Chapter 70 Breaking the Formation
Dusk fell, everything was quiet, but Pingkangfang had just started to get lively at night. Shancha leaned against the window, listening to the dancing music from the brothel next door, and she was so angry that she kept pulling at her handkerchief.
Jingzhao Prefecture clearly said that Zhang Sanlang committed suicide and had nothing to do with Tianxianglou. However, the customers felt that it was unlucky and even regular customers were unwilling to come. Other brothels were happy to steal from Tianxianglou when they saw this opportunity. Shancha saw with her own eyes that women who were far inferior to her were praised as the most beautiful women, and even took out red silk and blatantly imitated her flying dance.
Shan Cha was so angry that she was shaking all over, but when she looked at her legs, she was angry that the heavens were against her. She couldn't dance for at least a month. After a month, how many people would remember her, not to mention Pingkangfang, even in Tianxianglou?
Shancha was sulking when she heard someone talking in the corridor. It seemed someone had gone out. Shancha stretched her neck and asked the woman next door who had opened the window, "What happened?"
The figure on the opposite side twisted his body and said in a gloomy tone: "What else can it be? Prince Jiang has taken a fancy to our courtesan and summoned her to perform alone."
This was like stabbing Shancha in the heart, and Shancha fell silent. The woman next door was still dissatisfied, and said leisurely: "The prince is particularly fond of Yuqiong. It has been two days. He has asked her to stay alone every night. Maybe he will stay overnight today. The prince Jiang is so indulgent to those two maids. It can be seen that he is soft-hearted and easy to control. In my opinion, Yuqiong will fly to the branches and become a phoenix in the Marquis Jiang'an's mansion."
Shancha slammed the window shut. The woman next door sneered. She turned around and looked through the wide-open door, just in time to see Yuqiong entering Guanghan Yueyuan.
Afterwards, the door of Guanghan Yueyuan was closed, leaving no room for anyone to peek in. The woman sighed, feeling very sad.
Why isn't it her turn to serve the young and handsome young marquis who comes from a noble family?
Guanghan Yueyuan.
After Ren Yao closed the door, Yu Qiong stood at the door, facing the box with closed doors and windows and bright lights, and instinctively felt a sense of foreboding. She smiled and said, "Sir, the night in Chang'an is quite dull, why don't you open the window to let in some fresh air?"
Jiang Ling sat on the couch and said, "I don't like opening the window. It's noisy."
Yu Qiong smiled and said softly, "Your Highness is right. The song we played yesterday has not yet been finished. Why not continue?"
"It's boring."
Yuqiong was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "It is Yuqiong who is rude. She dared to make the decision for the prince. I wonder what the prince wants to hear?"
Jiang Ling propped one leg on the couch, his arm casually folded, and said, "I have listened to at least eighty pieces of pipa music since I was a child, and I am too lazy to listen to them. Why don't you put down the pipa and we can chat casually?"
Yuqiong tightened her fingers around the pipa, her knuckles turning slightly white. "The prince has given an order, and Yuqiong dares not disobey. But Yuqiong is short-sighted and uneducated, and I am afraid that I will disappoint the prince."
"It's okay, just tell me about your story." Jiang Ling said, "For example, your relationship with Wei Tan and Zhang Ziyun. I heard that Wei Tan was very close to you and often summoned you to his mansion, so you were considered a frequent visitor. But recently, both of them died, which is also strange."
Yuqiong was sure that today would not end peacefully. After the murder, the son of Marquis Jiang'an suddenly visited Tianxiang Tower and walked around the building regardless of the bad luck. She had long felt that something was wrong. As expected, they came with bad intentions.
Yuqiong was quite calm, holding the pipa, and said, "My life has been rough. A Taoist priest told me that I have a strong destiny and may bring trouble to my family. Maybe I am really an unlucky person. All the men who were good to me died unexpectedly, but I am still alive and well."
Jiang Ling sighed in his heart, what a good move of retreating to advance, much better than his stepmother. Jiang Ling patted the seat next to him and said, "Your pipa looks heavy, it must be tiring to hold it, put it down and sit for a while, I will hold the pipa for you."
Yu Qiong laughed and said, "How can this be possible? The prince is so precious and noble that I dare not go beyond his authority."
