The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 137

Chapter 137: Let the Truth Be Known to the World （2）

Hearing this voice, all the guests in the garden focused their attention on the newcomer. They saw that the two people walking side by side at the front were none other than Chen Xu, the Emperor of the Chen Dynasty, and his Empress, Liu Jingyan.

Behind them were several Imperial Guards led by Fan Yi, the General of the Left Guard. It was evident that the manor was surrounded by Imperial troops.

The one who had just spoken was the dignified and reserved Empress Liu Jingyan, who rarely left the palace.

“Greetings, Your Majesty! Your Highness, the Empress!”

“Rise, all of you! I have arrived late and did not expect that Assistant Censor Xiao’s coming-of-age ceremony was almost over!”

After speaking, Chen Xu took his seat at the head of the gathering, guided by Xu Ling. Liu Jingyan sat beside him.

“Empress, please continue with what you were saying,” Chen Xu said.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

With Chen Xu’s permission, Liu Jingyan looked at Xiao Jian and said, “I have investigated your identity. You were originally born to a concubine in Crown Prince Zhao Ming’s household. However, that beautiful concubine was forced upon the Crown Prince by someone else, and she was already pregnant at the time. It was out of the Crown Prince’s kindness and compassion that he took you and your mother in and raised you as his own.

Xiao Jian, with your background, you should be content to have received the education and upbringing of Crown Prince Zhao Ming. Yet, you repeatedly exploited the vulnerability and emotions of women, usurped the position of the legitimate heir, and seized the assets of the Xiao Clan’s main branch to advance your career and achieve wealth and glory.

Xiao Jian, do you admit your guilt?”

By now, Xiao Jian’s expression had become wooden. No, it wasn’t like this! Even if he wasn’t from the direct line, he was still Crown Prince Zhao Ming’s son. But Liu Jingyan’s words had suddenly reduced him to dust, even his status as an illegitimate son was fake…

“No, no, you’re lying, you’re lying, it’s not like that, it’s not true…”

Xiao Jian was so anxious that tears were about to fall from his eyes!

“Audacious! How dare you disrespect Her Highness, the Empress!” an attendant shouted angrily.

“My father is Liu Yan of the Hedong Liu Clan, and my mother is Princess Changcheng of the former Liang Dynasty. I never speak falsely, and I have witnesses!” As Liu Jingyan spoke, she called out, “Clerk Jia!”

“Your Highness—”

Jia Guan, the clerk in charge of genealogical records, stepped out from among the guests.

“Now you should understand what’s going on, right?”

Jia Guan nodded. “Yes, Your Highness. I have been here the whole time and know the truth and the sequence of events. I will revise the genealogy of this branch of the Lanling Xiao Clan to ensure that the bloodline of Crown Prince Zhao Ming’s direct descendants is not tarnished!”

After speaking, he turned to the Emperor. “I will also revise the 《Eighteen States Aristocratic Genealogy Book》 to assist Your Majesty in selecting talented individuals!”

The 《Eighteen States Aristocratic Genealogy Book》 had been the sole basis for official appointments since the Jin Dynasty, and it was also a reference for marriage alliances among aristocratic families.

As the saying went, “Official appointments must be based on records, and family marriages must be based on genealogy.”

It was a testament to one’s identity!

“No, this is absurd, utterly absurd!”

Hearing Jia Guan’s words, which were the final verdict, Xiao Jian’s expression became dazed and agitated. Suddenly, he pointed at Xiao Jinyu and Xiao Xian. “They, they have detained my wife, Princess Yunyin, without cause! They have detained someone illegally and used private punishment under the Emperor’s nose! Are they not guilty?”

His words were clearly directed at the Emperor, intending to sow seeds of suspicion.

Chen Xu’s expression darkened slightly, but he remained silent.

At this moment, Xiao Jinyu ordered two of her personal troops to bring out Princess Yunyin and make her kneel before the Emperor.

Upon opening her eyes and seeing Chen Xu, Princess Yunyin crawled towards him, crying out in surprise, “Imperial Brother, they… this wretched servant girl, she dared to arrest me, to confine me! Help me kill her, kill…”

Before she could finish her sentence, a sharp slap echoed across her face, leaving a burning pain. Looking up, she saw Empress Liu Jingyan standing before her.

And that slap just now…

“Imperial Sister-in-law, you—”

“Do you think the law is made for you to casually order killings? ” Liu Jingyan said angrily.

She, she actually hit me!

The law, wasn’t it ultimately decided by the imperial family?

Princess Yunyin’s eyes flashed with resentment, and she turned a pleading gaze towards Chen Xu. However, Chen Xu’s expression remained unchanged, and he did not move, only silently observing everything.

At this time, Xiao Jinyu spoke. She looked at Xiao Jian and said, “Since you want to talk about guilt, then let me ask, what crime should your wife be charged with for barging into my residence with dozens of personal troops, intending to kill my family?”

