The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 98

Chapter 98: The City Emptied Because of His Smile

Before Yuwen Hui could finish his words, a group of sharp-eared young ladies surged forward, their faces flushed with anger.

“Who are you talking about? Prince of Lanling is handsome and elegant, a hero beyond compare! How dare you speak ill of him behind his back! Someone, come and smash them!”

Instantly, countless twigs, stones, and even silk handkerchiefs stained with spit rained down upon them from the sky.

Yuwen Hui, shielding his head with his hands, fled in panic with his two guards, finally taking refuge in a deserted corner.

“They’re terrifying, these infatuated women!”

Yuwen Zhi, who had been watching from the side, shook his head and couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“You can still laugh?”

Yuwen Zhi said, “From what I see, this Gao Changgong came here today with this very intention. Now let’s see who dares to touch him again. Just one mouthful of spit from each of these infatuated young ladies would be enough to drown you!”

“I used to think he was just a reckless warrior, but today I realize that’s not the case. This Gao Changgong is not someone to be easily manipulated. We should find a way to get closer to him and dispel any unnecessary suspicions he might have towards our Zhou.”

“As for that Divine Physician Lady, with their frequent meetings, I believe even if there were no feelings between them before, they will surely develop feelings for each other over time.”

“Then what should we do? Just watch that lady be taken by him?”

Yuwen Zhi smiled enigmatically.

“Isn’t there still Prince of Shixing, Chen Shuling? This prince of the Southern Dynasty wants to borrow our blade, so why can’t we borrow his?”

✿✿✿

In the Prince of Shixing’s Residence, Chen Shuling woke up leisurely at half-past noon. Opening his eyes, he saw a naked beauty lying beside him. For some reason, the more he looked at her, the more bland and uninteresting she seemed. Chen Shuling pushed the beauty off the bed.

“Who allowed you to lie on this Prince’s bed? Get out, get out!”

The beauty’s face turned pale with fright, and she was inexplicably terrified. She quickly picked up a thin garment, draped it over herself, and hurried out of the bedchamber.

“Utterly boring!”

Looking at the beauty’s panicked figure fleeing, Chen Shuling sighed. The two figures he saw that day at the Xiao Residence, standing under the peach blossom tree, immediately flashed in his mind. They were truly beautiful beyond compare!

As the thought passed, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger and resentment. He immediately summoned his maids to attend to him, helping him change clothes and wash up.

After he was fully dressed and ready, Chen Shuling exited the bedchamber and summoned Wei Liang, an advisor in his residence. He asked,

“What happened last night? What did this Prince do?”

Drunken slips of the tongue were his biggest worry, but he couldn’t control his mouth once he started drinking.

“Your Highness invited several civil officials for a night of drinking and bestowed some beautiful women upon Censor Zhu, Regular Attendant Tan, Palace Attendant Dai…” Wei Liang replied.

“Did this Prince say anything foolish in front of them?” Chen Shuling probed again.

Wei Liang quickly shook his head and answered, “No, Palace Attendant Chen was with Your Highness the entire time. After Your Highness got drunk, Palace Attendant Chen had the guests in the residence dismissed and escorted Your Highness to the bedchamber.”

Chen Bogu was quite reliable at critical moments. Then he thought about how many days had passed since he asked him to find a way to bring that young lady to his residence, and the matter still hadn’t been accomplished.

“Summon Palace Attendant Chen to my residence!” he ordered.

“Yes!”

Not long after, Chen Bogu arrived at the Prince of Shixing’s Residence with several guards.

“Your Highness, why have you summoned me?”

“Thank you for what you did last night!”

Chen Shuling expressed his gratitude, which was rare for him.

“Serving Your Highness is my duty, and it was just a small effort!”

This person’s words were always pleasant to hear, no wonder both his father and brother liked him.

Chen Shuling, fully satisfied, gestured for him to sit down and asked,

“After this Pure Conversation Gathering, who do you think my father will recruit to serve our Chen State?”

✿✿✿

“That Xie Zhen from the Chenjun Xie Clan must be one of them, right?”

