Huaigui

On July [-]th, the gate of ghosts is opened.

During the Hungry Ghost Festival, paper figurines are burned everywhere in Luoyang City to drive away evil spirits, and wizards are invited to drive away ghosts.There is also a similar scene in the corner of Ziwei City. Just in case, when the Great Court is approaching, the number of night watchmen has increased. In the pagoda, many eminent monks are chanting scriptures, not only to save the dead a few days ago, but also to pray for blessings. meaning.

Dali Temple, located on the edge of the imperial city, welcomed uninvited guests in black robes after nightfall.The guard was startled, and hurriedly tried to stop him, but the man flashed a token in his hand.

A golden red rosefinch was hot-stamped on a black background. Its status was equal to that of the Chuanguo Yuxi, and it was the emperor's private property.It's just that there are not many in this world, and the use of certificates alone cannot dispatch troops or control power. Even so, when a small official saw this thing with his own eyes, he woke up from his previous doze.

The guard wanted to know that this was the rumored "Suzaku Order", so he naturally knew the identity of the visitor.

He immediately stood up straight: "Yes... yes, I will inform you."

After waiting for a while, Guo Meng, the prime minister who was on duty at night in Dali Temple, came out to welcome him. He bowed slightly and said to the visitor: "After His Majesty's order was delivered, I have been waiting here for a long time."

"Master Guo, don't be too polite." The black hood was removed, revealing a handsome face, He Lan Mingyue slightly nodded at him, "Please lead me there."

Guo Meng repeatedly agreed, but his eyes glanced at the sword on He Lanmingyue's waist.

After noticing this look, he smiled, untied the long sword decorated with pearls and handed it over: "If you are worried, you can store this sword outside Dali Temple."

Helan Mingyue spoke politely, but Guo Meng didn't even dare to say: "You were ordered to come here, and you are going to visit that lord. I think it's all His Majesty's intention. This humble minister talks too much. There is no need to deposit it, Lord Helan, please follow me."

After saying that, he turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation, and He Lan Mingyue smiled: "Then thank you, Mr. Guo."

After the coup, the prison of the Ministry of punishment was overcrowded, but Dali Temple was fine.Because it is close to the imperial city, the most important person imprisoned here is the former short-lived emperor Gao Hong.He has not been deprived of his royal status, he is still the king of Yu.

Guo Meng took Helan Mingyue to the door of Gao Hong's cell and said goodbye. The place was built against the wall, and the middle stone was covered with straw, which is not difficult to endure in the lingering summer weather.There was an oil lamp by the bedside, and on the wall were arm-thick iron chains that bound Gao Hong's feet.

He was dressed in plain gray clothes, leaning against the wall in a sitting position, when he heard the movement of someone coming, he raised his head half-deadly.Seeing that it was him, Gao Hong frowned first, then smiled again: "I guess you will come."

He Lan Mingyue looked at him through the gap between the iron pillars of the prison gate, and her eyes were a little bit high, and her tone was calm: "Tomorrow is the Grand Court Meeting, and I am here to watch you at the order of His Majesty, lest you die at this juncture. "

Gao Hong sneered: "Does Gao Jing think that there will be someone who secretly plots against Chen Cang?"

Helan Mingyue didn't answer his question, and carefully looked at the ceiling on the cell: "I'm also very surprised. At that time, Yuwen came to report that you almost hanged yourself in prison, but where did Dali Temple let you submit it? Today, look, The top is bare, if you can really cut off the three-foot white silk here, the prince will be very capable."

Gao Hong glared angrily, but did not answer.

But He Lan Mingyue didn't care, and just said: "The person who sent the white silk is a guest of your house. Fang Huai's contribution to inquiring about the route of the Vermilion Bird Guard's tour camp was indisputable, and now he has obeyed the law. Speaking of which, I have seen it before. He has been with you for more than ten years, why bother to keep saying that no one is loyal to you?"

