The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Explanation

“We met once in Xuzhou, Pengcheng. He saved both Fenghuang and me. Today’s assassination at Tiantai Temple was me repaying his kindness. However, at the same time, I also owe him a favor.” Xiao Jinyu explained.

Owing him a favor meant using his identity to conceal her identity as Xie Zhen. This was not a pre-planned scheme, but rather an impromptu adaptation to the situation.

Xiao Xian understood the implication and didn’t ask further.

Then Xiao Jinyu continued, “As for entering officialdom, I haven’t considered entering so early as Xie Zhen. Uncle Xian, as long as you enter Southern Chen’s court, it’s enough for me.”

Then, she changed the subject, “But Chen Xu still harbors suspicion towards our Xiao family, so even if we enter officialdom, the path won’t be easy.”

“I know,” Xiao Xian replied.

“However, even if he suspects our Xiao family, he has no choice but to employ someone from the Xiao Clan. Currently, the court is filled with incompetent officials. While Chen Xu wants to promote talented commoners, for centuries, the core of the government has been controlled by aristocratic families. Commoners face difficulties in pursuing education, and there are few truly capable individuals. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked Minister Xu to host this Pure Conversation Gathering.”

Hosting Pure Conversation Gatherings has been a way to select talents since the Wei and Jin periods. In the past, only sons of aristocratic families were eligible to participate. However, this time, Xu Ling explicitly stated that both commoners and nobles could attend. This shows that Chen Xu also wanted to use this gathering to find exceptionally talented commoner scholars to serve him. It’s just a pity that her arrival this time might have disappointed Chen Xu.

“But A’yu, you don’t actually discriminate against commoners. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have said, ‘High position and noble birth don’t necessarily mean virtue, low position and humble origin don’t necessarily mean foolishness’…”

“Of course, didn’t my father come from a commoner family?”

Suddenly mentioning her father, Han Zigao, a wry smile appeared on Xiao Jinyu’s lips. She continued, “Chen Xu wants to use commoners to counterbalance the aristocratic families and achieve a balance of power. This is his selfish desire as an emperor, but it’s not entirely wrong.

The world does not belong to one person. Only the virtuous should rule. Similarly, those in important positions should be the capable ones.

Therefore, whether it’s an aristocratic family or a commoner, as long as they possess both virtue and talent and can protect the people, they deserve respect!

It has nothing to do with their background!”

Hearing this, Xiao Xian was deeply moved. His eyes were filled with a smile, a mixture of relief and admiration.

“I initially thought you hated the Chen imperial family, but it turns out that’s not the case. A’yu, your broad-mindedness surpasses even us men!”

At this moment, Xiao Jinyu fell silent and shook her head.

“No, there’s definitely hatred. If we’re talking about hate, no one hates them more than I do… I’m just stating the facts!”

After a pause, she looked at Xiao Xian and said, “That’s why I need you to enter officialdom, Uncle Xian. I want to find out who is the person behind Princess Yunyin.”

She had heard the conversation between Princess Yunyin and Xiao Jian at Xiao Yun’s Yi Xiang Courtyard that day. What kind of matter would require a Chen princess to go to such lengths, even killing Xiao family descendants, to conceal it!

Or, how many people were actually involved in the matter of her mother, Xiao Luan?

As Xiao Xian was lost in thought, Xiao Jinyu added, “I’ll give you something tomorrow, Uncle Xian. We can discuss it then.”

✿✿✿

This night, although filled with undercurrents, was different from the tranquility of the embassy or the Xiao Residence. The Prince of Shixing’s Residence was brightly lit and filled with music and revelry. Since this prince transformed from a hostage to a prince, he had been indulging in luxury and enjoying life to the fullest, staying up all night and sleeping through the day.

After spending half the night composing poems and feasting with a group of scholars, someone came to report at the late hour of the night:

“That Xie Zhen hasn’t come out since entering the embassy with the Prince of Lanling. During that time, the Prince of Lanling also summoned Lady Wei, the proprietress of Apricot Blossom and Misty Rain Tower, to the embassy, but she left after about half an hour. We followed Lady Wei for a while and encountered the two envoys from the north, Cui Heng of the Boling Cui Clan and Li Mi of the Zhao Commandery Li Clan. Li Mi chatted with Lady Wei for a bit, and then she left. We didn’t follow her anymore!”

