The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 95

Chapter 95: The Number One Imperial Assassin of Northern Qi

As soon as these three words were uttered, Lu Yu’s eyes widened in shock and horror!

Liu Taozhi was the number one imperial assassin of Northern Qi. This man was originally a servant of Emperor Shenwu, Gao Huan. After Gao Huan’s death, he served his son Gao Cheng. After Gao Cheng’s death, he served Gao Yang. Originally, he served as a military governor under Gao Yang. A blind man once heard his voice and said, “Many princes, nobles, generals, and ministers have died at his hands. He is like a hawk or a hound, used by others.”

Later, Gao Yang made him a full-time imperial assassin for Northern Qi. The first person Liu Taozhi killed was Gao Dezheng, a senior official and veteran of Northern Qi. Afterward, under Gao Yang’s orders, he killed Prince Gao Jun of Yong’an and Prince Gao Huan of Shangdang, earning him the title of “King Slayer,” and he had never failed!

This man was only loyal to the successive monarchs of Northern Qi. Whether it was members of the imperial family or important ministers in the court, anyone the emperor wanted to kill but couldn’t openly eliminate would die at his hands!

Therefore, he was also known as the emperor’s hawk or hound!

“Impossible, Prince. Although His Majesty is somewhat debauched and unrestrained, he hasn’t become so foolish in matters of state. He wouldn’t possibly send Military Governor Liu to kill you, especially since you are currently on an official mission to the Chen State.”

While Lu Yu was shocked, he couldn’t believe it at all.

“I know. Even if this is true, it would never be His Majesty’s instruction. I’m afraid… someone is falsely claiming the emperor’s orders!”

After saying this, Gao Changgong looked at his guard, Zhao Wu.

“Besides revealing Liu Taozhi, did this man say anything else?”

Zhao Wu shook his head. “This man still had some backbone. I spent a lot of effort and used all sorts of torture on him before I got this sentence out of him. After he said this, he bit his tongue and committed suicide. I couldn’t stop him in time!”

“Forget it. If he could endure so much torture, what he said can’t be taken entirely seriously. He probably just wanted to sow discord between His Majesty and me…”

At this point, Gao Changgong fell silent. He still couldn’t be sure what kind of person Emperor Gao Zhan truly was, whether he would kill him out of fear of his growing power. But sending him on a mission and then secretly sending someone to assassinate him, Gao Zhan definitely wouldn’t do such a thing. Moreover, although he had won a few military victories, he was far from reaching the point where he could overshadow the emperor.

If it wasn’t Gao Zhan, then it could only be “those people” around him!

“Forget it, bury him since he’s dead. There’s no need to make a fuss about this matter. What about the other assassin?”

“He’s also a secret agent of the Zhou State planted in Southern Chen. This time, he said he received a mission to assassinate the Prince at Tiantai Temple, but he didn’t know who the mastermind behind it was. He said the person who came to deliver the message was also masked, and he couldn’t see their true face. This man only recognizes a spy token of Northern Zhou.”

“What kind of token?” Gao Changgong asked.

Zhao Wu took out a piece of parchment and handed it to Gao Changgong.

The pattern drawn on the paper was the design on the token. It was the shape of a tiger, but the tiger’s forehead was engraved with intricate patterns, making it difficult to discern what it was!

Gao Changgong remained silent for a long time, then suddenly murmured, “Tiger? Hu?”

He then took the parchment and said, “Let this assassin go!”

“Ah? Why let him go?” Lu Yu was puzzled.

“Someone will come to find him, or he will go back to report.”

✿✿✿

It was already midnight. The released assassin was like a fish returned to the sea, feeling extremely fortunate that Gao Changgong hadn’t killed him. However, this feeling of relief didn’t last long. As he stumbled into a courtyard that was originally a secret agent’s base, an arrow pierced his heart from behind.

The assassin died silently and unnoticed in this abandoned courtyard.

“I didn’t expect Gao Changgong to be prepared beforehand. Not only did he kill several of our hidden guard assassins, but he also captured a spy my father had planted in Southern Chen. Now, although that spy has been dealt with, I don’t know if Gao Changgong managed to get anything out of him. It seems we can’t carry out assassinations anymore!”

“My father’s intention was just to test the waters. If it had succeeded, it would have eliminated a formidable enemy for our Zhou State and prevented an alliance between Qi and Chen. But if it didn’t, then we can only adopt a conciliatory approach…”

The lodging of the Zhou State envoy was still some distance away from that of the Qi State envoy. But on this night of hidden currents, just like Gao Changgong, Yuwen Hui, Yuwen Zhi, and the others also found it difficult to sleep.

“How do you think Gao Changgong saw through the trap we set? Also, he was clearly bitten by Hui Wei’s venomous snake, yet he’s completely unharmed. Was it really that Young Master Xie who saved him?”

