Xibo, Beijing.
The vast imperial city stands in the northwest, with dragons and tigers standing for millions of years. What can I do now that I have come from the east? Horses are stepping on dragons and tigers to show their divine power.
A hundred years ago when the country was founded, the first emperor Tianwen was better than the previous dynasty. At the end of the Wei Dynasty, in the troubled times, a group of green forests and grassland people proclaimed themselves as kings and raised flags in an uprising. After all kinds of hardships, they invaded the palace and city of the previous dynasty, ended the separatist situation of the heroes, aspired to conquer the Central Plains, and established the Great Zhou Dynasty. dynasty. At that time, when Ma Tatai and Jinluan Palace were together, the warrior sage, who was later recorded in history books and had not studied for a few years, recited such a worthless limerick that was praised repeatedly by Hongru, the great literary giant of later generations, but was actually worthless.
Today, this poem is still engraved on the dragon pillar on the left side of the palace. It is said that future generations will remember his majesty in those days. But I don’t know that today, every one of the royal family has been exposed to the highest knowledge of the Zhou Dynasty since childhood. I don’t know what I will think when I see this nonsense and rhymeless so-called limerick.
The Northeast Star Observation Tower in Ouchi was the first thing the warrior sage did after he established the country and laid the foundation for the Zhou Dynasty.
Saints throughout the ages have believed in the destiny of heaven and advocated the idea of "the power of kings is given by heaven", and they have always tried to imprint these four words in the hearts of people all over the world.
The sound of "Emperor" is enough to explain the profound meaning.
This was especially true for Tian Wendi, the founding emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, even though everything was in ruins, most of the gold and silver was allocated from the national treasury and he personally supervised the construction of the observatory. He even spared no expense to invite talented people from all over the world to come to the palace to observe their fortunes. It is precisely because of this that the Taoist sect, which is inseparable from the practice of soul-stirring, alchemy, fortune-telling and fortune-telling, has been blessed by this and has become a state religion.
At night, except for the uniform footsteps of the patrolling soldiers, everything in the palace, where no one is allowed to travel after Youhou, is silent. There was an old man with a hunchback who walked through the door to the outside of the Star Observation Tower under the guidance of the inner prisoner Weinuo. He was not as timid and hesitant as others when walking in the inner palace. Pao Ze Yinghun's back was bent, and he was walking with his hands held high and his head held high without squinting, causing the low-status internal prison guard next to him who was only one position behind to jog behind the old man.
Obviously it did not comply with the rule that courtiers were not allowed to bring hawks and dogs into the palace. The hunchbacked old man's big gray dog was quite alert and turned his head to look around from time to time, and his tail flicked leisurely from time to time.
Outside the Star Observation Building, there was already a wealthy middle-aged man wearing a piece of fine mink velvet that was paid tribute by the Northern Yi. Even ordinary people who have never seen the world can see that it is expensive and fine mink. He was waiting quietly with his hands behind his back. When he saw the old man with a hunchback coming over, he just nodded. He called "Uncle Lin" as a greeting.
The hunchbacked old man who was used to receiving big gifts when he was away from home was quite conceited in following the late emperor's edict that "no matter how high the official position is, the gifts are exempted." He only slightly owed the gift and accepted the gift, which was regarded as a return gift.
"It's so cold that I have to trouble Uncle Lin to come over. Thank you for your hard work." The rich middle-aged man was quite polite and spoke very politely.
The hunchbacked old man smiled and said: "Why do you say so politely? This is what an old minister should do."
The rich middle-aged man waved away the few eunuchs and maids who were following behind him, and stepped into the Star Observation Tower first.
The Star Observation Tower is nine levels high, which means it is nine levels high. The masonry foundation is square and square, and the upper eight floors are made of Nanhai pineapples. The hexagonal, eight- and ten-cornered floors go up in sequence, and the last floor is an open-air dome, which also coincides with the meaning of a round sky and a square place.
The rich middle-aged man and the hunchbacked old man entered the Star Observation Building. They had already ordered that no one should be allowed in the building, and they went upstairs to the eighth floor without any hindrance.
The interior of the Star Observation Building is as warm as spring. Even the wooden buildings on the upper floors are made of special materials and are paved with winding ground dragons for heating. The walk upstairs makes the rich middle-aged man who has never done many activities a little out of breath. There was also a trace of sweat oozing out from the top.
