The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Dream

When Xiao Jinyu woke up again, she found herself walking in a long passageway. It was deserted, with only the sound of her footsteps. A voice seemed to be calling her softly in her ear, making her curious and involuntarily walk straight ahead. After a while, her vision suddenly opened up, revealing a large garden.

It seemed to be early summer. All kinds of flowers were in full bloom in the garden, competing for beauty and fragrance. A large flower field appeared before her eyes. In the distance, she could see pavilions, terraces, and buildings with towering eaves and flying corners. A majestic building with a double-eaved, nine-ridged roof stood tall and imposing.

Xiao Jinyu knew she was dreaming again, but strangely, even though she knew it was a dream, she felt a sense of reality as if she were reliving another world.

The scenery before her was not unfamiliar. If she guessed correctly, this must be the Imperial Flower Garden in Jiankang Tai City. In the past, as a noble lady of the Xie Clan, she was a frequent visitor to Crown Prince Zhao Ming’s residence, and Emperor Wu of Liang often summoned her to the palace to teach the Xiao princesses.

Therefore, she was already very familiar with everything in the palace.

After entering a peach grove, Xiao Jinyu heard people talking in the grove.

It was a woman’s voice.

“Put this medicine into Han Zigao’s wine. If you can successfully make him drink this cup of wine, this Palace will reward you handsomely.”

“Yes.”

“Also, inform Princess Yuhua about this matter and let her be prepared.”

“Yes.”

Han Zigao? Upon hearing this name, Xiao Jinyu curiously approached. She saw a woman in a colorful palace dress with gold embroidery and a hibiscus cloud bun talking to a little palace maid.

The little palace maid hung her head, murmuring in a timid voice.

The woman continued, “You must be very curious why this Palace is doing this? But this is not something you should concern yourself with. The Xiao Clan is a century-old prestigious family. If it is stained by a woman, the descendants of the Xiao Clan will never be able to hold their heads up. As for Han Zigao, he is just a commoner of humble birth. This Palace is doing this as a favor to him. What, are you afraid of him?”

“No, I wouldn’t dare.” The little palace maid said repeatedly.

“Then go! After the matter is accomplished, not to mention you, even your entire family, this Palace can let them live a life of luxury and enjoy glory and wealth.”

“Yes.”

The palace maid lowered her head and walked away with small steps. Xiao Jinyu glanced at the palace maid and then walked towards the woman in the gorgeous palace dress. But just as she approached, everything in front of her, including the woman, suddenly disappeared. The originally bright and beautiful scenery of the Imperial Flower Garden was suddenly replaced by a dark and damp place.

A prison cell surrounded by iron bars suddenly appeared before her eyes. In a dark and cramped corner, a tall man with messy black hair hanging loose stood with his hands behind his back. He wore heavy shackles on both his hands and feet.

There was a small window on the ceiling of the cell, and a faint light shone down, illuminating the man’s face.

With a beautiful forehead, naturally arched eyebrows, and delicate white skin, if it weren’t for the heroic aura emanating from him, one could easily mistake him for a woman.

Xiao Jinyu’s heart skipped a beat in surprise. It wasn’t because the man was extremely handsome, but because his face was exactly the same as the one she saw in the mirror, her own face.

Could this be Han Zigao? Her original body’s biological father?

Then where is he now?

As she was thinking, a voice came from beside her, “I have heard of the beauty of Zhou Xiaoshi in the past, and now I sing of the boy under the moon. Your jade-like hands never leave my sight, and the streets are empty as if a sheep cart has passed. Zigao’s beauty is truly rare in the world, with a handsome and elegant demeanor. Even in this prison cell, it does not diminish his appearance and grace.”

This voice?

Xiao Jinyu suddenly turned around and saw a man in a snow-white straight-collared robe walking down the stone steps one by one. When he reached her, Xiao Jinyu’s expression changed in shock.

Because this person was none other than Chen Shili. However, this Chen Shili was different from the humble commoner he used to be. Dressed in luxurious clothes, he now possessed the aura of a king.

“I have given you a chance, but you insist on going against me. Is my imperial brother really worth your loyalty?”

“Heh, a stolen throne, how can it last long? When Emperor Wen was alive, he regarded you as his own brother, willing to cede territory to redeem you from Northern Zhou. Before his death, he entrusted you with everything, giving you all the power. But I didn’t expect you to be so heartless and ruthless, even sparing his only legitimate son.”

“Speaking of being heartless and ruthless, my imperial brother was no less so. The Crown Prince’s sudden death back then, wasn’t that your doing? Han Zigao, are your hands any cleaner than mine?

✿✿✿

The way of a ruler is to never be swayed by womanly benevolence or show mercy. Only by losing can one gain.”

“So, you can even kill the person you love and betray your closest kin. But why wouldn’t you spare an innocent woman?”

When mentioning the person he loved, Chen Shili’s expression changed slightly, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

“Han Zigao, who do you love the most, my imperial brother or that woman?” Chen Shili suddenly asked. “Don’t think I don’t know, all these years, you have been sending people to inquire about that woman’s whereabouts, trying every means to protect her safety. And, that woman even bore you a child, right?”

Han Zigao’s expression changed drastically.

Chen Shili laughed again, “Hahaha… The world says that you, Han Zigao, are my imperial brother’s male favorite, loyal and unwavering to him. This is truly a ridiculous thing. In fact, you are just using my imperial brother’s favor to gain the wealth, glory, and power you want. In the end, you betrayed him and fell in love with another woman.”

“Emperor Wen’s kindness to me was that of a benefactor, not what you think.”

“Actually, I don’t care about those things between you and my imperial brother. I care about another thing. As long as you tell me, I can spare your life. Are you still unwilling to say it?”

Han Zigao sneered and closed his eyes.

“Just kill me if you want. Since Emperor Wen has passed away, my debt of gratitude has been repaid. There is indeed no meaning in living on.”

Chen Shili then said, “What about your wife and child? Don’t you care about them anymore?”

Han Zigao’s expression changed, and a hint of fear and pleading appeared in his eyes.

“They are innocent. I can admit to my rebellion and bear all the blame, but please don’t implicate my family.”

“Then write down everything you know.”

After saying this, Chen Shili actually walked towards Xiao Jinyu and then laughed loudly as he passed through her body and walked away.

Seeing the man’s figure disappear at the end of the passageway, Xiao Jinyu turned to look at Han Zigao, who was standing in the cell with his hands behind his back. She saw tears welling up in the eyes of this beautiful man.

He stood in the cell for a long time, then suddenly murmured, “A’luan, I’m sorry. I’ve ruined your life.”

After saying that, he picked up a wine cup filled with a slightly reddish amber wine.

Xiao Jinyu knew that it was the imperial gold dust wine, specially bestowed upon condemned criminals.

“What can dispel sorrow? Only Du Kang （wine）.”

Just as she was about to grab the wine cup from his hand, she heard him smile and recite a line before drinking it all in one gulp.

“Qing Gege—”

Someone was pushing her. Hearing the boy’s call, Xiao Jinyu suddenly opened her eyes and sat up from the bed.

“Did Qing Gege have another nightmare?”

No, this was not a dream. This should be something that really happened. It was the dream she exchanged with her divination skills. So this was the truth. But what did Chen Shili in the dream want to know from Han Zigao?

And who was the woman who framed her mother?