Chapter 133 Yearning

The sun was shining in, the windows were half open, all the people that could be sent out by Jingzhao Prefecture had gone out, and the office was so quiet. Ming Huashang lay on the table, yawning one after another, and trying hard to stay alert to read the gunpowder formula.

Xie Jichuan turned a page of the book, glanced at her, and said, "What did you do last night? Why are you so sleepy?"

Ming Huashang was so distracted yesterday that he went to bed at midnight. When he woke up today, he felt as listless as a mop. Ming Huashang rubbed the tears in his eyes and said, "Nothing. I was thinking about something and couldn't fall asleep for no reason."

The ten-day deadline was like a mountain pressing down on the Jingzhao Prefecture, and everyone was busy and exhausted. Ming Huazhang, Ren Yao, and Jiang Ling each led a team to search the city. Ming Huazhang saw that Ming Huashang was in poor spirits, so he forced her to stay in the government office and left with his men.

As for Xie Jichuan, no one dared to assign work to the Prince's Sheren in the Zhanshi Mansion. Xie Jichuan was also very thick-skinned. While others were busy, he could still sit peacefully in the office and drink tea, under the pretext of solving a mystery.

With his slender white fingers, he held the Yue porcelain cup and blew gently, then asked leisurely, "Do you want to attend the banquet held by Princess Taiping today?"

Ming Huashang choked and said in surprise, "Why would I want to do this?"

"So you knew it." Xie Jichuan said, "Seeing that you were dressed so casually, I thought Princess Taiping didn't invite you."

Ming Huachang was speechless again, and looked at Xie Jichuan silently: "Brother Xie, has anyone ever told you that you are good at offending people?"

"Yeah." Xie Jichuan took a sip of tea and nodded lightly, "Now you tell me."

Xie Jichuan held the tea in one hand, looking elegant and graceful, sitting there like a painting, but his mouth was really irritating. Ming Huashang pouted and said unhappily: "Brother Xie, no girl will like you like this."

"So, the person you were thinking about in the middle of the night was actually your husband?" Xie Jichuan put down the teacup, looked at her, and said, "I thought the most boring thing was just thinking about the case, but I didn't expect it to be more vulgar than I thought."

Ming Huashang was not convinced: "Love between men and women is a natural emotion. Is it vulgar?"

"Not bad?" Xie Jichuan paused subtly and asked, "So, are you really thinking about this?"

Ming Huashang snorted softly, turned around and flipped through the book, refusing to pay any more attention to him. The hall was quiet for a while, with only the rustling of papers. After a while, Xie Jichuan turned a page and asked casually, "Who is it?"

"Do you know that you can't ask questions about a girl's secrets? Go and solve your puzzle, so that I won't contaminate you with vulgarity."

Gunpowder involves alchemy, and even though Ming Huashang read it carefully, she was still confused. She copied many names on the paper, and after reading it for a while, she still felt that she had to accept her fate.

She picked up the book, sneaked up to Xie Jichuan's desk, and asked with a smile, "Brother Xie, are you busy?"

"busy."

His refusal was so ruthless that Ming Huashang choked. She looked at the book in Xie Jichuan's hand and accused him, "You weren't solving the puzzle at all. You were just reading a book. What are you busy with?"

Without even raising his eyelids, Xie Jichuan said quietly, "Do you know that you can't ask about a busy person's thoughts? I'm happy to do so."

Ming Huashang was frustrated and felt helpless. She had known for a long time that Xie Jichuan was eccentric, but today he was particularly eccentric. Ming Huashang still put on a smile and said shamelessly: "Brother Xie is extremely talented and smart. It is not a problem for you to think of several things at the same time. What problem can stump you? Brother Xie, Brother Xie, can you help me see what these pill refining recipes are like?"

Ming Huashang vowed to be humble to the end, spread the scroll in front of the table, and diligently served Xie Jichuan tea and water. Xie Jichuan brushed his long sleeves, glanced at it condescendingly, and asked: "What are you looking at these for?"

Ming Huashang saw that there was a chance, so she quickly handed over the pen and ink and said, "My life experience is far less than that of a detective who has been working among the people for decades, so I can't really help much when it comes to finding someone. I thought about reading some books related to gunpowder, putting myself in the shoes of the murderer and feeling his thoughts, maybe I can refine the portrait."

Xie Jichuan sneered and said, "After all, it's all for the sake of helping him solve the case."

