Chapter 44 Doll
It began to rain at dawn, the drizzle hitting the eaves, hanging down like a thousand silver beads. Ruyi hurried back from the courtyard, collected her umbrella at the door, and said, "The old lady just sent a message that it is raining today, so the ladies don't need to go to pay their respects."
Zhaocai returned to the room and saw Xiaoshanqiu sleeping motionless behind the screen. He felt so disappointed that he said, "My wife, it's already noon, how can you still sleep?"
Behind the screen, Ming Huashang heard that she didn't need to pay her respects, so she turned over with peace of mind and continued to sleep.
How could she still sleep? Because she just went to bed.
Zhaocai saw that Ming Huachang was like a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water... Oh no, she looked like she would not move even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of her. It was useless no matter how anxious he was. He could only close the tent to block out the cool breeze blowing in from the window.
The maids' voices were muffled by the screen and curtains. Jixiang and the others probably thought Ming Huashang was asleep, and whispered, "Did you hear that there was a fire in Chongyefang last night? It was quite big, but fortunately it didn't spread and only burned down one house."
"Really?" the maid next to her asked hurriedly, "Whose family did you burn?"
"The Wei family," Jixiang said, "the one that makes puppets."
The maids heard the puppet's body tremble, and asked in unison: "How did the fire start?"
"I don't know." Jixiang lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "This is the strangest thing. Normally, a fire in the middle of the night would trap a few people or even burn them to death. However, the servants in Wei's house inexplicably appeared in an abandoned house. There were more than a dozen housekeepers and servants. Except for the housekeeper who had a bump on his forehead, no one else was injured or killed. When they woke up, they thought they were dreaming."
"They were sleeping soundly at the Wei family's house, why would they go to the deserted house?"
"Who knows? I heard that they found locust tree leaves in their clothes after they woke up. Now the rumor is that the locust tree of the Wei family has become a spirit, and when it saw the fire, it moved them out."
Ruyi exclaimed softly: "It's so magical?"
"Yes. Now many people go to the Wei family to pick locust leaves and bring them back to bless their homes."
The maids were also very excited, and they were discussing whether they should go out and pick some flowers, as it would be too late when the rain stopped. Ming Huashang lay in the bed curtains, indifferently pulling up the quilt to cover her head.
There is no such thing as a spirit in a locust tree. It was just that idiot Jiang Ling who didn't look at the road when moving people and bumped into the tree. The leaf must have been caught in his clothes by accident.
But it was also a good thing. With everyone paying attention to the locust tree becoming a spirit, not many people paid attention to the manager and apprentice of the Wei family, who all disappeared overnight.
The world lost a puppeteer named Wei Baixuan, but the capital of gods gained a late-night ghost story.
At this time, the city gate was also very lively, and everyone was talking about the fire last night. People living in Chongyefang were talking about the puppets of the Wei family that were haunted some time ago, and coupled with the ending that the locust tree had become a spirit, all kinds of speculations were flying around. Some people talked about other strange stories, and the people in the queue were fascinated by them. Those who wanted to leave the city did not leave and stayed at the city gate to listen to the stories.
The team slowly moved to a middle-aged man and a young woman. The guard scanned them cautiously and asked, "Are you father and daughter?"
Wei Baixuan replied respectfully, "Yes."
"What's the matter with the wound on his face?"
"My father was walking at night and fell accidentally."
"What are you doing in Taiyuan Prefecture?"
Wei Baixuan paused, lowered his eyes and said, "Go back home."
The city gate guard instinctively thought that this father and daughter were strange, but he looked at the pass carefully and saw that there seemed to be no problem, so he waved his hand and said, "Let's go."
Wei Baixuan heaved a sigh of relief and smiled at the guard: "Thank you, General. I wish you good health and a bright future."
The woman had a plain appearance, but her smile was inexplicably dazzling, as if she was leaving not the most prosperous capital in the world, but a prison. After all, she was a young girl, so the guard couldn't keep a straight face, so he relaxed his expression and said, "The road to the northern capital is long, be careful along the way."
Wei Baixuan smiled and thanked him: "Thank you for the reminder, Master Jun. I understand."
