Chang'an ancient meaning

Xue Chongjian staggered a step from the slap, he raised his head carefully, and looked at Taiping's face, his mother's sneering face made him tremble slightly.Taiping turned around from the emperor and came back, instead of the fury she had when she first learned the truth. She looked past Xue Chongjian and saw Li Chengqi. She knew very well that there is only one power in this world, which can manipulate Hua Nu to deceive her.

For a moment, deep disgust surged in her heart, even more disgusting than when Li Chengqi resigned from the crown prince.The strange thing is that although she hates him, she understands Li Chengqi the most.They were supposed to be the same people, they all experienced the heart-piercing turmoil and pressure, the mother's palace chariot roared like thunder, crushing the years they grew up on, crushing the body of their beloved, blood Dripping, no bones left.They survived the chaotic internal injuries. The difference is that she understands the power of power and tries her best to control it, using the shadow of power to let Hua Nu grow up innocently and openly.But Li Chengqi foolishly thought that he could avoid the things destined to follow his surname.Now he takes advantage of Hua Nu's innocence and imposes his own stupidity on him.

Hua Nu is different from them. Hua Nu can't follow the path between her and Li Chengqi. Regardless of success or failure, she wants to give him a stable world.Maybe the fourth brother thinks so too?She suddenly felt a little funny, they were obviously a family, but they hurt each other when they were in love.

Taiping had some calculations in his heart, and said coldly to the standing Habayashi: "Prepare the stick." Those Habayashi were transferred from Wanqi, they only had four words in their minds, they knew that they were outsiders, and they didn't want to meddle in the princess's family affairs. The princess ordered, "No", four people turned around and went out.

Li Chengqi fell to his knees with a plop, and begged in a mournful voice: "Auntie, my father and I begged Hua Nu to hide it from you. It is Chengqi who failed you. If you want to punish me, punish me!" Taiping sneered: " Why do you hide it from me?" Li Chengqi said in a low voice, "My aunt's kindness to my family is as great as a mountain, and my father once said that no matter what my aunt asks, he can only agree to it. However, my aunt and the prince are not on good terms, and my father can't abandon the ancestral temple. The only way to set up a crown prince and not bear to go against my aunt's will is to withdraw from power. Aunt, Cheng Qi is sorry for you, but I also ask you to understand father's difficulties, and don't blame him."

Taiping nodded and said: "What a kindness is so great, what a drudgery, good people are killed by your father and son. I have a pity that I have spent my whole life in vain, only to end up being schemed by your family."

Xue Chongjian trembled again when he was hit by these words, but he didn't say a word, just knelt down silently, hesitatingly raised his hand, wanting to grab Taiping's hanging sleeve, halfway through, his mother's sleeve was still hanging down her belly, As long as it didn't move, it turned the light yarn into a red-hot cannonball, and made his arm dare not move an inch.He slowly lowered his arms, not daring to speak, and he didn't know any reason to defend himself. He was afraid that if he opened his mouth, his mother would speak even harsher.In the past, the only thing he worried about gain and loss in his life was his cousin. Li Chengqi's ups and downs, unpredictable safety, reserved and forbearing made Xue Chongjian live in worry all the time.But he never doubted and worried about his mother's love. That feeling was too long-lasting and stable. It accompanied him for 20 years in his life. When he was not with her, he also knew that she was protecting and thinking about him, and became his best partner in Datang. Indulgent capital under the sky.For the first time today, he is afraid of losing this stability, like a person on a mountain peak, feeling that the foothold under his feet is trembling and collapsing. As long as he falls, he will be in a vast abyss that will never see the sun.

Xue Chongjian's small action made Li Chengqi burst into tears in pain. He suddenly realized that Hua Nu had not grown up enough to support his responsibilities under his identity and family affection under the entanglement of interests.He is still just a young man, from a distance he already has the tall and straight figure of Yingxiu, but when he gets closer, his eyes are still frail and restless like a child.Because I have been sheltered by my mother's embrace for too long, I am afraid of the truth of this world, and when things come to an end, I still subconsciously want to pull up the corner of my mother's clothes.But he forced Hua Nu to give up this last shelter. He and his father's cowardice made Hua Nu pay for them.

