The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 159

Chapter 159: Her Plans, Her Schemes

On the way back to the Prince of Lanling’s residence from the Ice Well Terrace, Gao Changgong held Xiao Jinyu tightly in his arms, but he didn’t say a word, appearing very angry.

It wasn’t until they returned to the Prince of Lanling’s residence that Gao Changgong ordered the gates to be closed, refusing all visitors, including Gao Yanzong.

He stood alone by the pond in the courtyard, lost in thought. Xiao Jinyu wanted to comfort him but didn’t know where to begin, so she asked Lu Yu, “Is Changgong angry with me?”

“My Lady, the Prince is not angry with you, he is worried about you. Why did you make such a poisonous oath? You said in front of the Emperor and so many ministers that if you couldn’t pray for rain, you would…”

Lu Yu couldn’t bear to continue and asked with disbelief, “My Lady, can you really pray for rain?”

Xiao Jinyu nodded. “Yes! When have I ever lied?”

My heavens! Did our Prince marry a deity?

“My Lady, if you can really pray for rain, I, Lu Yu, will kneel before you…” He said, then suddenly slapped himself. “Look at what I’m saying, what do you mean ‘if you can really’, it’s ‘you definitely can’. Our Princess Consort of Lanling must not come to any harm!”

Xiao Jinyu came to Gao Changgong’s side and wrapped her arms around his waist again. She explained earnestly, “Changgong, do you remember when we were in Pengcheng, I asked you if you believed celestial phenomena could determine human destiny? You said you didn’t!”

“I’ve observed the celestial signs. Yecheng has been in drought for too long, it will rain in three days. Since Lady Lu wants to use celestial phenomena to deceive the people, we can only start from the celestial signs to break her overly sacred position in the hearts of the Emperor and the people!”

“Don’t worry, I said I wouldn’t do anything I wasn’t sure of. I’m not making this bet with Lady Lu on a whim. Changgong, don’t you trust me?”

Gao Changgong’s expression softened slightly, and he hugged her tightly. He lifted her veil and saw red spots on the originally fair and tender skin of her left cheek, as well as the scar that looked particularly ferocious after Fenghuang’s disguise. He felt even more guilty.

Seeing the pity and heartache in his eyes, Xiao Jinyu smiled and said, “It’s okay, I just took a certain medicine that caused these rashes. I’ve also taken the antidote, and they will disappear soon. As for the scar on my face, I’ve also asked Fenghuang to prepare medicine for me, and it will heal soon too!”

The more she said, the more uncomfortable Gao Changgong felt.

“A’yu, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but seeing you suffer because of me, it pains me…” He said, gently stroking the scar on her face and the rash caused by the medicine. “Does it still hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt anymore, it’s just a small injury. Changgong, don’t blame yourself. We are husband and wife, there’s no one dragging the other down, you said it yourself!”

After saying that, she took his hand and led him to the edge of the pond, pointing to the goldfish swimming in the water. “Changgong, look at these fish, they are gasping for air. I once read a book that recorded that when goldfish float on the surface, it’s a sign that it’s going to rain!”

Then, she pulled him to another osmanthus tree and pointed to the ants on the ground. “These ants will also move their food and find higher ground to inhabit before heavy rain.”

“In fact, many things in the world have omens, and they are not the will of some god. The reason why people call those unexplainable phenomena divine will is because of their awe and fear of the unknown.”

“Changgong, we must overcome this fear in order to be invincible!”

“You’ve been on the battlefield, you should understand better than me, before defeating the enemy, you must first conquer your own heart, right?”

Hearing her say this, Gao Changgong couldn’t help but smile, the haze of fear for the future in his heart immediately dissipated.

At this time, Xiao Jinyu leaned close to his ear and said, “Changgong, don’t be afraid, I won’t die, I will be with you forever, until we grow old together!”

As if hearing the sweetest words in the world, Gao Changgong smiled brightly and lifted Xiao Jinyu, spinning her around several times.

Lu Yu, standing not far away, was stunned: I never thought this lady would be so good at comforting people. The Prince’s face was just covered in dark clouds, and now it’s bright and clear! What a difference!

And I’ve never seen the Prince so happy, as if he’s suddenly ten years younger!

No, he wasn’t even this childish when he was ten…

✿✿✿

The news that Xiao Jinyu would pray for rain on the Bronze Sparrow Terrace in three days quickly spread throughout Yecheng, and many people in the capital took it as a joke.

Especially the noble ladies who played with Zheng Yue were even more sarcastic.

“A’yue, listen, this Princess Consort of Lanling can even pray for rain, what can you do?”

“However, whether she can really pray for rain is still unknown. If she can’t, she will have to commit suicide in front of the Emperor. So, A’yue, you should be praying that she can’t pray for rain, right?”

“Nonsense—”

Zheng Yue shouted at the group of noble ladies who only knew how to kick someone when they were down, and ran away wiping her tears. As she ran, she saw Gao Xiaowan walking towards her from the direction of the Prince of Lanling’s residence.

