The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Rising to Fame

When the word “grandfather” slipped past her lips, not only Xiao Jian, but also the two young men and the two young women who had accompanied Princess Ningyuan were stunned. One of the young women, dressed in a wide-sleeved, flowing, floor-length gown, couldn’t help but cry out in anger: “What nonsense are you spouting? Who is your grandfather? Our Xiao family has no such person.”

Xiao Jinyu’s gaze fell upon the young woman, and memories of her instantly surfaced in her mind. This was the daughter of the Second Consort, Princess Yunyin, ranked ninth in the Xiao family. She was the youngest legitimate daughter among her mother’s generation, currently only twelve or thirteen years old. In the original host’s memories, this Xiao Ninth Miss was extremely arrogant and domineering. Relying on her mother Princess Yunyin’s status and her close relationship with Princess Ningyuan, she had bullied and humiliated the original host, who had returned to the family halfway through her life, countless times.

Princess Ningyuan had feelings for Xiao Yun. After learning that Xiao Yun liked the original host, she conspired with Xiao Ninth Miss to have Xiao Yun take advantage of the original host’s body, euphemistically calling it “consummation of their love,” treating the original host as a mere object for pleasure.

Afterward, it was also this Xiao Ninth Miss who gave false testimony to Xiao Jian, claiming that the original host had seduced Xiao Yun and willingly climbed into his bed.

The memories abruptly stopped, and a voice reached her ears: “This young lady, have you mistaken us for someone else?”

It was Xiao Jian, his face stiff and expression awkward, forcing a smile as he spoke to Xiao Jinyu in a gentle and polite tone.

Xiao Jinyu returned the smile, her voice calm and unhurried as she replied: “Speaking of the Lanling Xiao Clan’s genealogy, it can be traced back to the Yin and Shang Dynasties.

The Xiao Clan, with the surname Zi, originated from the ancient Xiao State, located in present-day Xiao County, Xuzhou. Later, it was annexed by the Song State. Da Xin, a descendant of the collateral branch of Wei Zi, made great contributions in pacifying the rebellion of Nangong Changwan and was enfeoffed as the ruler of Xiao, a vassal state. In the twelfth year of the reign of Duke Xuan of Lu, the Chu State destroyed Xiao. His descendants adopted Xiao as their surname and resided in the Feng and Pei regions.

After the Zhou Dynasty overthrew the Shang Dynasty, Wei Zi was enfeoffed as the ruler of the Song State. Wei Zi’s grandson, Da Xin, was granted the Xiao State as a vassal state for his meritorious service in quelling a rebellion. In the twelfth year of Duke Xuan of Lu, the Chu State conquered the Xiao State, and the descendants of Wei Zi of Song subsequently adopted the surname Xiao.

As Xiao Jinyu spoke, silence fell over the surroundings. Xiao Jian’s face showed a hint of surprise, while Xiao Ninth Miss frowned impatiently and said: “Father, what is she talking about?”

Like her mother, Xiao Ninth Miss disliked studying. Her occasional attempts at literary expression were merely superficial, aiming only to avoid embarrassment.

At this moment, Xiao Jinyu continued: “As for the branch residing in Jiankang, it can be traced back to Xiao Wangzhi and even further to Xiao He. As recorded in the Book of Han, Xiao Wangzhi had eight sons, all well-versed in the Five Classics, with outstanding reputations. From this single family came one Grand Master and three Ministers, all important officials in the imperial court, their noble titles passed down through generations. From then on, the Lanling Xiao Clan became a prominent family in Shandong, its influence enduring for centuries.

In the first year of the Yuan Kang era of the Jin Dynasty, amidst the chaos in the central government and the decline of the north, the Xiao family, along with other prominent clans like the Wang, Xie, and Yuan, migrated south and settled in Jiankang.

In the third year of the Sheng Ping era of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Shun abdicated in favor of Xiao Daocheng. Afterward, the Xiao Clan ruled for two dynasties, until…”

“Enough!” Xiao Jian abruptly interrupted, seemingly apprehensive and panicked. He glanced around, noticing the surrounding crowd buzzing with discussions.

“So this young lady is reciting the Xiao family’s genealogy. To know it in such detail, she must be a descendant of the Xiao Clan.”

In these turbulent times, genealogy was a prominent field of study, especially among aristocratic families. Regardless of gender, everyone had to memorize their family’s genealogy. This was to ensure that if families were unfortunately separated during the chaos, they could later prove their identities.

At present, there might be many who had read aristocratic genealogies and knew that the Xiao family’s origins could be traced back to Xiao Wangzhi, but they would never have imagined it could be traced even further back to Wei Zi of Song in the Yin and Shang Dynasties.

Xiao Ninth Miss was one of them. She didn’t even know that her ancestors had once been emperors.

“Grandfather, my mother was your legitimate eldest daughter in this generation of the Xiao family. Mother told me that although I am your granddaughter, I am still a descendant of the Xiao family. This was the oath you swore before the ancestral hall, stating that the legitimate eldest daughter of the Xiao family would not marry out. Even if she married, it would be a matrilocal marriage, and her descendants would all belong to the Xiao Clan.”

“Therefore, I address you as Grandfather.” She paused, seeing Xiao Jian’s face pale once more. With a graceful curtsy and a gentle smile, she continued, “However, if you truly do not remember the words you once spoke, then consider it as if this young woman has said nothing.”

“This young woman, Xiao, Jin, Yu, bids you farewell!”

After saying these words, as Xiao Jian stood dumbfounded and astonished, Xiao Jinyu took Fenghuang’s hand and departed.

