先天二年七月,长安.
他登基至今已近一年,但太平公主却一天安宁也没有过.
在朝廷上,她的派系每日发起弹劾.他们弹劾了姚冲,宋敬和李日之.他们的目标是太子时期的老臣和登基时的新贵.每天都有新的请愿书,每天都有新的指控.在市集上,她的手下散布谣言:李隆基的皇位是非法的,天象不祥,新皇帝寿命短暂.长安的百姓私下窃窃私语,对明天充满迷茫.
在牙科诊所里,我听到了越来越多的消息.
前来接受牙科治疗的大臣们会坐在检查床上,张开嘴,然后开始说话.他们谈论太平天国会见了哪些人,朝廷上爆发了哪些争论,以及她收买了哪些近卫军将领.他们以为牙医听不懂这些.但我听懂了.
他黄昏时分到达.天色已暗,诊所里亮着灯.他坐在检查床上,让我检查他的牙齿.
"殿下,您的牙齿真好."
"嗯."他看着我."青妍,你最近听到了什么?"
我犹豫了一下."我听说很多人说太平公主即将有所行动."
他一言不发.风从窗户吹进来,窸窣作响地吹动着桌上的病历.
"殿下打算怎么做?"
他看了我一眼."让她先行动吧."
我停顿了一下.
"她正在等待机会,"他的声音平静,"等待着推翻我的机会.如果我害怕了,退缩了,或者乞求饶恕,她就赢了.但如果我不害怕呢?如果我给了她机会呢?"
"殿下——"
"青妍,我需要你的帮助."
我看着他."怎么会这样?"
"你们诊所,"他说."来这里看牙的人最多.消息从这里传开是最自然的.没人会怀疑."
国际象棋游戏
第二天,太平公主派系中有人来诊所看牙.
那是一位陆军部副大臣,姓刘,四十出头,牙齿状况很差.严重的牙周炎,牙龈萎缩,好几颗牙都松动了.我给他检查牙齿的时候,他一直在说话.谈论朝廷大事,谈论太平公主,谈论新皇帝.他是在试探我,想知道我了解多少,皇帝有没有跟我说过什么.
"刘副部长,"我放下工具,看着他的眼睛说,"您的牙周炎很严重,需要长期治疗.每三天来一次,我会为您冲洗牙齿并涂药."
"好的."他点点头."顾医生,陛下最近来诊所视察过吗?"
"He has," I said. "His Majesty comes every day."
"Every day?" His eyes lit up slightly.
"Mm. His Majesty says only in the clinic can he relax. The court is too exhausting; everywhere there are—" I paused, as if I had slipped up, and quickly lowered my head.
"Everywhere there arewhat?"
"Nothing." I packed up my tools. "Vice Minister Liu, your medicine is ready. Return for a follow-up in three days."
He left. His steps were light and fast as he departed. I knew where he was going. To Princess Taiping's residence. To tell her: The Emperor goes to the clinic daily; the Emperor says the court is too exhausting; the Emperor says everywhere there are—That unspoken word, Princess Taiping would fill in herself. Enemies, traps, troubles, or—the answer she sought.
Three days later, he returned for his follow-up. I said a bit more. That the Emperor hadn't been sleeping well lately, that his temper had been short, that he had argued with Yao Chong. All true. But also exactly what I wanted him to hear.
Another three days passed. He came again. I shared a bit more. That the Emperor wanted to mobilize the Imperial Guard, that he was investigating Princess Taiping's people, that the Emperor—was close.
The news seeped out like water. From the clinic to the Ministry of War, from the Ministry of War to Princess Taiping's residence, from there to all of Chang'an. Princess Taiping was preparing. She thought she was waiting for an opportunity. But the opportunity was one I gave her.
Closing the Net
Xiantian Year Two, July 4th. Chang'an.
Chang'an experienced its first heavy summer rain. The downpour was immense, drumming loudly against the locust leaves; the streets couldn't drain fast enough, converging into a muddy river. When he arrived at the clinic, his large cloak was soaked through.
"Why isn't Your Highness using an umbrella?"
