The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 138

Chapter 138: The Condition She Proposed

Chen Xu then thought of what Liu Jingyan had said: “For this coming-of-age ceremony, she wishes to make a deal with Your Majesty! I only hope that Your Majesty will handle it fairly when the time comes!”

So, handling this matter fairly refers to Princess Yunyin, also known as Princess Yuhua, Chen Jianchen?

Then what is the deal she’s talking about?

Is it to make Xiao Xian loyal to the Chen imperial family and serve the court?

“Hahaha… good, very good. Since you have all schemed against me like this, disregarding our bond, then I won’t be polite either!”

Xiao Jian suddenly burst into laughter, his gaze turning sinister and eerie.

“Don’t you want to protect Crown Prince Zhao Ming’s *Selected Works of Literature* and the library? Then I will destroy them all!”

“Xiao Jinyu, long before you wrote to me to attend this coming-of-age ceremony, I had already made preparations. If you treat me unjustly, then I will destroy Crown Prince Zhao Ming’s library and all his assets, none of you will get anything!”

As soon as these words were spoken, all the guests present, especially some of the younger scholars, couldn’t help but feel indignant.

In this era, literary collections were considered more valuable than money and goods. Many books were unique copies, and once lost or destroyed, they would never reappear in the world.

When Western Wei conquered Jiangling, Xiao Yi, the Emperor Yuan of Liang, in order to prevent his collection from falling into the hands of the enemy, burned 140,000 volumes. Those books were rare works he had collected over more than 40 years, and the destruction was comparable to Qin Shi Huang’s burning of books and burying of Confucian scholars!

Crown Prince Zhao Ming, Xiao Tong, was also an avid reader. During his lifetime, he widely recruited talented individuals, diligently wrote, and it was said that the Eastern Palace library held hundreds of thousands of volumes. After the Crown Prince’s death, it was passed down to his descendants, and no one knew how vast the collection had become.

“Xiao Jian, if you dare to burn the books, you will be a sinner for the ages, just like Emperor Yuan of Liang, Xiao Yi!” A scholar couldn’t help but speak out, condemning him.

“Hahaha… so what? I have nothing left now, what can you do to me?”

Xiao Jian laughed maniacally. Xiao Jinyu’s expression remained unchanged. Xiao Xian ordered his personal troops, led by Gongyi Zhong, to bind Xiao Jian and bring him forward.

Wait, why aren’t they nervous at all?

Shouldn’t they be heartbroken and beg him not to burn the books?

Beg me?

As long as you beg me, everything is still negotiable!

Beg me!

Xiao Jian roared internally. At this moment, he saw Xiao Jinyu sneer.

Gongyi Zhong said, “Fifth Master, long before you planned to burn the books, our Young Lady had anticipated your move. Therefore, the personal troops guarding your library are all under the command of Young Lady and the Head of the Family.

Moreover, with your heartless actions, how many people would be willing to follow and obey you? Lady Luan was forced to hand over the library key to you, this doesn’t mean you have control over everything.

We, the personal troops, must obey Lady Luan’s orders and swear to protect Crown Prince Zhao Ming’s cultural heritage, especially the library!”

At this time, Gongliang Cheng rushed back with a group of personal troops and handed a key to Xiao Jinyu.

“Young Lady, this is the library key. The Fifth Master ordered the housekeeper to burn the library, but we have apprehended them. The library is completely unharmed.”

Xiao Jinyu nodded and said, “Good! You’ve worked hard!”

She then handed the key to Xiao Xian.

At this moment, Princess Yunyin also burst into maniacal laughter.

“Hahaha… Imperial Brother, do you see? This lowly servant girl, she is cunning and manipulative. If you don’t kill her, she will eventually endanger the Chen Dynasty’s rule.

Oh, right, she is also colluding with the Northern Qi envoy, Prince of Lanling. They have long been secretly involved, this lowly servant girl…”

At this point, Prince of Lanling could no longer bear it and was about to step forward when Chen Xu finally spoke.

“Fan Yi, take her away! Hand her over to the Ministry of Justice!” He ordered sharply.

“Yes!”