Li Chengqi stepped forward with two knees, kowtowed and said: "Auntie, I am the one who is sorry for you...you can hit me...you can kill me..."

Taiping stepped back to the side of the couch and sat down, she had been running around for half a day, her mouth was thirsty, there was no maidservant in the hall, so she poured a cup of tea by herself, took a sip, but because of the cold for a long time, she felt unbearably salty and bitter.She smiled faintly: "You are about to become the elder brother of the Son of Heaven. The name of respect, humility and benevolence will be spread throughout the ages. Please get up quickly, and don't give me a bad name. Go out and get me a pot of clean water."

Li Chengqi was first ridiculed by Taiping's words that there is no way to go to the sky, no way to enter the earth, and when Taiping asked him to fetch water, he couldn't help raising his head and was stunned. Taiping put down the cup gently, and said with a faint smile: "I am thirsty, bring me water." Taiping The overturned attitude for a moment made Li Chengqi's dizzy mind, which was already frightened, even more confused. He didn't dare to delay, got up in a hurry, and rushed out to fetch water for Taiping.Only then did Taiping look down at his son, and said in a low voice: "Can't we live without him?" Xue Chongjian felt ashamed, regretful, and choked up on the ground, and said, "Mother, kill me!" Taiping slightly He sighed and said: "You are my son, only when others want to kill you, I save you. But if you are not willing to save yourself, I can't either."

At this moment, four Habayashi came in one file, holding wooden sticks one person tall in their hands, and the four shiny lacquered sticks were stuck in the hands of the burly Habayashi, but they didn't feel relaxed at all, Taiping was stunned, she didn't give orders Where did these Habayashi go to get the sticks, unexpectedly they didn't ask the people in the mansion, they just brought the sticks as a guard of honor.The upper end of the stick is a stick, the lower end is three feet wide and flat, the tail is black and the head is red, which is the so-called water and fire.She stared at her son, and after all hesitated for a moment. The skin, flesh and blood were all separated from her body, which was the only memory and comfort left to her by that man.

Xue Chongjian knelt on the ground, couldn't help but looked back sideways, only caught a glimpse of the lower end of the stick, but was stunned immediately, this terrible instrument of torture brought back the most terrifying memory in his heart, but the last time his mother was still pleading for him, Now that she is the one sitting on it, does it mean that mother hates herself like grandma hates Li Chengqi?

He stared sideways at the stick for a while, his vision gradually blurred, and suddenly he gritted his teeth fiercely, leaned down, stretched his hand down and forcefully opened the hook on the belt, reached in and unbuttoned his jacket, took off his trousers, and The robe is pulled up.Without the cover of his clothes, even in the scorching heat, the damp air from the ground still crawled up his skin.It was the second time in his life that he was so naked, lying on the ground and receiving the blame, reminding him that this was no longer a family law, and it was no longer a teaching with expectation and pity.His honor in this life was bestowed by his mother, and he betrayed this gift, so nothing can block him from this dirty world.He felt disgusted in his chest, he knew that the one who hated him the most was definitely not his mother, what he hated himself only hoped to die soon.

Xue Chongjian fell on the ground speechless, Taiping looked at the jade-like buttocks, every inch of the shiny skin was full of soft and fragile youth, immature and innocent like a baby, like two lotus seeds that were as clear as water yesterday.Lianzi's heart is bitter, and the mother pities the hardships of the son, but the children will not understand, and will not even forgive.

This is samsara, and some samsara will return to the original place by itself.In order to love her, the mother used this method to kill her lover. She also obtained the same method. Today, she will use it to save their son. There is often a thin line between success and destruction. Although she and her mother are powerful, they are not gods. They also control There is no future.Let's take a gamble. If he wins, he will still be the proud son of heaven. If he loses, he will be as the fourth brother expected. At least he can preserve Xue Shao's legacy. The bet is 20 years of mother-child love.