Jiang Ling tilted his head, stared at her for a while, and suddenly smiled: "Don't dare, or can't?"
Yu Qiong lowered her eyes slightly, her face calm and unperturbed: "I don't understand what the prince is saying."
"Don't you understand? Then how about changing to a more understandable topic, such as how you killed Zhang Ziyun, pretended to commit suicide, and stole Wei Tan's painting from his cane?"
When Yuqiong heard the painting, her heart tightened, knowing that the knife had finally fallen. She clenched her fingers, hugged the pipa tightly, lowered her eyes, and asked, "Who are you? Are you really the son of Jiang'an Marquis?"
Jiang Ling blinked at her, raised his eyebrows and smiled: "Guess?"
Yuqiong kept silent with a sullen face. She thought that the two maids dressed as men were very strange. They did not compete for favors in front of the prince, and did not want to serve the prince. Instead, they were wandering around in Tianxiang Tower. But she was afraid of the power of the Marquis of Jiang'an Mansion. She thought that no one would have the courage to pretend to be the son of Marquis of Jiang'an, so she did not take any action.
Who would have thought that the boat would capsize in a ditch.
Yuqiong knew that they had asked her to tell them so much just to find out the whereabouts of the painting. Yuqiong made up her mind and refused to say a word. Jiang Ling sighed and said, "They said the thing was in your pipa, but I didn't believe it. Now it turns out to be true?"
Yuqiong felt as if she had fallen into an icy cave, and her last bit of hope was broken. At this moment, a chill pressed against her neck. The maid who had just closed the door stood behind her without her knowing when, and the short knife was already against her vitals: "Miss Yuqiong, I can't bear to kill someone who looks pretty. Do you want to hand it over yourself, or let me do it?"
Jiang Ling tapped his knees with his fingers and said, "Bullshit, you've never been so merciless when you've attacked me."
Ren Yao narrowed his eyes slightly, and his mood was obviously getting irritable. Ming Huashang couldn't bear it, so she came out from behind the screen and said, "That's enough. Don't say bad words in front of Miss Yuqiong. Miss Yuqiong, we admire your talent very much and really don't want to make things difficult for you. Wei Tan's painting is not something you can take. Hand it over now, and I can guarantee your safety."
Yuqiong's eyes flashed with sarcasm. It was ridiculous. She was the wife of a convicted official. Even if she lived a better life, people would still dislike her. Now that she was caught, how could these people let her go? Yuqiong's fingers unconsciously pressed the pegs of the pipa, as if she was thinking about something.
Ming Huashang noticed Yuqiong's actions and guessed that it was some kind of mechanism, and she wanted to destroy the painting. The invisible strings in the room tightened, and Ming Huashang seemed to have heard the sound of hidden weapons being unsheathed. She spoke up in time and said, "Miss Zhao, we are not bad people. As long as you take out the picture, we will not hurt you."
Yuqiong had been calm and rational since she entered the room, and she responded calmly, but when she heard the three words "Miss Zhao", her whole body shook violently and she could not even maintain the expression on her face.
Miss Zhao...how many years has it been since her father was convicted of treason?
Ming Huashang knew she had made the right bet when she saw Yuqiong's expression. Yuqiong was cautious and careful, and she would not leave her life and property to others. The Daming Palace Map was probably still in her possession. Ming Huashang thought about it and felt that the pipa that Yuqiong never let go of was a little strange.
From her paintings, we can see that what she is really good at and likes is painting, not playing music. Why would she hold a pipa all the time? Moreover, when Yuqiong went to Wei Tan's house, she also played the pipa.
There were too many coincidences for Ming Huashang to take them for granted. She and Ming Huazhang agreed that there was a mechanism in Yuqiong's pipa, and the Daming Palace Map was hidden in the mechanism. However, the map was no different from other evidence. If Yuqiong was pushed into a corner, she would destroy the map, and their work would be in vain.
Xie Jichuan suggested an ambush, moving as fast as thunder and killing with one strike. With five of them, it would be no problem to deal with Yuqiong. But Ming Huashang thought that they might be able to cooperate. She talked to Yuqiong and maybe she could convince her to hand over the painting.
