Chapter 202 Finale
That night, the moon was dark and the stars were sparse. The wind blew through the mountain walls that were as sharp as swords, and it seemed as if there were ghosts sobbing. The soldier patrolling on the city wall shuddered, as if there were eyes watching him in the woods. He was so scared that he quickly covered his eyes and silently said in his heart, "Don't catch me, don't catch me..."
Suddenly, he was patted on the shoulder. He was so frightened that he almost fell off the wall. Fortunately, a pair of hands caught him. The soldier raised his head in shock and saw the only woman in Jian Ge, Lieutenant Ren, standing in front of him. Next to her was her admirer who followed her everywhere. Oh, now he should be her fiancé...
The soldier realized that the person who had just patted him was not a ghost, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Then he remembered to salute Ren Yao: "Greetings, Captain Ren."
Ren Yao said with a cold face, "Why are you dozing off during patrol?"
The soldier felt wronged: "Captain, I wasn't sleepy. I just saw it was dark down there and was afraid there might be a ghost..."
Ren Yao glanced at the city wall. The mountains were hidden in darkness, and only the Jianmenguan city wall was lit up with stars, like a lonely boat on the night sea, swaying and about to fall, silent and lonely. Ren Yao still had a sullen face and scolded: "You come to join the army, you are not afraid of death, but you are afraid of ghosts?"
The soldier was scolded so much that he dared not raise his head. Compared to the serious Captain Ren, her fiancé was much easier to talk to. Jiang Ling patted the soldier on the shoulder and asked, "How old are you this year?"
The soldier said aggrievedly, "Seventeen."
Ren Yao was startled: "Seventeen, your family let you join the army?"
The soldier nodded timidly: "Yes. My parents are old, and they work very hard every year but can't earn much food. If I join the army, I can at least save some food for my family."
Ren Yao's words of reprimand were stuck in his throat when he learned that the soldier was so young. He didn't know whether to say it or not. Jiang Ling calmly changed the subject and said, "You are still so young, no wonder you are afraid of ghosts. Do you see those two sword-like cliffs in front of you? It is said that they are the swords used by immortals to exorcise demons, so this place is called Jianmenguan. Even if there are ghosts in this world, they can't get close to Jianmenguan, so you can rest assured. You must be more vigilant when on duty in the future, and don't be distracted anymore."
The soldier finally knew the origin of Jianmen Pass's name. He nodded in admiration, finally feeling relieved. He asked curiously, "Captain, it's not your turn to be on duty tonight, so why are you here?"
Jiang Ling said, "Captain Ren and I couldn't sleep, so we climbed up the mountain to look at the stars... Well, actually she was worried about what had happened in the past few days, so she came up to check on us."
Jiang Ling sensed Ren Yao's sharp eyes and changed his words. When Ren Yao and Jiang Ling heard that the throne had changed again, they were both shocked. They had experienced the Junzhou Incident and knew that the Jiannan Jiedushi had already had ulterior motives. Now that the court had a new emperor, would the Jiannan Jiedushi use this as an excuse to stir up trouble?
Ren Yao was worried, and even if it was not her turn to be on duty these days, she would always walk around the city wall. Jiang Ling had no choice but to get up in the middle of the night and risk his life to accompany his wife.
When the soldier learned that Ren Yao had come up to patrol in the middle of the night on his own initiative, he admired him and said, "Captain Ren, you are really responsible."
Jiang Ling responded with a smile: "That's not the case."
Jiang Ling's jokes dissipated the originally serious atmosphere of the lecture. Facing such a young child, Ren Yao didn't know what to say, so he could only remind him coldly to be careful under the wall, and then dragged Jiang Ling away.
After they walked away, Ren Yao rolled his eyes at Jiang Ling and said, "Why didn't I know there was an immortal sword outside Jianmen Pass?"
Jiang Ling chuckled, put his hands behind his back, and hopped on the city wall: "You take what I say to a child seriously? After all, whether there are immortals in the world is decided by humans, isn't it? If you go against it, then Amitabha, if you go along with it, then man will conquer nature. What's the truth in seeking peace of mind?"
Ren Yao was still dissatisfied: "You are lying to him. Although he is only seventeen, he is a warrior on the battlefield. He is afraid of ghosts, so how can he fight in the future?"
"Everything takes time. Besides, weren't you afraid of ghosts when you were seventeen?"
Ren Yao paused, and all the words he was about to say were stuck. Jiang Ling recalled the past and laughed even more. He said, "Do you still remember that when we first met, you were so scared that you couldn't walk when you saw a corpse. When you returned to your room at night, you saw a dead person under the quilt. You were so scared that your legs went limp. When I pulled you up, I had to use all my strength to pull you up."
Ren Yao gritted his teeth and raised his fist to hit him. Jiang Ling laughed loudly and dodged while laughing. Ren Yao and he chased and fought on the city wall, and he was also surprised.
