More than 50 miles southeast of Chang'an, at the foot of a verdant forest and mountains, Lishan Palace is located here. Since the Qin and Han dynasties, successive dynasties have used Lishan as a royal garden for the emperor's leisure and recreation. It shows that there must be something unique here.

Lishan is a branch of the Qinling Mountains. The mountain is actually not very high, and if you calculate it as a unit of measurement in later generations, it is only more than 1,000 meters above sea level. But even this small Lishan Mountain, the scenery is indescribably beautiful. The trees that do not wither at four o'clock on the mountain are verdant and mountainous, and the flowers that are not thanked in the three springs compete for beauty. And there are rare birds and beasts raised by emperors of various generations, and strange flowers and plants planted, forming a set of peculiar ecosystems.

That's not all, in terms of landscapes, rare birds and beasts, Lishan is not necessarily much more beautiful than the mountains and rivers in other places. One of the important reasons why the royal gardens of all dynasties were built here is because of the hot springs. Between the mountain streams, warm and refreshing hot springs flow from the ground and down the mountain day and night. Even in the cold of winter, the spring water is warm and comfortable, which is naturally an extremely precious and peculiar thing in this era. The emperors naturally wanted to occupy this place as a place of leisure and recreation.

The palace under Lishan Mountain, in the Qin and Han dynasties and even at the beginning of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, was actually not large. But in the Xuanzong Dynasty, it began to expand vigorously. Cut a wide avenue leading to the palace where it is, expand the range with white jade on the original palace address, build up the exquisite palace with carved beams and paintings, with the help of the mountain high and low, the water flow, build a small bridge and waterfall, the corridor twists and turns, the Lishan palace is built beautifully.

Taking the cloister alone as an example, the cloister of the back garden is carved with jade green windows and brocade partitions, and in a back garden with a radius of four or five miles, the cloister twists and turns, and it is several miles long. And the wonderful thing is that sometimes in the rockery flower trees, the corridor here can see the green window ladies in the corridor over there, only a few dozen steps apart. But if you want to reach the corridor over there, you will find that you are walking farther and farther, and you will feel like you are at the end of the world. It is conceivable how much manpower and material resources have been spent on the ingenuity and construction of every inch of land, and how much money has been wasted in the treasury.

A few months ago, Xuanzong returned to Chang'an from Chengdu, but Li Mao did not let him enter Chang'an, and escorted Xuanzong and his entourage to hundreds of imperial relatives to Lishan Palace. Although Xuanzong was angry and depressed in his heart, it was also a good place to live in Lishan Palace. But when the Emperor Taishang and his entourage arrived at Lishan Palace, they found that Lishan Palace was no longer the Lishan Palace in their original impression.

An Lushan's rebels swept across the Central Plains, and the two capitals of Luoyang and Chang'an were occupied, and how could Lishan Palace be spared. In addition, Lishan Palace is beautiful, and there are countless treasures and beauties in it, and it is even more difficult to break the blood. At the beginning of the fall of Chang'an, An Qingxu immediately sent troops to search here, and dozens of cars were taken away by treasures and beauties. Subsequent batches of people came to search, but all the living things of those who saw the mountain eyes were all removed. Those who couldn't move away were also smashed and chopped, and a few fires were set on fire. Mess up this beautiful palace. Even the Huaqing Hot Spring Pool, which was the favorite of Xuanzong, Yang Yuhuan and the concubines and wives, was washed by the soldiers of An Lushan countless times, and even urinated and in it, making it smoky and stinky.

Xuanzong lived in this Lishan Palace, which had broken branches, broken windows, leaky houses, horse dung and human urine all over the ground, and the stench of Lishan Palace.

But this is not the most painful, the most painful thing is that Xuanzong found out that he had lost his freedom. Li Mao sent thousands of forbidden troops to guard the exit of the palace, and put Xuanzong and hundreds of imperial relatives and ministers under house arrest, and everyone could only live in Lishan Palace, not even allowed to go out, let alone enjoy any beautiful scenery and get any treatment.

