Chang'an ancient meaning

Wu Linglan was sitting by the lake, holding a gold leaf lotus lantern in her hand. The fire was so hot that it was like a tiny golden silkworm, devouring the wick piece by piece at a speed invisible to the human eye.The palms of her hands were aching from the heat, but she couldn't bear the warmth. It reminded her of the bonfire in the Chang'an mountain forest. In the swaying warm red, it seemed that a handsome young man's smiling eyes were hiding. Hold on.In a flicker of light and shadow, the flames had already licked her fingers, she trembled in pain, and slowly withdrew her hand, loving and lusting for others is like carrying a torch against the wind, and there must be burnt hands - she has already tasted that It's a taste, why is it still greedy for this warmth and stubborn.

Wu Linglan sighed, with a bit of reluctance, she put the lotus lantern into the water, the light gradually drifted away along the flowing water, wherever it went, it caused the lake water to ripple, and the shadow of the full moon on the lake water was stirred into pieces broken gold.In the faint light, one can vaguely see the withered water pavilion in the lake, the rubble piled up on the shore, and the shadow of the black Haloxylon tree from time to time dazzle the night, and the dim light is like a phosphorous fire floating on the barren tomb.

It was hot in July, and I didn't feel it during the day, but at night when I sat by the water, I felt the coolness invade my body. She put her burning hand into the lake water, and the cold and hot pain collided, making her frown slightly.The water was originally the running water connected to the Fen River, and it swayed slightly without wind, as if some living thing was hiding under the water, trying to drag her into this bottomless river of darkness.

Today is Obon Festival.Since the violent death of her parents a few years ago, every July, she burns incense and offers sacrifices every night to repent for her parents.This year, she was already preparing for the Buddhist festival in Chang'an, but unexpectedly, the world was turned upside down, and she was already in this abandoned garden in Puzhou.He came to take care of Xue Chongjian for a few days, but he didn't care about offering to the Buddha. Thinking that today is the official festival, seeing Xue Chongjian recover and fell asleep at night, he chose a few gold and silver objects and put them in the Yulan basin, and came to the water's edge alone Light up.Fortunately, the governor of Puzhou demolished the garden to pieces, but he had nothing to do with this large lake. In the vicissitudes of life, he left her a pool of water, connecting the heaven and the earth.

Wu Linglan sighed softly, knelt up straight, put her hands together, and recited in a low voice: "I am equal to filial piety. I practice the cause of the Pure Land. I repay the kindness of my second relatives, and I repent of the sins of the three obstacles. The survivors will gain a blessed life, and the dead will be reborn. Enemies in the Dharma Realm, live together in peace and support the country.” After she finished reading, she was going to silently recite the "Buddha Says the Ullambana Sutra", but suddenly she thought that no matter how difficult it is today, she can still recite for her parents and his parents. Scrolling the scriptures, I am willing to use myself to bear the hardships of my deceased parents, hoping to be like Mulian, to impress the Buddha with my filial piety, and to rescue my parents who have fallen into the three-way hell.But behind her, there will be no children, and chanting scriptures for her saved her from hanging upside down.

I always think that this life has exhausted all kinds of suffering, so why can't even death be the end of this suffering?Is the Styx water in the future so cold? It's because she and him are lonely. Their pain is so similar, but they can't confide and comfort them.

As soon as she thought about this, she felt flustered and short of breath, her chest was oppressed unbearably, and the scene in front of her eyes was a little blurred, so she quickly supported her with her hands so as not to collapse.These symptoms have been onset since the miscarriage that year. I feel tired and tired during the day, and can't sleep well at night. Although I haven't deliberately recuperated in Chang'an for several years, I finally lived a peaceful life and survived.Recently, I have been displaced and forced to settle down with my family, but I feel that I can't support it.

She fell to the ground, staring at the distant river lamp in a daze for a moment, the dim yellow light was soft and compassionate, reminding her of the way her mother often looked at her.She suddenly shed tears. From the night she lost her parents and children, she became tired and indifferent to death. She used to feel that life was hopeless, but she lived on and waited for the day when she died to be reunited with her parents.At this moment, she sincerely begged Buddha to be merciful, let her live longer, even if it was so difficult, she would die later than Xue Chongjian, so she would no longer have to worry about his loneliness.