"How can I ask for help?" Ming Huashang had been smiling frivolously, but now he was serious, his eyes dark and serious, and he said, "I also want to find the murderer as soon as possible. I can feel that the murderer is not a bad person, he is just too disappointed. If we can find him earlier, maybe we can save him. Although it is always difficult for good to be rewarded and evil to be punished in this world, I can do my best to make more people willing to believe that evil cannot prevail over good, and evil cannot prevail over virtue. Justice may be late, but it will never be absent. This is not only my second brother's ambition, but also my ambition."

Embrace? Xie Jichuan looked into Ming Huashang's eyes for a long time and said, "What is embrace?"

This question stumped Ming Huashang. She pondered for a moment and said, "Maybe it's a will that transcends power and wealth, and is more important than life?"

Xie Jichuan sneered, his dark eyes flashed with disdain, and he waved his sleeves lightly: "People die for money, birds die for food, people can do anything for themselves. There is nothing more important than life in this world."

Ming Huashang whispered back, "Yes."

Xie Jichuan smiled and asked, "Have you found this person?"

Ming Huachang was stunned, and couldn't think of a convincing example for a moment. Xie Jichuan sneered without any surprise, and said nonchalantly: "Second sister, don't be too naive. The great principles in the books are all deceiving you. When those saints wrote down the warnings, I'm afraid they didn't even believe them themselves."

Ming Huashang felt that Xie Jichuan's words were too pessimistic, but he couldn't think of any rebuttal. At this time, the window of the coffin was hit by the wind, and Ming Huashang turned around subconsciously and exclaimed.

Xie Jichuan looked over and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ming Huashang frowned and shook her head slowly: "Why are there so many petals falling outside the window? They were blooming beautifully before."

Ming Huashang and Xie Jichuan waited in Jingzhao Prefecture for a whole day. As time approached 3 p.m., people who had gone out came back one after another.

The fact that we were able to finish work so early today was all thanks to Princess Taiping. Princess Taiping held a flower viewing banquet, and she always paid attention to the pomp and circumstance when hosting events. All the famous royal relatives, nobles, and literati in Chang'an received invitations. Although the Zhenguogong Mansion has declined in recent years, it still has a title, so Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang were also invited.

Ming Huazhang was busy with his case and was very reluctant to waste time at this juncture, but as the only son of the Duke of Zhenguo, he had to give face to Princess Taiping. He could only bear his reluctance, finish his work early, and go through the motions reluctantly.

Jiang Ling and Ren Yao were also going to represent the family. They were too lazy to go back home, so they found an empty room in Jingzhao Mansion to change clothes. Ming Huachang had changed her clothes when she went out. She and Xie Jichuan stood in the yard waiting. Ming Huazhang came out first. Xie Jichuan raised his eyebrows and said, "You really only changed your clothes. Today, Princess Taiping invited many royal relatives, including the King of Liang, the King of Wei, the Crown Prince, and the King of Xiang. I heard that the Duke of Heng and the Duke of Ye are also going. Why are you dressed like this?"

"I've given them enough face by not wearing my official uniform." Ming Huazhang straightened his sash and said nonchalantly, "It's just a formality. There's nothing to be fussy about. Let's go."

Ming Huashang was very cooperative and said, "Second brother is handsome and elegant, no matter what he wears, he looks good. Although this outfit is simple, it is dignified and elegant. How can it not be exquisite?"

Xie Jichuan raised his eyebrows and glanced at Ming Huachang. Ming Huachang was so embarrassed to be praised by her in front of so many people that he felt embarrassed. He coughed softly, regretting his rashness and should have tidied himself up before coming out. He tried to pretend that he didn't care and said lightly: "Where are the two of them?"

Speaking of the devil, here comes the devil. Ren Yao pushes the door open and comes out, already wearing a dashing red Hu costume. Jiang Ling, who is inside, hears that they are leaving and hurriedly says, "Wait for me!"

Jiang Ling ran out quickly. Ming Huashang saw his hair and said in disgust, "What's wrong with your hair?"

Jiang Ling touched it casually and found that the crown seemed to be a little loose. He didn't care and waved his hand carelessly: "It's okay, it's a small problem, it won't affect the handsomeness of this prince."

"No!" Ming Huashang couldn't stand it any more. "Don't walk beside me when you're dressed like this. Second brother, is there a mirror in Jingzhao Mansion? Let him tie his hair up again."

Jiang Ling adjusted the jade hairpin by feel. Ren Yao's eyes hurt from watching his clumsy movements. He kicked his leg and said, "Stop moving. Lower your head."

Jiang Ling cried out and bowed his head in grievance. Ren Yao combed his messy hair again, put it into the golden crown, and fixed it with a jade hairpin. Ren Yao's hands were so strong that Jiang Ling grimaced: "Oh, it hurts, it hurts, can you do it or not?"

