The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 152

Chapter 152: Using Oneself as Bait, Luring the Enemy for a Counter-Kill

Night deepened, and the moonlight cast a thin layer of light on the roof tiles. The clear radiance entered through the skylight, perfectly illuminating the graceful figure of the young girl in the bath.

After bathing in the summer midnight, one feels exceptionally refreshed.

Gao Changgong took a robe to wrap around her jade-white body, lifted her horizontally, and carried her to his usual sleeping quarters.

The cool breeze blew gently, the thick candles flickered, and the fiery red bed curtains swayed in the wind, revealing a boundless and enchanting spring scene.

Feeling his gentle and careful love, Xiao Jinyu asked with a soft smile, “Changgong, are you not so afraid in your heart now?”

“Do you know what I’m afraid of?”

“Although you don’t want to admit it, from the environment you grew up in, it’s not hard to guess that your second uncle, Emperor Wenxuan, had a great influence on you, right?”

“After my father died, my second uncle was actually very good to us. He especially liked my fifth brother, Gao Yanzong, but he also hated my father very much. He was particularly cruel to those who betrayed him, even women. He could kill them without hesitation. Sometimes I’m also afraid of him. I don’t quite understand him!”

“Then don’t ever try to understand him!”

As she spoke, Xiao Jinyu once again kissed his lips and held him even tighter. The warm and soft touch between them dispelled some of the coldness in Gao Changgong’s heart, as if the clouds had cleared and the rain had stopped, his heart suddenly became clear.

Endless joy arose from this.

“Changgong, is your grandmother, Empress Dowager Lou, good to you?”

“Yes, she’s quite good. Among my relatives, my grandmother is the best to me!”

“What about your mother?”

✿✿✿

The whispers in the sleeping quarters gradually subsided, and the frogs croaked clearly in the pond outside the residence.

Lu Yu was sitting in the courtyard at this moment, giggling to himself. Li Mi found it strange and walked over to ask, “What are you laughing at? Your expression is so wěisuǒ?”

“Who are you calling wěisuǒ?” Lu Yu, startled awake, roared.

“Then why are you smiling like a flower? If I didn’t know better, I’d think you…”

“What about me? I’m happy for our Prince. For so many years, he’s been striving alone, with only us soldiers by his side. Because of something that happened when he was young, he… But now it’s good, I knew that this Divine Physician Lady would definitely have a way to cure our Prince’s illness. And look, ever since the Prince has been with her, the illness has naturally gotten better!”

“You’ve said so much, but I still don’t understand. What illness does your Prince have?”

“It’s… jùnǚ… you know? He’s completely uninterested in women. He used to be like a trembling little rabbit when he saw women. Now it’s different. With the Lady… no, now she’s our Princess Consort. With the Princess Consort, he’s fiercer than a tiger…”

Li Mi couldn’t listen anymore and snorted, “I think the one who’s sick is not your Prince, but you!”

Lu Yu was about to explode with anger, but Li Mi quickly interrupted him and asked, “By the way, where are Cui Saburo and I sleeping tonight? Didn’t you say you’d arrange a place for us to stay?”

The anger that had just risen in Lu Yu’s heart was abruptly extinguished. The Prince had instructed him to treat Li Mi and Cui Heng with courtesy and not arrange a shabby place for them to stay. They were to be treated like great scholars!

These literati and scholars are so particular about these empty formalities and integrity!

Lu Yu snorted disdainfully in his heart and took Li Mi to look for a guest room.

✿✿✿

The night quickly passed, and at about three quarters past the hour of Mao （around 5:45 AM）, Xiao Jinyu changed into a set of night clothes, put on a veil hat, and quietly walked out of the sleeping quarters.

At that time, an unknown incense was still burning in the sleeping quarters. The curling green smoke flowed like fog in the incense burner, rising and drifting.

“Changgong, have a good dream! I hope you can remember the things you’ve forgotten!”

After saying this, Xiao Jinyu quickly walked out of the hall, crossed the corridor, and headed out of the residence.

Fenghuang, who was resting on the beam, quickly noticed her movement. Realizing it was her, he immediately jumped down in front of her.

“Qing Gege, where are you going?” He asked anxiously. Seeing her dressed in black, in men’s clothing again, he had a bad feeling.

“To lure out the assassins, set an ambush, and counter-kill, just like we used to!”

“Then why don’t you call…” He stopped mid-sentence and changed his words with tears in his eyes, “Forget it, I’ll go with you! Leave the dangerous things to me, okay?”

“Okay!”

This time, Xiao Jinyu agreed decisively, without refusal.

Fenghuang smiled brightly.

✿✿✿

It was almost dawn, the darkest hour before the break of day. A carriage hurriedly drove onto the official road. A black-clad “youth” sat on a tall steed in front, driving the carriage at full speed!

Another steed followed closely behind, also with a youth in black clothing.

