Chapter 158 The reward she wants, the head-on confrontation
begins!
Two blank pieces of Saiki paper were spread out to a full length of seven feet and placed in front of the two of them.
Xiao Jinyu calmly picked up the pen, studied the ink, and glanced at the people at the banquet again. Just like the last time at Chen Shubao's East Palace, she also engraved everyone's expressions in her mind and presented them on the painting stroke by stroke. .
While Wu Xiu is grinding the ink, there is a smooth and graceful style condensed on the tip of the pen.
Seeing her painting, the banquet suddenly became silent, and everyone looked extremely focused.
"It's so beautiful! It turns out that this is how the fourth sister-in-law paints. It's as beautiful as a scroll!" Gao Yanzong couldn't help but sigh.
Gao Xiaoheng and Gao Xiaowan were also stunned.
"It's so beautiful! This is the perfect combination of dance and painting. It's really a pleasure to watch her paint!"
Under the shocked and obsessed gazes of all the dignitaries, Gao Zhan was stunned for a long time, suddenly became interested, looked at Gao Changgong and said with a smile:
"Chang Gong, I remember that you are good at playing the recorder. Please help your princess enjoy it!"
Regardless of whether King Lanling wanted it or not, Gao Zhan ordered someone to bring him a jade flute and asked him to play it.
If this were an ordinary banquet, Gao Changgong could have refused this excessive request on the spot, but now seeing Xiao Jinyu's heart-wrenching confidence radiating between dancing and painting, he couldn't help but start playing the flute.
The sound of the music was like the dispersing of forest, the flowing of clear springs, and the moistening of things. It passed into the ears of everyone at the banquet silently. The listeners also felt relaxed and happy, refreshed, and there seemed to be great rivers and mountains in front of them, magnificent and beautiful.
Everyone knows that King Lanling is beautiful and brave. He has been training soldiers in the military camp since he was a child. However, few people know that he is actually a man who is well versed in music and is both civil and military.
Xiao Jinyu also felt his encouragement from the music. Occasionally, she raised her head and couldn't help but smile at him.
At this moment, anyone can see the unbreakable trust and affection between these two people.
Gao Zhan's expression was a little dark and unclear, and He Shikai and Lu Lingxuan looked at the two of them unpredictably.
Until the song ended, Xiao Jinyu's painting also came to the last stroke.
This time she painted very seriously and attentively, so after finishing the painting, she was a little exhausted.
Prince Lanling noticed her fatigue and quickly put his arms around her waist to steady her.
At this time, several people had gathered around the scroll unfolded on the ground, led by Gao Zhan and Zu Jue, and Gao Xiaoheng also squeezed to the front. As if he was afraid of damaging the scroll, Gao Xiaoheng extremely carefully stopped the person behind him and stood next to the scroll.
Everyone who saw it was shocked and sighed!
“Not to mention placing the entire Bingjing Terrace in the painting, just a flower and a grass, and everyone’s expression is vivid!”
"This is the first time in my life that I have seen such a lifelike painting!" Gao Xiaoheng couldn't help but sigh.
"Zuzhongshu, where are your paintings?" Gao Yanzong asked.
Zu Jue's complexion is a bit dark. He is good at nectarine paintings. It was through this painting that he attracted Gao Zhan, who was still the king of Changguang. He was just appreciated by him. Later, he was recommended by Junjun Lu and got the position of Zhongshu Supervisor today. , but after seeing the paintings of Princess Lanling, Zu Jue's self-confidence dropped significantly.
He has never seen such a lifelike work... It's so amazing, it's like it's real!
At this time, Gao Zhan had ordered people to bring their paintings to him and let him look at them carefully!
After watching for a long time, the young emperor suddenly became very silent, making it difficult to tell what his expression was.
It wasn't until the entire banquet was so quiet that everyone's breathing became tense, that Gao Zhan let out a sigh.
