The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 117

Chapter 117: Empress Wen Reveals the Truth

Shen Miaorong’s eyes underwent a shocking and unbelievable transformation.

Xiao Jinyu’s question was merely a guess, but Shen Miaorong’s expression had already given her the answer.

Although the woman’s face was unclear in the dream, her dignified and noble temperament and figure were very similar to Shen Miaorong’s.

“If I said it wasn’t me, would you believe it?”

Xiao Jinyu smiled and shook her head.

“For Empress Shen, it shouldn’t be a pleasant thing that the Empress’s husband only favored male companions and even wanted to defy public opinion to make him the Empress.”

“So, you think this Palace deliberately framed Han Zigao to compete for favor?” Shen Miaorong sneered.

“Empress Shen is naturally not a person with such a narrow mind, but what if it was because of my mother?”

“Actually, the person you truly fear and envy is not Han Zigao, but my mother, Xiao Luan, right?”

Two consecutive questions finally moved Shen Miaorong.

After a moment of low laughter, she said, “Your mother once treated this Palace’s illness. This Palace regarded her as a sister and was very grateful to her. In fact, when Emperor Wen was alive, he also wanted to take her as a consort, and this Palace was very happy about it. But she just didn’t want to cooperate with the Chen Imperial Family. If it weren’t for her stubbornness and refusal to hand over Crown Prince Zhao Ming’s legacy, how could she have ended up like that?”

As she spoke, she looked at Xiao Jinyu and smiled softly,

“Your mother, she was arrogant and aloof. She said that she only wanted to guard this branch of the Xiao family and pass on the cultural heritage written by Crown Prince Zhao Ming forever, so that Zhao Ming’s literature would never die and be passed down for generations to come.

But the Chen State had just been established, and it was a time of rebuilding. If they wanted the economy of Jiangnan to recover, they had to implement the land reform policy, and the land reform policy had to target the aristocratic families.

At that time, most of the northern aristocratic families who had migrated south had been slaughtered by Hou Jing, and the southern aristocratic families were unwilling to compromise. The Lanling Xiao Clan, represented by your mother, was undoubtedly the best example to make an example of.

Who made your mother, as the head of this branch of the Xiao family, the youngest, but still a young lady!

It might be difficult to destroy a promising young master,

But to destroy a young lady who has not yet left the boudoir, only one man is enough!

Not to mention that this man’s influence was big enough!”

Speaking of this, Shen Miaorong actually smiled bitterly and said in a deep voice,

“Yes, this Palace and Princess Yuhua conspired to do this. However, it was also tacitly approved by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Your mother was just the first step for the imperial power to demonstrate its authority to the aristocratic families!”

Hearing this, Xiao Jinyu couldn’t help but feel endless anger burning in her eyes, and her fists clenched.

“You framed a young lady, a young lady who had shown kindness to your imperial family, just to consolidate your imperial power. Don’t you feel that your methods are dirty and disgusting?”

“Hehe…disgusting? This is how the struggles in this world are. Brothers, husbands and wives, fathers and sons, sisters…Whether it’s a struggle for imperial power or a struggle between aristocratic families, it’s all the same. Where there are people, there is darkness…”

“Back then, Emperor Wen treated Chen Xu, his younger brother, with brotherly love, and even spared no effort to give up two commanderies to ransom him back to the country. But what did he get in return? What is my fate now, and what is my son’s fate?”

Shen Miaorong couldn’t help but sneer and sob at the end!

Xiao Jinyu also felt a bit sad: Where there are people, there are shadows!

Xiao Yuan had also said this!

She had to admit that the struggles and bloody battles within the imperial families and aristocratic families since ancient times were indeed like this!

“There’s another reason, which you might find even more cruel…”

Shen Miaorong suddenly changed the subject.

Xiao Jinyu looked at her and heard her say:

“Even the collateral branches of the Xiao family didn’t want your mother to live well. The illegitimate son of Crown Prince Zhao Ming became the emperor of Western Liang as a puppet of Northern Zhou. Your mother’s branch was the direct descendant of Crown Prince Zhao Ming. This undoubtedly stabbed a thorn in the heart of the emperor of Western Liang, declaring that he would never be the legitimate heir.

And the reason why the Chen Imperial Family kept this branch of the Xiao family in Jiankang was to forever stick this thorn in the side of Western Liang!”

