In the third year of Tianshou, on the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, it snowed heavily in Chang'an.
The late emperor died in Zichen Hall. On the same night, the body of a sixteen-year-old servant from the Shangyi Bureau was found floating in the Longshou Canal.
There were strangulation marks on the back of the neck. Between the fingernails, there is pond mud unique to Qujiang Pond.
His name is Zhao De. Before he died, he gave something to a child.
"Brother Ade said that this thing was brought out from Zichen Palace."
Incense ash.
Not ambergris.
After the snow melted, the water in Chang'an City began to move. The water in Longshou Canal is flowing, the water in Qujiang Pool is rising, and the water in Fangsheng Pool is so clear that you can see the ashes in front of the Buddha. Under every surface of the water, there are things that cannot see the light of day.
Someone climbed over the wall by the water. Someone was burning incense by the water. Someone waited by the water all night.
Three years ago, King An played a game of chess before his death. The chessboard is still there. Down to mid-range.
Blackie had the slight upper hand. There is a hand in the southeast corner of Bai Zi, but it has not yet fallen.
"Wang An didn't lose this game of chess. He didn't want to play it himself."
Now, someone has reset the chessboard for him.
Shen Che is afraid of water. Cui Yi climbed over the wall. Su Jingxing is greedy. Zhao Mingyu loves to laugh. Pei Shian said nothing.
They are all pawns.
He is also a chess player.
"Nowhere in Chang'an's water is clean. But you still have to drink it."
A piece of snow, a corpse, a handful of ashes, a game of chess.
The secrets under the water flow through the city like the Longshou Canal. Silent, endless.
Chang'an water cannot cross those who have no shore.
Intention: Sailing in the dark night with a bright candle in your heart. Even though the world is like ink, there are still people who use their lives to keep the mountains and rivers clear.