Li Chengqi rushed out to fetch water. It was not yet dark, but at some point in the afternoon, the clear sky, which was still scorching hot like a fire, was covered by billowing dark clouds, like Shengxuan fainted with light ink.The air filled with water vapor made him breathless. He was always afraid of getting lost in this familiar place.Suddenly a gust of wind with a smell of earth came suddenly, which made his body shake for a while, and he hugged the sapphire bottle in his arms tightly.As if holding a life-saving panacea, he saw the two swallows being tossed up and down in the air by the wind, crumbling, and felt a burning pain in his heart. Are they also walking hand in hand in the strong wind and thunder?Where would they go if a high wind and a storm blew away their little nest in which they lived?

He finally found his way back, but when he pushed open the door, his whole body went limp in horror. Xue Chongjian lay on the ground in a distressed posture, his thick wooden stick glowing faintly under the light.He was about to speak, Taiping looked at him with a sarcasm, raised his chin lightly, although his voice was not loud, but his tone was full of determination: "Hit hard, beat me to death before hitting me back."

Several Yulin looked at each other, and then two of them walked up to Xue Chongjian and squatted down, holding his shoulders, but Li Chengqi shouted sadly: "Stop!" Taiping sneered: "I beat my son, His Royal Highness Song Wang Do you want to take care of it?" Li Chengqi heard that Taiping stopped calling him by his name, and knew that his aunt really hated him to the bone, so he knelt down and walked in front of Taiping, begging in a trembling voice: "Auntie, you saved Chengqi's life, you If he wanted to kill him, Cheng Qi would not complain. But Hua Nu was persecuted by me, and the person he respects the most in this world is you, please forgive him, don't use such a stick..." He knew Hua Nu What I fear most in my heart is not pain. Last night, he hugged his knees and curled up in a piece of weeds and said: "Will my mother not want me?"

Taiping glanced at the table with his eyes, and said, "Pour it for me." Her attitude frightened Li Chengqi more than the fury of thunder. He gently opened a teacup and poured clean water for her. Constantly splashing out of the cup, leaving a clear water stain on the table.Taiping picked it up and took a sip, then looked at Li Chengqi with the teacup and said: "When you were young, your parents asked me to take care of you. How have I treated you all these years?" Li Chengqi felt ashamed and hurt, and cried: "Aunt treats Chengqi like a parent and child, Chengqi is not filial..."

Taiping raised his hand and said: "Forget it, there is no need to say these words. I feel ashamed in my heart that something happened to your mother, and I feel that since I have agreed to this, no matter how difficult it is, I will keep my promise to the end. I don't need to worry about it, your mother is expected to be in the spirit of the sky, and she won't blame me for breaking the appointment. You said that I have been kind to you, and if you respect me with this glass of water, it will be regarded as repayment, and there is no need to say anything unfilial in the future." She raised her head With a clatter, he poured the half of the remaining water on Li Chengqi's side, and said coldly, "Put the water down on the ground, and each flows east, west, north and south. Go now."

Li Chengqi never expected that Taiping wanted to break up with him, so frightened that his heart was torn apart, he just kowtowed and said: "Aunt...Aunt... Please forgive Chengqi this time..."

Taiping didn't pay any attention to him, and shouted to the Yulins: "What are you doing in a daze!" The Yulins came to their senses, and the two hurriedly pressed Xue Chongjian's upper body with all their strength, and two more crossed their sticks on Xue Chongjian On the calf, in order to prevent him from moving around when receiving the stick, the two executioners dragged the wooden stick and stood on both sides of Xue Chongjian, and lightly carried the stick on his hips and legs.

Xue Chongjian lay on the ground for half a day, listening to the conversation between his mother and Li Chengqi, but he couldn't tell what it was like in his heart. It was like being thrown into boiling water to cook in a dream. It was obviously painful, but his mind was in chaos.He tried his best to distinguish and guess the meaning of his mother's words. Could it be that from now on, his mother will not want him, and his cousin will not be able to see him?Then what is he still doing in this world?