Yuqiong heard that "Miss Zhao" had a reaction, which was a good sign. Ming Huashang continued, "I heard that Lord Zhao was once a noble official in the court, and had close contacts with many famous people, including the world-famous Right Prime Minister Yan. If Lord Zhao knew about your painting skills today, he would definitely be very pleased."
Yu Qiong became more and more silent, and Ming Huashang took the opportunity to say, "Why did you want to kill Zhang Ziyun? To avenge Wei Tan? Wei Tan was the apprentice of Yan Youxiang, and Yan Youxiang and your father were good friends. If your father had not been convicted, you and he would be a good match, and both of you love painting, so it would be a good story."
After saying so much, Yuqiong didn't respond. Ming Huashang didn't expect Yuqiong to answer, but she said coldly: "He and I are close friends. It's really vulgar and low to speculate about us based on the relationship between men and women."
Ming Huashang's eyes widened unexpectedly, not caring about the hostility in Yuqiong's words at all, and said happily: "So, you really want revenge? Just one Wei Tan, you shouldn't risk your life to do it."
Yuqiong exhaled and fell into a state of slight relaxation.
It was really an accident that she killed Zhang Ziyun. It was just like the day when she was playing the pipa at Wei's house and suddenly saw Wei Tan spitting out black blood and falling down. It was the same surprise.
After Wei Tan's death, she and other guests were locked in a private room, and the interrogators came three times. She was playing the piano when the incident happened, and she had no physical contact with Wei Tan before. She was the first to be ruled out as a suspect, and the police finally gave in and let her go.