"I used to think that Xiao Zheng's paintings were incomparable, but now I know that there are people outside the world, and there is a sky outside the sky!"
"Princess Lanling, I want this painting. I want to reward you. What do you want?"
He suddenly said something very seriously, and then suddenly changed his words, "However, what you just said about seeking justice for your husband, Prince Lanling, does not count. The false transmission of the imperial edict is a case in itself, and it should be handed over to Dali Temple. A final decision will be made after review!”
"You should think of some other rewards, right?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Xiao Jinyu say loudly: "Then your majesty will reward you with a female official!"
What?
These words were undoubtedly like a thunder, echoing in everyone’s ears.
Gao Zhan didn't believe his ears at all.
"What did you say?" he asked again.
Even her husband, Prince Lanling, had a surprised look on his face. It was obvious that this was Xiao Jinyu's impromptu idea and no one had thought of it.
"Since Your Majesty asked me what reward I want, let me reward my wife with a female official!"
Xiao Jinyu raised her voice again and said it again!
This time not only Gao Zhan heard it clearly, but also all the dignitaries on Bingjing Platform heard it clearly!
Some of the ladies who came with their husbands couldn't help but cover their mouths and sneer.
Other young ladies would like to be rewarded with silks, satins, or jewellery. It would be better for this young lady to directly ask His Majesty for an official to do it!
"This princess of King Lanling is so ignorant that she actually asked the emperor for an official position. What kind of official position can a delicate woman do?"
"Is it possible to paint for the emperor every day? Become a civil servant who specializes in painting?"
"This is too funny!"
"Prince Lanling doesn't care about his own wife?"
Gao Changgong also turned his questioning eyes to Xiao Jinyu, and Xiao Jinyu just gave him a reassuring look in return.
At this time, she Yingying stepped forward and said solemnly:
"Your Majesty, I heard that Lord Lu once prayed for rain to bring rain to the State of Qi, so he was given the title of Lord of the County. My wife was brave enough to pray for rain for the State of Qi, thus relieving the severe drought in Ye City!"
She heard Gao Changgong say that now around Yecheng, outside of the villages, there are public fields within thirty miles.
Public land means that all the food harvested by farmers must be collected into the state treasury.
However, there had been no rainfall in Yecheng for a whole month, and it was experiencing a severe drought. Gao Zhan was also worried about this, and asked Lu Lingxuan to pray for rain, but Lu Lingxuan always said that it was not yet time!
When I heard that Xiao Jinyu said that he was praying for rain for Qi, I didn’t know whether I was more surprised or more happy!
What’s even more incredible to him is that such an arrogant tone actually came from a woman!
"Can you really pray for rain?" Gao Zhan even asked a little funny.
"Princess Lanling, you can't talk nonsense in front of the emperor. If you can't pray for rain, you will be guilty of deceiving the emperor!"
At this time, He Shikai finally spoke, and as soon as he spoke, he wanted to kill her!
For a moment, all the dignitaries in the audience were stunned and speechless. They never thought that Princess Lanling would have the courage to pray for rain?
She is really not afraid that if she asks for rain, will His Majesty kill her?
This is no joke!
At this time, even Gao Yanzong, Gao Xiaowan and Gao Xiaoheng were worried and frightened.
Unexpectedly, he heard Gao Zhan say: "Yantong, what you said is serious. I am just a woman. She occasionally plays a little temper, but I don't care. She is also a talented woman. What should I do if you bully me?" ? Kill her?"
As soon as Gao Zhan said this, He Shikai suddenly felt bad and thought to himself: This woman has just established a good impression in front of Gao Zhan. It seems that she should not be too anxious!
"Yes, Your Majesty, I am talking nonsense! It is very rare for Princess Lanling to have the courage to ask for rain. She has a heart for the country and the people!" He Shikai immediately Changed his words.
At this time, Gao Zhan turned to Xiao Jinyu again.
"Princess Lanling, do you really want to be an official?"