It was the end of July when the servants of King Song's Mansion sent the painting to Biejia Mansion in Puzhou.Although he delivered the letter for the King of Song, Xue Chongjian had a special status, and everything he sent had to be inspected by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he was accompanied by Yulin from the North Gate.They were brought into the garden by Shi Chun, and they saw that a good mansion was demolished to pieces, as if it had been under fire from war, with rubble and weeds everywhere.This servant followed Li Chengqi for a while, and used to walk around Princess Taiping's mansion, thinking of the magnificent scene, his eyes turned sour.

When he entered the inner hall, a strong medicinal smell came to his nostrils. Seeing that although the interior furnishings were simple, the windows were bright and clean. Through the screen, one could faintly see a figure behind the Nuan Pavilion. Finally, there was a human breath, and he breathed a sigh of relief.A woman's voice behind the screen said faintly: "Your Majesty is sick, so it's inconvenient to see you face to face. If you have anything to say, you can just say it." Then the servant realized that Xue Chongjian was behind the screen, and expected that the woman was Wu Linglan, so she knelt down and kowtowed. Said: "Long lord, all blessings! Ladies, all blessings!" Habayashi who came with him looked arrogant and stood with his hands behind his back.

Wu Linglan sighed softly: "Get up and talk." The servant got up and said: "The servant is ordered by His Royal Highness King Song to deliver paintings to the lady, and there are some things that need to be presented to the palace..." He used to say it in the past, Suddenly remembering that Xue Chongjian had been dismissed as king, he glanced at Yu Lin who came with him, and quickly changed his words: "Don't drive, Xue." He took off the burden on his back and picked it up. Wu Linglan.

Wu Linglan opened the package, and saw a scroll, a small brocade box, and a letter.She didn't have time to read the letter, so she took the scroll and unfolded it slowly. When she saw the mother and child in the painting, her eyes became sore and hot. She bowed her head and said softly to Xue Chongjian, "Is this the painting you want?" When they were talking just now, Xue Chongjian seemed still drowsy Before waking up, his eyes slowly opened at this time, and a little business gathered in his dazed and cloudy eyes again.He was not as sentimental as Wu Linglan, staring at the woman in the painting, his eyes gradually turned from blank to tender attachment, Wu Linglan finally saw the corner of his lips, and pursed a long-lost smile.There seemed to be a gleam of light, and Xue Chongjian's pale face, which had been haggard and shattered, regained some of its former radiance.

Wu Linglan only felt a heat in her chest, the pain and toil of the past few days, all disappeared like wind and smoke in this light and clear smile.She opened the small brocade box again, but couldn't help being stunned. This time, there was only a dazzling golden aromatherapy ball in the box.She touched it lightly with her hand, and the cold temperature of the gold reminded her of the lake water that night, so she dared not pick it up and take a closer look.She lowered her head to look at Xue Chongjian, Xue Chongjian seemed to have sensed something, and slowly moved her eyes away from the painting, the golden fragrance was reflected in his eyes, like a burning flame, although there was no expression on his face, But his body trembled, and the flames in his eyes swayed slightly, making Wu Linglan terrified, fearing that this ghostly fire would burn his body.

Xue Chongjian raised his arm, Wu Linglan thought he wanted it, so she handed the incense ball to his hand, but he withdrew his hand as if afraid of the pain, and said in a hoarse voice: "Return him! Give him back everything he has!" There was a buzzing in Wu Linglan's mind, and she suddenly remembered the way Xue Chongjian stared at the incense ball on the curtain that day after receiving the cane.She understood the meaning of that look, and that was what she longed for most in her life.That night, she thought that the incense ball and the silk necklace were left by Princess Taiping, but now she finally understood, it turns out who he missed every night for the past year, and he stared at the faint light, and he squeezed her heart-stirring words. Smile, who is it for?

Many doubts in her life dissipated like wind and smoke, and her happiness and her pain finally had answers. Why was there a young girl smiling like a morning flower on her wall; However, there is a sense of sadness; why among Princess Taiping's heirs, only Xue Chongjian survived.She felt that she was really stupid, she had been by his side for so long, and she didn't know the truth until today, that silk necklace and this incense ball were all that Xue Chongjian loved in this life.She lay next to him every night, their thoughts and loves were separated by many green hills and misty clear water.