When Yuqiong went out, she saw Zhang Ziyun arranging the funeral for Wei Tan. The housekeeper had a tearful face and looked at a loss, while Zhang Ziyun was giving orders with a cane, which was quite effective. Passersby were praising Wei Tan for his good fortune, saying that he was really lucky to have such a friend, otherwise, even his funeral would not be decent.
Is it a blessing? Yuqiong thinks not necessarily.
Wei Tan had told her before that the court had asked him to restore the design of Daming Palace in preparation for the relocation of the capital. Wei Tan was a man who was proud of his talent. He was not in a hurry and deliberately completed it within the deadline. As soon as the painting was finished, he could not help but hold a banquet and invite people to show off.
Yuqiong didn't take it seriously at first. Wei Tan is always like this. People from the Ministry of Works will come to pick up the drawings tomorrow. It should be fine if he relaxes for a night today.
誰能想到，衛檀視之為至交好友的張子雲，竟然為了一幅畫，對他動了殺心。
衛檀志滿意得将畫挂在堂上，讓衆人圍觀，等過足了瘾才收起畫，讓仆人送回書房封存。不出意外的話，他們是這幅畫第一批觀衆，同樣會是最後一批。
看畫時玉瓊就注意到張子雲表情不太對勁，那時她沒放在心上，照常彈奏琵琶。張子雲途中出去了一會，回來後他沉默地拄着拐杖，勸衛檀喝酒，玉瓊依然沒放在心上。
緊接着衛檀死了，在場所有人都被當做嫌疑人關押，玉瓊在官差一遍遍的詢問中，将懷疑的目光投到張子雲身上。
張子雲的表現，似乎有些奇怪。但玉瓊也只是猜測，沒有任何證據，何況她自從被抄家後，對官差沒有任何好感，自然不會向官府禀報自己的懷疑。她回到天香樓，越想越不對勁，就在這時，她看到張子雲來青樓了。
那日是山茶飛天舞首秀，老鸨早就廣而告之，玉瓊也早早訂下安排，晚上要去陪貴客。但是張子雲難得獨自走入天香樓，如果錯過這次，她不知道還有沒有機會靠近他。
所以玉瓊明知晚上有客要來，還是主動招攬張子雲，以切磋畫藝的名義帶他到風情思苑。她知道風情思苑有暗門，天香樓裏的事鮮少有能瞞過她的，玉瓊最開始沒打算做什麽，只是本能安排一層保險。
酒過三巡之後，張子雲漸漸喝高了，趾高氣揚地說他要發達了，很快就會成為魏王的親信。此情此境，再結合幾日前發生的事，玉瓊還有什麽不明白的。
張子雲背叛了衛檀，他為了升官，竟甘心做魏王的走狗。
衛檀奉命重繪大明宮圖不是秘密，他又高調，即便是秘密也嚷嚷得全城皆知了。武家的人想要阻止遷都，秘密接觸衛檀身邊的人，張子雲就這樣被功名利祿打動，答應替武家取畫。
但衛檀拖得太久了，畫完後第二天工部就要來取圖，張子雲沒有時間從長計議，只能出門殺掉送畫的奴仆，再回來毒死衛檀。
有衛檀在，圖紙丢了一張，再畫一遍就是，根本無關痛癢。只有衛檀死了，才能讓含元殿無法重建，真正阻止女皇遷都。
張子雲一門心思等着魏王的信使，只要将這張畫交給對方，他就可以乘雲直上，大展宏圖。但在此之前，他要先活到武家的人找到他。