“So the Xiao family has such a young lady. Not only is she beautiful, but her demeanor is also elegant and charming. This is the true bearing of a noble lady from a prestigious family, far surpassing this Xiao Ninth Miss. Third Young Master, don’t you agree?”

Someone in the crowd spoke, causing Xiao Ninth Miss’s face to turn pale. When she looked around, she saw only a sea of faces, unable to identify the speaker.

“Indeed, but it’s strange. This young lady of the Xiao family, lost for so long, how is it that upon her return, the head of the Xiao family doesn’t recognize her? Did he intentionally refuse to acknowledge her, or did he truly not recognize her? If he truly didn’t recognize her, then to whom was he calling out ‘A’luan’?”

Another voice from the crowd caused Xiao Jian’s face to pale further. After standing awkwardly for a long while, he cupped his hands towards the young man addressed as “Crown Prince” and said: “Apologies, Your Highness. This Xiao has family matters to attend to and must take his leave.” With that, he departed with Xiao Ninth Miss and Xiao Yun, leaving the Crown Prince and Princess Ningyuan bewildered.

“Brother Crown Prince, what was that about? Since when did the Xiao family have a legitimate eldest daughter? And she even brought back such a grown-up daughter to acknowledge her kinship? To claim to be a member of the Xiao family, isn’t this deliberately trying to provoke my aunt and make a fool of everyone?”

The Crown Prince’s face was also flushed with embarrassment. He quickly took Princess Ningyuan’s hand and hurried away.

“Even if it’s a joke, it’s someone else’s joke. What does it have to do with you? Let’s go!”

After they left, the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only two young men in white robes and black caps standing in place.

The older one appeared to be over thirty, handsome and possessing a profound aura.

✿✿✿

The younger one was no more than seventeen or eighteen years old, with a spirited look between his brows and a somewhat rebellious air.

“I didn’t expect her to be from the Lanling Xiao Clan, and the granddaughter of a direct daughter at that. Her status must be quite high. Third Young Master, wouldn’t you say this is quite a coincidence? We just arrived in Jiankang and we’ve run into her again, and even witnessed such a good show,”

“But how did her face change? It definitely wasn’t like this when we saw her last time. Could she be a demon who can change her face?”

The younger Young Master said with a chuckle, reaching out and waving his hand in front of the older Young Master’s eyes. Seeing that he didn’t move for a while, he leaned close to his ear and shouted, “Hey, Third Young Master, are you mesmerized by the beauty?”

Third Young Master Cui was startled, shivering violently. His shiver amused a little girl by the roadside, making her giggle.

The younger Young Master quickly waved to the little girl, but upon seeing Third Young Master Cui’s sharp gaze, he jumped up like a frightened rabbit and dashed off towards the street.

“Mother, that uncle was so funny.”

Seeing the two Young Masters leave, the little girl looked at the woman beside her. But seeing the woman’s expression frozen, as if lost in thought, she asked, “Mother, are you thinking about what that elder sister said just now? Mother, that elder sister was so beautiful, and she even knew that you often can’t sleep well at night. Could that elder sister be a fairy?”

The woman didn’t answer, only murmuring, “A’luan, could it be her?” Then she stroked the little girl’s head and smiled, “Yes, our A’yuan met a fairy today. Let’s go! A’yuan, let’s go home early and tell your father about this, okay?”

“Okay!”

The little girl clapped her hands in delight, then seemed a little wistful, “It’s a pity that A’yuan didn’t get to talk to that elder sister before she left. Mother, I saw those men earlier, they looked so fierce. Will they bully elder sister?”

The woman’s expression changed slightly, and she let out an almost inaudible sigh.

I’m afraid it’s not just bullying. If this Young Lady wants to gain a foothold in Jiankang in the future, it will be very difficult.

However, this street farce today should make this Young Lady famous, and she even gained a good reputation. Even if they want to bully her, those people wouldn’t dare to do anything to her openly, right?

……

The woman’s guess was right. The name Xiao Jinyu soon spread throughout Jiankang City, and the stories about her reciting the Xiao Clan genealogy, killing her horse to save a little girl, and outwitting the princess with her eloquence became the talk of the town.

“There’s a young lady from the Xiao family who returned to claim her family after being lost for many years, but the head of the Xiao family said he didn’t recognize this young lady. What’s going on? To know what happens next, please listen to the next ch apter.”

The storyteller in the teahouse also let his imagination run wild.

Everyone was laughing and talking, but Xiao Jian couldn’t bring himself to laugh. Ever since he stepped into the Xiao family mansion, Princess Yunyin, who was always well-informed, had been making a fuss about this matter.

“What’s going on? When did you get an extra granddaughter? And she even claims to be from our Xiao Clan.”

“How would I know? A’luan has been missing for more than ten years, how could she suddenly come back?” Xiao Jian was also very distressed and puzzled.

“It’s not her who came back, it’s her daughter! Xiao Jian, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten how that daughter of hers came to be? Who she was born for? This is a disgrace to your Xiao family.”

As soon as he heard the word “disgrace,” Xiao Jian became agitated, his face ashen like a frostbitten eggplant, his eyes filled with anger.

“This matter has been over for more than ten years, no one has mentioned it again, why are you bringing her up?” he said angrily.

“No one mentioning it doesn’t mean everyone has forgotten, especially now that she has identified herself as your direct granddaughter, this matter will be brought up again sooner or later.”

“Then what do you suggest we do?” Xiao Jian was both angry and helpless.

Princess Yunyin sat up straight, her long fingernails tapping on a wine cup, and said with a soft smile, “Don’t let her enter the door of our Xiao family, or… do it cleanly… just kill her!”