Painting Doctor Jinhua

Chapter 174: A series of tricks made her lose completely

When Gao Zhan's imperial edict reached the Lu residence, Mu Ti Po rushed back excitedly. As soon as she entered the house, she couldn't wait to take credit for it to her mother, saying, "Mother, it's done. All the people in the delegation, including that old lady Yang, have been brought back by my son. Now they are in the Dali Temple prison. I asked Bi Yiyun to check each of them to see if they are Murong Jue in disguise!"

After Mutipo finished speaking, there was still a smile of success on his face. Last time, his mother said that the twelve-year-old child would not disguise himself as a child. Now he brought back everyone, regardless of gender, age or status. He should be able to find this kid eventually, right?

But his joy did not last long, and the smile on his face was quickly slapped away by Lu Lingxuan!

"Mother, why are you hitting me again?"

"Why are you so stupid and don't use your brain? Who asked you to bring back all the members of the delegation?" Lu Lingxuan said angrily.

Mutipo covered her face and cried with a look of grievance.

"Hasn't a mother taught her son that it is better to kill someone by mistake than to let him go, and a son would rather arrest someone by mistake than to let anyone escape!"

Lu Lingxuan was so angry that she had nothing to say. She managed to calm down for a while before asking, "Have you really caught everyone and not one escaped?"

"Yes! Mother!"

"Didn't you meet Han Changluan when you came back?" Lu Lingxuan asked again.

Mutipo was bewildered and shook her head: "No, mother, did something happen?"

Lu Lingxuan said, "His Majesty has doubts about me. Just when you came back, an imperial decree came from the palace, summoning me to enter the palace immediately!"

"I'm afraid that His Majesty has also known that Han Changluan led his troops out of Yecheng, so he intercepted them in advance!"

Mutipo also became nervous and worried.

"How could this be? In the past, no matter what mother did, even if it was killing a few insignificant officials or royal family members, His Majesty would not pursue it. How could he suspect mother for such a small matter?"

"I don't know either. I'm afraid that Xie Zhen has too much influence on him. And that Xiao Jinyu, a rain prayer destroyed my prestige in the hearts of the people of Yecheng, and at the same time, my weight in the heart of Your Majesty has gradually weakened. And this Xie Zhen, not only has amazing talent, but also knows how to speak to please Your Majesty..." At this point, Lu Lingxuan seemed to understand something, with horror in her eyes, "Could it be that this is a series of tricks used by Xie Zhen, the purpose is to make us bring the delegation back, so as to arouse Gao Zhan's suspicion?"

This was a huge shock, and Mutibo couldn't help but feel scared.

"So what if your majesty doubts?"

"If Your Majesty becomes suspicious of us, it means that all the privileges we have obtained from the Emperor will be taken back, and we will be hindered in our future actions, and we may even be imprisoned!"

Hearing this, Mutipo angrily slammed the table!

"Damn it! This Xie Zhen, I'm going to kill him sooner or later!"

Lu Lingxuan did not have time to explain to her son. She only told him to stay in the house and not go anywhere. She then took an ox cart into the palace and went to the Zhaoyang Palace where the emperor was.

At this time, in the Zhaoyang Palace, Shizhong He Shikai, Duguan Shangshu Bi Yiyun, You Pushe Wei Shou, Dali Temple Minister Sima Maozong, as well as Zhongshu Shilang "Xie Zhen" and Lanling Wang were all standing in the palace.

Li Mi is taking notes on the side!

The atmosphere is a bit solemn!

Lu Lingxuan already had a bad feeling, but staying calm and keeping a smile on her face was a lifelong accomplishment for her.

After entering Zhaoyang Palace, she saluted to Gao Zhan, who had a dark face, and said, "Your Majesty, what is the important matter that you want me to deal with?"

Gao Zhan pointed at Sima Maozong who was standing beside him and said, "Show her!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Sima Maozong opened the file in his hand and displayed it in front of Lu Lingxuan.

All it said was that Gao Anagong entered the Lu Mansion at a certain time and month in a certain year, and stayed there for several hours before coming out!