Fan Yi responded and ordered two Imperial Guards to drag Chen Jianchen away.

✿✿✿

Chen Jianchen seemed to be in disbelief, as if she had understood something. She cried and laughed, shouting, “Imperial Brother, you can’t do this to me, you can’t do this to me, I am…”

She didn’t finish her sentence before the Imperial Guards knocked her unconscious with the hilt of their swords.

The guests present were stunned into silence, their gazes towards Xiao Jinyu and Prince of Lanling inevitably carrying a hint of unspoken inquiry.

Or perhaps curiosity, envy, and amusement.

Only Xiao Xian’s face showed worry. He couldn’t help but pull Xiao Jinyu to his side, shielding her from the gazes of the crowd.

“What Princess Yunyin said is completely fabricated. Even ants cling to life. We were merely taking precautionary measures for self-preservation. This has nothing to do with scheming or endangering the country!”

After addressing the crowd, Xiao Xian turned to Emperor Chen Xu again and said sincerely,

“Being a ruler is not easy, and being a loyal minister is even more difficult. Loyalty and faithfulness are often not apparent, leading to suspicion and trouble!”

“Your Majesty, please do not listen to slander!”

Chen Xu’s expression was truly unreadable. At this moment, Xiao Jinyu faced the guests in the garden and said,

“My Uncle Xian and I have decided that our Lanling Xiao Clan will open our clan school from now on. Any aspiring scholar in the world, regardless of their social status, can come and learn!”

“Is this true?”

These words immediately elicited cries of joy from several scholars of humble origins. It was known that people like them, from humble backgrounds, had very limited access to education. After Emperor Yuan of Jin established his capital in Jiankang, although there was an Imperial Academy teaching the Five Classics of literature, history, Confucianism, Daoism, and Yin-Yang, it had been monopolized by the aristocracy since the Southern Dynasties. Aristocrats were exempt from entrance examinations, while those from humble backgrounds didn’t even have the qualifications to enroll.

If they could enter the Xiao Clan school, it would certainly be no worse than the Imperial Academy, perhaps even better!

Xiao Xian, the young master of the Xiao Clan, could compose poetry at the age of three and recite Confucian and Daoist classics by heart at five. Without the profound heritage of such a prominent family, how could he have cultivated such extraordinary talent and brilliance?

Moreover, the Xiao family didn’t set any barriers for those from humble backgrounds, this was truly something that delighted scholars from all over the world!

So, is this the reason why the Xiao family invited scholars from humble backgrounds to attend Xiao Xian’s coming-of-age ceremony?

But would the emperor be jealous if the Xiao family recruited so many talents?

Just as this thought lingered in the minds of the scholars, they heard Xiao Jinyu say,

“This is done to cultivate and select talents for the emperor. Therefore, all the established schools will belong to the emperor!”

These words were clearly directed at Emperor Chen Xu, who had been quietly observing the situation from his seat.

As soon as these words were spoken, many people breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that the emperor would be displeased and really take action against this young lady, as Princess Yunyin had suggested.

This young lady is truly thoughtful!

“Also, our Xiao family will no longer keep personal troops. The number of tenant farmers, servants, and maids we employ will not exceed 500!”

This sentence finally moved Chen Xu.

So this is the deal you’re making with me?

“Therefore, the Commander of Personal Troops seal in Princess Yunyin’s possession will not be taken back by the Xiao family, but from this day forward, it will no longer be recognized as the Xiao family’s seal. The Xiao family will not acknowledge it!”

After a pause, Xiao Jinyu shifted her tone and said loudly,

“In addition, I, Xiao Jinyu, am willing to marry into Northern Qi, representing the Chen Dynasty in forming an alliance and establishing a bond of friendship with the Qi Dynasty!”

After saying this, she turned her gaze towards Prince of Lanling.

“Gao Changgong, do your words still hold true?” She asked with a playful smile in her eyes.

Yesterday, I was very grateful for the donation from Yanzhihu1, thank you Xiaozifu for the monthly pass, and thank you all for your recommendation votes and comments. We will soon enter the Northern Qi arc, a decadent dynasty.