Painting Doctor Jinhua

Four years have passed, and Fenghuang is now seventeen years old. He is no longer as beautiful as a girl in the past. He has transformed into a young man with high spirits and handsome appearance, with a hint of coldness and sternness in his handsome features.

"Yes, Brother Qing, I am Phoenix!"

The young man replied with a bright smile. He waved his hand to signal the troops behind him to come closer and shouted, "Come and pay your respects to Prince Lanling and the Princess. If they hadn't sent us military supplies of medicine and food over the past few years, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to make achievements on the battlefield!"

The Turkic soldiers repeatedly invaded Jinyang, and Fenghuang often led a group of Murong's people to fight against the Turks. Jinyang's harvest was not good last year, and it suffered from several insect plagues and droughts. The treasury was empty, and the court often withheld their food and wages, and sometimes even no food and wages were delivered. When Xiao Jinyu learned of the situation, he sent soldiers to deliver food, medicine, and even a few thunder and fire bombs to Jinyang. Although the quantity was not large, it brought great help to Fenghuang's army.

The soldiers were also very grateful to Prince Lanling and Princess Lanling, and they all saluted them!

"Yes!"

"Prince Lanling, Princess Lanling!"

Gao Changgong and Xiao Jinyu were also very pleased and told them not to be so polite.

At this time, Fenghuang cut off the head of the leader, walked over and said to them: "This man is Lu Wei, the chief of the Bu Liugu clan, and a member of Lu Lingxuan's clan. He must have been instructed by Mu Ti Po to assassinate you!"

Xiao Jinyu nodded.

Fenghuang looked at Xiao Jinyu for a moment, then suppressed the longing in her heart and said seriously: "Prince, Brother Qing, Commander-in-Chief Duan asked me to pick you up here and take you to Jinyang first. Commander-in-Chief Duan seems to have something to say to Prince!"

Lanling Wang nodded and said, "Okay!"

The group headed towards Jinyang city. Along the way, Xiao Jinyu heard complaints from these Xianbei soldiers.

"The reason why the court can't pay food and wages is not because the treasury is empty. I heard that the dress worn by a maidservant beside His Majesty is worth 10,000 pieces of cloth, and a mirror stand is worth 1,000 gold. And the thousands of lives of us soldiers fighting on the front line are not worth a dress of a maidservant beside him!"

"The treasury is empty, but Your Majesty is still building a palace. Not only is His Majesty building a palace in Ye City, but he is also building a palace in Jinyang. He was never satisfied with the construction after several attempts, so he tore it down and rebuilt it. Not only the farmers in Jinyang, but also we will be forced to serve as laborers to build him a magnificent palace!"

The soldiers' voices were low, but Gao Changgong heard every word and kept it in mind.

Xiao Jinyu still gave him a gentle look to show comfort and encouragement.

When he arrived at Jinyang Palace, Gao Changgong realized that what the soldiers were talking about was not an exaggeration. It turned out that the city of Jinyang, with its high and majestic walls, had indeed been renovated many times, and there were many more richly decorated palaces than before, making it look extremely luxurious.

This is undoubtedly a great irony. The soldiers fighting on the front line have no food or wages, but the emperor has money to build palaces.

"Your Majesty has been collecting taxes many times a year in the past two years to build Buddhist temples and palaces, and the people are suffering terribly!"

Gao Changgong felt very uncomfortable when he heard these discussions. If this continued, even if Da Qi had many brave generals, it would be difficult to survive with an empty treasury. Without food and rewards, who would be willing to fight for you!

After arriving at Duan Shao's residence, Gao Changgong discovered that the God of War of the Great Qi State, the pillar of the Qi State, whom he had not seen for four years, now had a lot of white hair and was very old. He also had some serious illnesses due to years of fighting.

"Chang Gong, you are here, come quickly, let's talk!"

Seeing that he was staggering, Gao Changgong quickly stepped forward and supported him.

"Chang Gong, I still remember that when you were eleven or twelve years old, you followed me to go to war. Now, in the blink of an eye, you have grown up and married!"

"I have heard a lot about the things between you and your princess. She is indeed a talented person. The imperial edict issued for the emperor four years ago was originally very beneficial to the development of the country. But unfortunately, because she is a woman, she was excluded by the nobles in the court. There were also villains like He Shikai who instigated His Majesty to harm you, causing you to suffer a lot. You had to stay away from the center of Yecheng, and the imperial edict was not implemented!"

"The current emperor is even more absurd than his father. I'm afraid he has bad intentions in sending you back!"

"Now that I'm old, I'm afraid I can't do it anymore. Da Qi still needs brave generals like you and Hulu Mingyue to defend it. You two must not get hurt, otherwise it will only take a day for the Pseudo-Zhou to conquer Da Ji!"