There is still a long way to go in this life, so she needs to walk carefully and slowly.
Wei Baixuan finally walked out of the tall and majestic Dingding Gate. She lowered her head and looked at the name on the pass.
Wu Suisui, female, eighteen years old, was from Taiyuan Prefecture, Hedong Province.
Wei Baixuan no longer exists in the world. Like the ashes of the Wei family, she disappeared in the raging fire.
The road ahead belongs to Wu Suisui.
Wu Kong did not urge her. He put away the Hu cakes he bought and tied them tightly on his back. These cakes were introduced by the young lady last night. He went to queue up early this morning and they really tasted delicious.
Wu Suisui finally came back to her senses from her memories. She put away the pass and said to Wu Kong, "Father, let's go."
Wu Kong finally heard that his daughter was willing to be his father, and a smile appeared on his face. Even his scarred face showed kindness and generosity. He said, "Okay, let's go."
There is never a lack of new things in the capital of gods. The story of the Wei family's ghosts and monsters only circulated for two days before being suppressed by more exciting things.
The locust tree spirit's defeat was not unfair, because it was the ceremony of conferring the title of Crown Prince that stole its limelight.
The Ziwei Palace had been prepared long ago, and the East Palace was even busier with people coming and going. The Prince of Luling had changed into the crown and robes of the Crown Prince, and the Princess of Luling, Wei, was instructing her children: "Be careful with your words and actions, be respectful when you meet the Wu family, and never cause trouble for the Crown Prince, understand?"
Concubine Wei had been repeating these words over and over since Prince Luling was recalled to the capital. She was so scared that this was all just a dream, and that when she opened her eyes again, they would still be in Luling, living in fear and uncertainty.
Li Chongrun is the eldest son. He witnessed his father's rise from a wealthy and idle man to the crown prince of Emperor Gaozong and then the emperor. However, he was quickly knocked down from the peak and was imprisoned in Luling for thirteen years. This year, he was suddenly reinstated and restored to the status of crown prince. Li Chongrun understood his parents' panic and patiently agreed. However, Concubine Wei's youngest daughter, Li Guoer, did not have the composure of her elder brother.
She looked around impatiently, and when Concubine Wei finally finished her nagging, she said, "Mother, the book has been written. Father is already the crown prince, so why should he be afraid of what others do? We are the monarch and they are the subjects. It is the Wu family that should be respectful to us..."
"Shut up!" Concubine Wei was startled and shouted at Li Gui'er in a harsh voice. She was so frightened that her face turned pale and she was sweating profusely.
This daughter was born on the way to their exile. At that time, there was chaos and war, and there was not even a piece of cloth to wrap the child after she was born. King Luling could only take off his clothes to wrap her. He held his newborn daughter in his arms, looked at the miserable situation around him, and was overwhelmed with grief. He named her Li Guoer.
Li Chongrun at least enjoyed a life of luxury, but Li Guoer was born in Luling and lived a life of fear with her parents. The Prince of Luling and Concubine Wei knew they owed their little daughter, so they doted on her and allowed her to do whatever she wanted since she was young.
Although Li Guoer was born in a poor family, she was very arrogant and domineering. Now she dared to speak ill of the Wu family in the palace! Concubine Wei was trembling with fear and wanted to educate Li Guoer to prevent her from causing trouble in the future. However, Concubine Wei looked at the stubborn and unconvinced look of her little girl and could not bear to reprimand her.
What was wrong with Gu'er? She was so beautiful and should have been a pampered princess, but she had to suffer so much because of them. It was their parents who were incompetent!
The King of Luling could not bear it. He had always been afraid of his wife, but now he said, "Guer is young and speaks without restraint. You frightened her like this."
As soon as Li Chongrun saw his parents' expressions, he knew that it was a dream to expect them to discipline Li Gu'er. He secretly sighed. He had long felt that his parents were too arrogant towards Li Gu'er. In the past, he was nothing in Luling, but now that he was in the capital, Li Gu'er was still so self-centered and arbitrary. How could this be a long-term solution?