For several months, Xuanzong lived in this situation every day. This situation is even worse than that in Chengdu Sanhualou. Although he was also grounded by Wang Yuan in the Scattered Flower Building for a few months, at least Wang Yuan was still polite to him, and he didn't have to worry about his own safety, let alone too much psychological burden. But now, Xuanzong is not only sad about Li Mao's unfilial piety, but also extremely worried, he is afraid that one day Li Mao will bring someone to kill him and cut himself down.

This kind of mental, psychological, and material pressure made Xuanzong's life extremely painful. Not only him, but the ministers around him, and the royal nobles who followed Xuanzong back to Beijing also cried and mourned all day long. There has never been laughter and laughter in the entire Lishan Palace, even if it is spring and Jingming weather, the atmosphere here is depressing, heavy, and gloomy.

Since living in Lishan Palace, Xuanzong's health has deteriorated. After arriving at Lishan Palace, thanks to the full care of Zhang Dequan, a personal attendant, and thanks to the transplantation of many flowers and trees in Lishan Palace before, Zhang Dequan found a lot of herbs in the dilapidated back garden and boiled them for Xuanzong to heal. Thanks to Xuanzong, who has a heart that does not accept old age, does not yield to obedience, and does not give up hope, he survived. Although his body was still weak, he was not as worried about his life as the ministers privately feared.

Today, on the fifteenth day of July, after dinner, Xuanzong could not sleep in the sweltering Huaqing Palace, so he wore clothes and walked along the dilapidated corridor to the back garden. A full moon hangs in the sky, the garden is full of clear light, and the plain light is like water. Xuanzong stood still under the eaves of the corridor for a long time. His mind recalled those things from the past. When he was still the emperor of the Tang Empire, how could he stand alone under the moon on such a full moon night. On such a night, it must be full of silk and bamboo singing and dancing, wine and wine, and laughter. How did he get to where he is today, and how did he lose those happy days in the past, Xuanzong still hasn't figured it out or figured it out.

The mountain wind blew, and the sound of pine waves came from the distant mountain peaks. The rockery trees in the yard also made a strange whistling sound in the night wind, the broken flower windows and wooden doors swayed in the wind, and the dead branches and leaves on the ground began to dance. The light suddenly dimmed, it was a dark cloud in the sky that obscured the bright moon, and the moonlit night that had been bright into the water suddenly became dull.

"Emperor Taishang, go back to your room and sleep. Don't stay out for too long tonight. Zhang Dequan whispered in the back, carrying a small lantern in his hand, which was blown bright and dark by the wind.

"I can't sleep, I can't sleep all night. It's not that you don't know, when you go to bed, you are awake with your eyes open, so you might as well stay outside for a while. Xuanzong sighed.

"Your Majesty...... The slave knows the bitterness in His Majesty's heart, and usually the slave and maid will stay with you, but not tonight, today is the Midyear Festival, Your Majesty should rest early. Zhang Dequan said in a low voice.

Xuanzong was stunned and said in astonishment: "Today is the Midyear Festival? ”

"yes." Zhang Dequan said.

Xuanzong's cold hair stood up, tonight is the Zhongyuan Festival, which is the folk Ghost Festival. Legend has it that tonight, the door to the sun is wide open, a hundred ghosts walk at night, Pepsi is taboo, this night, when I was in the palace before, I had to ask the Taoist priest to paste the talisman, and the night was also as early as the closed door to rest. After learning that today is the Zhongyuan Festival, the sound of pine waves heard in Xuanzong's ears is like the sound of ghosts crying wolves, and the black rocks and flowers and trees in front of him seem to be ghosts with teeth and claws.

"Let's go, go back to Huaqing Palace, Zhongyuan Festival, you can't stay outside." Xuanzong broke out in a layer of fine sweat, pulled his feet and walked back.

Zhang Dequan hurriedly said: "The emperor is too slow, don't fall." Carrying the lantern, he hurriedly followed Xuanzong along the cloister to Huaqing Palace.

