Chapter 151 Summer Flowers
Ming Huazhang looked at Han Jie, who was smiling calmly with a frank and sincere expression, as if he was really concerned about sharing the court's worries.
However, they both knew that they each served their own masters and would one day turn sword against sword. Ming Huazhang had an inexplicable feeling that that day would not be far away.
In his heart, Ming Huazhang was still grateful to the seniors who had introduced him and helped him grow, so he didn't want to say those unpleasant polite words. He asked calmly, "Where are they?"
"Rest in the base." Han Jie said with a smile, "Don't worry, it's just a routine questioning. After all, I discovered this seedling myself. No matter how crazy I am, I won't do anything to them. Go out, they should have asked enough questions. Next time you encounter this kind of thing, report it to Xuan Xiaowei first, don't rush forward on your own."
Ming Huazhang asked: "What about Liao Yushan?"
Han Jie raised his eyebrows, with a meaningful look in his eyes: "Of course I will deal with it according to the rules. As for the follow-up, you don't need to ask."
Ming Huazhang was silent. This was as it should be. No one in the world could escape alive after killing a king, not to mention that Liao Yushan was a traitor. Ming Huazhang was silent for a moment and said, "I want to see him."
Han Jie said: "This is against the rules."
"This is the last time we will see each other." Ming Huazhang looked at him quietly and said, "After all, we worked together, so I want to see him off."
Han Jie and Ming Huazhang looked at each other. They seemed to be talking about Liao Yushan, but also seemed to be talking about something else. Finally, Han Jie smiled and said, "You are still so sentimental. This is not a good thing. Forget it, I will open the back door for you again. It will take at most 15 minutes. Be careful with what you say and don't leave any room for gossip."
"Thank you." Ming Huazhang said, turned around without hesitation, and walked down the stairs. Han Jie stood on the stage, watching him walk through the white jade steps, into the bright sunlight, and gradually walk away.
Han Jie sighed lightly, turned his neck, put his hands behind his back, and walked lazily down another road.
After hunting geese all day, the goose pecked his eyes. He discovered Ming Huazhang and introduced him to Xuanxiaowei. Xie Jichuan, Ming Huashang and others also came into Han Jie's sight. But Han Jie did not expect that the only successor he had chosen for so many years would be a "traitorous thief".
At first, Han Jie did not suspect Ming Huazhang. He monitored Princess Taiping as usual and found out that Princess Taiping was investigating the rebellion case of Prince Zhang Huai seventeen years ago.
They all knew what Princess Taiping did in Xuanxiaowei, but the empress did not investigate further. Instead, she let Princess Taiping control some of the people and control the actions of the Li family. Otherwise, Han Jie would not have known that Zhang Liangdi was not in premature labor, but took labor-inducing drugs and gave birth to a baby boy in advance. Under the arrangement of Prince Zhang Huai, she left the East Palace and was sent to the outside world. The only people who entered and left the East Palace that day were Zhenguo Gong Ming Huaiyuan and Xie Shen, the head of the Xie family.
For the first time, Han Jie looked at his most admired junior with suspicion.
Once suspicions are raised about many things, all sorts of clues will pop up. The banquet of Princess Taiping, which Han Jie would not normally pay attention to, became evidence, and her private meeting with Ming Huazhang almost confirmed the fact.
Ming Huazhang is the son of Prince Zhang Huai. For so many years, the ministers have been making false plans under the Empress's nose, and countless people have participated. The Li family found out, but it seems that they have no intention of telling the Empress.
When the Queen asked Han Jie about the recent movements of the Li and Wu families, Han Jie hesitated for a moment and informed the Queen of his discovery.
This is his duty, regardless of right or wrong. Since the day he joined the Xuanxiao Guard, he was destined to be with darkness for the rest of his life. Standpoint is more important than morality.
As for whether the Queen's beating of Li Chongrun to death had anything to do with this incident, that was not Han Jie's business.