“Xiaowan Gege, please help A’yue! I heard that woman even asked the Emperor for an official position, she’s so brazen to bet with Lady Lu on praying for rain. Sooner or later, she will bring disaster to Xiaoguan, I don’t want to see Xiaoguan suffer any harm because of her!”

When Gao Changgong carried Xiao Jinyu out of the Ice Well Terrace, Zheng Yue was hiding in a place, quietly watching. She had never seen so many emotions on his face: careful care, fear of loss, if it wasn’t love to the bone, how could there be such complex emotions?

“A’yue, let it go! Changgong’s heart… I’m afraid it can’t be retrieved…”

Having married such a stunningly talented woman, how could his eyes accommodate others?

This time, Zheng Yue’s heart was completely emptied: Even Xiaowan thought so, then there was really no hope, right?

Seeing Zheng Yue run away crying and wiping her tears, Gao Xiaowan couldn’t help but sigh.

“The Southern woman that Changgong married is really extraordinary. Although her appearance is ruined, her talent is not something ordinary women can compare to!”

Gao Xiaoheng also came over and sighed,

“It’s just a pity that her personality is too proud, I’m afraid, as Zheng Yue said, it will attract some fatal disaster!”

“Not only that, now that Zheng Yue’s heart is broken by him, I’m afraid the entire Yingyang Zheng Clan will become his enemy!” Gao Xiaowan said worriedly.

Gao Xiaoheng smiled. “I don’t think so. Changgong has always been valued by the Emperor for his loyalty and bravery. If he married a legitimate daughter of a Han aristocratic family, it would make Gao Zhan think he has the intention of forming a party and expanding his power. But this woman who came from the Southern Dynasty married to Northern Qi alone, without the support of her maternal family, it makes Changgong seem somewhat isolated and weak, with absolutely no intention of usurping the throne!

I think it’s good, he always has his own ideas, and we don’t need to worry about him!

It’s just this matter of praying for rain…”

✿✿✿

Hearing the news, Cui Heng and Li Mi also curiously came to the Prince of Lanling’s residence to visit.

After leading the two to the back garden of the residence and having them sit down, Li Mi couldn’t wait to ask, “What happened? How did you think of betting with Lady Lu on praying for rain?”

Xiao Jinyu then recounted everything that happened at the banquet and explained, “After this banquet, I have already understood what kind of person your Emperor of Qi is. His favoritism towards He Shikai and Lu Lingxuan is no less than Chen Xu’s preference for the Prince of Shixing. So even if we present evidence that they forged imperial edicts or sent imperial assassins to chase us down, we can’t make Gao Zhan punish them severely, not to mention they can also use official redemption to offset their crimes!”

“So, you want to replace He Shikai and Lady Lu in Emperor Gao Zhan’s heart?” Cui Heng asked back.

Xiao Jinyu nodded. “Yes!”

“Did the Prince agree?”

Xiao Jinyu looked at Gao Changgong, who was standing aside, and smiled. “Yes, he agreed!”

Gao Changgong didn’t say anything.

Cui Heng was secretly angry, but he also understood that even if Gao Changgong didn’t agree, Xiao Jinyu would probably still go her own way.

✿✿✿

She has always been like this, no one can stop her from doing what she wants to do.

Li Mi seemed to be waiting to see what would happen. He only remained silent for a moment before saying, “If you want to replace He Shikai in Gao Zhan’s heart, I’m afraid the Princess Consort will have to become like He Shikai. First of all, you have to learn the game of woshuo! This is He Shikai’s most skillful game that wins him the Emperor’s favor… Uh, I know this game, I can teach the Princess Consort…”

Xiao Jinyu nodded with a smile, and Li Mi looked back at Gao Changgong and smiled. “The Prince doesn’t mind, right?”

Gao Changgong didn’t speak, and Xiao Jinyu answered for him, “If Changgong has time, he will accompany me.”

“But if you want to replace Lu Lingxuan in Gao Zhan’s heart, I’m afraid it’s a bit difficult. This woman is good at using celestial phenomena and divination to make her case. The shamans of Qi are all under her control. She doesn’t win the Emperor’s heart, but the people’s hearts. And she’s also good at raising spies, she has a very secretive and vast espionage network!”

“That’s why she’s betting with Lu Lingxuan on praying for rain, to break this revered and sacred status!” Cui Heng added.

Li Mi suddenly understood. “So the Princess Consort has already planned this out?”

Xiao Jinyu nodded.

Li Mi was even more curious.

“Will it really rain in three days?”

Xiao Jinyu only said, “You two gentlemen can come to the Bronze Sparrow Terrace to see in three days!”

“Great!” Li Mi said excitedly.

“Since you two gentlemen are here, A’yu needs your help.”

“You’re welcome, Princess Consort, please tell us!”

“I want to pull Zu Ting to our side, so I need you two to help me find all the information related to him, especially his preferences and weaknesses!”

“No problem, leave it to me! I’m best at this kind of thing, digging up people’s secrets!”

Li Mi smiled, and Lu Yu gave him a disdainful look.