Just as the two of them walked to the round gate of the back garden, they suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps in front of them. There was a shadow flickering in the distance. Xuanzong was frightened and screamed 'ah'. Zhang Dequan hurriedly stepped forward and asked repeatedly, "What's the matter, the emperor." ”

Xuanzong pointed ahead and said, "Yes...... There are strange shadows. ”

Zhang Dequan hurriedly looked forward carefully, but heard a human voice in the darkness in front of him: "Is it the Emperor, where are you?" Zhang Neijian, Zhang Neijian, is that you? ”

Hearing the voice, Zhang Dequan breathed a sigh of relief and scolded: "Zhao Delu, you bastard, what are you doing sneakily?" It's too scared of the emperor. ”

The lights flickered, and Zhao Delu appeared outside the wall with two chamberlains, came forward to kowtow to Xuanzong and said, "Slaves and maids should die, are you scared of the emperor?" ”

Xuanzong gasped and didn't speak, Zhang Dequan frowned and said, "In the middle of the night, you are not on duty in front of the palace, what are you doing here?" ”

"Report to the Emperor Zhang Neijian, we are here to find the Emperor. No, no, it's not that the slaves and maids are looking for the Emperor, it's His Majesty who wants to find the Emperor. His Majesty came to the palace from Chang'an overnight, and is now waiting to see the Emperor Taishang in the front hall. ”

"What? Your Majesty? You mean, the one in Chang'an City? Zhang Dequan asked in astonishment.

"yes, who else could it be?"

Zhang Dequan looked at Xuanzong with a surprised gaze, Xuanzong's face was hidden in the darkness, and he couldn't see his expression clearly. But it was clear that his hands were shaking, his body was shaking.

In the front hall of Lishan Palace, the lights are bright at this moment. Li Mao sat quietly on the top, looking at an incense burner in the corner of the main hall quietly distracted. Dozens of Praetorian Guards guarded him in and around him in full gear, all with serious expressions, as motionless as clay sculptures and wood sculptures.

Disheveled ministers and members of the royal family kept trotting into the hall, kowtowing to Li Mao and shouting Your Majesty, who never looked at them, only waved his hand after they knelt down and let them stand aside. Soon there were a lot of people standing in the main hall. Everyone panicked in their hearts, not knowing whether His Majesty's sudden arrival would be a curse or a blessing.

I don't know how long later, heavy footsteps were heard outside the temple. Li Dequan's trembling voice sounded.

"The Emperor has arrived."

The people standing on the side didn't know whether to kneel or stand still, and hesitantly turned their eyes to Li Mao. After Li Mao heard the shouting, she withdrew her gaze, and there was an incomprehensible look in her eyes, but she still stood up.

Xuanzong's thin figure appeared at the door of the main hall, he obviously dressed himself carefully, put on a new set of clothes, combed his hair properly, and tried to have a smiling expression on his face. It's just that the expression is a little stiff at a glance.

"Erchen has seen his father."

Li Mao got down from her seat, lifted her robe and knelt down in front of Xuanzong. Xuanzong moved quickly, stretched out his hand to support him, and said with a smile: "Why should Mao'er be polite, they are all a family, so there is no need to be like this." ”

Li Mao smiled, stood up, and said in a loud voice: "Come on, add a seat to the emperor." ”

A chair was placed next to Li Mao's seat, and after Li Mao led Xuanzong to sit down, he stood in front of Xuanzong again and saluted, but this time with a deep bow.

"Father, please forgive the son for not being able to come to see his father for several months, the son is not filial, please punish the father."

Xuanzong laughed and said, "What are these words? You hold on to the world, every day is full of opportunities, and you are exhausted, your father knows your difficulties, and your father doesn't blame you at all. ”

"Thank you for your father's understanding, but my son is uneasy. And the people of the world are not as open-minded as their fathers, they all say that their sons are not filial, and they say that their sons are disobedient. ”

"Son, leave them alone, just do what you want. How much insight do the people have? How can they be sensible? Don't pay attention to their words, your father doesn't blame you. Xuanzong smiled.

"Thank you for your father's teachings, and my sons will remember it in my heart. Erchen finally had the opportunity to meet his father today, but it was not because he cared about their words, but because Erchen just took a breath and had a little time. Li Mao said in a deep voice.

