第6章 永無止盡的試探 寒煜公身上的鎧甲還沒脫下，只是將頭盔夾在腋下，自己一個人獨自的走進皇帝的房間之 內，而周邊的人也識趣的安靜離開，將房間交給了唯一在世的三皇子． 二皇子在三年前因為在天災洪水中指揮救災，感染了嚴重肺炎，最終在操勞中病逝，外人 不知道只是以為二皇子勤政愛民，為了帝國皇室的表率而奮力工作，最後不幸過世． 然而寒煜公很清楚，在二皇子做出這種不要命行為的背後，是皇帝盯著他的那雙眼睛，逼 著二皇子不得不賣命，只為了避免父皇的猜忌，所以那怕已經是重病在身，也要奮力的在 第一線不肯退下，可以說二皇子的死，是在無形的壓力之下被逼死的． 二皇子死的時候據說他的遺言是＂夠了＂． 就這簡單的兩個字，卻包含著多少的悲憤與無奈． 而在一年之後，大皇子被懷疑勾結藩王，被皇帝給盯上，皇室的規定身為下任的皇帝候選 人，是禁止與六個具備選舉權藩王交往密切的，這是為了避免下任皇帝候選人提前結交藩 王拉幫結派． 如果出現了這樣的情況，是可能會被認定具備謀逆之心，也因為這樣的制度，讓皇子們會 刻意遠離這六位藩王，但是避免不了有心人的嫁禍與陷害． 有一位在朝廷之上被大皇子訓斥過的佞臣，因為懼怕若是之後大皇子繼位，自己就沒活路 ，所以就炮製了大皇子結交藩王的信件． 然後不經意的讓皇帝的爪牙取得，當皇帝將信件甩在大皇子的面前，大皇子都毫不知情， 然而不知道為何自己的火漆印會在信封上，大皇子想要辯解都無力，所以只好稱病躲在家 中思過，最後演變成了真正的鬱結，病倒之後就再也沒起來． 現在的皇室，只剩下兩個人有資格繼承皇帝之位，就是身為三皇子的寒煜公，以及大皇子 的獨子，目前八歲的皇太孫北斗乾． 寒煜公很清楚大哥二哥都是被父皇逼死的，而自己就是下一個，為何呢？因為大皇子死之 前留下了一封秘信給他，將一個天大的機密告訴了寒煜公，要他多注意． 北斗乾的親生父親，就是現在的皇帝北斗晃，大皇子與太子妃蘇婉的關係極差，而北斗乾 實際上是公公與大媳婦扒灰的產物，真的要論起來是寒煜公的四弟而不是侄子． 所以對於北斗晃而言，把前面的三個皇子弄死，換上自己喜歡的小兒子，一點問題都沒有 ，甚至可以說前面兩個皇子的死，就是北斗晃有意造成的結果，否則以北斗晃的聰明，怎 可能會被這樣粗糙的手法欺騙，會去相信大皇子勾結藩王？ 在所有人都離開房間之後，寒煜公轉身關上了背後的紅木門，將門牢牢地鎖死，確保沒有 人會進來打擾他與父皇最後的會面． 寒煜公感覺到自己的呼吸與內心的悸動越來越難控制，在他的內心深處，有一種聲音，如 同惡魔低語呢喃著回蕩在他的心中． 「得救了，得救了．從今以後，自己不必再害怕父親的陰影……」 他屏得……呼吸，全神貫注地側耳傾聽，心臟在胸腔中擂鼓般狂跳起來. 然而，他沒聽到永恆的寧靜，卻得到了真正惡魔的回應． 「煜……兒……」 那聲音！乾澀、嘶啞，如同瀕死者喉嚨深處擠出的最後幾個音節，卻又帶著一種令人毛骨 悚然的清晰，精准地鑽入了他的耳膜！ 一股冰寒徹骨的激流瞬間從尾椎骨直沖天靈蓋，將他剛剛攫取的、脆弱不堪的片刻安寧徹 底擊碎！理性，如同被重錘猛烈敲擊的精緻琉璃，在他腦海中轟然粉碎，飛濺的碎片是純 粹的恐懼、是難以置信的驚駭、更是被愚弄後翻湧而上的、滔天的憎惡！ 他僵硬地、仿佛用盡了畢生力氣般，一寸一寸地轉動著幾乎石化的脖頸．視線，被迫再度 投向了那張象徵著無上權力與無盡夢魘的床榻—— 那雙，本應永遠沉入黑暗的眼睛，此刻正費力地半睜著！渾濁不堪的眼珠，在昏暗的光線 下反射著一點病態的、令人作嘔的微光，帶著一種洞悉一切、仿佛早已看穿他內心所有隱 秘想法的戲謔，死死地，盯著他！ 「父……父皇……？！」 聲音不受控制地顫抖、破碎，完全不成調．寒煜公甚至想不起來，哪怕是在冷井隘口面對 數倍於己、居高臨下的敵軍，兵臨城下之際，他的聲音何曾有過如此狼狽不堪、近乎哀鳴 的時刻？！ 然而，疑問出口的瞬間，答案早已如最毒的蛇液般，在他心中迅速蔓延、擴散開來． 又一次！又一次！還來！ 這該死的、永無止境的試探！ 用自己死訊作為誘餌，布下這彌天大謊，就是為了將他，將這帝國最後一個尚存的皇子之 心，緊緊捏在掌中肆意玩弄！ 就是為了冷眼旁觀，看他是否會流露出哪怕一絲一毫的“不該有的”喜悅；就是為了精確 計算，他是否會將帝國安危、將前線戰事置於腦後，不顧一切地“立刻”奔回這病榻之前 ！ 這冰冷的算計，這視人命與情感如草芥的病態遊戲！ 一股強烈的、令人作嘔的噁心感直沖喉嚨，胃部劇烈地抽搐著．他幾乎要控制不住地幹嘔 出來，每一寸肌膚都因為極致的嫌惡而爬滿了栗粒般的雞皮疙瘩． 「呵……如果你剛才……」 老皇帝的聲音嘶啞如同破舊的風箱，每一個字都像是淬了劇毒的冰錐，狠狠鑿入寒煜公的 血管，凍結他全身的血液． 「…流露出半分……高興的樣子……」 「……你的眼睛，現在大概……已經什麼都看不到了．」 「你的餘生，或許會在哪個偏僻、陰冷的寺院裡……對著牆壁懺悔度過吧！」 「哼……哼哼……你的‘孝心’，暫且救了你．」 「這一次……你算是勉強過關了．不過……下一次……就未必了……」 「現在嘛……朕還算滿意……」 １－６完 鬼火會因為人的移動而導致空氣流動，會自然地聚積在周圍，看起來真的非常恐怖，而這 樣多的鬼火，要有多少的冤魂葬身在此才能產生？ Chapter 6: The Endless Test Duke Aureus had not even removed his armor. Helmet tucked beneath his arm， he walked alone into the Emperor’s chamber. The attendants and courtiers， sensing the gravity of the moment， quietly retreated， leaving the room to the last surviving prince. The Second Prince had died three years prior— felled by a lung infection after directing disaster relief during a massive flood. To the public， he had died a model prince: diligent， compassionate， a beloved symbol of Imperial virtue. But Aureus knew the truth. Behind his brother’s reckless struggle against the floodwaters— behind that desperate refusal to rest even as illness consumed him— was the Emperor’s gaze. That cold， unblinking stare that permitted no weakness. No retreat. No thought of self-preservation. The Second Prince had not died from disease. He had been driven to death. His last words were said to be just two syllables: “Enough.” Two soft syllables carrying a lifetime of suffocated rage. A year later， the First Prince fell. Accused of forbidden contact with the six Elector-Kings— a crime that， under Imperial law， implied treason. No prince was allowed to forge ties with the Electors. It prevented factionalism and premature power struggles. But this rule made framing a prince all too easy. A petty official whom the First Prince had once rebuked forged a letter— imprinted with the Prince’s own wax seal— and