It turned out that they had known each other for such a long time. She still remembered that when they first met, she hated this good-for-nothing dude, but now, she had to be with him for the rest of her life. When Ren Yao thought back to the time when she was seventeen, she felt that everything was so far away, like a dream.
I don't know when she started to be afraid of ghosts, corpses, or all kinds of weird things. If the current Ren Yao were to return to Feihong Villa, she would definitely not have those embarrassing reactions.
However, the person Ren Yao is most grateful to is precisely the 17-year-old Ren Yao. If the 17-year-old her had not been unwilling to lag behind, charging forward and rushing forward at any opportunity, how could she be what she is today?
It turns out that it’s not that she is no longer afraid of ghosts, but that she has grown up.
Ren Yao felt emotional. Just now, Jiang Ling told the soldiers that they were going to the city wall to look at the stars, but Ren Yao refuted him mercilessly. But now, the two of them were walking on the solid city wall. The sky and the earth were vast and boundless. The summer night breeze passed through the mountains, cool and refreshing, carrying the unique moisture of Jiannan. Ren Yao was a little regretful that there was no starlight tonight.
Ren Yao looked up at the sky, trying to find something poetic, but there was only darkness. Jiang Ling noticed her movements and comforted her, "It's okay. Although there are no stars, there are fireflies. Look down, don't they look like stars swimming in the trees?"
Ren Yao followed the direction of Jiang Ling's finger and looked towards the bottom of the city wall. In the dark and green shadows, there were indeed some stars floating around, but Ren Yao felt that the tracks of those light spots were weird.
Why were the fireflies circling around? Ren Yao stared intently at the direction in which the fireflies were flying, and his heart was suddenly startled.
Oh no, the place where they circled was clearly the shape of a person. Ren Yao's heart began to beat rapidly, but she pretended not to notice and quickly pulled Jiang Ling with her other hand.
Jiang Ling was wondering why Ren Yao pinched him again. He turned around to argue, but saw that Ren Yao's expression was not right. The two had been together for a long time, and Jiang Ling quickly guessed from Ren Yao's mouth shape that there were enemies ambushing under the city wall.
The two men were afraid of alarming the people below by turning back, so they pretended to be joking and went back along the same route, chatting and laughing. The soldier was staring at the darkness intently when he suddenly saw Ren Yao and Jiang Ling coming back. He asked curiously, "Captain, why are you back?"
The torchlight flashed across the city wall, and the soldier saw that Ren Yao looked very bad. Ren Yao's face was gloomy, and he said something like a thunderbolt: "There are people ambushing below the city. Can you hold on here until I bring people here?"
The soldier was stunned, his brain was completely unable to react. Jiang Ling patted the soldier on the shoulder, pointed him at the Jianmen Gate that towered into the sky in the darkness, and said, "In the past, the immortals protected this land. Now, it's your turn. You don't have to do anything. Just keep staring at the gate and don't alarm the people outside. Lieutenant Ren and I will go and call for help. We will be back soon."
The soldier looked at Jiang Ling's dark eyes and Ren Yao's cold and resolute face hidden in the firelight. A surge of heat rose in his heart. He didn't know where he got such courage. He said, "Captain, you can go without worry. I will definitely guard the city gate."
At this moment, no matter what language you speak, it will be meaningless. Jiang Ling looked at him sincerely and said as if he was promising: "Thank you for your help. We will definitely come back with reinforcements."
The soldier stood on the wall. After Ren Yao and Jiang Ling left, time seemed to slow down. He stared at the darkness. It was pitch black under the wall, but he seemed to see many human figures crawling on the ground, gradually approaching the wall, and standing up. His fingers unconsciously clenched the gun. The sounds around him suddenly amplified ten times. The cicadas under the wall chirped one after another, making people panic.
The soldier tried his best to concentrate, but the more nervous he was, the more irrelevant thoughts popped up in his mind. He thought about his elderly parents and his sister who had married to a neighboring village. He wondered if his father's leg still hurt, and how his sister was doing in her husband's family...
As he was losing his thoughts, a gust of cold air swept over him. The soldier almost thought it was the wind from when his sister hit him with a feather duster when he was a child. But this time the feather duster didn't fall, because he was suddenly pulled down by a strong force. He fell heavily to the ground, and before he could react, he could only stare blankly at Captain Ren swinging a spear that was almost as long as her. The wind from the spear tip made the night sky whirr. She turned half a circle with the spear, and the spear tip turned suddenly, and the arrow just now returned to the downstairs with the force of piercing mountains and splitting rocks.
With a swoosh, a scream rang out from the darkness, and then he fell to the ground with a thud. Jiang Ling rushed up to the tower, pulled the soldier up, and asked, "Are you okay?"
The soldier shook his head subconsciously, then he realized that he seemed to have been saved by Captain Ren just now.