Wu Linglan was holding the incense ball, and her hands trembled for a while, she handed the brocade box to Shi Chun, and said in a low voice: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but the gentleman doesn't want to accept it, please return it." The servant said anxiously: "Your Majesty, Your Highness has a letter for you. Please read it before making a decision." Wu Linglan picked up the letter and said, "Do you want to read it?" Closing his eyes on the pillow for a moment, he shook his head slightly.Wu Linglan sighed: "I have let down your Highness."

Thinking of Li Chengqi's recent visit, the servant's heart ached for a moment, and he didn't care about Yu Lin's presence, so he boldly said: "Your Highness has been vomiting blood and became seriously ill since the day you left, and he didn't get up until three days ago, please understand His Highness's difficulties He...he misses you very much..." Wu Linglan stared at Xue Chongjian, saw that although his eyes were closed, his eyelashes were trembling slightly, she sighed, "Let's take a look." After a long time, Xue Chongjian opened his eyes and said: " Take the pen and paper, and I will write back to him." Wu Linglan ordered Shi Chun to carry the small case onto the couch, Xue Chongjian raised his hand, but it fell again, Wu Linglan only said that he was unable to hold the pen, and said softly: "What do you want to write? , I’ll write it for you. Or—I’ll go out and you tell him.” Xue Chongjian shook his head and said, “No need to write, just give him a blank sheet of paper.”

Wu Linglan was taken aback, then smiled slightly and said: "Okay." She remembered the night when he sent her to the other hall, she was also attached to him in every possible way, but in the end she sealed her goodbye with silence.It turns out that you really need to be deeply in love to develop courage and show a ruthless appearance, afraid that he will feel distressed, worried, or become a burden to him, so I ask Dongfeng not to send him to know.Wu Linglan took a piece of white paper and sealed it according to her words, and asked Shi Chun to pass it to the servant, who said anxiously: "Your Majesty is like this, how can you let the slaves do business?" Wu Linglan said lightly: "Your Highness will naturally understand." She held it Xue Chongjian's hand stopped speaking.There is so much lovesickness in this world, and the people who are in it have broken their hearts. From the perspective of others, it is just the wind blowing and the flowers falling, and the coldness is unreasonable.

After Princess Taiping committed suicide, the Supreme Emperor took refuge in the Baifuyuan and fell ill from time to time.The emperor changed Yuan to Kaiyuan, and the rest of the Taiping party was poorly governed, and it was still in progress at the end of the year.In the city of Chang'an, Tiqi was seen everywhere. Except for Yao Chong, Song Jing, Liu Youqiu, Wang Ju, the old man of the Eastern Palace, and others who were on the rise, half of the ministers in the court were killed or exiled, and everyone was in danger.In November, Princess Song gave birth to a son. The Supreme Emperor was very happy about it, and finally got up on the winter solstice to accept the worship of the officials.The emperor was happy to see the Supreme Emperor, so that the son of King Song gave a family banquet in Baifuyuan on the full moon day to entertain his brothers.Longevity on August [-]th this year, because both the Supreme Emperor and King Song were sick, and there were various political affairs, so there was no celebration. This is the first banquet for the emperor's family after the Great Change.

The hall was very lively that day. The Supreme Emperor and the emperor sat on the upper seats. On the left were Li Chengqi, Li Shouli, Li Chengyi, Li Fan, and Li Ye brothers. On the right side hung their light gauze curtains. It was the first time she entered the palace after giving birth, and she was specially given to sit beside the empress, with the emperor's concubines and concubines below.They gather together to talk about trivial things about raising children, their whispers flutter like lotus leaves in the wind, and the crying and laughing of the children of each family are interspersed, and the way is very harmonious.The empress hugged the son of King Song with a loving look on her face. She had been married to the emperor for several years and hadn't given birth yet. Seeing all the concubines with their children at this time, there was a little desolation in her envy.

The emperor, Li Chengyi and others knew that the Supreme Emperor and Li Chengqi had just recovered from serious illness, so they didn't dare to try to persuade them to drink. The Turkic teenagers danced and whirled together, and the two twirled on the red pole like entangled torches, hunting for light.Li Chengqi didn't pay attention to the singing and dancing off the stage just now, and he came back to his senses when he was shocked by the passionate music. He looked up, and Fang's reddish complexion stained by alcohol gradually faded to pale again.

