The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 193

Chapter 193: Xiao Ninth Miss’s Regret, The Situation Changes

After Gao Yanzong left, Xie Yuxuan cleaned and re-dressed Xiao Jinyu’s wounds. Fortunately, after diligently applying a special ointment made by Xiao Jinyu for seven days, the wound gradually healed. However, the arrow wound had pierced through her body, and although it hadn’t injured her heart, the damage to her body was still significant. Xiao Jinyu could still feel the pain, and her pale face revealed her exhaustion.

Xie Yuxuan felt distressed for her. After helping her change into clean silk bandages and dress properly, she chided, “You’re becoming less and less concerned about your own well-being. You’ve turned this precious and flawless body into a canvas of scars…”

As if she hadn’t heard her words, Xiao Jinyu interrupted, “A’xuan, did you send out the letter I wrote to Changgong?”

“Sent, sent! I know you’re worried about your Prince of Lanling, afraid he’ll be harmed by those treacherous villains!”

Xiao Jinyu nodded in acknowledgment and fell silent for a while. Suddenly, she said, “A’xuan, accompany me to the Imperial Court Prison.”

✿✿✿

In the depths of the Imperial Court Prison, Xiao Ninth Miss, now known as Chen Rumeng, was imprisoned in an extremely dark and cramped cell.

Not far away, she could hear mocking laughter and lewd jokes coming from other cells.

They were mocking her for being a promiscuous woman, shameless and delusional, for even attempting to seduce Prince of Hejian. He was a noble from the Qi imperial clan, as lofty as the clouds and moon, worlds apart from a prostitute like her, sold into a brothel!

Hah, worlds apart? But she was originally a noble lady of Chen, eligible to marry into the imperial family. There was no one she wasn’t worthy of!

What had changed all of this?

That’s right, it was all because of her!

Because of her appearance, because of that lowly maid who returned to Jiankang from Qi, shining like a dazzling light wherever she went, her life had been completely overturned!

Clearly that maid, that illegitimate daughter, should have been the one trampled into the dirt. Why had it become her instead?

And that woman now stood at a height she couldn’t even dream of reaching, living a carefree and proud life. Everyone doted on her, even the Prince of Lanling, with his unparalleled beauty, treasured her. He even rejected the legitimate daughter of the Yingyang Zheng Clan for her, refusing to accept any other woman.

Weren’t all these nobles of Qi known for their debauchery and extravagance? No matter how beautiful a woman was, wasn’t she just like a commodity, to be given away or exchanged at will?

Why was she able to encounter a different kind of man?

Why was her fate so good?

Why did all the misfortune and bad luck have to befall her, Chen Rumeng?

Thinking like this, Chen Rumeng felt a sharp pain in her heart, her face contorting, her mind bordering on madness.

“I want to see Princess Consort of Lanling, Xiao Jinyu. I want to see her! I’m about to die. Can’t I see her one last time before I die?”

She suddenly shouted at the jailer outside her cell.

The jailer outside lashed her fiercely with a whip, his voice dripping with disdain and mockery, “Haven’t you had enough punishment? A lowly prostitute like you wants to see the Princess Consort of Lanling? She’s a celestial being, not someone you can just meet whenever you want. I haven’t even seen her, and you think you can?

Do you even know your place?”

As the jailer rambled on, two figures appeared behind him. One wore a veiled hat and black attire, their tall and slender figure concealing their identity. The other was a woman with a captivating beauty and a hint of heroic spirit, her purple attire emphasizing her aloof nobility.

“Who are you?”

Seeing their attire, the jailer immediately knew they were people of high status and asked respectfully.

The voice of Sima Maozong, the Minister of Justice, came from behind, “People from the Prince of Lanling’s residence. Let them see this Chen woman. These esteemed guests have questions for her!”

“Yes, sir!”

The jailer immediately bowed and stepped aside.

Hearing that they were from the Prince of Lanling’s residence, Chen Rumeng crawled to the iron bars, gazing at the two approaching figures.

But she was disappointed. She didn’t see the familiar face.

However, she had heard that she was breathtakingly beautiful, stunning all the guests who attended her coming-of-age ceremony. Chen Rumeng herself had never seen her true appearance.

“Are you Princess Consort of Lanling, Xiao Jinyu?” She finally turned her gaze to the person in black attire and the veiled hat.

“I am!” Xie Yuxuan answered quickly, then asked coldly, “You’re the Prince of Hejian’s concubine, the spy who was willing to sacrifice her life to frame him?”

Chen Rumeng laughed, “Spy? Hah, do you think I wanted to be a spy? If I hadn’t been driven to desperation, I wouldn’t have taken this path. I originally thought that when Gao Xiaowan brought me into the residence, he would have at least a shred of affection for me. Even a little bit, and I wouldn’t have betrayed him.

My demands weren’t high, Chen Rumeng. Even as a concubine, as long as I received a little care, I would have been content. I would have treated him as my husband, serving him carefully for the rest of my life.

But he was too cruel. Ever since he brought me into the Prince of Hejian’s residence, he never looked at me again, allowing the servants to bully me!”