It was actually very simple to find Liao Yushan. When Han Jie realized that Ming Huazhang might be the son of Crown Prince Zhang Huai, he paid close attention to his every move and naturally noticed that Shuangbi was spreading false information. Han Jie checked and found that Zheng Weiqi and Liao Yushan had acted inappropriately and unnecessarily on several occasions. He dug deeper and realized that the two might have had second thoughts.
Since she knew that Liao Yushan was no longer trustworthy, all his actions became transparent. Liao Yushan came to report that the case had been solved, and repeatedly stated that Chang'an was now safe. The empress was an expert in seeing through people's hearts, so she pretended to continue her trip and enjoyment under Liao Yushan's guidance, and even left a day earlier.
The Queen did this on purpose. She deliberately disrupted Liao Yushan's arrangements, firstly for safety reasons, and secondly, to see how others would react.
When Princess Taiping came to check the list of prisoners to be expelled from the Heguan, Liao Yushan, at the instruction of the Empress, took the initiative to let Princess Taiping get the list. The next day, a substitute left the palace, and the Empress stayed in the palace, waiting for the outcome of this great adventure.
Unfortunately, even at the last moment, the King of Wei did not discover Liao Yushan's tricks, and followed Liao Yushan's inducement step by step, which was always stupid.
The Queen believed that the King of Wei was absolutely loyal and had no ulterior motives, but why would she be so stupid as to kill the loyalty of the entire dynasty?
Fortunately, not all the people in the court were fools, and there were still people who could detect abnormalities. However, the other party turned out to be Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang.
One is a proven traitor to the party, and the other is a piece of trash whom they never took seriously.
Han Jie and the Queen were both shocked. Especially the Queen, who had expected that her children and grandchildren would hate her to the core but would have to please her. If there was a chance, they would definitely be happy to see her die. However, a person she believed was impossible came thousands of miles away to save her regardless of his own life.
However, when the Empress summoned Ming Huazhang, the young man showed extreme dissatisfaction and hatred. He scolded her in front of the Empress, saying that she was not a wise ruler, that she was foolish and abused her power, and that she was unfit to be a mother.
Han Jie didn't dare to comment whether the scolding was right or not, but he felt that the Queen was actually very happy to see this scene.
Blood is thicker than water after all. There are still people who love her, hate her, and plot against her not just because she is the queen.
In the end, there are people who uphold light and justice. No matter whether they are strong or weak, human wisdom and courage will never be extinguished.
Perhaps because he had stood in the darkness for too long, Han Jie was blinded by such sincere and determined light. He could no longer say such words or do such things, but he sincerely felt that it was great.
This world is broken and shabby, but there are always brave people who stand up and patch it up. He foresaw that his end would never be good, but he sincerely hoped that Ming Huazhang would not become the next him.
·
After asking some questions, the supervisor politely asked Ming Huashang to leave. Ming Huashang then knew that he had made a contribution and that he would have no problem taking care of himself for the rest of his life.
Ming Huashang felt relieved instantly. She did not leave immediately, but asked Ming Huazhang.
The supervisor said, "They haven't finished their questioning yet. If you are in a hurry, I will go and urge them to finish their questioning."
Ming Huashang never thought that she would be called an adult someday. She said, "It's okay. I'll just wait here for a while. Go and do your own thing. Don't worry about me."
The monitor said some polite words and left. Ming Huashang waited in the room. After a while, there was a knock on the door. Ming Huashang subconsciously said, "Don't bother, I can do it myself..."
Ming Huashang looked up and saw the person coming. She was startled. The man was handsome and tall, with a complexion as white as ice. He stood at the door with a gentle and light smile: "Did I disturb you?"
Ming Huashang breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously walked towards him: "Of course not. Second brother, what did they ask you and why did they ask you for so long?"
Ming Huazhang did not mention that he had gone to the palace to see the empress. He simply said, "It's just some meaningless questions. Why don't you leave?"