Captain Ren looked pretty and no different from any other woman except that she was a little darker. But when she wielded a gun, she was surprisingly good.
Everything happened in a flash. The people below the city realized that their sneak attack had been exposed, so they stopped pretending and rushed forward shouting in a language they could not understand. Ren Yao stared coldly at the wall and said, "There is an enemy attack. Light the fire and beat the drums."
The news that the former Jiannan Jiedushi Mu Yunping was assassinated on his way back from an inspection spread, and the southwest was shocked. Mu Yunping's former subordinates became suspicious of each other and each went their own way. The once solid Jiannan soon broke into pieces. Prince Yong joined forces with the right Jiedushi, and adopted a dual approach of surrender and siege. Within a month, Mu Yunping's former subordinates surrendered one after another, and the cities and troops of Jiannan Road returned to the control of the court.
等劍南道各地的烽火平息，書信能正常通傳後，衆人才知道，一個月前，吐蕃趁劍南道大亂，率夜偷襲劍門關。劍門關在沒有援兵、沒有支援的情況下，獨自撐了一個月。
平南侯任遙以一杆長槍殺敵無數，吐蕃士兵組織了數十次沖鋒，均未能踏入劍門關一步。戰況最慘烈的一天，劍閣外的三十裏長廊上屍體壘着屍體，幾乎沒有立足之地，壁立千仞，天開一線，連石頭縫都浸染着紅。任遙最初守在劍山中斷處，後面且戰且退，但哪怕退到劍閣城門，她都沒讓一個吐蕃士兵沖破防線，偶有漏網之魚，均被後面的士兵補刀殺死。
江陵就是她身後，最可靠的戰友。沖鋒時為她掩護，撤退時為她補刀，無論進退，從不分離。
劍門關的戰況再一次震驚朝野，有些老人漸漸想起來，第一任平南侯就是守城時身中百箭不肯退而聞名，時隔多年，任家槍的名聲再一次在戰場上打響，哪怕沒學過槍法的人也知道了，任家槍進其銳，退其速，不動如山，動如雷震，走的是寧折不彎、遇強則強的路子。
這一次，平南侯變成了老平南侯的孫女，任遙。
如此剛猛的槍法，竟然是一個女子所使，一時朝野紛紛稱頌任遙忠義，不墜其祖之名。這時候長安也終于騰出空來，皇帝公布穆雲平和谯王勾結造反的證據，順勢解除穆雲平親故的軍職，大封劍南關一戰的功臣。此時正值劍南權力空虛，任遙的軍銜飛快提升，隐有接手穆雲平勢力的趨勢。
任遙接到聖旨後，帶着祖母從劍門關奔赴益州。聖旨來得急，她來不及好好和戰友告別，匆匆踏上征程。走出劍閣隘口時，她不由回頭，看向後方絕崖斷壁，雄關劍門。
短短半年，從被發配邊關的罪臣，到俠肝義膽的功臣，人生之際遇，何其荒謬。
祖母說得對，塞翁失馬，焉知非福。無須在意一時之得失，她只需要永遠做好任遙，從哪裏跌倒，就從哪裏再爬起來。
“任遙。”江陵扶着任老夫人登車，在前方沖她揮手，“該走了。”
任遙挽了個槍花，像再熟悉不過的老朋友一般，将槍挂在腰後，快步追上來：“來了。”
她步履輕快，向着她的親人和伴侶奔去，無畏紮向莫測的前程。
