The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 177

Chapter 177: Eloquent Speech in the Hall, Embarking on a Mission to the Zhou State

Yubi City, located north of the Yellow River and near the Fen River, was also the border between Northern Qi and Northern Zhou, and the most important military stronghold. Several years ago, the powerful official of the Eastern Wei, Gao Huan, wanted to conquer Yubi City and destroy the Western Wei. However, he besieged the city for a long time but could not capture it. Later, due to heavy losses of troops, he had to retreat. After returning to his army, he died of illness. Since then, the Eastern Wei had never been able to cross Yubi City, until the present Northern Qi.

And Wei Xiaokuan became famous because of this battle and became a renowned general of the Northern Zhou. Emperor Zhou, in recognition of his merits, established Xun Prefecture in Yubi and appointed him as the Inspector of Xun Prefecture.

“Why did Yuwen Hu ask our Qi envoy to go to Yubi City to negotiate peace with Wei Xiaokuan?”

After receiving the imperial edict, Gao Changgong was very worried about Xiao Jinyu.

“It should be that Yuwen Hu doesn’t believe at all that Qi will sincerely negotiate peace with Zhou, so he asked Wei Xiaokuan to make this judgment.”

“A’yu, Yuwen Hu is suspicious. I’m afraid that if the peace talks are unsuccessful, will he take risks… After all, he is the powerful official of Zhou who has killed three emperors with extremely ruthless means!”

Seeing Gao Changgong’s more nervous expression, Xiao Jinyu shook her head and said, “Are you afraid that he will let Wei Xiaokuan kill me? No, envoys are not killed during wars between two countries. Even if Yuwen Hu is ruthless and unscrupulous, Wei Xiaokuan will not do such a thing.”

“I’m just afraid that he will do things secretly that he doesn’t dare to do openly. When I was on a mission to Southern Chen, didn’t someone also want to kill me and provoke a war between Qi and Chen?”

After saying that, she seemed to have made up her mind and held Xiao Jinyu’s hand,

“A’yu, I’m not at ease with you going alone. I’m going to ask His Majesty for permission to go to Yubi with you first, and then go to Jinyang!”

Mentioning going to Jinyang, Gao Changgong smiled bitterly again.

“Now, General Duan is already stationed in Jinyang, and Gao Zhan has sent me to Jinyang and Bing Prefecture to train troops. This is obviously to get rid of me and drive me out of Yecheng. I’m afraid the purpose is still for you!”

Xiao Jinyu also agreed with his guess and nodded.

“Even if that’s the case, then I’ll let A’xiu help me pretend to be sick at home and not go to the Southern City Imperial Palace!”

Gao Changgong shook his head and said, “No, I’ll take you to Jinyang!”

✿✿✿

Once Gao Changgong made up his mind, he quickly presented his thoughts to Gao Zhan, saying, “Xie Zhen was brought to Qi by me, and I recommended him to enter officialdom. I have not only a colleague’s friendship with him, but also a brotherly affection. This time, Zhou chose Yubi as the place for peace talks. I’m afraid it’s a trap. I implore you to allow me to go on a mission with Xie Zhen. Once the peace talks are successful and Xie Zhen returns to Yecheng, I will immediately go to Jinyang and Bing Prefecture to be stationed!”

Gao Zhan thought for a while and felt that this request was not too much. As long as he didn’t take his princess consort away and left Xiao Jinyu in Yecheng, everything else was easy to say.

Thinking like this, he even directly demanded, “Alright, but I heard that you are strict in military discipline when training troops, you never get close to women, and you also require soldiers to be strict with themselves. This is a good habit. Continue to carry it forward in the future,

and do not bring female companions to the military camp!”

Gao Changgong laughed inwardly, really not knowing what to say. Such an obvious intention, was he being treated as a fool!

“Yes, then I will take my leave!”

Gao Changgong was about to leave when Gao Zhan seemed to think of something and suddenly said, “Oh right, Sima Maozong and Bi Yiyun said that you brought back a Zhou spy from Pengcheng. Where is this person now?”

Gao Changgong looked up, “Your Majesty, this person cannot appear in front of people yet, otherwise he will definitely be silenced!”

“Can’t you even tell me?”