Sitting beside him, Li Shouli saw the sadness in his expression and knew what was on his mind, so he suddenly clapped his hands and said with a smile: "Okay, okay, your Jiaofang is not making progress, either you are Hu Xuan or you have a green waist, and you don't even look at today. There are so many children in the hall, I was scared to cry for a while. Is there any new voice in the workshop recently?" The servant of the Jiaofang Secretary laughed and said: "Your Highness, the great talent Lu Zhaolin died recently. His family published a collection of poems. The meaning spreads widely”

Li Ye said with a smile: "That paralyzed man has lived a long time. The four poets of the early Guo Dynasty have finally withered and clean." Li Fan laughed and said: "I heard that King Luo Bin is still alive. After Song Zhiwen was demoted, he went to Lingyin Temple to write poems. When I read "Juling Yuling, the Dragon Palace is lonely and lonely" without context, I was read out by an old monk who swept the floor, "The building is watching the sea and the sun, and the door is facing the tide of Zhejiang." Some people said that the old monk is King Luo Bin." The emperor laughed and said: " How can you believe such false rumors? Daddy issued an edict on the same day to search for loyal people. King Luo Bin has been running all his life to help my Li family. If he is still alive, why not come out of the mountain to enjoy peace?" Li Fan smiled and said: "Since Shangguan Waner Li Qiao Song After Zhizhi asked Su Weiwei, the whole country could not find anyone capable of poetry, and fell so low that he caught a sweeping monk and wanted to be reborn as King Luo Bin. It is said that the country's misfortune is the luck of the poets, and the ministers should congratulate His Majesty. Taiping, the last one who can compose poetry is dead."

The emperor frowned and said with a smile: "What nonsense are you talking about! There are many talented people in the world, and there are only a few people who can write poems. Zhang said that Su Ting's poems are all good. In my opinion, the most sensible ones are better than Li Qiaosu's." Shangguan Style, where Wei Wei and others piled up rhetoric, is much better." Li Fan smiled slightly, and said: "I don't know much about it, so my third brother made fun of it."

Li Chengyi was afraid that the emperor would be displeased, so he hurriedly said with a smile: "I have been talking about it for a long time, but I still don't know what the ancient meaning of Chang'an is. If you can sing, come and listen to it." , She sang: "Chang'an Avenue is narrow and slanted, with green cattle, white horses and seven fragrant chariots. The jade chariot crosses the main building, and the golden whips flow to the Hou family..." The emperor listened for a while, and smiled: "What a masterpiece I think, It still does not break away from the soft and extravagant pattern of Xiaoliang palace style poems, which are vainly rhetoric, but hurt the flamboyant. This is the disadvantage of the poetry and prose of the previous dynasty. In the poetry and prose of the imperial examination in the future, it is necessary to persuade scholars," Li Chengyi and others Originally, I was very interested in hearing it, but when the emperor said it, I felt a little disappointed, and it was inconvenient to listen more carefully. Li Ye suddenly looked out and shouted: "It's snowing!"

There has been no snow since the beginning of winter this year. The emperor was worried about it a few days ago, and ordered Qin Tianjian to choose an auspicious day to pray for rain and snow. At this time, there were indeed small snowflakes like jade shavings and pearl powder falling outside the hall. Li Chengyi and others were busy. Compliments.Overjoyed, the emperor got up and went out of the hall to watch, and everyone rushed out of the hall one after another.When Li Shouli got up, seeing that Li Chengqi was still not moving, he said in a low voice, "Aren't you going?" Li Chengqi heard a song floating in his ears, "If you have to compare your eyes, why die? I wish I could be a mandarin duck and not be envious of a fairy", and he didn't know why. Feeling the pain of being pulled hard, he shook his head.

The singing girl just heard the emperor reprimanded the song for being bad, she blushed, she didn't know whether to continue singing, and it was even more embarrassing when the emperor and all his highnesses walked away.The singing girl was only fourteen or fifteen years old, thinking that her singing skills were not liked by the emperor, and she didn't know how she would be punished when she went back, she was wronged and timid, her eyes were red.