"I'll wait for you to go home together." Ming Huashang blurted out, and then realized their identities and quickly made up for it, "I was afraid that they would embarrass you, so I wanted to wait for you."
Ming Huazhang looked at her hand that was about to get closer but suddenly retracted, and took the initiative to lean over and hold it, saying, "Thank you, Shangshang. But I have to meet someone else, please wait here for a while."
He didn't ask her to go first, and for the first time asked her to wait for him. Ming Huashang was so surprised that she said without thinking: "I'll go with you."
After she finished speaking, she realized that she had overstepped her bounds. Just as she was about to laugh it off, Ming Huazhang took her hand and walked out as if it was her duty: "Okay."
Ming Huashang stumbled and followed him. She felt like she was having a fever again, her mind was hazy, and she could barely walk properly. She struggled with her inner thoughts for a while, but couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "Who are you going to see?"
"Liao Yushan."
Hearing this name, Ming Huachang's smile faded slightly. Ming Huazhang noticed her change of mood and immediately stopped, turned around and looked at her seriously: "If you don't want to go, forget it, I'll have someone take you out."
Ming Huashang was silent for a long time, then shook her head slowly but firmly: "It doesn't matter. I'm going to see him."
The place where Liao Yushan was imprisoned was similar to what Ming Huashang had imagined. His hands were handcuffed tightly and he stared blankly at the skylight. He heard footsteps and turned back without interest. When he saw that it was the two of them, he was obviously stunned.