Chen Bogu shook his head: “Not necessarily. His Majesty is still somewhat wary of the Chenjun Xie Clan, given what happened twenty years ago.”

Chen Shuling had heard his mother, Consort Peng, talk about those events from twenty years ago. It was nothing more than some romantic affairs of his father when he was young, nothing major.

“But if Xie Zhen is recruited by another country, wouldn’t our Chen State lose a talented individual?”

“And he’s currently serving under Prince of Lanling! That Prince of Lanling is protecting him tightly. Ever since they entered the embassy, he hasn’t let him out!”

At this point, Chen Shuling seemed to think of something and asked, “What’s Prince of Lanling been up to lately? Have you heard anything about when he’s returning to Qi?”

At the mention of Prince of Lanling, a strange smile appeared on Chen Bogu’s face.

“Your Highness, you wouldn’t know. While you were sleeping just now, this Prince of Lanling went to the Qinhuai River, and it caused a sensation in our Jiankang City, with tens of thousands of people crowding the streets. Even now, Vermilion Bird Bridge, the Qinhuai River, and all the streets and alleys are still jammed!”

Chen Shuling suddenly looked up, both amused and exasperated, but he had to admit that Prince of Lanling did have that kind of charm!

“Then why not send someone to clear the way for him, lest he be stared to death!”

Chen Bogu laughed. Anyone else might be stared to death, but not this Prince of Lanling.

“The Prefect of Jiankang, Zhang Mao, has already sent people to clear the way!”

After explaining, he paused for a moment before continuing, “However, Your Highness, you may not need to worry about the matter of that Divine Physician Lady anymore!”

“What do you mean I don’t need to worry about it?” Chen Shuling asked, displeased and confused.

“Because… it seems Prince of Lanling has already captured her heart without needing any gifts. Today, he went to the Qinhuai River specifically to meet that young lady. They spent almost the time it takes to brew a cup of tea together on a pleasure boat. They must have had a very pleasant conversation, otherwise there wouldn’t have been such a commotion with tens of thousands of people crowding the streets just because of his smile!”

Hearing this outcome, Chen Shuling was unhappy.

“So, it has nothing to do with me now?”

“Doesn’t that Gao Changgong already have Xie Zhen? Why would he still be interested in this young lady?”

“Could it be that he’s also a debauched person who indulges in both men and women, no different from the rest of his Gao family in Northern Qi?”

Faced with Chen Shuling’s barrage of questions, Chen Bogu remained silent.

At that moment, a hearty laugh came from outside the hall, followed by a voice:

“Hahaha… This small matter has stumped His Highness the Prince of Shixing. In my opinion, if you want to win over Prince of Lanling, this young lady can indeed be used!”

It was the envoys from Zhou, Yuwen Hui and Yuwen Zhi, who arrived with the laughter.

They had sent their visiting cards, but before the cards reached Chen Shuling’s hands, they had already entered.

Chen Shuling and Chen Bogu immediately stepped forward to greet them.

“How can she be used?”

“Your Highness, you previously put in so much effort to arrange a meeting with her. You did see her at the Eastern Palace banquet, but you were outmaneuvered by this young lady. I’m afraid Your Highness is still unaware.”

As Chen Shuling listened with confusion and surprise, Yuwen Zhi continued, “Just seeing her once is not enough. Your Highness, how difficult can it be for you to get her into your residence? Isn’t she a divine physician? As long as there’s someone in your residence who absolutely needs her treatment, she’ll have no choice but to come!”

“And as long as she comes, if Gao Changgong is truly interested in this young lady, he will definitely come too!”

At this point, his tone shifted, “However, Your Highness, I advise you not to leave this young lady for Gao Changgong. Gaining this young lady is no less valuable than gaining Gao Changgong!”

After saying this, Yuwen Zhi gave a meaningful smile and, together with Yuwen Hui, took their leave and walked out of the Prince of Shixing’s residence.

Chen Shuling suddenly felt enlightened, his eyes gleaming with a strange and wicked light!

“I understand! Why didn’t I think of this before!”