Painting Doctor Jinhua

Xiao Xian stared at a painting hanging on the wall in a trance for a long time, so long that the servants in the mansion thought his soul was trapped in it.

"I really don't know what's so good about this painting. It's just a very ordinary painting of plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum. Even the concubines in our Lord Yun's courtyard can paint it!"

"That's right. I think Mr. Xian's illness is getting worse. Even a painting can make him feel like he's been possessed by an evil spirit..."

"That's right... you said... Mr. Xian wouldn't..."

"shut up!"

Several maids were hiding in a corner, sneering and talking, but were suddenly stopped by a shout. Then they saw Feng Dong running over quickly, looking dusty, and after giving them a harsh look, they strode into Xiao Xian's Linshui Pavilion.

"My dear, you are looking at this painting again! You have been looking at it for a month, have you figured out anything mysterious?" Seeing Xiao Xian staring at the painting like a madman, Feng Dong couldn't help but ask.

"I didn't see the mystery, but..."

"Just what?"

Xiao Xian was stunned for a moment and said, "It makes me feel unusually calm..." After saying that, he suddenly thought of something and turned around to ask, "How is it? Have you found out where she is?"

"I did find out, but..." Feng Dong's face looked a little ugly.

Xiao Xian asked anxiously, "But what?"

Feng Dong then looked around and whispered in Xiao Xian's ear, "However, that girl may not be doing well now. I heard that Madam You has sent more than a dozen assassins to look for her residence over the past month. Just yesterday, a servant reported that they seem to have found her!"

Xiao Xian's expression tensed up, his palms sweating, and he asked hurriedly, "Where is she now?"

She once said that she would return to the Xiao family in three days, but three days later, apart from the jokes in the taverns and teahouses, she was no longer seen.

He knew...she must have encountered some danger...it was indeed Madam You who could not hold back and attacked her!

Xiao Xian grabbed the wheelchair armrests tightly and clenched his fists.

"An apricot blossom village on the north bank of the Qinhuai River!" Feng Dong replied.

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Xian immediately turned his wheelchair and "ran" out of the courtyard, Feng Dong shouted: "My dear, wait, even if we rush over now, I'm afraid it will be too late!"

"We have to go even if we don't have time!" Xiao Xian said anxiously. Suddenly he thought of something and said, "No, let's go find someone else first!"

After Xiao Xian finished speaking, he quickly walked out of the gate of the Xiao Mansion. Feng Dong pushed the wheelchair and came to a more secluded alley according to his instructions. He took out the flute and blew it for a while. Then, a black shadow flew out from a dilapidated hut very quickly, and stood in front of him in the blink of an eye.

The man was very thin, and his whole body was covered in a huge black robe. Even his face was wearing a half mask, and only a scar on his chin was clearly noticeable.

"Xiao Xianlang, do you want me to fulfill my last promise to you today?" the man asked in a very hoarse and low voice.

"Yes!" Xiao Xian replied, "Xian begs you to go to Xinghua Village on the north bank of the Qinhuai River and save one person!"

"Who?"

"A girl, but maybe she is still dressed in men's clothes, with a teenage boy. If I am not mistaken, they are fighting with Madam You's dozen of assassins. I know that you have outstanding Qinggong skills and can reach Xinghua Village within the time of an incense stick, so I beg you to help me!"

The visitor smiled and asked, "Xiao Xianlang, do you know that this is the last time I will repay you for your kindness. From now on, we owe each other nothing. But you asked me to save someone who has nothing to do with you?"

"Yes!" Xiao Xian said solemnly, "Please don't delay!"

The visitor paused, smiled meaningfully again, and then flew towards the north bank of the Qinhuai River like an arrow.

Feng Dong didn't even see how he left. He was stunned with his mouth wide open, muttering, "Lang Jun, who is he?"

Xiao Xian did not answer immediately. He was silent for a while before saying, "It was an assassin. Five years ago, he broke into Prince Ancheng's mansion alone and assassinated the then Prince Ancheng!"