The Supreme Emperor glanced at Li Chengqi, and sighed in a low voice: "I don't care about the pain of the singer, but it hurts the friends. Bring me my pipa." The servant hurriedly held the jade ring pipa that the Supreme Emperor usually used, and the Supreme Emperor said to the singing girl: "I Pluck the strings for you, let the king of Song play the flute, and you continue singing." The singer was so favored, her cheeks flushed immediately, and she continued to sing: "I hate the solitary luan embroidered on the forehead, so I can take the door curtain and tie the two swallows..."

She is young and her voice is clearer and louder. At this moment, she is singing with all her strength, and her fleshy voice suppresses the pipa.She grew up in the palace and studied art since she was a child. She has never seen the luxurious scenery of Chang'an in the song, nor experienced the love between men and women.But I don't know why, when I sang this song today, the bustling scenes seem to be vivid in my memory, and the lingering tenderness, she seems to be able to touch the sweetness and pain in it, which makes her intoxicated and longing.

The emperor came back with a few brothers talking and laughing. Before entering the hall, he was startled by the golden sound of singing, and stood at the door and listened quietly.The singing girl was not aware of the people outside her body. Accompanied by the sound of Song Wangyou swallowing the flute, she turned her voice and sang to the desolation of the bustling disappearance: "Festivals, things and scenery do not treat each other. The mulberry field and the blue sea will change in an instant. , now only green pines are here. Lonely and lonely living in Yangzi, year after year a bed of books. Only Nanshan sweet-scented osmanthus hair, flying around to attack people!" She looked at Prince Xiuyi who was playing the flute opposite her, and he bowed With his eyelids drooping, two faint drops of water slowly slid down his pale cheeks.She was very puzzled, what kind of troubles could he have with such an honorable status, but it was strange that, accompanied by the sound of the flute and her own singing, a wave of mourning sneaked into her heart like a light rain.It was as if seeing spring flowers withering and green silk turning into snow, seeing colorful clouds dissipating and bright moon turning into a bright moon, she touched the equal sorrow and helplessness in the world for the first time. Before she realized it, two teardrops rolled out, and the last sentence choked up. It was almost inaudible.

Li Shouli smiled and said: "What do you think of this poem, Your Majesty?" The emperor slowly put away the sad and sad look on his face, sneered coldly, and said: "It's just a complaint about poor means." Li Shouli was not embarrassed, he still smiled and said: "Your Majesty judged it."

The Emperor Taishang slowly put down the pipa, and said to the servant gently, "This little girl is a talent, take her back to teach her well, and treat her better." Covered by everyone, Li Chengqi has quietly wiped away the tears on his face.

Li Chengyi and others entered the hall one after another. Li Fan put the plum blossoms in his hands into the vase, and said with a smile, "Sure enough, the plum blossoms in the snow are the most energetic." He returned to his seat, clapped his hands and smiled, "It's so cold." A maid beckoned and said: "Come here." The maid was puzzled, walked up to him and knelt down, Li Fan pulled the maid closer, put his hand into her breast, and said with a smile: "Sister, my hands are cold Warm me.” [1] He was so frivolous that the female relatives behind the curtain thought it was funny, and Princess Qi was ashamed and annoyed: “He is like this at home, and he doesn’t know how to respect him in front of His Majesty and Daddy.”

The emperor smiled and said: "The sage teaches people to drown themselves, even the emperor's family should be considerate of others. You can't be so domineering. If the fourth brother is cold, take my lotus hand stove." Li Fan tilted his head The head smiled and asked: "I don't dare to take the third brother's royal use, so I can ask the third brother for another hand stove, okay?" Seeing that he was so trivial about a hand stove, the emperor couldn't help laughing: "What kind of hand stove do you want? As long as there is something in this world, I can give it to you." Li Fan suddenly stood up, went to the emperor, took off his clothes and knelt down: "The clothes are not as good as new, and the people are not as good as the old. I just want my own stove. No joke, please give it to the emperor." Still Jinse!"

