The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 181

Chapter 181: Xiao Jinyu’s Wish, Scheming with Wei Xiaokuan

After a soldier finished speaking, he bowed respectfully and retreated!

“Gentlemen, you have come from afar and must be exhausted. It is getting late now, so go and rest!”

Under Wei Xiaokuan’s order, the soldiers dispersed and returned to their camps. He then turned his gaze to “Xie Zhen”, as if he had something to ask. After pondering for a moment with a puzzled expression, he instructed Yin Gongzheng to take them to the specially arranged tents to rest.

The Zhou State treated them with the highest etiquette, so the tents were fully equipped with everything, and even a maid was assigned to serve them.

Prince of Lanling saw the maid staring at him for a long time with a burning gaze and a shy, timid expression. He felt a little uncomfortable and said to Yin Gongzheng, “Master Yin, I don’t need a maid to serve me. Besides, Xie, the Imperial Envoy, and I can stay in the same tent. It’s late at night, and it’s inconvenient to have others here, so let her go!”

Upon hearing that he would share a tent with Xie, the Imperial Envoy, the maid’s eyes flashed with surprise. She glanced at Prince of Lanling with a dejected and annoyed look before leaving angrily!

Xiao Jinyu happened to walk in from outside the tent and also said to Yin Gongzheng, “Master Yin, you don’t need to entertain us. As Prince of Lanling said, he and I will stay in one tent. You all go out. You have come a long way from Chang’an, and the envoys of your country have worked hard!”

Master Yin also looked at Prince of Lanling and “Xie Zhen” with some doubt before cupping his hands and leaving. After walking out of the tent, he couldn’t help but mutter, “Could it be that Prince of Lanling has a fondness for men? What should we do?”

Xiao Jinyu walked up to Prince of Lanling after seeing that the envoys of the Zhou State had all gone.

“It seems that the Qi envoy received some order from Yuwen Hu and wanted that woman to serve you in bed. I wonder if he wanted to win you over or frame you?”

Gao Changgong blushed and quickly embraced Xiao Jinyu. “You’re not angry, are you?”

“Why would I be angry? Changgong is so handsome. When we were in Jiankang, the young ladies who liked you lined up for a whole street, and the banks of the Qinhuai River were crowded! I think Changgong has been planning to use his beauty to seduce me since then, right?”

Gao Changgong, whose thoughts had been exposed, blushed even more. Then he heard Xiao Jinyu chuckle softly and realized that she was teasing him.

Xiao Jinyu said seriously, “Changgong, I won’t be angry because many young ladies admire and like you. I see and feel your kindness to me, and you just refused… If we, as husband and wife, can’t fully trust each other, then it’s even more likely that others will take advantage of the situation!”

“Just like the maid just now, she doesn’t look like an ordinary maid. She doesn’t have the cautiousness of a servant, but is rather careless and arrogant. Moreover, the clothes she wears underneath are of very expensive material. I guess she should be a noble lady of the Zhou State, or even… Yuwen Hu’s daughter!”

Yuwen Hu has five daughters, two of whom have titles. One is Princess Xinxing, and the other is Cui, the adopted daughter from the second branch of the Boling Cui Clan, Cui You, also known as Princess Fuping. Yuwen Hu intends to marry Princess Xinxing to Su Wei, the son of Su Chuo. The other two also seem to have marriage arrangements. Only one illegitimate daughter and Princess Fuping are not yet engaged.

“Are you suspecting that Yuwen Hu wants to plant a spy by my side?” Prince of Lanling quickly reacted and asked.

Xiao Jinyu nodded. “It’s indeed possible! However, it’s also possible that she’s simply infatuated with your beauty…”

“You’re teasing me again!” Gao Changgong pretended to be angry, but in front of her, he couldn’t get angry at all. He couldn’t help but hug her tightly. “A’yu, you’re too good, so good that sometimes I feel I shouldn’t profane you.”

Xiao Jinyu was stunned for a moment, then lightly rebuked, “You’re talking nonsense again. If it weren’t for Changgong’s support, I would have had a hard time walking this path today, and there wouldn’t be the good you see!”

She turned around and looked at Gao Changgong. Her eyes became very gentle and charming. “Most women in this world can’t live according to their own wishes. Even the most noble legitimate daughters of aristocratic families and royal princesses will become victims of marriage for profit. Those low-born illegitimate daughters are even more like goods that can be given away at will.

Some are lucky enough to meet someone like Changgong and may live a stable, happy, and ordinary life. But more of them waste their time in the inner chambers, and even worse, die from the intrigues of the inner household, withering away silently. And these women, once they die, they’re just like discarded garbage. No one cares because they’ve lost their value.”

She paused and continued with gratitude,

“And Changgong’s support for me to pursue a career in officialdom and live according to my own wishes is the greatest kindness to me.

I have not only admiration for Changgong, but also gratitude for finding a soulmate!”

Hearing her words, Gao Changgong felt both sour and moved, but at the same time, he was shocked by her thoughts.

