The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Confession

“Naturally!” Xu Ling didn’t decline, but turned to Princess Yunyin and persuaded, “Your Highness, this old minister was just outside the door and has already understood the whole story of what happened here. In fact, you are just fixated on the injury suffered by the Young Master. Since you are worried and distressed about the Young Master’s injury, why not take him home as soon as possible and invite a renowned physician to treat him? If time is wasted, wouldn’t Your Highness regret it later!”

Princess Yunyin’s expression changed slightly: “What does Minister Xu mean by this? Are you saying that I am falsely accusing her because I feel sorry for my son? My son is in this state now, isn’t it because she designed it to harm him?”

“But even so, it was the Young Master who was at fault first! Your Highness, listen to this old minister’s words, do not be stubborn, otherwise you will be the one who regrets it in the future!”

Having said this, Xu Ling also walked towards the painting scroll spread on the ground, saying as he walked, “I have always heard of Prince of Lanling’s good name. He will not lie, and he has no connection or friendship with this Young Lady. As an envoy from the north, he could have ignored this matter. If the Young Master hadn’t gone too far, how could His Highness have such compassion and let his guard come out to testify?”

“Therefore, his testimony must be true. As for the physical evidence, it’s even simpler. Since the Princess doesn’t believe that this painting was painted by this Young Lady, then let this Young Lady paint another one. If you don’t believe that the words on it were written by the gentlemen present, then compare them with the handwriting of these gentlemen!”

“As for what this Young Lady said, that there are drugs in the ink, and that the incense in the Dream Journey Pavilion can cause hallucinations and aphrodisiac effects, then invite a physician to examine it, and you will know!”

“All the wine, food, paper, and ink in this Elegant Poetry Pavilion were provided by the Young Master, and this Young Lady is dressed in plain clothes, without even a single ornament on her body. She really had no opportunity to poison. Moreover, Xu has also heard about this Young Lady. She has only been in Jiankang for a short time, and this is probably her first time at the Apricot Blossom and Misty Rain Tower, right?”

As he spoke, he cast an inquiring look at Xiao Jinyu.

Xiao Jinyu’s heart was already in turmoil. In fact, from the moment she saw Xu Ling, her emotions had been difficult to calm. More than twenty years ago, Xu Ling was still the Crown Prince’s scholar of the Southern Liang Dynasty, known for his integrity, uprightness, and profound knowledge. He was someone she had admired very much. In the second year of Taiqing, Xu Ling was ordered to be an envoy to the Eastern Wei. Not long after, the horrific Hou Jing Rebellion occurred in Jiankang City. After that, she died in the war, under Chen Xu’s blade, and never saw this person again.

Unexpectedly…

“Yes, Jinyu is indeed visiting the Apricot Blossom and Misty Rain Tower for the first time.”

Xu Ling nodded. When his gaze fell on the painting scroll that was now close at hand, his eyes lit up, and he seemed to be somewhat mesmerized as he bent down to look at the painting scroll. As he looked, he very carefully picked up the painting scroll with both hands and couldn’t help but mutter to himself:

“This painting is extremely good! Such elegance and refinement, the brushstrokes are like gods. This old minister has only seen such a painting more than twenty years ago at a Pure Conversation Gathering. It is actually on par with that eldest legitimate daughter of the Chenjun Xie Clan. It’s a pity… Heaven is jealous of talent…”

As Xu Ling sighed, Cui Heng’s expression changed drastically.

“What did you say? This painting is on par with which eldest legitimate daughter of the Chenjun Xie Clan?” As he spoke, he stepped forward and curiously cast his gaze on the painting!

Suddenly, it was as if the beauty of spring, with all things reviving and flowers blooming, was reflected in his eyes. It was like that dazzling figure standing on the bridge on the day of the Spring Purification Festival on the third day of the third lunar month. Her radiant smile when she turned her head instantly made the sunlight dim and all things fall silent.

Just as he was reminiscing, Xu Ling’s sigh came from beside his ear: “Who else could it be? There was only one eldest legitimate daughter of the Xie Clan, Xie Yuqing. Such an amazingly talented woman, I’m afraid she was the only one in the world. It’s a pity that she has already passed away for twenty years, right?”

Cui Heng was lost in sadness for a moment.

Xu Ling looked at Xiao Jinyu again and said, “However, Young Lady seems to have inherited her true teachings. I wonder who your teacher is?”

When asked about her teacher, Cui Heng also cast an expectant look at Xiao Jinyu. He heard Xiao Jinyu say, “A’yu has been dependent on her mother since she was a child. Everything she has learned in her life has been taught by her mother. She has not taken anyone else as her teacher!”

Hearing this, Cui Heng’s eyes couldn’t help but reveal disappointment.

Xu Ling nodded without any doubt and said, “This painting, I wonder if Young Lady could lend it to me for a few days?”

“Of course, but the medicinal properties in the painting have not yet been removed. Minister Xu should not look at it closely. It can be exposed to the sun for a day, and then the medicinal properties will be neutralized!”

“Good!” Xu Ling immediately put away the painting scroll and turned to Princess Yunyin, saying solemnly, “Your Highness, please take the Young Master back for treatment quickly! Otherwise, does Your Highness still want to wait for His Majesty’s judgment?”

