The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 142

Chapter 142: Her Beauty Shocked Everyone

When Xiao Jinyu returned to the Xiao Residence in Wu Yi Alley, she heard the news of Princess Yunyin’s death. It was said that she committed suicide in the Ministry of Justice out of fear of punishment.

Along with this news came the news of Xiao Jian’s death. It was said that Xiao Jian went mad in the Ministry of Justice, laughed hysterically, and then smashed his head against the wall of the cell, dying on the spot.

Regarding the deaths of these two, the storytellers in the teahouses of Jiankang City only gave one comment: “They deserved it. These two colluded for evil, impersonated others, deceived women and children, poisoned the legitimate son of the Xiao family, it’s simply outrageous! Dying ten thousand times is not enough, their children should also atone for the sins they committed!”

After such words spread in Jiankang City, Xiao Yun and Xiao Ninth Miss no longer dared to appear in public and later disappeared without a trace. No one knew where they went?

“Chen Xu is still so selfish and calculating. He even dared to kill his own sister…”

But all this is finally over. These two have paid for the lives of those uncles who died for the Xiao family!

The next day, Xiao Xian held a grand coming-of-age ceremony for Xiao Jinyu in the new Xiao Residence.

Due to the events that happened at Xiao Xian’s capping ceremony, which had spread far and wide in Jiangdong, Xiao Xian, at the young age of twenty, succeeded to the position of the head of the Lanling Xiao Clan’s Xian Branch. Especially after he announced at the capping ceremony that he would open the clan school to talented scholars from humble backgrounds, even more people came to attend Xiao Jinyu’s coming-of-age ceremony, and their identities were even more prominent. In just half a day, the front of the Xiao Residence was filled with carriages and riders, an endless stream.

“I heard that it was Young Lady Xiao Jinyu who proposed to invite talented scholars from humble backgrounds to study, cultivate talent for the country, and dedicate themselves to the Son of Heaven.”

“This young lady truly has the broad-mindedness of a scholar, comparable to a real man!”

“I heard that she is also an extremely beautiful young lady. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been incidents where both Eighth Young Master Xiao and the Prince of Shixing wanted to have her as soon as she returned to Jiankang from the north. However, I heard that neither of them had a good ending!”

“Really? I wonder how beautiful she really is?”

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Xiao Jinyu walked out accompanied by a chorus of celebratory music. But what people didn’t expect was that even at this coming-of-age ceremony, she was still wearing a veil. She was dressed in a fiery red robe, her figure tall and graceful. Although her face was hidden, she still exuded a captivating beauty, like a blazing fire or blooming red plum blossoms.

The coming-of-age ceremony is the most beautiful moment in a woman’s life. A woman can perform the hairpin ceremony when she is betrothed. If she is not yet betrothed, she can perform the hairpin ceremony at the age of fifteen.

But some people noticed that while everyone in the Xiao family was happy, there was also a hint of reluctance in their eyes. Especially when Xiao Yuan was combing her hair, she couldn’t help but shed tears.

Yuan Rujing and Xiao Tenth Miss also felt heavyhearted. They thought that after this coming-of-age ceremony, Xiao Jinyu would go to the Qi State with the Prince of Lanling, and her future was uncertain. They didn’t know when they would see her again.

They couldn’t help but burst into tears.

Last night, Xiao Jinyu had already said goodbye to every relative in the Xiao Residence. When she said that she would only take Fenghuang with her and leave everyone else, including Ling Ye and A’xiu, in Jiankang, Xiao Xian disagreed and wanted her to take a team of personal troops with her—most of the Xiao family’s personal troops were now tenant farmers living on the estate, with only about a hundred people serving as guards for this new residence.

But Xiao Jinyu felt that since she had promised Chen Xu that the Xiao family would no longer privately keep personal troops, she could not take a single soldier with her, especially since the Prince of Lanling had brought a hundred cavalrymen.

No one could shake her once she made up her mind.

Therefore, just like when she came from the north, she only brought Fenghuang with her and would only leave with him.

“Ling Ye, you should get married!”

When Ling Ye insisted on going with her, Xiao Jinyu only said this and told him to protect Xiao Xian and the Lanling Xiao Clan.

Although Chen Xu had promised not to use military force against the Xiao family, she still couldn’t trust him completely, given his sinister and deep nature.

The fiery red robe was sewn by Xiao Yuan and Yuan Rujing themselves, taking a whole night. For them, this was Xiao Jinyu’s wedding dress, and the peony flower patterns embroidered on it were their blessings for her.

The outer layer of green silk gauze added a touch of hazy beauty.

“Sweet wine is thick, a good offering to fragrance. Accept the sacrifice, to settle your fortune…”

At the end of the coming-of-age ceremony, Xiao Xian personally placed a hairpin on Xiao Jinyu’s head. This hairpin was different from the one her mother gave her. It was made of mammoth ivory, inlaid with pearls and jade, and seemed to have small characters engraved on it, but Xiao Jinyu couldn’t see it clearly before Xiao Xian placed it on her hair bun.

