade dress." Cui Shi hurriedly bowed and said: "The princess is joking." Turning around, he said, "Bring it in, I'm not allowed to try clothes here."

Cui Shi gestured to the two of them, and they carried the box into Princess Taiping's inner hall. Seeing that Taiping came in with a few people, Wu You rushed up and said in surprise, "Shangguan..." dressed in military uniform Shangguan Wan'er, who was obedient, pressed her lips lightly with her finger, Wu Youji hurriedly covered her mouth, and said calmly, "You and Dalang are guarding outside the door." Cui Shi said, "Is it convenient to talk here?" Taiping sneered and said, "" Although I am here to sit in a well and watch the sky, others may not come in." Cui Shi smiled and said, "I don't know what God's will is?" Taiping smiled and said, "Those who follow the sky will prosper." Shangguan Wan'er frowned slightly: "Time It's urgent, you still have the spirit." Taiping smiled and said, "How do I know that Zhaorong didn't come here at the order of the Empress Dowager?" Shangguan Wan'er sighed softly, took a step forward and said, "If it's to kill you, why do I need you?" Come?"

Taiping glanced at Yulin, Shangguan Wan'er nodded lightly: "The person I brought back from Shangyang Palace."

Taiping's expression gradually became cold and serious, and said: "Then why did you come?" Shangguan Wan'er said: "Yesterday, Awei decreed that the king of Jinxiang should be named Taiwei, and the king of Jinshouchun County should be named King of Song. They entered the palace according to the order. Thank you for your kindness, but you didn’t go out at night.” Xue Chongjian suddenly remembered that a few years ago, Ashina Suizi said to them: The two ladies entered the palace to pay their respects, but they didn’t go out... His whole body was full of energy and blood, and his voice trembled: "What's wrong with them!" Shangguan Wan'er said: "For the time being, it's okay, Awei just put them under house arrest in Baifuyuan. Now that the situation is not stable, she dare not touch the king. Otherwise..." She lowered her voice and said "She won't keep you until today." Taiping said with a smile: "In the future, when A Weizi ascends the throne, Cui Shilang can be admitted to the Crane Prison. I just don't know what kind of reward you, the late emperor Zhaorong, should receive?"

Shangguan Wan'er stared at Taiping with a pair of wonderful eyes, biting her thin cherry lips with fine teeth like braided shells, there was a trace of pain in her eyes, she said softly: "Taiping, don't you believe me?" She also blushed slightly, and said: "How did my third brother die?" Shangguan Wan'er smiled and said: "Is there any point in asking this? You should understand that even though he is cowardly and useless, we don't want him to die. "Princess Taiping nodded slightly: "Who is available to you now?" Shangguan Wan'er shook her head and said, "There is no one, so I came to you." Taiping sneered: "Now I am just a fish on Aweizi's anvil What is the use of it?" Shangguan Wan'er glanced at Xue Chongjian and said, "Let Hua Nu change into this man's clothes, I can take him out, let him go to Wuwang's house to find the fourth son of Xiangwang, and go to Wanqi to find Ge Fushun and Chen Xuanli .”

Taiping's sneering smile was replaced by shock and anger. She shook off Shangguan Wan'er's hand and said, "You are crazy! Chang'an is surrounded by heavy troops, and all the key points in the court are controlled by the Wei family. You let my son Go to die alone!"

Shangguan Wan'er said in a deep voice: "The Wei family hastily took office. Although Wan Qi is under the command of Wei Wen, the soldiers below are not convinced. Li Tang's rejuvenation has not been long, and the world will not want to see another heroine. Although the slaves and Xiang Wang's sons are young, they are holding you and Xiang Wang's popularity! As long as they can mobilize five hundred strong men to enter the palace, the 5 horses will surely join them."

Taiping sneered and said, "So, wouldn't it be better for you to take me out?" Shangguan Wan'er frowned and said, "Taiping! Awei called the prime minister and his son into the palace. One day at the mansion, I can keep the Prime Minister safe for one day. Now that we are all trapped, the only ones we can count on are these sons and daughters!"

Xue Chongjian took a step forward, knelt down in front of the sky, raised his head and said, "Mum, Aunt Shangguan is right, you let me go, I will definitely bring soldiers back to save you and uncle!" Taiping said angrily, "Get up!" , You said this is just a joke! Just a few of you children can make trouble!"

Although Xue Chongjian was worried these few days, after all, with his mother by his side, he would not be in despair. Looking at Shangguan Wan'er's military uniform now, knowing that there was finally no way out, he still couldn't help feeling a bit of fear.He knew that this trip was a hundred times more dangerous than the trip to the Judge's Court, if he took a wrong step, he would not be the only one who died.However, God does not allow him to be a flower slave by his mother's side all his life. He needs to find a way out for his mother and cousin in the forest of blades and swords.