Gao Zhan’s expression obviously darkened. Gao Changgong raised his head and saw He Shikai looking at him triumphantly, while Li Mi was anxious.

“Your Majesty, I think it would be better to wait until Xie, the Palace Attendant, succeeds in the peace talks and returns, and then capture this person in front of Your Majesty, wouldn’t it be better?” Li Mi suggested.

As soon as Li Mi finished speaking, He Shikai said, “Your Majesty, the matter of the Zhou spy is more dangerous with each passing day. The sooner we interrogate him, the sooner we can rest assured!”

Hearing this sentence, Gao Changgong frowned in displeasure and was about to retort when a palace attendant’s voice came from outside the hall, “Your Majesty, Xie, the Palace Attendant, requests an audience!”

Gao Zhan paused slightly and said, “Let him in!”

“Yes!”

Summoned by the palace attendant, “Xie Zhen” came to the Zhaoyang Hall, where the discussion was taking place, wearing the official attire of the third rank.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!”

“Rise!”

Xiao Jinyu stood up, and Gao Zhan asked, “Xie Qing, are you here because of the peace talks?”

Xiao Jinyu then said, “No, Your Majesty. Your Majesty has already issued an imperial edict regarding the peace talks, and I will definitely go. This is a settled matter. I am here today to confess to Your Majesty about the Zhou spy at Fenglai Residence in Pengcheng. That day, Prince of Lanling and the Princess Consort traveled from the Southern Dynasty across the river to Pengcheng, and I was also among them.

Because we encountered an assassination attempt by the martial artist assassin Nie Yinniang on our boat journey, the Princess Consort used her exceptional medical skills to treat the Prince of Lanling’s subordinates who had been drugged unconscious by the assassin. We then defeated Nie Yinniang and took her under our command. Later, Nie Yinniang confessed to me, the Prince of Lanling, and the Princess Consort that Fenglai Residence was a secret agent base.

Afterward, Nie Yinniang captured Shopkeeper Jia of Fenglai Residence. We also learned from Shopkeeper Jia’s mouth that he had been working as a spy in Pengcheng, communicating between a master in Yecheng and Zhou. However, because this person is very stubborn, we have not yet been able to find out from him who this master really is.

This matter is of great importance, and I am also afraid that this person will randomly accuse others, so I think it is not appropriate for him to see Your Majesty, lest this spy has the intention of assassinating the monarch!

Because this person is also very good at using poison and can kill people invisibly!”

Hearing the last sentence, Gao Zhan became a little scared, coughed twice, and said, “Then forget it, forget it, let’s not see him!”

At this time, “Xie Zhen” knelt down again and said solemnly, “Your Majesty, please give me some time. After I go on a mission to Yubi and return, I will give Your Majesty an answer!”

“Xie Qing, do you have any suspects?” Gao Zhan asked again.

Xiao Jinyu answered truthfully, “Yes, I have suspects, but I don’t have enough evidence to point them out, lest I be suspected of making slanderous remarks in front of Your Majesty!”

As soon as she finished speaking, He Shikai’s face darkened, and Gao Zhan laughed again.

“Recently, Lady Lu of the Commandery has been submitting memorials to me, saying that she has confessed to the assassination attempt on you, but it was just a misunderstanding. She mistook you for a Zhou spy, so she sent Gao Anagong to assassinate you,

but she also accused Prince of Lanling of another matter, saying that there are descendants of the rebel Murong clan hiding in the Prince of Lanling’s residence. How do you explain this?”

Gao Zhan asked this to give her a chance to explain.

Xiao Jinyu then replied, “Your Majesty, I don’t know that there are descendants of the Murong clan in the Prince of Lanling’s residence. I don’t know who revealed this matter, but please ask him to identify himself in person. Who is this person?”

“Isn’t it that Xianbei boy who saved the Princess Consort of Lanling on the Bronze Sparrow Terrace that day?” He Shikai interjected.

Xiao Jinyu laughed.

“Your Majesty, the person that Palace Attendant He is talking about is a retainer by the Princess Consort of Lanling’s side, right? This child has been following the Princess Consort since before she got married, and the two have already concluded a master-servant contract. He is just a retainer of the Princess Consort. Not to mention that this matter has nothing to do with Prince of Lanling, even if he is a descendant of the Murong clan, what does it matter?

