The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Reversal

Xiao Jinyu did not object, allowing the old woman to take the prescription and hurriedly go to Fengxiu Pavilion, where Princess Yunyin resided.

Without a word, Princess Yunyin summoned the household physician.

The physician took the prescription and frowned, and Princess Yunyin asked, “Well? How is this prescription different from yours?”

The physician replied, “In response to Madam, this servant does not see any difference. It is just a very ordinary prescription for treating chills and fever.”

Princess Yunyin sneered, “Oh, I thought this was some remarkable divine physician. It turns out to be nothing special.”

“Divine physician?” The physician seemed surprised, with a deep frown.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

The physician hurriedly bowed his head and replied, “Although this prescription is extremely ordinary, the handwriting of this physician is quite unique, even reminding this servant of someone.”

“Who does it resemble?” Princess Yunyin’s vigilance heightened.

Physician Liu Lü’s identity was somewhat special. He was originally from a scholar-official family, and because he enjoyed reading medical books since childhood, he later apprenticed under a very famous physician in Jiankang City. From then on, he diligently studied and became a true physician. Although a physician, Liu Lü did not abandon the scholar-official’s habit of socializing. At a banquet, he composed poems and essays, and also discussed the medical practices of the famous Jin Dynasty physician Ge Hong, which caught the attention of the then Crown Prince Xiao Tong of the Southern Liang Dynasty. From then on, he entered the Eastern Palace and became the exclusive imperial physician of Crown Prince Zhao Ming.

“As Madam knows, this servant was originally the exclusive imperial physician of Crown Prince Zhao Ming. The Crown Prince loved landscapes and literature, and often held banquets in the Eastern Palace, inviting the sons of major scholar-official families in Jiankang City to participate in his Pure Conversation Gatherings. They would exchange ideas through literary gatherings, not discussing scriptures or history. Any outstanding poems and essays at the banquet would be selected by the Crown Prince for inclusion in a collection, to be passed down to future generations.”

“Of course, I know this. Crown Prince Zhao Ming’s 《Selected Works of Literature》 specifically collected poems, essays, and prose.” As if understanding something, Princess Yunyin asked, “Are you saying that the handwriting of this physician resembles that of a scholar-official you have met?”

The physician shook his head again, “Not a scholar-official, but a young lady.”

“A young lady?”

“Yes, Xie Yuqing, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Xie family.”

Upon hearing the name Xie Yuqing, both Princess Yunyin and Nurse Jiang’s expressions changed drastically.

“Audacious! How dare you mention this name in front of the Princess?” Nurse Jiang hurriedly scolded.

Perhaps many people have forgotten this name now, but more than ten years ago, the name Xie Yuqing was like thunder to the ears.

Although the current times are not a prosperous era of stability and peace, the Southern Dynasty has entered a relatively stable period. However, just before this stability arrived, the Southern Dynasty, or rather the former Southern Liang Dynasty, experienced a catastrophic disaster. This disaster was not a natural disaster, but man-made, and Xie Yuqing died in that disaster, along with her unshakeable aristocratic family.

It was truly ridiculous! That noble and prominent family, rooted in Jiankang City for a hundred years, who did not even regard the imperial family with respect, that family that could only be looked up to, making people like them seem like ants in the dust, was actually destroyed overnight.

The four seasons of heaven and earth, like the flow of water, clouds, stars, and moon, all have their ups and downs. It seems that nothing in this world is truly permanent.

“Madam, it is not that this servant insists on mentioning this person, but the unique style of handwriting she created, even Crown Prince Zhao Ming praised it as ‘vigorous and elegant, with strong bone structure’ and also ‘fresh in form, strict in rules, and magnificent in momentum.’ Among all the scholar-official families at that time, no son could match it.”

Upon hearing this, Princess Yunyin immediately picked up the prescription again to examine it. She saw that although the paper was rough, the characters on it were indeed like engravings. She had only glanced at it earlier and did not pay attention. Now, looking closely, she was unconsciously drawn in.

She had also heard that the characters written by that woman, like her paintings, could make people involuntarily immerse themselves in them.

Princess Yunyin unconsciously took a step back. This, how was it possible?

“How is it possible? Didn’t she die twenty years ago? And…”

And in her imperial brother’s eyes, this name had become a taboo. The entire palace, even the entire Jiankang City, was forbidden from mentioning the name Xie Yuqing.

Seeing Princess Yunyin’s loss of composure, the physician quickly added, “Madam, do not worry. This servant only said it resembled her handwriting. Compared to that talented lady of the Xie family, the characters on this prescription still have some discrepancies. It must be a beginner, only capturing the form but lacking the essence.”

Indeed, many people imitated the Liuming style that woman created back then.

Hearing the physician say this, the fear in Princess Yunyin’s heart subsided, and she couldn’t help but angrily say, “Since it doesn’t really resemble it, why did you mention her? In broad daylight, I thought a ghost had come knocking!”

