Reflecting on Chang'an

In 690 AD, Luoyang was the capital of the gods. On the ninth day of September, Empress Wu Zetian ascended the throne in Mingtang, changed the name of Tang Dynasty to Zhou Dynasty, and granted amnesty to the whole country. Between the golden dome and the red pillars, the congratulations of hundreds of officials shook the sky, all the people bowed their heads, and the mountains shouted "Holy Emperor". The streets and alleys were decorated with lanterns and merchants gathered together. Hu merchants from the Western Regions led camels through the city. Persian monks knocked on their copper bowls and chanted scriptures. The entire city of Luoyang was immersed in the warm breeze of the prosperous age, with flowers blooming everywhere. However, on the third day of the enthronement ceremony, at the foot of Mang Mountain outside Luoyang City, in an inconspicuous earth temple, seven men in black gathered in front of the statue, kowtowed three times, and pledged their blood as an alliance. The temple is dilapidated and covered with cobwebs, but there is a brand new roll of silk on the incense table, with four large red characters written on it - "The reincarnation of heaven". The leader's face was hidden under the hood, and his voice was as hoarse as gravel: "When the heroine comes to court, the world is turned upside down. We will follow the path of heaven and restore the correct position of yin and yang. From today on, the 'Reincarnation Sect' will be established in the world. Anyone who believes in me will have eternal life; anyone who goes against me will enter the path of reincarnation." Seven daggers pierced the palm at the same time, blood dripped into the bronze baron, and the turbid wine turned red. A crow landed on the eaves of the temple at some unknown time, tilted its head to look at the scene, let out a long and mournful cry, and flew towards the gray sky. In the next thirty days, nine bizarre murders occurred in Luoyang city. The first deceased was an order from the Taishi Bureau. He was found hanging on the top of the star observatory, naked, with strange runes painted on his chest with cinnabar, his eyes wide open, as if he had died of shock. The Jingzhao Mansion conducted an autopsy and reported: There were no injuries on the face, no signs of poisoning, and no signs of struggle. It looked like he was scared to death. The second deceased was a doctor from the Imperial College, who died suddenly in his study. The "Book of Changes" spread out on the desk had the Qian Gua page torn off and replaced with a picture of a woman holding a sword and slaying a dragon. The dragon's body is wrapped with gold thread, and seven inches of the dragon's body are circled red with a red ink pen, with a bet of eight characters: "The hen will be in the morning, and the sky will die." The third, fourth... On the tenth day, Shangguan Wan'er, the queen's personal female officer, personally brought the secret into the palace and presented herself to the emperor. Rumors began to spread in Luoyang City that the "Reincarnation Cult" specialized in killing officials who worked for the Queen. Every time they killed a person, they would leave behind a prophecy that pointed at the Wu Zhou regime. The ruling and opposition parties were shocked. The Queen summoned the ministers in the Zichen Palace. She narrowed her eyes slightly and scanned the trembling civil and military officials below the steps. She said in a calm tone: "I have only been on the throne for a few months, and someone wants my life. It's okay - I want to see whether it is their reincarnation that is faster, or my great Zhou prison." Immediately, an order was issued, ordering Dali Temple and Yushitai to jointly conduct a thorough investigation, and the case would be solved within ten days. However, ten days have passed, and not only has there been no progress in the case, murders are still occurring. When the minister of Dali Temple knelt in front of the temple to apologize, the cold sweat on his forehead soaked the blue bricks. The Queen was silent for a long time, and then suddenly asked something that stunned everyone: "What is the name of that handsome Tobe doctor who always confronts Jian Qian?" "Return to your majesty and live forever." "Let him check." In the court hall, Changsheng was leaning on the pillar and yawning, almost biting his tongue when he heard the words. He raised his eyes, met the Queen's half-smiling gaze, and turned his head to glance at the pale Jian Qian not far away - the youngest adult in the Yushitai, who was currently clutching the jade tablet, his knuckles turning white. Changsheng suddenly smiled, his peach-blossom eyes curled up, and he looked unceremonious: "Your Majesty, you can let me handle the case. But I have a condition——" "Say." "I want Lord Jian to be my deputy." Jian Qian raised his head suddenly, his eyes like daggers: "Sir, handling cases is not child's play——" "Your Majesty," Chang Sheng interrupted him, turning to face the throne with an innocent yet cunning smile, "Master Jian is well-educated and thoughtful, and I am a playboy, so I have to have someone I can trust. Besides... ..." He paused, and his eyes swept over Jian Qian's tight jawline. "Master Jian and I are just staring at each other. No one can make trouble, and your Majesty can rest assured, right?" The Queen looked at him for a moment, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips: "That's right." After retreating from the court, Chang Sheng stopped Jian Qi outside the palace gate, leaned close to him, and his breath almost brushed against Jian Qian's ear. He lowered his voice and was half-laughing and half-serious: "Master Jian, don't look so grim. It's more interesting to be with me than to investigate the case alone - after all, those dead people can't talk, and I talk a lot." Jian Qian coldly shook off his hand, and his thin back cast a long shadow under the autumn sun. He did not look back and only left one sentence: "Changsheng, if you dare to hold me back, I will write you into the autopsy document." Changsheng stood there, watching him disappear around the corner of the palace gate. He suddenly stopped smiling, and all the frivolity in his eyes faded away, sinking into a deep pool with no bottom. He took out a piece of broken silk from his sleeve, which someone had quietly stuffed under his pillow last night, with five words written on it in blood - "Next, it's you." The autumn wind rolled up the yellow leaves, whirling past the corners of Changsheng's robe. He put the silk fabric back into his sleeves and looked up towards Mang Mountain. The silent mountain was hidden in the mist, like a lying giant beast. "The Reincarnation Cult..." He murmured, and suddenly smiled, that smile was as cold as a frost-hardened knife, "Interesting." At the same time, Jian Qian opened a volume of secret files in front of his desk, the candlelight reflecting his pale profile. He picked up a pen and slowly wrote a few lines of words on the paper. Before the ink was dry, he was slightly trembled by a gust of draft—— "The seven altar masters of the Reincarnation Sect. Among the seven, there must be someone from the court." He put down his pen and looked out the window. The moonlight was cold, and the lights all over the city were like stars, but they couldn't illuminate the murderous intentions hidden in the night. Under the prosperous age, an undercurrent has arisen. Purpose: entertainment