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六月，劍南之亂基本平定。這半年中，長安忙于皇位交替，剪除韋後、安樂公主殘餘勢力，無暇管理外州，全靠有李華章牽制，劍南才沒有出大亂。
等朝廷終于騰出手，有時間關注劍南節度使的問題，劍南局勢已經基本穩定。皇帝看着密密麻麻的戰報，長嘆道：“二郎是個好孩子，要不是有他，谯王之亂，不知道要禍害多少百姓。這些年他在外辛苦了，快召他回來吧，我這個叔叔在長安裏享清福，倒讓小輩在外奔波，哪有這種事？長安有的是用人之處，他回來，也好替三郎分擔些事。”
朝廷的召令很快送達商州，既然皇帝有命，李華章也不好怠慢，他将劍南善後事宜交代好，就和明華裳一起啓程，回京。
趕路非常熬人，李華章不想明華裳太累，打算先回府休整一夜，等第二天再進宮面聖。所以他們入京十分低調，誰都沒有驚動，車隊進入長夏門後，靜悄悄往雍王府駛去。
然而，他們還是低估了長安消息靈通的程度。兩人中午到府，才下午未時，門房就報有貴客拜訪。
李華章本來不想理會，明華裳勸道：“她畢竟是你的姑姑，拒之門外不合适，見吧。”
李華章見她臉色蒼白卻還為他着想，無奈道：“好吧。我去見她就行，你不想會客的話，就不用出來了。”
明華裳眼眸微動，他怎麽知道她不想見太平公主？明華裳看向李華章，哪怕剛趕路回來，他依然膚色雪白，不染纖塵，身姿颀長挺拔，一條玉帶将霁青色圓領袍束起，端的是靜水沉玉，回風流雪。
他也正在看她，眼眸靜澹如湖，裏面似乎有她看不懂的神采，明華裳沒有再深究，笑着道：“好呀。”
李華章換了衣服到前廳，太平公主已喝了半盞茶。以太平公主如今的權勢，很少有人敢讓她等了，但太平公主沒有絲毫不耐，她看到李華章進來，笑着起身迎上來：“二郎，你回來了。快讓姑母看看，似乎又瘦了，這些日子，你在外面受苦了吧。”
李華章避開太平公主的手，規規矩矩行禮：“拜見姑母。服從朝廷調令，沒什麽辛苦的。”
太平公主的手落空，怔了下，不動聲色地收回來，笑道：“你這個孩子，還是這樣守禮，自家人，哪需要這樣生分。”
“不敢當。”李華章依然疏離冷淡，道，“姑母請坐。”
太平公主笑了笑，施施然回到座位。等兩人做好後，太平公主拿起茶盞，修長的指甲拂過水面，不經意道：“二郎，你這次回來，有什麽打算？”
李華章道：“沒什麽打算，一切都聽朝廷安排。”
太平公主笑了：“你這孩子，朝廷還不是人安排的。要我說，你這次回來就不要走了，外州哪比得上長安。上次韋後将你調到商州的時候，我就很不高興，只是三兄糊塗，一昧偏信他那妻子、女兒，後來果然被這兩人害死了吧？經歷這一遭我算是明白了，權力啊，還是要掌握在信得過的人手中，萬一出什麽事，不必求人。”
李華章靜了靜，不再陪太平公主做無意義的戲，直截了當問道：“姑母，您到底想說什麽，直說了吧。我妻子身體不舒服，我想早點回去陪她。”
太平公主的笑容微微一滞，李華章還是這種性格，直來直往，不通人情。她垂眸笑了笑，索性也不浪費時間了，悠悠道：“我還是那句話，你以後有什麽打算呢？莫非，真的一輩子當個出生入死，替朝廷排憂解難的藩王？”
李華章挑挑眉，反問道：“有何不好？”
太平公主擡眸，眼中的光精明尖銳，道：“你當真甘心嗎？你的才能不下于任何人，為什麽要低人一頭，一輩子聽人號令？你的祖父是皇帝，祖母是皇帝，父親是太子，兩個叔父皆臨朝稱帝，你就沒想過，你也可以君臨天下嗎？”
李華章靜靜注視着太平公主，太平公主以為他心動了，再接再勵道：“你放心，我會幫你。要是我沒猜錯，玄枭衛應該在你手裏吧？我原本以為母親死了，虎符失蹤了，玄枭衛勢必要成為一灘散沙，我正好收為己用，沒想到玄枭衛雖然低調，但其中自有秩序，那是我便猜到虎符易主了。母親的心腹連我也不甚清楚，我一直在找幕後之人是誰，沒想到，那個人竟然是你。”
太平公主輕笑一聲，自嘲道：“母親竟然如此信任你，枉我自信了這麽多年，覺得母親最倚重我。興許這就是緣法，玄枭衛是我建立的，現在卻在你手裏，看來上天注定我們要合作。母親将玄枭衛留給你，說明她視你為繼承人，我們應當聯合起來，奪回帝位，方不負母親的期待啊。”
太平公主說着激動起來，眼睛中光芒灼亮，野心勃勃，熱烈幾乎化為實體，教人無法直視。李華章收斂視線，嘲諷地笑了聲。
何其熟悉的情形，景龍元年在上陽宮時，則天皇帝也和他說過類似的話。不同的人，不同的時間，不同的地點，唯一的共同之處就是，她們都不是真心認可他，而是想利用他。
則天女皇想利用他複辟，而現在，太平公主想利用他鬥倒太子。一個沒有繼承權力，卻擁有一個美譽天下的父親，被全朝高高捧起的前太子遺脈，是一個多麽趁手的工具。
