摘要：皇后乌拉那拉氏端坐于凤座之上，一身明黄正装，衬得她面色愈发雍容，也愈发森然。她垂眸，长长的鎏金护甲轻轻敲击着紫檀扶手，一下，又一下，殿内众人连呼吸都随之滞涩。
声明：本篇故事为虚构内容，如有雷同纯属巧合，采用文学创作手法，融合历史传说与民间故事元素。故事中的人物对话、情节发展均为虚构创作，不代表真实历史事件。
甄嬛从甘露寺回宫后，送给皇后一串佛珠。皇后日日佩戴，直至临终前，太医才在她脉象中发现端倪，大惊失色道：娘娘，这佛珠有问题！
景仁宫的暖香，散着一股腐朽的甜腻。
缠绵病榻多年的皇后乌拉那拉氏，此刻已是油尽灯枯。
金丝楠木的雕花大床上，她形销骨立，唯独一双眼，死死盯着腕上那串紫檀佛珠。
珠子已被她的皮肉摩挲得温润如玉，泛着沉静的光。
皇帝、太后、嫔妃，一屋子的人，在她眼中皆为虚影。
她的世界里，只剩下这串佛珠，和当年那个从甘露寺归来的女人，屈膝奉上此物时，脸上那抹悲悯又诡谲的微笑。
随侍在侧的太医院院正，三指扣在皇后枯瘦的腕脉上，闭目凝神，额角的冷汗却一滴滴渗出，濡湿了鬓角。
倏忽间，他猛地睁开眼，瞳孔剧震，难以置信地望向那串佛珠，嘴唇哆嗦着，发出的声音凄厉如枭：“娘娘！这佛珠……这佛珠……”
01
三年前，冬末，熹妃甄嬛自甘露寺回宫，册封大典的喧嚣犹在耳畔，景仁宫内的气氛却冷如冰窖。
皇后乌拉那拉氏端坐于凤座之上，一身明黄正装，衬得她面色愈发雍容，也愈发森然。她垂眸，长长的鎏金护甲轻轻敲击着紫檀扶手，一下，又一下，殿内众人连呼吸都随之滞涩。
“妹妹在宫外修行多年，想来是通晓了佛法，悟透了世情。这六宫上下，以后还需妹妹时时规劝，共襄安宁。”皇后的声音平稳如常，听不出半分波澜，可每个字都像淬了冰的针，扎在人心上。
甄嬛一身石青色宫装，立于殿中，身姿比离宫前更显纤柔，眉眼间的锋芒却已尽数敛去，化作一泓深不见底的潭水。她盈盈下拜，声线温婉谦恭：“姐姐说的是。妹妹此番归来，再不敢存半分争竞之心，唯愿侍奉皇上，辅佐姐姐，为皇家开枝散葉，聊报圣恩。”
她顿了顿，从侍女浣碧手中接过一个精致的锦盒，双手奉上。“妹妹在寺中时，于佛前为姐姐与皇上祈福。幸得高僧指点，得了一串百年紫檀佛珠，日夜诵经加持。今日特来献与姐姐，愿姐姐凤体康健，福泽绵长。”
所有人的目光都聚焦在那个锦盒上。
皇后的指甲停住了敲击。她抬眼，目光如炬，直直射向甄嬛。那目光里有审视，有猜忌，更有几分不易察觉的惊疑。从甘露寺归来的甄嬛，像一把磨砺归鞘的利刃，看似温和，寒气却已透骨。她会如此好心？
剪秋上前，接过锦盒，呈到皇后面前。锦盒打开，一串色泽深沉、纹理细腻的紫檀佛珠静卧其中，珠体圆润饱满，隐隐散发着一股安神的木质幽香。在昏黄的宫灯下，那光泽显得格外内敛，却又仿佛能吸走人全部的心神。
“倒是好东西。”皇后淡淡评价，指尖却并未触碰，“只是本宫一向不信这些神佛之说，妹妹的心意，本宫领了，这佛珠……”
“姐姐。”甄嬛抬起头，目光清澈，带着一丝恳切，“此物无关神佛，只是一份心意。妹妹听闻姐姐近年时有头风之症，夜不安枕。这紫檀木，本就有静心安神之效。妹妹日夜祝祷，只盼它能为姐姐分担一二辛苦。若姐姐不纳，便是还在怪罪妹妹当年的不懂事了。”
话说到这个份上，已是避无可避。当着六宫的面，若皇后拒绝这份“饱含善意”的礼物，传出去，便是她这个中宫皇后容不下一个历劫归来的妃子，失了贤德。
皇后的嘴角牵起一抹僵硬的笑，那笑意未达眼底。“妹妹有心了。既如此，本宫便却之不恭。”她伸出手，让剪秋将佛珠为她戴在腕上。冰凉的珠串触及肌肤的一刹那，她眼皮微不可察地跳了一下。
佛珠尺寸正好，深紫的颜色衬着她养尊优的手腕，倒也相得益彰。
“很好看。”皇后抚着佛珠，语气听不出喜怒，“妹妹坐吧。”
甄嬛谢恩落座，端起茶盏，轻轻吹了吹浮沫，眼帘低垂，遮住了眸中一闪而过的幽光。
局，已布下。而执棋之人，首先要做的，便是让对手心甘情愿地，将最致命的那枚棋子，亲手放入自己的阵中。
这一日，景仁宫内外，风平浪静。唯有那串紫檀佛珠，在皇后腕间，开始了它漫长而无声的使命。
02
夜深，景仁宫内殿只留了心腹宫女剪秋一人。白日里的雍容与威严褪去，皇后乌拉那拉氏坐在妆镜前，反复端详着腕上的佛珠。灯火下，珠串的颜色显得愈发深邃，几乎是墨一般的黑紫。那股若有若无的香气，也似乎比白日里浓郁了几分。
“娘娘，您真要日日戴着这个？”剪秋的声音里满是忧虑，“熹妃娘娘她……奴婢总觉得她没安好心。”
皇后冷笑一声，指尖捻起一颗佛珠，细细摩挲着上面的纹路。“她当然没安好心。本宫在这宫里几十年，什么魑魅魍魉没见过？她以为送串珠子，就能让本宫信了她的鬼话？”
“那为何……”
“本宫若不收，岂非坐实了善妒之名？皇上本就对她心存愧疚，本宫再稍有不贤，这六宫之主的位置，怕是就要易主了。”皇后说着，将佛珠从腕上褪下，递给剪秋，“拿去，让咱们自己的人，还有太医院里靠得住的，仔仔细细地查。无论是珠子本身，还是串珠的绳子，一丝一毫都不能放过。本宫倒要看看，她能玩出什么花样。”
剪秋领命，小心翼翼地用一方锦帕将佛珠包好，快步退了出去。
殿内恢复了寂静。皇后按着隐隐作痛的太阳穴，心中烦躁不已。甄嬛的归来，像一颗投入死水的石子，彻底搅乱了她经营多年的局面。这个女人，比从前更难对付了。她不再锋芒毕露，而是将所有的恨意都藏在了那副温顺恭谦的皮囊之下，叫人无从下手。
三日后，剪秋带回了消息。
“回娘娘，查验过了。太医院的刘太医和咱们府里出来的张先生都亲自看过了。”剪秋的声音里带着几分困惑，“他们都说，这就是一串上好的小叶紫檀，木质致密，年份也足，有安神醒脑的功效是真，但绝无任何毒物浸染的痕跡。串珠的丝线也是寻常的贡品丝线，并无不妥。”
“绝无不妥？”皇后挑眉，显然不信这个结果。
“千真万确。刘太医说，此等成色的紫檀木，本身密度极高，寻常毒物根本无法渗入。若用烈性毒药浸泡，又会破坏木质表层，一眼便能看出。这串佛珠……当真就是一件稀有的珍品，除此之外，再无异常。”
皇后沉默了。她靠在软枕上，闭上眼，脑中飞速盘算。
没有毒？这怎么可能？甄嬛费尽心机送来的东西，会真的只是一份“厚礼”？
或许，这正是她的高明之处。她算准了本宫会疑心，会去查验。当查验的结果是“无毒”时，本宫反而会陷入更深的自我怀疑之中。她要的，不是用这串珠子毒死本宫，而是用这串“无毒”的珠子，来扰乱本宫的心神。
好一盘攻心之计！
皇后睁开眼，眸中闪过一丝狠厉与自负。“她以为这样就能让本宫自乱阵脚？天真。”
她伸出手：“拿来。”
剪秋迟疑着将佛珠递上。
皇后接过，毫不犹豫地重新戴回腕上，甚至还刻意调整了一下位置，让它更显眼一些。“既然是好东西，那便没有不戴的道理。本宫不但要戴，还要日日戴，时时戴。本宫要让她亲眼看着，她的所有算计，在本宫面前，不过是场笑话！”
她要用这种方式宣告自己的胜利，告诉甄嬛，她的计谋已被看穿，且不值一提。
从那日起，景仁宫的皇后，无论穿何种衣饰，出席何种场合，腕上总戴着那串紫檀佛珠。宫人们渐渐习惯了这道风景，甚至有人私下称赞，说熹妃娘娘与皇后娘娘冰释前嫌，姐妹情深，这佛珠便是最好的见证。
