The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 161

Chapter 161: Reputation Spreads Again

Gao Changgong hesitated for a moment before replying, “Your Majesty has found the person who falsely issued the imperial edict. It is Lu Yi, the Regular Attendant and Drafter. Your Majesty had him flogged in front of me and also demoted Han Changluan from his position as Military Governor, allowing them to redeem their crimes with their official ranks!”

Hearing this, Xiao Jinyu chuckled.

“As expected, Gao Zhan’s favoritism towards He Shikai surpasses even Chen Xu’s partiality towards his own kin!”

Gao Changgong couldn’t help but feel worried: “A’yu, before Gao Zhan ascended the throne, Prince Gao Rui of Zhao Commandery and my elder brother Gao Xiaoyu were on good terms with him. But after he became emperor, he favored He Shikai even more than the imperial family.

My elder brother Gao Xiaoyu lost his life in a struggle against He Shikai, framed and slandered to death by that treacherous official. I’m still worried about you…”

“Don’t worry, Changgong. Xie Zhen is not a member of the imperial family, nor does she hold military power. She won’t be feared by your Qi emperor!”

As she spoke, she wrapped her arms around his neck again, her tone so certain that it calmed Gao Changgong’s somewhat troubled heart.

“There’s one more thing I need to tell you, but don’t be angry!”

“Alright, tell me!”

“When I went to see His Majesty, Zheng Daozhong, the head of the Zheng Clan, also came to request an audience. He asked His Majesty to grant him permission to marry Zheng Yue to me, allowing me to emulate Jia Chong of the Jin Dynasty and have both a Left and a Right Consort… However, I refused him on the spot!”

As he said this, his eyes softened with pity. He once again caressed the arrow scar on her face. After taking the antidote, the red rash on her face had indeed disappeared, but the arrow scar remained.

“A’yu, I won’t let anyone force you into anything that makes you unhappy. You’ve suffered so much in the past, I won’t let you suffer any grievances or hardships in the future!”

With that, he asked A’xiu to fetch the medicinal ointment Xiao Jinyu had made and carefully applied it to the scar on her face.

After applying the ointment, he embraced her once more.

As if cherishing and clinging to every moment with her, Xiao Jinyu leaned against his chest, sensing his tension and worry. She asked, “Changgong, did His Majesty say anything else to you?”

Gao Changgong was taken aback. He recalled Gao Zhan’s frivolous face, marked by excessive indulgence in wine and women, and how he had asked him in a half-joking manner, “Changgong, is your princess consort truly disfigured? Or are you intentionally concealing it from me? I sent you as an envoy to Southern Chen to bring back one or two Southern beauties for me, why are you keeping her all to yourself?”

He had been furious at the time, only saying, “A’yu is my wife. I hope Your Majesty will be careful with your words and show her respect!”

Gao Zhan’s face had darkened on the spot, but he still managed to restrain his anger, dismissing the matter with a laugh and allowing him to leave the Zhaoyang Palace.

But he knew that perhaps in Gao Zhan’s heart, he had already been placed on the emperor’s assassination list!

Faced with Xiao Jinyu’s question, Gao Changgong just shook his head and smiled, kissing her cheek. He said, “It’s nothing. Gao Zhan praised your painting skills, saying they surpass even Zu Ting. He has hung your painting, ‘Ice Well Terrace Night Banquet,’ in his sleeping quarters and spends several hours every day admiring it.”

“Really? It’s good that he can see it. I hope he can find his conscience within the painting…”

✿✿✿

At that moment, in the emperor’s sleeping quarters, Gao Zhan had just thrown a tantrum, and the palace maids were still trembling in fear.

He Shikai played the pipa for him and even performed the Hu Xuan dance to elicit a smile from the emperor.

“Your Majesty, please don’t be angry. This Gao Changgong is so ungrateful. He has achieved great merits, yet he is arrogant and spoiled. Why not just…”

Gao Zhan waved his hand, signaling him to be silent. He then looked at the “Ice Well Terrace Night Banquet” painting hanging on the wall. He had been looking at it for a whole day, yet he never tired of it. The more he looked, the more he became absorbed in it, to the point where even He Shikai’s pipa and Hu Xuan dance lost their appeal.