Gao Hong snorted softly and declined to comment.

He Lan Mingyue asked again: "Is this cell familiar?"

As soon as this remark came out, Gao Hong seemed to understand something suddenly, stood up abruptly and rushed towards Helan Mingyue.

It's a pity that he was trapped in shackles and almost fell down in embarrassment. He held the iron bars with both hands, and his eyes were tearing: "Are you here to humiliate me? I should have known that you hated me. What righteousness and morality are you talking about? Confession—you still hate me!"

"From what you mean, my lord, I don't think I should hate you?"

Gao Hong roared: "If I hadn't saved you, you would have died long ago! He Lan Mingyue, remember, I saved you no matter what!"

What should have been a thunderous sentence sounded very light, He Lan frowned slightly, and said: "My lord, are you so anxious that you can't choose what to say? Are you expecting me to thank you?"

"You can speak in front of Gao Jing, as long as you help me this time..."

"My lord," He Lan Mingyue interrupted him calmly, "that day in front of the Taiji Hall, I saw that you really wanted to die and save your life, because you still have something to ask. Now I have asked all the questions that should be asked, and I closed it." These days must be extremely boring, and tomorrow the Great Court will be held... do you think you will be cut in half, Ling Chi, or will be sidelined and exiled?"

Gao Hong paused, as if all hopes were suddenly broken, and the gray hair on the sideburns hung down to cover his expression.

He Lan Mingyue continued: "I asked Gao Jing for an order, and he won't kill you right away." Hearing him smile, He Lan said again, "But if you stay in this world, you will only be sent to the south. Going to Xinjiang, there will be no chance to stand up again... Prince Yu has the ambition to win the world, will he really be willing to end his life in the miasma forest?"

"……What did you say?"

He didn't want to go to the southern border. He Lanmingyue guessed: "There is another puzzling thing. I thought you would abandon the city when the army entered Luoyang City, but you didn't. To the west, the king of Qin was sitting in Weiguan, so he couldn't go. Go south to Nanjun and Jiangdu, and then integrate the troops, even if you can't make a comeback, you can force Gao Jing to rule the river—why don't you go?"

Gao Hong seemed to have heard something very funny: "Putting the river to govern? The Gao family will never agree to paddling the river to govern! If you let me go to the old land of Southern Chu to be a cowardly emperor, I might as well die!"

So she raised her eyebrows, and He Lanmingyue thought it might be their nature.

He and the first emperor, and Gao Qian are in the same line, and have indescribably similar attachments.

"Then being imprisoned here is your fault." He Lan Mingyue finally said.

Gao Hong's lips moved slightly as if he was about to say something, He Lan Mingyue waited patiently for a while, and he said: "Your father... died in this cell back then, I thought you knew."

"It doesn't make any difference to me where I die, only you can't let it go."

Gao Hong was surprised by his answer, thinking about it was He Lan Mingyue's style, he didn't know whether to cry or laugh.He sat slumped on the ground, leaning against the iron railing, very desolate: "I didn't count, I didn't count!..."

The words suddenly changed again, he gritted his teeth and said, "Is Gao Qian dead?!"

"Prince Ji woke up for a while the day before yesterday and stopped coughing up blood." He Lan Mingyue said plainly, "I think he is still holding on until now, just wanting to see your end for himself."

Gao Hong was taken aback for a moment, then started laughing.

His laughter echoed in the courtyard of Dali Temple, He Lan Mingyue listened quietly for a while, without any intention of interrupting.Seeing his attitude, Gao Hong felt even more disgusted in his heart—Mingyue is an outsider, and what frustrates him the most is that Helan Mingyue has never said that he hates him.

Is there really such a pure and kind person?Gao Hong never believed it, even Helan Maojia, he was sure that the other party must have his own ideas.How can there be no selfishness in this world? !