只有甄嬛在自己的永寿宫中，听到这些传言时，会拈起一朵新开的夕颜，唇边勾起一抹无人能懂的笑意。
鱼儿，已经咬住了最香甜的饵。接下来，只需静静地，等待收线的那一日。
03
春去秋来，寒来暑往，一年光阴倏忽而过。
后宫的格局在悄无声息地发生着变化。熹妃圣眷正浓，又诞下龙凤双生，地位愈发稳固。而景仁宫的皇后，却仿佛被时光遗忘在了角落。她依旧是皇后，执掌着凤印，享受着中宫的尊荣，可眉宇间的郁色与疲态，却一日比一日浓重。
起初，只是睡眠不佳。以往的头风症，发作得越来越频繁。太医们诊断为操劳过度，心气郁结，开出的方子换了一张又一张，却总不见好。渐渐地，她的脾气也变得暴躁易怒。一件微不足道的小事，就能让她勃然大怒，斥责宫人。景仁宫上下，终日笼罩在一片低气压之中，人人自危。
“娘娘，您又何苦为难自己？”夜里，剪秋为皇后按揉着额角，满眼心疼，“这佛珠……要不还是别戴了。奴婢总觉得，自打您戴上它，就没真正舒心过。”
皇后闭着眼，脸色苍白，声音嘶哑：“与它何干？是甄嬛那个贱人，处处与本宫作对！前日皇上不过是在本宫这里多坐了一会儿，她便借口孩子不适，把皇上叫走了！这桩桩件件，才是让本宫心力交瘁的根源！”
她一把挥开剪秋的手，烦躁地坐起身，手腕上的佛珠随着她的动作，发出一声轻微的磕碰声。她低头看着那串珠子，眼神复杂。
戴了一年多，它已经被体温养得极其温润，深紫的色泽里，仿佛蕴含着一层流动的光。那股淡淡的木香，也早已和她自身的体香融为一体。她甚至已经习惯了它的存在，习惯了入睡前捻动珠串的触感。
“查了那么多次，都说没问题。”她喃喃自语，像是在说服自己，“若真有问题，本宫岂会活到今日？定是本宫多心了。”
她以为自己看透了甄嬛的计策，以为只要自己表现得毫不在意，就能赢得这场心理战。可她没有意识到，当她开始反复说服自己的时候，她就已经输了。
这日，宫中设宴。皇后强打精神，盛装出席。席间，皇帝见她脸色不佳，关切地问了几句。
“臣妾无碍，只是近日春困，有些乏了。”皇后勉强笑道。
皇帝点点头，目光落在她腕间的佛珠上，随口道：“这串珠子，朕记得是熹妃送你的？你倒是一直戴着。”
“是啊，”皇后抚着佛珠，刻意瞟了甄嬛一眼，“熹妃妹妹的一片心意，臣妾自然要时时记挂。”
甄嬛正低头为四阿哥夹菜，闻言抬起头，温婉一笑：“姐姐喜欢就好。说来，臣妾宫里也常燃一种‘安息香’，与姐姐这紫檀佛珠的香气颇为相配。姐姐若不嫌弃，改日臣妾让人送些过来，或可对姐姐的睡眠有所助益。”
皇后心中冷哼一声，面上却不动声色：“妹妹有心了。”
她只当这是甄嬛又一次的示威和炫耀，却不知，这句看似平常的话里，藏着另一半致命的钥匙。
宴席散后，皇后回到景仁宫，只觉得一阵天旋地转，眼前发黑。若不是剪秋及时扶住，她几乎要栽倒在地。
“娘娘！娘娘您怎么了？”剪秋吓得魂飞魄散。
皇后扶着桌沿，大口喘着气，只觉得心脏狂跳，四肢发软。她看着镜中自己苍白如纸的脸，和那双布满血丝、尽是惊惶的眼睛，一股前所未有的恐惧，第一次，攫住了她的心。
有什么东西，确实不对劲了。
0lighter than I'm used to."
The Emperor nodded, his gaze falling on the rosary on her wrist. He commented casually, "This string of beads, I remember Consort Xi gifted it to you? You've been wearing it all this time."
"Yes," the Empress stroked the beads, deliberately glancing at Zhen Huan. "A token of sisterly affection from Consort Xi. Naturally, I must always keep it in mind."
Zhen Huan, who was putting food on the Fourth Prince's plate, looked up upon hearing this and smiled gently. "It is good that you like it, sister. Speaking of which, I often burn a type of 'Anxi' incense in my palace. Its fragrance pairs quite well with the scent of your sandalwood rosary. If you don't mind, I can have some sent over another day. It might help with your sleep."
The Empress snorted coldly in her heart but remained impassive on the surface. "You are too kind, sister."
She only took it as another of Zhen Huan's provocations and boasts, never knowing that this seemingly ordinary sentence held the other half of the fatal key.
After the banquet, the Empress returned to Jingren Palace and felt a wave of dizziness, her vision turning black. If not for Jian Qiu's timely support, she would have almost collapsed.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Jian Qiu was scared out of her wits.
The Empress leaned on the table, gasping for air, her heart pounding wildly and her limbs weak. She looked at her own pale face in the mirror, at the bloodshot, terrified eyes staring back. For the first time, an unprecedented fear seized her heart.
Something was indeed wrong.