"I forgot." He sat on the examination couch. "Qingyan, Princess Taiping has made her move."
The pestle in my hand froze in mid-air. "When?"
"Tonight." His voice was calm. "She has contacted people in the Imperial Guard and officials in the court. She intends to depose me."
"Your Highness—"
"Qingyan, do not leave today. No matter what happens outside, do not come out."
"Your Highness—"
"Promise me."
I looked into his eyes. Those eyes were bright, shining with the light of one who has waited long in darkness and is finally about to draw their sword.
"I promise."
He lowered his head and gently kissed my forehead. Very light, very brief. Then he left. His cloak billowed in the wind; his steps were steady, without looking back.
The Night
That night, Chang'an did not sleep.
I stood by the clinic window, gazing toward the palace city. A patch of red light glowed on the horizon—not sunrise, but torches. Many torches. The entire palace city was illuminated.
Drums sounded. Not the usual drums, but war drums. Beat after beat, urgent and dense, like heavy rain striking a rooftop. Shouts of battle. Distant, yet clear. The clash of swords, human screams, the neighing of horses.
Qingyuan huddled in the corner, her face white as paper. "Third Lady, can His Majesty win?"
"He can."
"How do you know?"
"Because this battle was chosen by him himself," I said. It wasn't a war he wanted to fight, but one he lured out. He knew Taiping would make her move; he didn't hide, didn't retreat, didn't beg. He handed the knife to her, letting her strike first. Then he drew his own sword. A man who had waited for this day since he was eight years old would not lose.
Hour of Yin (3-5 AM). The battle cries ceased. The drums stopped. All of Chang'an fell silent, so quiet one could hear the rain hitting the locust leaves.
Hour of Mao (5-7 AM). Dawn broke. The rain stopped. Light pierced through the clouds behind, illuminating the entire Zhuque Avenue brightly.
Footsteps sounded at the door.
Not Qingyuan's footsteps, buthis. I recognized them. His steps were steady, neither hurried nor slow, stepping on the bluestone slabs, each step the same length. Just like the first time he came to the clinic. Just like every dental check-up.
He stood at the door.
His large cloak was covered in blood. Not his own, but others'. There was blood on his face too, splattered and now dried into dark brown patches. A few strands of hair had come loose, blown across his forehead. His eyes were very bright—the kind of brightness seen after killing, not yet fully settled.
"Qingyan."
My eyes grew hot. "Your Highness."
He walked in and sat on the examination couch. "Check my teeth for me."
I washed my hands and approached him. He opened his mouth; I examined them. Gums normal, teeth normal, everything normal. But his fingers were trembling. Not from cold, but—a normal reaction after killing. The adrenaline had receded; his body was shaking.
"Your Highness, your teeth are very good."
"Mm."
"Did Your Highness kill people today?"
"Mm." He looked out the window. "Taiping's people. Many."
He was silent for a moment.
"She fled."
"Who?"
"Taiping." His voice was calm. "Fled into the Zhongnan Mountains."
Three Days Later
Three days later, news arrived. Princess Taiping had hidden in the mountains for three days, without water or food, dressed in monk's robes, her head shaved. When Chen Xuanli found her, she was sitting on the temple steps, prayer beads still in her hand.
She was escorted back to Chang'an.
Ordered to commit suicide at home.
He came to the clinic in the afternoon. The sun was bright, illuminating the entire Zhuque Avenue. He wore no large cloak, only a moon-white casual robe. Just like the first time he came to the clinic.
"Your Highness—"
"Qingyan, accompany me somewhere."
The Princess's Residence
He took me to Princess Taiping's residence.
The mansion was already empty. The plaque at the entrance had been removed; only two nail holes remained above the lintel. One stone lion had fallen; the other stood askew, an arrow still embedded in its body that hadn't been pulled out. Broken plum branches lay scattered throughout the courtyard; petals covered the ground, already withered, crunching underfoot. No one had cleaned up. No one dared to clean up.
He walked ahead; I followed behind. He walked very slowly. His back was straight, but his shoulders seemed heavier than usual.
