The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 136

Chapter 136: Let the Truth Be Known to the World （1）

Xiao Jian originally didn’t want to come, but for the sake of appearances, in the eyes of outsiders, although Xiao Xian had separated from him, they were both from the Xiao Clan, and on the surface, they were still father and son. He couldn’t possibly not attend his son’s coming-of-age ceremony, could he!

Another reason was that he had to find a way to see his wife, Princess Yunyin. Now that he had no official position, he couldn’t see the Emperor, but he didn’t want to make a scene at the government office, so he had to comply with Xiao Jinyu’s words in the letter: “Come to the coming-of-age ceremony in five days, and your wife will be returned! Otherwise, you will bear the consequences!”

Seeing Xiao Jinyu again, Xiao Jian mumbled his lips, not knowing what to say: It was all because his niece had been too famous recently, making him and Princess Yunyin look like shameless villains.

Even going out of the residence was frightening, for fear of being thrown vegetables and eggs.

“The coming-of-age ceremony is about to begin, Grandfather, please come in!”

She actually called him Grandfather at this time?

Xiao Jian reluctantly twitched the corners of his mouth and walked into the banquet.

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Guests and host were in their places, and the coming-of-age ceremony began.

After Xu Ling’s brief speech, the official sang loudly, “Play the music!”

“On this auspicious day of the auspicious month, you first don the crown of adulthood, abandoning your childhood name, embracing virtue…”

Amidst the chorus of blessings, Xiao Xian walked in front of the ancestral temple under the gaze of everyone gathered. He was still dressed in white, spotless, handsome, and noble.

He bowed to Xu Ling, then to the several memorial tablets placed in the ancestral temple, and finally to his mother, Lady Xiao Yuan.

Seeing Lady Xiao Yuan sitting upright at the head of the table, with a kind smile and clear eyes, Xiao Jian already felt that something was wrong.

This was the first capping, with a black cloth crown, paired with a dark robe, black sash, and a ceremonial apron, representing his eligibility to participate in politics from now on.

“On this auspicious day of the auspicious month, you don your attire, respect your demeanor, and cultivate your virtue…”

The second capping for Xiao Xian was a leather cap, paired with a white robe, black sash, and a white apron, representing the responsibility of protecting the family and the territory.

“In the right year, in the right month, you don your attire, with your brothers present…”

This time, it was Lady Xiao Yuan’s chanting voice that rang out, and almost as soon as her voice came out, Xiao Jian was so shocked that he stood up from the ground, almost crying out.

He stared blankly at Lady Xiao Yuan, so much so that the surrounding guests looked at him strangely.

“Regular Attendant Xiao, what’s wrong with you?” Yuwen Hui beside him couldn’t help but tease.

Xiao Jian then sat down uneasily.

The third capping was a ceremonial cap, paired with a reddish-yellow lower garment, plain upper garment, black sash, and embroidered shoes, representing that Xiao Xian now had the right to participate in ancestral sacrifices and be the head of the family in the ancestral temple! It also meant that he could take on the responsibility of revitalizing the clan.

“The crown is the beginning of ritual, and it will be used to hold you accountable. It is the conduct of a son, a younger brother, a subject, and a junior…”

Xu Ling was the guest of honor at the coming-of-age ceremony. He not only capped Xiao Xian but also had to give him a courtesy name. After chanting this sentence, he asked Xiao Xian, “Young Master Xiao Xian, what are your aspirations?”

Xiao Xian pondered for a moment and suddenly smiled, “I don’t seek to be known to the feudal lords, but only for the well-being and peace of my loved ones!”

“Is that all?”

Xu Ling was a little surprised, thinking that Xiao Xian would say something more, but after waiting for a long time, there was no further response.

“Yes, that’s all!”

Xu Ling nodded, no longer asking.

“A gentleman compares his virtue to jade. Warm and lustrous, it is benevolence; fine and firm, it is wisdom; sharp but not cutting, it is righteousness. The poem says: ‘Thinking of the gentleman, warm as jade, therefore the gentleman values it.’ So, I give you the courtesy name: Runyan, how about it?”

“Thank you, Minister Xu, for the courtesy name. It’s very good!”

Xiao Xian bowed in response and then stood up, facing the guests.

At this time, the guests whispered to each other, and among the whispers, one person’s voice was particularly loud, sneering:

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“This is strange. Young Master Xiao Xian’s father is here, why bother Minister Xu to cap him and give him a courtesy name?”

