Painting Doctor Jinhua

Chapter 187 Ridiculous Rumors

"Aqi was wrong. How could the princess regret doing something? She only regretted not being able to kill him with her own hands, right?"

Madam Wei hurried forward and said with a smile.

Only she can understand Liyang's soft spot. The more cruel words she says, the more she will soften her heart and face her own heart.

"Aqi, what you just said means that you think Gao Cheng is sincere to me?" She suddenly asked as if muttering to herself.

Madam Wei then suppressed her laughter and said seriously: "Whether it is sincere or not, Princess actually has the answer in her heart, right? At least after the Princess arrived in Jinyang, he was still good to the Princess and made a lot of efforts for the Princess, but..."

"Just a woman is insignificant compared to the country, right?" Princess Liyang chuckled. "Back then, he used a counter-espionage strategy to make Hou Jing disrupt Daliang, but he took the opportunity to seize the 23 states of Daliang. It can be said that he gained a lot. He is a well-deserved hero in the north, and I am just one of his spoils of war."

"Maybe I do like it, but it's just my liking for a beautiful object..."

"Princess... don't belittle yourself!"

Speaking of that past event, Xiao Jinyu and Xie Yuxuan felt very uncomfortable. In the troubled times, there were many women like them who lost their families and were displaced everywhere, but those who suffered like Liyang were still a minority. Both of them couldn't help but feel sad and grief in their hearts.

Princess Liyang then turned her gaze to Xiao Jinyu, and seeing the sad and compassionate light in Xiao Jinyu's eyes, she couldn't help but smile.

"What? Even you are beginning to sympathize with me?"

"No, princess..."

Just as Xiao Jinyu was about to say something, Madam Wei interrupted her and said, "Hey, why are you calling her princess? Madam, she is the mother of the prince..."

Xiao Jinyu hesitated for only a moment, then heard Princess Liyang blaming herself and smiling bitterly:

"Don't make it difficult for her. Even Chang Gong may not recognize me, so how can I ask her to..."

Xiao Jinyu immediately shook her head and said, "No, Chang Gong has always missed you in his heart. His greatest wish is that you can come back and recognize him!"

After saying that, he strode forward and hugged her, saying softly: "From now on, we are a family, so let's live together well. We can't change the past, but we can create a good future.

Chang Gong and I both need you, let's work together, okay?"

Princess Liyang was stunned for a moment, Madam Wei was already in tears, and Xie Yuxuan's eyes seemed to be filled with tears.

Although the autumn wind is bleak, the bright moon in the night sky is particularly warm and heart-warming. Its clear light shines through the window, making a small jade porcelain vase on the table look particularly crystal clear and lovely.

"Oh, it's almost Mid-Autumn Festival, isn't it? I remember that the young lady wrote a poem in the name of Xie Zhen in the Taiji Hall of Qi State, called something like "Hope..."

"May we live long and share the beauty of the moon together even though we are thousands miles apart!" Princess Liyang replied.

"Yes, yes, that's it. My dear, how come you are a girl? If I were a man, I would be fascinated by you!"

These words made Xie Yuxuan burst out laughing.

"If she is really a man, what will His Royal Highness Lanling Prince do?"

"Then we should not compete with the prince for it, right?"

Princess Liyang then noticed Xie Yuxuan standing under the moonlight. She was slightly startled and asked, "You should be the little girl from the Xie family in Chen County, your name is...A Xuan?"

"Yes, I'm Axuan, Princess. We are destined to be reunited in Qi, right?"

Princess Liyang smiled and said, "Yes, it's fate. I never thought that after experiencing the pain of losing her country and her family, and being displaced, Xuan's personality is still so cheerful and open-minded. It's great. If your sister saw it, she would definitely be very pleased!"

Xie Yuxuan glanced at Xiao Jinyu with some embarrassment in her eyes.

"Oh, by the way, Princess, you haven't let me see your true face yet!"