Suddenly his buttocks were empty, and his blunt mind understood in an instant, and it was only then that he remembered that there was still such a pain to endure before he died.He finally felt real fear of the coming pain, his legs trembled uncontrollably under the pressure, he gritted his teeth in a hurry and tightened his legs.But it was already too late, a plank hit hard on the buttocks, because the lower end of the plank was flat, although it weighed tens of catties, the sound was extremely clear, making people tranced, and there was a bolt of lightning from outside.Xue Chongjian only felt that two pieces of flesh and blood had been torn off his buttocks. With a muffled snort, he suddenly raised his body. His eyes were darkened, but he was just puzzled, and subconsciously wanted to look back. What was it that hit him? On him?How could this be a board, he has also been boarded, how could it be such a painful method?

Pressing his hand, Yu Lin said that he was struggling in pain, and hurriedly stretched out his hand to hold his neck. Xue Chongjian pressed half of his face to the ground, and clearly felt something rushing about in the muscles on his buttocks, maybe it was boiling water, maybe it was a raging fire, They penetrated into his body all-pervasively, smirking and settling inside, refusing to dissipate, waiting for the next severe pain to attack and torment him again.He didn't know that his guess was wrong until the second stick fell, the thing exploded in his flesh and blood, destroying all his tendons and skin.This was a pain he couldn't bear with any means. If it wasn't for being pressed all over and being unable to move, he really wanted to hit his head on the ground, not for death, but for a little relief from the excruciating pain.

Li Chengqi knelt beside Xue Chongjian, saw that the stick had only been waved twice, and Xue Chongjian's buttocks were covered by two wide patches of blush.The stick grew heavy, and the Habayashi waved it slowly, the red marks coagulated quickly, and as soon as the third stick fell together, fine purple blood spots appeared on the peak of the buttocks.Li Chengqi was dizzy from the horror, he thought why when he was beaten, it was Hua Nu who saved him time and time again.But Hua Nu's pain, he always stood by.Could it be that in the Chongfu Palace, when Hua Nu was stripped of his trousers and pressed to the ground, but he was bound on the high platform as a prince, he was doomed to be cowardly and powerless, and he spent his whole life in front of Hua Nu? Slave asked for it, but never got anything in return.

Seeing that Xue Chongjian had been beaten three times, Taiping didn't say a word, he didn't even hear his breathing. For some reason, when he remembered how he was crying in his arms, he just felt sore, and sneered, "I just saw your whole body today. You are so proud that you lied to me for 20 years."

Xue Chongjian only held his breath just now, so he tried his best not to call out, but he was already suffocated, and his ears were buzzing.But these words floated into his ears verbatim, those boards could only smash his flesh and blood, but these words seemed to pluck his heart from root to root, he couldn't bear it anymore, the next time When the board was knocked down, he couldn't help screaming, and cried out with tears in his eyes: "Mom! Mom, save me!" He knew that he was not qualified to ask for forgiveness, but what else could he do except call for his mother. If you can give him some response, even if you want to kill him, don't use such an indifferent way.

Li Chengqi knelt aside to bear it, and felt colic pain in his abdomen. When Xue Chongjian's miserable cry sounded, the colic pain suddenly turned into a hot current and rushed up, and his throat had a faint sweet and fishy feeling.He got up and staggered towards Xue Chongjian. Habayashi who was walking on the stick was startled, hurriedly put the stick back, and looked up at Princess Taiping.Xue Chongjian knew that the stick would not fall for a while, but his mouth was wide open and he gasped desperately for breath. The man's chest was pressed against his back, and he thought vaguely, is this the last time he heard his heartbeat? ?

Taiping looked down at Li Chengqi and said, "Your Highness, please get up." Li Chengqi held Xue Chongjian's shoulders tightly, and begged, "Huanu is your flesh and blood. You have tortured me so much. I am sorry for the spirit of my uncle in heaven, and I am sorry for your 20 years of nurturing. Love! You know Hua Nu’s heart best. He has been burdened by me all his life, and he has all kinds of sins in his body... Hit me! Please hit me!"

Taiping smiled slightly and said: "Your Highness, I just said that you and I are in debt to each other. The word aunt is so watery, so don't mention it again. Now you and I are just ministers of the same court. My family affairs are not Please give me your advice. A gentleman will never speak ill, I do not want to be rude to His Highness, please go out on your own, and you can report today's affairs to your two Majesties one by one."