04
永寿宫内，暖意融融。
甄嬛正陪着胧月公主剪窗花，一旁的博山炉里，青烟袅袅，散发着清甜而奇异的香气。那不是宫中常见的龙涎香或檀香，味道更为幽远，带着一丝草木的微涩。
“娘娘，景仁宫那位，昨儿又传了太医。”浣碧压低声音，凑到甄嬛耳边，“听说在宴上就险些晕厥，回去后便一直卧床，连今早的请安都免了。”
甄嬛剪纸的手没有丝毫停顿，红色的纸屑纷纷落下，在她素白的手指间，一朵繁复的团花正慢慢成形。她头也未抬，只是淡淡地问：“太医怎么说？”
“还是老话，说是忧思伤脾，肝火过旺。开了些疏肝理气、养心安神的药。”浣碧的语气里带着一丝不屑，“那些庸医，看了这么久，连病根都摸不到。”
甄嬛终于剪完最后一刀，将剪好的窗花对着光亮处照了照，满意地弯了弯嘴角。“病根？病根就在她自己身上，他们又如何能摸到。”
她将窗花递给胧月，转头看向那尊博山炉，眸光深邃。“这‘夕颜引’的香，你让人给安陵容那边送去了吗？”
浣碧点头：“送去了。按您的吩咐，只说是您新得的南疆奇香，邀她共赏。她素来爱这些香料，收得很高兴，想必今晚就会用上。”
“那就好。”甄嬛唇边的笑意更深了些，“好戏，要大家一起看，才热闹。”
浣碧仍有些不解：“娘娘，奴婢还是不明白。那串佛珠，既然无毒，皇后戴了这么久，为何会……”
甄嬛端起茶盏，用杯盖轻轻撇去茶叶，动作优雅而从容。“一杯茶，本身无毒。一味点心，本身也无毒。可若有人喝了这杯茶，又吃了那味点心，两相作用，便可能化作穿肠的剧毒。这个道理，你可明白？”
浣碧恍然大悟，倒吸一口凉气。“您的意思是……还有别的东西，与那佛珠相克？”
甄嬛不置可否，只是道：“世间万物，相生相克。紫檀木本身是死物，可它会呼吸。它会吸纳周围的气味，日复一日，年复一年。景仁宫常年点着一种‘暖情香’，是内务府特供给皇后，用以彰显中宫气度的。那香，是皇后的最爱，也是她的体面。”
她顿了顿，眼中闪过一丝冰冷的嘲弄：“她哪里知道，那‘暖情香’，与她腕上紫檀，便是这世上最绝妙的一对怨侣。单独闻之，安神怡情；两者相合，日积月累，便会生成一种无形之毒，悄无声息地侵蚀人的心脉与神智，让人在不知不觉中，一步步走向衰亡。”
浣碧听得遍体生寒，只觉得眼前这位含笑的娘娘，比任何厉鬼都更可怕。这盘棋，从送出佛珠的那一刻起，竟已算到了皇后宫中每日所燃的香料，算到了她自负多疑的性情，算到了她绝不会轻易丢弃这串“无毒”的珠子。
“那……那安陵容……”
“安陵容惯会制香，心思又细。本宫送她‘夕颜引’，便是要借她的手，将这香气传遍后宫。这‘夕颜引’的气味，与景仁宫的‘暖情香’有几分相似，却更为霸道。它会扰乱宫中原有的气味，让皇后在不知不觉中，命人加倍燃起‘暖情香’，以覆盖别的味道。”甄嬛的语气平静无波，像是在述说一件与自己无关的事，“药下的猛了，病，自然也就重了。”
她轻轻抚摸着博山炉温热的炉壁，仿佛在抚摸一件心爱的艺术品。
“本宫从甘露寺回来，求的，从来不是一时的胜负。本宫要的，是让她，让她加诸于我、加诸于我孩儿身上的一切，千倍百倍地，还回去。”
01
Jingren Palace was steeped in a warmth that carried a cloying, decaying sweetness. Empress Ulanara, who had been bedridden for years, was now like a lamp running out of oil. On the grand bed carved from nanmu wood, she was skeletally thin, save for her eyes, which were fixed intently on the string of purple sandalwood prayer beads on her wrist. The beads had been worn smooth by her skin, glowing with a serene luster. The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, the consorts—the entire room of people—were but blurry figures in her eyes. In her world, only this rosary remained, along with the memory of the woman who returned from Ganlu Temple, kneeling to present this gift with a smile that was both compassionate and deeply unsettling. The Head Imperial Physician, attending by her side, placed three fingers on the Empress's withered wrist, closing his eyes in concentration. Yet, beads of cold sweat trickled down his temples, soaking his sideburns. Suddenly, he snapped his eyes open, his pupils constricting in shock. He looked in disbelief at the prayer beads, his lips trembling as he let out a cry as sharp as a screech owl's: "Your Majesty! These beads... these beads..."
PrePaywall Content
01
Three years prior, at the end of winter, Consort Xi, Zhen Huan, returned to the palace from Ganlu Temple. The clamor of her reinstatement ceremony still echoed in the air, but the atmosphere within Jingren Palace was as cold as ice.
Empress Ulanara sat upon her phoenix throne, her formal yellow attire making her complexion appear more regal, and also more chilling. She lowered her gaze, her long, gilded nail guards tapping lightly on the purple sandalwood armrest, once, then again. The breathing of everyone in the hall seemed to sync with the sound, becoming stagnant.
"Sister, after years of spiritual cultivation outside the palace, you must have gained enlightenment in the ways of Buddha and seen through the affairs of the world. In this harem, we will need you to offer counsel from time to time, to work together for peace," the Empress's voice was as steady as ever, betraying no emotion, yet every word was like an icecoated needle, pricking at one's heart.
Zhen Huan, dressed in a stoneblue palace gown, stood in the center of the hall. Her figure was more delicate than before she left, but the sharpness in her eyes had been completely withdrawn, replaced by a pool of unfathomable depth. She curtsied gracefully, her voice gentle and humble: "You are right, Your Majesty. Since my return, I dare not harbor any competitive thoughts. My only wish is to serve His Majesty, assist you, and contribute to the continuation of the royal line, to repay the Emperor's grace."
She paused, taking an exquisite brocade box from her maid, Huanbi, and presenting it with both hands. "While at the temple, I prayed for you and His Majesty before the Buddha. With the guidance of a venerable monk, I obtained a string of centuryold purple sandalwood prayer beads, which I have blessed with daily chanting. Today, I specially present them to you, Your Majesty, wishing you good health and everlasting fortune."
All eyes converged on the brocade box.
The Empress's tapping stopped. She raised her eyes, her gaze as sharp as a torch, aimed directly at Zhen Huan. In that gaze was scrutiny, suspicion, and a flicker of concealed astonishment. The Zhen Huan who returned from Ganlu Temple was like a sharpened blade returned to its sheath; she appeared gentle, but a bonechilling coldness emanated from her. Would she be so kind?
Jian Qiu stepped forward, took the box, and presented it to the Empress. As it opened, a string of deepcolored, finelygrained purple sandalwood beads lay quietly inside, each bead round and full, emitting a faint, calming woody fragrance. Under the dim palace lanterns, their luster seemed exceptionally reserved, yet capable of drawing in one's entire soul.
"A fine item indeed," the Empress commented faintly, though her fingertips did not touch it. "However, I have never been one for gods and Buddhas. I appreciate the sentiment, sister, but these beads..."