But a younger sister is different from a younger brother, so even if he is the eldest brother, he cannot interfere. Li Chongrun could only change the subject and said, "Mother, father is right. Today is the day of the canonization, don't get angry, or you will delay the important matter."
Concubine Wei said a few words to Li Guoer, and the matter was over. The palace servants greeted them from outside the palace, and the Prince of Luling and his wife hurried out to greet them. They saw that it was Shangguan Wan'er.
Shangguan Wan'er arrived surrounded by people. She greeted them with a smile and said, "I pay my respects to the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, Prince, and Princess."
Concubine Wei dared not accept it, and quickly avoided it: "Shangguan Cairen, please stand up quickly. I will still rely on you to guide me later. How dare I accept your gift?"
According to the rules, there is a distinction between the high and the low, and no matter how favored the servants in the inner palace are, it is not their turn to be personally greeted by the prince and his wife. However, the prince is the Prince of Luling, who has just been released from confinement and whose head is still on his waistband, while the servant is Shangguan Cairen, who accompanies the empress, drafts imperial edicts for her, and advises her on government affairs. It is really hard to say who is high and who is low.
Although Shangguan Wan'er was a low-ranking female official, no one dared to look down on her, and people outside the palace even gave her the elegant name of "the female prime minister". Shangguan Wan'er was graceful and graceful. She was half-heartedly helped up by Concubine Wei and smiled, "It is my blessing to serve the crown prince. The people from the Ministry of Rites are outside. Please follow me, Crown Prince and Crown Princess."
The crown prince's appointment was a national event, and the crown princess and the crown prince's children had to attend. The imperial edict for the crown prince's appointment was written by Shangguan Wan'er, who was also a female official in charge of palace ceremonies, so the responsibility of guiding the relatives of the Eastern Palace fell on her.
