The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 157

Chapter 157: Showdown in the Hall

It wasn’t just Gao Zhan who felt it was a pity; the entire banquet hall was filled with sighs of regret. Even Gao Xiaowan and Gao Xiaoheng were dumbfounded.

“She was clearly a beauty as if descended from heaven, yet…”

“Such a pity, truly a pity. Beauties are rare to begin with, and such a stunning beauty is unlikely to be seen again in this world. She should be cherished and loved. How could anyone lay such a venomous hand on such a beautiful woman?”

“Exactly—”

At this moment, Xiao Jinyu knelt down and bowed to Gao Zhan: “Your Majesty, I was entrusted by the Emperor of our Southern Chen Dynasty to marry Prince of Lanling, to forge a bond of kinship between our two nations. However, we were repeatedly attacked by Qi’s imperial assassins during our journey. I even suffered facial disfigurement because of this. I implore Your Majesty to preside over this matter and investigate who is behind this, forging Your Majesty’s imperial order to assassinate Prince of Lanling and me!”

“This is also the reward I wish to request from Your Majesty!”

Xiao Jinyu added this sentence, her words clearly indicating to Gao Zhan that dispatching Northern Qi’s imperial assassins to pursue Prince of Lanling was not his doing. This not only saved face for him as the Emperor but also pointed him in the right direction!

Gao Zhan naturally understood her meaning and roared again, “Who did this? Who stole my jade token and forged my imperial order?” His eyes swept across the surroundings, noticing He Shikai slightly lowering his gaze, and asked in a low voice, “Yantong, do you recall if I ever gave my jade token to someone else while drunk?”

He Shikai bowed his head, his gaze glancing towards a woman in a rose gold dress not far away.

Gao Zhan followed his gaze and looked at the woman, questioning, “Lady Lu?”

Lady Lu?

Xiao Jinyu’s gaze also shot towards this woman: So this was Lu Lingxuan, the woman who had been manipulating everything behind the scenes, pursuing her from Northern Qi to Southern Chen, relentlessly even now!

Calculating it, she should be around the same age as the original Xiao Jinyu’s mother, Xiao Luan, but she looked so young, possessing a mature woman’s charm and allure.

Lu Lingxuan seemed to sense her gaze and returned a smile, replying calmly, “Your Majesty, you did give your jade token to me once, but I only used it to search for spies from Zhou. Moreover, I returned it to Your Majesty within a day. I would never dare to mobilize imperial assassins. I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!”

Lu Lingxuan currently controlled a secret intelligence organization, specifically gathering information on Zhou and Chen for Gao Zhan. Her information was always fast and accurate, so Gao Zhan entrusted her with important tasks and trusted her deeply.

With her explanation, Gao Zhan indeed dropped the matter, nodding without further suspicion.

Xiao Jinyu also understood Lu Lingxuan’s position in Gao Zhan’s heart, but she didn’t want to give up. She took out another imperial edict, bright yellow in color, from her sleeve and presented it to Gao Zhan.

“Your Majesty, when Prince of Lanling and I arrived at the Yecheng post station, we encountered someone forging Your Majesty’s imperial edict, attempting to kill Prince of Lanling. This edict is here; please examine it, Your Majesty!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the nobles at the banquet couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment. Gao Yanzong couldn’t hold back a furious shout, “Who is so audacious as to forge an imperial edict to kill my Fourth Brother!”

As he questioned, the imperial edict in Xiao Jinyu’s hand was already unfurled before everyone. It bore the imperial seal, but the line “Bestow poisoned wine upon Prince of Lanling” was particularly striking, like a forest of sharp blades!

Anyone who had seen Gao Zhan’s handwriting could recognize that this was not written by him!

However, it bore the imperial seal, which could only mean one thing: only someone closest to Gao Zhan could have stolen the seal to stamp this edict!

Thus, everyone’s furious gazes turned towards He Shikai, who stood beside Gao Zhan.

He Shikai currently held the position of Palace Attendant. The duties of a Palace Attendant included attending to the Emperor, reviewing imperial edicts and documents, and handling temporary government affairs.

Therefore, tampering with the edict was an easy task for He Shikai, especially since the current Emperor listened to him completely!

