The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Entering the Game

“But she is, after all, A’luan’s daughter…” A trace of guilt and reluctance appeared on Xiao Jian’s face.

Princess Yunyin’s expression changed. Her golden armor abruptly shattered the wine vessel. She slowly rose and walked to Xiao Jian, speaking with a charming smile, “Xiao Jian, at this point, don’t tell me your conscience has been awakened and you regret it. Don’t forget who drove that shameless wretch out of the Xiao family’s doors?”

Xiao Jian’s face immediately turned ashen. He glared at Princess Yunyin, but then seemed to lower his eyes in fear, not daring to meet her gaze. He flung his sleeves and left.

“Suit yourself!” he said.

Princess Yunyin watched his retreating figure and laughed contemptuously.

At this moment, Xiao Ninth Miss suddenly lifted the beaded curtain and hurried in from the side door, her voice said in a coquettish voice, “Mother, is that wretch truly someone from our Xiao family? Not only did she bump into the Princess on the street today, making the Princess lose face, she also left Father speechless. Isn’t this making things difficult for our Xiao family, making us lose face as Xiao family members?

Mother, you must not let her enter our Xiao family, you must kill…!”

“Silence!”

When she spoke the word “kill,” there was not a trace of reluctance on Xiao Ninth Miss’s face, as if it was as simple and easy as crushing an ant she disliked. She also thought that for her mother, a princess of the Chen imperial family, this would be an extremely trivial matter, something that could be accomplished with a word. However, she did not expect to be stopped by Princess Yunyin. Her whole body trembled suddenly, and she heard her mother say in a low voice, “Some words, if they shouldn’t be said, don’t say them. It’s not difficult to make someone disappear, but don’t easily reveal your hand, and don’t casually utter the word ‘kill.’ Have you forgotten everything I taught you?”

“No, no, thank you for your instruction, Mother!” Xiao Ninth Miss was initially afraid, thinking Princess Yunyin was angry. Now that she understood it was a lesson, she couldn’t help but feel smug and pleaded in a low voice, “Mother, making that wretch disappear is too easy for you. However, there’s a Northern Barbarian boy by her side with exceptional martial arts skills. Could you spare him and capture him for your daughter as a bodyguard?”

“If you want a bodyguard, where can’t you find one? Why must it be a Barbarian slave?” Princess Yunyin seemed to have guessed her daughter’s thoughts. “Tell the truth to your mother, what do you want him for?”

Xiao Ninth Miss reluctantly replied, “It’s the Princess, the Princess saw… saw that the boy was extremely handsome and wants to capture him to keep…”

“Absurd!” Princess Yunyin immediately interrupted angrily, but then her face became contemplative as she murmured, “Exceptional martial arts skills…”

That wretch actually had a highly skilled bodyguard. It seemed she couldn’t be underestimated.

“Someone!” After Xiao Ninth Miss retreated, she immediately summoned Nurse Jiang and ordered, “Arrange ten capable thugs, preferably death warriors with sold deeds of sale. Find a remote place and… take care of that wretch!”

“Yes!”

✿✿✿

The people sent by Princess Yunyin didn’t immediately find Xiao Jinyu. Ever since the incident of Xiao Jinyu memorizing the Xiao family genealogy and attempting to reunite with the family spread, the storybooks in Jiankang City came out one after another, each more dramatic than the last. Some condemned the prominent Xiao family for abandoning their daughter, while others couldn’t help but be curious about the truth. Xiao Jinyu’s mysterious origins became a topic of conversation in taverns and teahouses, and even a subject of bets in gambling dens.

But since that day, Xiao Jinyu had not reappeared on the bustling streets of Jiankang City. Even Princess Ningyuan had sent people to search for her residence several times, but to no avail.

However, in a village far from the market, a legend about a divine physician spread. Some said that an old man who had been paralyzed in bed for many years was able to get up and stand within seven days under the treatment of this divine physician. Others said that a woman who had been mute for seven years suddenly started speaking. Some even claimed that a young girl who had been dead for two days and was about to be buried was revived after being given a single injection by this physician!

But when asked about the physician’s appearance, the answers were varied and bizarre. Some described an elderly man with white hair, others a woman over thirty, and some even claimed it was a young servant with an exceptionally charming appearance…

“Tsk, is this person they’re talking about human or a god? They must have seen a ghost to be spouting such nonsense!” Xiao Yun sneered, mocking the rumors.

Wei Sixth Young Master and Zhu Fourth Young Master, who were similarly embracing the graceful figures of female companions, also chimed in with mocking laughter, “Exactly, these commoners have never seen the world. Maybe someone made up these stories out of boredom…”

“Even made-up stories shouldn’t be like this. An old man, a woman, and then a young servant? I think they must have seen a ghost, hahaha…”

“Exactly… I’m feeling generous today, so I’ll give these two female companions to you!” With that, he drunkenly pushed the two women in his arms towards them.

It was common for aristocratic families to keep female companions, and the more prominent the family, the more talented and beautiful their companions were. Like Shi Chong’s Green Pearl and Wang Dun’s Song Yi, they were captivating figures that men were obsessed with, and they were also cultivated by their masters with great expense and effort.

The two female companions brought by Xiao Yun were skilled in various musical instruments and dance, and their naturally alluring figures were extremely rare. He gave them away without hesitation.

“Eighth Young Master Xiao is truly generous!” Zhu Fourth Young Master said, immediately grabbing the female companion with the more delicate features and weaker figure. The woman’s eyes were moist, seemingly fearful, but she resignedly fell into Zhu Fourth Young Master’s arms.

On the other side of the tavern, a man in a tall hat and wide belt couldn’t help but shake his head, taking a sip of wine with a worried expression.

