Chapter 157 Duel in the Palace (2)
Not only Gao Zhan felt it was a pity, but the entire banquet was full of sighs, and even Gao Xiaowan and Gao Xiaoheng were dumbfounded.
"Obviously he is a person as beautiful as a fairy, but actually..."
"It's a pity, it's a pity. Beauty is rare. If such beauty is rare in the world, it should be cherished and loved. How could anyone do such a cruel thing to such a beautiful woman?"
"that is--"
At this time, Xiao Jinyu knelt down, saluted Gao Zhan and said: "Your Majesty, I was ordered by the Emperor of the Southern Dynasty to marry the King of Lanling in order to achieve a good marriage between the two countries, Qin and Jin. However, on the way, I encountered several enemies from the Qi State. My wife was disfigured because of the pursuit of the imperial assassins. I also ask your Majesty to make the decision for my wife and find out who is behind the false rumors about your Majesty’s imperial orders to pursue me and Prince Lanling!”
"This is also the reward that I want to ask for from Your Majesty!"
Xiao Jinyu added this sentence. Her words had already made it clear to Gao Zhan that it was not Gao Zhan who sent the Northern Qi royal assassin to hunt down King Lanling. This not only gave him face as the emperor, but also pointed him out. direction!
Gao Zhan naturally understood what he meant, and shouted again, "Who did it? Who stole my jade token and pretended to pass on my imperial order?" He glanced around, noticing and Shi Kai slightly lowered his eyes and asked in a low voice: "Yantong, do I remember that I gave the jade token to someone else when I was drunk?"
He Shikai lowered his head and glanced at the woman wearing a rose-gilt dress not far away.
Gao Zhan followed his gaze and looked at the woman, questioning: "Mr. Lu?"
Lord Lu?
Xiao Jinyu’s eyes also suddenly shot towards this woman: It turns out that this is Lu Lingxuan, the woman who has been manipulating her behind the scenes, chasing her from Northern Qi to Nanchen, and she still refuses to let go until now!
Calculating, she should be about the same age as the original owner's mother Xiao Luan, but she looks so young and has the charm of a woman.
Lu Lingxuan seemed to have felt her gaze, and actually smiled back, and replied very calmly: "Your Majesty, you once gave the jade tablet to me, but I only used it to search for Zhou's spies, and there was nothing wrong with it." On the 1st, I will return it to Your Majesty. I would never dare to mobilize the Royal Killer, so I would like to ask Your Majesty to investigate clearly!"
Lu Lingxuan now controls a secret espionage organization that specializes in stealing information about Zhou and Chen for Gao Zhan. Her information has always been very fast and accurate, so Gao Zhan entrusts her with important tasks and trusts her very much.
After she explained this, Gao Zhan gave up and nodded suspiciously.
Xiao Jinyu also understood Lu Lingxuan's position in Gao Zhan's heart, but she didn't want to give up. She took out a bright yellow imperial edict from her sleeve again and presented it to Gao Zhan.
"Your Majesty, when my wife and King Lanling arrived at the Yecheng Station, they encountered someone who falsely conveyed your Majesty's imperial edict and wanted to kill King Lanling. This edict is here. Your Majesty, please take a look!"
As soon as these words came out, the dignitaries at the banquet couldn't help but scream in horror, and Gao Yanzong couldn't help shouting: "Who is so bold, dare to falsely pass on the imperial edict and kill my fourth brother!"
When he asked this question, the imperial edict in Xiao Jinyu's hand was already unfolded in front of everyone. It was stamped with a seal, but the line "Give King Lanling poisonous wine" was particularly eye-catching, like sword blades!
Anyone who has seen Gao Zhan’s handwriting can recognize that this is not Gao Zhan’s own handwriting!
But there is a seal on it, which can only mean one thing. Only the people closest to Gao Zhan can steal the seal to seal this imperial edict!
So, everyone looked angrily at He Shikai next to Gao Zhan.
He Shikai now takes up the position of Shizhong. The responsibilities of the Shizhong are to serve the emperor, review the emperor's edicts and documents, and handle temporary government affairs.
Therefore, it is extremely easy for He Shikai to manipulate the imperial edict, especially now that the emperor still obeys his words!