I remember that Emperor Shenwu reused the Murong clan back then because they were strong in using troops and extremely brave. The son of Murong Shaozong has also been serving the Bohai Gao clan. Although I don’t know why he was later charged with the crime of rebellion, his son is young and has nothing to do with his father’s actions, right?

Our dynasty is not without examples of re-employing the descendants of rebels. Lady Lu of the Commandery, she is also the widow of a rebel, isn’t she?”

“You—” He Shikai was so angry that he was speechless.

However, Gao Zhan had an ambiguous smile on his lips, and then he heard “Xie Zhen” say very seriously, “Your Majesty, I think it is very easy to kill a person, but instead of killing a person, it is better to use a discarded pawn, which can also demonstrate Your Majesty’s wisdom!”

“How do you use a discarded pawn?” Gao Zhan asked with interest.

“Xie Zhen” then replied, “If that child is really a descendant of the Murong clan, he must have a certain prestige in the army. It is better to let him atone for his crimes by making contributions and guarding the border with Prince of Lanling!”

At this time, He Shikai sarcastically said, “You are admitting that the child is a descendant of the Murong clan, right?”

“I didn’t say that! I don’t know. It’s all Palace Attendant He who firmly believes that the child is a descendant of the Murong clan, so I just expressed my opinion based on that!”

“Xie Zhen” put on an innocent expression again.

✿✿✿

He Shikai was about to say something when Gao Zhan laughed again, interrupting what he wanted to say.

“Alright, Yantong, I like Xie Qing’s eloquent and serious look. I’m relieved to have him as the peace envoy!”

Having said that, Gao Zhan glanced at Prince of Lanling again.

“Alright, you and Prince of Lanling can go back now!”

“Yes, then I will take my leave!”

Prince of Lanling got up and was about to leave with Xiao Jinyu when he heard Gao Zhan say, “Oh right, although you are Prince of Lanling’s advisor, you have also entered officialdom in our Qi now. It’s not appropriate to always stay in the Prince of Lanling’s residence. I should grant you a residence… Then wait until you succeed in the peace talks and come back, and I will grant you one!”

Gao Changgong wanted to say something, but Xiao Jinyu immediately interrupted,

“Yes, Your Majesty! If Your Majesty grants me a residence, please let me be neighbors with Prince of Lanling!”

Gao Zhan glanced at “Xie Zhen”, then at Prince of Lanling, and once again showed a surprised and understanding expression.

“Alright! Then let’s do that! Tomorrow, I will hold a banquet in front of this Taiji Hall to see you and Prince of Lanling off on your mission!”

✿✿✿

The news that Xie Zhen, the newly appointed Assistant Minister of the Secretariat, was going to go on a mission to Zhou with Prince of Lanling to negotiate peace quickly spread throughout Yecheng. Upon hearing the news, Mu Tipo relayed the news to the Imperial Court Prison again. In the past half month, in order to rescue his mother, he had lobbied all the officials who had once flattered their mother and son. He had also cried about his grievances in front of Crown Prince Gao Wei. A seven or eight-year-old child had no ability to distinguish right from wrong, so he believed whatever he heard. He also repeatedly requested Gao Zhan to pardon Lady Lu of the Commandery.

Gao Zhan had been silent, neither ordering her to be sentenced to a serious crime nor agreeing to release her from the Imperial Court Prison. He just ordered Sima Maozong to keep her imprisoned like this. Moreover, Bi Yiyun had privately arranged a very good single cell for her, treating her with good food and drink. Even when Mu Tipo sometimes came to “visit” his mother, he ordered the guarding jailers to leave and not disturb them.

At this time, hearing Mu Tipo convey the news that Prince of Lanling and Xie Zhen were about to go on a mission to Zhou, the corners of Lu Lingxuan’s lips curled up.

“Mother, this Xie Zhen is now highly valued by His Majesty. He has even been sent on a mission to Zhou. If the peace talks are successful, won’t he be promoted again when he returns?”

“He is already the Assistant Minister of the Secretariat of the third rank, where else can he be promoted? His Majesty has always been so absurd, it’s just a whim, granting him an official position. As for whether he has real power, it depends on his ability!”