Everyone in the hall was shocked, but Li Fan did not change his face, looked at the emperor calmly and said: "Your Majesty, I have suffered from frostbite on my hands and feet since I was a child. It is this woman who warms my hands and feet and relieves the pain with her body. This woman is the only one in the world who can cure my cold disease." I beg Your Majesty to return the brocade." The emperor said with a cold face, "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has already found out that she was under the instruction of Taiping to monitor you. I didn't deal with her because she took care of you for several years." Li Fan said: "What kind of person she is, only the minister knows best, please give back Jinse, Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqi used to treat his fourth and fifth younger brothers as children on weekdays, but at this moment he was shocked by his actions. He stared blankly at his resolute younger brother, and repeated his request over and over again, with the tragic and victorious spirit of a mourning soldier. The determination to go all the way, in order to save the one he loves, he will not hesitate to disobey the Supreme Being who takes life and death.He couldn't tell whether it was ashamed or envious, how much he hoped that it was himself who yelled this at this moment.

The emperor's voice made him tremble, and the emperor said: "I can't put this disaster between your elbows and armpit." He pointed to the maid and said: "I will give you to King Qi to warm his hands in winter." Li Fan said in a loud voice: "Although it is like a cloud, I want to survive the bandits! I only want my own stove!" The emperor suddenly changed his face and said: "You are still so presumptuous in front of father, do you want to be punished! If you are confused by women, I Help you put an end to this calamity!" Li Fan trembled all over, and finally lowered his head not daring to make another sound, the emperor said coldly: "Today is the auspicious day for elder brother, you use wine to make trouble, I will ask father and elder brother for you Please, don't punish me, get up!"

Li Ye and Li Chengyi hurriedly stepped forward to drag Li Fan up, dragged him back and pressed him down, the Supreme Emperor sighed lowly, and said: "I drank two glasses of wine today, I feel a little dizzy, I want to rest, it's rare to see Ruixue, you guys Let's go and play. Feng Nu can talk to me." The emperor smiled and said, "Brother's business has not been done yet, sister-in-law is asking for a name for the first brother today." He ordered the palace servants to come across a pen and paper, and write down A "Jing" character, said with a smile: "This baby is as bright as a jade carving, so I will take this character." Both Li Chengqi and Yuan Concubine stood up to thank them.

Concubine Shen laughed and said: "The nickname should be Yunu." The queen smiled and said: "That's a good name." , raised her eyes to look at her father, Concubine Yuan trembled, and quietly grabbed the long skirt by her side with both hands.In this slightly weird silence, the Supreme Emperor calmly looked sideways, and said lightly: "The plum blossoms are blooming well today. I like the name, so I call it Hua Nu."

After the banquet was over, Li Chengqi sent the Supreme Emperor back to his bedroom, and couldn't help but whispered: "Father, why are you like this?" , shook his head and said: "Your Majesty has too much grievance against Aunt Hua Nu, and it is difficult to let it go easily. Daddy, don't add any more grievances to Your Majesty over this." Sending a letter every ten days, he always returns a blank sheet of paper." The Supreme Emperor sighed quietly: "He hates us, and he should." He lay down slowly and stopped talking. He has been exhausted recently, I am often sleepy, and it is common for me to fall asleep while talking to my children.Li Chengqi knelt by the couch, looking at his father's snowy temples and the wrinkles around his mouth, a bit of ominous fear flashed in his heart.

When the Supreme Emperor fell asleep, Li Chengqi would return home.As soon as he left the palace gate, he was startled by the scene outside. At this time, it was almost dusk, and the snow had already fallen like tearing cotton. In just two hours, the ground and the cornices and brackets had been covered with a layer.There is no other palace in front of the Baifuyuan, and the Taiji Palace is left unused by the emperor, and there are few servants in the palace, leaving a vast and vast white space for the world.

The rich and luxurious colors of the carved beams and painted buildings are restrained, and there is no longer a sense of domineering oppression. In this quiet and pure world of Qiongyao, he can finally raise his head slowly and remove the submissive expression that he has pretended all day , Looking to the east in vain to look at the amiable evening cloud, let the missing and pain be scattered in the sky and the earth like flying snow naturally and lightly.His soul also seemed to turn into a snowflake, earning the thick and rich royal clothes, crossing the repeated layers of palace walls, drifting to Puzhou [-] miles away, and landed on the lapel of that man's green robe.

The author has something to say: Note [1]: "King Qi is a young woman, and his hands are cold every winter, not close to the fire, but he puts his skin in the arms of a wonderful prostitute, which is called warming hands" - "Kaiyuan The Legacy of Tianbao