李華章忽然覺得無比厭倦。曾經他看史書時，覺得那些不顧天下存亡、只知道争權奪利的當權者是個人品行不好，學識不夠豐厚，或者身邊沒有诤臣，現在他明白了，無關品德怎麽樣，當那個人登上皇位，就會被異化成權力怪獸。
他親眼看到他的祖母、叔叔踏上這條路，現在，輪到他的姑母了。
耳邊太平公主還在喋喋不休，她越說越激動，抓住李華章的手臂道：“這次你在劍南立了大功，正是最好的機會。明日我随你一起去宮裏見皇兄，別的話你不用多說，我來幫你請封……”
李華章打斷太平公主的話，說：“姑母，不必了。解決劍南節度使是許多人通力合作，遠非我一人之功。如果沒有謝濟川在長安替我說話，及時為我送去調兵聖旨，如果沒有任遙和江陵在劍南關擋住外敵，沒有隴右節度使傾力相助，沒有我的妻子為我掃除後顧之憂，劍南之患，都不會是現在的局面。穆雲平和谯王沒造成大禍是萬幸，但是，這樣的幸運不會每一次都青睐大唐。說到底，要不是谯王勾結外臣，穆雲平不會參與皇子奪嫡，後面也不會被逼得不得不造反。這次之禍俱是李家人引起，李家愧對蒼生，我哪還有臉面要求朝廷封賞？”
太平公主挑眉，沒法理解李華章：“這不是沒有造成不可收拾的後果嗎，你何必內疚？我還是第一次見到連請功都不積極的，放心，有我在，斷不會讓人搶了你的功勞。
太平公主話中的別人，基本可以特指太子了。李華章再無耐心，寒着臉說道：“姑母的好意，恕我無福消受。太子雖然年輕，但心有韬略，處事有章，會是一個很好的君王。我此生唯願與妻子厮守一生，不想為無關之人、無用之事浪費光明。等明日，我會和聖人請命，遠赴幽州。我的妻子還在不舒服，就不多留姑母了，姑母請。”
太平公主怒氣沖沖走了，明華裳在後院聽到前廳發生的事，靜了靜，對李華章道：“你說話也太不中聽了，她畢竟是你的姑母。”
“那又如何。”李華章伸手探了探明華裳額頭，确定沒燒起來才放下心，為她端來解暑的湯藥，“我說過，若有人對你不利，我必與他不死不休。她曾想過暗殺你來保我，她這般踐踏我所愛，我為何還要與她維持親戚顏面？”
明華裳怔了怔，仔細看向李華章，幾乎以為他知道了她曾做過一個預知夢。但又覺得不應當，她沒有和任何人說過，李華章怎麽會知道呢？
明華裳心裏想着事，不留神灌了一大口湯藥，差點吐出來。她一邊就着李華章的手喝水，一邊說：“我這不是沒事嗎？太平殿下權傾朝野，你得罪了她，絕不是好事。”
李華章輕輕拂去她鬓邊濕發，目光悠遠，像在慶幸又像在害怕：“幸好你沒事。有些時候我做夢，常常覺得，我曾失去過你一次。”
明華裳眉心狠狠跳了跳，繼續埋頭喝藥，當沒聽到李華章的話。幸而李華章也沒有深入，繼續耐心喂她喝藥。
好不容易喝完一碗藥，明華裳攤在榻上，正裝病和李華章談判，要求吃一大碗冰沙，突然又有下人來報，說東宮有客至。
李華章不為所動，正要讓下人傳話謝客，明華裳一個鯉魚打挺坐起來，說：“你快去吧，我要休息了。”
李華章皺眉看着她，自己都不抱什麽希望，重申道：“你差點中暑，應當清淡飲食，不要吃冰的東西。”
明華裳用力點頭：“我知道了。”
要吃冰的東西。
李華章一步三回頭地走了。他擔心明華裳，不由對這位不速之客生出些許煩躁。他轉過回廊，遠遠就看到一個青色身影在喝茶，來人聽到聲音回頭，瞧見李華章的臉色，挑眉笑道：“我知道我不受歡迎，但你也不用這麽苦大仇深吧。”
李華章連客套話都懶得說，直接問：“你有什麽事嗎？”
“沒事就不能來了？”
李華章站起身就走，謝濟川趕緊攔住：“別別，外面天這麽熱，我出門一趟不容易，好歹讓我把話傳完，省得我下次再來。”
李華章看了他一眼，淡淡道：“你倒毫不遮掩。”
謝濟川坦然撇茶，說：“太平公主剛走，我就來了，即便我找一打借口，你還能猜不出我的來意？”
李華章站在原地不動：“我以為，上次我們已經說清楚了。”
謝濟川抿了口茶，漫不經心道：“上次是我問，這次，是太子想問。你們這是什麽茶，堂堂雍王府，待客就用這麽次的茶葉？”
李華章知道這場談話一時半會不會結束了，他慢慢走到主座上坐下，拍了拍衣袖，淡道：“也可能是招待你，不需要用太好的茶。”
謝濟川眉梢動了動，他将茶盞放下，要笑不笑呵了聲：“你還是這麽會說話，難怪太平殿下出去時臉色那麽差。”
李華章不鹹不淡回敬：“你們消息可真靈通。”
“不敢班門弄斧，只不過雍王殿下要回長安了，這麽重要的事，東宮不得不留心。”
“你沒必要試探我，上次我和你說的話，句句發自肺腑。”李華章說道，“劍南之亂雖然順順利利平息了，但是我寫信求助隴右節度使助我出兵時，一直在害怕。如果，他不同意怎麽辦？如果，他和劍南節度使裏外勾連，臨陣倒戈怎麽辦？”