Duan Shao spoke with earnestness and sincerity as if he was giving his last words, tears streaming down his face. It seemed as if he had a heart full of revenge, but he was powerless!

Gao Changgong was also very sad to hear this and comforted him: "Tai Zai, you must take care of yourself. Da Qi needs you too now!"

Once the Queen Mother dies, the Xianbei in the Six Garrisons like Jinyang will no longer be as loyal to the Gao family as before, and there will inevitably be those who have ulterior motives, and Duan Shao is undoubtedly the backbone of Jinyang!

Seeing Gao Changgong in deep thought, Duan Shao suddenly held Gao Changgong's hand and said in a loving and sad tone: "Before the Queen Mother died, I went to see her. She didn't close her eyes until the moment she breathed her last. She spent the rest of her life in repentance and pain. She told me that if she hadn't let her sixth son succeed to the throne, her grandson Gao Yin wouldn't have died. If she hadn't let her ninth son succeed to the throne, she wouldn't have lost so many grandsons.

What she regretted most was that she felt guilty towards you. She said that you were so filial to her, and when you heard that she was seriously ill, you immediately brought your princess back from Southern Chen and asked your princess to cure her illness, but she treated you like that in the end, causing you to almost lose your life. "

Having said this, he paused for a moment and said solemnly:

"Chang Gong, the Queen Mother said that even if she died, if you were to return to face a dangerous place, she would rather you not come back!"

"But the current situation does not allow you to make a choice, so the Queen Mother left me an imperial decree. She told me to take it out when your life is in danger, hoping to use it to save your life!"

As he spoke, Duan Shao took out a bright yellow scroll and handed it to Gao Changgong.

Gao Changgong opened it and looked at it, with surprise in his eyes.

Duan Shao sighed again, "In the past few years, you and your princess have sent good medicine to the soldiers in Jinyang many times. When the court could not pay for food and wages, you sent them food and grass in times of need. However, you lived frugally in the border areas and provided food, clothing and food for the people. Everyone has seen everything you have done for Da Qi and the people.

So, Chang Gong, if you want to mobilize the troops in Jinyang, take this imperial decree and I will help you!"

Gao Changgong was also very moved, and couldn't help but shed tears as he said, "Thank you, Grand Prime Minister, for your trust in Changgong. This time when I return to Ye City, I will definitely get rid of the villains around Your Majesty and will not let them withhold the soldiers' food and wages again!"

"Can they all be eliminated? In the past, there were Lu Lingxuan and He Shikai, and now there are Mu Tibo, Zu Ting, and He Hongzhen. The reason why there are so many villains in power is that the king is unwilling to listen to advice and likes the flattery of villains.

People die for money, birds die for food. If the king does not like those who speak out and give advice, then even those wise ministers will be forced to become villains!"

These words made Gao Changgong feel helpless and sad, and he fell into deep thought.

"Whatever you want to do, just do it! As for Jinyang, as long as I am alive, I will definitely support you!"

Gao Changgong suddenly raised his eyes to look at him, and then he understood what he meant by these words.

"There is another thing. Your Majesty seems to be afraid of the left prime minister, Hulugu. In the battle of Yiyang last year, Hulugu defeated the Zhou army and captured four cities of the Pseudo-City. He wanted to lead the army back to Yecheng to receive rewards. However, before the army arrived in Yecheng, they received the emperor's order to disperse the soldiers and go home to rest. Hulugu felt that the soldiers would be discouraged if they did not receive any rewards, so he secretly submitted a petition to send someone to announce the order. However, the army kept advancing until it approached Yecheng. Then Your Majesty sent a servant to invite Hulugu to see him, and then he rewarded the soldiers.

His Majesty was very unhappy at that time!"

……

After coming out of Dazaifu, Xiao Jinyu saw that Gao Changgong looked worried, and asked him what Duan Shao had said.

Gao Changgong took out the Empress Dowager's edict and showed it to Xiao Jinyu, and at the same time repeated what Duan Shao had said.

"Ayu, I feel that the Prime Minister is not as energetic as before. He seems to be really ill. If he dies, our Qi State will lose a good general and a pillar. Moreover, the Prime Minister has always treated me like a father..."

"Then I'll go take a look!"

After Xiao Jinyu finished speaking, she and Gao Changgong went to the Taizai Mansion again. At that time, Duan Shao was just walking out of the study.

Although Duan Shao had never seen the true face of Lanling Prince's wife, he knew her identity without having to guess because of her incomparable beauty and the fact that she was standing next to Lanling Prince. He smiled and said:

"It's Princess Lanling, please take a seat!"

Xiao Jinyu did not walk over, but asked: "Dazai, do you often feel chest tightness, lack of energy, and pain in the waist and shoulders?"

Duan Shao was startled when he heard this, and his fourth son Duan Deheng's eyes lit up.