Prince Luling and Concubine Wei thanked him and were about to leave when they heard a commotion behind them. They all turned around and saw a column of black smoke rising up. The fire seemed to be in the southeast corner of the East Palace.
At this moment, the sky was not yet completely bright, and the smoke stretched across the indigo morning light like a scratch. Shangguan Wan'er's eyelids twitched heavily, and she inexplicably had an ominous premonition.
Shangguan Wan'er looked at Concubine Wei uncertainly: "Crown Princess, this is..."
Concubine Wei also looked surprised and said, "I don't know. Perhaps I didn't serve you properly and ignited the candle."
又不是狼煙，短時間怎麽能燒出這麽大的煙？但禮部的人就在外面，現在也不是追究為什麽會失火的時候，上官婉兒說：“快叫人去滅火，勿要耽誤禮部吉時。”
她話還沒落，宮門外快步走來一夥宦官。上官婉兒一看為首的人就咯噔一聲，莫名生出股不祥感。
那隊太監走到太子、上官婉兒前問好，為首的人穿着一身綠袍，雖然笑着，但透着種強烈的陰森感：“奴婢參見太子、太子妃。上官才人，雜家這廂有禮了。今兒是東宮的大日子，下面人辦事不力，竟然燒起這麽大的煙，真是該死。太子、太子妃去安全處稍候，奴婢這就帶人去滅火，絕不叫火驚擾貴人。”
廬陵王聞言還真要走，上官婉兒本能覺得不對，多年宮廷生活的經驗告訴她事出反常必有妖，不能讓這群閹人去後面。她叫住趙公公道：“不敢勞煩公公，我叫人就好。”
趙公公卻笑着，并不接腔：“才人清貴，這種粗活哪敢勞煩才人。若是火勢大了，威脅到陛下就不好了。才人慢走，雜家先行一步。”
上官婉兒還想攔，但她是女官，身邊也都是宮女，哪怕在女皇面前再得寵也改變不了力氣劣勢。她才一分神就趙公公那夥人掙開了，現在上官婉兒已經确定有事，她暗暗罵了聲，趕緊對心腹說：“快去請相王、太平公主來。”
然後，她擡頭看還是一臉不明所以的廬陵王，心裏十分恨太子不争氣。都被人算計到頭上了，他還反應不過來，圈禁十三年，他竟一點長進都沒有嗎？
上官婉兒只能明示：“殿下，東宮失火，恐非吉事。請太子示下。”
廬陵王終于感覺到不對了，趕緊說：“快跟過去看看。”
趙公公帶着人趕到着火點後，立刻安排人取水、滅火，所有行動一氣呵成。等廬陵王和上官婉兒趕到，只能看到濕淋淋的地面，具體如何起火已無從得知。
趙公公看到他們來了，毫不意外，笑着道：“太子，上官才人，火已熄滅。老奴不才，讓貴人受驚了。”
上官婉兒皺着眉，拿不準趙公公葫蘆裏賣什麽藥。這時，趙公公身後一個小太監突然喊道：“公公，這裏滲水。”
趙公公回頭，果然看到有幾塊地磚不積水，水順着磚縫流下去。趙公公大驚失色：“這是什麽？”
上官婉兒臉色大變，終于意識到他們要做什麽，然而已經太遲了，小太監三下五除二撬開地磚，露出一個黑黝黝的洞口，積着水的臺階若隐若現，通向未知的黑暗。
趙公公轉身，看向廬陵王：“太子殿下，這是什麽？”
廬陵王也想知道。女皇派人秘召廬陵王回京，後來才将韋妃和孩子們接過來。他們住入東宮沒幾天，地方都沒認熟，哪能知道這裏有間密窖呢？
上官婉兒看到廬陵王的表情就知道壞事了，她試圖阻攔趙公公：“公公，今日畢竟是冊封太子的喜日，吉時馬上就到了，不如先行正事，等冊封結束後再禀明陛下，詳查此事。”
趙公公皮笑肉不笑呵呵兩聲，說：“才人說的是，您趕緊陪着太子去行禮吧，這裏留給奴婢查就是。”
說着，趙公公讓人取來蠟燭，已是身先士卒走了下去。
上官婉兒暗暗罵了一聲，她悄悄問廬陵王：“太子，底下是什麽情況，最近什麽人來過這裏？”
廬陵王搖頭，一臉茫然。上官婉兒真是恨鐵不成鋼，這可是東宮，太子的地盤，他竟然連自家後院都看不好！若趙公公真在地窖裏找到什麽東西，旁人怎麽會相信太子一無所知？
上官婉兒已經能預見到後面會發生什麽了。趙公公和二張兄弟走得近，二張兄弟背後又站着魏王、梁王，等趙公公得手，二張兄弟必會趁機發難。這冊封大典能不能繼續下去，還真說不定。