Xiao Jinyu nodded extremely seriously and said: "Yes, and I am willing to make a bet. After three days, if the rain does not come, I will let you do whatever you want. If the rain comes, I want the position of Taishi Ling and one wish!"
"One wish?" Gao Zhan asked with some confusion, "What wish?"
Xiao Jinyu knelt down and begged Gao Zhan very respectfully: "I only wish to be the wife of Lanling King Gao Changgong for this lifetime. I hope your majesty will make it happen!"
What's the meaning? You are disfigured, are you still afraid that I will snatch you away from Gao Changgong?
"Okay, okay, I allow you to get married in Yecheng. You can go and pick an auspicious day to hold the wedding!"
Gao Changgong was overjoyed. Gao Zhan couldn't help but look at him again and thought to himself: This Gao Changgong is really a dedicated lover. Although the woman he is looking for is a stunning woman, no matter how beautiful she is, her appearance will be ruined, but he doesn't even care. The baby must look like something!
"Chang Gong, take this woman back with you!" Gao Changgong said yes, took Xiao Jinyu's hand and was about to leave. At this moment, he heard Lu Lingxuan shout: "Wait a minute - —”
Xiao Jinyu suddenly turned back to look at her.
Lu Lingxuan slowly walked out from among the dignitaries and said with a smile: "Are you two too happy too early? If I heard you right, you said that your majesty will grant you an official position only if you pray for rain." Do it and fulfill your wish, but what if you can’t ask for it?”
"What do you want?" Xiao Jinyu asked.
Lu Lingxuan then curved her lips and smiled.
"With rewards there must be punishments. If you can't pray for rain, then you can leave it to me. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Gao Zhan.
"If I can't ask for rain, I'm willing to die in front of Your Majesty!"
There was a roar, like a thunderbolt from the blue, flashing in front of the Bingjing platform. Gao Changgong looked at Xiao Jinyu in confusion and said to himself: Why do you have to swear such a heavy poisonous oath?
Lu Lingxuan also seemed to be surprised, looking at Xiao Jinyu with a rather incredible smile.
"Okay! This is what you said!"
"I said it, and I never tell lies!"
After Xiao Jinyu said that, he turned to Gao Zhan again.
"Your Majesty is the king of a country. You should stick to your word. After three days, I will ask your Majesty to come and bear witness. If it comes true, please fulfill your wife's wish. If it doesn't come true, my wife is willing to die!"
After saying that, Xiao Jinyu took Gao Changgong's hand and walked out of Bingjing Terrace. At this moment, none of the dignitaries and their women at the banquet dared to speak, and they were all stunned by the words of Princess Lanling.
Are you really risking your life just to be an official?
Some people couldn’t help sighing and sighing: After all, she is a talented woman, and she should be a talented woman with stunning appearance!
It would be a pity if it really faded away like this!
Before the two of them had gone far, Lu Lingxuan shouted from behind:
"Xiao Jinyu, if my information is correct, your mother is Xiao Luan, a third-rank female official during the reign of Emperor Wenxuan of Qi State!"
"So, are you going to be the second Xiao Luan?"
These words made Xiao Jinyu stop suddenly. At the same time, even Gao Zhan looked at her in surprise.
"I asked about some things about you in Chen State. Your medical skills are very good. You even cured your uncle Xiao Xianlang who had been paralyzed for more than ten years and was destined to not live to be twenty-five years old. So, Is it really possible to heal this injury on your face?”
"Or do you just want to deceive others?"
During Lu Lingxuan's repeated questioning, Gao Zhan's eyes narrowed slightly, and there were whispers around him.
"What exactly does Lu Junjun mean by this?"
"This Princess Lanling actually has medical skills?"
"..."
"My ancestor Zhongshu from Qi State is also very good at medicine. Do you want him to take a look at it for you?"
Amidst the discussion, Lu Lingxuan asked provocatively with a smile again.