He Shikai was somewhat displeased. He asked, “Your Majesty, is this painting really that good?”

“It is indeed good. I don’t know why, but looking at it makes me want to cry.”

“Why is that?”

“This painting reminds me of my father, my brothers, all my loved ones who have passed away.

Back when my father was still the powerful official of Eastern Wei, he fought many battles. During a siege on Yubi, he encountered Wei Xiaokuan, the most renowned general of Western Wei. My father, who had rarely met his match in his life, lost to Wei Xiaokuan in that battle and became ill with grief, eventually passing away.

My eldest brother Gao Cheng was assassinated on the eve of the Wei emperor’s abdication, dying at the age of twenty-nine.

My second brother Gao Yang built the Great Wall for four thousand li and established twenty-five border towns. He repeatedly defeated the Turks and the Khitans, but later became violent and bloodthirsty, eventually dying from excessive drinking at the age of thirty-four.

And then there’s my sixth brother Gao Yan. He established many granaries and promoted agriculture, but he also unfortunately died young at the age of twenty-seven!

Sometimes I wonder if the heirs to the throne of our Gao family are cursed by fate, destined to not live past forty?”

As he said this, Gao Zhan suddenly started coughing violently from the strong liquor he had just consumed. He suffered from asthma and was fond of alcohol. Originally, he had renowned physicians like Xu Zhicai to treat him, but because Xu Zhicai had said his illness was caused by “excessive indulgence in lust and great depletion,” repeatedly advising him to abstain from alcohol and sex, Gao Zhan became displeased. He Shikai also whispered slanders about Xu Zhicai’s disrespect in his ear, so he simply demoted Xu Zhicai and sent him away to another region.

Now, there was no imperial physician who could surpass Xu Zhicai’s skills.

Seeing Gao Zhan coughing violently, He Shikai patted his chest and back while tearfully advising him, “Your Majesty, please don’t grieve. You were born with wisdom teeth, a sign of great intelligence and longevity. You are not a celestial being, but the Emperor of Heaven, different from Emperor Wenxuan and Emperor Xiaozhao. You will surely live to be a thousand years old!”

Gao Zhan laughed. He always enjoyed He Shikai’s flattery, and hearing it made him feel particularly cheerful.

Seeing him happy, He Shikai lowered his voice slightly and said, “However, Your Majesty, I feel that if this painting makes you unhappy, then it is not a good painting. Moreover, Your Majesty, don’t you think that the Princess Consort of Lanling intentionally painted me very small?”

Upon hearing this, Gao Zhan carefully examined the painting again and laughed. “Indeed, Yantong is painted a bit small, but that’s because you were standing behind me. It’s nothing strange!”

“Your Majesty, the Princess Consort of Lanling is implying that I am a villain!”

Gao Zhan couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“She’s just a woman. Yantong, don’t mind her.”

He Shikai bowed his head silently.

The smile on Gao Zhan’s face suddenly vanished.

“If this woman is truly, as you say, intentionally concealing her appearance, then what should I do? Today, I merely tested the waters by suggesting that Changgong take that Zheng Clan’s legitimate daughter as his Right Consort, and he refused. It seems he truly has feelings for this Xiao Clan girl!”

“Your Majesty, in my opinion…”

“I know what you’re going to say. You can’t hide the matter of the false imperial edict from me. Although it wasn’t directly your doing, it wasn’t necessarily without your suggestion. I have already found a scapegoat for you to appease his heart. However, as for killing him, let’s not discuss it for now. There will be a war between our Qi and the Zhou, and even if Gao Changgong is to die, it must be after our Qi has dealt a heavy blow to the Zhou army!

Compared to the Xianbei nobles Duan Shao and Hu Lüguang, I trust him more!”

Duan Shao was Empress Dowager Lou’s nephew and currently served as Grand Marshal, overseeing military affairs and participating in court politics. His reputation was widespread throughout the court and the common people, and he was extremely skilled in strategy, deeply loved by the soldiers.

Hu Lüguang was also a highly esteemed official, with illustrious achievements and a strict but fair approach to governing and commanding troops. The soldiers under his command all vied to serve him with their lives.