"Yes, young lady, I heard that when you left Jiankang, all the guests in front of the Xiao Mansion were shocked by your appearance. It's a pity that I went there a little late that day and didn't see it. Can you show it to me now?"

Xiao Jinyu smiled, and slowly tore off the mask on her face. When she completely tore off the mask and revealed her true face, the three people in the side hall were stunned. They were silent for a long time and no one was willing to break this beautiful tranquility.

After a long while, Madam Wei finally sighed, "Oh my god, young lady, how can you be so beautiful? I said I had seen your true face once before, but Li Mi said that my eyes were blurry. This brat, I will teach him a lesson the next time I see him!"

Xiao Jinyu smiled and said, "Mr. Li is now an official, and he was implicated by me today and was kicked hard by His Majesty. Madam Wei, please do not bother with him for my sake!"

Wei Qi blushed and said, "Okay, then I won't bother with him!"

"You haven't eaten yet? I'll ask Xiu to go to the kitchen and tell them..."

Before Xiao Jinyu finished speaking, she heard Ah Xiu's voice coming from outside: "Princess, the meal is ready, everyone come and eat!"

So, a few people followed Ah Xiu to the backyard, and saw a bonfire burning in an open space under the moonlight. White smoke was bubbling out of a pot above it. Various kinds of food and cakes, as well as sliced ​​meat and fish fillets were placed on a long table.

"Isn't this what the young lady cooked in my Xinghua Yanyu Tower? I was angry when I saw it, but I was greedy when I smelled the fragrance." After saying that, he turned to Princess Liyang and said, "Princess, this young lady has so many new things in her mind. As for food, I, Wei Qi, have never eaten such delicious food in my life!"

"Princess, come and try it!"

Xiao Jinyu also pulled her to sit on the low table next to the desk and put some hot dishes into Princess Liyang's bowl.

While eating the dishes, Princess Liyang looked at the happy smiles on the faces of the young ladies around her, as well as the respect and friendliness with which Xiao Jinyu looked at her in the moonlight. Her heart felt even warmer, and she gradually started to chat and laugh with them.

"Princess, is it delicious?" asked Madam Wei.

Princess Liyang smiled slightly.

“Yes, it’s delicious!”

Looking at the bright moon in the sky, Xiao Jinyu suddenly murmured: "I wonder how Chang Gong is doing in Jinyang?"

Madam Wei joked, "Oh, we've only been apart for a short time, and you're already missing our prince?"

Xiao Jinyu did not deny it. She just smiled calmly and then became a little depressed.

After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly looked at Wei Qi and Princess Liyang and said, "Ah Yu has something that I need the help of Madam Wei and... Mother."

Hearing the word "mother", Princess Liyang looked up at her with a little surprise.

Wei Qi showed a gratified smile and deliberately leaned over a little, pretending to be listening attentively.

"Young lady, there is something else you need our help with. I want to hear it. What is it?"

Xiao Jinyu smiled and said seriously, "In the future, I may have to frequently go in and out of the court as Xie Zhen. Although Zhou agreed to my conditions for the peace talks and would send envoys to Yecheng to bring back Yuwen Hu's mother, this is only a temporary measure. Zhou and the Turks have been allies since Yuwen Tai conquered the Western Wei. Even if Yuwen Hu is unwilling to fight against my Qi, the Turks will not give up and will definitely threaten Yuwen Hu to fight.

Therefore, at the latest in the winter of this year, there will be a war between Qi and Zhou. We must make all preparations before the war comes and send some military supplies to Chang Gong, such as cotton clothes and medicine for healing. "

As she spoke, Xiao Jinyu took out a prescription and placed it in front of Princess Liyang, Madam Wei, and Xie Yuxuan, and continued, "This is a medicine I recently researched. The ointment extracted from these herbs can effectively heal frostbite and some wounds."

"So, I need someone to help me make this medicine!"

"No problem. I have plenty of manpower here. I can refine as many as your princess wants!" Xie Yuxuan said excitedly.