“I implore Your Majesty to uphold justice for Prince of Lanling and me!”

Amidst the shocked murmurs, Xiao Jinyu knelt down again, pleading with the Emperor of Qi.

Her eyes, filled with sorrowful brilliance, gazed at the still hesitant Emperor. Kneeling in the middle of the hall, she exuded an aura of desolate solitude yet unwavering determination and cold, noble elegance.

At this moment, many in the hall couldn’t help but feel pity for Xiao Jinyu.

She was originally a stunning beauty, marrying into Qi for the sake of an alliance, yet unfortunately, her face was disfigured by assassins on the way. Moreover, the person behind this even attempted to forge an imperial edict to put Prince of Lanling to death!

Truly hateful to the extreme!

“Your Majesty, my Fourth Brother has always been loyal to the country, repelling the Turkic forces just six months ago. To be persecuted like this by treacherous individuals, please, Your Majesty, seek justice for my Fourth Brother, Prince of Lanling!”

Even Gao Yanzong stepped forward and knelt in the hall, pleading.

Gao Xiaowan and Gao Xiaoheng were also moved and were about to step forward when Gao Zhan, holding the imperial edict handed to him by an attendant, sighed, “This is indeed not an edict issued by me, Princess Consort of Lanling. I will investigate this thoroughly!”

“I will also help you and Prince of Lanling seek justice for the hardships and grievances you have suffered along the way!”

“Let this matter end here today. There is no need to discuss it further. The banquet is meant to be a joyous occasion; let’s not let such matters spoil everyone’s mood!”

He actually brushed aside the assassination attempt with a single, light sentence!

Xiao Jinyu was slightly taken aback, but she saw a clear glint of provocative triumph in the eyes of He Shikai and Lu Lingxuan as they looked at her.

This was the triumph of having anticipated this outcome.

Just as Xiao Jinyu was about to speak, another voice interrupted her, sharply stating:

“Your Majesty, there’s no need to investigate. It’s already quite obvious who is responsible. The one who forged the imperial edict is none other than Palace Attendant He!”

The one who stepped out from among the nobles was Prince of Zhao, Gao Rui. Gao Rui was not much older than Gao Zhan. In his youth, he was raised by Gao Huan due to his talent in both literary and martial arts. Later, he earned the trust of Emperor Wenxuan, Gao Yang, and Emperor Xiaozhao, Gao Yan. Initially, Gao Zhan also trusted him deeply, but due to He Shikai’s repeated slander in Gao Zhan’s ear, Gao Zhan became deeply suspicious of Gao Rui and distanced himself from him. Now, hearing him step forward and directly accuse Palace Attendant He of forging the edict, wasn’t that directly calling him a foolish ruler who favored villains over virtuous officials?

Gao Zhan was very displeased, knowing that Gao Rui was using this opportunity to attack He Shikai and drive him out of the court. This matter, Prince of Zhao had already petitioned about!

“Prince of Zhao, what business is this of yours? Step back!”

“Your Majesty, I simply wish to seek justice for Prince of Lanling!”

“You—”

Gao Zhan’s temper almost flared up again, but his gaze fell upon Xiao Jinyu, and his anger subsided somewhat. It had to be said, even with half of her face disfigured, the exposed smooth forehead and the pair of watery, ink-black eyes were truly beautiful, making it hard to bear harming her!

Thinking about it, he felt even more regretful!

At this time, He Shikai rushed over, tears and snot streaming down his face, saying, “Your Majesty, I am wronged! I am indeed Your Majesty’s Palace Attendant, but this doesn’t mean I forged this edict. I am willing to compare my handwriting to prove my innocence!”

“I know your handwriting, and the handwriting on this edict is indeed not yours, Palace Attendant He!”

“Your Majesty, although the words may not be his, the seal must have been stamped by him. As for who actually wrote the edict, why not examine the handwriting of everyone in the palace right here and now!” Prince of Zhao, Gao Rui, pressed further.

“Enough!”