Like Wei Xiaokuan of Northern Zhou, these two were like stabilizing pillars for Northern Qi.

However, their high positions and great power also made Gao Zhan extremely fearful.

He Shikai’s heart skipped a beat. He finally understood that what Gao Zhan feared most were Duan Shao and Hu Lüguang. Gao Changgong was merely a pawn he wanted to use to counterbalance these Xianbei nobles.

Therefore, even if he was unhappy, he couldn’t kill Gao Changgong right away.

He had almost gone against the emperor’s wishes.

Seeing him silent, Gao Zhan suddenly asked, “By the way, how is my mother doing now?”

He had ascended the throne thanks to Empress Dowager Lou’s will, but at the same time, Empress Dowager Lou heavily favored Xianbei nobles and stubbornly held onto military and political power, restricting his authority as emperor. Towards this mother, he didn’t know whether he felt more gratitude or resentment.

As soon as Gao Zhan finished speaking, a palace attendant came to report, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is critically ill. All the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy have gathered. Please proceed to the Chongde Palace in the Northern Palace!”

Ever since Empress Dowager Lou fell ill, Gao Zhan had forbidden her from participating in court affairs and had her settled in the Chongde Palace within the Northern Palace, far from the Southern City Imperial Palace.

Hearing the words “critically ill” at this moment, Gao Zhan actually felt a sense of joy in his heart. However, for the sake of outward filial piety, he still took He Shikai and a group of imperial guards to the Northern Palace.

They traveled a long distance in the imperial palanquin before reaching the Chongde Palace in the Northern Palace.

✿✿✿

“How is she?” he asked impatiently as soon as he entered the palace.

All the imperial physicians shook their heads. The lead physician said with a solemn expression, “I’m afraid she is already…”

“Then quickly summon the Ministry of Rites to handle the Empress Dowager’s funeral arrangements!” Gao Zhan replied decisively.

The imperial physicians all meekly agreed, not daring to disobey his command.

Just then, a palace attendant came to report from outside, “Your Majesty, the Prince of Lanling has brought his princess consort to treat the Empress Dowager!”

“What? The Prince of Lanling brought his princess consort to treat the Empress Dowager?” He Shikai exclaimed.

Gao Zhan was also surprised. He scolded sternly,

“Nonsense! She’s already dead. What illness can a woman treat? Have the Prince of Lanling take her back!”

“Your Majesty, I have heard some rumors from the south. This Xiao Clan young lady has boldly declared in Southern Chen that she only treats those who are not destined to die! Why not let her take a look?” the lead physician pleaded.

Gao Zhan glanced at him, then at the other imperial physicians, and finally at Empress Dowager Lou, who lay on the bed with her eyes closed. At this moment, even the old woman by her side knelt down and begged, “Your Majesty, please let the Princess Consort of Lanling try. Even if it only prolongs the Empress Dowager’s life for a few more days, it will spread the reputation of Your Majesty’s filial piety and virtue far and wide!”

Gao Zhan was greatly displeased. He hated it when people tried to force him with filial piety. But since the words had already been spoken, he couldn’t completely ignore them. It was just a try, so be it!

“Then let her come in and try!”

After the emperor’s command was relayed outside the palace, the Prince of Lanling brought Xiao Jinyu to the Chongde Palace.

Xiao Jinyu bowed to Gao Zhan and then went to Empress Dowager Lou’s bedside to take her pulse.

After a long while, amid the curious anticipation of the imperial physicians, Xiao Jinyu only raised her head and said, “Your Majesty and everyone, please excuse yourselves for a moment. I wish to administer acupuncture treatment!”

Seeing Emperor Gao Zhan’s confusion, Gao Changgong added, “Your Majesty, A’yu needs complete focus when treating patients. It’s best to avoid any disturbances!”

Gao Zhan was stunned for a moment before replying, “Alright, I’ll have them all leave!”

Even though he was displeased in his heart, he still left the sleeping quarters with the imperial physicians and waited in the main hall outside.

They waited for nearly two hours, and the imperial physicians were starting to feel tired.

“I wonder if the Princess Consort of Lanling is truly as skilled in medicine as the rumors say, capable of bringing the dead back to life!”