"Your Majesty," Zhen Huan looked up, her gaze clear and earnest. "This has nothing to do with gods or Buddhas; it is merely a token of my heart. I heard that you have been suffering from headaches in recent years and have trouble sleeping. This purple sandalwood has a natural calming effect. I have prayed over it day and night, only hoping it can alleviate some of your burdens. If you do not accept it, it must mean you still hold my past foolishness against me."
The words left no room for refusal. In front of the entire harem, if the Empress rejected this "wellintentioned" gift, it would spread that she, the head of the palace, could not tolerate a consort who had returned from hardship, thus losing her virtuous reputation.
A stiff smile touched the Empress's lips, a smile that did not reach her eyes. "You are too kind, sister. In that case, it would be impolite of me to refuse." She extended her hand, allowing Jian Qiu to place the rosary on her wrist. The moment the cool beads touched her skin, her eyelid twitched almost imperceptibly.
The rosary was a perfect fit. The deep purple color complemented her wellpampered wrist.
"It looks very nice," the Empress said, stroking the beads, her tone unreadable. "Please, have a seat, sister."
Zhen Huan thanked her and sat down, lifting her teacup and gently blowing on the surface. Her eyes lowered, hiding the fleeting, dark glint within them.
The board was set. And the first move for the player was to make the opponent willingly place the most fatal piece into their own territory.
On this day, Jingren Palace was calm, both inside and out. Only the string of purple sandalwood beads, on the Empress's wrist, began its long, silent mission.
02
Late at night, only the trusted maid Jian Qiu remained in the inner chamber of Jingren Palace. The day's regal dignity had faded, and Empress Ulanara sat before her dressing mirror, repeatedly examining the rosary on her wrist. In the candlelight, the beads' color seemed even deeper, almost a blackishpurple. The faint fragrance also seemed stronger than during the day.
"Your Majesty, are you really going to wear this every day?" Jian Qiu's voice was filled with worry. "Consort Xi... your servant always feels she means no good."
The Empress gave a cold laugh, her fingertips twirling a bead, tracing its grain. "Of course she means no good. I've been in this palace for decades, what kind of monsters and demons haven't I seen? Does she think sending a string of beads will make me believe her nonsense?"
"Then why..."
"If I hadn't accepted it, wouldn't I have confirmed the reputation of being jealous? His Majesty already feels guilty towards her. If I show the slightest lack of virtue, I fear the position of harem leader would change hands." As she spoke, the Empress removed the rosary and handed it to Jian Qiu. "Take this. Have our own people, and the reliable ones in the Imperial Hospital, inspect it thoroughly. The beads themselves, the string connecting them—not a single detail can be missed. I want to see just what tricks she can play."
Jian Qiu took the order, carefully wrapping the rosary in a silk handkerchief and exiting quickly.
Silence returned to the chamber. The Empress pressed her temples, which were throbbing faintly, her heart filled with irritation. Zhen Huan's return was like a stone thrown into stagnant water, completely disrupting the situation she had managed for years. This woman was even harder to deal with than before. She no longer showed her sharp edges, but hid all her hatred beneath a veneer of obedience and humility, leaving one with no angle of attack.
Three days later, Jian Qiu returned with news.
"Your Majesty, it has been inspected. Imperial Physician Liu and Master Zhang from our own residence have both personally examined it." Jian Qiu's voice held a note of confusion. "They both say it is a string of highquality smallleaf purple sandalwood. The wood is dense and of good age. It does have a calming and mindclearing effect, but there are absolutely no traces of any poison. The silk thread is also ordinary tributegrade silk, with nothing amiss."
"Absolutely nothing amiss?" The Empress raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
"It is the absolute truth. Physician Liu said that sandalwood of this quality is extremely dense, and ordinary poisons cannot penetrate it. If it were soaked in a strong poison, the surface of the wood would be damaged and immediately noticeable. This string of beads... is truly just a rare treasure, and nothing more."
The Empress fell silent. She leaned back against the soft pillow, closing her eyes, her mind racing.
No poison? How was that possible? Would Zhen Huan go to such lengths just to give a "generous gift"?
Perhaps, this was her brilliance. She anticipated my suspicion, anticipated that I would have it checked. When the result is "no poison," I would fall into deeper selfdoubt. What she wants is not to poison me with these beads, but to disturb my mind with these "poisonfree" beads.
What a psychological attack!
The Empress opened her eyes, a flash of ruthlessness and arrogance in them. "She thinks this will make me lose my composure? Naive."
She held out her hand. "Give it to me."
Jian Qiu hesitated before handing the rosary over.
The Empress took it and, without a second thought, put it back on her wrist, even deliberately adjusting its position to make it more conspicuous. "Since it's a good thing, there's no reason not to wear it. Not only will I wear it, I will wear it every day, at all times. I want her to see with her own eyes that all her schemes are nothing but a joke in my presence!"
She would use this to declare her victory, to tell Zhen Huan that her plot had been seen through and was worthless.
From that day on, the Empress of Jingren Palace, no matter her attire or the occasion, always wore that string of purple sandalwood beads on her wrist. The palace servants gradually grew accustomed to this sight. Some even whispered praises, saying that Consort Xi and the Empress had buried the hatchet, their sisterly bond deep, with the rosary as the best evidence.
Only Zhen Huan, in her Yongshou Palace, upon hearing these rumors, would pick up a newly bloomed morning glory, a knowing, indecipherable smile playing on her lips.
The fish had already taken the sweetest bait. All that was left was to wait, quietly, for the day to reel in the line.
03
Spring turned to autumn, winter to summer, and a year passed in a flash.
The power dynamics in the harem were shifting silently. Consort Xi was favored by the Emperor and had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl, her position becoming ever more secure. Meanwhile, the Empress in Jingren Palace seemed to have been forgotten by time. She was still the Empress, holding the phoenix seal and enjoying the honors of her position, but the gloom and fatigue in her features grew deeper by the day.
At first, it was just poor sleep. Her old headaches became more frequent. The imperial physicians diagnosed it as overwork and emotional distress, prescribing one remedy after another, but to no avail. Gradually, her temper grew short and explosive. A trivial matter could send her into a rage, scolding her servants. A low pressure hung over Jingren Palace day and night, and everyone walked on eggshells.
"Your Majesty, why must you torment yourself so?" At night, Jian Qiu massaged the Empress's temples, her eyes filled with heartache. "These beads... perhaps you should stop wearing them. Your servant always feels that ever since you put them on, you have not had a moment of peace."
The Empress, her eyes closed and face pale, spoke in a hoarse voice: "What does it have to do with them? It's that bitch Zhen Huan, opposing me at every turn! The other day, the Emperor merely sat here a while longer, and she used the excuse of the children being unwell to call him away! These are the things that are exhausting my heart and soul!"
She flung Jian Qiu's hand away and sat up irritably. The rosary on her wrist made a soft clinking sound with her movement. She looked down at the beads, her expression complex.
After wearing them for over a year, they had been warmed by her body heat to an extreme smoothness. The deep purple color seemed to hold a flowing light within it. The faint woody scent had long since merged with her own body fragrance. She had even grown accustomed to its presence, accustomed to the tactile sensation of twirling the beads before sleep.
"It's been checked so many times, all saying it's fine," she murmured, as if trying to convince herself. "If there really was a problem, how could I have lived to this day? I must be overthinking it."
