Painting Doctor Jinhua

When Gao Changgong returned to Prince Lanling's Mansion, he was still worried, so Xiao Jinyu asked him what had happened. Gao Changgong tactfully repeated what Gao Zhan and Empress Dowager Lou had said. After he finished speaking, he couldn't help feeling guilty.

When Xiao Jinyu heard him say that his mother's real identity was Princess Liyang, her heart felt as painful as if it were being dragged by a blunt knife.

She heard from Ling Ye that Liyang disappeared after Hou Jing's death. Unexpectedly, she was presented by Chen Xu to Gao Cheng, who was a powerful official in the Eastern Wei Dynasty at that time.

Chen Xu, this villain...

Noticing that she looked angry, Gao Changgong asked worriedly, "Ayu, what's wrong with you?"

Xiao Jinyu then raised her eyes and smiled.

"Nothing. Ah Yu has to thank Chang Gong for recommending me to the Emperor of Qi."

Seeing her smiling face like a flower, she seemed not worried at all about competing with Zu Ting. This strong self-confidence reminded him of "Xie Zhen" who debated with the heroes on Mount Fahua.

If she really enters the officialdom in the future, what will happen to her?

It is lonely at the top. The higher you are, the greater the dangers around you. Living with the emperor is like living with a tiger...

Just as he was thinking, he heard Xiao Jinyu's comforting voice: "Chang Gong, don't worry about the dinner at Bingjingtai. I'll let Fenghuang disguise me!"

"it is good!"

"Let's go visit your stepmother first!"

When Gao Changgong heard that Xiao Jinyu had taken the initiative to propose a visit to her biological mother, he was unwilling in his heart. He was always worried that she would be wronged because of him. After all, she was once a proud person who dared to confront and reprimand someone like Princess Yunyin.

"Ayu..."

"Go ahead! I want to get to know your family, too!"

At Xiao Jinyu's repeated insistence, Gao Changgong finally called Lu Yu to prepare the carriage, and went together to Jingde Palace where his biological mother Yuan lived. Along the way, Fenghuang, who followed them, had a gloomy face and was very unhappy.

……

Since Gao Changgong's biological mother Yuan Zhonghua had her treasury confiscated and was raped by Emperor Wenxuan Gao Yang, she rarely interacted with other noble ladies. Instead, she ate vegetarian food and chanted Buddhist scriptures in the Buddhist temple every day.

There were not many palace maids and servants in Jingde Palace. This was because on the day when Yuan Zhonghua was raped by Gao Yang, Gao Yang went crazy and ordered his servants to rape all the noble ladies of the Yuan family, regardless of their relationship, in front of him. He also ordered the Hu people to rape her aunt, Princess Ande. This incident was a great blow to Yuan Zhonghua, and he never dared to step out of Jingde Palace again in his life.

Naturally, this incident left a big shadow in Gao Changgong's heart. Although he was in the military camp at the time, the shock and fear in his heart after hearing the news were self-evident.

He even began to slowly understand why his biological mother left him...

Gao Changgong could now calmly tell Xiao Jinyu about these things that he had suppressed deep in his heart and didn't want to tell anyone.

Xiao Jinyu did not show any fear or surprise, but just comforted him that it was all in the past and he didn't need to worry about it.

After arriving at Jingde Palace, Gao Changgong and Xiao Jinyu had just got off the carriage when they saw his third brother, Prince of Hejian Gao Xiaowan, his second brother, Prince of Guangning Gao Xiaoheng, and Prince of Ande Gao Yanzong, all standing at the door waiting for them.

"You still remember to come and pay respects to mother. I thought that you, who can make decisions on your own on such an important matter as marrying a wife, would not take mother seriously!"

The speaker was Hejian Prince Gao Xiaowan, his elder brother and Yuan's only legitimate son.

Hearing this, Xiao Jinyu turned her gaze to the young man. Although he was not as handsome as Gao Changgong, he was also an extraordinarily handsome man, but there was a bit of arrogance in his expression.

"My fourth brother is almost reaching the age of coming of age, so it would be good for him to get married. Although this sister-in-law has her face covered with a veil, she has an extraordinary figure. She must be a girl raised in a wealthy family. She is a perfect match for my fourth brother!" Guangning King Gao Xiaoheng added.