Princess Taiping was in a side room in the backyard.
The door was open. She sat in a chair, wearing a white inner garment, her hair loose. The prayer beads were still in her hand—sandalwood, each polished to a shine. Before her sat a cup of wine, amber-colored, gleaming faintly in the sunlight. Her face was very pale, but calm. Like someone who had waited a long time and finally received what was due.
He walked in. I stood at the door.
"Aunt." His voice was calm.
"The Emperor has come." She looked at him and smiled. That smile was faint. "You've come to see me off?"
"Yes."
She lowered her head, looking at the cup of wine.
"Longji, do you know what I regret most?"
"What?"
"I regret not hugging you more when you were young." Her voice was very soft. "The year you turned eight, Mother died. You grew up alone in the palace. No one accompanied you, no one trusted you, no one loved you."
She raised her head and looked at him.
"I was unconvinced. From the day Mother gave the realm to Eldest Brother, I have been unconvinced. I struggled all my life, fought all my life, killed all my life. In the end, I gained nothing."
She lifted the cup of wine.
"Longji, you are stronger than me."
She didn't wait for his reply. She raised the cup and drank it all in one gulp.
The wine was bitter. Her brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed. She leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes. The prayer beads slipped from her hand; the sandalwood beads rolled across the floor,click-clack, click-clack, like a heartbeat. Her complexion changed from pale to gray, from gray to blue-green. Her fingers trembled slightly—just once. Then she gripped the armrest of the chair, knuckles turning white. With her last strength, she suppressed that tremor.
Then she moved no more.
The beads were still rolling. The final bead spun a few times before stopping.
She was dead.
He stood there, looking at her. For a long time.
He did not cry. His hands did not tremble.
He turned around and looked at me.
"Qingyan."
"Your Highness."
"Let's go."
He reached out and took my hand. His hand was very cold. I tightened my grip on his hand.
"Your Highness."
"Hmm?"
"Let's go home."
He looked at me and smiled.
"Good. Let's go home."
Return
Walking out of the Princess's residence, the sun had risen high.
长安的集市已经开张;卖胡饼的老者吆喝着,馄饨摊热气腾腾,隔壁的鞋匠正和顾客讨价还价.没有人知道那天晚上发生了什么.没有人知道大唐最有权势的女人已经去世.没有人知道皇帝亲自送走了自己的姑母.
他走在我左边,斗篷在风中微微飘动.阳光照耀着他.
"青岩."
"唔?"
你知道我为什么带你来看她吗?
我没有.
"因为我想让你知道,"他看着我,"我是什么样的人."
我凝视着他的眼睛.在阳光下,他的眼睛闪闪发光.
"殿下是怎样的人?"
"我——"他顿了顿."我是个杀人犯.我杀过很多人.魏皇后的人,太平天国的人.将来,我会杀更多的人.任何阻挡我道路的人,任何威胁大唐的人,任何伤害我所爱之人的人——我都会杀了他们."
他停下脚步,看着我.
"清妍,你害怕吗?"
我凝视着他的双眼.那双眼睛明亮动人.但我看到的并非刀刃,也非鲜血.我见过他第一次来诊所时,因牙痛而眉头紧锁.我见过他在训练场上,身着银甲红羽,连射三箭,转头看向我.我见过他在月光下轻声说道:"那我们就不回去了."我见过他拉着我穿过小巷,手掌温暖而紧握.我见过他登基之日,站在太极殿前,面纱遮面却遮不住双眼.
"不害怕."
"为什么?"
"因为殿下杀戮,是为了让那些您关心的人不再恐惧."
他盯着我看了很久,然后笑了.
"青岩."
"唔?"
"我们回家吧,我给你煮一碗汤圆."
"殿下会做汤圆吗?"
"我会很快学会的."他嘴角微微上扬."我什么都学得很快."
我忍不住笑了.
他也笑了.
阳光照耀着他,勾勒出他金色的轮廓.他的眼睛非常明亮,比阳光本身还要耀眼.
"好吧,"我说,"我们回家吧."
（第二十章完）