She thought she had seen through Zhen Huan's strategy, thought that by acting nonchalant, she could win this psychological battle. But she didn't realize that the moment she started trying to convince herself, she had already lost.
On this day, a banquet was held in the palace. The Empress forced herself to attend in full regalia. During the feast, the Emperor noticed her poor complexion and asked with concern.
"I am fine, Your Majesty, just a bit weary from the spring fatigue," the Empress forced a smile.
The Emperor nodded, his gaze falling on the rosary on her wrist. "This string of beads, I remember Consort Xi gifted it to you? You've been wearing it all this time."
"Yes," the Empress stroked the beads, deliberately glancing at Zhen Huan. "A token of sisterly affection from Consort Xi. Naturally, I must always keep it in mind."
Zhen Huan, who was putting food on the Fourth Prince's plate, looked up upon hearing this and smiled gently. "It is good that you like it, sister. Speaking of which, I often burn a type of 'Anxi' incense in my palace. Its fragrance pairs quite well with the scent of your purple sandalwood rosary. If you don't mind, I can have some sent over another day. It might help with your sleep."
The Empress snorted coldly in her heart but remained impassive on the surface. "You are too kind, sister."
She only took it as another of Zhen Huan's provocations and boasts, never knowing that this seemingly ordinary sentence held the other half of the fatal key.
After the banquet, the Empress returned to Jingren Palace and felt a wave of dizziness, her vision turning black. If not for Jian Qiu's timely support, she would have almost collapsed.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Jian Qiu was scared out of her wits.
The Empress leaned on the table, gasping for air, her heart pounding wildly and her limbs weak. She looked at her own pale face in the mirror, at the bloodshot, terrified eyes staring back. For the first time, an unprecedented fear seized her heart.
Something was indeed wrong.
04
Yongshou Palace was warm and pleasant.
Zhen Huan was cutting window decorations with Princess Longyue. In the nearby Boshan censer, green smoke curled upwards, emitting a sweet and peculiar fragrance. It was not the common ambergris or sandalwood of the palace; the scent was more distant, with a hint of herbal astringency.
"Your Majesty, the one in Jingren Palace summoned the imperial physician again yesterday." Huanbi lowered her voice, leaning close to Zhen Huan's ear. "I heard she almost fainted at the banquet and has been bedridden since her return, even skipping this morning's greetings."
Zhen Huan's hand did not pause in its cutting. Red paper scraps fell, and between her pale fingers, a complex flower pattern was slowly taking shape. Without looking up, she asked faintly, "What did the physician say?"
"The same old story. Anxiety damaging the spleen, excessive liver fire. They prescribed some medicine to soothe the liver and calm the mind." Huanbi's tone held a trace of contempt. "Those incompetent doctors, after all this time, they can't even find the root of the illness."
Zhen Huan finally made the last cut, holding the finished decoration up to the light and smiling in satisfaction. "The root of the illness? The root is on her own body. How could they possibly find it?"
She handed the window decoration to Longyue and turned to look at the censer, her gaze profound. "This 'Xiyan Yin' incense, have you sent some to An Lingrong?"
Huanbi nodded. "I have. As you instructed, I said it was a new, rare incense from the southern frontier that you wished to share with her. She has always loved these fragrances and received it happily. She will likely use it tonight."
"Good." The smile on Zhen Huan's lips deepened. "A good show is more lively when everyone watches together."
Huanbi was still puzzled. "Your Majesty, I still don't understand. Since the rosary is not poisoned, why would the Empress... after wearing it for so long..."
Zhen Huan picked up her teacup, gracefully skimming the tea leaves with the lid. "A cup of tea, by itself, is not poisonous. A pastry, by itself, is also not poisonous. But if someone drinks this tea and then eats that pastry, the combination could turn into a gutwrenching poison. Do you understand this principle?"
Huanbi's eyes widened in realization, and she drew a sharp breath. "You mean... there is something else that reacts with the rosary?"
Zhen Huan was noncommittal. "All things in the world have their counterparts, their checks and balances. The purple sandalwood is inanimate, but it breathes. It absorbs the scents around it, day after day, year after year. Jingren Palace constantly burns a 'Nuanqing' incense, specially supplied by the Imperial Household Department for the Empress to display her status. That incense is her favorite, her symbol of dignity."
She paused, a cold mockery flashing in her eyes. "How could she know that the 'Nuanqing' incense and the purple sandalwood on her wrist are the world's most perfect pair of bitter lovers? Smelled alone, they calm the mind and soothe the spirit. Combined, over time, they produce an invisible poison that silently erodes the heart meridian and the mind, leading one, unknowingly, step by step towards decay."
Huanbi felt a chill run down her spine. The smiling consort before her seemed more terrifying than any ghost. This game of chess, from the moment the rosary was given, had accounted for the daily incense in the Empress's palace, for her arrogant and suspicious nature, for the certainty that she would never discard this "poisonfree" string of beads.
"Then... then An Lingrong..."
"An Lingrong is an expert at making incense, and she is meticulous. My sending her the 'Xiyan Yin' is to use her to spread this fragrance throughout the harem. The scent of 'Xiyan Yin' is somewhat similar to the 'Nuanqing' incense of Jingren Palace, but more overpowering. It will disrupt the existing scents in the palace, making the Empress subconsciously order more 'Nuanqing' incense to be burned to cover up the other smells." Zhen Huan's tone was calm, as if narrating a matter that had nothing to do with her. "When the medicine is administered more forcefully, the illness, naturally, worsens."
She gently stroked the warm surface of the censer, as if caressing a beloved work of art.
"When I returned from Ganlu Temple, I was never seeking a momentary victory. What I want is for her, for everything she inflicted upon me and my children, to be returned to her, a thousand times over."