There are some evidences proving that Gao Anagong had private dealings with her.

But these are nothing. The most important are the last few sentences. The Dali Temple found two letters from Gao Anagong's body: one was to lead Xie Zhen to the Beigong Palace and kill him, and to stuff the other letter proving his identity as a spy for the Zhou Kingdom into Xie Zhen's body. In this way, even if Your Majesty values ​​talent, he will never tolerate the identity of the spy!

The second is to secretly disguise Yan as Yang, and let the envoy of Qi send the mother of the Grand Chancellor back to our Zhou State openly!

After reading this, Lu Lingxuan's face changed drastically, and her eyes immediately shot to Xie Zhen, and then to Gao Zhan!

"Your Majesty, these two letters were definitely not written by me and have nothing to do with me!"

Lu Lingxuan fell to her knees!

"Don't I recognize your handwriting?" Gao Zhan smiled teasingly, "Lu Lingxuan, you have always been cunning and scheming. You want to kill Xie Zhen, so you use all these schemes. Not only do you want to kill him, but you also want to destroy his reputation after his death. This is something you can do!

You definitely have the brains to do this!"

"Otherwise, why would you send your son to bring the envoys back overnight? Do you want the people of Zhou to laugh at me?"

"Your Majesty, I suspect there are spies in the delegation, and..." She pointed at Xiao Jinyu, "It's Xie Zhen. It must be Xie Zhen who did it. He deliberately framed me!"

"Your Majesty, Gao Anagong is already dead, and we don't know who the murderer is. How can you believe everything you find on a dead person? Even if it is my handwriting, how do you know it is not imitated by someone else?"

"Then let me ask you, you have always been cautious and never showed your handwriting to outsiders. Xie Zhen and you have never met before, how could he imitate your handwriting?"

"Also, Gao Anagong is dead, but sometimes the dead can be used as evidence!"

Gao Zhan said, and ordered Sima Maozong to turn another page of the file and show it to Lu Lingxuan.

"Among the several assassins brought by Gao Anagong, there is one who was once Erzhu Ying, an old subordinate of Murong Shisu. This Erzhu Ying once resented our Bohai Gao family. You took him in as your assassin, thinking that one day, you would lead these people who are dissatisfied with our Gao royal family to rebel?"

Not everyone can afford to be charged with the crime of revenge!

Lu Lingxuan's face turned pale immediately, and she kowtowed hurriedly, saying, "Your Majesty, I am innocent. I have devoted my life to Your Majesty and taught the Crown Prince. I just want to do my duty as a minister and I have no second thoughts. Moreover, I am a woman, not from the royal family, and I don't have a husband's family to rely on. I am an orphan and a widow. What good will it do for me to rebel against you?"

After she said that, Gao Zhan seemed to think it made sense, and his expression seemed to relax.

Xiao Jinyu sneered in her heart: You indeed seem to have no one to rely on, but you adopted the prince's favorite concubine as your daughter, and then interfered in government affairs in the capacity of the concubine's mother, the Taiji, and even undermined the empress dowager's power, becoming a veritable person who rules the country from behind the curtain!

But she can't say these words now!

At this time, Liu Taozhi came to Zhaoyang Palace and reported to the emperor: "Your Majesty, Yuwen Hu's mother Yan has been found!"

"Where did you find it?" Gao Zhan asked.

"In the carriage of the envoy, the Yang in the carriage is Yan in disguise!"

Upon hearing that Yang was actually Yan in disguise, Gao Zhan's face became even gloomier. He glanced at Bi Yiyun and then turned his gaze to Lu Lingxuan.

"So, your plan is to have Yan pretend to be Yang and send her back to Zhou?"

Suddenly remembering that Lu Lingxuan's husband Luo Chao was a surrendered general of the Western Wei Dynasty, Gao Zhan became suspicious and asked sternly:

"Lu Lingxuan, are you a spy for Qi or Zhou?"

Lu Lingxuan was so frightened that she kowtowed and said in defense, "Your Majesty, I really didn't know about this. If I knew, I wouldn't have sent my son to bring the envoys back!"

