The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 134

Chapter 134: Desire for Legitimacy

“A’yu, she is a princess after all. Won’t there be problems if we keep her locked up like this?”

Xiao Yuan was afraid, afraid that the entire family would be implicated in another disaster.

“No, it’s not like sixteen years ago. After Emperor Wen’s policy of land reform was implemented sixteen years ago, the sacrifice mother made created a lot of value for the Chen Clan. Princess Yunyin’s value to the Chen Clan is also coming to an end.

Besides, we also have evidence of her collusion with the Prince of Shixing!”

Xiao Jinyu said this, and everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief in agreement.

“What we need to do now is to hold a coming-of-age ceremony for Uncle Xian, invite Jiankang celebrities, people of prestige, even scholars from humble backgrounds to attend the ceremony, and at this ceremony, legitimize our direct line of the Xiao family!”

As soon as these words were spoken, Xiao Xian looked at Xiao Jinyu in shock.

“Coming-of-age ceremony? Legitimize our direct line?”

Xiao Xian was a little surprised and puzzled.

Xiao Jinyu nodded and smiled: “If my calculations are correct, Uncle Xian should be coming of age this year, but I don’t know Uncle Xian’s birthday yet.”

“It’s five days later. Five days later is Xianlang’s birthday. All these years, I… I actually forgot…” Xiao Yuan added.

Thinking that over the past ten years, she had been crazy and had not fulfilled her responsibilities as a mother, Xiao Xian must have never had a proper birthday banquet, and in a blink of an eye, he was already of age!

From the age of childhood, he was still a naive child who didn’t understand the world, and now he has grown into a handsome young man!

“In the blink of an eye, he has become an adult!”

Xiao Yuan felt emotional and burst into tears.

“Yay, we’re going to have a grand coming-of-age ceremony for Uncle Xian! It will be so lively…”

A’yuan jumped up happily, which eased the slightly stagnant atmosphere, and then a warm and lively atmosphere enveloped the room.

“I’m afraid that, given the current situation of our branch of the Xiao family, not many people will be willing to attend the ceremony!” Xiao Xian smiled wryly.

“Who says so? Aren’t we people?”

Along with this teasing voice, Li Mi and Cui Heng walked in from outside the courtyard. Seeing the armored soldiers standing with swords in the courtyard, they only showed a slight surprise, and then quickly calmed down.

“The coming-of-age ceremony of Xiao Xian of the Lanling Xiao Clan, it is an honor for the two of us to have the opportunity to attend the ceremony!” Cui Heng also raised his hand and said.

“And us too! My Prince wants to be a guest of honor!” Lu Yu added.

Li Mi turned his gaze to Xiao Jinyu: “Young Lady, you are truly brilliant! You did a great job this time. If there are any such things in the future, you must call me, Li Mi!”

“This time, I have to thank Young Master Li and Young Master Cui for your great help!” Xiao Jinyu also smiled.

At this time, Xiao Xian suddenly said again: “A’yu, you are also coming of age this year, right? Did your mother ever hold a coming-of-age ceremony for you?”

“I…”

Xiao Jinyu fell silent, and a scene of Xiao Luan combing the original owner’s hair immediately appeared in her mind. It was when the ice and snow had just melted, and a few plum blossoms outside the window were swaying in the cold wind. Xiao Luan stared at those plum blossoms in a daze, and the silvery white light cast a layer of unclear mist on her gentle and beautiful face.

“My A’yu is about to come of age. The coming-of-age ceremony is the most beautiful moment in a woman’s life. Noble ladies from aristocratic families will start discussing marriage, but A’yu… what can your mother give you?”

Xiao Luan didn’t finish her sentence at the time, she just put an exquisite hairpin she made herself into Xiao Jinyu’s hair bun, and then hugged her tightly.

“Why don’t I choose a courtesy name for you first, let’s call it Changqing! I hope my A’yu can always be brave, cheerful, clear, not afraid of any danger, and have the ability to protect herself!”

Xiao Jinyu felt a slight bitterness in her heart: So that’s what the name Changqing meant. Xiao Luan only wanted her daughter to be happy and have the ability to protect herself!

Fenghuang had already said beside her: “Don’t ask. Aunt didn’t live to see the day when Qing Gege came of age, but she chose a courtesy name for Qing Gege and prepared a hairpin…”

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent, and Xiao Yuan felt a sharp pain in her heart, and couldn’t help but sob.

Gao Changgong’s eyes couldn’t help but be tinged with pity and pain when he looked at Xiao Jinyu.