Gao Zhan roared angrily. At this moment, Prince of Lanling also stepped forward, stopping Prince of Zhao, Gao Rui, from continuing. He knelt beside Xiao Jinyu, cupping his hands and bowing to Gao Zhan:

“Your Majesty, regardless of who wrote the edict or who stamped the seal, I believe Your Majesty will make a wise judgment. I also do not wish to pursue this matter further at this banquet. However, my beloved wife’s face has been disfigured, and I hope Your Majesty will seek justice for my wife!”

He said “seek justice for my wife,” not “for myself”!

Gao Zhan pondered these words repeatedly, looking at Gao Changgong.

Under his gaze, Gao Changgong paused for a moment and continued, “As for the imperial assassins who pursued us along the way, I have captured two of them. They can testify as to who is manipulating them behind the scenes!”

So there were witnesses!

Gao Yanzong was sweating profusely from anxiety. Hearing this, he couldn’t help but rejoice, thinking: Why didn’t you mention the witnesses earlier? You’re making me worry to death!

✿✿✿

The situation had escalated to this point, and it was no longer possible for Gao Zhan to downplay the matter. This was originally a celebratory banquet for Prince of Lanling, although it was just an excuse for him to see the beauty of the so-called most beautiful woman in the South.

“Bring those two up here!” Gao Zhan said with displeasure.

“Yes!”

Under Prince of Lanling’s gaze, Lu Yu immediately ran out of the banquet and brought the two assassins, who had been prepared by Zhao Wu and Yang Zhi, to the hall, bound.

Seeing the Emperor in the hall, and Lu Lingxuan sitting not far from him, the two assassins lowered their heads in fear.

Because their mouths were stuffed to prevent them from committing suicide, the two were unable to speak.

At this moment, Lu Yu handed their written confessions to Gao Changgong.

“Your Majesty, this is their confession!”

Gao Zhan ordered the palace attendant to bring the bloodstained silk over and hand it to him. At first glance, the confession stated that the person behind the manipulation was actually Han Changluan and Mu Tipo!

Since Han Changluan and Mu Tipo had been confessed, it was not difficult to guess who had instructed them!

Gao Zhan glanced at Lu Lingxuan again, but saw that she looked calm, with a faint smile on her lips, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.

“Remove the things from their mouths! Let them speak!”

“Yes!”

Lu Yu responded and pulled the silk from the mouths of the two. Immediately, the two kowtowed repeatedly and said, “Your Majesty, our confessions were forced, we were not sent by Grand Commandant Han and Mu Tipo. We were ordered by Grand Commandant Liu to assassinate Prince of Lanling. As for where the imperial order came from, we do not know!”

“Please forgive us, Your Majesty!”

“You…” Lu Yu was so angry that he wanted to kick and punch the two, but as soon as his foot touched them, he found that their bodies stiffened and they fell to the ground with a thud.

When one of the palace guards went to check their breath, they were already dead.

“It seems that under severe torture, they were at their wit’s end!” A noble at the banquet sneered.

“Grand Commandant Han, no matter what, these two were your subordinates. Whether they were tortured or not, you can’t escape responsibility, can you?”

It turned out that the sneering person was Han Changluan, and Gao Rui’s words left him speechless.

However, now that the people were dead, there was no evidence. No one expected that these two would retract their confessions before they died, and then immediately commit suicide!

Xiao Jinyu looked at Lu Lingxuan again, and saw that the woman was still smiling at her calmly and triumphantly.

That smile was like an unshakable mask on her face!

“Forget it, forget it. Now that the people are dead, let’s not continue this matter today. Hand it over to the Court of Judicial Review for investigation!”

Gao Zhan’s words were full of impatience, obviously he didn’t want to pursue the matter any further. Gao Yanzong was so angry that he wanted to argue, but Gao Changgong stopped him.

At this time, Gao Zhan suddenly had a whim. He changed the subject and looked at Xiao Jinyu, saying, “I heard that you are good at painting. You once painted a picture of the Eastern Palace Night Banquet at the Eastern Palace banquet in the Southern Dynasty. I am very curious, can your painting compare to Zu, the Assistant Minister of the Secretariat, in my Great Qi?”

After saying that, he searched the people at the banquet and asked, “Is Xiao Zheng here for the banquet today?” （Zu Ting, courtesy name: Xiao Zheng）

“Your Majesty, I am here!”