On the other hand, the hunchbacked old man was content with himself, showing off his strong physique that was incompatible with his age. He also joked: "You should really exercise. You are so incompetent at such a young age. How can you be incognito again when you are a few years older?" Going on a private visit to abduct a good woman?"
The wealthy middle-aged man who was obviously a current saint couldn't help but feel embarrassed, and said: "Uncle Lin, please stop laughing at me. I have been too busy dealing with government affairs for the past ten years. How can I have time to think about such things."
The hunchbacked old man raised his head and laughed, and lowered his voice with deep meaning: "But I heard that Da Yuezhi sent a beautiful woman a few months ago, but she is blond and blue-eyed. I'm afraid your majesty asked me to come with you." Why don't you ask this old man to make some aphrodisiac elixirs for you?"
I'm afraid this is the only hunchbacked old man in the world who dares to make fun of the current emperor like this, which makes the emperor, who is ninety-five years old, blush and say in embarrassment: "Found out of nowhere, out of nowhere." This made the old hunchback laugh.
"I can hear your old-fashioned smile from all the way. I'm not afraid that I'll choke you to death before I even get one breath."
The eight floors are brightly lit, with candles all over the place in a seven-star array. There are fragrant flowers, melons, fruits, chickens, and fish in the room. There are seven big lamps on the ground, and seven small lamps in each circle. There is a zodiac lamp inside. Below the finger are seven fist-sized red jade stones like the Big Dipper.
The only one in the world who dares to scold the hunchbacked old man is this old Taoist priest in the Star Observation Tower. He has a white beard, white eyebrows and white hair. Even the Taoist robe on his body is white that I have never seen before. He is wrapped in a brocade quilt and seems to be sleeping. Sitting next to the most dazzling natal lamp with eyes closed, you are stealing your life.
The hunchbacked old man didn't pay attention to the old man's blanket. He snorted coldly and found a chair farthest away from him to sit down.
The Emperor had long been used to the way the Imperial Master, who disliked each other, and the only king of a different surname in the dynasty would fight each other after meeting each other. He immediately asked: "Why did the Imperial Master Lingxu call me and Prince Ye to the Star Observation Tower late at night?" ?”
Imperial Master Lingxu, who was wrapped in a brocade quilt, opened his eyes slightly as if he had just woken up, but still looked sleepy. He tightened the quilt and said, "It's nothing serious, I just heard about it." This is something that you both have been obsessed with for the past three years."
Imperial Master Lingxu said it lightly, but the Emperor and the hunchbacked old man were stunned. How can we say that something that can interest these two most important figures in the Zhou Dynasty is not a big deal?
The two of them looked at each other, and the emperor also knew that it would be more difficult for the hunchbacked old man to talk to the imperial master who seemed to be his mortal enemy, so he said again: "Please, the imperial master Lingxu, please don't show off any more." ”
Imperial Master Lingxu wanted to see the hunchbacked old man in trouble. He looked at the hunchbacked old man with sleepy eyes and said, "This matter is mainly related to this old immortal."
The hunchbacked old man was not moved by the words of Imperial Master Lingxu. He crossed his arms and looked out the window at Half Moon, secretly cursing in his heart why the old man with the white beard was still alive. He had to wrap himself up in a quilt in this warm room on a cold day. I still have to open the windows for ventilation. Isn’t this unhealthy?
Imperial Master Lingxu moved his body and said to the Emperor: "If this old immortal doesn't listen to you, I can tell your Majesty quietly that this matter is related to the life of the fourteenth prince."
The Fourteenth Prince is the most favored prince by the Holy Emperor today. The Emperor, who has not yet established an Eastern Palace and has privately talked about establishing a crown prince, wanted to make this non-eldest prince the Crown Prince a few years ago. However, the Holy Emperor has not been able to do so. After reasoning with the high officials in the court, the old empress dowager in the inner palace clung to the tradition of "establishing the elder rather than the young". Even though she knew that the eldest prince was devoted to poetry and writing and not to political affairs, she would not allow herself to be the emperor. The son made the fourteenth prince the crown prince.
Regardless of this, when it comes to the lifelong events of the emperor's family, it is really unimaginable.
The hunchbacked old man suddenly became interested, and looked straight at the Imperial Master wrapped in a quilt, causing the white-bearded old man to laugh like a child who got his favorite toy, and his reaction to the hunchbacked old man was Quite satisfied, the angry old man with a hunchback turned his head and looked out the window and secretly cursed the old cow nose.