Gao Zhan was stunned for a moment, then he looked at Lu Lingxuan's eyes and immediately ordered, "Then call Yan in to ask her!"

"Yes!"

After Liu Taozhi retreated as ordered, he brought Yan to the Taiji Hall!

Seeing Yan's withered face, Gao Zhan couldn't bear it anymore. He coughed twice and asked, "Madam, I want to ask you a question. You must answer truthfully!"

"Your Majesty, please feel free to ask me anything."

"Who gave you the changed look?"

Yan Shi hesitated for a moment before answering, "It seems to be a Xianbei person..."

When she said this, Lu Lingxuan's eyes lit up, but she heard Yan continue, "My eyesight is not very good, but that person has a very obvious feature, that is, his head is full of braids, so he should be very young!"

"Muti Po?" Gao Zhan narrowed his eyes, with even more anger in his eyes!

"Absolutely impossible!" Lu Lingxuan interrupted again, "Your Majesty, this Yan must have been bribed by someone, and she is talking nonsense here. If my son really wanted to send her back to Zhou, why did he chase her back?"

"Your Majesty, it's not me who was chased back, but the entire delegation. Your Majesty clearly promised my son that you would send me back to Zhou. Why are you so silent and playing tricks on me?"

Gao Zhan felt a little embarrassed and ashamed when asked this question!

"I heard someone say that this was just a trap to frame someone. You guys are playing tricks on me just to frame someone. Is that what a gentleman does?"

Hearing the old lady say this, Gao Zhan's expression changed again.

Lu Lingxuan still refused to accept it and shouted, "What nonsense! This old woman is simply talking nonsense, Your Majesty..."

"Shut up! I don't want to hear you anymore!"

Gao Zhan interrupted impatiently and ordered Liu Taozhi to take Yan away.

"No matter what the truth of this matter is, Lord Lu, as the head of Qi's secret service, you actually allowed Madam Yan to be taken out of Qi in such a blatant manner. This is a dereliction of duty on your part!

I have decided to take back your position as the head of the secret service. I will decide whether to hand it over to you after your identity is completely cleared!"

"Minister Bi, Sima Qing, bring Lady Lu to the Dali Temple for investigation!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Bi Yiyun looked a little embarrassed, but Sima Maozong said to Lu Lingxuan without any hesitation: "Please come in! Lord Lu!"

Lu Lingxuan's face was livid, but she was still able to remain calm in the face of danger. She glanced at "Xie Zhen" and Lanling Wang again and sneered, "Okay! Then why not go to the Dali Temple!"

……

After Bi Yi left and Sima Maozong took Lu Lingxuan away, Gao Zhan turned his puzzled gaze to "Xie Zhen".

"Thank you, sir. You have been wronged in this assassination attempt. I have now made the decision for you and will definitely punish Lord Lu accordingly!"

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty, for taking charge of this matter!"

"However, I am very curious. You clearly came to the Taiji Hall in the South City to participate in the assessment, so why did you suddenly go to the North Palace?"

Xiao Jinyu took out a brocade bag from her bosom and replied, "Your Majesty, someone gave me a brocade bag. Inside the brocade bag was a piece of paper saying that my Xie family still has another son in the world, and asked me to go to the North Palace to meet him! When I was young, I was separated from my younger brother and sister in the war. I don't know if they are still alive. When I heard the news that day, I was anxious and went to the North Palace!"

The eunuch handed the brocade bag to Gao Zhan. Gao Zhan took out a piece of paper from it and took a quick look at it. He couldn't help but frowned, with doubts in his eyes.

"Then how did you escape from the nine assassins led by Gao Anagong?"

"Your Majesty, I was saved by a righteous man, and I have learned some self-defense skills since I was young, and His Royal Highness Lanling Wang gave me some hidden weapons!"

Gao Zhan was silent for a moment, then waved his hand and said:

"Okay, you go back!"

"Yes!"