05
皇后的病，终究是没能瞒住。
皇帝亲至景仁宫探视，看到的是一个形容枯槁、眼神涣散的女人。她不再是那个威仪棣棣、执掌六宫的国母，倒像个被抽去所有精气神的纸人，稍有风吹，便会散架。
“皇后，你到底是怎么了？”皇帝的眉头紧锁，语气里有担忧，也有几分不耐。
皇后抓住皇帝的衣袖，如同抓住最后一根救命稻草，嘴唇哆嗦着，却说不出一句完整的话。“皇上……有鬼……有鬼在害臣妾……”
皇帝的脸色瞬间沉了下来。“胡言乱语！光天化日，朗朗乾坤，你是中宫皇后，何来鬼祟之说！”
“真的……皇上，您要信臣妾……”她语无伦次，指向自己腕上的佛珠，“是她……是甄嬛……是这串珠子……它在吸我的阳气……”
皇帝的耐心终于告罄。他猛地拂袖，挣脱皇后的手。“够了！熹妃感念你，送你佛珠为你祈福，你却在此疯言疯语，构陷于她！你这善妒的性子，这么多年还是没改！”
他看了一眼那串依旧色泽沉郁的佛珠，只觉得皇后是病得糊涂了。那珠子他都曾拿在手里看过，除了是难得的好木料，并无任何不妥。
“来人，”皇帝冷声下令，“皇后凤体违和，神思混乱，即日起在景in景宫静养，不必再理会宫中庶务。六宫事宜，暂交由熹妃协理。”
这道旨意，无异于夺去了皇后最后的权力。
皇后如遭雷击，怔怔地看着皇帝决然离去的背影，一口气没上来，猛地咳出一口血来，溅在明黄色的锦被上，触目惊心。
“娘娘！”剪秋凄厉地哭喊着，扑了上去。
景仁宫的大门，缓缓关闭，隔绝了宫外的阳光与喧嚣。这里，成了一座名副其实的冷宫。
皇后的身体一日不如一日。她时而清醒，时而糊涂。清醒时，她便死死盯着那串佛珠，眼中是无尽的怨毒与恐惧；糊涂时，她又会下意识地捻动珠串，仿佛那真是她唯一的慰藉。
太医院的院正被勒令常驻景仁宫，每日三次请脉，药方流水价地开，人参、鹿茸等名贵药材像不要钱似的往里灌，却只能勉强吊着她一口气。
院正姓张，是宫中的老人了，行医一生，从未见过如此诡异的脉象。皇后的脉象虚浮散乱，五脏六腑的生气都在以一种缓慢而坚定的速度流逝，却又找不到任何中毒或外邪入侵的迹象。那感觉，就像一个堤坝，被人从最不起眼的地方，挖开了一个微小的蚁穴。日积月累，洪水终将漫灌而出，无可阻挡。
他百思不得其解，寝食难安。他一遍遍地翻阅医书，一遍遍地分析皇后的饮食、用药、起居，甚至连景仁宫的风水都暗中找人看过，皆无异常。
他的目光，无数次掠过皇后腕上那串紫檀佛珠，又无数次地将它排除。那东西，宫里宫外，多少人看过了，都说是祥瑞之物。
直到这一日，他为皇后请脉时，殿内恰好燃尽了最后一炉“暖情香”。宫女正要去添新香，被他无意中摆手制止了。他想让殿内气味散尽，好让自己凝神静气。
就在那香气彻底消散的一瞬间，他指下的脉搏，似乎发生了一丝极其细微的变化。那散乱的脉象，仿佛有了一丝丝的凝聚。
张院正心中一动，屏住了呼吸，再次细细感受。
没错！虽然变化微弱，但确实存在！
他猛地抬头，目光如电，扫过殿内的一切。最后，他的视线定格在了皇后腕上，那串她从未离身的佛珠上。
一个疯狂而大胆的念头，如同一道惊雷，在他脑中炸开。
张院正的呼吸瞬间变得粗重，他颤抖着伸出另一只手，不是去碰触皇后，而是小心翼翼地，凑近了那串紫檀佛珠，用鼻尖极轻地嗅了嗅。一股纯粹的、再无杂气的木质幽香钻入鼻腔。然后，他再次将三指搭在皇后的脉上。
这一次，他清晰地感觉到，那刚刚凝聚了一丝的脉象，又开始缓缓地、无可逆转地散开了！
不是香！也不是佛珠！是当香气与佛珠相遇时，所产生的某种东西！
这个发现让他浑身冰冷，如坠冰窟。他终于明白了，这不是病，这是一场策划了数年之久、天衣无缝的谋杀！他看着眼前已近弥留的皇后，再想到那个如今权倾后宫的熹妃娘娘，一张脸瞬间没了血色。
他猛地站起身，踉跄后退两步，指着那串佛珠，声音因极致的恐惧而变了调，尖锐地划破了死寂的寝殿：
“娘娘！快……快把它摘下来！这佛珠……这佛珠有问题！”
06
“你说什么？”
床上，已是弥留之际的皇后，仿佛被这声尖叫注入了最后的回光返照。她混沌的眼神倏然清明，死死地盯住张院正。
张院正脸色煞白，汗如雨下，他顾不得君臣礼仪，几步冲上前，指着那佛珠，语速又急又快，仿佛晚一秒，某种真相就会永远湮灭。“娘娘，臣……臣终于明白了！您的病根，不在药石，不在鬼神，就在这串佛珠和您宫里日日燃点的‘暖情香’上！”
剪秋惊呆了，下意识地反驳：“不可能！佛珠和熏香，我们都查过无数遍了，绝无问题！”
“单独查，自然是绝无问题！”张院正的声音带着哭腔，那是医者发现真相却无力回天的绝望，“这紫檀佛珠，木质多孔，最善吸纳香气。而‘暖情香’中，有一味极罕见的辅料，名为‘醉仙草’，其本身无毒无害，只是为了让香气更显醇厚。可这‘醉仙草’的香氛，一旦被紫檀木日夜吸收，两者就会在木质的孔隙内，缓慢地……极其缓慢地，化合成一种新的毒素！”
他喘了口气，眼中满是惊骇。“此毒无色无味，不入血液，不侵脏腑，它只针对人的神元！它会随着佛珠与肌肤的摩挲，透过皮肉，一丝丝、一缕缕地，直接损耗您的本源生气！它就像附骨之疽，将您的精神与元气，一点点地抽干！所以，无论用什么汤药，都补不回来，因为这根本不是病，是……是命在流逝！”
一番话，如九天玄雷，炸响在景仁宫的每个人耳中。
剪秋腿一软，瘫倒在地，脸上血色尽褪。
皇后乌拉那ara氏，怔怔地看着自己手腕上的佛珠。这串她佩戴了数年，时而怀疑，时而依赖，最终视作习惯的饰物，原来竟是这样一件温柔而残忍的刑具。
她笑了。
那笑声起初很低，像是喉咙里卡了沙子，接着越来越大，越来越凄厉，最后变成了疯癫的大笑。她笑着，眼泪却滚滚而下，与脸上的皱纹和斑点混在一起。
“好……好一个甄嬛！好一个熹妃！”她笑着哭，哭着笑，声音嘶哑，“本宫算计了一辈子，斗了一辈子，没想到……没想到最后，是这样输的……输得如此干净，如此彻底！”
她不是输在毒药上，她是输在自己的习惯，输在自己的多疑，输在自己的自负上。
甄嬛送来佛珠，算准了她会查。查过无毒，以她的性子，定会为了彰显自己的不屑与大度而日日佩戴。甄嬛又借安陵容之手，用别的香气扰乱后宫，逼得她为了维护景仁宫的“独特”而加倍燃起“暖情香”。
她亲手戴上了枷锁，又亲手将毒药的分量，一分分加到了最足。
这世上，还有比这更恶毒、更精妙的算计吗？