“I’ve never asked you, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?” he asked suddenly.

Xiao Jinyu smiled and replied, “Yes, but it may be really difficult to achieve!”

“Tell me, I’ll listen!”

Xiao Jinyu looked at him and said seriously, “I hope that one day, all women in the world can live according to their own wishes, blooming with all their brilliance, instead of being bargaining chips exchanged at will, and not being harmed by the world’s prejudices…”

Prince of Lanling knew that she was thinking of her mother again, who was also a brilliant woman, but her reputation was ruined because of the world’s prejudices, and she died from intrigues and schemes. Even after her death, her reputation was slandered and tarnished…

“It will, there will definitely be such a day!”

Prince of Lanling said these words with great heartache and determination, then picked her up horizontally and walked towards the couch in the tent.

✿✿✿

Not far from the tent, the maid happened to see the silhouette of Prince of Lanling carrying “Xie Zhen” in the flickering candlelight.

Seeing the two embracing each other on the couch, the girl’s face turned red and white. She stamped her foot and ran away dejectedly.

“Changgong, if you do this, people will say you have a fondness for men again?”

“I don’t care what others say, but I’m not at ease when you’re not by my side. And we’re still in Wei Xiaokuan’s camp in Yubi City. Perhaps Wei Xiaokuan is an upright person and won’t do anything out of line, but I noticed a Zhou envoy beside Yin Gongzheng who seemed to be targeting you from the moment we entered the tent. That person has shifty eyes and ill intentions!”

Xiao Jinyu laughed.

“So even Changgong noticed that person’s ill intentions! I’m afraid that person really has the intention of sabotaging this peace talk between Qi and Zhou!”

“What you said at the banquet today, you deliberately said it for Wei Xiaokuan to hear, right?” Gao Changgong asked again.

Xiao Jinyu nodded. “Yes, although Wei Xiaokuan is modest and gentle, and doesn’t seem to be an enemy of Yuwen Hu on the surface, he is actually resentful of Yuwen Hu’s monopoly of power and his act of regicide. And the fact that he could ask me about my view on loyalty to the monarch shows that he himself has doubts.

This time, for the peace talks, I want to make a separate deal with Wei Xiaokuan!

At least, I can’t let him become your rival!”

✿✿✿

After returning to her tent, the “maid” lost her temper with a servant girl who had come with her.

“I didn’t expect that Prince of Lanling, Gao Changgong, really has a fondness for men. I begged my father for so long and ran from Chang’an to Yubi City just to see this result. I’m not reconciled…

But, this Gao Changgong is indeed extremely handsome, more handsome than all the men in our Zhou territory!”

The servant girl said timidly, “Fifth Miss, Prince of Lanling is handsome, but I heard he’s already married, and his wife is the most beautiful woman in the south!”

“What’s so great about the most beautiful woman? Look at him now, hugging that Xie Zhen…” The girl stamped her foot again. In addition to her shame and annoyance, her eyes were filled with gloating triumph. “But, my brother said that if Prince of Lanling is captured by our Zhou State, then his wife will most likely become the Qi emperor’s plaything. Maybe at this moment, she’s already been carried to bed by that lecherous Qi emperor!”

“Then, when his wife dies, I’ll beg my father to marry me to him!”

✿✿✿

The servant girl remained silent.

At this moment, the atmosphere in Wei Xiaokuan’s tent was slightly heavy. Yin Gongzheng sighed heavily and said, “The Grand Steward asked us to exchange Lady Yan for the smallest price. We originally thought that having someone pretend to be a captive from east of the pass to exchange would definitely deceive these kids from Northern Qi. We didn’t expect this Xie Zhen to be so astute and intelligent.

No wonder Yuwen Shizi, Third Young Master, and Duke Wei have held this Xie Zhen in high regard since they returned from Southern Chen!”

“This Xie Zhen is indeed extraordinary. He is very good at swaying people’s hearts. A poem and a few words from him can make our soldiers cry. If this were on the battlefield, it would be comparable to the sound of Chu songs from all sides, enough to shake the morale of the army!”

“And this Prince of Lanling, although he didn’t say a word at the banquet, he was able to repel the powerful Turkic army in the Battle of Jinyang at such a young age. And Third Young Master and Duke Wei have also dealt with him in Southern Chen. He is calm, wise, and decisive, not a reckless person!

He is very likely to become a future star general of Northern Qi!”

He looked at Wei Xiaokuan’s face, which was also furrowed in thought, and asked, “Grand Commandant Wei, what do you think we should do about this peace talk?”

“Exchanging two commanderies for an old lady is indeed not a good deal, and the Grand Steward won’t agree. Since Qi’s purpose for the peace talk is to seek a truce, then we’ll make an oath and write a letter to the Qi emperor seeking a truce, and then send some cinnabar and valuable goods to show our sincerity!”

“That’s a good idea, but I’m afraid these kids from Qi won’t agree!” He said, then asked worriedly, “What if they don’t agree to return Lady Yan?”