上官婉兒已經将寶壓到李家這邊，如果廬陵王不争氣，再次被人拉下帝位，那她也得吃不了兜着走。
上官婉兒顧不得底下潮濕陰暗，也趕緊跟下去。現在說什麽都晚了，為今之計，只能看看有沒有補救的機會。
廬陵王就算再遲鈍，此刻也明白自己大難臨頭了。他後跌一步，臉色刷白，身體都忍不住顫抖起來。
他根本不敢知道下面有什麽。與其等母親震怒，再次圈禁他，還不如他自己了斷。
韋妃連喚了好幾聲“殿下振作點”，廬陵王還是一副天塌了的窩囊樣。韋妃暗罵一聲，厲聲對身後侍從道：“看好太子殿下，不要讓他做傻事。拿蠟燭來，本宮親自下去看。”
“太子妃！”衆人驚呼，李重潤也忙道，“阿娘，下面危險，您不可以身犯險。”
要是太子之位沒了，她連命都保不住，還怕什麽危險？韋妃不為所動，親自拿了蠟燭，彎腰朝暗窖走去。
綴着東珠的雲頭履踩在濕滑的臺階上，華貴的禮服裙擺頃刻就髒了，但韋妃毫不在意，扶着牆壁，一步步往下走。
韋妃已經做好了最壞的打算，然而走到臺階下後，卻只看一個空曠邋遢的地窖。裏面空空如也，地上積攢着灰，拐角甚至還有蜘蛛網。韋妃沒在意衣袖蹭上的灰，她四處張望，心中十分捉摸不透。
費這麽大陣仗，又是失火又是澆水的，最後就只讓他們看一個空地窖？這又是什麽詭計？
趙公公同樣覺得想不明白，他手秉高燭，順着牆壁來來回回找了三四遍，還是什麽都沒發現。
不應當啊，明明之前安排好了……
上官婉兒經過短暫的詫異後，很快從趙公公的臉上看出端倪。她心中大定，立刻搶先說：“原來是個儲物地窖，看起來已棄置許久了吧，連蜘蛛網都這麽多了。太子殿下剛來洛陽，對紫微宮不熟悉，難怪不知道這裏有暗窖。等冊封典禮結束後，不妨奏請女皇将這裏修繕一遍，地窖閑置無事，若不小心摔傷了郡王、郡主，那就是大罪過了。”
上官婉兒飛快将這裏定性成年久失修的地窖，廬陵王對此一無所知，更不用說利用這個暗窖做什麽。今日之事就只剩下東宮失火，廬陵王最多犯個失察的錯，根本無關痛癢。
上官婉兒說完，笑着看向趙公公：“公公，禮部已經在外等着了，我們先出去忙冊封之事？”
趙公公臉色極為難看，他意識到太子這邊有高人助陣，已将死局悄無聲息化解了。
可恨！明明廬陵王回京後一舉一動都有人盯着，他身邊什麽時候來了這樣厲害的人物？
他皮笑肉不笑地勾唇，道：“才人說的是。呦，太子妃您怎麽下來了？殿下千金貴體，哪能來這種陰潮的地方，殿下快請回……”
冊封大典遲了片刻，很快莊嚴開始，一整套冗長肅穆的禮儀在百官注目下進行。沒人知道不久前發生了一道小插曲，差點改寫了場上半數人的命運。
也沒人知道，隆重的禮樂聲響徹前朝時，有兩個不起眼的少年從角門離開，悄無聲息沒入東夾城。
謝濟川道：“說了沒事，你偏要親自來看。現在廬陵王已在含元殿受封，你總該放心了吧？”
明華章三月初二抓到隗嚴清和隗白宣，緊接着馬不停蹄來東宮救場，這幾天幾乎沒有休息過。這還多虧有蝴蝶引路，要不然紫微宮殿室這麽多，木偶又能拆成小塊分別運輸，僅憑人力，絕對無法在三天內搗毀陰謀。
他們循着人眼看不到也嗅不到的粉末，一路追蹤蝴蝶到一座偏殿前。就算明華章早有預料，看到地下場景時也倒抽一口涼氣。
地窖布置成祭壇形式，一群禁軍木偶圍繞在外，手中武器齊齊對着中心。中間是一個穿着素衣便服的老婦人，看面容，正是女皇。
明華章乍一看到須發畢現、沉默不語的女皇，狠狠吃了一驚，随後才意識到這是假的。
隗家人認識禁軍的衣服，卻不認識女皇面容。尤其女皇素來衣着簡樸，主顧給他們一張圖紙，他們就照着做了，壓根不知道自己在作死。
如果讓他們知道這個平平無奇的老婦人是女皇，哪怕是最見錢眼開的隗嚴清，也絕不敢招攬。
吳綏綏的手藝實在巧奪天工，木偶栩栩如生，宛若活人。明華章看到假女皇都吓一跳，更別說被魏王的人看到，該如何大做文章了。
女皇日漸衰老，最忌諱的一是死亡，二是奪權。這個祭壇可好，把女皇的逆鱗踩了個遍。廬陵王在東宮地下布置這樣一個祭壇，意欲何為？禁軍刀刃齊齊對着女皇，若被女皇知道，她又會怎麽想？
明華章将這些大逆不道、居心甚惡的痕跡清除，布置成年久失修、無人踏足的樣子。東宮地下有密室，無論怎麽解釋都太敏感了，不如徹底将廬陵王摘出去，不知者才能無罪。
明華章沒回答謝濟川的問題，他問：“東西都收好了嗎？”
“放心，十二時辰安排人看着呢。費這麽大心力找回來的證據，絕不會叫人毀了。”
明華章淡淡點頭，又問：“人呢？”
“已試圖尋死好幾次了，還是不肯招。”謝濟川慢慢道，“要不要……”
他話沒說完，但背後的意味不言而喻。明華章靜了靜，道：“先不要動刑，留着他的命。他是魏王的人，憑這個身份，女皇會明白的。”
謝濟川挑眉，對此并不認同：“當真不拷打出證詞來嗎？魏王可是女皇的侄子，沒有明确證據，女皇怎麽會懷疑他們武家人？景瞻，那個書生是魏王的人，沒什麽可心軟的。你可不要因為一時之仁，壞了大計。”
明華章沉默片刻，還是道：“以力假仁者霸，以德行仁者王。我投身于玄枭衛是無奈之舉，但我絕不會做當年酷吏所為。”
謝濟川知道勸不動了，便放棄這個話題，說起輕松的事：“你妹妹還真是一個妙人，能憑空畫出兇手圖像就不說了，竟然還能想到抓蜘蛛。”
他們需要僞造地下密室久無人跡，蜘蛛網着實幫了大忙。說起明華裳，明華章的神态也輕松了些，目光中隐有笑意。