衛檀死得蹊跷，官府也不是傻子，長安的舊貴族馬上就意識到有人要阻撓遷都。這關系着多少人的身家性命、家族榮辱，長安貴族們這次出奇團結，不遺餘力放出暗衛，全力尋找竊畫之人。
張子雲心驚膽戰，他不敢再在自家待着，想去一個安全、人多、不易被追蹤的地方躲一躲，最好的地點自然是青樓。
而平康坊裏名氣最大、姑娘最文雅的去處便是天香樓，就這樣，在命運的安排下，張子雲走入天香樓門檻，被獨自倚在三樓的玉瓊看到。
玉瓊察覺到張子雲的所作所為後，不齒他賣友求榮，更無法容忍他幫武家弄權。一旦這次武氏得逞，遷都一事被攪黃，日後還不知要生出多少變故來。
她的父親就死于武後擅權，十六年了，她眼睜睜看着母親、姐姐受辱而死，兄弟被流放邊疆，族人死的死傷的傷，如今只剩她一人。她決不能容忍武家繼續傳承下去，只有皇位回歸李唐，她的父親，她們趙家，才有可能平反。
她看着那個男人酒後忘乎所以，大放厥詞，恨意像水下的冰，一點點凝聚成猙獰模樣。
她要殺了他。
玉瓊很冷靜地構思如何殺人，平靜做着最瘋狂的事。她借口回屋取東西，取出自己房裏珍藏的毒。
在這一行浸淫久了，她身邊也積攢下不少見不得光的東西。這毒名醉生，是她高價從西域商人手中買到的，無色無味，毒性強大，混在酒裏效果尤好，最難得是它毒發後症狀不明顯，外表看起來宛如突發疾病死了一般，一如它的名字，醉生夢醒，至死方休。
玉瓊出門時便想好了，要不了多久，預定她的貴客就該到了，到時候老鸨肯定會來趕人，她穩住張子雲，讓他單獨待在包廂裏，自己則順勢跟着老鸨離開。出門前她找機會将醉生塗在酒壺嘴上，保準毒死張子雲，并且能摘清自己的幹系。
戌時山茶會準時獻舞，她見過山茶排練，知道山茶的舞很新奇，足以吸引男人的視線。她借着吃醋的名頭離開貴客，去小隔間休息，然後趁人不備溜下樓，利用山水屏風的通道穿過大堂，登上東樓，從通氣窗和暗門進入風情思苑，處理一下現場，并拿走張子雲身上的畫。
那個蠢貨顯擺的如此明顯，她早就看出來的，畫藏在他的拐杖裏。
玉瓊自認為自己已經考慮到方方面面，但世上不存在完美的計劃，無論多周密的方案，一旦施行，就會遭受各種意外的考驗。
首先是老鸨，她給張子雲送來兩壇酒，玉瓊暗暗皺眉，但并沒有擔心。因為她的毒下在酒壺嘴，無論張子雲喝什麽酒都會中毒，老鸨的酒或許還能幫她混淆視線。
再然後，假借吃醋離開廣寒月苑時，她在走廊上碰到了人。玉瓊依然很冷靜，她從容走入休息隔間，等外面無人後，才輕手輕腳下樓。
大堂已經在她的暗示下放下帷幔，連屏風也按她的吩咐擺好了。紫鳶最欽佩她，幾乎對她言聽計從，她以考驗觀衆為名，讓紫鳶将屏風擺開，并嚴格保密，紫鳶也毫不猶豫地聽從。玉瓊順利穿過屏風，登上東樓時發現另一個意外，她夠不着隔間的通氣窗。
玉瓊只能下樓，偷偷用随身匕首從紅綢帶上割了一截。綢緞落在帷幔後，是她目前唯一能接觸到的東西。山茶短期內應當不會再用這條布，等風聲過去後，她暗示山茶換一件新的就行，一切都會神不知鬼不覺。
玉瓊在教坊司苦練多年，雖然長于畫藝，其實舞蹈功底也不差。她将綢帶搭在三樓木板，借助紅綢輕松地爬入通氣窗，通過暗門進入風情思苑。這時候，玉瓊發現她計劃中第四個意外。
張子雲仰躺在茶幾邊，睡着了。
他沒死！
原來老鸨為了防止張子雲鬧事，在兩壇酒裏下了迷藥。張子雲沒用酒壺喝酒，而是舉着酒壇喝，導致他沒中毒，就先被老鸨的迷藥放倒了。
這個意外對玉瓊的計劃幾乎是毀滅性的，玉瓊已經動手了，今日必須帶走衛檀的畫。以張子雲的狹隘猜忌，等酒醒後肯定會懷疑到她身上，她和張子雲之間，只能活一個。
玉瓊自然選前者，她必須殺死張子雲。可是老鸨這個蠢貨成事不足敗事有餘，她給張子雲下迷藥後，他的牙關緊緊咬住，玉瓊沒法給他灌毒酒了。
外面高朋滿座，聲音鼎沸，随時都可能有人進來，玉瓊嘗試了很久，酒壺在手中不斷發抖，卻始終無法灌入張子雲牙關。更糟糕的是，毒藥無色無味，但是塗抹在金器上時，竟然在內壁留下了黑色斑痕。
一切和預想完全不同，她的計劃幾乎完全失敗了。玉瓊強行讓自己冷靜下來，環顧四周，尋找新的殺人辦法。
她看到了水和紙，出于對畫的了解，玉瓊很快想出第二種不會留痕跡的殺人方法。
她将紙張在水池中完全浸濕，這是她為了畫水拓專門定制的紙張，沾水後也不會破，韌性極好，完全不透氣。她為了保險，用剛才割下來的紅綢縛住張子雲雙手，壓在他身上，拿濕透的紙覆住他口鼻。