At this point, her eyes revealed a self-deprecating yet resentful and venomous smile.

“When I was driven out of the Xiao family and wandered the streets, I was bullied and humiliated. Later, my brother sold me to a brothel. Because I refused to sleep with those filthy men, I was whipped and abused. Finally, I came to the Prince of Hejian’s residence, thinking I had found a lifelong support, but in the end, I was still at the mercy of others, to be slaughtered and trampled upon.

Why is it that Xiao Jinyu can have the best of everything in the world, whether it’s the love of her family or the cherishing and care of a man, while I can’t even get a shred of pity?”

After hearing her finish, Xie Yuxuan was so angry that she almost slapped Chen Rumeng. She sneered, “Chen Rumeng, have you ever heard the saying, ‘Sow good seeds, reap good fruits; sow evil seeds, reap evil fruits’? If you hadn’t been driven by ulterior motives and committed so many evil deeds, would you be in this situation today?

The Prince of Hejian isn’t a fool. How could he not see through your selfish intentions?

Why do you think that you’re entitled to everything that others have?

The reason Princess Consort of Lanling receives respect and love is that she gives back to others. You, on the other hand, want to receive without giving anything in return. How could Heaven grant your wish?”

Chen Rumeng’s expression froze for a moment, then she burst into laughter.

“Receive without giving? How do you know I haven’t given anything?” She said, her face contorted, staring at Xie Yuxuan. “You say you’re Xiao Jinyu, but why can’t I see any trace of her in you? Who are you?”

Xiao Jinyu asked, “Why did your brother sell you to a brothel? Where did you go and what did you do after leaving the Xiao family?”

“You? Who are you?”

Hearing this voice, Chen Rumeng became nervous and afraid. She retreated to the back of the cell, muttering to herself:

“After leaving the Xiao family… yes, after leaving the Xiao family, we went to find His Majesty, our uncle. But he refused to see us, only sending General Fan Yi to take the Seal of the Commander of Personal Troops from my brother. He gave us some money and then ignored us.

Later, my brother took that money and gambled it all away, even spending it on prostitutes. It didn’t take long for him to squander it all. Everyone mocked us, calling us bastards who pretended to be members of the Xiao Clan. They beat and bullied us, but no one was willing to lend a helping hand.

I told them I was the daughter of the Princess of Chen, but no one believed me. They laughed at me, scolded me, and humiliated me. My brother was cowardly, just watching from the sidelines. He didn’t even say a word to defend me…

Then, we met a noble who said that Lady Lu of Qi was willing to take us in and give us a good place to go. So, my brother took me to Qi.

But after arriving in Yecheng, Qi, he didn’t have a single coin left. For a few taels of silver, he sold me… sold me to a brothel to become a plaything for men’s amusement…

After that, I met Mu Tipo, Lady Lu’s son. He taught me how to attract the Prince of Hejian’s attention, how to seduce him, and force him to take me into his residence…”

By this point, Chen Rumeng’s face was covered in tears, her eyes filled with a mixture of madness and cruel laughter.

“That’s everything I experienced after leaving the Xiao family. Are you satisfied?”

“Xiao Jinyu, are you satisfied?”

“If it weren’t for you, I would still be the cherished daughter of the Xiao family, admired by all the noble ladies in Jiankang. It’s because of you that everything I had was destroyed!”

✿✿✿

“It’s all because of you, all because of you…”

Xiao Jinyu remained silent, a deep sorrow welling up inside her. Xie Yuxuan wanted to scold Chen Rumeng further, but Xiao Jinyu stopped her, and they left the Imperial Court Prison.

“Minister Xie is truly benevolent. Why would such a lowly woman deserve your visit and concern?”

As he escorted Xiao Jinyu and Xie Yuxuan out of the prison, Bi Yiyun couldn’t help but approach them with a smile.

“His Majesty has already granted her a dignified departure. So, let her have some dignity before she dies.”

The implication was a warning to them not to use any underhanded methods to humiliate Chen Rumeng.

“Yes, we will obey Minister Xie’s orders!”

“It’s His Majesty’s order!”

Xiao Jinyu corrected him coldly, and Bi Yiyun acknowledged his mistake.

The two then stepped out of the Imperial Court Prison.

After getting into the carriage, Xiao Jinyu remained silent for a long time. Xie Yuxuan, however, kept on talking, “I can’t believe that Chen Rumeng’s daughter is so blind to right and wrong, so selfish and vicious, only blaming others for her own misfortunes. A’xuan can’t even imagine how she treated you in the past, and how you managed to survive under the schemes of these malicious people.

Someone like her deserves to die. Don’t feel any guilt for her, A’jie.”

Xiao Jinyu said in a deep voice, “No, I just feel that it’s not easy for women to survive in this chaotic world. When someone is cherished and protected, they can be arrogant and do whatever they want. But once that protection is lost, they become like duckweed, drifting aimlessly, either falling into the abyss or sinking into the mud.

No one cares for them anymore, their life and death no longer in their own hands!”