"Yes, yes, I've heard some rumors about Fourth Sister-in-law. She's a talented woman in the South who has amazing medical skills and is proficient in painting. She's a perfect match for Fourth Brother!"

Gao Yanzong smiled awkwardly. He had inquired about these rumors from Lu Yu. After hearing what Lu Yu said about the deeds of this girl from the Xiao family, Gao Yanzong felt envious and yearning, and could not help but feel admiration for Xiao Jinyu.

"You are also proficient in painting and medicine?" Gao Xiaoheng asked with surprise. He himself is also a very good painter and he loves painting very much.

In the original owner's memory, Gao Xiaoheng was a man of great talent, and the only one among Gao Changgong's brothers who had a good ending. Although he was defeated and captured when Northern Qi was destroyed, he was treated with courtesy by the emperor of Zhou until his death of illness.

Xiao Jinyu nodded and did not deny it.

Gao Xiaoheng was overjoyed and wanted to ask for advice on painting, but suddenly he realized that this was a bit rude. After all, the woman was now his fourth brother's wife, so he gave up.

At this time, Gao Xiaowan was already displeased, so he urged them to go and pay their respects to their mother. When Prince Lanling and Xiao Jinyu approached, he couldn't help but take another look at Xiao Jinyu, who was covering her face with a veil.

When they arrived at the Buddhist temple, they saw a girl kneeling next to Yuan who was chanting.

"Mother, Chang Gong has brought his wife Xiao Jinyu to visit you!"

After Gao Changgong said this, the kneeling girl immediately turned around and it was Zheng Yue!

Zheng Yue still looked at Gao Changgong pitifully, as if she had just cried, her eyes were slightly red, but as soon as her eyes met Gao Changgong's, she immediately smiled brightly.

"Xiao Guan, I knew you would come to see your mother. Since you left for Southern Chen, I have come to chant Buddhist scriptures with your mother every day, praying for your safe return!"

Gao Changgong frowned. At this time, Yuanshi also turned around and looked at him and Xiao Jinyu.

Xiao Jinyu bowed to her and said, "Daughter-in-law Xiao Jinyu, greetings mother!"

Yuan nodded: "She is a graceful, dignified and polite person, why does she cover her face with a veil?"

Xiao Jinyu said, "On the way back, I encountered enemy attacks several times, so my face was injured. I don't want to scare my mother."

"It's not scary at all, Fourth Sister-in-law. Even if your face is a little damaged, you are still beautiful..."

Gao Yanzong was halfway through his words when he noticed Gao Changgong was looking at him, so he quickly stopped talking.

At this time, Yuan said, "You want to marry, I won't stop you, but since you've married her, what are you going to do with Zheng's daughter?"

When Yuan asked this, Zheng Yue looked at Gao Changgong even more aggrieved.

Gao Changgong said, "Changgong and Zheng Ayue have no matchmaker agreement, nor do they have any private feelings. What does Changgong marrying a wife have to do with her?"

Zheng Yue's face suddenly turned pale, with disbelief in her eyes. She thought that although Gao Changgong could not be said to be very happy with her in the past, he treated her with sincerity and they would occasionally say a few words to each other. If she was bullied by other noble ladies, he would also stand up for her.

But now, she truly felt that she was completely invisible in his eyes. His heart and eyes were even filled with the woman beside him, with no room for anything else!

Thinking of this, Zheng Yue even started crying sadly.

Gao Xiaoyu seemed to be unable to bear it any longer, so he rebuked him in the tone of an elder brother: "Chang Gong, Zheng Daozhong, the head of the Zheng family, has been speaking for you in the court. He intends to marry his eldest granddaughter to you to form this marriage. How can you say it has nothing to do with you?"

Although they had intentions, they had been weighing the pros and cons. Prince Lanling was not the first choice of Zheng family of Xingyang, and the Zheng family had been waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity for Prince Lanling to make another contribution. Then they could marry Prince Lanling, which would be more beneficial to the reputation of Zheng family of Xingyang!

Gao Changgong was aware of all these, so when Empress Dowager Lou first suggested that he go to the Zheng family to propose marriage after he came of age, he was extremely reluctant.

He didn't like this kind of marriage that was completely bound by interests, especially after meeting Xiao Jinyu, he would never think about it again.

"Mother, Chang Gong came here today to tell you that Chang Gong has married, and that she, Xiao Jinyu, is my only wife in this life."