殺人說難也難，說簡單也簡單，至少窒息死亡時其實很快。張子雲被窒息感從昏迷中驚醒，但已經回天乏術，玉瓊壓住他身體，冷靜看着他從掙紮、痙攣到慢慢失去動靜，他的臉從紅到白，最後歪在地上不動了。
他終于死了，玉瓊這時候才松了口氣，發現後背都被冷汗打濕了。事到如今，原來病發死亡的借口也不能用了，玉瓊将張子雲拖到書案前，将剛才濕透的紙張扔回廢紙堆上，近乎天衣無縫地銷毀殺人兇器。然後。她在張子雲脖頸血管上捅了一刀，僞造出他自殺身亡的假象。
疊夢散會使人昏迷，但暈倒之前也會産生致幻效果。假裝張子雲在幻覺中殺了自己，也算合情合理。
玉瓊銷毀了現場她來過的痕跡，她想把酒壺帶走，但是她今日為了彈琵琶，穿的是窄袖襦裙，卷一副畫還行，實在沒法藏那麽大一個金酒壺。
玉瓊沒辦法，只好将酒壺留在現場，等事後随機應變。她則趕緊原路返回，先去西樓休息間，将畫藏在琵琶背後的暗格裏，然後她回到廣寒月苑陪客，制造不在場證明。
她的計策很成功，張子雲的屍體被發現後，很快驚動京兆府。衙門公差進進出出，将所有客人都盤問了一遍，卻沒人懷疑她。
她的行蹤太清白了，滿堂賓客都是她的人證，老鸨怕被官府追責，也沒敢說酒裏的疊夢散。這件事鬧了一宿，奈何風情思苑是完整的密室，沒人看到有人進出，這樁案子只能以自殺定罪。
二樓鬧騰許久，玉瓊一直沒找到機會去現場拿回酒壺。她想着官府定案後很快就會撤離，等第二日，她再去現場拿回罪證。
京兆府不負她所望，果然稀裏糊塗以自殺結案，衙役如釋重負回去睡覺了。玉瓊耐心等着天黑，但是在傍晚時分，天香樓來了一行稀客。
江安侯世子，以及他的兩個随從。玉瓊堪稱完美的計劃，就從這裏轟然瓦解。
玉瓊的回憶戛然而止，她擡眸，發現那位面黃肌瘦，卻長了雙漂亮得驚心動魄的杏眼的婢女還凝視着她。
這個小姑娘一定不是婢女，若不是生于富貴安寧，長于愛與信任，不會擁有這樣的眼神。
玉瓊冷不丁想，若她的家族沒有出事，若她的父親沒有卷入謀逆，她是不是也會擁有這樣的眼神？
可惜，她永遠沒有機會知道了。
玉瓊放棄了，她聽出房間裏還有另外兩道呼吸，她無論如何都逃不脫。接受死亡後，玉瓊變得極其平靜，從容道：“你問這麽多，無非想誘導我說出為父平反，誣陷我背後有人指使。怎麽，女子便不能有俠肝義膽，舍身為知己報仇嗎？”
她很聰明敏銳，但誤會了明華裳的意思。明華裳說：“我并無此意。不瞞你說，其實，我們是朝廷的人。”
“朝廷？”玉瓊聽後輕諷，“誣陷忠良，國将不國，一衆奸佞小人，哪配稱朝廷。”
“你怎知朝中沒有忠善之輩？”
明華裳、江陵、任遙三人都吃了一驚，一齊看向屏風。
屏風遮得很嚴實，看不到後面景象，但一道聲音如風吹林木，石湧清泉，不疾不徐流淌而來：“你怎知，我們不是忠善之輩？”
衆人愣怔期間，一道幽涼的聲音顯得尤其格格不入。謝濟川問：“這種話，是自己說的嗎？”
明華章沒搭理謝濟川，走出屏風，對着玉瓊靜靜說道：“我等奉朝廷之命，取回大明宮圖，護衛皇室及衆位肱骨重臣，回歸故都。”
玉瓊看着屏風，一時愣住。這位少年面容說不上好看，但他眼神堅定，肩背挺直，身上那股凜然正氣遠非一副皮囊能及。
玉瓊早過了相信口頭話語的年紀，可是，她看着燈燭下松竹一般的少年郎，莫名相信了他的話。
或許，朝廷中真的還有為國為民的好臣子，他們，真的是好人。
明華裳見玉瓊眉宇間似有松動，趁熱打鐵道：“趙姑娘，你看，我們領隊都出來見你了。若我們當真要對你不利，何必多費周折？我們要大明宮圖是真的用于正途，我們拿到圖畫後，絕對信守承諾，放你平安離開。”
明華章緩慢走過來，在玉瓊和明華裳三步外站定，微微颔首：“我承諾。”
玉瓊動搖了，人面可能長着一顆獸心，但一個人的眼睛不會騙人。奸邪投機、利欲熏心之徒，生不出這樣幹淨的眼睛。
玉瓊松開扣在琵琶上的手，問：“你們是太子的人嗎？”
謝濟川慢慢從屏風後走出來，不動聲色看向明華章。明華章看起來毫不猶豫，清清楚楚說：“我們是朝廷的人。”
玉瓊有些失望，但心裏的那根弦不知不覺松開了。她将琵琶遞給明華章，說：“你們要的東西，就在裏面。”
明華章接過琵琶，認真望着玉瓊的眼睛：“多謝。”
玉瓊那一瞬間生出種奇怪的感覺，她阻止張子雲将畫交給武家人，在朝廷明理之士看來，确實值得感謝。但她總覺得，這個少年要說的不止是這個意思。