他想起兩日前明華裳和他說的話，她鼓着腮幫子，控訴道：“那些蜘蛛像和我作對一樣，每年七夕我都乞巧不成。就該把它們關在密室裏，給它們點顏色瞧瞧。我倒要看看，它們結的網是圓的還是方的。”
抓蜘蛛是七夕習俗，喚作喜蛛應巧。七月初七晚，女兒們将捉來的喜蛛放在首飾盒中，第二天打開盒子檢查結網情況，如果蜘蛛網方圓得體，疏密有致，則此女得巧。
明華裳不幸就是那種抓了十來年蜘蛛，年年不得巧的倒黴鬼。她對蜘蛛可謂深惡痛絕，她随口一句話，卻解決了明華章的難題。
“景瞻？”明華章回神，發現謝濟川看着他，目光意味不明，“你想到什麽了，笑得這麽開心？”
他笑了？明華章冷着臉，姿态流風回雪，波瀾不驚，淡然道：“沒有，你看錯了。”
謝濟川不信：“我叫了你好幾聲你都不應，還說沒有走神？想誰呢？”
“沒有。”明華章有些惱怒了，冷聲說，“今日太子冊封，宮裏人多眼雜，先趕緊出去。”
謝濟川看着明華章笑而不語。他已經得到了他想要的答案，因為剛才，他并沒有喚明華章好幾聲。
往常明華章可不會搭理玩笑話，如今，他卻惱羞成怒了。
太子的冊封大典忙了一整天，等結束後，有人如釋重負，有人驚惶後怕，有人憤憤不平。神都難得平靜了一段時間，朝中也各安其事，靜觀後變。無人注意到，太常寺內一個小小的五品丞不見蹤影。
太常寺管掌陵廟群祀、禮樂儀制，是閑職中的閑職，在混日子那一撥人中都是最沒進取心的。一個寺丞時常不在崗，動不動開溜，不會引起任何人在意。
如果他們看到此刻女皇面前的人，一定會大吃一驚。韓颉站在宣政殿中，身姿筆挺，目光堅定，和外人眼中懶惰胡混的太常寺丞判若兩人。女皇看完奏折，放下，沉沉問：“這封折子是誰寫的？”
韓颉半垂着眼眸，說：“明華章，入衛已有兩年了，獨立辦成好幾件事。先前卑職和陛下提過此人，這次該擢升的，就是他。”
“明……”女皇慢慢咀嚼這個姓氏，“他和明懷淵是什麽關系？”
“他是明懷淵的次子。”
“原來是明懷淵的兒子。”女皇神色不明，道，“朕記得，這些年明懷淵一直沒有續娶，倒是個念舊的人。”
明懷淵曾是東宮屬臣，那時的東宮太子是章懷太子李賢。章懷太子是女皇的二兒子，唯一一位敢和女皇叫板，被處以謀反罪名的皇子。章懷太子還在時，很器重明懷淵。
女皇說明懷淵念舊，實在不是什麽好評價。
韓颉垂下頭，不敢窺探女皇的神色。幸而女皇也只是提了一句，并沒有多談。女皇看着折子不說話，韓颉靜靜等着，絲毫沒有說話的意思。
玄枭衛為女皇服務，提拔誰，發落誰，全憑女皇心意。女皇若是覺得明家曾效忠于章懷太子，信不過他們，那也只能怨明華章自己沒有伴駕的福氣。
女皇靜了片刻，道：“這字寫的不錯，他今年多大了？”
韓颉簡明扼要道：“回禀陛下，明華章今年十六。”
“才十六。”女皇又看了兩眼奏折，道，“見字如人，能把字寫得如此風骨清俊，本人應當是個端方君子。十六歲就能寫出這種字，難得，正是大周需要的人才。”
韓颉遲疑：“陛下，您的意思是……”
“擢為天字級，改日，叫來讓朕看看。”女皇道，“難得看到寫得這麽舒服的奏折了。他文采好，辦事也利落，如今少見這般文武雙全的人，而且還十六歲，前途可期。這樣的少年郎，埋沒了才叫可惜。”
韓颉明白了，明華章完成了最重要的一項考驗，成功實現飛躍，日後就能直接面見女皇了。
伴君如伴虎，韓颉也不知道該不該恭喜他，但女皇決定的事，一定是聖明的。韓颉躬身，行禮道：“陛下慧眼識珠，明察秋毫，實乃我朝之福。”
女皇聽慣了奉承話，根本不放在心上。她也聽說太子冊封典禮那天東宮失火的事了，她大典上沒表示，事後叫人來問，很快就收到了這封奏折。
她既然決意立廬陵王為太子，就不希望另生波折，破壞她的安排。潛伏的線人送來情報，說有人欲破壞太子冊封典禮，此事是女皇授意查的，查出來主使者是魏王，她也不意外。
但她沒想到，魏王膽大妄為到雕刻形似她的木偶。女皇雖然沒有親眼看到那一幕，但還是被這背後的意味觸痛了。
所有人都覺得她老了，臣子催促她立太子，兒女蠢蠢欲動，連侄兒也敢直接嘲諷她。
韓颉感覺到女皇心情似乎不好，女皇揮手，示意他退下。韓颉沒有多話，行禮後恭順離開。
冊太子順利落幕後，不知道是不是了卻心願，狄閣老的病迅速加重。女皇素來敬重國士，親自去狄府看望。
狄公和斷案打了一輩子交道，他察覺到洛陽平靜的表面下暗流湧動，病榻前，他強撐着身體對女皇說道：“陛下，只有千日做賊，沒有千裏防賊，若人心不定，這種事只會層出不窮。內亂乃禍國之源，望陛下快刀斬亂麻，勿縱小害成大亂。”
女皇也在煩惱此事。傳位的事她已經想了十來年，最後立李不立武自然有她的考量。她能理解娘家不滿、失落，但她不允許有人越過她，妄想和她作對。
女皇問：“依閣老之間，朕當如何？”
狄老說話已經很費勁了，他喘着氣，費力說道：“遷都長安。”
女皇沉默當場。
遷都洛陽是女皇奪權路上很重要的一步。長安舊貴族的勢力太大了，在女皇還是皇後時，就通過改換東都、另起爐竈，在洛陽編織起自己的勢力。重回長安，無異于和全天下宣告，屬于周武的時代結束了，她即将要還政于唐。
狄老也沒有催促女皇立刻拿主意，轉而說起其他事。女皇這次微服出巡非常低調，除了身邊近侍，沒多少人知道。女皇回宮後不久，明華章出門，陪明華裳去看傀儡戲。