Afterwards, he withdrew his emotions and became cold and indifferent. Ming Huazhang noticed that Ming Huachang's fingers had become cold, and it was obvious that she was not calm. He silently held Ming Huachang's hand tightly and asked, "Liao Yushan, you are the prefect of Jingzhao, but you have repeatedly committed murder and wrongly accused innocent people. Why did you do this?"
Liao Yushan was indifferent and had no intention of cooperating. Ming Huazhang changed the topic and asked, "Looking at the files you compiled a few years ago, it can be seen that you were not hopeless at the beginning. You used to investigate cases and handle affairs very seriously. How could you go from being a pursuer to a perpetrator? When you killed those old, weak, women and children, did you live with your conscience?"
"Conscience?" Liao Yushan repeated it in a low voice as if he had heard something strange, and raised his eyes to look at Ming Huazhang, "Do you believe in conscience? People with conscience cannot do this or that, and they give in step by step and suffer losses continuously, while people without conscience are getting more and more demanding, and they are getting better and better. Is this the result you want?"
明華章道：“我知道世上有這種事情存在，我們應當想辦法懲惡揚善，保護公平。但是，你不能因為其他人的惡行，就放縱自己作惡。”
廖钰山冷笑一聲，表情非常不屑。明華章沒有被激怒，平靜問：“怎麽了？你覺得哪裏不對嗎？”
“你說這些話，是因為你幸運，就像惠帝說何不食肉糜。”廖钰山十分冷漠尖銳，道，“你是公府世子，一出生擁有家世財富，沒有人欺辱你，所以你能大義凜然說出不能因為小小的損失就放棄行善。可是，對你來說微不足道的損失，對別人來說，就是全部世界。”
明華章察覺到什麽，反問：“你是指你的女兒嗎？”
“別提她！”廖钰山突然爆發，雙目通紅，咬着牙說，“你們不配！”
明華章對廖钰山産生懷疑卻因為明華裳生病抽不開身時，并非什麽都沒做。他查了廖钰山的生平，發現了一段廖钰山和嚴精誠的往事。
或者說，是廖钰山和女皇的。
十一年前，廖钰山初入仕途，女皇剛剛自立為帝。女皇需要大量人手，廖钰山亦懷揣着一腔赤誠抱負，想要大展拳腳，報效社稷。很自然地，廖钰山加入玄枭衛。不久之後，女皇決定遷都洛陽，放棄李唐勢力過于深厚的長安。廖钰山作為女皇的“眼睛”被留在舊都，替女皇看長安萬象。
那時，他嫉惡如仇，剛正不阿，有任何他覺得不對的事，都會立刻上報。他堅信着善惡分明，因果報應，行惡者一定會得到懲罰。
天授二年，一場春瘟席卷長安，嚴精誠給權貴送了大量錢財，以此哄擡長安藥價，聯手權貴賺百姓的血汗錢。廖钰山自然看不慣這種事，他立刻寫密信給洛陽，請求女皇平息混亂，同時堅決地表态，抨擊以嚴精誠為首的奸商。
廖钰山從來沒有想過女皇會抛下他們不管，所以指責嚴精誠時毫無顧忌，甚至好幾封彈劾直指嚴背後的貴族。廖钰山的行為自然得罪了許多人，包括京兆府的同僚。當時的京兆尹打壓廖钰山，同僚們也冷嘲熱諷，公然刁難他。
這些廖钰山都能忍受，但完全沒想到，那些人竟然故意在他女兒的食物裏動手腳，讓他的女兒感染上瘟疫。
廖钰山薪水微薄，沒有背景，哪裏買得起長安炒成天價的藥材？他散盡家財為女兒治病，但因為缺乏關鍵藥材，起效寥寥。