“隴右節度使是忠臣，不會不同意的。”謝濟川道，“要不然，則天皇帝也不會将他放在隴右。”
“可是，必須要借助一個節度使的手牽制另一個節度使，本身就是最大的危險。”李華章說，“如果有一天，朝廷勢弱，他們不再聽朝廷命令了呢？”
謝濟川挑挑眉，神情依然冷靜淡漠：“可合縱連橫，引發他們互鬥，朝廷居中調停，便可保社稷太平。”
“這樣保下的社稷，是皇帝和宰相的社稷，而不是萬民蒼生的社稷。”李華章說，“真到了那一天，節度使之間相互征戰，百姓将永無寧日。這次劍南之戰，我深感受制于人，與其期待外人每一次都會施以援手，不如将選擇權掌握在自己手中。”
謝濟川有些意外，擡眉道：“你是想……”
風穿過窗宇，一股年歲久遠的墨香似有似無擴散，李華章就坐在這陣暗香中，背後“明德惟馨”的匾額還是章懷太子親筆所書。他姿态随意，目光像蒼山負雪，星垂曠野，澄淨得坦坦蕩蕩：“我和裳裳在路上商量過了，哪怕我們無心争位，只要留在長安，天底下的野心家就不會死心。與其讓全朝臣子不敢安心投靠太子，不如就此離開這個漩渦中心，遠遠往北方的幽州去。只要我們走了，以太子之能，以你之才，定能天下為一，政令通達，莫不從服。明日面聖時，我會親自和聖人請命，去幽州做節度使，此後若長安有難，定千裏馳援。”
謝濟川抿了抿唇，他奉太子之命來試探李華章，但真的試探出他們期待的結果，他卻并不覺得高興。謝濟川道：“可是你的家人都在長安，你們就此走了，家人怎麽辦？”
“我和裳裳早就商量好了，她從小在鎮國公身邊長大，受盡父兄寵愛，明雨霁卻流落在外，飽嘗人情冷暖。以後，該輪到她去外面闖蕩了，鎮國公府的爵位和財産都歸明雨霁，如何處置，皆聽明雨霁安排。明雨霁想留在長安照顧鎮國公就留在長安，她不願意，那我和裳裳就将鎮國公接到幽州，為父親養老送終。”
謝濟川嘴唇動了動，還想說什麽，最後自己都覺得沒意思。李華章為了讓太子天下歸心，主動遠走幽州來表明立場。這是最好的局面，兩人不會鬧得一死一傷，太子能安心繼位，還能穩固邊疆，東宮面子裏子都得利，他再挽留，豈不是假惺惺？
為什麽明明理智上覺得再好不過，他心裏依然會難受呢？
謝濟川頭一次覺得無話可說，他安靜許久，起身對李華章拱手，只能說出單薄的：“保重。”
說完，謝濟川折身朝外走去。李華章叫住他，隔着回廊樹影，說：“別忘了你之前答應過的話。以後，我在外為将，守護邊疆，你在朝為相，輔佐君王，發政施仁，締造一個太平盛世。如此，才不負你我寒窗十年，相識一場。”
謝濟川腳步微頓，樹葉在他頭上沙沙作響，他忽然想起在商州時，也是在寂寂無人的廊下，謝濟川說服李華章稱帝，李華章卻要放棄。謝濟川有些生氣了，疾言厲色道：“但你怎麽知道，你主動退出，其他人會領情？若你沒有掌握高位，你做的這些事只是一廂情願。萬一下一任當權者荒唐而猜忌，你連自身都保全不了，談何天下太平？”
落雪蕭蕭，李華章負手站在雕欄前，看着明華裳和江陵打鬧，一陣風卷着雪穿庭而過，他恰逢此時轉頭，一粒雪落在他睫毛上，他神色是從未有過的認真，對謝濟川道：“所以要拜托你，回到長安後另擇明主，施展才華，一定要在朝中占據高位，讓寒門子弟有頭可出，讓賢臣才子各在其位，讓駐守外地的良将，不要忍受無端的猜忌。”
謝濟川眯了眯眼，兩人聊了那麽久，許多內容都算不得愉快，唯有這一刻他有些生氣了：“你這是，劃清界限？”
"No way." Li Huazhang smiled with his hands behind his back, patted his shoulder like he did when they were children, and said, "Remember when you were writing articles, you always wanted to be a famous official, but I wanted to travel thousands of miles. Maybe this is destined in the dark. Chang'an does not need King Yong, but the vast foreign states need many capable officials. Only when you are in the court, I dare to stay at ease outside and defend the borders for the Tang Dynasty."