"Chang Gong has to attend the banquet at Bingjingtai tonight, so I won't disturb mother for now!"

After saying that, Gao Changgong held Xiao Jinyu's hand tightly, as if he didn't want to stay for a moment, and turned around and walked out of the hall. Gao Xiaowan was very annoyed when he saw this, and couldn't help but shouted: "Gao Changgong, do you really want to cut off your arm?"

Gao Changgong paused and said only one sentence: "I didn't ask the head of the Zheng family to speak for me in the court. The facts are what they are. I don't need anyone to speak well of me!"

"you--"

Gao Xiaowan was so angry that he had nothing to say, and Zheng Yue's sobbing became louder in his ears.

"Ayue, don't cry. Changgong has been very strict with himself since he was a child. He is very self-disciplined. This Xiao Jinyu should be his first woman. This is also his first taste of beauty, so he can't let go. Let's wait and see! If he still can't let go after three months, then you should let go!"

"Brother Xiaowan, Ayue can't let go. Ayue has liked him for a long, long time..."

Zheng Yue covered her face and cried bitterly. Gao Yanzong felt even more embarrassed, so he said goodbye to Yuanshi and ran away quickly.

……

"Chang Gong, your brothers treat you pretty well!"

On the way back, Xiao Jinyu couldn't help but sigh. Compared with the fights between the legitimate and illegitimate children in the Xiao family, Gao Changgong's brothers are indeed much better. At least there is no conflict of interest that requires a life-and-death struggle! Everyone has accumulated military merits based on their own abilities!

Even his elder brother Gao Xiaowan, although what he said just now was unpleasant to hear, was actually for his own good, hoping that he could have assistance in the court and be of help to him at some point in the future.

But in the original owner's memory, this Gao Xiaowan seemed to have died very young. When the original owner was sent to Prince Lanling's Mansion by Empress Dowager Hu, Gao Xiaowan no longer existed.

As for the reason for his untimely death, Xiao Jinyu could not find any memory related to it.

"It's not bad, but I went to the military camp when I was young, so I didn't spend much time with them. My fifth brother Gao Yanzong would occasionally go to the battlefield with me, and we have a good relationship!"

Xiao Jinyu nodded with a smile.

"Ayu, I'm sorry for making you suffer today!" Gao Changgong's tone suddenly softened, and he felt a little guilty. "Zheng's Ayue did grow up with my brothers and me. She often visited my stepmother. My grandmother did want me to marry into the Zheng family, but I never had any feelings for Zheng Yue..."

"I know, Chang Gong. I won't bother with you over such a small matter." Xiao Jinyu interrupted, "Our enemy is not Zheng Yue, but He Shikai and Lu Lingxuan. Since you have recommended me to the emperor to compete with Zu Ting, why not take this opportunity to bring Zu Ting to our side and use him for our own benefit!"

"But this person is a greedy, lustful, and immoral villain. Can he be used by us? And even if he can be used by us, we are afraid that he will turn against us one day..."

"So we need to seize his weakness to control..."

Seeing that Xiao Jinyu seemed confident, Gao Changgong stopped talking.

After returning to Prince Lanling's Mansion, the two rested for a while, dressed up a little, and then rushed to Bingjingtai for the banquet. Before the banquet, Xiao Jinyu put a pill in her mouth, asked Fenghuang to change her appearance slightly, and then she got on the carriage with a veil on her face again and went out.

Bingjingtai, one of Cao Cao's three towers, was originally used to store ice, coal and food. Unlike Jinhutai, which was meant for military parades, Bingjingtai was meant for preparing for war.

Now Gao Zhan uses it as a banquet venue, especially in the hot summer. With the ice stored here, people walking in it feel extra cool. In the mist, countless palace maids in gauze holding incense tripods walk around.

Gao Zhan held a banquet to celebrate the successful return of Prince Lanling from his mission to Southern Chen, and asked all the ministers to bring their wives.

To be honest, the ministers were all very frightened. When Emperor Wenxuan was alive, he liked to hold unrestrained meetings, requiring the ministers to bring their wives, and then in broad daylight, he let the ministers have sex with the women... He himself was even more...

Gao Zhan followed suit and forcibly took away Emperor Wenxuan's empress Li Zu'e as soon as he ascended the throne. Who knows if he would follow suit and hold some unrestricted meeting?

Therefore, those who could take sick leave stayed at home.

