Emprise 版 (精华区)
发信人: dantao (涛涛), 信区: Emprise
标 题: 书剑恩仇录9-5
发信站: 紫 丁 香 (Thu Jul 30 12:19:59 1998), 转信
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发信人: skyandfly (飞飞☆黄金之翼~~千亿的星辰 千亿的光芒), 信区: Emprise
标 题: part9-5
发信站: BBS 水木清华站 (Fri Jun 26 01:26:42 1998)
** 5 **
When Chen received the Imperial Command, he went to discuss
the situation with the others. Master Lu and Wen were worried
that the order to go alone could indicate a trap.
"The fact that he calls me back so soon after receiving the
evidence I gave him must mean he wants to talk about it," said
Chen. "This is the big chance for us to recover China for the
Chinese. I have to go no matter what dangers are waiting for me.
Second Brother," he added turning to Priest Wu Chen. "If I don't
return, please take over command of the Red Flower Society and
avenge me."
"Don't worry, Great Helmsman," the priest replied, deeply moved.
"There's no need to wait for me outside the palace this time. If he
means to harm me, there is no way you could help me and trying
would just cause needless casualties."
By the time Chen re-entered the forbidden precincts of the palace
with Bai Zhen, it was already dark. Two eunuchs carrying lanterns
led them through webs of tree-branch moon shadows to the
Precious Moon Pavilion. This time, they ascended to the fourth
floor, and as soon as the eunuchs reported Chen's arrival, Qian
Long ordered him sent in. He was seated on a couch in a small
room, a far-away look in his eyes. Chen knelt and kowtowed and
Qian Long told him to be seated. He was silent for a while. Chen
looked around him and noticed a poetic couplet on the wall
written by Qian Long himself.
"What do you think?" Qian Long asked, seeing him reading the
couplet.
"Your Highness has high aspirations and the spirit of an Emperor
of great courage and intelligence. When the Great Endeavour is
successfully accomplished, and the Manchus have been driven
from China, your merit will far exceed even the Han dynasty
emperor who expelled the Tartars or the Ming dynasty emperor
who threw out the Mongols, and will be remembered for ten
thousand generations."
Qian Long was delighted to hear such praise. He smiled and
stroked his whiskers. "You and I may be servant and master, but
in spirit we are brothers," he said after a moment's contemplation.
"In future, you must assist me well."
Chen was overjoyed to hear these words: From his tone, Qian
Long did not appear to be planning to go back on his oath. His
doubts dispersed, Chen knelt down once again and kowtowed.
"Your Highness's wise decision is truly a great blessing for the
people," he said.
Qian Long sighed. "I may be the Son of Heaven, but I am not as
fortunate as you," he said. Chen wondered what he meant. "In
August last year, when we were in Haining, I gave you a piece of
jade," he added. "Do you have it with you?"
Chen was startled. "Your Highness told me to pass it on to
someone else, and I have already done so," he replied.
"You standards are very high. Whoever it is must be one of the
world's most beautiful women."
Chen's eyes reddened. "Unfortunately, I do not know if she is
dead or alive, or where she might be. When our business is
concluded, I will search to the ends of the earth to find her."
"Do you love this lady deeply?"
"Yes," said Chen quietly.
"The Empress is a Manchu, you know that?"
"Yes."
"She has served me for a long time and is very virtuous. If we go
ahead with this plan, she will certainly fight to the death. What do
you think should be done?"
Chen was unable to answer. "Your Highness's opinions are
sacred," he finally said. "Your servant would not dare make any
reckless suggestions."
"I cannot allow the nation to be split in two. This consideration has
made me very hesitant of late. Also, at present I have a personal
problem which unfortunately no-one can help me with."
"I will do whatever Your Highness orders."
"Gentlemen should not snatch prized possessions from others, but
this is something decided by Fate," replied Qian Long. "Ah, when
one's love is concentrated on one person, what can one do? Go
over there and take a look."
He pointed to a doorway on the western side of the room, then
stood up and walked out.
Chen was greatly confused by this strange speech, but he calmed
himself and pulled aside the thick door curtain. He walked slowly
through into what he saw was an extremely sumptuous bed
chamber. A red candle burned in the corner, and a girl in a white
gown sat staring at its flame.
Suddenly seeing Princess Fragrance in the depths of the Imperial
Palace, Chen was dumbfounded. He swayed unsteadily and was
unable to speak. Upon hearing the footsteps, Princess Fragrance
had grasped the dagger hilt tightly. Then she looked round to see
the very person she had been dreaming of day and night. Her
angry glare immediately melted into an expression of delight. She
cried out and threw herself across the room into Chen's arms.