“No matter how skilled she is, Empress Dowager Lou’s body has already reached… I’m afraid…”

As the imperial physicians were sighing and discussing, they saw the Prince of Lanling, with a worried expression, carrying his princess consort in his arms as he strode out of the palace.

“Quickly, examine her! How is she doing?”

The lead physician stepped forward and took the pulse of Xiao Jinyu, who had fallen into a deep sleep.

“Your Highness, the princess consort’s body is weak and cold. This is due to Qi deficiency! Could it be because she just treated the Empress Dowager…”

“Just tell me how to treat her!”

“Alright, I’ll write a prescription for Your Highness. She just needs to rest well!”

While the lead physician, Sun Taiyi, went to write the prescription, the other imperial physicians asked curiously,

“How is the Empress Dowager?”

“Yes, how is she? Why hasn’t she woken up yet, while the princess consort herself has collapsed?”

Gao Changgong was in no mood to answer their questions. He took the prescription from Sun Taiyi as soon as it was written and, carrying Xiao Jinyu in his arms, strode towards the exit of the palace.

Just as he stepped out of the Chongde Palace, Gao Zhan suddenly shouted, “Wait—”

He then walked up to Gao Changgong and reached out towards Xiao Jinyu’s face, which was half-hidden by her black hair.

Gao Changgong immediately dodged. “What is Your Majesty doing?”

Gao Zhan’s hand froze in midair, his expression turning extremely unsightly. Just then, from the Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters, came the cheers of the palace maids, “The Empress Dowager is awake! The Empress Dowager has truly been cured!”

Cured?

Truly cured?

Gao Zhan frowned and then headed towards the Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters. As he took a few steps and looked back, Gao Changgong had already carried his princess consort out of the main hall and boarded their carriage.

Gao Zhan’s face was filled with suspicion. He immediately called He Shikai over and whispered something in his ear before entering the Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters.

If he hadn’t been mistaken just now, the red rash that had covered half of that Southern woman’s face had completely disappeared, hadn’t it?

…

After returning to the Prince of Lanling’s residence, Gao Changgong immediately called Fenghuang and A’xiu to fetch and decoct the medicine for Xiao Jinyu, staying by her side without leaving for a single moment.

“Your Highness, what’s wrong with the princess consort?” Lu Yu asked worriedly.

“I don’t know why, but it seems that every time she treats someone with a serious illness, her own body becomes weak, and she falls into a deep sleep. This is the second time I’ve seen her like this!”

“Then if that’s the case, we can’t let the princess consort casually treat people anymore?”

Gao Changgong’s heart ached, and he didn’t speak further. If he had known this would happen, he would never have let her treat people at the cost of her own health!

In contrast to the worry and fear that filled the Prince of Lanling’s residence, the Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters were filled with laughter and joy. The news of the Princess Consort of Lanling curing the Empress Dowager spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every street and alley in Yecheng.

“She actually cured the Empress Dowager’s illness! It turns out the rumors about her exceptional medical skills at the Ice Well Terrace that day were true!”

“This Princess Consort of Lanling is truly remarkable. Not only did her painting skills receive high praise from His Majesty, who claimed they surpassed even Zu Ting, but even her medical skills…”

“And she only treats those who are not destined to die!”

“So she’s a true divine physician!”

“Not only a divine physician, but also a talented woman. I’m afraid she might even become a goddess in the future, isn’t that right? She can also pray for rain, and the three days she mentioned are almost up!”

Hearing the news, Zheng Yue felt even more disappointed and heartbroken. But since she had already decided to love what Changgong loved, just like him, she couldn’t back down now. So, Zheng Yue once again knocked on the door of the Prince of Lanling’s residence. However, it was Lu Yu who opened the door, saying that the Prince didn’t want to see anyone at the moment and telling her to leave quickly!

Zheng Yue was once again rejected. At this moment, an extremely dark hatred quietly grew in her heart.

Meanwhile, Zheng Fourteenth Young Master, who was drunk, was knocked unconscious in an alley, his head covered with a sack, and dragged into a tavern.

When Zheng Fourteenth Young Master opened his eyes, he saw a large mica screen in front of him, with the graceful silhouette of a woman reflected on it.

“Who are you? Why did you bring me here?”