“In my opinion, there’s no romantic relationship between Prince of Lanling and that Divine Physician Lady at all. Our speculation has made him suspicious!”

“But regardless of whether there’s a romantic relationship or not, how did he prepare an ambush in advance? Was he just waiting for our men to carry out the assassination? Was he setting a trap for us?”

Yuwen Zhi said, “I’m afraid it has something to do with that Divine Physician Lady. Before, the people we sent mistook their meeting for a secret rendezvous. Perhaps it wasn’t a rendezvous, but rather that Divine Physician Lady told him something?”

“But our matter has nothing to do with that Divine Physician Lady, right?”

✿✿✿

Yuwen Hui asked in confusion.

“Then do you still remember that painting, ‘Eastern Palace Night Banquet’?”

Dugu Shan suddenly interjected.

“That Divine Physician Lady said her paintings can penetrate the heart, discern human nature, and judge character. Although I was far away that day and didn’t carefully examine everything in the painting, I saw Chen Shuling’s expression in the painting. Her brushwork very cleverly revealed Chen Shuling’s ambition.”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s expressions changed.

“So, you suspect that the painting captured our expressions…”

Yuwen Zhi seemed to have a sudden realization. He recalled the painting he saw that day. At that moment, he was only amazed by the young lady’s exquisite painting skills, her ability to vividly depict what she saw in the Eastern Palace onto the scroll within a short time. But before he could observe the details, the painting was presented to the emperor of Southern Chen, Chen Xu, by the palace attendants.

Now that he thought about it, that painting did seem to have something unusual about it…

“You mean, that young lady conveyed some message to Gao Changgong through the painting? But what could she possibly know? We have never had any dealings with her…”

“I’m afraid that young lady can truly see into people’s hearts… There are many capable people in this world, and it’s not impossible for someone to be able to read minds…”

At this point, everyone fell silent for a while.

Yuwen Hui’s face darkened as he said,

“In that case, we really can’t let Gao Changgong have her. A beauty like that, with both exceptional medical skills and the ability to perceive people’s hearts, if she truly becomes Gao Changgong’s right-hand woman, it will be even more detrimental to us or the Zhou State in the future!”

✿✿✿

A Pure Conversation Gathering made Xie Zhen’s name a topic of conversation once again, following Divine Physician Lady Xiao Jinyu. Xie Zhen’s debate with various renowned scholars, and even with Emperor Chen Xu, was widely circulated among the scholars.

“It seems there are still descendants of the Chenjun Xie Clan left in the world. We haven’t heard their name for twenty years. This is truly a case of ‘silence before a sudden burst of fame’!”

“Indeed! However, twenty years ago, only that eldest legitimate daughter of the Xie family, Xie Yuqing, could be considered quick-witted and exceptionally skilled in debate!”

“Speaking of that talented lady of the Xie family, Xie Yuqing, it seems there was a romantic tale between her and His Majesty back then. But His Majesty came from humble beginnings, and the Xie family refused to marry their daughter to him. Then, the Hou Jing Rebellion happened, and that Xie lady somehow perished during her escape. I heard His Majesty was heartbroken for quite a while because of her!”

“Nonsense, if he was truly heartbroken, how could His Majesty marry another woman less than a year after her death!”

“That was when His Majesty was held hostage in Jiangling. Emperor Yuan of Liang, Xiao Yi, in order to win over the Chen clan and gain their military support, married his own niece to him!”

In the tavern, conversations continued endlessly. But such bold discussions about the current emperor’s past were rare.

Xiao Jinyu shook her head, glanced at two middle-aged scholars whispering not far from her, and then got up and walked out of the tavern.

“Elder Sister, where are we going today? These days, Elder Sister has been busy with various matters, and A’ling hasn’t had time to talk to you.”

Early this morning, Xiao Ruoling had pleaded to go out with her, saying she wanted to see the outside world.

Xiao Ruoling, who had grown up confined within the inner chambers, indeed knew little about the world outside, apart from reading, writing, and the intrigues of the women’s quarters. Therefore, she was curious and fascinated by many things.

“Let’s go for a stroll along the banks of the Qinhuai River! You’ve been accompanying Grandmother these days and haven’t had a chance to have some fun. Today, I’ll take you out to enjoy yourself!”

“Okay!”

Xiao Ruoling smiled brightly, and they headed towards the banks of the Qinhuai River together. Along the way, Xiao Ruoling heard many rumors about Xie Zhen and couldn’t help but feel a sense of yearning. Thinking back to that day when both Xiao Jinyu and Xiao Xian were not at home, Xiao Ruoling hesitated for a long time before finally asking, “Elder Sister, did you go to the Pure Conversation Gathering that day? Did you see that Young Master Xie Zhen?” As she spoke, the young girl’s expression was filled with longing and admiration. “I never imagined there would be such a brilliant and talented person in the world. How wonderful it would be if A’ling could have the chance to meet him!”