Xiao Jinyu said, "Ah Xuan, I need you to help me be on guard against Lu Lingxuan at all times. She is very smart and I am afraid that she will find out that I am pretending to be Xie Zhen sooner or later!"

"Also, protect the princess together with Ling Ye."

"Young lady, you don't have to worry about us. The princess has also bought some guards. But your safety is more important." Madam Wei put away her joking look and said seriously, "The princess came back because she was worried about you. The prince loves you so much, he can't let anything happen to you!"

"Leave the medicine making to us. If you need any help, just let me know!"

Xiao Jinyu paused for a moment, then said, "Since Madam Wei and mother run an Apricot Blossom Misty Rain Tower in Chen State, then you can help run the one I opened in Qi State! If it makes money, half of the revenue will be yours!"

"Half! You are so generous, young lady!"

……

It was already halfway through the night when Madam Wei took Princess Liyang to a bedroom to sleep. Xiao Jinyu called Ling Ye over again and asked him to go find someone.

"I remember you once said that Dugu Xin's eldest son Dugu Luo had been held hostage in Qi. However, as Dugu Xin married and had children in Chang'an, Dugu Luo had lost his usefulness. Several kings of Qi seemed to have ignored him and almost forgotten his existence."

"Yes, girl!"

"If we can find him, he might be useful to us!" Xiao Jinyu pondered.

"Then I'll go find it now!"

Ling Ye was about to leave when he heard Xiao Jinyu say:

"No, Ling Ye, this matter is not urgent. You should go and rest. You must be tired after accompanying me on the mission to Yubi City!"

After Ling Ye left, Xiao Jinyu fell into deep thought again. Xie Yuxuan propped up her jade cheeks, looked at her, and asked with a smile: "Sister, what are you thinking about now?"

Xiao Jinyu suddenly woke up, looked at Xie Yuxuan and smiled, then shook her head: "I don't want to think about it today, go to bed early, and write a letter to Chang Gong tomorrow!"

If Chang Gong knew that his mother had returned, he would surely be very happy, right?

……

Five days later, a letter was delivered to Gao Changgong of Jinyang. When he saw the familiar handwriting on the letter, Gao Changgong couldn't help but smile. But when he saw the end of the letter, the smile on his lips gradually turned into an indescribable surprise and gratitude, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"It's said that a letter from home is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Chang Gong has only been here for a few days, and he is so happy when he receives the first letter from home?"

Some generals in the army saw his expression of joy and tears and couldn't help but make fun of him.

"Prince, what on earth made you so happy? You were so excited that you shed tears?" Lu Yu also asked tentatively, "Could it be that the young lady is pregnant?"

"Nonsense!" Gao Changgong slapped Lu Yu's head hard and told him to go train quickly. Lu Yu glanced at the letter in his hand from a distance, saw nothing, and ran away tactfully.

But Lu Yu's unintentional words made Gao Changgong ponder: If Ayu is really pregnant, she will no longer be able to enter and leave the court as Xie Zhen, which will harm her!

But before, they had always been deeply in love and indulged in love, and he had never restrained himself. If he really did get pregnant, what should he do?

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel worried.

……

Yecheng was in an uproar over a rumor. Early in the morning, Gao Yanzong ran to Lanling Palace to find Xiao Jinyu with a strange look on his face. He said with an embarrassed expression, "Fourth sister-in-law, do you know what is being spread outside now?"

"What are you spreading?" Xie Yuxuan asked.

Gao Yanzong paused for a moment, then held his forehead and said awkwardly: "They all said that Lanling Wang regarded Xie Zhen as a brother, but Xie Zhen, a lecher, actually wanted Lanling Wang's mother, Princess Liyang. How can His Royal Highness Lanling Wang feel about this?"

With a "puff" sound, the tea that Xie Yuxuan had just drunk sprayed out.

"Who spread this rumor?"

While they were still talking, the steward handed Xiao Jinyu another secret letter. The letter was written by Li Mi. When Xiao Jinyu saw the contents of the letter, his face darkened.