The road from Pengcheng to Yecheng must pass through the Huai and Si River region, which is also a necessary route for envoys traveling between the north and south. A hundred miles ahead is the sea, and north of it is Yecheng.

Several men in black were already lying in ambush here. Before dawn, hearing the sound of approaching hooves, the middle-aged man leading them couldn’t help but show surprise.

“Why are there only two people?”

“But that’s clearly Prince Lanling’s carriage, and the horses are also the sweat-blood steeds raised in our Great Qi!”

“Military Supervisor Han, Grand Commandant Liu said that it’s better to kill by mistake than to let one go. No matter who’s in the carriage, kill them first!”

The leading man’s expression changed for a moment before he finally ordered, “Archers, prepare! Loose!”

“Yes!”

“Loose!”

After the order, several arrows were fired simultaneously, shooting towards the approaching carriage. The “youth” on horseback immediately ducked down, and several arrows whistled past above her, thudding into the carriage. In an instant, a rather luxurious carriage was turned into a beehive.

Fenghuang immediately rushed forward from behind, wielding his saber to deflect the incoming rain of arrows.

But one arrow still flew past like a shooting star, perfectly lifting her veil hat and grazing her cheek, leaving a bloody mark on her snow-white skin.

Her long black hair scattered in the rushing wind, dancing like a blooming black lotus.

A surprised shout arose from the hidden assassins, “It’s a woman!”

“Such a beautiful woman!”

“Catch her, she’s most likely the southern woman Prince Lanling brought back!”

“Don’t kill her yet, capture her alive!”

With excited shouts, all the hidden assassins rushed out, attempting to surround her.

They’re here! It’s time!

As long as all the assassins are lured out…

She urged the horse forward while cutting the leather strap on the harness.

Xiao Jinyu sped up, and the assassins in black followed closely behind. Just as a wave of shouts erupted, the youth on horseback looked back and simply raised her wrist, making a gesture towards Fenghuang that they couldn’t understand.

At this moment, the harness broke, and the steed Xiao Jinyu was riding on sped forward even faster.

The unhitched carriage immediately slid backward, causing the assassins who were rushing forward to stumble and fall.

At this moment, Fenghuang fiercely threw a lit object into the carriage. In an instant, it was as if thunder and lightning struck, the earth shook, and a huge booming sound arose. The soaring flames illuminated the dark night, and billowing smoke filled the road ahead.

Severed limbs flew out from the thick smoke, screams and cries of terror rose and fell, a scene of chaos!

……

“Mother… Mother…”

✿✿✿

Gao Changgong seemed to see his mother through the smoke and dust. A woman in black robes turned her head, her eyes filled with hatred and resentment.

“You said you would marry me and make me your empress, but you lied to me…”

“I couldn’t help it. I tried my best, but those courtiers all threatened to die in protest…”

“Haha… everyone is lying to me, using me. When I’m useful, you pamper me and love me, treat me like a treasure. When I’m useless, you abandon me like worn-out shoes. My father and grandfather gave me to a Xianbei slave who’s worse than a pig or a dog, and you?”

“After using me, you only wanted me to be a nameless concubine…”

“Hahaha… how could I, a princess of a nation, fall to such a state, not even qualified to be a concubine…”

Mother… don’t cry!

“Xiaoguan, Mother is leaving, going back to our own country. Mother still has relatives there, although…”

“Mother will take you to see my country. It’s beautiful… it used to be warm too… but then everything changed!”

Mother, let me see your face. It’s been so long, I’ve forgotten what you look like!

But why would I forget?

I shouldn’t forget, I shouldn’t…

“Xiaoguan, Mother is gone. You have to listen to your father, and don’t make your stepmother angry. Get along well with your brothers…”

Mother, let me see what you look like?

Why is there always a layer of fog?

He desperately tried to disperse the fog, but it lingered for many years. At this moment, a ray of dawn seemed to shine through, and his mother’s gradually receding figure suddenly stopped. She slowly turned around and smiled at him!

That smile was like a hundred flowers blooming, the sky filled with rosy clouds!

He saw it! He finally saw his mother’s face!

His mother’s face was so beautiful!

But for some reason, in an instant, that face turned into Xiao Jinyu’s, and there seemed to be voices chattering around him.

A voice was shouting, “Kill her! This woman is so beautiful and knows how to bewitch people with sorcery. Our Great Qi will perish because of her!”

No, who’s talking?

Don’t kill her!

Don’t kill her!

The sandalwood incense in the bedroom had burned out. Gao Changgong suddenly woke up from his dream. Lu Yu, hearing the call, hurriedly ran towards the sleeping quarters, but then stopped at the door as if remembering something.

“Prince, are you alright?” Lu Yu shouted from outside the door.

Gao Changgong calmed down from his fright and realized that Xiao Jinyu was no longer on the bed. A sense of unpredictable fear arose in his heart.