那些人故意把他逼到最絕望、最狼狽的姿态，然後嚴精誠得意洋洋出現在他面前，說只要廖钰山收回那幾份彈劾的折子，他就免費送給廖钰山治病的藥草，之後有錢賺時，可以帶廖钰山一份。
廖钰山不肯同流合污，毫不猶豫拒絕了。他一遍又一遍給洛陽發求助密信，可是，洛陽就像聾了一樣，從未給予回複。
後來廖钰山才知道，嚴精誠“上貢”的貴族中，就包括女皇的子女侄兒。女皇可能是包庇孩子，可能是覺得不值得，可能是朝廷有更重要的事情需要她去處理。但無論如何，她為了自己的統治，放棄了長安。
也放棄了無數個像廖钰山一樣的螺絲釘。
廖钰山女兒死的那天，長安驚雷轟隆，春雨冰涼刺骨。他抱着女兒，一家又一家敲醫館的門，懇求對方救救他的孩子。可是，沒有人會為了一個素昧平生的人浪費錢財，哪怕那是個頗有正義感的好人。
廖钰山求到長安老字號回春堂時，實在體力不濟，狠狠摔了一跤。他不顧積水趕緊爬起來，生怕把女兒摔疼，然而，他卻摸到了女兒冰涼的身體。
她死了，被他這個無能、天真、自以為是的父親，害死了。
後來，廖钰山見證了許多生老病死，悲歡離合。他發現痛失親人而無能為力的不只是他，悲劇，發生在這座城池任何一個角落。
他看到了嚴精誠越來越有錢，甚至大模大樣做起了善事，被人稱為嚴大善人；看宋岩柏的父母兩個老人，跪在年輕的官員腳下，一遍遍求他們再查查兒子的死，最後卻只能因耗盡盤纏被趕出客棧；他看到了錢益殺死師父，娶了師母，卻在師父墓碑前哭得情深意切，人人皆稱贊他孝順。
多麽可怕，這個世界什麽時候變成了這個樣子？
這些年夜深人靜時，廖钰山跪在女兒的牌位前，一遍遍思考這個問題。最終，他終于想明白，是因為女皇。
他女兒的死是因為嚴精誠，可是如果不是女皇縱容，哪怕沒有嚴精誠，也會有下一個奸商。嚴精誠是殺人兇器，卻不是劊子手。
宋岩柏、馮掌櫃……那麽多冤案，皆是因此。
十年飲冰，終涼熱血。
聖歷元年，女皇終于想起被她遺忘了十年的長安，聲勢浩大遷回故都。那時廖钰山已經在多年的貧寒積郁中染了肺痨，活不了多久了。可是，他不甘心。
憑什麽，憑什麽窮人天生被踐踏，憑什麽權貴吸着百姓的血卻還被世人贊美，憑什麽老實人一步退步步退，作惡的人卻不需要付出任何代價？
憑什麽，憑什麽，憑什麽？
因此，廖钰山精心策劃了一場複仇，壓軸戲是女皇。哪怕女皇回京後，陸續将舊玄枭衛成員提拔到要害位置上，給予他們實權、地位和補償，可是，這份認可來得太遲了。
不過，雖然他已經成為京兆尹，但他在女皇心裏不過一個挂名，沒有任何可能接近皇帝，談何刺殺。所以他投奔魏王，想借魏王之手靠近女皇。他為了取信于魏王，仔細翻閱卷宗，挑中了一個挖骨懸案，親手為魏王獻上一個誘捕雙璧的陷阱。
他不知道這個稱號是誰，和這位後輩其實也沒什麽恩怨，但他不關心。他需要魏王的引薦，而這個人曾經得罪過魏王，僅此而已。
查挖骨案時，廖钰山知道岑虎根本不是兇手，但冤案是破不了的，官府不會替沒有權勢的苦主伸冤，所以兇手是真是假并無區別，反正岑虎本來也不是好人，殺了不冤。
廖钰山不在意真正的兇手是誰，也不在意事情敗露後身敗名裂。他只一心求死。
然而，他的計劃卻被一個新入仕的少年破壞了。明華章像當年的他一樣，精力充沛，不知疲倦，為了破案徹夜翻看卷宗，不肯放過任何一個細節，一心向往着所謂正義。
如果早十年廖钰山遇到明華章，他們會成為知己摯友；如果早五年遇到，他會欣賞這樣的年輕人；可是，現在的他，只會厭惡。
讨好魏王失敗了，但并非沒有收獲。他成功得到了魏王的信任，在他的暗示下，魏王越來越多征求他的意見，最後完全将燈樓交給了廖钰山。
廖钰山博覽群書，精通火藥，他設計的花燈很輕易就征服了魏王，魏王興致勃勃用他的燈給女皇獻禮。至此，刺殺女皇所需要的外部條件，已全部備妥。
接下來只需要考慮如何将女皇引出宮。曾經這不是一個問題，因為他早就通過暗示魏王，讓魏王出面，說服女皇花朝節出宮游玩。民間的風波根本不會影響這些貴族的游玩興致，所以廖钰山放心地推進自己的計劃，除了殺女皇外，順便再帶走幾個漏網之魚。
無論是見死不救的楚骥，還是哄擡藥價的嚴精誠，早就該死了。在他的計劃裏，他只是順手處決幾個渣滓而已，他自己作案再自己破案，随便找幾個合适的惡人做“兇手”就能翻篇，根本不會鬧起多大水花。不出三天，這些人的死就會像往常一樣，成為卷宗室裏無數灰塵中的一卷。
殺錢益和楚骥與他的預料一樣，無驚無險，順順利利。然而楚骥死後，變數就出現了。
明華裳屢次否決他找出來的兇手，他沒能将罪名栽贓到柳氏身上，反而還被查出了宋岩柏和楚骥的舊案。明華章一邊全城發告示，一邊請羽林軍來介入此案，事态逐漸超出廖钰山的掌控。
那幾個少年人就像破壞大王，層出不窮地在他計劃中捅出窟窿，廖钰山只能被動補救。明華章他們找到了黑虎，廖钰山去大牢找明華章時，無意被黑虎看到真容。