"That is, His Majesty today?" Feng Dong was surprised.

Xiao Xian nodded: "Yes, you can call him 'Shadow'..."

But Xiao Xian knew that this assassin had another name:

His name is Ling Ye!

He was once the best guard for the eldest daughter of the Xie family in Chen County. During the Hou Jing Rebellion, Xie Yuqing, the eldest daughter of the Xie family, unfortunately died while trying to protect her family. Even her body was buried nowhere. Everyone thought that the assassin named Ling Ye also died in that war, but they did not expect that more than ten years later, he quietly returned to Jiankang City, sneaked into the Ancheng Palace, and carried out a shocking assassination.

Although the assassination attempt did not kill King Ancheng immediately, he was seriously injured and has been haunted by nightmares and unable to sleep since then.

It was after that assassination that Ling Ye became the most wanted criminal with a royal bounty in Jiankang City. During one of his escapes, he felt pity for Ling Ye and hid him in his private residence, helping him to divert the pursuers.

Ling Ye was loyal to the eldest daughter of the Xie family all his life and would never be loyal to another master. However, he promised to save his life and repay his kindness three times. He had used up these two promises in the past five years, and this was the last one.

……

When Ling Ye arrived at Xinghua Village, he did not see the desperate fight that Xiao Xian had expected, but only saw a scene that shocked and amazed him:

A young man dressed in plain clothes was sitting by a stream in a bamboo forest, fishing. His figure was as bright as the moon and as clear as the wind. A Hu boy beside him was carrying a wooden bucket. Amid his cheers, one black fish after another jumped out of the river along an invisible line and fell into the boy's wooden bucket.

And in the bamboo forest behind them, there were several dark shadows just like the fish in their hands, trapped in one fishing net after another, struggling desperately but unable to break free.

The clear streams are singing, the birds are chirping, and the spring breeze is blowing with the fragrance of flowers, without any trace of blood...

This picture is not ordinary beautiful!

Just like the brief moment of happiness he had experienced before!

Ling Ye was somewhat absent-minded. He was a natural assassin, and wherever he walked was stained with blood.

Except for the time I spent at Xie Mansion a few years ago...

Ling Ye didn't know what he was thinking about, but he felt that he shouldn't disturb her, so he turned around and prepared to leave.

But at this moment, a clear girl's voice was heard asking, "Since you are here, why are you leaving without seeing me?"

Phoenix thought that there was another enemy attacking and immediately prepared for battle.

But the newcomer was standing three meters away, motionless, and only said: "I am not your enemy. Since your enemy has been dealt with, just pretend that I have never been here..."

He didn't intend to turn back. Just as he was about to leave, he heard the girl ask, "Were you sent by Xiao Xianlang? But I still need your... help."

Ling Ye then turned around, and when he turned around, he met the gaze of the girl who was walking towards him leisurely. For some reason, the girl's face was very unfamiliar, but the gaze she gave him seemed to penetrate into his heart, causing his heart to tremble.

This feels so familiar!

"Who are you?" he couldn't help asking.

"Xiao, Jin, Yu!" the girl answered very calmly.

It was just an unfamiliar name, and Ling Ye felt an inexplicable sense of loss in his heart.

"What can I do for you, girl?" he asked.

Xiao Jinyu smiled and pointed at the figures in the bamboo forest that were caught in the fish nets:

"They... I need to give the Xiao family mistress a big gift, and..." She said meaningfully, "Send a message to Xiao Xianlang on my behalf..."

After saying that, she walked up to Ling Ye and handed a piece of silk to him.

But when she saw the face covered by half a mask, her expression changed slightly.

After a long while, she didn't say anything. It was not until Ling Ye took the silk and left that she woke up from her thoughts when Fenghuang called her several times in her ear.

"Brother Qing, what's wrong with you?"

"He seems... someone I know!"