“Boy, what’s with that look? Are you looking down on me?” Li Mi glared back and scolded.

Lu Yu retorted, “You think you’re the only one who can dig up people’s secrets? I can too! Who’s looking down on whom? I’ve also heard some stories about this Zu Xiaozheng…”

“Tell us about it?”

Lu Yu seized the opportunity and started talking excitedly.

“Zu Ting has an old horse at home, called Liuju, which is about ten years old. However, this guy, like Cao Cao, loves other men’s wives. He had an affair with a widow, Lady Wang, who is already sixty years old. This guy still often goes in and out with Lady Wang, greeting people openly. Even Pei Rangzhi, the Assistant Minister of the Secretariat, mocked him, saying, ‘How can you be so bizarre? A ten-year-old horse is still called Liuju, and a sixty-year-old wife is still called ‘niangzi’ （young lady）. Haha, don’t you think it’s funny?” （ Note: Earshun refers to sixty years old ）

After finishing, Lu Yu kept laughing loudly. He found that he had been laughing for a long time, and no one else was laughing, so he covered his mouth in confusion.

After a long while, Li Mi said sarcastically, “You’re really good at livening up the atmosphere! However, do you think it’s appropriate to say this in front of your Princess Consort?”

Lu Yu didn’t think about whether it was appropriate or not, in fact, he just wanted to make his Prince and Lady laugh. At this moment, he looked back at the Prince’s eyes, and he didn’t know what words to use to describe it. It was a look of disdain that didn’t even bother to give him a glance!

“Lu Yu, are you very idle? Are you saying that the two assassins are dead, and we don’t need to care about the remaining one?”

“Oh, yes! And the shopkeeper of Fengxian Residence!” Lu Yu suddenly realized. “We have to take care of it, Prince, I’ll be going now!”

After saying that, he quickly ran away!

“So this Zu Ting is such an interesting person?” At this time, Xiao Jinyu sincerely let out a sigh, and also understood why Changgong was so angry when Lu Lingxuan proposed to let Zu Ting help her look at the scar on her face.

She glanced at Gao Changgong and asked Li Mi, “Does he have any other deeds and strengths and weaknesses?”

“Deeds, there are a basketful, but none of them are good things, stealing, robbing, gambling, lust, he’s simply omnipotent. As for strengths and weaknesses… Uh, he always thinks he is Guan Zhong reborn, with the talent of a chancellor, but he has not met a good emperor. He thinks all emperors are blind and can’t see his extraordinary talent. His self-confidence is invincible!”

After saying this, Li Mi asked Xiao Jinyu, “I wonder if this is a strength or a weakness?”

At this time, even Gao Changgong, who rarely smiled, couldn’t help but laugh.

“For us, it’s a strength. Then please trouble Li Langjun to dig up that basketful of his deeds for me, and by the way, dampen his arrogance!”

“No problem, leave it to us!”

✿✿✿

“Mother, can that lady really pray for rain? My son saw her so confident, I’m afraid she really has some skills. If she really prays for rain, then the reputation you have built among the people of Yecheng wouldn’t…”

At this time, in a mansion in Yuanzisi, Yecheng, Mu Tipo asked Lu Lingxuan with concern.

“Who said that if it rains, it must be the rain she prayed for?” Lu Lingxuan smiled meaningfully and said, “We can also pray for rain!”

“We?” Mu Tipo was a little puzzled.

Lu Lingxuan said, “I once heard Xiao Luan say that celestial phenomena, whether it’s wind, rain, thunder, lightning, or solar eclipses and lunar eclipses, can all be calculated. This is a kind of numerology of the Yin-Yang School. But unfortunately, that bitch kept a hand when she died, destroying all those numerologies…”

Speaking of this, as if thinking of something, her eyes lit up. “No, it’s also possible that they weren’t destroyed, but were passed down to her daughter!

That time I prayed for rain, I only got Xiao Luan’s hint, so I set up that game to gain Emperor Gao Zhan’s trust and the faith of the people of Yecheng in me.

But now Xiao Luan is dead, and the one in Tongque Palace is a fake, with no real skills!

I didn’t expect that after a few years, there would be such a severe drought again, and Gao Zhan would ask me to pray for rain again…”

After pacing back and forth in the room a few times, Lu Lingxuan, besides worry, suddenly had a mysterious and unpredictable smile on her face.

“However, this is also an opportunity. If this Princess Consort of Lanling can really pray for rain, then we just need to turn this rain into the rain I prayed for, and make her disappear from the Bronze Sparrow Terrace!”

“Mother means, when the rain really comes down, kill her, and as long as mother appears on the Bronze Sparrow Terrace again, then this rain will be the rain mother prayed for?”

Lu Lingxuan nodded. “Yes, so what we should know most now is when the rain will come, and what her plan is!”

“But mother, we’ve always wanted to plant our spies in the Prince of Lanling’s residence, haven’t we failed? How can we know what their plan is?”

“So, we need to find such a person to plant in!” Lu Lingxuan said, looking at Mu Tipo, and smiled, “Isn’t Zheng A’yue the best candidate?”