明華章扣下機關，琵琶背面露出一個狹長的空隙，裏面是一卷畫。明華章打開，果真看到了恢弘工整、标注清晰的含元殿。明華章暗暗松了口氣，将畫收好，把琵琶複原後才雙手遞回給玉瓊。
玉瓊接過，如老朋友一般熟稔地抱住琵琶。明華章說道：“趙姑娘，多謝你挺身而出，守衛家國。我們會幫助你掩飾張子雲的死，他只會是自殺而亡，和你沒有任何關系。若日後有人問起，姑娘只做不知便是了。”
明華章對玉瓊拱手，絲毫沒有因為她是風塵女子就施以輕慢，鄭重道：“我們就此別過。姑娘放心，之後我會派人将江陵叫走，不會玷污姑娘名聲。接下來可能會給天香樓帶來麻煩，我等十分抱歉，若姑娘遇到危險，可以帶着這塊令牌去東市王記綢緞鋪，裏面的人會全力幫助你。接下來，望姑娘自己保重，告辭。”
玉瓊默然，片刻後端端正正納福，道：“郎君珍重。”
謝濟川已經打開窗戶，明華章不再多言，回禮後就轉身。大明宮圖在外面每多待一刻就多一刻的危險，他們必須盡快護送圖紙到安全的地方。明華裳三人是明牌又是新手，跟過去也沒什麽用，幹脆留下來把戲做全套。
走到窗邊時，明華章忽然停住，回身問：“趙姑娘，敢問令尊名諱？”
玉瓊怔了下，詫異問：“你問這個做什麽？”
謝濟川已經在外面等他了，明華章收斂眸光，淡淡說：“沒什麽，随便問問而已。”
說完，他就乘着夜色輕巧躍下，少年長手長腳，身姿矯健，眨眼的功夫就消失在平康坊的紙醉金迷中。
兩人走後，包廂裏重歸寂靜，明華裳三人面面相觑，不知道該說什麽為好。最後是玉瓊灑然一笑，說：“原來你真的姓江，莫非，公子當真是江世子？”
這句話打破了僵局，江陵恢複那副吊兒郎當的小爺模樣，翹着腿坐到榻上，神氣道：“當然，本小爺行不更名坐不改姓，從不說假話。”
任遙冷笑着翻了個白眼：“狗屁。”
江陵有些急眼了，罵道：“你一個女兒家，整天将這些話挂在嘴邊，像話嗎？”
“要你管？”
玉瓊看着面前真實鮮妍的少年少女，忍俊不禁，笑着笑着眼框忍不住泛濕。
真好，少年嬉笑怒罵，神采飛揚，是永遠不墜世故的星辰。
明華裳看這兩人又像小孩子吵架一樣嚷嚷起來，只覺得丢臉。她尴尬笑着，對玉瓊說道：“趙姐姐，他們倆就這樣，讓你見笑了。”
玉瓊唇角淺淺勾了勾，難為她願意稱她一個風塵女子為姐姐。興許是四月的夜風溫柔，玉瓊難得生出了說家常話的心思，問：“你們這副樣子，肯定不是真容吧？難怪你昨夜搬出來住了，剛才那個郎君很關注你的樣子，你們是什麽關系？”
明華裳微怔，不知該怎麽回答這兩個問題。玉瓊很快反應過來，截住話頭道：“是我僭越了。你們是什麽人，長什麽模樣，還是不要告訴我了。以後即便我們能相見，還是不認識為好。”
這對雙方來說都是最好的，明華裳莫名生出股戚然。
她想，她可能明白加入玄枭衛時明華章的那番話了。選擇了這條路，就要終生與黑暗、僞裝、謊言為伴，哪怕途中遇到投緣的朋友，也無法相交。
明華裳不想把這份失落表現在人前，她笑了笑，歡快說：“聽說趙姐姐的畫、樂是兩絕，畫作我們領教過了，琵琶還未曾得見。不知，今日可有耳福讨教一二？”
“這有何難。”玉瓊也很爽快，她斂裙坐好，琵琶橫抱，手指輕輕一劃，便是一串大珠小珠滾落，“我虛長你們幾歲，沒什麽見面禮可送，便送你們一曲秦王破陣樂吧。”
江陵驚訝：“殺氣這麽重？”
任遙沒好氣地拍了他一下：“怎麽，女人不能上戰場嗎？”
“不敢不敢，當然能。”江陵很識時務，道，“幾位姐姐妹妹請，你們說什麽就是什麽。”
樓下，一位女子正趁着夜色掩護搜索院子，她聽到樓上傳來慷慨激昂的琵琶聲，驚訝道：“他們在做什麽，真來青樓享樂了？”
她身側，一個男子負手而立。他聽了一會，輕聲嘆道：“雨霁，不必找了。”
蘇雨霁猶豫：“阿兄……”
“他們已經完成了。”蘇行止擡頭望向皎潔高懸的月亮，無奈一笑，“按時辰算正好一天。南鬥出手從不落空，果然不是浪得虛名。”
“當然，現在該叫他們雙璧了。”
江陵參加過許多宴會，便是宮廷盛宴于他而言也是家常便飯，但他從未聽過這麽好的琵琶。秦王破陣樂奏完後，江陵頗有些意猶未盡，這時候天香樓外闖入一波人，咋咋呼呼問：“我乃江安侯府管家，我們世子呢？”
Well, when Jiang Ling heard the noise outside, he knew that the curtain call was coming, and he could finally end his painful and dissolute acting career.
