The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 175

Chapter 175: A Series of Schemes, Making Her Lose Completely

When Gao Zhan’s imperial edict reached Minister Lu’s Residence, Mu Tipo rushed back excitedly. As soon as he entered the door, he couldn’t wait to boast to his mother: “Mother, it’s done. I’ve brought back everyone from the envoy, including that old Lady Yang. They’re all in the Imperial Court Prison now. I’ve had Bi Yiyun personally examine each one of them to see if any are Murong Jue in disguise!”

After Mu Tipo finished speaking, his face was still filled with the joy of success. Last time, Mother said that the twelve-year-old boy wouldn’t disguise himself as a child. Now, he had brought back everyone, regardless of age or gender. He would definitely find that boy, right?

But his joy didn’t last long. The smile on his face quickly disappeared after Lu Lingxuan slapped him!

“Mother, why did you hit me again?”

“Why are you so stupid and don’t use your brain? Who told you to bring back everyone from the envoy?” Lu Lingxuan said angrily.

Mu Tipo covered his face and cried with grievance.

“Didn’t Mother teach your son, ‘Better to wrongly kill than to let one go’? Son is also willing to wrongly arrest rather than let anyone escape!”

Lu Lingxuan was so angry that she was speechless. She forced herself to calm down for a while before asking: “Did you really arrest everyone? No one escaped?”

“Yes, Mother!”

“Didn’t you encounter Han Changluan when you came back?” Lu Lingxuan asked again.

Mu Tipo looked blank and shook his head: “No, Mother. Did something happen?”

Lu Lingxuan then said: “His Majesty suspects me. Just as you came back, an imperial edict came from the palace, summoning me to enter the palace immediately!”

“I’m afraid His Majesty also knows about Han Changluan leading troops out of Yecheng and intercepted him in advance!”

Mu Tipo also became nervous and worried.

“How could this be? In the past, no matter what Mother did, even if she killed a few insignificant officials or members of the imperial clan, His Majesty wouldn’t pursue it. How could he suspect Mother because of this small matter?”

“I don’t know either. I’m afraid Xie Zhen’s influence on him is too great. And that Xiao Jinyu, a single prayer for rain shattered my prestige among the people of Yecheng and my weight in His Majesty’s heart has gradually weakened. And this Xie Zhen, not only has extraordinary talent, but also knows how to speak to please His Majesty…” Speaking of this, Lu Lingxuan seemed to understand something, her eyes filled with shock. “Could this be a series of schemes by Xie Zhen, aiming to make us chase back the envoy and thus arouse Gao Zhan’s suspicion?”

This shock was no small matter. Mu Tipo couldn’t help but feel scared.

“So what if His Majesty suspects us?”

“If His Majesty suspects us, it means that all the privileges we have obtained from the Son of Heaven will be revoked. We will be obstructed in everything we do in the future, and we may even face imprisonment!”

Hearing this, Mu Tipo angrily slammed his fist on the table.

“Damn it! That Xie Zhen, I will kill him sooner or later!”

Lu Lingxuan didn’t have time to explain to her son anymore. She only instructed him to stay at home and not go anywhere. She then took an ox cart into the palace, straight to Zhaoyang Palace where the Emperor was.

At this moment, Palace Attendant He Shikai, Minister of Justice Bi Yiyun, Minister of the Right Wei Shou, Minister of Justice Sima Maozong, as well as Assistant Minister of the Secretariat “Xie Zhen” and Prince of Lanling were all standing in Zhaoyang Palace.

Li Mi was taking notes on the side!

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy!

Lu Lingxuan had already sensed that something was wrong, but maintaining her composure and the smile on her face was her lifelong cultivation.

After entering Zhaoyang Palace, she bowed to Gao Zhan, who was frowning: “Your Majesty summoned this subject. What important matter is there?”

Gao Zhan pointed to Sima Maozong on the side: “Show her!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Sima Maozong opened the scroll in his hand and displayed it in front of Lu Lingxuan.

All that could be seen on it were records of Gao Anagong entering Minister Lu’s Residence at a certain time on a certain day of a certain month, and staying for several hours before leaving!

It was evidence proving Gao Anagong’s private dealings with her.