"I knew you would come and save me," she cried. "I waited
patiently, and finally you have come."
Chen held her warm body tightly. "Are we dreaming?" he asked.
She looked up and shook her head as tears began to course down
her cheeks.
Chen's first thought was that the Emperor had found out she was
the lady of his heart and had brought her from the Muslim areas to
be with him. He put his arms around her waist and then
unself-consciously kissed her on the lips. In the midst of the
sweetness of the long kiss, they became oblivious to everything
around them.
After a long, long time, Chen finally looked at the pink flush on her
cheeks. Behind her on a dressing table, he noticed a broken
mirror, and the image of them both embracing in each segment.
"Look," he whispered. "There are one thousand me's, and every
one is holding you."
Princess Fragrance glanced at the broken mirror, and then pulled
the piece of warm jade from her pocket.
"He stole my jade piece and broke the mirror with it," she said.
"Luckily it wasn't damaged."
"Who?" Chen asked, startled.
"That evil emperor."
"Why?" Chen asked, even more astonished.
"He bullied me, but I said I wasn't afraid because I knew you
would rescue me. He was very angry and tried to grab me, but I
have this dagger."
"Dagger?" he repeated distantly.
"Yes. I was with my father when they killed him. He gave me this
dagger and told me to kill myself if the enemy violated me. People
who commit suicide are sent to Hell, but if they are girls dying to
protect their virtue then Allah makes an exception."
Chen looked down and wondered how many times this weak,
naive girl had come close to death in the past few months. His
heart was filled with love and pain and he embraced her again.
After a while, he steadied himself and began to carefully consider
the situation.
He now realized that Qian Long had had Princess Fragrance
brought to Beijing because he wanted her himself. He had
obviously ordered the construction of a desert in the Imperial
Gardens to try to please her. But she had sworn never to give in.
He had threatened and cajoled her in every way he could think of,
all without effect. That must be why Qian Long had said that he
was not as fortunate as himself.
He looked down at Princess Fragrance as he held her and saw
she had closed her eyes and was fast asleep. Why did he let me
see her? he wondered. He had raised the problem of the Empress
and said that if the Great Endeavour was to accomplished, she
would have to be discounted, and that a choice would have to be
made between family and country. Yes, his meaning is......"
He shivered and began to sweat. He felt Princess Fragrance move
slightly against him and heard her sigh. A smile appeared on her
face like a flower bud opening.
"Should I break with the Emperor for her sake, or ask her to give
in to him for the sake of the Great Endeavour?" The thought shot
through his brain like a lightning bolt, and he cringed from it.
"She loves me so deeply. She's managed somehow to maintain her
virtue for my sake, she believes firmly that I will rescue her. How
can I really bring myself to reject her, to betray her? But if I think
only of us two, I must break with my brother, and this rare
opportunity to recover the throne will be lost. If I did that, would
we not be cursed by generations to come?" His brain was in
turmoil, and he had no idea what he should do.
Princess Fragrance opened her eyes. "Let's go," she said. "I'm
afraid of seeing that evil Emperor again."
"Wait here for a moment. I'll go out for a while then come back."
She nodded and took the dagger from his hand, then watched him
leave the room with smiling eyes.
He went up the stairs and found Qian Long on the next floor up
sitting on a couch, stony-faced and motionless.
"Affairs of state are of more importance than private concerns,"
Chen announced. "I will urge her to give in to you."
Qian Long jumped up off the couch in delight. "Really?" he
exclaimed.
"Yes, but you must swear an oath." Chen stared at him as he
spoke.
"What oath?" asked Qian Long, avoiding his gaze.
"If you do not honestly do all in your power to drive the Manchu
barbarians out, what then?"
Qian Long thought for a moment. "If that is the case, then no
matter how glorious my life may be, may my grave be dug up and
my skeleton smashed to pieces."
The grave of an emperor was inviolable. Such an oath was
extremely serious.
"All right," said Chen. "I will talk to her. But I will have to do it
outside the palace."
"Outside?" Qian Long asked, startled.
Chen nodded. "At the moment, she hates you to her very bones.
She won't be able to quietly listen to what I have to say here, so I
wish to take her to the Great Wall to explain things."
"Why do you want to go so far?" said Qian Long suspiciously.
"I once promised to take her to the Great Wall. When I have done
so, I will not see her ever again."
"You will definitely bring her back?"