“哈哈哈哈……”皇后的笑声戛然而止，她猛地扬起手，用尽全身最后的气力，将那串佛珠狠狠砸在地上。珠串断裂，深紫色的珠子四散滚落，发出清脆而绝望的响声。
她做完这个动作，仿佛耗尽了所有生命，重重地倒回枕上，大口大口地喘着气，眼神却不再涣散，而是亮得惊人。
“扶我起来……”她对剪秋说，“去……去请皇上……本宫要见皇上！本宫要在他面前，揭穿那个毒妇的真面目！”
她知道自己活不成了，但她要死，也要拉着甄嬛一起！这天衣无缝的毒计，只要说出来，只要皇帝肯信，甄嬛就绝无生理！
然而，当剪秋连滚带爬地跑到殿外，看到的，却是紧闭的宫门，和门外侍卫们一张张冷漠如铁的面孔。
“熹妃娘娘有令，”为首的侍卫面无表情地拦住她，“皇后娘娘凤体违和，需静养，任何人不得出入景仁宫，违令者，斩！”
剪秋的心，瞬间沉入了无底的深渊。
甄嬛，连她最后的退路，都算到了。
07
景仁宫的门，终究还是为一个人打开了。
来人不是皇帝，而是熹妃，甄嬛。
她依旧是一身素雅的宫装，未施粉黛，却难掩眉宇间的风华与权势。她缓缓走进这间充斥着药味与死气的寝殿，步履从容，仿佛不是来探望一个将死之人，而是在巡视自己的庭院。
“姐姐。”她停在床前，声音轻柔，带着一丝恰到好处的悲悯，“听说你身子不爽利，妹妹特来看看你。”
皇后斜倚在床头，剪秋和几个宫女在旁拼命用汤匙喂她参汤，吊着那最后一口气。她看着甄嬛，那双曾经威仪万方的眼睛里，此刻只剩下烧尽一切的仇恨。
“你……来了。”皇后的声音微弱得像风中残烛。
“我来了。”甄ähän淡淡地应着，目光扫过地上散落的紫檀珠，唇角勾起一抹微不可见的弧度，“姐姐这是怎么了？这么好的佛珠，怎么给砸了？这可是妹妹当年，在佛前为你求来的福气啊。”
“福气？”皇后像是听到了天大的笑话，又是一阵剧烈的咳嗽，“甄嬛……你好狠的心！你好毒的计！”
甄嬛施施然坐到床边的绣墩上，挥手屏退了左右，只留下剪秋一人。她亲自拿起一旁的团扇，为皇后轻轻扇着风，动作温柔，说出的话却字字诛心。
“姐姐说的什么，妹妹听不懂。妹妹只知道，姐姐是六宫之主，贤德宽厚。当年妹妹误穿纯元皇后故衣，惹得皇上大怒，是姐姐向皇上求情，只将妹妹废黜，送往甘露寺修行，保全了妹妹一条性命。这份‘恩情’，妹妹一直记着呢。”
她特意在“恩情”二字上加重了语气。
皇后气得浑身发抖。当年之事，是她一手策划，为的就是一举将甄嬛彻底踩入泥里，永世不得翻身。此刻从甄嬛嘴里说出，却成了她施予的恩惠，这是何等的讽刺！
“姐姐还记得凌云峰的雪夜吗？”甄嬛的眼神飘向窗外，声音变得幽远，“那夜，雪下得好大，妹妹身染重病，高烧不退，被弃置在破屋之中，无人问津。若非果郡王相救，只怕妹妹早已化作一抔黄土。那时候妹妹就在想，是谁，能让甘露寺的姑子们，对我一个废妃，下此狠手呢？想来想去，这宫里有如此权势，又如此‘记挂’妹妹的，也只有姐姐您了。”
“还有妹妹的父亲，含冤入狱，流放宁古塔。我甄氏一门，几乎覆灭。姐姐，这笔账，又该怎么算呢？”
皇后喘息着，指着甄嬛，却说不出话来。这些事，都是她做的，但她做得天衣无缝，没有留下任何把柄。
“你……你没有证据！”她终于挤出几个字。
“是啊，我没有证据。”甄嬛笑了，那笑容明媚，却冷得像冰，“就像姐姐你，现在也没有证据一样。”
她俯下身，凑到皇后耳边，用只有两人能听到的声音，一字一句地说道：“佛珠无毒，熏香无毒。这世上，根本就没有什么‘醉仙草’与紫檀相克的说法。那不过是张院正读了几本杂书，自己臆想出来的罢了。姐姐，你信吗？”
皇后瞳孔猛地一缩！
甄嬛看着她震惊的表情，满意地直起身子。“姐姐，真正的毒，从来不是那些能被查出来的东西。真正的毒，是怀疑，是恐惧，是日复一日的自我消耗。我送你佛珠，你便日夜猜忌；我让宫中香气驳杂，你便心烦意乱。你的病，不是我给的，是你自己‘想’出来的。你被自己的心魔，活活耗死了。”
“你……你……”皇后指着她，一口黑血喷涌而出，溅湿了甄嬛的裙角。
这才是最残忍的真相。那个所谓的“毒计”，根本就是子虚乌有！是甄嬛设下的一个心理陷阱，一个利用皇后多疑的性格，让她自我毁灭的绝杀之局！张院正的“发现”，或许也早在她的算计之中，是压垮皇后的最后一根稻草！
她不是被毒死的，她是……被活活吓死的！
这比任何毒药都更诛心，更让她死不瞑目！
“姐姐，安心地去吧。”甄嬛站起身，居高临下地看着她，神情恢复了悲悯，“这六宫，妹妹会替你，好好看顾的。”
她说完，转身，再也不看床上那个生命迹象飞速流逝的女人，一步步，走出了景仁宫。
门外，阳光灿烂，一个新的时代，开始了。
08
皇后薨了。
丧钟在紫禁城的上空敲响，沉闷而悠长。皇帝下旨，追封其为“敬宪皇后”，丧仪一切从厚。然而，所有人都看得出，那盛大的哀荣之下，不过是帝王为了维系皇家体面而做的最后一点粉饰。
景仁宫的宫人，死的死，散的散。剪秋作为皇后的心腹，被赐自尽，追随旧主而去。临死前，她没有哭闹，只是朝着永寿宫的方向，深深地看了一眼。那眼神里，没有恨，只有一种输得心服口服的寂寥。
六宫的权力，顺理成章地，全部移交到了熹贵妃甄嬛手中。她没有立刻搬入中宫，依旧住在永寿宫，但整个后宫，已经没有人敢再对她有半分不敬。她的每一句话，都成了不可违逆的懿旨。
一日，甄嬛在御花园里遇到了安陵容。
安陵容如今已是安嫔，却依旧是那副怯生生的模样。她向甄嬛请安，姿态谦卑到了极点。
“妹妹近来气色不佳，可是身子不适？”甄嬛关切地问，目光落在她略显苍白的脸上。
安陵容勉强一笑：“多谢贵妃娘娘关心，嫔妾只是……只是夜里总睡不安稳，时常梦魇。”
她不敢说，自从皇后薨逝，她夜夜梦到景仁宫，梦到那散落一地的紫檀珠，梦到皇后死前那双怨毒的眼睛。她总觉得，皇后的死，与自己有关。是她燃起的“夕颜引”，成了催命的符咒。
“哦？是吗？”甄嬛扶着她的手，一同在花间漫步，“本宫前些日子送你的‘夕颜引’，可还喜欢？那香有凝神之效，许是能让你睡个好觉。”
安陵容的身子微不可察地一僵，低声道：“喜欢……只是那香太烈，嫔妾有些用不惯，便……便收起来了。”
“收起来了？”甄嬛停下脚步，转头看她，眼神似笑非笑，“那可真是可惜了。那可是本宫好不容易才寻来的奇香，据说，与宫中许多香料都颇有‘缘分’呢。”