But these were nothing. The most important thing was the last few sentences. The Minister of Justice found two letters on Gao Anagong’s body: One was to lure Xie Zhen to the Northern Palace and kill him, then plant another letter proving his identity as a spy from Zhou on him. This way, even if His Majesty valued his talent, he would never tolerate his identity as a spy!

The second was to secretly disguise Yan as Yang and let the envoy of Qi openly send the Grand Steward’s mother back to our Zhou!

After reading this, Lu Lingxuan’s face changed drastically. Her gaze shot towards Xie Zhen, then at Gao Zhan!

“Your Majesty, these two letters were definitely not written by this subject. They have nothing to do with this subject!”

Lu Lingxuan knelt down!

“Don’t I recognize your handwriting?” Gao Zhan sneered. “Lu Lingxuan, you’ve always been cunning. To kill one Xie Zhen, you used so many schemes, not only wanting his life, but also wanting him to be completely discredited after his death. This is something you are capable of doing!

And you definitely have the brains to do this!”

“Otherwise, why did you send your son to chase back the envoy overnight? Do you want the people of Zhou to see me as a joke?”

“Your Majesty, this subject suspected that there was a spy in the envoy, and also…” She pointed at Xiao Jinyu. “It must be Xie Zhen, it must be him playing tricks, deliberately framing this subject!”

“Your Majesty, Gao Anagong is already dead. The murderer is still unknown. How can you believe whatever is found on a dead person? Even if it’s this subject’s handwriting, how can you be sure it wasn’t imitated by someone else?”

“Then let me ask you, you’ve always been cautious and never show your handwriting to outsiders. Xie Zhen is a stranger to you, how could he imitate your handwriting?”

“Also, Gao Anagong is dead, but sometimes a dead person can also be used as evidence!”

Gao Zhan said, then ordered Sima Maozong to turn another page of the scroll and show it to Lu Lingxuan.

“Among the death warriors brought by Gao Anagong, there was one named Erzhu Ying, a former subordinate of Murong Sisu. This Erzhu Ying once resented our Bohai Gao Clan. You took him in as your death warrior, were you thinking of rebelling one day with these people who are dissatisfied with my Gao imperial family?”

The crime of rebellion was not something anyone could bear!

Lu Lingxuan’s face turned pale instantly. She hurriedly kowtowed and said: “Your Majesty, this subject is wronged. This subject is wholeheartedly devoted to Your Majesty, teaching the Crown Prince, only wanting to fulfill this subject’s duty, with absolutely no other intentions. Moreover, this subject is a woman, neither a member of the imperial clan nor having a husband’s family to rely on. A widowed mother with an orphaned child, what benefit would rebellion bring to this subject?”

When she said this, Gao Zhan seemed to think it made sense, and his expression actually softened.

Xiao Jinyu sneered in her heart: You indeed seem to have nothing to rely on, but you adopted the imperial consort favored by the Crown Prince as your daughter, then interfered in politics as the mother of the favored consort, even overriding the Empress Dowager’s authority, becoming the de facto regent behind the curtain!

But she couldn’t say these words out loud yet!

At this moment, Liu Taozhi came to Zhaoyang Palace and reported to the Emperor: “Your Majesty, Yuwen Hu’s mother, Yan, has been found!”

“Where was she found?” Gao Zhan asked.

“In the envoy’s carriage. The Lady Yang in the carriage was Yan in disguise!”

Hearing that Lady Yang was actually Yan in disguise, Gao Zhan’s face darkened even more. He glanced at Bi Yiyun and then turned his gaze to Lu Lingxuan.

“So, having Yan disguised as Yang and sending her back to Zhou as part of the plan was your scheme?”

Suddenly remembering that Lu Lingxuan’s husband, Luo Chao, was originally a surrendered general from Western Wei, Gao Zhan became suspicious and asked sharply:

“Lu Lingxuan, are you a spy for my Qi, or a spy for Zhou?”

Lu Lingxuan was so frightened that she kowtowed again and explained: “Your Majesty, this subject truly didn’t know about this. If I had known, I wouldn’t have sent my son to chase back the envoy!”

Gao Zhan was slightly taken aback. After pondering for a moment, he looked at Lu Lingxuan again, then immediately ordered: “Then summon Yan in and ask her!”

“Yes!”

After Liu Taozhi left to carry out his orders, he brought Yan to Taiji Palace!