"We members of the fighting community consider our word to be
worth more than our lives. I will do what I have said."
Qian Long was uncertain of what to do. He wondered how he
would ever find this beauty again if Chen escaped with her. But on
the other hand, he knew the girl would never give in to him unless
Chen could think of a way of convincing her to do so. He was
sure Chen was committed to their Great Endeavour and would not
give it up just for the sake of a girl.
"All right," he said finally, slapping the table. "Go, both of you."
He waited until Chen had gone, then said to the curtain behind him:
"Take forty bodyguards and follow him the whole way. Whatever
you do, don't let them get away."
Chen returned to the fourth floor and took hold of Princess
Fragrance's hand. "Let's go," The two walked together out of the
pavilion and out of the Forbidden City. The guards had already
received their orders and made no attempt to stop them. Princess
Fragrance's heart was full of joy. She had always believed her
knight was capable of doing anything, and was in no way surprised
that they could just walk out of the palace gates.
As they reached the outside, the sky was already growing light.
Xin Yan was standing close by, the reins of the white horse in his
hands, keeping watch, and when he spotted Chen, he rushed over.
Seeing Princess Fragrance standing by his master's side, he was
even more surprised and delighted.
Chen took the rein from him. "We are going on a trip out of the
city for the day," he said. "We won't be back until late evening, so
tell the others not to worry."
Xin Yan watched the two mount up and ride off north, and was
about to leave when the sound of galloping hooves rose behind
him and several dozen palace guards thundered past. He
recognised the frail old man leading the troop as Bai Zhen, and
returned quickly to Twin Willow Lane to report.
As the white horse left the city, it galloped ever faster. Princess
Fragrance, snuggling into Chen's arms, watched the trees on either
side of the road zip past, and all the distress and sorrow of the
previous few months evaporated. The horse's strong legs carried
them quickly past the small villages to the north of Beijing, and as
they approached a crossroads, Chen said: "Let's go and see the
tombs of the Ming dynasty emperors."
The horse galloped on. Just past the Jade Stone Bridge, they came
upon a huge stone monument inscribed with the words: 'The
Sacred Tombs of the Great Ming'. On the right-hand face of the
monument were several lines of poetry in Qian Long's hand.
"What is it?" Princess Fragrance asked.
"It's a poem written by the Emperor."
"He's vile and horrible. Don't look at it," she urged. She took his
hand and they continued on, and soon found themselves walking
along an avenue flanked by stone lions, elephants, camels and
strange mythical creatures. "I have only this one day left with her
so I must make sure she enjoys it," Chen thought. "After today, we
will neither of us ever pass another happy day again." So he
roused his flagging spirits and smiled.
"You want to ride on the camel, don't you?" he said and lifted her
up onto its back and sat behind her. With shouts and calls, they
urged the stone camel forward. Princess Fragrance bent over
double with laughter, then after a moment she sighed.
"If only this camel could really run and could carry us back to the
Tianshan mountains," she said.
"What would you want to do there?"
She looked into the distance. "Oh, I would be very busy. I would
have to pick flowers for you to eat, and look after the goats and
feed the small deer. And I'd have to visit the graves of my father
and mother and brother to keep them company, and think of some
way to find my sister....."
"What happened to her?" he asked.
"She was ill the night the Manchus attacked. We were split up
during the battle and I have heard no news of her since."
Chen was silent as they remounted the horse and started on their
way. The road wound upwards and before long they arrived at Ju
Yong Pass and caught sight of the Wall, writhing like a long snake
through the clusters of hills.
"Why did they waste so much effort to build this thing?" Princess
Fragrance asked.
"It was to stop the northern enemies from invading," Chen replied.
"Countless people must have died on either side of this wall."
"Men are truly strange. Why don't they all live happily together and
dance and sing instead of fighting? I really can't see the point of it
all."
"If you ever get the chance, you must tell the Emperor not to make
war on the poor peoples of the border areas. All right?"
"I will never see that evil Emperor again," she replied, puzzled by
his sudden solemness.
"But if you were able to make him do your bidding, you must urge
him not to do bad things, and to do some good for the people.
Promise me!"
"What a funny thing to say. Do you really think I would be
unwilling to do anything you asked me to do?"
"Thank you," Chen said, and she smiled.
They walked along a stretch of the wall hand-in-hand.
"I just thought of something," said Princess Fragrance.
"What?"
"I am very happy today, but is it because of this beautiful scenery?
No. I know it's because I am with you. As long as you are by my
side, I would think even the most ugly place on earth was
beautiful."