Hearing the last sentence, Li Chengqi's blinded eyes suddenly opened. He raised his head with tears in his eyes, and looked at his aunt's peaceful face. The tears and makeup separated the truth of the time. He seemed to return to that warm and warm evening many years ago. He looked up at his aunt's dignified face, and heard her sigh slightly tiredly: I hit the flower slave.

It is punishment and redemption.Can there be a deeper and cooler affection than this?Because of his ups and downs, in order to keep his son stable in the turmoil, he did not hesitate to break his wings.

Taiping frowned and waved his hands, and ordered: "Your Highness, please go out." Two Habayashi stepped forward to set up Li Chengqi, Li Chengqi didn't struggle too much, he watched his fingers being broken one by one from Hua Nu's shoulder Open, he also understood in a daze that this meant some kind of farewell, and hoped that Hua Nu could take a look at him and give him a little fantasy and courage.But Hua Nu may be in too much pain, or may be too disappointed, he still closes his eyes tightly, sweat beads hang on his flushed face, tears hang from the corners of his eyes, and he is still sobbing softly.This childish appearance is like when Hua Nu was beaten when he was a child, he waited for him to come, but closed his eyes and ignored him in anger.Li Chengqi finally understood that even a loved one cannot ask for forgiveness endlessly.

Li Chengqi was held outside the door by two Yulins. The Yulins didn't know where he was going to send him, so he let go of his hand when he went out, and Li Chengqi knelt down slowly in a state of weakness.At this time, the sky was already thundering and thunderstorms were coming, but to him, the world was as dead silent, and he no longer knew where he was.

Gusts of foul wind rushed into the room, but Taiping didn't order to close the door, he brushed his disheveled hair casually, and simply ordered: "Hit!"

Those Yulin glanced at the scar on Xue Chongjian's buttocks, and saw that the skin had swelled up, and the purple blood spots had turned black after a while.On weekdays, they would occasionally take a look at him from a distance, and seeing his appearance as a handsome prince and grandson, they knew that he was someone who had something to do with them.But he never expected that one day he would be so close to them, and the world would turn around, and it was the turn of this young man whose body was made of gold and jade, prostrate on the ground struggling and crying.Only then did they discover that this county king with a different surname, who was envied by everyone in the world, was nothing more than a child who would cry and call his mother after being spanked.This childish pleading made those unrelated people feel sore, thinking that if the buttocks and legs were beaten according to the usual practice, he would definitely not be able to bear it, so they had no choice but to stick to his buttocks, hoping that the skin and flesh would be thicker Some, so as not to hurt the muscles and bones.

Xue Chongjian gasped for a moment, but then used up all the strength he had just now, and the stick hit the swollen skin again, the pain became ten times worse, and the pores all over his body seemed to explode, loudly With a scream, the hands that were firmly pressed to the ground also began to scratch blindly, as if trying to grab something to use.

Taiping didn't seem to hear her son's crying and wailing. She raised her eyes slowly and looked outside the door. The pouring rain was pouring down, and a cluster of lights from the room enveloped Li Chengqi.The rain soaked him thoroughly from top to bottom, they looked at each other silently through Xue Chongjian's lonely cry of pain, and through the dark rain curtain.After Taiping completely broke up with this boy, he looked at him with an indescribable tenderness.Maybe her expectation of him has been dusted, maybe she has entrusted her with something, she is sure that even though they hate each other, they can understand each other.

Suddenly Taiping heard Xue Chongjian's screams, and when he looked down, he couldn't help trembling, it turned out that the stick was wide and heavy, ten sticks were worth more than twenty ordinary torture sticks, ten sticks had already slapped the swollen skin have to break apart.Because the skin had already turned a deep red-purple color, it was hard to tell where the break was, only a stream of blood jumped out and slowly slid down the white hip bone.

Afterwards, the plank fell on the broken skin and bleeding area one after another, after two or three sticks the wound was gradually torn apart, several inch-long lacerations broke free on the flesh.Xue Chongjian has lost his mind in pain, and has long forgotten why he was blamed, and just subconsciously called out to his mother with a hoarse throat.