Seeing Yan’s withered appearance, Gao Zhan seemed unable to bear it. He coughed lightly twice and asked: “Old Madam, I’m going to ask you something. You must answer truthfully!”

“Your Majesty, please ask whatever you want.”

“Who disguised you?”

Yan pondered for a moment before answering: “It seems to have been a Xianbei person…”

When she said this, Lu Lingxuan’s eyes lit up, but then she heard Yan continue: “My eyesight isn’t very good, but that person had a very obvious feature, which was that his head was full of braids. He should be very young!”

“Mu Tipo?” Gao Zhan narrowed his eyes, his anger growing even stronger!

“Absolutely impossible!” Lu Lingxuan interrupted sharply again. “Your Majesty, this Yan must have been bribed and is talking nonsense here. If my son really wanted to send her back to Zhou, why would he chase her back?”

✿✿✿

“Your Majesty, it wasn’t just this old woman who was chased back, but the entire envoy. Your Majesty clearly promised my son to send this old woman back to Zhou, so why go back on your word and play this old woman like a fool?”

Gao Zhan felt ashamed and embarrassed by the question!

“This old woman heard someone say that this whole scheme was just to frame someone. You played this old woman like a fool just to frame someone. Is this the act of a righteous gentleman?”

Hearing the old madam say this, Gao Zhan’s face changed again.

Lu Lingxuan still shouted: “Nonsense, this old woman is simply talking nonsense, Your Majesty…”

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear you anymore!”

Gao Zhan interrupted impatiently and ordered Liu Taozhi to take Yan away.

“Regardless of the truth of this matter, Lady Lu of the Commandery, as the head of my Qi’s intelligence agency, you actually let Old Madam Yan be taken out of Yecheng so openly. This is your dereliction of duty!

I have decided to revoke your position as head of the intelligence agency. After your identity is completely cleared, I will decide whether to return it to you!”

“Minister Bi, Minister Sima, take Lady Lu of the Commandery to the Imperial Court for investigation!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Bi Yiyun’s expression was a bit awkward, but Sima Maozong said to Lu Lingxuan unceremoniously: “Please, Lady Lu of the Commandery!”

Lu Lingxuan’s face was livid, but she could still remain calm in the face of danger. She glanced at “Xie Zhen” and Prince of Lanling again and sneered: “Alright! Then what’s the harm in going to the Imperial Court!”

✿✿✿

After Bi Yiyun and Sima Maozong took Lu Lingxuan away, Gao Zhan turned his suspicious gaze to “Xie Zhen”.

“Minister Xie, you’ve been wronged in this assassination attempt. I have now taken charge of the matter for you and will definitely give Lady Lu of the Commandery the appropriate punishment!”

“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty, for taking charge of the matter for this subject!”

“However, I’m very curious, you were clearly already in Taiji Palace in the Southern City to participate in the imperial examination, so why did you suddenly go to the Northern Palace?”

Xiao Jinyu took out an embroidered pouch from her bosom and replied: “Your Majesty, someone sent this subject an embroidered pouch. Inside the pouch was a note that said: It said that there was another child of my Xie family still alive in the world, and invited me to meet them in the Northern Palace! When this subject was young, I was indeed separated from my younger brother and younger sister during the war. I don’t know if they are still alive in this world. That day, upon hearing this news, I was momentarily anxious and went to the Northern Palace!”

The eunuch then handed the embroidered pouch to Gao Zhan. Gao Zhan took out the note inside and quickly glanced at it, frowning involuntarily, his suspicions growing.

“Then how did you escape from the nine death warriors brought by Gao Anagong?”

“Your Majesty, this subject was saved by a righteous person. Moreover, this subject has learned some self-defense skills since childhood, and also has some hidden weapons given to me by Prince of Lanling!”

Gao Zhan was silent for a moment, then waved his hand and said:

“Alright, you can go back!”

“Yes!” After responding, seeing that Gao Zhan didn’t say anything more, Xiao Jinyu said, “Then this subject will take my leave!”

With that, she and Prince of Lanling were about to walk out of the palace, but unexpectedly, Gao Zhan called out again: “Wait—”

Xiao Jinyu turned around and bowed, then heard him ask:

“Minister Xie, what do you think about sending Yuwen Hu’s mother, Yan, back to Zhou?”