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Jian’s entire body slumped, his face ashen. Princess Yunyin, however, retorted unwillingly, “What’s wrong with me wanting to kill you? Xiao Jinyu, you are a demon, a demon! You not only harmed my son, but you also schemed against the Prince of Shixing… Yes, His Highness the Prince of Shixing must have been killed by you, it was you, hahaha…”

As she spoke, a sudden realization dawned upon her, and she looked at Chen Xu.

“Imperial Brother, this wretched servant girl is too vicious and cunning. The Prince of Shixing must have been killed by her schemes, it was her! You must kill her, kill her to avenge His Highness!”

✿✿✿

Prince of Lanling’s eyes changed abruptly, and he couldn’t help but clench his fists.

Li Mi and Cui Heng also seemed enraged and were about to stand up and speak when the Empress’s stern voice rang out:

“Silence!”

Only then did Princess Yunyin seem to calm down.

But at this moment, around her, she heard waves of contemptuous sighs.

“This Princess Yunyin is truly vicious. Not only did she harm the Xiao family’s descendants, but she also turned around and accused Young Lady Xiao. Previously, Young Lady Xiao had finally returned from the north, and this princess repeatedly tried to assassinate her. It seems she won’t rest until she has wiped out all the Xiao family’s descendants!”

Some people whispered, but they didn’t dare to speak loudly because the Emperor was present.

But even the whispers reached her ears without missing a word!

So these people no longer believed what she said!

Because of that wretched servant girl, her reputation was damaged, and no one would believe anything she said or did.

“Princess Yuhua, Chen Jianchen, will you admit your mistake now?”

Xiao Jinyu’s sudden question shocked everyone present once again.

“Princess Yuhua? Are you talking about the Princess Yuhua who coughed up blood and died because she was lovesick for Han Zigao?” someone asked curiously.

Then they heard Xiao Jinyu say, “Back then, you were lovesick for General Han and wanted to ask Emperor Wen for a marriage decree. However, General Han rejected you. After learning that General Han had feelings for my mother, you became resentful and devised such a vicious scheme to ruin my mother’s reputation.

Later, you used your position as the mistress of the Xiao family to seize the seal of the commander of my mother’s personal troops, drove my mother out of the Xiao family, and took away her authority over the household.

To control the personal troops under your command, you even resorted to threatening them with poison.

Chen Jianchen, for all the things you have done in my Xiao family, what crime should you be charged with?”

This series of questions once again caused a stir among the crowd, with sounds of astonishment, contempt, and even curses filling the air.

“No, I’m not Chen Jianchen, you wretched servant girl, you’re talking nonsense! Nonsense!”

Suddenly feeling a chill run down her spine, Chen Jianchen, terrified, turned her gaze to Chen Xu.

“Imperial Brother, kill her! She is a demon! Kill…”

Chen Xu didn’t speak, but the look in his eyes revealed the Emperor’s anger. This anger was even destructive, making her quickly shut her mouth and quiet down.

“Take her away!”

After a long silence, Chen Xu suddenly ordered.

But at this moment, Xiao Jinyu shouted, “Wait—”

“Your Majesty, since Princess Yunyin married into the Xiao family and became Xiao Jian’s Right Consort, then my Xiao family should handle this matter according to clan law.

Today, I propose to expel Xiao Jian, his wife Chen Jianchen, their son Xiao Yun, and their daughter Xiao Ninth Miss from the Lanling Xiao Clan, and their names shall be removed from the genealogy.

Your Majesty, what do you think?”

“No, what right do you have to expel us? Xiao Jinyu, you are just the granddaughter of the Xiao family, an illegitimate daughter, you have no right!”

Princess Yunyin shouted hysterically.

At this time, Xiao Xian stepped forward, walked up to Princess Yunyin, and raised the household jade seal!

“Whether she has the right is not up to you, but up to me!”

“I am now the head of the Xiao family, and I hereby officially announce that Xiao Jian, his wife Chen Jianchen, their son Xiao Yun, and their daughter Xiao Ninth Miss are permanently expelled from our Xiao family genealogy. From now on, no matter where they are, they are not allowed to impersonate members of our Lanling Xiao Clan!”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jian felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss, his face ashen!

“As for Xiao Jinyu, her father, Han Zigao, has long been adopted into our Xiao family, as this imperial decree can prove!”

As he spoke, he unfurled a bright yellow imperial decree before everyone, and the contents of the decree once again astonished the crowd.

Amidst the discussions, Xiao Xian continued, “Therefore, Xiao Jinyu will always be a member of our Lanling Xiao Clan’s direct lineage. From now on, no one is allowed to question her identity, otherwise…”

Xiao Jian couldn’t help but feel that after his coming-of-age ceremony, Xiao Xian seemed to have become a different person. He was no longer gentle and jade-like, weak and easily bullied. The aura he exuded even made Xiao Jian feel a sense of fear.

At this moment, Xiao Xian suddenly knelt before the Emperor.

“Now that Xiao Xian has come of age, he will certainly serve the court. However, as for the crimes of Princess Yunyin, I implore Your Majesty to pass judgment.”