It was Yuwen Hui who, ignoring Yuwen Xun’s obstruction beside him, made a sarcastic remark.

Xiao Jinyu then stepped forward and continued, “Young Master Yuwen, you asked a good question…” Then she turned to Xiao Jian, “Fifth Granduncle, now that Uncle Xian has come of age, shouldn’t you return the authority of the head of the Xiao family’s Xian branch to Uncle Xian!”

Fifth Granduncle?

Almost as soon as these words came out, there was a buzz of discussion all around.

Xiao Jian’s face turned pale instantly, and he turned his gaze sharply to Lady Xiao Yuan.

Lady Xiao Yuan also looked at him defiantly.

“Twenty years ago, my mother took the Xian branch of the Xiao family to Jingkang to escape the war, and later returned here. Because this branch was all women and children, my mother, as a woman, was told that she could not be the clan head. Fifth Granduncle then deceived my grandmother and registered himself as the head of the Xiao family’s Xian branch…”

A short sentence had already stated the cause and effect. At this point, Xiao Jinyu raised her head and looked at Xiao Jian coldly.

“If Fifth Granduncle had kept his promise and protected these women and children, allowing them to grow up healthy, it would have been fine. But what have you done in the past twenty years? You indulged your concubine in wantonly harming the descendants of the Xiao family, causing the direct line to dwindle, leaving only my Uncle Xian.

And even my Uncle Xian, under your vicious schemes, became disabled at a young age, plagued by serious illnesses and with a short life expectancy. If I hadn’t returned to Jiankang… I’m afraid you…”

These words made the guests present change their colors and the discussion became chaotic.

“So, Young Master Xiao Xian’s illness was actually caused by the Xiao family head indulging his concubine. That’s truly vicious!”

“And the several young masters of the Xiao family who passed away one after another in those years, all died young. I thought it was some kind of curse! It turned out to be man-made…”

“Yes! Didn’t you hear what that Young Lady Xiao said just now? She addressed this Xiao family head as Fifth Granduncle, so he’s not her real grandfather, and he even replaced the rightful heir…”

“That’s hateful, to even impersonate the head of the family!”

Amidst the endless buzzing of discussion, Xiao Jian glared and shouted angrily, “Nonsense, nonsense! You… A’yu, why are you framing me like this? I’m your grandfather, isn’t it good for a family to live in harmony? Why do you do such disrespectful and slanderous things? This is unfilial, disobedient, and outrageous!”

These words made even Li Mi, who was watching from the side, angry, and Lanling Wang and Cui Heng’s faces were gloomy, with hidden anger.

“Regular Attendant Xiao, whether it’s slander or not, I think we should listen to Young Lady Xiao finish her words and speak with evidence!”

At this time, Xu Ling stopped Xiao Xian, who wanted to stand up and speak.

“Yes, speak with evidence! Hahaha… Yes, speak with evidence, what evidence do you have?”

Xiao Jian shouted sharply, “What evidence do you have to prove that I replaced the rightful heir? What evidence do you have to prove that Xiao Xian’s illness and the illnesses of the previously deceased direct descendants of the Xiao family were caused by my indulgence of Princess Yunyin?”

This agitated and loud shout immediately silenced the whole audience.

Countless gazes shot towards him with contempt.

What’s wrong?

Did I say something wrong?

“Regular Attendant Xiao, Young Lady Xiao only said that you indulged your concubine, causing the Xiao family’s descendants to dwindle. She didn’t say it was Princess Yunyin, did she?”

Xu Ling retorted, “So, are the misfortunes of the Xiao family in recent years really caused by your indulgence of Princess Yunyin?”

“Did you really replace the rightful heir and impersonate the head of the Xiao family’s Xian branch?”

Under Xu Ling’s repeated questioning, Xiao Jian’s face turned livid.

At this moment, Lady Xiao Yuan said loudly, “Yes, I can testify that this was my fault back then!”

Xiao Jian suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze shooting towards Lady Xiao Yuan like a hawk: You bitch, are you even willing to sacrifice your own reputation? You actually admitted that it was your fault!

At this moment, a gentle yet dignified voice came, “This Princess can prove that Xiao Jian is indeed not a direct descendant of Crown Prince Zhao Ming, and his name is not even in the genealogy of the Lanling Xiao Clan from back then!”

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