Although no one was around to count, Habayashi, who was walking the cane, was hesitant. The cane was really too heavy. After each of them hit ten canes, their arms were sore. According to the usual practice, they had to change their walking sticks.They hesitated for a moment, then stopped their sticks, and said in a low voice: "Princess Qi, do you want to change hands?" Taiping was slightly startled, understood the meaning of their words, nodded and said: "Change."

Xue Chongjian still heard these words in a daze, a surge of despair surged in his heart, and he cried weakly: "No...don't...Aunt...I can't take it anymore..." Those people ignored him, He heard the footsteps around him, knew that someone had switched to his side, knew that it would be too late if he didn't speak again, he didn't know where to find some strength, he tried to raise his voice and shouted: "You... let me go!"

Unexpectedly, he still has such a temper, humming: "I can't hit you anymore?" Xue Chongjian closed her eyes and shook her head slightly, "Mum...you let them relax, I...I have something to say...Mum, Please..." Taiping didn't know what he was going to do, so he waved his hand lightly, pressing Xue Chongjian's feathers and hurriedly backed away.Xue Chongjian breathed a sigh of relief. He tried his best to move his numb and weak hands, and suddenly he crawled forward with all his strength.Taiping still didn't know what he was going to do, but saw his son's buttocks were slashed with blood, and he was crawling towards him with difficulty, his eyes couldn't help sore, he leaned over with tears and said, "What do you want to say?"

Xue Chongjian didn't make a sound, he grabbed the gap in the floor with his fingers, tried his best to jump up, then he stretched out his hand, holding the corner of Taiping's silk skirt hanging under the couch with a timid hand.As if he was afraid that his mother would suddenly take it away, he turned his hand lightly, so that the silk scarf was wrapped around his clenched wrist, and he pulled the veil over, and slowly hugged his cheek. go up.After finishing all this, he let out a sigh of satisfaction, closed his eyes and said in a low voice, "Hit... don't let them press... I won't move."

The peaceful and gentle expression on his face was as if he fell asleep in his arms last night.Taiping's chest was suddenly hit by a surge of sorrow, and she couldn't help but gently hold the silk wrap around her arm, she seemed to hear the sound of gurgling blood, following their blood, from her His body flowed toward his son.Taiping bit his lower lip lightly with his shell-like fine teeth, and ordered: "Send him back to the room."

Li Chengqi knelt outside the door, watching the people in the hall hurriedly carry Xue Chongjian away, watching them wash away the blood on the ground.Someone blew out the lamp, sinking his world into a sea of ​​darkness.At first, he knew that he was apologizing, so he tried to kneel up straighter, but after a while, the pain in his knees was so severe that he couldn't support it, so he had to sit on his ankles, and his legs gradually turned from pain to soreness. Turning around, it seemed that this body was no longer his.In summer, the torrential rain came and went, and when he was hit by the rain and was about to faint, the rain gradually subsided, and the wet clothes stuck to his skin, and when the wind blew him, he shivered.

I don't know what time it is, a maid came over with a lantern and said: "Your Highness, Princess, please go back." Li Chengqi pursed his chapped lips, and tried to ask, "Your lord, what's the matter?" The maid shook her head and said "My servant doesn't know." Li Chengqi said in a low voice, "Please let me stay for a while." Seeing his frozen face, the maid couldn't bear it, so she dared to persuade in a low voice: "Your Majesty, you just kneel down At dawn, the princess will not let you see your lord, you should go back. If you can’t walk, the servant will call someone to carry you.” Li Chengqi shook his head weakly, and after a while, he saw that the maid was still standing by him. Beside him, he whispered: "I'm here, get closer to him."

The maid stopped talking, and there was no sound in the surroundings, only the iron horse under the eaves made a tinkling sound as the wind stirred.His sanity was lucid for a while, and he was confused for a while. Maybe he thought too much about Hua Nu, and thought of the unthinkable, but he vaguely remembered something irrelevant in his mind: the pair of swallows' nests, after the wind and rain. Is it all right?Will they snuggle up to keep warm, listen to the rain falling on the plantains side by side, the iron horses moved by the wind, wait quietly together, and the moon will move out of the clouds, spreading the clear light all over the world.