當年嚴精誠來廖钰山家裏施壓時，身邊帶着的就是黑虎。廖钰山怕被黑虎認出來，暴露給明華章，那廖钰山的計劃就危險了。廖钰山只能暗示衙役對黑虎用刑，然後在黑虎的飯菜中動手腳，用硫磺粉毒死黑虎。之後他再暗暗引導，果然，大家都以為是上刑過重，黑虎沒熬過去死了。
雖然這樣做會留下致命把柄，但總好過被人發現。
第三個死的人是嚴精誠。嚴精誠顯然還記得當年的過節，一收到廖钰山的紙條就忙不疊來赴約，不敢透露給任何人。
曾經嚴精誠敢那樣欺辱廖钰山，無非是覺得廖钰山這輩子都只是個小官吏，根本不可能對嚴精誠造成威脅。沒想到十年之後，廖钰山突然運氣大爆發，升成了京兆尹。
嚴精誠連忙來讨好，在亭子中試圖修複關系。廖钰山看着他前倨後恭的嘴臉，只覺得惡心，他贈給嚴精誠一塊刻着“空”字的金牌，嚴精誠以為是什麽暗示，高高興興別在腰上。廖钰山暗暗冷笑，引燃引線，找了個借口離開。
廖钰山走後不久，日月亭在他背後爆炸。廖钰山心裏冷笑，積累了萬貫家財又怎麽樣，嚴精誠這等渣滓，只配成為一塊塊碎肉，死無葬身之地。
殺上一個人時留下一個人的線索，是他早就确定的計劃。他就是要提前告訴這些罪人，他要來殺他們了，而他們，什麽都做不了。
但意外的是，明華裳竟然識破了他的謎題，并且在亭子裏發現了日月。廖钰山害怕他們注意到金牌，日月在上，嚴精誠的屍體攜帶着“空”在下，很輕易就能聯想到女皇。廖钰山只能借公務的名義潛入義莊，拿走了嚴精誠身上的金牌。
這無疑破壞了他複仇計劃的完美，廖钰山如鲠在喉，十分難受。但最讓廖钰山不舒服的，是明華裳的畫像。
他聽着明華裳描述兇手時，簡直心驚膽戰。裏面每一條都說中了，她甚至當着衆人的面說出兇手身邊沒有兒女。這讓廖钰山感受到深深的冒犯，以及憤怒。
她算什麽人，憑什麽覺得了解他？廖钰山聽到了明華裳和謝濟川的談話，她憐憫地說兇手其實不是壞人，只不過誤入歧途。
誤入歧途，呵，什麽叫歧途呢？他根本就沒有第二條路。
廖钰山憋屈而憤怒，而這時複仇計劃也受到極大威脅，案件一拖再拖，事情鬧得越來越大。再這樣下去，女皇花朝節就不會出宮了，那他所做的一切布置都會白費。
下次機會不知道在多久之後，他可能已活不到那個時候了。
廖钰山焦躁不安，等他在他們家附近看到明華裳的丫鬟，聽到對方在打探他女兒的事情時，他的理智徹底崩潰。
她覺得她洞察人心，很了解兇手是嗎？好，他就讓她看看，貿然窺探黑暗，會付出什麽代價。
他殺了那個丫鬟。像多年前的嚴精誠一樣，通過傷害對方親近的人，來教訓敵人。他要讓明華裳知道，人管好自己就行，別覺得自己很厲害，可以高高在上拯救別人。
廖钰山穿着京兆尹的衣服，輕而易舉就将招財叫到僻靜偏巷。招財對他毫無防備，知無不言，所以廖钰山很輕松就捅到了她的要害，一刀殺了她。
那個女孩子似乎很痛，捂着腹部在地上蜷縮，喉嚨被血嗆住，光痛卻喊不出聲來。這早在廖钰山的預料之中，他當然是故意捅這個地方的。之後廖钰山冷靜地清理現場，處理血衣，并準備替罪羊。
但他實在不甘心自己完美的複仇計劃染上污點，若沒有提前預知，那複仇就毫無意義。他忍不住将那塊金牌藏到招財衣服裏，女子飾品多，沒人會懷疑這塊牌子，這樣一來，他的計劃依然是完美的。
他在京兆府待了十一年，太知道官府如何辦案了。而且十年在基層接觸雞零狗碎，他知道很多怪人。這些人離群索居，不受歡迎，如果揭露他們是殺人犯，沒有人會有異議，大家只會覺得原來如此。
羊半瘋就是其中之一。他将線索引向羊半瘋，将兇器丢到羊半瘋家裏。之後，他蒙着臉，以神靈的身份和羊半瘋說話，引導羊半瘋承認爆炸及殺人都是自己做的。這對一個精神不正常的瘋子來說，再容易不過。
如他所願，明華裳病倒了，第二日沒有再出現。沒了明華裳的幹擾，他成功引導衆人找到真兇，飛快了結案件。
之後他進宮禀報，他的壞運氣似乎用完了，事情比他預料的還要順利。女皇沒有懷疑兇手真假，很輕松接受了這個結果，并且要高高興興出宮游玩。
事态終于回到廖钰山計劃的軌道上，但廖钰山并不覺得開心。你看，當權者就是這樣，哪怕外界天崩地裂，洪水滔天，依然不會影響他們游玩的興致。
她該死。廖钰山再一次肯定了自己的信念。
花朝節行程出乎意料的順利，他防備的狀況都沒有發生。廖钰山看着花神燈駛來，感受到久違的寧靜。
他想到女兒死亡那天，也在這樣一個春日。這麽多年了，他這個做父親的，終于為女兒做了一件事。
廖钰山平靜等待着死亡降臨，但在最後關頭，那對兄妹又出現了，不由分說攪亂了他的計劃。廖钰山想到當時的情景，氣得眼睛通紅，怒吼道：“明明只差一步！為什麽，你們為什麽要和我作對！”