Wei Xiaokuan asked back, “What does the Grand Steward mean? Does he want me to kill the Qi envoy?”

Yin Gongzheng waved his hands repeatedly. “Of course not. We don’t kill envoys during war. The Grand Steward won’t let Grand Commandant Wei do anything that violates trust and righteousness. But the Grand Steward intends to win over this Prince of Lanling, so he sent his youngest daughter, Yuwen Ya, here. He originally wanted to offer her to Gao Changgong, but today I saw that Gao Changgong seems to have a fondness for men and is not very interested in women. This plan won’t work!”

“Fondness for men? With whom?”

“With this Xie Zhen. The two of them are staying in the same tent and have instructed that no one should disturb them. It seems they are sleeping in the same bed!”

Yin Gongzheng sighed again. “But this Xie Zhen’s talent is rare in the world. If he could be used by our Zhou State, it would be a great blessing!”

Yin Gongzheng hesitated, and Wei Xiaokuan’s eyes were deep and unreadable. The two discussed for a long time before going to rest.

The night passed quickly, and Gao Changgong did indeed spend the night holding Xiao Jinyu in his arms. It wasn’t until the next morning, when a maid called from outside, saying that she had brought in washing supplies for them, that Xiao Jinyu woke up from her sleep. She opened her eyes and realized that she was still lying in his arms.

“Changgong, won’t your arm be sore and numb if you sleep like this?” Xiao Jinyu quickly got up and massaged his arm, half-blaming him. “You can’t do this in the future. It’s easy to hurt your arm, and in serious cases, it could cripple your hand!”

Gao Changgong laughed. “It’s fine. I know. When it got too sore and numb, I got up and moved around!”

“Then you didn’t sleep well all night?”

“As long as you sleep well, it’s fine. You’re the main person in charge of the peace talks, so you need to be energetic!”

As they were talking, they heard the maid outside calling again. They got up, tidied their clothes, and then ordered the maid to come in.

The maid kept her head down, but judging from her figure, she wasn’t the girl who wanted to serve Changgong last night.

The maid didn’t speak, but respectfully handed them the wrung-out handkerchief and towel.

Gao Changgong was about to take them, but Xiao Jinyu stopped him and asked the maid, “Are women allowed to enter Grand Commandant Wei’s camp? Or… is she not a family member, but a female… entertainer?”

The maid blushed slightly and quickly shook her head. “I’m not a family member of a soldier in the army, nor am I a female… entertainer. I’m the personal maid of Fifth Miss Yuwen!”

“Oh, then leave the things here and go down! We can do it ourselves, we don’t need anyone to serve us!”

“Yes!”

After putting the handkerchief and towel on the low table, the maid glanced at Xiao Jinyu evasively, then seemed to look at the washbasin before slowly retreating.

As soon as she left, Gao Changgong asked doubtfully, “Did you find something wrong?”

Xiao Jinyu gave Gao Changgong a look, indicating that there were people eavesdropping outside the tent, and then wrote on the table with water: There should be medicine on this handkerchief. Although the smell is very faint, I still smelled it!

“Then this maid…” Gao Changgong also wrote back on the table with water.

“I guess she’s a spy!”

After writing, she picked up the handkerchief on the table. Gao Changgong was about to stop her, but saw her shake her head and write again: Changgong, you forgot, my body is immune to all poisons, it’s fine, I just want to see what kind of medicine it is.

After she carefully examined it, Gao Changgong saw her frown slightly, as if in doubt, and asked worriedly, “What is it?”

Xiao Jinyu whispered in his ear, “It’s a medicine that can make people’s bodies weak and powerless. It’s strange, this medicine also feels very familiar to me.”

They hadn’t been in the tent for long when Xin Daoxian, the chief clerk by Wei Xiaokuan’s side, came outside the tent and said that the Grand Commandant invited them to a horse race in the fields outside Yubi City.

And just before the chief clerk arrived, the maid who was hiding in the corner eavesdropping had already quickly left!

Hunting in the suburbs, whether in the Southern Dynasties or the Northern Dynasties, was an activity loved by the nobility.

“When I was in my hometown, I rode a fast horse like a dragon, with dozens of young riders, drawing our bowstrings and making sounds like thunderclaps…”

Wei Xiaokuan, riding on a tall steed, recited a poem by the famous Liang general Cao Jingzong and sighed, “This is the pleasure of hunting!”

Then he laughed loudly, “But, this poem is still far inferior to the one written by Imperial Envoy Xie last night. Every line of Imperial Envoy Xie’s poem reaches people’s hearts, enough to break down the barriers in their hearts. I wish I had met Imperial Envoy Xie earlier and become friends! Hahaha…”

“You flatter me, Grand Commandant!”

Xiao Jinyu replied politely, then said, “Speaking of this, I do have some heartfelt words that I want to discuss with you, Grand Commandant. I wonder if you could ask Master Yin to step back and let me talk to you alone?”