Gao Zhan asking this question clearly had the intention of testing her, suspecting whether she had any connection with the Zhou spies, right?

Xiao Jinyu thought for a moment and replied: “Your Majesty, this subject believes that Yuwen Hu of Zhou has repeatedly threatened our Qi with military action, demanding that Your Majesty send Yan back to Zhou. This shows a lack of sincerity and is detrimental to our Qi’s national prestige. Qi and Zhou should have a sincere and genuine peace negotiation. If Yuwen Hu sincerely wants to take his mother back to Zhou, he should send an envoy to our Qi to personally welcome her, and he should also offer a corresponding return!”

Gao Zhan’s eyes lit up: “Then in your opinion, who should be the envoy for this peace negotiation?”

Xiao Jinyu knelt down, raised her hand, and bowed: “If Your Majesty trusts this subject, you can send this subject as the envoy. Although this subject has entered officialdom, I have no achievements to my name, and it will also cause Your Majesty to be criticized by the ministers. If this peace negotiation is successful, it can be considered as this subject making a contribution to Qi!”

Gao Zhan couldn’t help but be overjoyed and said: “Good! I also have this intention. Then I will immediately write a letter to Zhou, mentioning this peace negotiation!”

“Minister Xie, you should also make preparations and set out for Zhou soon!”

“Yes!” After responding, seeing that Gao Zhan didn’t say anything more, Xiao Jinyu said, “Then this subject will take my leave!”

With that, she and Prince of Lanling were about to leave the palace, but unexpectedly, Gao Zhan called out again: “Changgong, stay! I still have something to say to you!”

Gao Changgong turned around and said, “Yes!” Then he gestured for Xiao Jinyu to go out first.

After “Xie Zhen” left, Gao Zhan ordered Gao Changgong to sit down, as if he wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk over wine.

After the palace servants served the wine, he said with a concerned tone: “How is that stunning beauty in your house now? She must have been quite frightened after falling from such a high Bronze Sparrow Terrace last time, right?”

“Your Majesty, A’yu is no ordinary woman. The fall from the Bronze Sparrow Terrace last time did startle this subject, but A’yu quickly forgot about it. Now, my wife and I are very well!”

“Indeed, no ordinary woman. Such an intelligent and proud beauty, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen one. Changgong, you are more fortunate than me, to have such a beauty fall for you. I wonder what it feels like to sleep with such a beauty in your arms every day?”

After saying that, he actually burst into laughter, ignoring Gao Changgong’s annoyed expression, and said jokingly, “Few descendants of my Gao family are not fond of women. I originally thought you would be an exception, but it turns out that you just have higher standards!”

“I’m mindful of your hard work in the army, so I’ll bestow another twenty beauties upon you, how about that?”

At this point, Gao Changgong couldn’t listen anymore, so he interrupted: “Your Majesty, A’yu is not only my wife, but also a respected friend. Please don’t disrespect her!”

“Moreover, in this lifetime, having her is enough for this subject. I don’t need any beauties to disturb me!”

“If Your Majesty has nothing else, this subject will take my leave!”

With that said, Gao Changgong didn’t want to stay a moment longer and strode out of Zhaoyang Palace.

After he left, the gloomy expression on Gao Zhan’s face grew heavier and heavier, until finally, he overturned the table and started whipping the palace maids with a whip.

He Shikai kept chasing after him and trying to console him.

“I originally wanted to give him another chance, but I didn’t expect him to be so stubborn. Now he even dares to contradict me!”

“It seems that I have no choice but to send him to guard the border!”

✿✿✿

Seeing Gao Changgong walk out with a slightly angry and anxious expression, Xiao Jinyu couldn’t help but ask worriedly: “Changgong, what did His Majesty say to you again?”

Gao Changgong shook his head, his gaze towards Xiao Jinyu even more pained and affectionate. If she wasn’t standing in front of him as Xie Zhen, he really wanted to embrace her.

In the end, he only said: “It’s nothing, let’s go back quickly!”

Xiao Jinyu nodded and agreed, then said: “However, I want to go to the Imperial Court Prison and see Lady Lu of the Commandery! And by the way, I also want to see what your Qi’s Imperial Court Prison looks like.”

“Okay! I’ll accompany you!”