“Please, Your Majesty, seek justice for my wife and Prince Lanling!”
Amid the shocked buzz, Xiao Jinyu knelt down again and begged the Emperor of Qi.
She looked at the still hesitant Emperor with bright eyes, and her whole body kneeling in the hall had a cold and noble aura of loneliness, persistence and determination.
At this time, many people in the palace couldn't help but feel pity for Xiao Jinyu.
She was originally a peerless beauty who married into the Qi Kingdom due to a marriage alliance, but unfortunately her appearance was disfigured by a killer on the way. Moreover, the person behind this wanted to falsely spread the imperial edict and kill King Lanling!
It’s so hateful!
"Your Majesty, my fourth brother has always served the country loyally. He even repelled the Turkic soldiers half a year ago. However, he was persecuted by traitors like this. Please ask your Majesty to seek justice for my fourth brother, King Lanling!"
At this time, even Gao Yanzong stood up and knelt in the hall to plead.
Gao Xiaowan and Gao Xiaoheng were also a little moved. Just when they were about to stand up, Gao Zhan took the imperial edict handed to him by the chamberlain and sighed: "This is indeed not the imperial edict issued by me, Princess Lanling, I will find out!"
"I will also help you get back the suffering and grievances you and Prince Lanling have suffered along the way!"
"This matter ends here today, so there is no need to discuss it any further. The dinner party is a joyful event, so don't let things like this disturb your elegance again!"
He actually revealed the assassination matter with just one sentence!
Xiao Jinyu was slightly stunned, but she saw that He Shikai and Lu Lingxuan were looking at her with a provocative complacency.
This is a result that was already expected.
Xiao Jinyu was about to say something when another voice interrupted her and said sternly: "Your Majesty, this matter is obvious without any investigation. We can know who did it. The false imperial edict was made by He Zhongzhong. for!"
The one who stepped out from the dignitaries was Gao Rui, Prince of Zhao County. Gao Rui was a few years older than Gao Zhan. He was raised by Gao Huan when he was young because of his talent in both literature and martial arts. Later he won the trust of Emperor Wenxuan Gao Yang and Emperor Xiaozhao Gao Yan. He trusted him very much at first, but because He Shikai repeatedly whispered in Gao Zhan's ears, Gao Zhan became jealous of Gao Rui and became very alienated from him. Now that he has come forward to say that the false edict was the work of He Shizhong, then Isn't he directly calling him a foolish king who loves the villain Yuan Xianchen?
Gao Zhan was very dissatisfied, knowing that Gao Rui wanted to use the topic as an excuse to drive He Shikai out of the court. Prince Zhao had already reported this matter!
"Prince Zhao, what does this matter to you? Stand back!"
"Your Majesty, I just want to seek justice for Prince Lanling!"
"you--"
Gao Zhan's violent temper almost came out again, but when he caught a glimpse of Xiao Jinyu, he couldn't help but calm down his anger. It has to be said that this beauty covered up the ruined half of her face, and only the smooth forehead was exposed. , and a pair of water-cut eyes as full of water as black jade, they are so beautiful that people can't bear to hurt them when they see them!
Thinking about it, it feels like a pity!
At this time, the monk ran over and said with tears and snot in his nose: "Your Majesty, I am wronged. I am indeed your Majesty's servant, but this does not mean that I forged this imperial edict. I would like to compare it with my handwriting." Check the handwriting to prove my innocence!"
"I know your handwriting. The handwriting on this imperial edict was indeed not written by Attendant He!"
"Your Majesty, although the words were not written by him, the seal must have been stamped by him. As for who wrote the imperial edict, why not check the handwriting of everyone in the palace at this moment!" Gao Rui, Prince of Zhao County, pressed forward again.
"Enough!"
Gao Zhan shouted angrily. At this time, King Lanling also came out and stopped Zhao Junwang Gao Rui from continuing. He knelt down beside Xiao Jinyu, bowed his hands to Gao Zhan and saluted: "Your Majesty, regardless of the imperial edict, Who wrote it and who put the seal on it? I believe that your majesty will make a clear decision. I don’t want to pursue the matter at this banquet anymore. However, my beloved wife has been disfigured. I still hope that your majesty will seek compensation for my wife. Get justice!"
