The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Prince of Lanling, Gao Changgong

The carriage sped along the official road. Fenghuang was studying a map when he suddenly heard a string of murmurs escape from the sleeping Xiao Jinyu’s lips.

As if trapped in a nightmare, the young girl’s brows furrowed with an inescapable pain.

“Qing Gege, what’s wrong?”

Fenghuang anxiously leaned closer and asked, but unexpectedly, Xiao Jinyu suddenly reached out and tightly grasped his wrist, the pain so intense that he couldn’t break free for a moment.

“Qing Gege, let go, you’re hurting me!”

Suddenly hearing a boy’s voice beside her ear, Xiao Jinyu woke up from her dream, the light in her eyes shifting from fear and unwillingness to clarity and confusion.

For the two months since she woke up, she had been having the same dream. A carriage speeding along a deserted road, she and several children desperately urging their horses forward, fleeing from a group of pursuers. To buy more time for the children, she used herself as bait to lure away the pursuers, prepared to die. She never expected to be rescued by a man.

But what she didn’t expect even more was that the man who treated her with utmost tenderness, in the end, wanted her life and what she held in her arms.

Thinking of this, seeing her hand still clutching the boy’s wrist, she quickly let go and apologized: “I’m sorry, Fenghuang.”

Fenghuang shook his head and smiled: “It didn’t hurt that much. It’s just that Qing Gege usually seems so delicate, I didn’t expect you to be so strong. Were you having a nightmare just now, Qing Gege?”

Xiao Jinyu nodded. It was a dream, but it felt so real that it was like living in two worlds.

The man in the dream, she was so close to him before she died, yet she couldn’t remember his face or the name she should have engraved in her heart.

“What did you dream about, Qing Gege?” the boy leaned closer and asked.

Xiao Jinyu shook her head with a smile and lifted the carriage curtain again, seeing the bustling crowds outside and the taverns and teahouses bathed in the warm sunlight.

“Fenghuang, where is this? Where have we arrived?”

Seeing her intentionally changing the subject, the boy didn’t press further and replied: “This is Xuzhou Pengcheng, the border of Qi territory. After passing through here, we’ll take the water route. In half a month at most, we’ll reach Jiankang.”

Xiao Jinyu nodded and asked again: “We’ve stopped many times along the way and haven’t been frugal. How much money do we have left? Is it enough?”

“Qing Gege, have you forgotten? The money we received from Old Madam Zheng is enough for our food and expenses for several months. And my aunt also left some. Although I won’t touch the money she left for you, we’re not short of money.”

Xiao Jinyu nodded again, subconsciously touching her chest. The feeling of the sword piercing her chest was so real, as if it happened yesterday. But why couldn’t she fully recall her past?

Who was she? Was Xie Yuqing her real name?

While she was pondering these thoughts, a commotion suddenly arose on the street. The noise was mixed with the laughter of women and the deafening sound of hooves, instantly filling the entire street, shattering the last bit of peace in their carriage.

“What happened?”

Both of them curiously lifted the carriage curtain to look. They saw the crowds on both sides surging like a tide, and in the distance, a cloud of dust rose as a group of horsemen galloped towards them. The leader rode a tall horse with a jade bridle and a golden saddle, clad in white robes and armor, his face hidden by a veiled hat. When the strong wind blew, his high nose bridge and rosy lips could be faintly seen, and his exposed chin was as smooth and white as jade and snow.

He appeared to be a young man of only seventeen or eighteen years old. Although his full appearance was concealed, his handsome figure stood as tall and imposing as a jade mountain, yet as gentle as the wind beneath a pine tree, tall and graceful. Even standing amidst the vast crowd, he was as conspicuous as a crane among chickens.

“Who is he?”

Xiao Jinyu asked, but she soon heard the cheers of the young ladies in the crowd.

“Prince of Lanling, Prince of Lanling…”

✿✿✿

Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, social customs had become more liberal. Scholar-officials advocated for “expressing one’s feelings directly and pursuing a life of freedom and ambition.” Young ladies were no longer as bound by etiquette as before, advocating for independence and expressing their emotions openly. Pursuing handsome young men had become a trend of the times.

Especially after Emperor Gaozu of Wei issued the decree “From the sixth year of Taihe onwards, all the hungry people and good families who have been bought in the four provinces of Ding, Ji, You, and Xiang shall be returned to their relatives. Even if they have been taken as wives or concubines, if they are treated unfairly and are unhappy, they may also leave,” the status of women in the Northern Dynasties had risen significantly. Those who were unhappy with their husbands could divorce and remarry. Even those of noble status, such as princesses and empress dowagers, could openly keep male favorites, which was no longer a strange occurrence.