How could Ren Yao, an unmarried woman, wear her hair in a man's bun? She realized that it was inappropriate, her face turned red, and she was at a loss. She could only use bigger movements to cover up her embarrassment: "Shut up."

Ren Yao was so natural when he started, and Jiang Ling bowed his head so smoothly, that even the three people in the yard were stunned. Ming Huazhang was about to send someone to find Jingzi, but seeing this, he quietly withdrew his hand and changed the topic without making a sound, defusing the awkwardness: "It's almost time, since everyone is here, let's go."

The other four rode horses. Ming Huashang refused to ride in a carriage, so she also rode a docile mare. The five horses stopped on the road, and the situation was quite chaotic. Jiang Ling suddenly shouted, "Look, what is that?"

Chang'an was in a panic because of the explosion. Ming Huashang and the others turned back in a hurry, but they didn't expect Jiang Ling to burst into laughter and rush to the front first: "Hahahaha, I'm the first!"

Ming Huachang reacted and stiffened his fist. Ren Yao could no longer bear it and cursed him as a "fool", and also spurred his horse to catch up.

眼看那兩人絕塵而去，在長安街上賽起馬來，明華裳心想她至少不能當墊底，正打算搶跑，不料謝濟川也是這樣想的，擦着她的馬搶到前面。

明華裳憤怒喊着“你犯規”，一邊吃力追趕。唯有明華章被落在後面，嘆了聲，對身後的衙役說：“給他們一人記一張罰單，長安申時到酉時禁止縱馬。”

·

此刻太平公主府燈火通明，車水馬龍，十分熱鬧。長史正笑容滿面迎賓，忽然眼前卷過一陣風，幾匹馬前後奔來，最前方的少女單手勒住缰繩，馬前蹄揚起，仰天嘶鳴，她穩穩當當坐在馬背上，姿态飒爽又飛揚，道：“呵，我就知道我會是第一。”

一個青衣郎君悠然跟在第二，之後一個少年、少女相互扯着對方缰繩，試圖讓對方墊底。

長史表情愣住，不知道這是什麽情況。這時一陣噠噠的馬蹄聲傳來，一位穿着白色瑞錦紋圓領袍的郎君下馬，他腰束蹀躞帶，足下烏皮靴，下馬時衣擺随風掀起，衣闌上用銀線繡成的雪花燦燦流動，飄然若回風流雪，像一場盛大的梨花雨落在他身上。

他負手立于暮色漸濃的長安，簡簡單單一站就是三月春風的模樣。

長史眼前一亮，他伺候在太平公主府，一雙眼見過無數達官貴戚、風流俊才，看到這個少年時依然驚豔到了。長史主動迎上去：“郎君安。不知郎君是哪家貴少？”

明華章對長史颔首，道：“在下鎮國公府明華章，恭祝太平殿下萬福。前面是舍妹，讓長史見笑了。”

長史反應過來，原來這就是鎮國公府龍鳳胎，兄長果真芝蘭玉樹，龍章鳳姿。長史笑道：“明娘子活潑嬌憨，實乃真性情。明郎君裏面請。”

明華章謝過，平靜撥開還在和明華裳糾纏的江陵，淡淡道：“二娘，我們該走了。”

長史維持着體面的微笑，這時候才發現面前這位不是江安侯府的世子嗎？等另外幾人報完名帖後，長史的表情更古怪了。

有平南侯府的娘子，謝家的公子。按理都是很體面的人家，怎麽教養出的小輩如此……出人預料呢？

長史默默看着他們追上前方那對兄妹。十六七歲的少年少女們走在一起，脊背筆直，四肢纖長，打打鬧鬧的樣子看着就讓人想嘆息。

年輕真好啊。

明華裳和江陵争了一路誰才是墊底，直到走到男女客分席的岔路口，兩人都在相互放狠話。他們的聲音驚動供女客休息的花廳，許多閨秀回頭，朝他們這邊看來。

明華裳嫌棄丢人，只能和他約好改日再戰。她和任遙一起走向花廳，裏面的閨秀迎過來，意味深長問：“剛才那兩位是明二郎和江世子吧。你們怎麽和他們在一起？”

另一個閨秀溫溫柔柔補充：“我看，謝郎也在呢。”

任遙微怔，第一次意識到江陵那個傻子，在娘子堆裏竟還很受關注。明華裳就平靜多了，有一個出名的兄長，這種事從小到大已發生過無數次，她習以為常道：“那是我二兄。二兄在路上偶遇謝阿兄、江世子，順路送我們過來。”