Hearing this, Xiao Jinyu couldn’t help but be startled: Could it be that what Xiao Xian said, the conversation he overheard as a child from a guest of the Xiao family, was from someone from the Liang State?

“Precociousness is close to demonic, but too strong is easy to break, Young Lady. You should understand this truth. Your mother was indeed excellent, but precisely because she was too excellent, she would be intolerable in the world.”

Too excellent, so intolerable in the world?

Xiao Jinyu suddenly felt a pain in her heart and didn’t ask any further questions.

As she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something and casually asked:

“What happened to Princess Yuhua, who was in love with Han Zigao?”

This question made Shen Miaorong’s relaxed body suddenly stiffen.

She met Xiao Jinyu’s gaze.

“Princess Yuhua?”

Shen Miaorong smiled and replied, “Princess Yuhua was madly in love with Han Zigao and eventually died of coughing up blood. Isn’t that how it’s recorded in the history books?”

“But that’s not the truth, is it? Otherwise, she wouldn’t have conspired with you to frame my mother and Han Zigao, would she?”

✿✿✿

Facing the girl’s deep, insightful gaze, Shen Miaorong averted her eyes.

“I can only tell you that she eventually changed her identity and got married!”

Xiao Jinyu was slightly taken aback, and then seemed to have thought of something, a hint of coldness and understanding flashing in her eyes.

“Okay, thank you!”

After thanking her, she turned and walked out, and Shen Miaorong’s voice came from behind her:

“This Palace told Young Lady all this, only hoping that Young Lady will achieve her wish, and ultimately fulfill this Palace’s wish!”

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. Empress Liu won’t harm you. She will do everything she can to save your life!”

“That’s good! I also really want to see how long this Chen State can last before it falls?”

When she said the word “fall,” Shen Miaorong almost gritted her teeth and spat it out, her eyes filled with endless hatred.

Xiao Jinyu was stunned for a moment, and then, without further ado, she walked out of Wende Palace.

“How is it? Did you get all the answers you wanted?” Empress Liu Jingyan asked.

Xiao Jinyu nodded.

“Yes, I got them all!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. If Your Majesty has nothing else, this commoner will take her leave.”

After Xiao Jinyu finished speaking, she was about to leave.

Liu Jingyan unexpectedly asked, “Xiao Jinyu, are you willing to marry into our Chen Imperial Family?”

Xiao Jinyu suddenly stopped.

She turned to look at Liu Jingyan, her eyes extremely cold and sharp, and replied, “I am not willing!”

This was an outright refusal, leaving no room for negotiation.

Liu Jingyan even saw a hint of hatred, determination, and coldness in her eyes!

It seems it’s not going to work!

Even the honorable position of Crown Princess, this young lady probably disdains it!

Liu Jingyan quickly suppressed this thought in her heart. She originally wanted to use the position of Crown Princess to lure this young lady completely to her side, but now it was difficult to say it out loud.

“Forget it, you can go back.”

✿✿✿

Guided by the eunuch, Xiao Jinyu walked out of Hualin Garden. After passing through the second palace gate and walking onto the long passageway, she felt something was wrong. It seemed like there was an ambush around her.

Suddenly, an arrow shot through the air and landed in front of them with a “thud.” The eunuch was so frightened that he fled in panic.

When Xiao Jinyu looked up again, she saw a group of masked men in black surrounding her.

“Young Lady, surrender and come with us, so we don’t have to hurt your delicate body.” The leader of the men in black threatened in a shrill voice.

It seemed to be a eunuch from the voice. Xiao Jinyu found it funny.

“You dare to commit such an act of kidnapping within the inner palace?”

“Don’t be ungrateful. If you don’t surrender, don’t blame us for being rude!”

The man in black shouted fiercely and waved his hand to order the people behind him to surge forward. At this moment, Xiao Jinyu shouted, “Wait—”

Then she took out a willow leaf and played it between her lips.

Suddenly, a melody like swirling mountain winds, gurgling springs, and chirping birds flowed from the young lady’s lips. Several men in black were stunned, not knowing what to make of it. After a long while, they realized that they seemed to be immersed in the melody. When they came to their senses, they found that the young lady had already escaped far away.

“Chase her!”

As long as she passed through this passageway, there would be imperial guards stationed ahead. Xiao Jinyu chose the direction closest to the imperial guards and ran. When she reached the corner, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, then a strong force pulled her into a warm embrace.