The happier she was, the more uncomfortable Chen felt. "Is there
anything you would like me to do?" he asked.
"Oh, but you have already done everything. You have always
given me everything I wanted, even without asking for it." She
pulled the snow lotus from her pocket. The flower was now dry
and withered, but it still possessed a strong fragrance.
"There is only one thing you refused to do," she added with a
smile. "And that is to sing me a song."
Chen laughed. "It's true," he said. "I have never sung you a song."
Princess Fragrance pulled a face. "Well, I'm not going to sing for
you any more either."
"I remember my mother's maid servant singing several rhymes
when I was young. I'll sing one for you now, but you're not
allowed to laugh."
She clapped her hands in delight. "All right! All right! Sing!"
He thought for a moment, and then began:
"The light rain falls
The wind blows in squalls
Someone outside saucily calls,
I think it's my loved one,
And softly curse him round and right.
But looking once again
I see it's not, and jump in fright."
After he had finished, Chen explained the words of the song in the
Muslim tongue, and Princess Fragrance laughed.
"The lady's eyesight was not too good, apparently," she said.
They explored the top of the wall, which consisted of battlements
on the northern side, a stone hand rail on the other and a walkway
in between. Every three hundred feet or so, there was a
watchtower. They came to a beacon tower, and Chen thought of
the time Huo Qingtong had burned wolf dung as part of her plan to
destroy the Manchu army. He wondered again if she was alive or
dead, and his sadness increased.
"I know what you are thinking," said Princess Fragrance.
"Do you?"
"Yes. You are thinking of my sister."
"How did you know?"
"When the three of us were in the Secret City together, I could see
how happy you were in spite of the danger. Oh, you mustn't worry
so!"
He took her hand, "What do you mean?" he asked.
She sighed. "In the old days, I was just a child. I didn't understand
anything. But every day I was in the Imperial Palace, I thought
about the times we were together and realised many things that
had not occured to me before. My sister loved you all along, and
you love her, don't you?"
"Yes. I shouldn't try to deceive you."
"But I know you truly love me too. And without you, I cannot live.
So let's go and find my sister quickly and we can all live happily
together forever. Don't you think that would be lovely?"
Her eyes and face radiated happiness. Chen squeezed her hand.
"You have thought it out perfectly," he said softly. "You and your
sister are the nicest, the best people in the world."
Princess Fragrance stood looking out into the distance, and
noticed the sun glinting off a body of water to the west. "Let's go
and have a look over there," she said.
They made their way across the hills, and came upon a clear
spring bubbling merrily out of a crack in the rocks.
"I will wash my feet here, is that all right?" Princess Fragrance
asked.
"Of course," Chen replied with a smile. She took off her shoes and
socks and stepped into the water, relishing the coolness as the
crystal clear water flowed around her milk-white feet. Chen
happened to see his own shadow on the water, and realised the
sun was already sinking into the west. He reached into his bag and
pulled out some food for them. Princess Fragrance leant against
him and wiped her feet dry as she ate.
Chen gritted his teeth. "There is something I must say to you," he
said. She turned and put both her arms round him, resting her head
on his chest.
"I know you love me," she said quietly. "I understand. You don't
have to say it."
He cringed and swallowed what he had been about to say. After a
while, he started again: "Do you still remember Mami's last
testament that we read inside the White Jade Peak?"
"She is living in Heaven now with her Ali. That's the way it should
be."
"You Muslims believe that after good people die, they will live
forever in paradise, is that right?"
"Of course that's what happens."
"When I return to Beijing, I will go and find an Islamic Imam and
get him to teach me so that I can become a good follower of the
Muslim faith," said Chen.
Princess Fragrance was overjoyed. She had never guessed he
would be willing to voluntarily join the Muslim faith. "Oh my
brother," she said looking up at him. "Will you really?"
"Definitely."
"You're willing to do even that because of your love for me. I
never dared to hope for such a thing."
"Because in this life," Chen continued slowly, "we will not be able
to be together. So I want to be sure that after death, I can be with
you every day."
The words struck Princess Fragrance like a clap of thunder. After
a moment's silence, she said in shaking voice: "You....what are you
talking about? We can't be together?"
"No. After today, we will not be able to see each other again."
"Why?" Her body quivered and two large tears fell onto his gown.
Chen embraced her tenderly. "If it were possible for me to be with
you, I would be content even without food or clothing, even if I
was beaten and humiliated everyday. But do you remember
Mami? The good Mami was willing to leave her true love Ali in
order that her tribe would no longer be oppressed and bullied by
Sanglaba and was even willing to go and allow herself to be
violated by him...."