"What's wrong?" Xie Yuxuan asked.

Xiao Jinyu said, "Your Majesty wants to leave the palace and go to my Xinghua Yanyu Tower, and he needs me to accompany him during this process!"

"Why does Your Majesty suddenly want to go to Xinghua Yanyu Tower? Is this another bad idea from Heshi?" Gao Yanzong asked.

Xiao Jinyu nodded.

"Yes, I'm afraid He Shikai has begun to doubt my identity."

Gao Zhan woke up early in the morning and told He Shikai that he had a dream yesterday in which he seemed to hug a stunning beauty. He Shikai actually replied: "Your Majesty, you didn't hug any beauty yesterday. You just hugged Minister Xie for a while, and you praised his skin as white as cream, and said that his waist was softer and his skin was more delicate than your concubines!"

"Is this happening?"

Gao Zhan was a little unconvinced, so he asked Li Mi, who was recording the daily life. Li Mi replied, "Yes, there are, but the children of the noble families have always been pampered, so it's not surprising that they have delicate skin. There are also men in this world who are more beautiful than women. Isn't Han Zigao from the Southern Dynasty one of them? The Prince of Lanling was also exceptionally handsome..."

"Your Majesty, I heard that Princess Lanling recently opened a very interesting restaurant in our Yecheng, called Xinghua Yanyu Tower. Your Majesty, would you like to go and take a look?"

"Princess Lanling?" Gao Zhan felt uncomfortable when he heard this title, but then he became a little interested and asked worriedly, "Will there be any villains who want to harm me?"

"Your Majesty, how about letting Minister Xie accompany you? Minister Xie is the reincarnation of a koi fish. With him around, everything will turn out well!"

……

"This is what happened..."

"He Shikai is a beast... I'm afraid he brought Your Majesty out here to plot against the princess, right?"

Xie Yuxuan became more and more worried, so she said to Xiao Jinyu, "I'll go with you too. I'll watch from the dark to see what they're going to do. Ling Ye will come with us, too!"

"What about us?" asked Madam Wei.

Xiao Jinyu glanced at Princess Liyang and said, "You two should stay in the mansion, so as to avoid being seen by Gao Zhan and causing trouble!"

Princess Liyang nodded: "Go ahead! Don't worry about us, be careful!"

Xiao Jinyu said hello. Not long after, the eunuch brought a verbal order, ordering Minister Xie to go to Zhaoyang Palace. Xiao Jinyu then changed into casual clothes, put on the mask again, and entered the palace with the eunuch.

As soon as he entered the Zhaoyang Palace, he saw Gao Zhan had also changed into a moon-white casual suit, dressed like a white-clothed scholar, as if he was going to visit the people incognito. When Emperor Wenxuan was alive, he often went to the private houses of ministers without permission, and even ran naked on the streets. So it was not surprising that the emperor of Qi State was in a good mood and went out incognito. Whether it was to understand the people's sentiments or to rob women, it was not a rare thing!

"Does Minister Xie know about Princess Lanling's Apricot Blossom Misty Rain Tower?" Gao Zhan asked as soon as he saw "Xie Zhen".

"I know." Xiao Jinyu replied.

"Well, then, let Minister Xie lead the way!"

Taking with him a few imperial guards dressed in casual clothes, Gao Zhan led her, Li Mi and He Shikai out of the palace, heading straight for the Xinghua Yanyu Tower in Qidilifang.

It was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month when the Xinghua Yanyu Tower was open to the public, and it was packed with guests. Gao Zhan asked Li Mi to ask for a side room, where he could sit by the railing and observe the entire hall from inside.

"This is a nice place, with elegance and sentiment, and an indescribable sense of comfort. I didn't expect that the Princess of Lanling is not only good at painting and eloquence, but also good at business. This makes me even more interested."

He Shikai quickly smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, Princess Lanling is not only extremely beautiful, but also a rare talent in the world. She is indeed very... different!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gao Zhan's face turned gloomy!