The atmosphere in the hall stagnated again, with a sense of sadness and sorrow!

“Then why don’t we hold a coming-of-age ceremony for Young Lady after Xiao Xianlang’s coming-of-age ceremony, how about that?”

“Okay, okay!” A’yuan clapped her hands and cheered.

✿✿✿

Xiao Xian also cast an inquiring look at Xiao Jinyu, and only after Xiao Jinyu nodded and said “Okay” did a relaxed smile appear on his face.

“However, there is another very important person we need to invite to Uncle Xian’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Who?”

“Xiao Jian!”

✿✿✿

Princess Yunyin had not returned for a day, and Xiao Jian was already anxious like an ant on a hot pan. He called all the servants in the courtyard and asked them all, only to find out that the woman had actually taken her private soldiers to West Stream Alley!

This stupid woman!

Xiao Jian angrily ran out of the residence towards West Stream Alley, and the steward hurried back and bumped into him.

“Master, there is news about Madam!”

“What news?” Xiao Jian asked nervously.

The steward handed Xiao Jian a letter. Xiao Jian opened it and saw that it was an invitation.

It only said one sentence: Five days later, Xiao Xian’s coming-of-age ceremony, please come to attend the ceremony! Also, your wife is staying here as a guest, don’t worry!

What does it mean? Staying as a guest? Is it a real guest or a fake guest?

Xiao Xian is actually coming of age, that child! That intelligent, kind, and knowledgeable child who is comparable to his father!

What a pity! He’s not his child!

But… didn’t they split up? Why would they still invite him to the ceremony? Could it be that after all this time, they have forgiven him?

No, impossible, that means Xiao Yuan has come to her senses?

She has come to her senses, so now they all know his true identity, are they going to take back everything he has painstakingly built over the years?

No, that’s impossible! Absolutely impossible!

“I want to see His Majesty! I want to see His Majesty!”

Xiao Jian rushed to Tai City, but the newly appointed Palace Attendant said that His Majesty would not see anyone recently.

After the death of the Prince of Shixing, Chen Xu stopped holding court for two days, and at the same time, he purged the Prince of Shixing’s faction, including the Prince of Xin’an, Chen Bogu.

Chen Xu dismissed Chen Bogu from his position as Palace Attendant on the grounds of ineffective supervision of the Prince of Shixing, confiscated his family property, and ordered him to stay at home and reflect on his mistakes.

The court underwent another round of purging, and since then, many official positions have become vacant. The current Chen State urgently needs a large number of talents to enhance its national strength.

But fortunately, the debate with the Buddhist community was not fruitless. There are more than 27,000 Buddhist temples in the entire Southern Dynasty, and now more than half of the monks have returned to secular life and handed over their land.

Minister of Revenue Jiang Zong was overjoyed by this result, and when he presented the memorial to the emperor, he boasted about his great achievements.

Xu Ling was at the side and couldn’t stand it anymore, so he said: “The reason why His Majesty’s new policy has been implemented so smoothly is because of the help of that Young Master Xie. Such an eloquent and outspoken person should be a role model for officials in our court!”

“It’s a pity that this person is already under Lanling Wang’s command. Otherwise, I would definitely recruit him to be an official in our Chen Dynasty!”

The debate with the Buddhist community once again made Xie Zhen famous, but his whereabouts are a mystery. It is said that after the debate at Miaofa Temple, Xie Zhen disappeared as if he had vanished into thin air. He could not even be found at the embassy where Lanling Wang was staying!

Some people say that this person may be like Xie Taifu of the Jin Dynasty, who loved the life of a hermit, and may be singing loudly, traveling around the mountains and rivers somewhere.

A few days later, many aristocratic families received an invitation, which was for Xiao Xian’s coming-of-age ceremony, inviting major aristocratic families in Jiankang to attend the ceremony!

At the same time, Empress Liu Jingyan also received a letter, which said: The time has come for the Empress to fulfill her promise!

Therefore, Empress Liu drafted a letter and asked the eunuch to personally deliver it to Jia Guan, the clerk in charge of genealogy. At the same time, she requested Chen Xu:

“Your Majesty, I have never asked you for anything. This time, Xiao Xianlang is coming of age, and I want to go to the ceremony with you.”

“This is also a promise I made to that Young Lady on behalf of Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will allow me to fulfill this promise to repay her for saving Your Majesty.”

While Chen Xu was suspicious, Liu Jingyan added another sentence:

“That Young Lady also said that she wants to make a deal with Your Majesty at this coming-of-age ceremony! She only hopes that Your Majesty… will be able to handle it fairly!”

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