Tired of laughing, he turned his head and his eyes fell on the shadow of Helan Mingyue.The light of the oil lamp in the corner was erratic, as if a person had reached the end of his life. Gao Hong laughed again: "Haha...he wants to see my ending? Where can he get himself? Everyone...isn't it dead in the end? "

He Lan Mingyue asked suddenly: "Do you want to die now?"

"..." "Do you want to end it now, or wait until tomorrow when the sun rises and everything is settled, and then die in anger on the way to the southern border?"

"..."

"You said my father died here, isn't that the same as it is now?"

He Lan Mingyue looked at him, and finally his gaze became stern: "Look at him that day, is it the same as I look at you now, both sides know how you will choose, my lord, don't you?"

It seemed that there was a smell of incense coming from afar, mixed with a fishy smell of rainwater.It was almost the night of the full moon, but the night was thick, with thunder, and the stars were completely dimmed.

The surrounding guards were all removed, no one would eavesdrop on their conversation, and the two people standing opposite each other through the barred window really changed their positions and identities as he said.Gao Hong couldn't stop thinking about that day. After 20 years, he could still remember everything. He didn't feel guilty. He even had nightmares and couldn't sleep well. He comforted himself that Helan Maojia was willing to seek relief from drunkenness, dreams and death. , but these memories haunted him until now, and the other party gave it away.

Gao Hong never spoke, his expression was submerged in the gloomy darkness.

He Lan Mingyue raised her hand and paused for a long time before saying, "It seems to be raining."

"Really?" Gao Hong seemed to sigh, "every July and a half, Luoyang always gets wet no matter if it rains heavily or lightly, and it has never been an exception for so many years... No matter what, no one can oppose the destiny .”

He Lan Mingyue felt that there was something in his words, but she didn't ask further: "My lord, I will leave you a sword. If you don't want to suffer those insults, you will know what to do."

After saying that, he ignored Gao Hong's trembling back, and the Yanshan snow on his waist flashed like a starlight and cut through the night sky.

Seeing the sword being thrown in front of him, Gao Hong was shocked, raised his head in disbelief, and his voice changed: "You want to force me to death?! You are avenging him, right, so you came up with this method Kill me..."

Dali Temple, the night before the sentencing, Gao Hong is most familiar with this scene.

Helan Mingyue's smile was not a smile, but because of the unclear light and shadow, that appearance was more like the one in his memory.At that moment, Gao Hong felt that his nightmare had finally come true, how could Helan Maojia not care at all!

He really hates me!

He came to collect debts!

Thinking of this, Gao Hong hesitated when he bowed to pick up the sword.On the top of his head, He Lan Mingyue's voice was still as cold as ice: "Do you remember this sword? You gave it to Gao Jing back then, and Gao Jing gave it to me. Lord, have you ever thought that it will come back to you in the end?" hand?"

The thousands of miles of rivers and mountains on the scabbard and the night pearl on the hilt are all mocking.

Gao Hong's hands were shaking violently, and he looked at the sword.The sharp blade of the sword reflected his ashen complexion, making him look old and decadent overnight.

He deserves to die, and Gao Hong himself didn't refute it.

But for him to die in the same way as Helan Maojia, the pain is better than being torn apart by a car.

He remembered that day, after Helan Maojia said those words, he turned his back and took the dagger, and then...he didn't dare to think about it. Only at this moment did Gao Hong realize that he had always harbored remorse.He paid a lot for the throne and lost a lot. His cousin will never come back.

The sword in his hand was suddenly as heavy as a thousand jin. Gao Hong raised his head, with despair in his eyes, and looked at the person in front of him.

But Helan Mingyue didn't respond at all, and avoided his gaze, walking a little further away.He didn't go far away, but only raised his hand to wipe the rain that fell on his forehead under the farther eaves.The figure almost turned into another person in the haze, Gao Hong sneered, thinking that it was retribution.

After turning her back, she didn't hear anything for a long time, and Helan Mingyue didn't have the heart to say anything else.He knew in his heart that he would definitely win this game in the end.