安陵容的心猛地一沉。她听懂了甄嬛话里的暗示。“缘分”二字，像两根针，扎进她的心里。她猛然抬头，对上甄嬛那双深不见底的眸子，一股寒意从脚底直冲头顶。
原来，她从头到尾，都只是甄嬛手里的一颗棋子，一把用来杀人的刀。她自以为聪明，懂得制香调香，却不知自己早已落入一个更大的香料迷局之中，成了帮凶，而不自知。
“娘娘……”她的嘴唇开始发白。
“安嫔。”甄嬛打断她，语气依旧温和，却带着不容置喙的威严，“你是个聪明人。聪明人，就该知道什么该说，什么不该说；什么该做，什么不该做。皇后姐姐去了，本宫心里难过，这后宫，不能再出什么乱子了。你明白吗？”
安陵容浑身冰冷，她哪里还能不明白。这是警告，也是敲打。甄嬛在告诉她，她的手上，也沾了皇后的血，她们如今，是一根绳上的蚂蚱。她若敢有半分异动，甄嬛随时可以让她步皇后的后尘。
“嫔妾……明白。”安陵容低下头，声音细若蚊蚋。
甄嬛满意地笑了。她松开安陵容的手，从袖中取出一块手帕，轻轻擦了擦刚才扶过她的手指，仿佛沾了什么不洁之物。然后，她将手帕随意丢给了身后的浣碧。
“天凉了，安嫔也早些回宫吧，莫要着了风寒。”
说完，她再不看安陵容一眼，径直离去。
安陵容独自站在原地，看着甄嬛远去的背影，只觉得那道纤柔的身影，此刻竟像一座无法逾越的大山，压得她喘不过气来。她知道，从今往后，她的命运，将彻底被握在那个女人的手里，再无挣脱的可能。
09
数月后，皇帝下旨，册立熹贵妃甄嬛为后。
册后大典办得空前盛大，普天同庆。甄嬛身着繁复的翟衣，头戴九龙四凤冠，一步步踏上太和殿前的丹陛。阳光照在她身上，金光璀璨，威仪万千。那一刻，她便是这天地间，除皇帝外，最尊贵的女人。
她的人生，似乎已经走到了顶峰。纯元皇后的影子，乌拉那拉氏的掣肘，所有曾经阻碍她的，都已化作尘埃。她的儿子弘曕被记在先皇后名下，成了名正言顺的嫡子，储君之位，唾手可得。她赢了，赢得彻彻底底。
入主坤宁宫的第一个夜晚，皇帝并未留宿。诺大的宫殿里，只剩下甄嬛一人。
她遣退了所有宫人，独自走到妆镜前，缓缓卸下沉重的凤冠。镜中的女人，容颜依旧美丽，眼神却已不复当年的清澈。那里面，沉淀了太多的权谋、算计、鲜血和孤独。
她打开一个深藏在梳妆台暗格里的小匣子。里面没有金银珠宝，只有一件东西——一串早已干枯的合欢花。
那是她离宫前，允礼亲手为她戴上的。
她的指尖轻轻抚过那早已失去香气的花瓣，眼前浮现出凌云峰上的种种过往。那时的她，是钮祜禄甄嬛，是一个可以放肆哭笑，可以全心去爱的女子。而现在的她，是母仪天下的皇后，是皇帝的女人，唯独，不再是她自己。
窗外，月凉如水。
甄嬛拿起那串紫檀佛珠的残骸。那是她特意命人从景仁宫的灰烬里找回来的。珠子已经失去了光泽，上面还带着被火燎过的痕迹。
她将一颗珠子放在掌心，静静地看着。
所谓“醉仙草”，所谓“香气相克”，的确是她编造出来，透过张院正的口，说给皇后听的。她要的，就是在皇后临死前，给予她最沉重、最彻底的心理摧毁。
但，这佛珠真的全无问题吗？
甄嬛的嘴角，逸出一丝无人能懂的苦涩。
这紫檀木，确实是干净的。但串珠的那根丝线，却大有文章。那丝线，曾被一种名为“息肌丸”的药水浸泡过。此药无色无味，药性极微，寻常太医根本验不出来。但若常年佩戴，药性便会透过肌肤，一丝丝渗入体内，虽不致命，却能扰乱女子的气血，使其难以有孕。
这才是她真正的后手。她送佛珠给皇后，最根本的目的，是断了皇后再生育的可能，以绝后患。至于后来皇后身体的崩溃，一半是“息肌丸”日积月累的功效，另一半，则是她自己心魔作祟，自我加速了死亡的进程。
这是一盘连环局，一环扣一环，虚虚实实，真假难辨。连她自己，有时候都分不清，究竟哪一步是真，哪一步是假。
她看着掌心的珠子，低声呢喃：“允礼，你看，我赢了。我为我们的孩子，赢得了这天下。可是，为什么我的心，却像这坤宁宫一样，这么空，这么冷……”
两行清泪，终于顺着她保养得宜的脸颊，无声滑落。
10
又过了许多年。
新帝登基，甄嬛成了圣母皇太后，住进了清净安宁的寿康宫。后宫的刀光剑影，朝堂的风起云涌，似乎都已离她远去。
她时常一个人坐在窗前，看着宫墙内的一方天空，一看就是一下午。岁月并没有在她脸上留下太多痕迹，只是那双眼睛，越发像一潭古井，深不见底，再无波澜。
这一日，新帝，也就是她的儿子弘曕，前来请安。他已经长成一个英挺的青年，眉宇间颇有几分允礼的风采。
“皇额娘，今日天气好，儿子陪您去御花园走走吧。”弘曕恭敬地说道。
甄嬛摇了摇头，目光落在弘曕腰间佩戴的一块玉佩上。那玉佩，是她亲手为他系的。“皇帝政务繁忙，不必时时来我这里。国事为重。”
“儿子理会得。只是儿子看皇额娘总是一个人，心中不忍。”弘曕说着，从袖中取出一个小盒子，“儿子前日得了件趣物，想来皇额娘会喜欢。”
盒子打开，里面是一串小巧的沉香木手串，香气清雅，沁人心脾。
甄嬛的目光触及那手串，手指微不可察地颤抖了一下。
弘曕见她不语，便亲自拿起手串，想为她戴上。“这沉香木，最是养人。皇额娘日日戴着，定能身康体健，福寿绵长。”
就在那手串即将触及她手腕的一刹那，甄嬛猛地缩回了手，动作之大，甚至打翻了桌上的茶盏。
“不必了。”她的声音有些干涩，带着一丝自己都未曾察觉的惊惶，“哀家……不喜这些东西。”
弘曕愣住了，不解地看着她。
甄嬛没有解释。她只是死死地盯着那串沉香木，仿佛看到的不是什么祥瑞之物，而是一条吐着信子的毒蛇。
她赢了一辈子，算计了一辈子，用一串珠子，将她的死敌送入了地狱，将她的儿子送上了皇位。可到头来，她自己，也被困在了这珠围翠绕的囚笼里，草木皆兵，疑心一生。
她再也不敢相信任何人的“好意”，再也不敢佩戴任何看似无害的饰物。那串紫檀佛珠，不仅杀死了乌拉那拉氏，也杀死了最后一个还敢相信温情的，甄嬛自己。
弘曕看着皇额娘脸上那复杂难辨的神情，那是一种他从未见过的，混杂着恐惧、悲哀与无尽疲惫的表情。他默默地收回了手串，心中一片茫然。
寿康宫内，母子二人相对无言。殿外的阳光明媚依旧，却再也照不进这位太后娘娘，那早已冰封如铁的心底。
她拥有了至高无上的权力，却也品尝着永恒的孤独。这，或许就是她作为胜利者，最终的宿命。
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来源：影视大哼唧