He quickly put on his robe and strode out of the sleeping quarters, asking, “Where’s A’yu?”

“The Princess Consort?” Lu Yu was also confused. “Wasn’t she with you last night, Prince?”

“She’s not here… she’s not here… where did she go?”

“Where did she go? Did none of you see her?”

He couldn’t help but roar.

“Go find her! Wake everyone up, hurry up and find her!”

“Yes, Prince!”

Lu Yu hurriedly ran to the guards’ resting area. Gao Changgong frantically searched the sleeping quarters for any trace of Xiao Jinyu. Suddenly, he saw a rolled-up note on the table, as if it had just been taken from a carrier pigeon and opened, then rolled up again.

There was only one line written on the note: There are ambushes all along the road from Pengcheng to Yecheng, be careful!

After reading it, Gao Changgong felt his heart drop with fear and terror. He no longer hesitated and rushed out of the hall.

“Prince, where are you going?”

Lu Yu saw him head straight for the stables, pull out a steed, mount it, and gallop out of the residence.

“Quick, follow him! Follow him!”

At Lu Yu’s command, the guards mounted their horses and chased after Gao Changgong.

By this time, the sky was already bright. The Si River area was a vast expanse of water. The sound of hooves swept past, brushing against the water plants and splashing water.

The group of riders galloped along the official road. Gao Changgong shouted Xiao Jinyu’s name, but the only response was the murmuring of the water and the sound of hooves behind him.

He didn’t know how long he had been galloping aimlessly. He couldn’t find her anywhere, and the fear in his heart grew deeper and deeper, as if last night’s nightmare was a warning to him.

His eyes were red with despair, shimmering tears like mist about to fall.

“Prince, don’t worry, maybe the Princess Consort just went out for a while, she’ll be back soon!” Lu Yu comforted him.

“No, she wouldn’t do anything meaningless, and she’s not someone who indulges in pleasure. It’s just me… is it because I haven’t given her a sense of trust?”

“Prince, don’t think like that. The Lady married you, she gave you her best, how could she not trust you?”

Her best? Yes, in order to repay the kindness of saving her life when they first met, she didn’t hesitate to offer herself. Was she just trying to cure the shadow in his heart that he couldn’t get rid of?

Now that he was cured and remembered everything he had forgotten, remembered his mother’s face, was she leaving him?

“Quick, go find her! There’s only this one official road from Pengcheng to Yecheng. It’s less than a hundred miles to the sea. She must still be on the road, go find her!”

Lu Yu continued to shout.

The guards obeyed and continued to gallop forward.

At this moment, another sound of hooves approached from afar. Lu Yu looked at the figure on the leading horse and couldn’t help but show ecstatic joy.

“Prince, it’s the Lady, no, it’s the Princess Consort! Look, she’s back!”

Gao Changgong looked up and saw Xiao Jinyu, dressed in men’s clothing, riding towards him. Behind her, besides Fenghuang, there was a group of guards. He recognized the leader, it was Ling Ye, a top swordsman Xiao Jinyu had left in Jiankang.

As soon as Xiao Jinyu reached them, she quickly jumped off her horse and ran into Gao Changgong’s arms.

“Changgong, I’ve cleared the ambushes on this road for you, those people are all dead!” She said happily in his ear. “I also left two alive for you to interrogate. When we get back to Yecheng, we won’t have to be afraid of anything!”

“I’ll pave the way for you too, a safe path with no worries!”

Gao Changgong was stunned, unable to react for a long time. He couldn’t utter a single word, his throat choked with emotion. When Xiao Jinyu looked into his eyes, she realized that his eyes, which were usually as clear as the Milky Way, were now red.

“Changgong, what’s wrong?”

Noticing a thin, long red mark on her face, he reached out and gently touched it with trembling fingers.

“It’s just a small injury, I’m fine.” Xiao Jinyu smiled reassuringly. “But it’s a scar on my face… and I want to keep it for a while longer, so Changgong might find it a little unusual…”

“Do you think I only like your face?” He choked for a moment before continuing, his voice hoarse, “Xiao Jinyu, do you not trust me?”

“Or do you think I’m just a selfish and greedy villain who only knows how to take from you?”

“Do you think I don’t care about your life or death, that I don’t feel pain?”

The series of heartbroken questions made Lu Yu and the guards lower their heads. Even Fenghuang was moved. At this moment, he truly saw the helpless tension, fear, and care in this man’s eyes!

“I thought I was going to lose you. I’ve never been so afraid of anything… never…”

He embraced her, finally releasing the fear he had been suppressing…

Xiao Jinyu, who was always used to scheming and protecting her family, paving the way for her loved ones, suddenly realized that she had been acting arbitrarily, never considering that the people around her would also worry about her.

“I’m sorry, Changgong, I won’t do this again…”

From now on, I’ll only post one big chapter a day, hehe