A middle-aged man in a red robe and a four-beam crown walked out from the banquet, smiled, bowed to Gao Zhan, and asked, “What are your orders, Your Majesty?”

Xiao Jinyu immediately looked at this middle-aged man: So this was the versatile genius Zu Ting that Li Mi spoke of. He looked to be nearly forty years old, but he was full of energy and had a very scholarly and elegant demeanor.

“Xiao Zheng, you have always considered yourself a genius, and you have not met an opponent for a long time. Today, you will compete with the talented Princess Consort of Lanling, who married from the Southern Dynasty, to paint, and let all the ministers have a look, how about it?”

Gao Zhan’s tone was obviously provocative and sarcastic. As the emperor, he had repeatedly lost to this minister, who was not very good in both virtue and reputation, in eloquence, and he felt a lot of resentment in his heart.

Especially in one heated debate, Zu Ting actually scolded him for forcibly taking women into the palace. He argued that these women were starving and had no one to support them, so he kept them in the palace. Zu Ting then sarcastically said, “Since Your Majesty loves the people so much, why don’t you open the granaries and provide relief?”

He was so angry at the time that he beat Zu Ting half to death. Unexpectedly, this guy could bend and stretch, and had a thick skin. He begged for mercy and offered to refine golden pills as a condition for his life!

He even said, “If Your Majesty kills me, I will only gain the reputation of a remonstrating minister. If Your Majesty does not kill me, Your Majesty will gain the reputation of a virtuous ruler!”

Although he was so angry that his teeth itched, he finally stopped because of these words, and let him atone for his sins with money and demotion!

Compete in painting?

Although many of the nobles present had not heard of Xiao Jinyu’s painting skills, they had heard of Zu Ting’s walnut oil painting. It was a masterpiece that both Emperor Wenxiang and Emperor Wenxuan loved.

Upon hearing that they were going to compete in painting, Prince of Guangning Gao Xiaoheng’s eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help but reveal a look of anticipation. Today, he heard Gao Yanzong say that the Southern Dynasty woman his fourth brother married was proficient in painting, but he didn’t know to what extent!

With this opportunity, how could he not look forward to it?

“Your Majesty, we will compete in whatever you say!” Zu Ting smiled.

Gao Zhan looked at Xiao Jinyu.

“Let’s paint a picture of the Ice Well Terrace Night Banquet! Princess Consort of Lanling, what do you think?”

Prince of Lanling was a little displeased. Xiao Jinyu held his hand again, raised her head and said, “Your Majesty’s order, I dare not refuse. Please grant me brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. In order to better present the full view of the Ice Well Terrace, I need seven boxes of Wei Dan ink, two Zhang Zhi brushes, and Zuo Bo paper, seven feet…”

Gao Zhan was stunned, and immediately said, “No problem!” He then ordered the palace attendants to bring brush, ink, paper, and inkstone!

Zu Ting also looked at Xiao Jinyu strangely. Seeing such a delicate young lady wanting to paint a seven-foot-long painting, he couldn’t help but find it funny!

“Princess Consort of Lanling, are you going to put the entire Ice Well Terrace into your painting? Are you going to paint such a large painting? Won’t it tire your delicate body?”

Xiao Jinyu looked at him.

Zu Ting felt as if the Milky Way was flowing backwards in front of him, with brilliant colors. This young lady’s eyes were really beautiful. He had seen countless people in his life, and he had even had affairs with the noble ladies of the Yuan clan, but for the first time, he felt from this young lady what it meant to be pure and clean.

“Zu, the Assistant Minister of the Secretariat, the art of painting should not be divided by gender, and there should be no discrimination against women, right?” Xiao Jinyu teased.

The corner of Zu Ting’s mouth twitched, and he replied with a flattering smile, “No, no. Then Princess Consort of Lanling, let’s begin!”

Note: During the Northern Qi period, people with high official positions could use their official positions and money to atone for their crimes. Therefore, although Zu Ting was corrupt and committed many crimes, he atoned for them with his official position and money. Because he was really talented, he was not killed by Emperor Wenxuan. Even Gao Huan and Gao Cheng appreciated his talent.