“Third Young Master Cui, do you also think that this divine physician they’re talking about is…”

“Shh—” Cui Heng immediately silenced Twelfth Young Master Li. “Don’t bring her trouble…”

If it really was her, assuming so many identities in a row, her situation must be very difficult!

Twelfth Young Master Li, Li Mi, nodded knowingly and couldn’t help but chuckle and sigh:

“Eh, I never thought that Third Young Master Cui, who’s never been moved by women, would have such a day, hahaha…”

✿✿✿

It was a month later when Princess Yunyin finally learned of Xiao Jinyu’s whereabouts.

In a small village a hundred miles north of the Qinhuai River, spring apricot blossoms were in full bloom. Under the morning sun, dew glistened and cherry blossoms fluttered.

Fenghuang, carrying the medicine chest, quickly caught up with Xiao Jinyu, asking excitedly, “Qing Gege, where are we going to play today?”

✿✿✿

Rather than playing, it was more like playing hide-and-seek with a group of assassins. From the south bank of the Qinhuai River to the north bank, wherever Xiao Jinyu went, she would treat the villagers under different identities. Sometimes she was a white-haired old man, sometimes a woman in coarse linen clothing. Only today did she return to her usual attire of pure white.

“Why didn’t you disguise yourself today?” Fenghuang continued to ask.

Xiao Jinyu smiled, stopping her steps and pointing to a bamboo forest and a clear stream not far ahead. “Today, we’re not going anywhere. After a month of rough living, it’s time to end it!

Peach blossoms, flowing water, and plump mandarin fish. Today, we’ll fish and catch birds here.” She looked at the young man beside her. “We’ll make a delicious meal to nourish my Fenghuang.”

When he heard the words “my Fenghuang,” the boy’s eyes sparkled with delight.

“Okay! Qing Gege!”

Just as they were about to move forward, they suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind them. Fenghuang immediately tensed up, clenching his fists and turning around. He saw a woman carrying a bamboo basket and pulling a young girl rushing towards them:

“Lady, Divine Physician Lady, please wait…”

The old woman hurried forward, panting heavily, clearly having run a long distance. After a brief pause, she pulled the young girl behind her and abruptly knelt down, saying, “Lady, thank you for saving my daughter’s life. I have nothing to repay you with, but I only wish that you could take my A’xiu by your side and let her serve you, repaying your kindness with her whole life.”

A’xiu was the young girl Xiao Jinyu had saved three days ago. That day was the day of A’xiu’s funeral. As Xiao Jinyu and Fenghuang passed by the funeral procession, they suddenly heard a faint knocking sound from inside the coffin. They stopped the funeral and, despite her father’s objections, had Fenghuang split open the coffin.

Amidst her father’s curses, she merely took a closer look, and A’xiu climbed out of the coffin. At that time, A’xiu’s forehead was covered in blood, and her expression was filled with fear and horror, scaring the funeral attendees into scattering.

Everyone thought she had used some kind of magic to bring A’xiu back to life, but only she knew…

“I don’t possess the ability to resurrect the dead. That day, A’xiu wasn’t actually dead,” Xiao Jinyu said.

“I know, I know my A’xiu wasn’t dead. But my husband cares about his reputation. When he learned that A’xiu had been defiled, he was afraid of losing face for the Lu family, so… even if A’xiu hadn’t chosen to commit suicide, he would still have…”

Before the woman could finish speaking, Xiao Jinyu felt a pang of pain in her heart, suddenly thinking of the original owner’s mother. The original owner’s tragic life made her feel a deep sense of sorrow and empathy.

“Lady, A’xiu can’t stay in the Lu family anymore. I see that you have a kind heart, so I want her to follow you as a servant. It would be a good place for her. Please grant my request!”

After the woman finished speaking, she again pulled A’xiu down to kowtow repeatedly. A’xiu also pleaded, “Please take me in, Lady. A’xiu is willing to work like an ox or a horse…” Xiao Jinyu bent down to stop them, pulling both the woman and the girl to their feet.

“Following me may not be safer than staying in your Lu family. I understand your love for your daughter, but…” Xiao Jinyu said.

The woman, with tears streaming down her face, cried, “I know, I know that your journey hasn’t been easy, Lady. But rather than letting A’xiu live with her head bowed in the Lu family, disliked by her stepmother, used by her father and brothers, bullied for her whole life, and having her marriage arranged by others, it’s better for her to follow you and live a clean life, doing good deeds and accumulating virtue. If she can live to old age in peace, it would be her blessing. If not… it’s also her fate in this life… I… have no regrets…”

So she just wanted her daughter to live and die with dignity?

“The descendants of my Xie family, even in death, must die with dignity. We cannot let lowly people like Hou Jing trample on our dignity… If you cannot lead the clan to safety, Yuqing, do you know what you must do?”

The words of her grandfather before his death echoed in Xiao Jinyu’s mind, and her heart surged with emotion. She didn’t say anything more and finally replied, “Since it’s your choice, then I have no objections. I happen to need someone to help me with preparing medicine…”

Before she could finish speaking, the woman was overjoyed:

“Thank you, Lady! Thank you, Lady…”

But then she heard Xiao Jinyu say, “However, not now…”

Not now? Then when? Could it be that the Lady was still unwilling…

The old woman felt disappointed, but then she saw Xiao Jinyu’s expression turn solemn as she said in a deep voice, “A pack of wolves has been following us for a long time. Today, we’re going to kill wolves… and catch birds!”

As she spoke, she turned to the boy with a mysterious smile and asked,

“Fenghuang, are you ready?”

“Of course!”

The boy also seemed to understand her meaning, responding with a smile and leaping into the bamboo forest…