Xuanzong smiled and nodded. Li Mao continued: "Does the father know what his son has done recently? ”

Xuanzong smiled bitterly: "I live in this Lishan Palace, and the news is blocked, and I don't know the situation outside. No one told me a word. I don't know how to answer your question. ”

"Oh, that's right, in order not to worry his father, the sons did instruct them not to tell their father about the situation outside, so as not to worry about their father's heart. This is the command of the sons, and they are not to blame. But now, Erchen felt that he could tell his father, because Erchen was about to solve all those troubles. ”

"Oh?" Xuanzong frowned.

"The father doesn't seem to believe the son's words, the father must think that the son doesn't have this ability, right?"

"Of course not, where did Mao'er think about it, how could my father not know your ability. If you don't believe you, how can your father pass on to you? Xuanzong said busily.

Li Mao smiled slightly, and said in a deep voice: "Just tell my father about these things, so as not to worry about my father." Not...... Where do you start? Let's start with the fact that the wealthy clans in Jiangnan have become staunch supporters of me. Does my father know that several wealthy families in Jiangnan have exhausted their manpower and material resources to help me recruit soldiers? ”

Xuanzong was surprised: "How did Mao'er tame them? Then Cui's even my father and I don't think I'm sure, how did you do it? ”

Li Mao laughed and said proudly: "Does my father think that what you can't do, it will be difficult for others to do it?" But I did. Not to mention the specific situation, now the four clans in Jiangnan are doing their best to raise money and food for me to recruit troops. So far, more than 100,000 soldiers and horses have been collected in the south, and there is still a steady stream of soldiers and horses behind. Father, are you happy? ”

"Happy, happy. Mao'er has done what I can't do, and you're better than me. You're better than me. Xuanzong laughed.

"To be honest, it took a lot of trouble to get them, but in the end, I got them. With them as my backing, I don't have to worry about money and food. ”

"Yes, my son is wise, and there is hope for stability in the world." Xuanzong echoed.

Li Mao smiled and nodded, and said lightly: "The second thing I want to inform my father is that the people who intend to rebel have been defeated by me, and the heads of the rebellion have been captured. ”

Xuanzong was stunned for a moment, and said with an incredulous look: "You mean, Wang Yuan was defeated by you?" Caught by you? So fast? ”

Li Mao's face was slightly embarrassed, but he quickly returned to normal.

"Wang Yuan? He couldn't jump for a few days, he was dizzy, and he actually led his soldiers and horses to the north to fight against 100,000 Hui cavalry, whether he won or lost, he would not escape my thunder and strangulation. ”

"Oh, I see." Xuanzong had a strange expression on his face, an expression that I knew it wasn't so easy.

"Father, is there only one Wang Yuan in the world who plots rebellion? In addition to Wang Yuan, there are still people who are ready to move, doesn't my father know? Li Mao's tone had become cold.

"Anything else? The remnants of An Lushan? ”

"Father, are you deliberately pretending not to know, or are you really not aware? That's it, I won't go around the bend with my father, Li Heng, Li Pu, Li Xuan, Li Yao, and several royal families will not know about the rebellion. Li Mao said in a deep voice.

"What? Did they really do it? These bastards, I ...... I ......"

"Father, don't pretend to be surprised, when you were in Chengdu, they went to Hexi to recruit troops and practice with the support of Wang Yuan, how could you not know? A month ago, they issued a proclamation, leading an army of 60,000 to the city of Chang'an, saying that my throne was taken from me, and that they wanted to drive me away and restore the throne to your father. Li Mao sneered.

"Huh? This...... This...... Mao'er, you must not believe their nonsense, my father has no connection with them, and my father has no intention of regaining the throne. These bastards, how dare they do that? Your throne...... Justifiably...... It was I who personally issued an edict to pass on the throne. How dare they rebel? must have been bewitched by Wang Yuan. Mao'er, my father can swear to heaven that my father will never be involved in this matter......"

"Father, Erchen didn't say that you had anything to do with this, and Erchen believes that you won't do such a disorderly thing. You can also see that it is Wang Yuan who is making trouble, and it is Wang Yuan who finances their money and food to make them oppose me. Of course, this is Wang Yuan's evil intentions of the traitor, but are Li Heng and Li Pu innocent hungry? They're just borrowing power, and they're staring at the throne. ”

"Mao'er...... Father doesn't know what to say, Father ...... It is very painful. ”

"Father, you