Princess Fragrance's body went limp. "You want me to give in to
the Emperor?" she whispered. "You want me to kill him?"
"No, he is my blood brother." He told her everything about his
relationship with Qian Long, and the Red Flower Society's plans,
about the oath sworn in the Six Harmonies Pagoda, and of Qian
Long's demand earlier that day. As he spoke, Princess Fragrance
realised that what she had been longing for day and night and
thought she had achieved, was slipping from her grasp again. She
was overwhelmed by a wave of panic and fainted away.
As she came to, she felt Chen holding her tightly, and was aware
of a damp patch on her dress soaked by his tears. She stood up.
"Wait for me here," she said softly, and walked towards a large
flat rock in the distance where she prostrated herself in prayer
towards the west. She appealed to the True God, Allah for
guidance on what she should do. The pale sunlight glanced off her
white dress, her back presenting a picture of both great
melancholy and warmth. After a while, she walked slowly back.
"Whatever you want me to do, I will do," she announced.
Chen jumped up and ran over to her, and the two embraced each
other tightly.
"If I had known we had only today, I would have wanted you to
hold me the whole day rather than come here," she whispered.
Chen kissed her, unable to answer.
A long time passed. Then suddenly, Princess Fragrance said: "I
have not had a bath since I left home. I am going to have one
now." She began to take off her outer gown.
Chen stood up. "I'll go over there to wait for you," he said.
"No! No! I want you to watch me. When you saw me for the first
time, I was bathing. Today is the last time...After you have seen
me, I want you to never forget me."
"Do you really believe that I would ever forget you?"
"Please don't go," she pleaded, and there was nothing for Chen to
do but to sit down again.
While Chen watched and the mountain spring gurgled, she
removed all her clothing piece by piece, until the golden evening
sun illuminated one of the world's most beautiful bodies. Chen felt
giddy, and hardly dare to look directly at this vision. But he could
not fail to notice her innocent, guileless expression, and suddenly
thought of her as simply a naked three or four-year-old child. She
was so beautiful and so pure.
"To make a body of such incomparable beauty, there must be an
all-knowing, all-powerful God in heaven," he thought. His heart
was filled with reverence and gratitude.
Princess Frgrance slowly wiped the pearls of water from her
body, and then put her clothes back on.
"This body," she thought self-pityingly. "I will never again be able
to show it to the one I love."
She rubbed her hair dry and then returned to sit in Chen's
embrace.
"I once told you the story of the cowherd and the spinning girl, do
you remember?" Chen asked.
"Yes. I remember. You said that although they met only once a
year, they still saw each other countless times more than ordinary
people."
"Yes. We cannot be together forever, but the True God will make
sure we meet again eventually. In the desert, and here, we have
been very happy. The time has been short, but we have perhaps
had more happiness than many couples who live together for
decades."
She listened to his soothing voice comforting her, as the sun slowly
sank towards the hills with her heart following it down. Suddenly
she jumped up and wailed: "No! The sun is disappearing!"
Chen's heart shattered. "I have asked so much of you!" he
exclaimed, taking her hand.
She continued to stare at the point where the sun had gone down.
"If only it was able to rise again, even for just a moment," she said
quietly.
"It is right that I should undergo hardship for the sake of my
people, but you have never even seen them, let alone loved them."
"I love you, so are they not my people too? Do you not love all
our Muslim brothers?"
The sky was growing darker. The sun did not rise again, and a
wave of coldness touched her heart.
"Let's go back," she said. "I am very happy. My life is fulfilled."
They climbed onto the back of the white horse and started back
the way they had come. They were both silent and neither turned
back to look at the place of beauty they had just enjoyed.
Less than an hour's ride later, they heard the sound of many
galloping hooves in front and several dozen riders emerged out of
the evening mist with Bai Zhen in the lead. His face lit up as soon
as he saw Chen and Princess Fragrance, and signalling to the
others to stop, he leapt off his horse and stood by the roadside.
Chen did not even glance at him, but urged the white horse on
even faster. Soon after, horses' hooves sounded in front once
again, and the Red Flower Society heroes appeared.
"Great Helmsman!" 'Leopard' Wei shouted. "We're all here!"
--
安 忍 不 动 如 大 地
静 虑 深 思 似 密 藏
※ 来源:·BBS 水木清华站 bbs.net.tsinghua.edu.cn·[FROM: ns.pubnic.buaa.]
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