“You—”

Princess Yunyin was still unwilling to give up, but at this moment, Lu Sheng actually stood up and said, “No need. Lu admits that what happened today was indeed done by us. But Lu was also misled by Eighth Young Master Xiao and treated the Young Lady as an ordinary concubine. If Lu had known that the Young Lady was such a person, he would never have humiliated her in the slightest!”

His tone was very sincere, and he glanced at Xiao Jinyu with a hint of guilt and pity. His tone changed, and he continued, “But fortunately, no major mistake has been made. None of us touched the Young Lady in the slightest. The Young Lady’s reputation is still intact. Another day, Lu will definitely come to apologize in person!”

“Lu Sheng—”

Princess Yunyin seemed to want to stop him, but Lu Sheng said, “Your Highness, the matter has come to this, further arguing is useless. Lu Sheng dares to take responsibility for his actions. Farewell!” After saying that, he flung his sleeves and strode towards the door without looking back!

The other gentlemen also fled in shame, covering their faces.

Xu Ling turned his gaze to Princess Yunyin again and asked in a gentle but dignified tone:

“Now that even Young Master Lu has admitted it, does Your Highness still want to continue to be stubborn?”

Princess Yunyin suddenly felt as if the gazes of several people in the hall were shooting towards her like thousands of arrows. She had originally wanted to use public opinion and rumors as her spear to make this lowly maid have nowhere to escape and ruin her reputation today. Unexpectedly, these spears had turned into sharp swords, all piercing towards her!

What was this!

At this time, Xiao Jinyu seemed to see through her heart and said, “Unable to wield the knife oneself but still making it cut. Your Highness, do you also taste the feeling of thousands of arrows piercing your heart today?”

✿✿✿

Princess Yunyin was so angry that her face was contorted, but she had nowhere to vent her anger. At this moment, a maid rushed out from the Dream Journey Pavilion and ran to Princess Yunyin, saying:

“Your Highness, Eighth Young Master… Young Master seems to have fainted. The physician who was invited said that he is helpless. Please find another renowned physician…”

“What did you say?” Only then did Princess Yunyin seem to remember Xiao Yun’s injuries. She glared at Xiao Jinyu unwillingly and then ordered someone to carry Xiao Yun onto a sedan chair and led a group of personal troops away aggressively!

Just as she stepped out of the Elegant Poetry Pavilion, she heard Xiao Jinyu’s meaningful words, “Your Highness, please don’t come to beg me in the future! And I will find out the truth about my mother’s death!”

Princess Yunyin’s footsteps suddenly stopped. She turned her head and glared at her with eyes like sharp blades. She angrily flung her sleeves and left, gritting her teeth!

Xiao Xian, who had been watching from the sidelines, seemed to have suppressed his painful emotions to the extreme. Until this moment, he could no longer control himself. His face turned pale, and he suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood.

“Seventh Uncle, what’s wrong with you?” Xiao Ruoling cried out in shock.

“Young Master!” Feng Dong was also so anxious that he didn’t know what to do. He looked around and shouted for a doctor.

Xiao Jinyu quickly walked up to Xiao Xian, held his shoulders, and gently called out, “Uncle Xian!”

At this time, Xiao Xian’s face was pale, and his lips were even white, looking extremely weak. He only glanced at Xiao Jinyu with pity and heartache, then fainted directly!

“Young Master!”

Feng Dong called out anxiously, “Young Lady, you must have frightened the Young Master today. You don’t know that since you came back, my Young Master has been worried and frightened for you. Just now, you confronted the Mistress like that, with so many twists and turns, you scared us to death. You also said that you would never step into the Xiao family’s door again. The Young Master must be blaming himself and feeling sad…”

“I know, Feng Dong. There’s no time to lose. Quickly take your Young Master to the nearest private room!”

Xiao Jinyu suddenly ordered with a serious expression.

“What are we going to do in the private room?” Feng Dong was stunned.

“I’m going to treat him! Right now!”

“Treat him?”

Feng Dong seemed to have only just reacted. Just now, he was still frantically looking for a doctor, how could he forget that this Young Lady was a divine physician!

At this time, Xiao Jinyu had already stood up quickly and bowed to all the scholars in the hall, saying, “Thank you, Minister Xu, Young Master Li, Young Master Cui, Prince of Lanling, and all the other gentlemen for your righteous words and generous help today, which saved A’yu from having her reputation completely ruined and being falsely accused. A’yu will definitely repay your kindness in the future!”

“Young Lady, you are not afraid of power, and you cleared your mother’s name. Whether it is filial piety, righteousness, or courage and wisdom, you have made us ashamed. Young Lady, you don’t have to be so polite!”

“Yes, you don’t have to be so polite! It was just a small effort on our part, it was only right!”

“Then thank you!”

With this thank you, Xiao Jinyu couldn’t help but glance at Prince of Lanling. This thank you was not only to thank him for standing up for her and speaking out, but also to thank him for the pill he had given her. Although she didn’t need that pill and could have completely neutralized the poison with silver needles.

Just one glance at each other, and they already knew what the other meant, no need for words.

But for some reason, whenever she heard the name Prince of Lanling or saw him, she could always feel a subtle throbbing in the original owner’s heart.

Putting aside her thoughts, Xiao Jinyu smiled and nodded to Prince of Lanling, giving him a respectful bow. Then she turned to Xu Ling and the people behind him and said, “Please, Minister Xu, let everyone disperse. A’yu has urgent matters to attend to and won’t be able to chat with you any longer!”

After saying that, she called out, “Fenghuang, bring my medicine chest!”