明華章聽到廖钰山的話，默然看着他，眼中帶上了憐憫。廖钰山被這樣的目光激怒了，憤恨道：“你們投了個好胎，一帆風順，無憂無慮，當然能高高在上地無視別人的苦難。可是我告訴你們，你們為的根本不是正義，而是為了維護自己的地位，卻冠以正義的名義。你們，亦不過是那些權貴的鬣狗而已。”
廖钰山偏激尖銳，看起來完全不知錯，明華章心裏十分失望。這樣一個人，何必和他争辯，他認為是什麽就是什麽吧。
明華章正打算離開，卻聽到身旁的明華裳突然開口：“別的暫且不論，你說我們兩人因為出生在公府，就一帆風順，不知苦難，我不敢茍同。你只看到你經歷的痛苦，可是你焉知，被你殺掉那些人，他們經歷的苦難就比你少呢？”
廖钰山一愣，正要嗤笑，被明華裳冷着臉壓住：“麻煩等我說完。你因為貧困潦倒，妻離子散，就覺得人間不公，不如拉所有人毀滅。可是，世上有很多人比你活得更苦，卻依然樂觀努力地活着。你殺掉的那個女子叫招財，她小時候連飯都吃不飽，才七歲就被父母賣掉，在大戶人家為奴為婢。和她的經歷比起來，你在官府裏郁郁不得志，算得了什麽？她甚至連官府的門都不配進。”
“可是，她依然是一個快樂善良的姑娘，平時沒有抱怨過一句，一心一意對身邊人好。她沒有自己的錢財，沒有自己的家人，連戀愛成家、生兒育女都不曾體驗過，就被你殺掉了。廖大人，我問你，你殺她的原因是什麽？她和你有深仇大恨嗎？”
廖钰山沉默，說不出話來，明華章默默握緊了明華裳的手。明華裳忍住眼底的淚，繼續說道：“沒有。廖大人，在我看來，你就是一個懦夫，自己過得不好就去傷害更弱的人，卻一點都不敢去改變這個世界。世上确實有人比你活得好，但不如你的人亦有很多。那些背負着艱辛也想要好好活下去的人，那些朝不保夕卻依然熱愛生命的人，你有什麽資格，剝奪他們的未來？”
廖钰山諷刺地扯了下嘴角，聲音嘶啞沉悶：“改變世界？”
顯然，他不相信。明華裳也知道這些話說出來實在太天真，只會像蚍蜉撼樹一樣惹人恥笑。但明華裳還是說道：“世界不好，就去改變世界，破壞解決不了任何事情。你改變不了，就去交給你的後代，一輩輩傳承下去，愚公終能移山。”
明華裳說完，最後看了廖钰山一眼，轉身離開。她大病一場，眼下還有灰青，整個人其實憔悴又虛弱。但她走在黑壓壓的牢房間，卻無端讓人覺得可畏，仿佛世間任何事情，都無法打倒她。
明華章靜靜望着她的背影，他回頭掃向廖钰山，廖钰山已完全呆住了。明華章其實有很多證據來反駁廖钰山，比如他的國恨家仇，比如明華裳和蘇雨霁的遭遇，然而話到嘴邊，他又覺得說出來毫無意義。
人生是自己的，願意和命運搏鬥的人才會走到最後。而搏鬥的過程和結果，與任何人都沒有關系。
明華章最後什麽都沒對廖钰山說，而是快步追上明華裳。雖然這條路只能自己走，但如果有另一個人攜手并進，他彷徨的時候她及時叫醒他，她痛苦的時候他陪在她身邊，命運這頭怪獸，似乎也沒那麽可怕了。
明華章很快追上明華裳，兩人一起走出暗牢，踏入外界浩浩蕩蕩的陽光中。明華裳驟然從黑暗進入光明，眼睛被刺痛，她伸手遮住太陽，卻不肯閉上眼睛。
人類的本能反應真是有趣，遇到黑第一反應是遠離，遇到光卻是調整、适應，以期盡快融入。
明華裳想，活着，是一件多麽神聖的事，值得種子不管懸崖峭壁，找到機會就發芽，值得飛禽走獸為了食物殊死搏鬥。
生命燦若夏花，向死而生。
Therefore, she must live passionately and seriously, even if the evil in this world will never end, even if she will be avenged by darkness if she gets close to the abyss, even if what she gains and loses is completely unbalanced.
So what.
She is always the enemy of darkness. Even if she falls, there are still thousands of people holding fire behind her. Yugong moved the mountain. Even if we die, justice and light will never be extinguished.
Ming Huazhang stopped beside her, raised his hands to block the sunlight for her, and waited for her quietly. Tears welled up in Ming Huachang's eyes, and she saw Ming Huazhang at the end of the hazy light.