After hearing this, Chen Shuling slightly opened his drowsy eyes, half-drunk and half-awake, spilling a pot of wine all over the floor.

“Fools! I told you to follow Xie Zhen, keep an eye on the Prince of Lanling, and you went to watch a middle-aged woman, the proprietress of Apricot Blossom and Misty Rain Tower, for what?”

Under his scolding, the two men were so frightened that they knelt down with a thud.

“Yes, we know our mistake. We’ll go watch the embassy right away!”

✿✿✿

“Get out, get out, get out! I don’t want to kill anyone today! Get out of my sight!”

With a shout, the two men immediately scrambled out of the hall, covering their heads.

Chen Shuling stumbled over to Chen Bogu and grabbed his collar, saying, “You all say that my father favors me, but why would he rather let that weak and incompetent Chen Shubao be the Crown Prince instead of me? Chen Shubao… he’s just a scholar who loves writing poems and composing music. He has no charisma, no trace of my father’s wisdom and brilliance.

Only I, I am the most like my father. I was born just a few hours later than him. Why am I not destined for the throne?”

Chen Bogu quickly covered his mouth and whispered, “Your Highness, please don’t say anymore. Walls have ears!”

“What’s there to be afraid of? This is my Prince of Shixing’s Residence. If anyone dares to betray me, I’ll make sure their entire family suffers a horrible death!”

Chen Bogu’s face was grim. He didn’t dare to disobey Chen Shuling, but he also didn’t want anyone else to hear these drunken ramblings. He ordered the guards at the door to dismiss the remaining guests and dragged Chen Shuling into his bedroom, calling for a beautiful concubine to attend to him.

✿✿✿

“Your Highness, don’t worry. That young lady has already arrived home safely. She might be asleep by now!”

Seeing Gao Changgong gazing at the stars with no intention of sleeping, Lu Yu repeatedly urged and comforted him.

“But, what exactly happened on the mountain? Why did this subordinate hear rumors that Your Highness prefers men? And why was that young lady dressed like that?”

Lu Yu’s curiosity was piqued, and he asked persistently.

Gao Changgong glanced at him, showing no intention of answering, and simply said, “You’ll know tomorrow!”

After this Pure Conversation Gathering, her name as Xie Zhen would surely become famous throughout the land. Every word she said and every action she took at the gathering would be recorded and passed down as biographical tales.

The Chenjun Xie Clan would also rise to fame again because of her. This prestigious aristocratic family, which had flourished for three hundred years since the Jin Dynasty, nearly perished during the Hou Jing Rebellion and was almost forgotten. Now, it would once again enter people’s sight.

But whether as Xie Zhen or Xiao Jinyu, this young lady’s life would probably never be peaceful again!

Lu Yu smiled and didn’t dare to ask further. Just then, a hurried knock on the door sounded.

“Come in!”

With the Prince of Lanling’s command, a guard entered and reported:

“Your Highness, those two have confessed. One of the assassins is indeed from the Zhou State, while the other is from our Qi!”

“From Qi?” Lu Yu was surprised.

“Yes, and this Qi person is also a secret agent planted in Southern Chen by our Qi court. He colluded with the Zhou envoy to attempt to assassinate Your Highness. It’s truly despicable!” Zhao Wu said indignantly.

At present, all three kingdoms had spy organizations in other countries. During the reign of Emperor Wenxuan, Gao Yang, a large number of spies were sent to Southern Chen and Northern Zhou. The number of spies planted in Northern Zhou was even greater.

Northern Zhou was no less active than Northern Qi. The spy war between the two sides was a fierce and bloody battle, even more intense than the actual battlefield.

“So, who sent this secret agent?” Gao Changgong asked further.

Zhao Wu’s face turned serious, and he remained silent for a moment before answering:

“Liu Taozhi!”

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