He was talking about seeking justice for his beloved wife, not for himself!
Gao Zhan thought about this sentence repeatedly and looked at Gao Changgong.
Under his gaze, Gao Changgong paused for a moment, and then said: "I have also captured two of the imperial assassins who were chasing us along the way. They can testify as to who is controlling them behind the scenes!" There is a witness!
Gao Yanzong was so anxious that he was sweating profusely. When he heard this sentence, he couldn't help but be overjoyed and said to himself: "Why didn't you tell me earlier if there was a witness? I'm really anxious to death!"
When things have developed to this point, Gao Zhan no longer wants to make a big thing a trivial matter, but it is impossible to make it a trivial matter. Originally, this was a celebration banquet prepared for King Lanling, although it was just that he found someone who wanted to see the number one in the South. The origin of beauty’s appearance.
"Bring those two people here!" Gao Zhan said with some displeasure.
"yes!"
Under the hint of King Lanling's gaze, Lu Yu immediately ran out of the banquet and tied the two killers who had been prepared by Zhao Wu and Yang Zhi to the palace.
Seeing the Emperor in the palace and Lu Lingxuan sitting not far from him, the two killers lowered their heads in fear.
The two men were still unable to speak as their mouths were gagged to prevent them from committing suicide.
At this time, Lu Yu handed the confession they wrote to Gao Changgong.
"Your Majesty, this is the confession of both of them!"
Gao Zhan ordered his chamberlain to take the bloody silk and hand it into his hand. At first glance, the people behind it mentioned in the confession turned out to be Han Changluan and Mutipo!
Now that Han Changluan and Mutipo have been confessed, it is not difficult to guess who instigated these two people!
Gao Zhan glanced at Lu Lingxuan again, but saw that her expression was calm, her lips seemed to be smiling but not smiling, and she still looked like this matter had nothing to do with me.
"Take the things out of these two people's mouths! Let them talk!"
"yes!"
Lu Yu responded and tore off the silk from the mouths of the two people. In an instant, the two people kowtowed repeatedly and said: "Your Majesty, the two of us were beaten into submission. They were not sent by Governor Han and Mutipo. We just received them." Liu Dadurui ordered to hunt down King Lanling, but we don’t know where the order came from!”
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
"You..." Lu Yu was so angry that he wanted to punch and kick these two people. Unexpectedly, just as his feet touched these two people, he found that they had stiffened and fell to the ground with a thud.
When one of the Suwei sergeants went to check their breathing, they found that they had already died.
"It seems that people have reached the end of their strength after being tortured to extract confessions!" A dignitary at the banquet sneered.
"Captain Han, no matter what, these two people are your subordinates. Whether they are tortured to extract confessions or not, you can't escape their involvement, right?"
It turned out that the person who was laughing was Han Changluan, and Gao Rui's words left him speechless.
But now that the person is dead, as the saying goes, there is no proof of death. No one expected that these two people would recant their confessions before they died, and then commit suicide immediately after recanting their confessions!
Xiao Jinyu turned her attention to Lu Lingxuan again, but saw that this woman still met her gaze with a very calm and proud smile.
That smile has simply become an unshakable mask for her!
"Forget it, since the person is dead, let's not continue this matter today and leave it to Dali Temple for review!"
Gao Zhan's words were full of impatience, and he obviously didn't want to pursue the investigation any further. Gao Yanzong was so angry that he wanted to argue a few more words, but Gao Changgong stopped him and signaled him to shut up.
At this time, Gao Zhan suddenly had a sudden impulse and changed the topic, looked at Xiao Jinyu and said: "I heard that you are good at painting. You once painted a picture of the East Palace Night Banquet at the Eastern Palace Banquet in the Southern Dynasties. I am very curious whether your painting can Comparable to my Daqi Zu Zhongshu?"
After saying that, he searched the people at the banquet and asked, "Will Xiao Zheng come to the banquet today?" (Zu Jue, courtesy name: Xiao Zheng)
"Your Majesty, I am here!"