The hand hanging by his side secretly exerted strength, allowing the nails to pierce into the flesh, allowing the pain in the palm to offset the helplessness and fear in his heart, but he still smiled on his face and said: "In the past, it was always the flower slave who caused trouble. My mother took care of the burden for me, and it is Hua Nu's turn to help my mother. I met General Ge Fushun and Chen Xuanli in the army in the past, and I know that they are all loyal men. Don't worry, my mother, I will be extremely cautious and never Don't get mad anymore."

Taiping looked at the son in front of him, the baby that he held in his arms in the past is now kneeling up to his chest.This is not her wish. All these years, she has kept her son tightly under her wings, just to prevent him from repeating Xue Shao's mistakes.If possible, she is willing to hand over all the honor and honor of this princess, in exchange for the time to stay before Xue Shao's life forever, she is still a little princess who doesn't understand human affairs, and Hua Nu will always be that little meat ball with a bell on her feet .

But he has also grown up, and like his father, with such earnest and sincere eyes, he wants to fight with his life on the battlefield for the sake of his relatives and promises.But I still wait and see from afar as I did back then, unable to do anything about their sacrifice and courage.Taiping's eyes became hot, and she almost shed tears. She pondered for a moment, nodded and smiled, and said, "Okay."

Both Shangguan Wan'er and Cui Shi breathed a sigh of relief, Shangguan Wan'er looked at the feather forest, the man took off his military uniform in twos and outs, Xue Chongjian took off his hair, and was about to take off his clothes, but Taiping stopped him and said: "Wait a minute " She took out two white silks from the cabinet and spread them on the table, and put her right index finger in her mouth. Xue Chongjian grabbed her wrist and said, "Mum!" Pull the sleeve up and swing the knife down.When the blade was about to touch his skin, his hand instinctively stopped for a moment, and he immediately said in his heart: "If you don't even have the courage to do so, how can you save them?" He gritted his teeth fiercely, and pulled the blade from his forearm , because the knife was too fast, the blood flowed out after a short pause.With his right hand, he received the dripping blood drop, which looked like a small cup, and then he slowly held it in front of the Taiping.

Surprisingly, Taiping did not stop Xue Chongjian, the tears in her eyes never fell, she just looked at her son quietly.Xue Chongjian's face was a little pale because of enduring the pain, and he was frowning so childishly, that fair and handsome face, no matter how you looked at it, he looked like a young man, who should be dressed in fresh clothes and be angry with friends, Yu Lixiang Fighting cocks and dogs, wandering in the mountains and forests, shooting and hunting.As a mother, she should have used her life to love him, guard his joy, and let him avoid the suffering and parting that he has experienced in this life.But God pushed Hua Nu into this bloody human world time and time again, and asked him to make sacrifices for this human world with his flesh and blood.

Seeing that his mother was not moving, Xue Chongjian called out again: "Mother." Taiping smiled at him, dipped his finger in his son's blood, and wrote on the white silk: "Niwei killed His Majesty with poison, and An Le Tu Danger Zongshe, the sky is angry and people abandon it. Your family is rich and noble, all of which were bestowed by the first emperor. If you are a woman from this village, the world will be ashamed! , Bamboo and silk for thousands of years, the name of the gold and stone, in this one action. The daughter of the Emperor Dahongxiao Emperor Zhenguo Taiping Princess Li Lingyue wept blood and worshiped General Wanqi."

Taiping said: "Look at this painting by Chen Xuanli and Ge Fushun." She pulled another piece of white silk and pondered for a while, but only wrote the four words "Erlang worked hard" and said: "This painting is for Chengyi Longji and the others to read."She looked at the two pieces of words and said with a soft smile: "I never thought that Li Tang Qianqiu's foundation would be tied to your sons." Xue Chongjian dried the two handkerchiefs, carefully put them into her arms, and Taiping pulled him Said: "Come here, mother will scrub your wound." She dragged Xue Chongjian into her bedroom, first washed off the blood on Xue Chongjian's arm, and then tied his wound tightly with Bai Ling, Xue Chongjian saw the drops of water Landing on the white silk, the seeping blood stained into small pink flowers, forced a smile and said, "It doesn't hurt."

Taiping suddenly hugged Xue Chongjian tightly, and said in a very low voice next to his ear: "Find out everyone's details, and promise benefits to those who work with you. Don't meet people rashly, and don't trust anyone. People, including your aunt Shangguan, including Chengyi and Longji." Facing Xue Chongjian's shocked gaze, Taiping just nodded slowly, her heart ached like a knife, time was so urgent, she was too late, these people are treacherous and dangerous, should have I taught him little by little, but now I can only use a few words to let him accept it hastily.

Xue Chongjian nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, mother."

With tears in her eyes, Taiping hugged him again, her words trembled slightly: "If something happens, don't worry about me, or your cousin, and flee to Luoyang immediately! Grandma told you to go out , I want to have an heir for your father!" Xue Chongjian's temples were wet with tears on his mother's face, when he heard this sentence, he did not refute, but still smiled slightly, and repeated: "Don't worry, mother."