閨秀們一聽她是明華章的妹妹，神情立刻熱絡起來，笑吟吟拉着她說話。明華裳聽到這些娘子們話裏話外的拉攏，面上笑意不變，心裏卻有些落寞。

她們對她這麽和善，是因為把她當小姑子，而不是情敵。若将來……

可是她和他不會有将來了。

明華裳止住這些想法，強打起精神，她怕冷落任遙，回頭拉任遙說話時，意外掃到一個人。

蘇雨霁。

燈火闌珊，她站在花木葳蕤處，靜靜看着她。

明華裳不由怔住，這時候有人和她說話，她才反應過來，笑着附和。她回頭再去看時，發現蘇雨霁已經不見了，仿佛剛才只是她的錯覺。

明華裳愣了一會，意識到蘇雨霁應當是跟着蘇行止來的。蘇行止是去年的狀元，如今又在察院供職，是一支頗有前程的潛力股，太平公主當然不會放棄籠絡。太平公主設宴，蘇行止受邀帶家眷出席，并不奇怪。

意外撞到了蘇雨霁，明華裳接下來有些神思不屬，而任遙不知怎麽回事，也安安靜靜的。她們兩人誰都無話，默默坐在熱鬧的花廳中，和那些笑鬧聲格格不入。

沒過多久，外面傳來一陣喧嘩，是二張兄弟來了。壓軸的貴客到場，宴席很快就開始了。

在場大部分都是皇室成員，在女皇的賜婚下，李武兩家被緊緊拴在一起，不是親戚就是夫妻，不必嚴格講究男女大防。所以太平公主只在大殿中間隔了屏風，左邊男席，右邊女席，兩方隔着燈火，可以隐隐約約看到。

舟中看霞，月下看影，燈下看美人。年輕娘子們各個嬌聲笑語，顧盼生輝，對面的郎君也英姿勃勃，身影攢動。

太平公主見慣了這種場面，在宴席中游刃有餘，談笑風生。她舉杯說開場詞後，精致的菜肴便如流水般送上來。

明華裳和任遙一席，兩人都毫無心理負擔地吃飯。但宴席上其他人可不是來吃東西的，宴會剛開始，便有夫人帶着女兒向太平公主敬酒。

太平公主今日穿着一身紅色描金宮裝，外罩淺黃大袖衫，才初春便已換上薄紗，露出大片瑩白豐盈的肌膚。喝了幾杯酒後，她雙頰染上緋紅，顧盼間波光流轉，媚色撩人，當真是明豔不可方物。

許多年輕男郎悄悄看太平公主，連明華裳都忍不住感嘆太平公主真美。這種美無關長相，而是自信張揚、豐腴雍容的大美人氣度，如此才稱得上國色牡丹。

在她的襯托下，旁邊纖細精致的閨秀們，反而像雛菊一樣黯然失色。安樂郡主在母親的暗示下，站起來向太平公主敬酒。

太平公主瞧見安樂，定睛望了好幾眼，忍不住将她叫至身前，拉着她的手道：“許久沒見安樂，安樂出落得越發俏麗了。如此容色，當稱得上長安第一美人。”

安樂郡主垂頭淺笑，狀似嬌羞，但眼角眉梢都是得意。旁人聽到，忙恭維道：“公主這是什麽話，第一美人非您莫屬。”

太平公主擺擺手，長袖從手腕垂下，露出一截凝脂般的雪腕。她慵懶地倚在扶手上，道：“若早二十年我還争一争，如今都是好幾個孩子的娘了，再和晚輩争第一美人，豈不是贻笑大方？我已經老了，以後該是孩子們的天下了。”

太子妃韋氏雖然覺得太平公主這話沒錯，但她深知小姑子的得寵，面上依然推脫道：“小孩子家家的，哪有什麽美不美。安樂和永泰若比得上你一根手指，我便樂得要燒高香了。”

衆女眷附和，太平公主在衆人吹捧下露出笑意，道：“你們莫要哄我了，被人聽到了笑話。倒便宜了武崇訓這個小子，輕輕松松就娶到了安樂，崇訓呢，該罰一杯。”

單從五官上講，安樂郡主确實比太平公主年輕時還要出色，但她還來不及享受滿城兒郎的追捧，便已落入武家。再過兩個月，她就要嫁給梁王的嫡子武崇訓了。

僅隔着一道屏風，男子席上輕輕松松就聽到了太平公主的話。衆年輕兒郎看着武崇訓起哄，武崇訓倒也痛快，拿起案前的酒樽一飲而盡，任由太平公主戲谑。

武崇訓如此配合，男客裏又是打趣又是起哄，整個宴會廳的氣氛都沸騰起來。太平公主也笑了，嗔罵道：“安樂可是東宮的掌上明珠，這麽多叔伯兄弟護着，哪能讓你輕松得手？我們李家這麽多人，你不得挨個敬一杯？”