“Remember what you said, write back often!” Xiao Xian said.

“Of course, I will write to Uncle Xian every day!”

“And me, and A’yuan!”

The little girl ran over reluctantly and hugged Xiao Jinyu’s leg.

“Sister, can you not go to the Qi State? A’yuan doesn’t want you to go. Or, sister, take A’yuan to the Qi State too, okay?”

In front of all the guests, Yuan Rujing was very embarrassed and pulled A’yuan away, whispering, “A’yuan, today is not only your sister’s coming-of-age ceremony but also her wedding day. Don’t say such things.”

✿✿✿

At this moment, there was a loud buzz outside the residence, extremely lively. Li Mi, who had come to observe the ceremony, ran out to take a look and saw that the Prince of Lanling had ordered people to carry several boxes of betrothal gifts.

Gao Changgong, who entered the residence, bowed to Xiao Xian and said, “Although the engagement was decided in haste, Changgong still wants to propose marriage with the proper rituals, so that Xiao Jinyu can become my wife, Gao Changgong’s, in a proper and legitimate manner. Therefore, Changgong is willing to offer the entire Cizhou Kiln in Xuzhou Pengcheng as a betrothal gift!”

The entire Cizhou Kiln!

These words instantly stunned all the guests. It was said that the Cizhou Kiln in Pengcheng was a gold mine, belonging to the imperial family of the Qi State, right?

But what they didn’t know was that Gao Changgong had won a great victory last time, and the absurd Emperor Gao Zhan, who was used to indulging in luxury, had generously bestowed the entire Cizhou Kiln in Pengcheng to him. Even if he regretted it later, it was difficult to take back his decree.

Xiao Xian naturally wouldn’t accept such a valuable betrothal gift, but he still had to keep up appearances, so he superficially agreed.

“Is the Prince leaving for the Qi State today?” Xiao Xian asked.

“Yes!”

Gao Changgong nodded, his eyes filled with apology.

“Alright, A’yu, let Uncle carry you for a bit!”

He suddenly looked at Xiao Jinyu with gentle eyes, seeking her consent.

Xiao Jinyu was slightly taken aback, smiled, and nodded, then leaned on Xiao Xian’s back.

She had been worried that Xiao Xian’s legs had only healed for nearly two months, and he had been ill for a long time, his body extremely weak. She wondered if he could carry her.

But after leaning on his back, as he walked step by step towards the Prince of Lanling’s carriage, his steady steps made her realize that Xiao Xian seemed to have become more mature after his capping ceremony, his body strong and powerful.

As the Prince of Lanling lifted her onto the carriage, Xiao Xian’s eyes still flickered with a faint light, filled with reluctance and affection.

Xiao Yuan, Yuan Rujing, and all the servants also rushed over to see her off.

As the carriage rumbled forward, Xiao Jinyu was about to enter when, almost suddenly, she lifted her veil and looked back at her loved ones again, wanting to firmly remember the faces of every relative in this Chen State. At that moment, a gust of wind blew past, lifting the veil from her face!

At this moment, the originally bustling front of the Xiao Residence fell silent, and everyone’s eyes were fixed on her face.

All was quiet, and some people couldn’t help but hold their breath and let out a gasp of astonishment.

“My God, is this Young Lady Xiao? She truly possesses a divine beauty that words like ‘national beauty’ and ‘heavenly fragrance’ cannot describe!”

“How come we didn’t notice she was so beautiful before? Could it be that she was…”

At this time, Yuwen Hui and Yuwen Zhi, who had heard the exclamations, also squeezed out of the crowd. They saw Xiao Jinyu, who was gradually moving away and was about to lower her veil and enter the carriage.

Just one glance, it was like a stunning beauty that struck the depths of their souls!

Just one glance, and it was unforgettable!

Seemingly aware of the astonishment in everyone’s eyes, Xiao Jinyu lowered her veil, took the hand extended by the Prince of Lanling, and got into the carriage. Soon, the sound of hooves echoed, dust flew up, and the Qi State envoy’s entourage gradually disappeared towards the Front Gate.

“This must have been what it was like when Wang Zhaojun was sent off to marry the Xiongnu!”

“To think that only at the last moment did we see her true face, so beautiful and stunning. I’m afraid there won’t be another beauty like her for a hundred years!”

“What a pity, what a pity. I’m afraid we’ll never see her again!”

Hearing these sighs of admiration and regret, Yuwen Hui couldn’t help but grit his teeth. At this moment, he made a decision in his heart: He would never let Gao Changgong take this woman to the Qi State!

At the same time, Chen Xu, who had been watching secretly from the upper floor, also changed his expression.