"That's right. I've heard that Princess Lanling is a miracle doctor. She's really as famous as she is. She was able to tell my father's condition at a glance. Is it possible to cure my father's disease?"

"Yes, acupuncture can relieve Dazai's pain, but Dazai can't go to the battlefield in a short period of time, he needs to rest!"

"Great! Father, your illness can be cured. That's great!"

Duan Deheng shouted happily and immediately made a respectful invitation gesture to Xiao Jinyu.

"Then I'll trouble Princess Lanling! No matter how much you want for the consultation fee, I will give it to you immediately!"

Xiao Jinyu just smiled and nodded, then let Duan Shao lie down in the room to rest while she gave him acupuncture. Prince Lanling stood by his side, while Duan Deheng and a group of servants waited anxiously outside.

About an incense stick's time later, Xiao Jinyu and Lanling King came out.

"How is my father?"

Duan Deheng ran into the room impatiently and saw Duan Shao getting up from the couch and rubbing his shoulders and waist.

“It really doesn’t seem to hurt anymore!”

"It's amazing! Father, I have invited many famous doctors but none of them said that they could cure it. I never thought that Princess Lanling..."

Duan Deheng's eyes showed a burst of admiration and pity: "Father, such a woman is really rare. This time the couple returns to Ye, I'm afraid it's very dangerous. We must find a way to save their lives!"

"That's right, Deheng, you go to Yecheng first to help them. If necessary, write to me and I will go too!"

"Yes, father!"

After prescribing a prescription for Duan Shao, Xiao Jinyu and King Lanling did not stay any longer and set off from Jinyang. When they left, not only did Fenghuang lead hundreds of cavalrymen to follow them, but Duan Deheng also brought troops and horses with him!

Duan Deheng smiled all the way and said, "Don't worry about me. I'm also going to Yecheng to report on my work and I just happened to be going the same way as you!"

How could Gao Changgong and Xiao Jinyu not understand Duan Shao's intention? So they did not expose him and rode at full speed all the way to Yecheng.

When they arrived in Yecheng, the funeral of the Empress Dowager had already ended, but at the same time, some rumors were spreading among the neighbors, saying: "The Hundred Shengs flew to the sky, and the bright moon shone on Chang'an!"

"A mountain will collapse without being pushed, and an oak tree will stand upright without being supported."

Hearing these rumors, Xiao Jinyu's face changed drastically and she said, "Not good!"

Gao Changgong asked: "Ayu, what's wrong?"

Xiao Jinyu explained: "One hundred liters equals one hu, and Mingyue is Hulugu's courtesy name. The rumor implies that Hulugu has ambitions to usurp the throne. This is a plot by Wei Xiaokuan to sow discord!"

This sentence made Gao Changgong, Li Mi and Cui Heng's faces change.

"Mr. Li, have you given one of the three magic bags I gave you to General Hulu?"

Li Mi said: "I gave it to you, but I don't know if the Left Prime Minister is willing to believe it?"

At this time, Fenghuang also said: "Zuo Xiang has also arrived in Yecheng. Your Majesty sent someone to reward him with a fine horse some time ago, saying that he was going to visit Dongshan and asked Zuo Xiang to ride on this fine horse! So Zuo Xiang came to Yecheng to thank Your Majesty!"

After Fenghuang finished speaking, even Gao Changgong's expression changed.

"Quick! Enter the palace and go to Liangfeng Hall!"

……

Upon learning that Prince Lanling had returned to Yecheng with his princess, Gao Wei was so happy that he even forgot about Hulugu. He immediately ordered someone to bring the couple into the palace for an audience!

Therefore, Xiao Jinyu and Gao Changgong had a relatively smooth journey to Liangfeng Hall. Almost as soon as they arrived, they saw Liu Taozhi and a group of people chasing and hacking at Hulugu with knives!

Gao Changgong immediately stepped forward, blocked with his short blade, kicked everyone away, and stood in front of Hulugguang.

"Lord Liu, the left prime minister has never done anything to offend Qi or Your Majesty, why do you want to kill him?"

Gao Changgong asked angrily, and Bai Yi also stepped forward and snatched the knife from Liu Taozhi's hand.

When the other imperial guards saw that it was Prince Lanling, they were a little awed and did not dare to step forward.

"Lanling Wang, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. This is what His Majesty wants! The Hulu family has crossbows and armor, thousands of slaves, and often sends people to the homes of Fengle, Wudu and others. There is suspicion of forming a clique and rebelling, so His Majesty ordered me to kill him!"

"If the left prime minister is really suspected of treason, the Dali Temple should be responsible for investigating and judging the case. How can they assassinate him privately?"

"If we kill the left prime minister, we will fall into the Zhou State's Wei Xiaokuan's plan to sow discord, and our Qi State will be in danger!"

"Release the left prime minister, and I will go to see His Majesty!"