A middle-aged man wearing a red robe and a four-beam crown walked out of the banquet. He saluted Gao Zhan with a smile and asked, "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
Xiao Jinyu immediately turned his attention to this middle-aged man again: It turned out that this was the genius Zu Jue who Li Mi said was omnipotent in all kinds of skills. He looked almost forty years old, but he was energetic and had the air of a scholar and elegance. state.
"Xiao Zheng, you have always claimed to be a genius. You haven't met a rival for a long time. Today, you will compete with Princess Lanling, a talented girl from the Southern Dynasty, to test your painting skills and open the eyes of all the ministers. How about it?"
Gao Zhan's tone was obviously provocative and sarcastic. As the king of a country, he repeatedly lost in eloquence to this minister whose moral reputation was not very good. Gao Zhan felt bad in his heart.
Especially during a heated argument, Zu Jue actually scolded him for raping civilian girls into the palace. He argued that these women were hungry and had no one to support them, so he kept them in the palace. Zu Jue sarcastically said, since Your Majesty is like this If you love the people, why don't you open a warehouse to alleviate the disaster?
He was so angry that he beat Zu Jue half to death. Unexpectedly, this guy was very flexible and thick-skinned. He also begged for mercy and asked for mercy on the condition of practicing the golden elixir!
What else said: "If your Majesty kills his ministers, he will only gain the reputation of admonishing ministers. If your Majesty does not kill his ministers, then your Majesty will gain the reputation of being a virtuous minister!"
Although he was so angry that he finally stopped because of these words and asked him to atone for his sin with money and demotion!
Competing your painting skills?
Although many of the dignitaries present had not heard of Xiao Jinyu's painting skills, they had heard of Zu Jue's walnut oil paintings, which were among the best paintings and both Emperor Wenxiang and Emperor Wenxuan couldn't put it down.
As soon as he heard about the painting skills competition, Guangning King Gao Xiaoheng's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but reveal the light of expectation. Today, he heard from Gao Yanzong that the Southern Dynasty woman whom his fourth brother married was proficient in painting skills. I don't know how good she is!
How could we not look forward to this opportunity?
"Your Majesty, you can compete with whatever you want?" Zu Jue said with a smile.
Gao Zhan looked at Xiao Jinyu.
"Just draw a picture of the night banquet at Bingjingtai! Princess Lanling, what do you think?"
Prince Lanling was a little displeased. Xiao Jinyu shook his hand again, raised his head and said: "Your Majesty's imperial order, I dare not refuse. I also ask your Majesty to give me pen, ink, paper and inkstone. In order to better present the full picture of Bingjing Terrace, Therefore, my wife wants seven boxes of Weida ink, two Zhang Zhi pens, and Saeki paper, seven feet..."
Gao Zhan was stunned for a moment, then said: "No problem!" and asked the waiter to get pen, ink, paper and inkstone!
Zu Jue also looked at Xiao Jinyu with some strangeness. He couldn't help but find it funny to see such a slender and delicate little lady actually trying to draw a seven-foot-long painting!
"Princess Lanling, are you planning to fit the entire Bingjing Terrace into your painting? Do you want to paint such a large painting? Wouldn't it tire your delicate body?"
Xiao Jinyu looked at him.
Zu Jue felt like the Milky Way was flowing backwards in front of his eyes, overflowing with splendor. This young lady's eyes were indeed extremely beautiful. He had seen countless people in his life, and he had even had an affair with the noble lady of the Yuan family, but this one Once, I felt something from this little lady called the clarity that washes away the lead.
"Zuzhongshu, the art of painting should not distinguish between men and women, and there should be no discrimination against women, right?" Xiao Jinyu teased.
The corner of Zu Jue's mouth twitched, and he replied with a flattering smile: "It doesn't exist, it doesn't exist, then Princess Lanling, let's get started!"
Note: During the Northern Qi Dynasty, if a person with a high official position committed any crime, he could use his official position and money to atone for the crime. Therefore, although Zu Jue embezzled and stole and committed many crimes, he used his official position and money to atone for his sins. He was a man of many talents, so he was not killed by Emperor Wenxuan. Even Gao Huan and Gao Cheng appreciated his talent.
(End of this chapter)