The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Give Her to Gao Changgong

Outside the South City Gate, in the vast and boundless fields, several horses galloped wildly. Suddenly, one person stopped, pulled the bowstring full, and shouted. A wild goose in the sky immediately fell vertically.

The richly dressed man on another horse saw this and immediately urged his horse forward. Several guards followed, picking up the fallen goose.

“Is this the so-called frightened bird?” Seeing the goose picked up by the guards, Prince Chen Shuling of Shixing couldn’t help but sigh, “The arrow has not been released, but the goose has already fallen. Truly valiant, Prince of Lanling indeed lives up to the reputation of the God of War!”

“I don’t deserve the title of God of War. A lone goose is timid when it hears the wind. I just happened to encounter it!”

“I wonder what kind of beauty Changgong likes? My Prince of Shixing’s Residence has collected thousands of beauties, each with her own unique charm. Would Changgong be interested in visiting my residence to appreciate the beauty of Jiankang in the south? At the same time, how about tasting the game we hunted today?”

Prince of Shixing suddenly suggested.

Gao Changgong smiled and said, “Beauty lies in essence, not quantity, in bone, not skin. Prince of Shixing’s kind invitation, Gao does not dare to accept.”

“Beauty lies in essence, not quantity, in bone, not skin?” Prince of Shixing’s curiosity was instantly aroused, “It seems that Changgong has high standards for beauty. I wonder what kind of beauty can be considered truly stunning in Changgong’s eyes?”

Gao Changgong didn’t answer but urged his horse forward again.

Prince of Shixing also whipped his horse to follow.

“In Changgong’s eyes, is the granddaughter of the Xiao family, who has the blood of the Lanling Xiao Clan and the blood of Han Zigao, considered a stunning beauty?”

His loud question made Gao Changgong immediately rein in his horse.

The horse neighed, raised its front hooves, and the person on the horse only leaned back slightly before sitting upright again.

Prince of Shixing caught up and continued with interest, “As for her appearance, what Zisong saw today is not as good as her father’s, but it can still be described as ‘lotus emerging from clear water, naturally unadorned.’ I heard that her medical skills are superb, and she is also very good at painting. The erotic paintings she created are praised even by Minister Xu. I wonder if such a beauty can catch the eye of the Prince of Lanling?” （Note: Chen Shuling, courtesy name: Zisong）

Gao Changgong’s eyes narrowed slightly. Should he answer or not?

At this time, he couldn’t figure out the thoughts of this perverted little prince, so he didn’t dare to say more.

Although he didn’t speak, Chen Shuling, who had been observing his expression, said meaningfully with a smile, “I understand!”

Gao Changgong was startled. What was this perverted little prince up to?

Prince of Shixing laughed loudly for a while and then pointed to the green mountain shrouded in mist under the white clouds across the river, “Changgong, have you heard of Meiling? This is a geomantic treasure in our south. It is said that the tomb of Grand Tutor Xie An from the Jin Dynasty is buried in this Meilinggang. If Changgong is not interested in beauties, would you like to join us in exploring and treasure hunting?”

Hearing this, Gao Changgong was displeased, and even Lu Yu, who had followed him, frowned in horror.

“It is disrespectful to offend the deceased. Moreover, Grand Tutor Xie was the most renowned and respected scholar in Jiangzuo during his lifetime. We should admire his demeanor, how can we disturb him at will?”

Hearing this, Chen Shuling awkwardly pulled the corners of his mouth and then burst into laughter again.

“Prince of Lanling is indeed a man of integrity, different from the others in the Gao family. Just now, Zisong spoke rashly, it was just a joke. I hope Changgong won’t take it to heart.” He said.

Chen Bogu on the side felt very embarrassed. Fortunately, Gao Changgong didn’t seem to mind and looked at the setting sun that had sunk into the rolling mountains in the distance.

“Since it’s a joke, there’s no need to worry about it. Today, thanks to Prince of Shixing’s kind invitation, I’ve enjoyed the hunting very much. It’s getting late, and Changgong still has things to do, so I’ll go back to the city first!”

After saying that, he called Lu Yu and galloped towards the South City Gate with a group of armored soldiers.

Seeing that Prince of Lanling’s armored soldiers had ridden away, Chen Shuling’s face darkened slightly, and he beckoned Chen Bogu to his side.

“I heard that Father Emperor wants to recruit the valiant Prince of Lanling for his own use. In your opinion, can this Gao Changgong be used by me?”