這是明華裳要求的，經過隗家的事後，她突然對傀儡生出了興趣。結果她出門沒一會就被街邊的小吃牽走了注意力，等終于到菩提寺時，已近傍晚時分。
菩提寺依然十分熱鬧，文人在牆上鬥詩，少女在樹下挂紅繩，孩童們吃完晚飯，争先恐後跑出來，坐在臺階上等着傀儡戲開場。
明華章和明華裳坐在一群小孩子中，顯得尤為突出。明華裳一邊吃糖人，一邊道：“我是不是應當戴幕籬出來？這樣好尴尬，萬一遇到認識的人，對方豈不會覺得我很幼稚？”
明華章注意到明華裳嘴邊沾了一粒糖，她雙頰像倉鼠一樣一鼓一鼓的，顯得非常可愛。
明華章擡指，拭去她臉頰上的糖渣，說：“安心吃你的吧。如果遇到人，就說是我想看的。”
明華章指尖微涼，突然碰到她的臉，明華裳下意識躲了一下。随後她看到對方指尖的糖渣，霎間羞憤欲死：“我蹭到臉上了嗎？”
明華章仔細擦過她的臉頰，淺淺笑道：“沒事，已經沒有了。”
春夜的風溫柔的像情人的手，鼻尖滿滿都是糖的味道。明華裳咬了一口糖人尖尖，忽然覺得今夜氣朗天清，春風正好。
正在明華裳猶豫要不要說點什麽的時候，前方鑼鼓響起，傀儡戲開場了。明華裳松了口氣，順理成章轉過視線。
The stage was another clichéd story of a talented scholar and a beautiful woman. Ming Huazhang was listening casually when he suddenly saw someone in the shadows making gestures to him. Ming Huazhang left without making a sound, turning several corners and stopping only after he was out of everyone's sight: "What's the matter?"
The man who had been following him silently came forward and whispered in his ear, "Just now there was news from the palace that the empress missed the Daming Palace and wanted to return to Chang'an."
Ming Huazhang's pupils slightly dilated. This was more clear news than appointing a crown prince. Appointing a crown prince might be a temporary solution, but moving the capital was tantamount to proving to all the court officials, the governors of various places, and the Wu family that the empress was determined to return power to the crown prince.
This was indeed good news that was exciting, but Ming Huazhang only nodded after hearing it. He looked like a cold jade statue without any unnecessary expression.
Ming Huashang was halfway through the opera when she suddenly realized that her brother was gone. She waited for a while, and someone else sat down next to her, and a pair of slender and beautiful hands handed her a bag of snacks.
Ming Huashang looked down and saw that it was a bag of pine nuts. She happily took it and asked, "Second brother, did you buy pine nuts just now?"
Ming Huazhang was silent for a moment, then replied softly, "Yes."
"Why didn't you call me?"
Ming Huazhang looked at the puppet in front of him who was experiencing the joys and sorrows, and said softly: "It's not as important as the play of pulling the silk thread."