Although her memory was incomplete, Xiao Jinyu was not unfamiliar with such a scene. Instead, she felt a sense of familiarity and couldn’t help but be mesmerized.

After who knows how long, she heard the boy’s voice beside her ear: “This is Prince of Lanling, Gao Changgong of Qi. In the land of Northern Qi, he’s the only one who causes such a commotion every time he travels, with crowds lining the streets and emptying the alleys. People say that Gao Changgong is handsome and courageous, and dislikes being gawked at like a woman, so he always wears a mask or a veiled hat. In my opinion, he’s just deliberately showing off his charm. If he truly never reveals his true face, how would anyone know his beauty is unparalleled and consider him the most handsome man in Qi? Qing Gege, don’t you think so?”

Xiao Jinyu detected a hint of jealousy in Fenghuang’s tone and smiled without commenting. She had no impression of this Prince of Lanling and only asked: “Is he a general of Qi?”

“Yes, I heard that three months ago, the Turks invaded Jinyang in Northern Qi. It was Gao Changgong who bravely repelled the powerful enemy and won the battle. Therefore, his fame soared, and he was enfeoffed as Prince of Lanling Commandery, becoming a war god in Qi, almost on par with Duan Shao and Hu Lüguang. However, I still think it’s all because of his face, that’s why people overestimate him when they talk about him.” After saying that, he muttered, “If we’re really talking about military genius, who can compare to Murong Shaozong?”

“Murong Shaozong?” Xiao Jinyu frowned slightly, showing a hint of surprise.

The boy realized he had said something wrong and smiled awkwardly, quickly adding: “Yes, Murong Shaozong was also a general of Qi, but he has passed away now. Therefore, his name is no longer heard in the land of Northern Qi, and even his descendants have disappeared.”

Towards the end, his tone became somewhat melancholic, even carrying a hint of resentment hidden deep within. Sensing Xiao Jinyu was looking at him, he apologized, “Look at me, why am I telling Qing Gege these things? You must not want to hear them.”

Xiao Jinyu didn’t ask any further questions. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to listen, but the name Murong Shaozong seemed to stir up some emotions within her, yet she didn’t know why. After thinking for a moment, she simply let it go and turned her gaze back to the man being surrounded by the surging crowd outside. She suddenly murmured, “He doesn’t look like he’ll live a long life.”

She was naturally referring to Prince of Lanling, Gao Changgong, who was being surrounded by the crowd.

Hearing her words, a look of excitement and surprise flashed across Fenghuang’s face: “Really? You know how to read faces, Qing Gege?”

“Not really.” Xiao Jinyu shook her head and smiled, “You just said he’s handsome and courageous, one of the three great generals of Qi?”

“Yes.”

“What about the ruler of Qi?” Xiao Jinyu asked again.

The boy curled his lip in disdain: “Don’t mention the Gao family. They’re getting worse with each generation, more and more insane and cruel. The current emperor of Qi, Gao Zhan, has shed a lot of his brothers’ and nephews’ blood to secure his throne. Even many court officials have been killed by him, not to mention women and children.”

From the boy’s tone, Xiao Jinyu could hear his dissatisfaction and anger towards the ruler of Qi, but she didn’t expose him, only saying: “That’s it then. There haven’t been many imperial families throughout history who haven’t resorted to fratricide. Moreover… since ancient times, beautiful men are like famous generals, not allowed to see old age in the mortal world. Beauty and fame as a general, he possesses both.”

Fenghuang was stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood: “So that’s what you mean, Qing Gege.”

Seeing the innocent smile on the boy’s face, Xiao Jinyu couldn’t help but smile as well: “Let’s go! We’ve been on the road for most of the night, and I’m a little hungry now. Let’s find a place to settle down first!”

Hearing about food, Fenghuang’s eyes lit up, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, revealing a hint of azure brilliance. He had a certain charm, like the first bloom of paulownia flowers or the glow of the evening sky, quite alluring and captivating.

“Okay, I’m hungry too. I’ll take Qing Gege to a delicious place to eat,” he said happily.

Although this story is set in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it’s not historical fiction but a romance novel. So please be kind to those who are meticulous about historical accuracy. For the sake of the plot, certain aspects of the timeline and historical events have been adapted. Please bear with me, and I hope to receive your support. Driven by my interest, I will find time to finish this story even with my busy schedule. You can check out the other novels I’ve written, I’ve never abandoned any of them. Also, this work has been signed, so feel free to enjoy it.