Xie Yuxuan felt a pang in her heart and hugged Xiao Jinyu, sobbing, “That’s right! But thankfully, you’re still here, A’jie!”

“And thankfully, A’xuan can protect herself! That puts my mind at ease!”

Xie Yuxuan burst into laughter again, then abruptly changed the subject, “However, Chen Rumeng’s fate today, aside from her parents’ responsibility, is also related to that hypocritical man, Chen Xu. I will never forgive what he did to you, A’jie…”

She said, looking at Xiao Jinyu with both sadness and seriousness.

“Ever since Ling Ye told me about it, I’ve been thinking about it day and night. One day, I will lead an army south to conquer Chen, and I will personally kill Chen Xu to avenge you, A’jie!”

As she spoke, Xie Yuxuan’s eyes seemed to burn with hatred and anger, but when she looked at Xiao Jinyu, her gaze softened, becoming as gentle as a fawn’s.

Xiao Jinyu felt a tremor in her heart.

“A’jie, don’t lecture me about loyalty to the emperor and patriotism! Our Xie family has served the emperor faithfully for hundreds of years, but we haven’t had a good ending. In this chaotic world, whoever can provide stability and peace for the people is the true ruler worthy of loyalty. I don’t believe Chen Xu will be a qualified emperor, based on what he did to you, to Princess Yunyin, and even to his own nephews and nieces… Such a cold-hearted person, how could he possibly love the people?”

Chen Xu was indeed cold-hearted. A man who could kill his own sister, how could he have a heart?

Xiao Jinyu smiled, “You’re right, A’xuan. I can’t teach you anything anymore. You have your own thoughts and ambitions, and I won’t stop you from doing anything you want to do!”

“Really? You’re the best, A’jie!”

✿✿✿

The next day, at the grand court assembly, Gao Zhan announced three imperial edicts in the Taiji Hall, each one like a thunderbolt that sent shockwaves through the court.

The first was to appoint Xie Zhen as the Chief Commandant of the Crown Prince’s Bodyguards, concurrently serving as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, granting her a residence and a reward of one hundred taels of gold and twice that amount in silver.

The second was to appoint Prince of Hejian, Gao Xiaowan, as the Right Chancellor of the Heyang Military Commission, working with the Minister of the Military Commission and Governor of Luozhou, Dugu Yongye, to build fortifications and defend Luoyang!

The third was to strip Lu Lingxuan of her title as Lady of a Commandery, forbidding her from entering the Eastern Palace without an imperial summons.

The court was abuzz with discussion. Although the Chief Commandant of the Crown Prince’s Bodyguards was a fifth-rank official position, it came with command of the Eastern Palace guards, granting a certain degree of military power. Moreover, concurrently serving as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince meant that Xie Zhen was being groomed as a trusted advisor to the Eastern Palace, demonstrating the emperor’s immense favor towards her.

Sending Gao Xiaowan to Heyang was puzzling, but stripping Lu Lingxuan of her title inevitably led people to wonder if the power dynamics in the court were about to shift once again!

The events unfolding one after another in Yecheng reached Jinyang with lightning speed.

When Gao Changgong heard that the emperor had been assassinated and that Xie Zhen had taken an arrow for him, he felt a tightness in his chest, as if pierced by a thousand arrows. An unsettling premonition had been swirling in his heart for days, and upon receiving the news, this fear and anxiety intensified, robbing him of sleep.

But at the same time, Lu Yu brought him another letter!

“Your Highness, it’s a letter from the Princess Consort. It says that Xie Zhen is unharmed. You don’t need to worry too much!”

Gao Changgong eagerly opened the letter and saw the following:

“Changgong, winter is approaching. To protect our soldiers from the bitter cold, A’yu has developed a medicine that can effectively treat frostbite and knife wounds. Prince of Hejian, Gao Xiaowan, will be arriving in Luoyang soon, and A’yu will entrust this batch of medicine to him to deliver to Jinyang.

To guard against Yuwen Hu breaking his promise and tearing up the treaty, Changgong, you must be extra vigilant and take care of yourself.

Although I took an arrow for the emperor, A’yu is unharmed and has gained the emperor’s trust. This is a blessing, so you don’t need to worry!

May we be together for a long time, sharing the beauty of the moon even though we are miles apart. A’yu will await your return as the New Year approaches, and we will celebrate together!”

After reading the letter, tears welled up in Gao Changgong’s eyes. He read it over and over again, confirming that she was truly safe, before the fear and gloom in his heart slowly dissipated.

“I told you, Young Lady is amazing. Fortune favors the virtuous, and now she’s even become the Chief Commandant of the Crown Prince’s Bodyguards and the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, gaining the emperor’s recognition.

Your Highness, don’t be too afraid. Believe that she can protect herself. Besides, Prince of Ande is there, and she also has a skilled swordsman like Ling Ye and some personal troops. She’ll be fine!”

Gao Changgong remained silent for a long time. While relieved and happy, he also felt a surge of guilt.

Knowing this, should I have really brought A’yu to Jinyang?