fed it to the Emperor’s agents. When confronted， the Prince had been truly ignorant of the matter— yet powerless to explain why his seal appeared on the envelope. He withdrew to his residence in shame， fell ill from grief and fear， and never rose again. Now， in the Polaris royal line， only two remained with legitimate claim to the throne: Aureus—Third Prince. And the First Prince’s eight-year-old son， the Crown Grandson， Polaris Qian. But Aureus knew what the world did not: Before dying， the First Prince had sent him a secret letter— revealing a truth monstrous enough to chill the blood. Polaris Qian’s true father… was not the First Prince. He was the Emperor himself. A child born of the Emperor and his own daughter-in-law. Aureus’ supposed nephew was， in truth， his younger brother. If the Emperor could dispose of three princes to install his favored child， what would stop him from forcing Aureus into the grave as well? When the last attendant departed， Aureus turned， closed the heavy redwood door， and locked it— ensuring that no one else could intrude upon this final confrontation. His breath grew uneven. His heartbeat thrashed against his ribs. Something cold and primal uncoiled within him— a voice， soft as rot， whispering in the marrow of his bones: “You’re saved. You’re finally saved. The shadow is gone. You don’t have to fear him anymore…” He held his breath— listened— waited for silence. But instead of the stillness of death， he received the reply of a demon. “…Yu… er…” The sound— dry， rasping， pulled from the depths of a dying throat— slithered into his ear with unbearable clarity. A jolt of cold terror shot up his spine， exploding in his skull like shattering glass. His rational mind cracked. Fear flooded through the fissures. Slowly— as though turning his neck were the weight of the entire Empire— Aureus forced himself to face the bed. Those eyes， those murky， malignant eyes that should have been sealed forever in death， were half-open— staring at him. Mocking him. Seeing straight through him. Reading every thought he had dared to feel. “F… Father…?” His voice broke. It trembled like a hunted animal’s whimper. Not even on the battlefield— not when facing an enemy perched above him on the cliffs— had his voice ever sounded so fragile， so stripped of dignity. And yet， the instant he spoke， the truth crashed into him like venom. Again. Again this hell. Again this endless test. The Emperor had feigned death— spread false news— all to lure him back. To watch his reaction. To see if he would reveal even the faintest flicker of joy. To calculate whether loyalty or ambition lay hidden in his heart. This was not governance. This was sadism refined into art. A wave of nausea surged upward. His stomach twisted violently. His skin crawled with revulsion. The Emperor’s lips cracked open. A voice sharper than frost seeped out: “Heh… if you had shown… even half a smile…” “Your eyes… would no longer be able to see anything.” “Your remaining years… would likely be spent… in some cold， forgotten monastery… repenting before a wall.” “Hmph… Your‘filial piety’… has spared you—for now.” “This time… you pass. Barely.” “But the next time…” He coughed， a sound like breaking reeds. “…not so certain.” “For the moment… I am satisfied.” 1–6 End Ghostfire gathers around the living—drawn by breath and body heat. For so many lights to burn， how many resentful souls must have perished here? --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc), 來自: 101.14.3.113 (臺灣) ※ 文章網址: https://webptt.com/m.aspx?n=bbs/DummyHistory/M.1764744200.A.00C.html