Just as Xiao Jinyu and Lanling Wang were about to leave, Gao Zhan suddenly called out, "Wait a minute—"

Xiao Jinyu turned around and saluted, then heard him ask:

"Xie Qing, what do you think about sending Yuwen Hu's mother Yan back to Zhou?"

Xiao Jinyu replied, "Your Majesty, I think that Yuwen Hu of Zhou has repeatedly threatened Qi with sending troops and demanded that Your Majesty send Yan back to his country. This is insincere and damages the prestige of Qi. Qi and Zhou should have a sincere peace talk. If Yuwen Hu sincerely wants to take his mother back to Zhou, he should send an envoy to Qi to personally welcome her, and he should also give a corresponding reward!"

Gao Zhan's eyes lit up: "Then according to your opinion, who will be the peace envoy?"

Xiao Jinyu knelt down, raised his hand and saluted, saying: "If your majesty trusts me, you can send me as an envoy. Although I have entered the government, I have not done anything, and your majesty will be criticized by other ministers. If the peace talks are successful this time, I will have made a contribution to the State of Qi!"

Gao Zhan could not help but say with great joy: "Good! I also have the same idea. I will immediately write a letter to the Zhou Kingdom to tell them about the peace talks!"

"Xie Qing should also be prepared. He will be on a diplomatic mission to Zhou soon!"

"Yes!" After answering, Xiao Jinyu saw Gao Zhan stopped talking, so she said, "Then I'll take my leave!"

After saying this, he and Lanling Wang were about to leave the hall, but unexpectedly Gao Zhan called out again: "Chang Gong, stay! I still have something to say to you!"

Gao Changgong turned around and said, "Yes!" and motioned Xiao Jinyu to go out first.

As soon as "Xie Zhen" left, Gao Zhan ordered Gao Changgong to sit down, as if he wanted to have a drink and chat happily.

After the palace servants served the wine, he asked with great concern, "How is the stunning beauty in your family now? She must have been quite frightened when she fell from such a high tower last time."

"Your Majesty, Ah Yu is not an ordinary woman. The last time she fell from the Bronze Sparrow Tower, it really frightened me. But Ah Yu quickly forgot about it. Now my husband and I are doing very well!"

"She is indeed not an ordinary woman. This is the first time I have ever seen such a smart and proud beauty. Chang Gong, you are more fortunate than me. You are able to win the heart of such a beauty. I wonder how it feels for you to sleep with such a beauty in your arms every day?"

After saying that, he actually laughed out loud, ignoring Gao Changgong's angry expression, and said jokingly, "There are few descendants of my Gao family who don't like women. I thought you would be an exception, but I didn't expect that you just have higher standards!"

"I appreciate your hard work in the army, so I will give you twenty more beauties. How about that?"

Gao Changgong couldn't listen any more and interrupted, "Your Majesty, A-Yu is not only my wife, but also my dear friend. Please don't disrespect her!"

"Besides, having her in my life is enough for me. I don't need any other beauties to bother me!"

"If Your Majesty has nothing else to do, I will take my leave!"

Having said this, Gao Changgong didn't want to stay any longer and strode out of Zhaoyang Palace.

After he had been gone for a long time, the gloomy look on Gao Zhan's face became more and more intense, until finally he overturned the couch, picked up a whip and started whipping the palace maids.

He Shikai kept following behind to comfort him.

"I wanted to give him another chance, but I didn't expect him to be so stubborn. Now he even dares to refute my words!"

"It seems that we have no choice but to send him to guard the border!"

……

Seeing Gao Changgong walking out with a slightly angry and uneasy look on his face, Xiao Jinyu couldn't help but ask worriedly: "Changgong, what did His Majesty say to you again?"

Gao Changgong shook his head and looked at Xiao Jinyu with even more pity. If she was not still standing in front of him as Xie Zhen, he really wanted to hold her in his arms.

In the end, he just said: "Nothing, let's go back!"

Xiao Jinyu nodded and said, "However, I want to go to the Dali Temple to see Lord Lu! And by the way, I want to see what the Dali Temple Prison in your Qi State looks like?"

"Okay! I'll go with you!"