However, if there was no real reason, Gao Zhan would not give them the opportunity to take leave.

Therefore, many people came to the banquet, including Gao Changgong's brothers. Now Hejian Prince Gao Xiaowan and Guangning Prince Gao Xiaoheng have also married, leaving Gao Yanzong alone.

As soon as Gao Changgong brought Xiao Jinyu to the banquet, Gao Yanzong secretly sighed that something was wrong, and hurried over, whispering in Gao Changgong's ear: "Fourth brother, why did you bring her here? His Majesty's banquet is clearly..."

"It's for us, I know."

"You knew and brought her here!"

Gao Yanzong seemed very angry, because after listening to Lu Yu's evaluation of Xiao Jinyu, he sincerely admired his fourth sister-in-law. Thinking that her beauty would surely arouse Gao Zhan's covetousness, he became even more anxious.

As the music started, the banquet began. Gao Zhan gave an impassioned speech praising Lanling Wang's meritorious service in his mission to Southern Chen, and then ordered the ministers to start the banquet. At that time, the wind and sheng instruments played, and the palace maids in thin gauze danced, shuttling through the thick mist.

Xiao Jinyu sat next to Lanling King, her eyes quickly sweeping over everyone at the Bingjingtai banquet. Among these many dignitaries, her eyes quickly caught the expression of He Shikai, as well as a noble lady in a rose-embroidered gold dress sitting not far from the emperor.

The noble lady's expression was so calm and mysterious that it was hard to tell the hidden meaning behind it!

This was the second person after Chen Xu whose expression and heart she couldn't understand!

Amidst laughter and joy, the banquet soon reached its climax. Gao Zhan suddenly picked up the wine jar, stood up and spoke.

The first thing he said was: "Prince Lanling was sent as an envoy to the State of Chen, and he made outstanding contributions and gained a lot, especially he brought back the most beautiful woman in the South... Oh, it's his Princess Lanling!"

"Princess Lanling, why don't you tell me what reward you need? I will give it to you!"

These words clearly meant to call for Princess Lanling to show up!

The emperor's intention couldn't be more obvious!

For a moment, everyone's eyes at the banquet were cast on the side of Lanling King, a woman in a black dress with a gauze mask on her face, looking cold and elegant.

Xiao Jinyu felt Lanling Wang's nervousness, so she gently stroked the back of his hand and slowly walked out.

As she walked step by step into the hall and in front of Gao Zhan, Gao Zhan's pupils gradually dilated with excitement.

The sounds around him gradually became quieter and quieter until they became silent.

Gao Zhan is now only about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, and is handsome, but because he has indulged in wine and women for many years, his expression appears particularly intoxicated and decadent.

"Just looking at her figure, she is already extremely beautiful. She is indeed a natural beauty!" Gao Zhan couldn't help but sigh in a low voice. Seeing her wearing a veil, he was very dissatisfied. "Since you are here for the banquet, why are you wearing this thing? Take it off and let everyone see what Princess Lanling looks like?"

At this time, Xiao Jinyu had walked to a distance of ten steps from Gao Zhan and stopped. Gao Yanzong became more and more nervous after seeing this.

Then Xiao Jinyu said, "Your Majesty, on the way back to Yecheng from Pengcheng, I and Prince Lanling were repeatedly hunted down by assassins hired by Qi State. During one of the hunts, half of my appearance was destroyed, so I covered my face with a veil, fearing that it would shock Your Majesty!"

As soon as she finished speaking, there was a buzz all around, and the noble lady in the rose-embellished gold dress changed her expression almost imperceptibly, and then she smiled as usual.

"What did you say? I'm Qi's official assassin? Hunting you down?"

"Yes!"

Xiao Jinyu responded and slowly took off her veil. As she was taking off the veil, the right half of her face that was revealed first made people take a deep breath and everyone in the audience was amazed. But when the veil was completely lifted and the left half of her face was revealed, everyone was so shocked that they quickly closed their eyes.

Gao Zhan was even more shocked. He saw a deep knife scar on her face with some red spots around it. It looked very scary!

"Who did this? It's such a waste of talent. Such a beautiful woman, it's such a pity... What a pity..."

While muttering to himself, he asked Xiao Jinyu to put on her veil again, and then asked around: "Who did it? Who dares to mobilize my imperial assassins to hunt down Lanling King?"