A clear conscience fears no midnight knocking.

The physician lowered his head, concealing a hint of surprise in his eyes.

“Go down! Go down!”

Princess Yunyin impatiently waved her hand, and the physician acknowledged with a “Yes” before retreating.

As soon as the physician left, Nurse Jiang brought a cup of tea to calm her nerves.

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“Princess, please do not be angry. In this servant’s opinion, this Liu Lü is just talking nonsense, disturbing your peace. It would be better to dismiss him. He was originally just a destitute beggar. Does he really think he is still the scholar-official from over twenty years ago, favored and appreciated by Crown Prince Zhao Ming, constantly showing off his literary talent in front of you? Shameless.” Nurse Jiang said.

Liu Lü’s family was also almost completely wiped out during the Hou Jing Rebellion. Seven years ago, Princess Yunyin encountered this man in tattered clothes, grieving alone, in front of a dilapidated mansion. After inquiring about his surname and past, she took him into her household as a physician.

“These scholar-officials are like this, they love to show off their literary talent. If he wants to show off, let him show off. It’s just one more person to support. My Xiao family can afford it, and besides, his medical skills were once recognized by Crown Prince Zhao Ming.”

“So what if he recognized him? Crown Prince Zhao Ming still died from illness in the end.”

Princess Yunyin glared at her, and Nurse Jiang stopped talking.

Crown Prince Zhao Ming’s death was truly strange. He had merely fallen into the pond in his own residence while strolling, hitting a rock and injuring his leg. But who would have thought that such a minor injury could eventually take his life?

“I originally thought the person who came back was just a lowly bastard offspring, but I didn’t expect it to involve all this nonsense.” After throwing the white porcelain teacup onto the table, she asked again, “Do you think these two were sent by that bastard to test me first?”

“It’s just a letter, Princess. Don’t take it too seriously. Whether the writer is that woman’s son is still uncertain. Besides, that Lady of the Commandery in Qi is not a pushover.” Speaking of this, she lowered her voice and said, “And, that matter back then wasn’t decided by you, Princess. It was that woman who was shameless and made a mistake, and was driven out by the Xiao family. What does it have to do with you, Princess?”

Princess Yunyin’s eyes flickered, and she quickly picked up the letter she had received earlier to examine it. She did not see any similarities. In an instant, the anger and worry on her face disappeared, replaced by a lazy and charming expression.

“No matter what, we still need to be cautious. If it’s like the Liang Emperor inviting the wolf into the house, my Xiao family will be ruined.”

“Naturally. This servant will definitely have people keep a close watch on those two young masters.”

Speaking of this, Nurse Jiang seemed to remember something and asked in a low voice, “But, that young master, what does the Princess intend to…”

Thinking of how Princess Yunyin had suddenly mentioned Han Zigao earlier, even comparing that young master to him, Nurse Jiang’s heart skipped a beat. Han Zigao had just died in prison, and in the eyes of the current emperor, he was undoubtedly a taboo existence like that talented lady of the Xie family.

And that Han Zigao back then…

“Nurse Jiang, do you know why my imperial brother insisted on having Han Zigao killed?”

“How dare this old servant speculate on the emperor’s thoughts? I naturally do not know.”

“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Han Zigao was a beauty who brought disaster. He could make Princess Yuhua die of lovesickness back then, and cause the Wang family to be exterminated. Naturally, he could also bring about the downfall of a nation.”

“Emperor Wen, for his sake, offended all the civil officials in the court and insisted on making him his male empress. How could such a monarch win the hearts of his subjects, and how could his reign last?”

“How could my imperial brother allow a person who bewitched the monarch and brought disaster to the country and the people to live?”

“Yes, what the Princess said is very true.” Nurse Jiang hurriedly flattered.

Princess Yunyin changed the subject again, “Of course, there is another more hidden reason, which no one can guess…”

After saying that, she saw Nurse Jiang looking at her curiously, but she didn’t say anything more.

“Forget it. Go and see what’s going on over there. And this prescription… Send the medicine according to what’s written on it, and see how long this Xiao Tenth Miss can live. I originally wanted to…” She sighed again, “Never mind. If her life can be extended, let it be extended. It wouldn’t be in vain for us to be grandmother and granddaughter.”

“Yes.”

Nurse Jiang smiled, took the prescription and went out, handing it to Nurse Wei, and whispering some instructions.

✿✿✿

At this moment,

Xiao Ruoling’s Lingqing Pavilion was enveloped in an eerie silence.

The young girl and Xiao Jinyu faced each other across the curtain.

“You are not a physician, and you are not here to see me. What is your purpose in coming to my Xiao family?” After Nurse Wei had been gone for a while, the girl suddenly sat up and looked at Xiao Jinyu with a hint of mockery, asking.