He smiled at her and said softly, "Let's go home."
Ming Huashang blinked and finally adjusted to the light. She wiped away the tears from her eyes, looked up and smiled, "Okay, let's go home."
·
It was the second year of the Holy Calendar, and I had no idea what day it was in March. I never remember dates.
Just came back from the Pingnan Marquis Mansion. The tomboy was so fierce, but when the red book and iron certificate were delivered, she actually cried! Hahaha, she cried!
She had been struggling for so many years, and finally got what she wanted. Unlike me, I was born with a good fortune, and whatever I wanted came true.
In two days we will go to Prince Yong's Mansion to dine at Ming Huazhang's table. No, I should call him Li Huazhang now.
He was not the biological son of the Duke of Zhenguo, but the posthumous son of the Crown Prince Zhang Huai. The strange thing was that the saint did not investigate why, but only asked Ming Huazhang to move out of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and gave him the Prince of Yong's mansion. My father did not speak for a long time after hearing this, and then inexplicably said that this title was good. After waiting for so many years, the Crown Prince and His Highness Taiping finally got their wish.
I don't know what's so good about the title "Yong". It has so many strokes and it takes a long time to write it. But my father insisted that I get close to Ming Huazhang. Humph, he didn't tell me about such a big thing. He must not treat me as a brother! I don't want to continue to be brothers with him unless he treats me to a big meal.
There seemed to be something else, but I forgot. Never mind, that's it.
Jiang Ling, the most invincible general in the world, was written in Chang'an, my home.
——The fifth case, “The Sunset of the Empire” is finished.