Gao Changgong could no longer suppress the anger in his heart and shouted coldly: "Go away! My princess, who dares to touch her at all!"
This shout made Zu Jue dare not get even half a step closer, and also made all the nobles here understand how much Gao Changgong valued the Southern Dynasty woman he married.
Gao Zhan couldn't help but feel a little moved.
"Chang Gong——"
Xiao Jinyu held his hand, looked at him and shook his head, then turned to Lu Lingxuan.
"Whether it can be cured or not, I don't need Lord Lu to worry about me, but the point of the question is not whether my injury can be cured, but why I suffered this injury? Isn't it?"
"Prince Lanling and I narrowly escaped death before returning to Yecheng. Why can the murderer be free and confident enough to ask me whether this injury can be cured?"
"Jun Lu, didn't you bribe the famous assassin Nie Yinniang to come and kill me and Chang Gong?"
Having said this, Xiao Jinyu felt that there was no need to say any more, so she squeezed Gao Changgong's hand and walked out of the hall. Gao Changgong seemed to be extremely tired of such a banquet, so he simply picked her up and strode towards the ice. Outside the hall of Jingtai.
Gao Yanzong looked at Lu Lingxuan and He Shikai angrily, and then ran out after King Lanling.
The atmosphere at the banquet was a bit strange and condensed. Xiao Jinyu's words seemed to have lingering echoes in the ice well platform. Soon other dignitaries also left with speculations and doubts.
After the ministers dispersed, Gao Zhan turned his attention to He Shikai and Lu Lingxuan.
"Did you two do this?" he asked.
"Your Majesty, are you really not a minister? Even if I have a hundred courages, I would not dare to steal your majesty's jade seal and falsely convey the imperial edict?"
He Shikai hugged Gao Zhan's legs and cried again, looking extremely aggrieved.
"Okay, okay, I don't know you yet, go find out who is the person who falsely preached the imperial edict, and hand him over to Dali Temple for punishment. I still have Gao Changgong to use, and I must give him an explanation for this matter!"
"yes!"
"What about you, Lord Lu?" Gao Zhan asked instead.
Before Lu Lingxuan could answer, a seven or eight-year-old boy ran over from behind and begged him: "Father, don't blame my sister. Everything she does is for the sake of our great Qi country. She doesn't I will do something bad to my father!"
This is Prince Gao Wei! Gao Wei's feelings for Lu Lingxuan now exceed those of his biological mother, Queen Hu.
This is one of the reasons why Gao Zhan is tolerant of Lu Lingxuan.
When asked at this time, Lu Lingxuan smiled and admitted frankly: "Your Majesty, I sent someone to assassinate Princess Lanling. It was because I asked the wizard in the Tongque Palace, and the wizard divined that this The woman from the Southern Dynasty has a charming look that will endanger the country, so I am helping your majesty eliminate hidden dangers!"
"She is so charming and beautiful, her appearance has been ruined like that. Only Gao Changgong will treat her as a treasure." Gao Zhan said disdainfully.
Although this woman is really quite talented...
"Your Majesty, I'm not sure whether it's really disfigured or not!"
Gao Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly and asked: "You mean, she really deliberately concealed her true appearance?"
"Your Majesty, my spy came to report that when she was in the Chen Kingdom, it was not until the last moment that she married King Lanling and left Jiankang that the people in the Chen Kingdom knew her true appearance, and because of this, her reputation as a peerless beauty spread. !”
Hearing this sentence, Gao Zhan felt irritated for no reason. Even if it was a true national beauty, Gao Changgong regarded it as a treasure. Moreover, this little lady clearly played a trick on him today, praying for rain in exchange for what she would only do in her life. The wife of King Lanling!
When I think about it this way, I find it ridiculous!
Can she really pray for rain?
Note: In the Northern Qi Dynasty, mothers were called sister. Gao Wei called Lu Lingxuan "gan'ayou" or "sister"
(End of this chapter)