Ming Huachang was unable to defeat Jiang Ling and gradually fell into a disadvantage. Li Huazhang openly sided with him. When the two passed by each other, Li Huazhang whispered, "From now on, I'll leave everything to you."
His safety was now entirely in the hands of Xie Jichuan.
The words from that day were still ringing in his ears. Xie Jichuan thought he was just joking, but he didn't expect that he was really leaving, and the destination was far away Youzhou.
Without turning back, Xie Jichuan said coldly: "Whose safety is responsible? I can't control it. Youzhou is far away and there are many wars. Be careful and don't die outside."
Li Huazhang smiled lightly and said, "Okay."
In the East Palace, the prince was stunned when he heard that Li Huazhang wanted to go to Youzhou to be the governor. Then he understood Li Huazhang's intention. He was silent for a long time and sighed: "Second brother is so noble, but it turns out that I am a mean person."
The prince was very touched by Li Huazhang's concession. He had the legal authority and Xie Jichuan's support. As long as Li Huazhang did not get involved in the fight for the crown prince, Princess Taiping would not be his opponent. The prince was very ashamed of his actions and said, "My second brother has made great contributions to the country, the state, and the Li family. In the future, we must not neglect the needs of Prince Yong's Mansion. After my second brother leaves, please take care of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion."
Xie Jichuan followed the officials of the Eastern Palace, lowered his eyes and crossed his hands: "Yes."
Li Huazhang kept his word and went to the palace the next morning to tell the emperor that he was going to Youzhou. The emperor was very reluctant to let Li Huazhang go again: "You haven't lived here for a few days, why are you leaving again? If you want to practice in other places, I will find a place for you around Chang'an. Why go so far to Youzhou?"
Li Huazhang bowed and said, "It is precisely because of the remoteness that I am needed to spread the culture of the Han family and implement the policies of the Tang Dynasty. Your Majesty, we must be on guard against the example of Mu Yunping. Please pay more attention to the governors of various regions and do not raise tigers that will eventually become disasters."
The emperor knew that Li Huazhang did not want to get involved in the dispute over the crown prince, so he took the initiative to make way for his son. He had mixed feelings. This child was too much like his second brother, who had always practiced the virtues of a gentleman but had a bad ending. Now, he could not let Li Huazhang follow the same path as his second brother.
Perhaps going to Youzhou, far away from Chang'an, a place of trouble, is the best ending for a gentleman, where he can show his talents and realize his ambitions.
The emperor no longer insisted on letting Li Huazhang stay in Chang'an, and sighed: "You are such a child, you always have such ideas. Now that you have figured it out, then go. When do you plan to come back?"
Li Huazhang raised his hands and bowed solemnly to the emperor on the high throne: "The prosperous era will return."
·
The sage agreed, and the prince told the six ministries to put the request of Prince Yong first, and Li Huazhang's transfer order was quickly obtained. On the day of leaving the city, the prince took the civil and military officials out of the city to see him off. Li Huazhang greeted them in front, and Ming Huashang avoided socializing and came to say goodbye to Zhenguogong.
Ming Yuji supported the Duke of Zhenguo and complained for several days: "Why did you go to such a far place? It's all Li Huazhang's fault. If I had known, I would not have let my second mother marry him."
Su Xingzhi also came here with the Duke of Zhenguo today. When he heard Ming Yuji's words, he felt helpless: "Yuji, they are husband and wife, don't mess around."
Ming Huashang smiled and said, "Don't blame him. I just want to go somewhere far away. Sister, I will rely more on you and Brother Su for the family affairs in the future."
Ming Yuji rolled his eyes at Ming Huashang and said, "Why rely on him? Isn't there anything in the family that I can decide on?"
"I was wrong, I was wrong." Ming Huashang apologized quickly, "From now on, I will have Sister Lao. When Yu Shitai is not busy, you and Brother Su can take father to Youzhou, and we will go to the grassland outside the Great Wall together."
At the beginning of the year, after Xie Jichuan, Ren Yao, and Jiang Ling left one after another, Ming Yuji stayed with her for a few days, and then hurried back to take care of the Duke of Zhenguo. Since then, Su Xingzhi has often been with Ming Yuji, and the two of them are like husband and wife, as well as siblings. Ming Yuji did not take the initiative to tell Ming Huashang, and Ming Huashang did not ask what their relationship is now. I think when Ming Yuji is willing to admit it, she will tell her.
Su Xingzhi was about to agree, but Ming Yuji sneered and said disdainfully: "Why should we wait for him? My father and I are free all year round and can go whenever we want. Why should we take up his time and burden him for nothing?"