There was silence for a while, amidst the soft tones of the rain curtain, there was a clanging sound of metal falling to the ground.

"My lord." He Lan Mingyue smiled sarcastically, "Look, I know how you will choose...you can't do it."

He turned his head and walked slowly, squatting halfway outside the iron fence, looking straight into Gao Hong's red eyes, and reached out to grab the long sword back. This action made Gao Hong's whole body tense, and he looked at him vigilantly.

Helan Mingyue held Yanshanxue in front of her eyes, flicked her finger, and the blade of the sword made a crisp buzzing sound.

Gao Hong's palm was cut, he was still out of breath, his chest heaved violently, and he was extremely embarrassed.

The way he looks now is a complete loser.

"You know that my father will choose to sacrifice himself, and I am sure you will not commit suicide." He Lan Mingyue said softly, Gao Hong's ugliness and embarrassment reflected in her light gray pupils, "You want to die, but you dare not die , because you are afraid, and always hope that someone will change your life for you in the end."

"...Helan Mingyue, you!"

"My lord, do you know how you are inferior to the late emperor?"

"..."

"At least the first emperor dared to do and make mistakes, but you are a coward who can only rely on others."

After saying this, he slowly straightened up and put the sword back into its sheath.

Standing tall and straight like a green pine in the night wind, Helan Mingyue's shoulders were wet by the rain. He glanced at the Futu Pagoda in the distance, and smiled at Gao Hong: "So you can't walk the same road as my father, he With his aspirations and ideals, you are doomed never to be side by side."

The rain was getting heavier, He Lanmingyue ignored Gao Hong's laughing or crying, and walked towards the exit.

Murong Xun was imprisoned two cells away, and he stopped for a while as he passed by.The person in front of him seemed much calmer than Gao Hong, Murong Xun was not detained in the criminal department, He Lan Mingyue didn't know what he had done.

It seemed that he had messed with everything, the former imperial teachers and masters of the world were reduced to prisoners, but none of those who had been favored by him could stand up and plead for his life at this time.The first time Murong Xun met him was in Shuyuzhai, he pointed at Gao Yu's name with a stern expression, asking him to endorse.

At that time, everyone called him "Mr. Pure Ru", and even the late emperor treated him with three points of courtesy.

Didn't the first emperor know that he was the reliance of powerful officials?

It has never been released, I am afraid it is just that the time is not ripe.

Helan Mingyue stood there for too long, but the old man behind the bars opened his eyes first and said, "Aren't you leaving yet?"

"I used to have an older brother named Murong who treated me very well." He Lan Mingyue said suddenly, "He once said that even though he was adopted from a side branch, with this surname, he felt a unique honor in his heart, so he really hoped to be able to To stand out for the Murong family."

"Get ahead for the Murong family?" Murong Xun smiled, "There are too many people like this."

Helan Mingyue was speechless, he asked "Is that so" indifferently, and there was no other words between the two of them.He didn't think of Murong Yun at this time, but he suddenly wanted to talk.

He wanted to ask, do you remember this person, did he really leave Luoyang and never come back, or did he die?What Murong Yun did for his surname even betrayed Gao Yu’s trust and finally murdered him. Do you know about this?He was forced to leave, what happened to him?

These questions may not be important to He Lan Mingyue at all, he just remembered Murong Yun.They did have a good relationship when they were young, but they also took different paths later.

Now it seems that Murong Xun may not even know him.

But that's good too, he and Murong Yun didn't face each other with swords and backs in the end.

The rain washed away all the filth, and someone outside Dali Temple urged him not to embarrass Guo Meng too much, so he left.When she walked out of the majestic gate, Helan Mingyue felt powerless.

But he has to admit that this is the most impermanent part of life.

The next day, July [-]th, the Great Court will come as scheduled.

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It's almost the end, and I can finally change the little gray characters that are mainly spicy and stalking!Love to praise me for being cultured>_