But then again, this pair of siblings are really alike. Doesn't Jiang Ling's reputation cost money? Why did Ming Huazhang let people stand at the door and shout so loudly?
After fooling around in a brothel, does he still need the "reputation" of being dragged down from a brothel by his servants?
Jiang Ling kept mumbling, full of resentment. Ren Yao and Ming Huashang naturally ignored him, and they followed the "house servants" and left Tianxiang Tower naturally.
One day later, deep in the quiet and lush Zhongnan Mountain, a girl in a white training suit was running listlessly. Xie Jichuan caught up with her easily from behind, but did not pass by her, but followed beside her.
Ming Huashang was surprised: "Xie, Brother, what can I do for you?"
"Not really." Xie Jichuan paused and said nonchalantly, "She is just a brothel owner who forced women of good character into prostitution and committed many evil deeds, while Yuqiong is a poor lady with a rough life and no talent. You obviously felt sorry for Yuqiong's life experience, so why did you defend the brothel owner that day?"
Ming Huashang was stunned for a moment, lowered her eyes, and said softly: "What she did to the brothel girl, wasn't it what she had suffered before? One thing is one thing, she did something wrong, maybe someone will come to punish her, but that person is definitely not me."
Xie Jichuan couldn't understand and asked, "What if that person never showed up from the beginning to the end, and the evildoer had a good ending?"
"That is destiny." Ming Huashang smiled and said inaudibly, "I cannot punish her for something she has never done just for the sake of justice in my heart. If so, what is the difference between me and her?"
Xie Jichuan looked back and saw Ming Huashang's pale face, furry eyes, and beads of sweat on the tip of her nose.
She is really a very strange woman. Ming Huashang is the person with the strongest empathy that Xie Jichuan has ever seen. She can feel the murderer's mood when he kills people, the fear of the dead when they are dying, and the grief of countless lower-class women like Yuqiong and Wei Baixuan. However, when the choice was handed over to her, she still chose to stop, digest the darkness alone, and let all the pain end at this step.
Obviously, there were no morals or laws to constrain her, and she followed her selfish desires and made a slight deviation, so no one would blame her for drawing the wrong murderer.
But she didn't.
Xie Jichuan looked at her for a long time without saying anything. Ming Huashang felt a little nervous and cautiously asked, "Brother Xie, is there anything else?"
Xie Jichuan came back to his senses, looked at her and smiled, and said, "Try hard, you still have five laps to go."
"Ah, don't remind me!"
·
April 15th, the first year of the Holy Calendar.
There is no moon tonight. Practicing martial arts and attending classes during the day is quite boring, so I might as well sleep.
Han Jie checked the Daming Palace map and confirmed that it was correct and sent it back to the Ministry of Works. Of course it was correct. Mediocre people always like to add another process to waste time and call it verification.
I heard that the construction of Hanyuan Hall had already started yesterday. Unfortunately, Qintianjian predicted that it would rain for the next month. I wonder if Hanyuan Hall can catch up with the construction schedule. If the capital cannot be relocated because the construction cannot be completed, it will be the will of heaven that the Tang Dynasty will fall, and it will be a laughing stock.
Jingzhan has been more cautious recently, and like those fools, he has gradually become boring. But he accidentally discovered a new fun. She is obviously no different from ordinary ladies, just as stupid and fragile, self-deceiving, but why is her choice every time different from what expected?
Wait and see.
Xieji River is at the foot of Chang'an and ends at the southern foot of the mountain.
——The third case, “The World in a Painting”, is finished.