Even someone as tactful and changeable as Ming Huashang was blocked. Su Xingzhi was neither angry nor annoyed, and took the initiative to say, "Yu Ji is right. Yu Shitai has little free time. If he waits for me, I'm afraid many things will be delayed. If Princess Yong misses home, please write to me at any time. I will ask someone to escort Duke Zhenguo and Yu Ji to Youzhou."
Before Ming Huashang could interrupt, Ming Yuji asked, "Why do you have to treat me? Can't I treat you?"
Duke Zhenguo laughed and said, "Alright, alright, this is not something you youngsters should worry about. I'll come and ask you. Shangshang, the Crown Prince and Erlang are waiting there, you can go now. When you get to Youzhou, govern well and solve the case well. Your father will be at home, waiting for you to become famous all over the world."
Ming Huashang had said goodbye to her family long ago, and knew that this was only a temporary separation and that they would definitely see each other again in the future, but when the moment came, she still choked up. She tried hard to hold back the tears in her eyes, raised her hands, and saluted Zhenguogong and Ming Yuji solemnly: "I'm leaving. Father, sister, take care."
Duke Zhenguo gently touched her hair and urged her to get in the car. Ming Huashang turned back every three steps and left. Ming Yuji supported Duke Zhenguo and waved to her. Su Xingzhi silently stood by Ming Yuji and watched her leave. Suddenly, Ming Huashang's hand was grasped by a slender and powerful hand. She turned around and saw Li Huazhang. Li Huazhang stood in the sun, with the sun and moon patterns on his shoulders shining with golden light. He was extremely elegant and handsome.
Li Huazhang looked at her patiently and gently, his eyes seemed to tell her not to rush, if she couldn't bear to leave, she could stay with her family for a while. Ming Huashang took a deep breath, raised her head and looked at him with a smile, and said firmly: "I'm fine, let's go."
Li Huazhang responded in a low voice, turned his head to look in the direction of the Duke of Zhenguo, and bowed solemnly. Ming Huashang followed Li Huazhang in bowing and bidding farewell to her father.
Duke Zhenguo watched this scene, his eyes moistened uncontrollably. He still remembered when he first brought Li Huazhang back home, Li Huazhang was not even as long as his arm, and he was placed side by side with Ming Huashang. Both children were weak and cried softly like cats. In the blink of an eye, they grew up to be a man and a woman, with wings and ideals, enough to explore the sky that belonged to them, and no longer needed his protection.
It was great that all three children grew up to be the most beautiful. In this way, he did not let down the prince.
Duke Zhenguo's eyes were already wet, but he still smiled and motioned Ming Huashang to get in the car quickly. Ming Yuji and Su Xingzhi stood by, silently accompanying Duke Zhenguo.
Li Huazhang helped Ming Huashang get on the carriage, and after counting the troops, he got on his horse. He looked back at the city gate, and the prince, Xie Jichuan and others were standing under the city wall, majestic and silent.
He recalled what Xie Jichuan had asked him just now when no one was around. Xie Jichuan asked him, "After you give up your power, aren't you worried that I or the crown prince will go back on my word and send someone to hunt you down?"
Someone came very quickly, and Li Huazhang had no time to reply. Now he was on his horse, and he bowed to the prince from a distance. The prince quickly returned the greeting and bowed as well. Everything was self-evident.
Li Huazhang’s answer is, don’t worry.
The Tang Dynasty had been in chaos for too long, from the end of Emperor Gaozong's reign, to Emperor Wu's usurpation of the Tang Dynasty, to Emperor Zhongzong's restoration, to Empress Wei's chaos, and finally Prince Xiang ascended the throne, but Princess Taiping started a dispute over the crown prince. Too many ambitious people appeared on this stage, one after another, but Li Huazhang believed that there were still people of insight who could transcend their own selfishness and party interests, and truly serve the country and the people, and make decisions that benefit the entire country.
Even during the long period of turmoil, there was still no shortage of such people in the court, such as Di Gong, Xie Jichuan, Ren Yao, Jiang Ling, Su Xingzhi, Han Jie, Yu Qiong... There were only more of those nameless and unknown people.
Empress Wu Zetian was really good at judging people. She discovered and reserved many talents for the court. The Tang Dynasty had no shortage of talented people or politicians who cared about the country and the people. The only thing it needed to achieve prosperity was a relay race of concerted efforts.
If his departure could bring this day closer, he would be happy with it.
Li Huazhang and the prince looked at each other. Li Huazhang smiled lightly and rode his horse forward. The prince did not put on any show either.
This was a silent covenant between the two. A gentleman's covenant, the two would never meet again, each living in peace, the crown prince would be the emperor, leading the Tang Dynasty into a peaceful and prosperous era, and the four seas would be at peace. As long as he could do that, Li Huazhang would be willing to be a minister and guard the northern border for the rest of his life.
Li Huazhang believed that an emperor in a prosperous era would have such magnanimity.
When will you come back?
The prosperous times are coming.
——The main text of "Twin Bi" is finished.