武崇訓一聽，喝一杯就算了，挨個敬一遍，那還了得？武崇訓求饒道：“殿下饒命，我不勝酒力，這一次就饒過我吧。”

太平公主自然不依，魏王笑着道：“崇訓，你太平嬸母心腸硬得很，你求情沒用，不如請你定王叔出馬，說不定太平就心軟了。”

武崇訓一聽，立刻向定王賣慘讨饒。宴會廳視線一下子落到定王身上，誰不知道，定王是太平公主的驸馬呢？

定王面上依然帶着溫文爾雅的笑，在衆多微妙的打量中拿起酒樽，朝魏王示意：“殿下也是為了侄女好，魏王兄饒我一回，莫要拿我們取笑了。”

梁王對魏王笑道：“二弟，看到沒有，人家夫妻同心，可不會向着你說話呢。”

男席上笑聲不斷，太平公主調笑起晚輩來信手拈來，到她自己，臉上的笑就十分勉強了。

她抿了口酒，臉色有些冷了，轉頭對永泰郡主說：“他們男人就喜歡說這些不着調的話，不用理他們。永泰，安樂，我們姑侄喝一杯。”

永泰郡主是太子的長女，剛才一直圍繞着安樂郡主說話，太平公主怕大侄女多想，便主動叫上永泰。

Princess Yongtai was different from her sister. She was quiet and didn't like to be in the spotlight. She didn't mind being ignored. When Princess Taiping suddenly called her, she was stunned for a moment and picked up the wine glass hesitantly: "Okay, thank you, aunt."

The female guests at the banquet today were drinking fruit wine, which even those who could not drink much could drink. But when Wu Yanji, the eldest son of the King of Wei, heard this, he became a little anxious. He could not help but interrupt Princess Taiping and said, "Your Highness, it is late at night, and women should not drink too much. I will drink Yongtai's cup for her."

Princess Taiping said "Oh", looked at Princess Yongtai with a half-smile, and said jokingly: "Yanji, what you said is not very honest. You only drink for Yongtai, but not for me?"

Everyone burst into laughter when they heard this. Princess Yongtai and Wu Yanji had just been married for a year. They were both shy and taciturn, and the young couple blushed at the teasing. But even though Wu Yanji's face turned as red as a boiled shrimp, he still insisted on not letting Yongtai drink.

Everyone present had been in the palace, and they probably understood what was going on. Princess Taiping no longer insisted that Princess Yongtai drink. Princess Yongtai sat on her seat with a red face. Her mother leaned over and asked her something. Princess Yongtai blushed and nodded slightly.

Ming Huashang bit her chopsticks and concentrated on eating. The jokes and laughter at the banquet seemed to have nothing to do with her. Although she didn't hear anything, even a fool could guess that Princess Yongtai was probably pregnant.

That's a good thing, Ming Huashang silently wished in her heart, and suddenly thought of the man who carefully caught Princess Yongtai at the grand court banquet last year.

The man seemed to be called Ji Xian, and he was Princess Yongtai's childhood sweetheart. Ji Xian accompanied Princess Yongtai through the most difficult years of exile, and it could be said that they were friends in times of adversity. Ming Huashang still remembered Princess Yongtai's resistance and anger when the empress forcibly separated Princess Yongtai and Ji Xian and betrothed her to Wu Yanji.

It turns out that no matter how deep the love or hate is, it will pass away in less than a year.

Ming Huashang couldn't help but wonder, what would happen to Ming Huazhang if she died?

After a few months of grief, he would return to his normal life. He would still be the handsome man in the capital, and in a few years he would get married and have children. There were many beautiful women in Chang'an and Luoyang who wanted to marry him, and given his personality, he would definitely get along well with his wife.

He would become a good husband and a good father, and would be a gentleman as praised in books all his life. No one would know that he and his sister had had an ambiguous and inappropriate relationship that seemed out of bounds but also non-existent.

Ming Huashang suddenly couldn't eat anymore, but the royal family above were having a great time. Princess Taiping said, "It's boring to just drink, why not find something fun to do. Anle is beautiful, and she deserves to be called the most beautiful woman in Chang'an. If that's the case, there should be the most talented person in Chang'an. In the past, you have always commented on women, but today, let us judge you. Bring the pen and ink, and let each gentleman write a poem, and the ladies present will select it. The ladies will take a red flower and give it to the person whose poem they think is good."