Speaking of this, Lu Lingxuan laughed happily, “However, this is an opportunity. Since His Majesty has sent both Prince of Lanling and Xie Zhen away, then only Xiao Jinyu is left in the Prince of Lanling’s residence in Yecheng. I guess His Majesty also wants to get this stunning beauty into his bed, so he deliberately found an excuse to get rid of those two, right?”

Hearing this, Mu Tipo’s eyes lit up.

“That is to say, during this time, we have plenty of opportunities to deal with this Princess Consort of Lanling?”

“If we can make Xie Zhen unable to return to Yecheng, or if the peace talks are unsuccessful, then it will be even more meritorious!”

Lu Lingxuan looked at Mu Tipo and said sternly.

“Yes!”

“We can also let our spies lurking in Zhou take action, to ruin this peace talk. It would be best if Wei Xiaokuan killed Xie Zhen and Prince of Lanling!”

“Yes, Mother!”

Mu Tipo took a ring from Lu Lingxuan and walked out of the Imperial Court Prison. Before leaving, he deliberately threatened and bribed Bi Yiyun.

“Take good care of my mother, otherwise I will immediately report to His Majesty about all the assets and houses you have embezzled!”

“Yes, General Mu!”

“Do a good job, and my mother will not treat Minister Bi badly! I think it won’t be long before His Majesty issues an edict to release my mother!”

After whispering in Bi Yiyun’s ear, Mu Tipo swaggered out of the main gate of the Imperial Court Prison!

✿✿✿

The Prince of Lanling’s residence was also bustling with activity at this time. Not only did Li Mi and Cui Heng rush over upon hearing the news, but even Gao Yanzong, Gao Xiaoheng, and Gao Xiaowan also came to the Prince of Lanling’s residence to visit. There was inevitably worry in their expressions.

Especially Gao Yanzong, who even asked Gao Changgong privately, “You are all going on a mission, then what about Fourth Sister-in-law alone in the residence? His Majesty’s intention is too obvious, this is clearly to get rid of you and then… Also, Fourth Brother, when did you have an advisor named Xie Zhen by your side, and he is such a talented person!”

Gao Changgong took Gao Yanzong alone into the study and ordered Lu Yu to guard outside, and they began a heart-to-heart talk in secret.

“Yanzong, there may be a long time when I am not in Yecheng. I need your help, to help me protect Xie Zhen!”

“Protect him for what? Then who will protect Fourth Sister-in-law? No, Fourth Brother, you won’t… Fourth Sister-in-law is such a good person, you can’t mess around! Don’t you love her very much?”

Gao Changgong laughed and replied, “Yes, I love her very much, whether it’s him or her, I love them to the bone…

She is more important than my life…”

Gao Yanzong looked at his expression with some bewilderment, and after a long time, he sighed, “Fourth Brother, you really… This is the first time I’ve seen you like this…

Then if that’s the case, you shouldn’t… Xie Zhen is good, a top-notch talent, but this love for men is not good, Fourth Sister-in-law will be angry too, right?”

“She won’t, because…” Gao Changgong paused and said softly in an extremely low and affectionate tone, “He is also her!”

Hearing this, Gao Yanzong almost fell off the low stool in shock.

After a long while, he asked, “What do you mean?”

He couldn’t believe it, and to confirm whether he was thinking wildly, he asked again, “Do you mean what I think you mean?”

Gao Changgong was silent for a long time, then nodded and said, “Yes!”

“Don’t get too excited, I’m telling you this because I need your help to keep this secret. In Yecheng, besides Li Mi and Cui Heng, I can only trust you. But Li Mi and Cui Heng are both scholars and do not hold military power. Moreover, they also have large families behind them. I’m still not at ease, only you…”

“Alright, Fourth Brother, you don’t have to say anymore, I understand!” After finally calming down from this sudden shock, Gao Yanzong asked after a long time, “Fourth Brother, you will accompany her to Yubi to finish the peace talks, and then you will immediately go to Jinyang, right?”

“Yes!”

“So, you need me to go on a mission to Zhou with you?”

“Yes! Anyway, His Majesty hasn’t assigned you any tasks now!”

Hearing this, Gao Yanzong was a little angry, but then he said excitedly, “Okay, Fourth Brother, don’t worry, leave this to me!”

“There is one more thing, that is, how to deal with His Majesty here in Yecheng?”

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