Chen Bogu shook his palm-leaf fan, thought for a moment, and replied, “I can’t be sure yet. I only heard that this Gao Changgong is also an unfavored illegitimate son in the Gao family, and even the identity of his mother has not been made public. It’s not difficult to guess that she was a concubine who could not be seen in the light. After his father, Gao Cheng, was assassinated, Gao Yang took the credit of his elder brother and established Northern Qi. He didn’t pay much attention to Gao Changgong.

It was only after Gao Yan ascended the throne that he was given the title of Prince of Lanling. But the monarchs of Qi have already produced two tyrannical and foolish rulers in a row. The emperor is also suspicious, and there are women like Empress Hu and Lu Lingxuan who interfere in politics. There are also treacherous officials like He Shikai who whisper slander in the ear of Emperor Gao Zhan. I heard that after Gao Zhan ascended the throne, he killed many loyal officials and good generals.

Even if Gao Changgong can’t be used by our Southern Dynasty, after he achieves great merit and surpasses his ruler, I’m afraid his fate will be…”

“I’m asking you if Gao Changgong can be used by me. Why are you talking so much nonsense?”

Chen Shuling interrupted impatiently.

✿✿✿

Chen Bogu put away his palm-leaf fan, smiled, and said seriously, “If Your Highness wants to use him, why not give it a try?”

“How to try?”

Chen Shuling’s interest was aroused again.

Chen Bogu said, “During the hunting just now, Your Highness has already tested whether this Prince of Lanling has any feelings for that young lady Xiao Jinyu. Does Your Highness already have an answer in your heart?”

“Do you think he just happened to be strolling around when he brought his troops to block my way on the street today?”

“Of course not, even a fool can see that he came for that young lady. Strolling is fake, blocking Your Highness to protect the beauty is real. And I heard that on that day at the Elegant Poetry Pavilion, it was this Prince of Lanling who sent guards to testify. How could Minister Xu appear at the Elegant Poetry Pavilion so coincidentally? This upright and important minister of the country is not someone who indulges in pleasure with courtesans.”

“You mean, Minister Xu was also invited by him?”

Chen Bogu smiled but didn’t answer, but the answer was self-evident.

“Then tell me, how can I win over this Prince of Lanling?”

Chen Bogu shook his palm-leaf fan and said, “There are three strategies: upper, middle, and lower. The upper strategy is naturally to move him with emotion and lure him with benefits. Life is short and one should enjoy it to the fullest. There must be something he desires among wealth, women, power, and benefits.

The middle strategy is to convince him with reason, analyze the pros and cons, use the power of other countries to force him to have no place in Qi, and then lure him with benefits. When he has nowhere to go, he will naturally turn to Your Highness.

The lower strategy is, if he stubbornly refuses to be used by Your Highness, then we can only assassinate him or use torture to make him submit.”

Before he finished speaking, Chen Shuling shouted.

“Nonsense! How can such a stunning beauty be subjected to torture or assassination? Since there is an upper strategy, we should choose the upper strategy!”

After saying that, Chen Shuling asked again, “How to implement this upper strategy? After all, he is the Prince of Lanling. Although he is an illegitimate son, he has accumulated prestige through military achievements. I’m afraid he cannot be tempted by money and worldly possessions. And the test just now has shown that he is not fond of beauty…”

“It’s not that he’s not fond of beauty, it’s just that we need to see what kind of beauty it is.”

When Chen Bogu said this, his heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly realized that he had fallen into the trap of this sinister cousin.

“Is that so? Then in your opinion, what kind of beauty does he like?”

Chen Bogu coughed lightly and replied very reluctantly, “If I’m not mistaken, it should be the kind of Divine Physician Lady!”

“Good, then find a way to get this Divine Physician Lady and give her to Prince of Lanling Gao Changgong as a gift!”

Chen Shuling clapped his hands and said loudly.

“But Your Highness, this Divine Physician Lady is not your concubine, how can you give her to Gao Changgong?”

Chen Bogu kindly reminded him, but this shameless cousin actually shouted, “I am now the Inspector of Yangzhou, and my duty is to protect this Jiankang City. The entire Jiankang City belongs to me, how can she not be mine?” After shouting angrily, he continued, “But before that, we have to find a way to get her to my residence!”

Shameless! Since following this shameless cousin, Chen Bogu felt that he was also gradually losing his integrity. He only silently prayed in his heart, don’t ask me to do this kind of thing!

Don’t ask me!

Please don’t ask me!

“Bogu—”

Suddenly hearing Chen Shuling calling him by his ear, Chen Bogu’s flattering smile froze.

“You always have a lot of ideas. I’ll leave this matter to you. I want you to use any means, whether it’s asking, stealing, or grabbing, to get that young lady to my Prince of Shixing’s Residence within three days!”