·
The first year of the Shengli calendar, March, late spring.
Yesterday I met the emperor. The woman looked older than I thought. Just looking at her appearance, I couldn't imagine that she was the emperor of a country.
I was also surprised by her quick thinking and profound knowledge. Han Jie said that she was very satisfied with me and intended to cultivate me. So she ordered me to review poetry and prose. This autumn, the empress issued an imperial decree to set up an imperial examination. The empress hoped that I would participate in the imperial examination and enter the government as a Jinshi, which would help conceal my identity and facilitate future transfers.
The relocation of the capital has been decided, and the specific time is still being arranged. Every day, Er Niang asks me if I still remember Chang'an and what delicious food there is.
She is still so heartless. I often feel that I don't understand her at all. The case of the Wei family was not solved until the last minute. It was my fault, but she deserves the credit. I deliberately didn't let her see the murder scene, which led to her making a wrong decision. If she hadn't reminded me, if I hadn't found the puppet hidden in the secret room in time, the consequences would be disastrous.
But I still can't understand why she joined Xuanxiaowei.
The court was delighted to hear about the move, but the King of Wei claimed to be ill. Madam Ming said that this was because the ancestors of the Li family had protected the prince, and that the clouds would eventually clear and the moon would shine. If the previous emperors were still alive, it would be too blind to protect them now.
Wei Baixuan could make a lifelike puppet, but Wei Yanqing could manipulate her into obedience just by mentioning marriage. Wei Yanqing did so much just for a word from the King of Wei, and why didn't the King of Wei be manipulated by the Queen?
After all, we are all just puppets.
Jingzhan, at the Duke's Mansion in Luoyang.
——The second case, “The String Puppet” is finished.