But the emperor saw the signs. As the saying goes, those who are not in the game know their own truth, so he asked with a smile: "Is that boy from the prince's family convinced?"
Imperial Master Lingxu was obviously still immersed in the fun of teasing the hunchbacked old man, and just smiled like a naughty boy.
The previous enthusiasm on the hunchbacked old man's face disappeared, and his eyes tightened as he looked at the cheerful Imperial Master Lingxu.
When a pilgrim speaks, he already looks profound, sitting there calmly, very unpredictable.
………………
There is a mountain in the southwest of Xibo, named Panshan Mountain, which overlooks the entire Xibo City from a distance.
Decades ago, when Xirong rebelled, the Northern Yi secretly sent light cavalry to attack Huanglong. The troops came to the city and frightened the old emperor. After quelling the rebellion, they built a major capital city in the northwest. Later, a king with a different surname was granted the title of a fief, and the Panshan Mountain in the southwest was given as a fief, where he could raise troops and defend Xibo.
There is a winding mountain path diagonally to the west. The old trees beside the path are towering. In this late winter season, the bare branches can also block the clouds and the sun. In addition, it is already late at night, giving the surrounding a more gloomy atmosphere.
At this time, a man in white robes with a cinnabar birthmark on half his face was walking slowly on the road carrying a pot of old wine and a food box. After walking for a short time, he saw a bamboo forest. The bamboo forest is full of Xiangfei bamboos, which reach into the sky and are lush and overlapping. Their dry yellow leaves rustle, and even the century-old trees around them have lost some of their color in front of this bamboo forest. Coupled with the fact that there were steel knives stuck everywhere, the whole area suddenly became filled with a murderous aura.
There is a bamboo house in the bamboo forest, and there is an old tomb next to the house. The stone tablets have been somewhat dilapidated due to rain erosion over the years, but there is no weed on the tomb.
Sitting on the ground next to the monument is a white-haired man, dressed in coarse linen clothes. He looks old, but his white hair is really eye-catching, and at this hour, he is holding a man who has obviously been used for many years and is shiny. The wine gourd's drunken drinking may make people secretly curl their lips.
Hearing the footsteps, the white-haired man didn't even look, he just stared at the monument with half-open eyes, taking a sip of wine from time to time just to enjoy the smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.
"Here he comes." You don't know who is coming even if you don't look. How could the white-haired man not know in his heart that in these 1989 years, there were only a few people who could or dared to come to this bamboo forest? I can count them all on one hand.
"I've been socializing with the prince every day for the past year, and I haven't had time to drink with you and see my sister-in-law. I finally have some free time tonight, so I came to see you for a drink." The man in white robe sat down on the floor next to the man with white hair, and opened the door The jug drinks by itself.
The white-haired man finally turned his head and looked at the person who came, and said: "You have nothing to do. You are drinking and chatting away from me. Brother Shao'er and the others are very busy today. Be careful of scolding you behind your back."
The man in white robe laughed, "Go ahead and scold me, but you won't hear me."
The white-haired man moved his buttocks towards the white-robed man, shook off his clothes and leaned on the stele, still looking like he couldn't wake up, and said: "If tomorrow is the seventh day of the lunar month, it should be the next year's imperial dynasty. Is it possible?" The old man went to Beijing this year because he wanted to?"
The man in white robe nodded, but did not follow the topic. Instead, he said: "The letter that just came from the palace seems to be that the Luminous Monument has been invited out."
The white-haired man sneered and said with great disdain, "What happened to the emperor, why did he still use that bullshit? There are also things that Xiaowei Yulin's dead soldiers and secret soldiers can't solve. ? Is it possible that even you guys can’t do it?”
The white-haired man asked multiple questions in one sentence, and the white-robed man did not intend to answer them one by one. He just said: "I'm afraid the saint guessed that even sending us people can't solve the problem."
"What is so difficult to do, and what can't be solved by the dignified frontmen?" There was a hint of teasing in the white-haired man's tone.
The man in white robe could hear the joke in his words, but he didn't mean to agree. He just raised his head and took a sip of wine.
"The second young lady and the third young master have a letter."
The white-haired man's sleepy eyes were wide open, even in this dark night. Even the white-robed man who had experienced strong winds and waves and was used to the blood and blood was still breathing heavily.
The white-haired man's eyes lost their vitality again, and his eyelids were still drooped and his eyes were half-open.
"Little brat."
