Painting Doctor Jinhua

Chapter 115: The Deal with the Queen

Liu Jingyan was shocked, she never expected that Xiao Jinyu would refuse so decisively. After all, it was a great honor to treat the emperor, and if she was cured, it was very likely that she would be appointed as a female official.

"Your Majesty, you must have heard the story of a foot of cloth and a bucket of millet: a foot of cloth can still be sewn; a bucket of millet can still be pounded, but the two brothers cannot get along. I think your Majesty's illness is minor, and the one you should be most concerned about is your son!"

Liu Jingyan's expression changed. He looked at Xiao Jinyu for a long time and asked again:

"You really don't want to treat His Majesty?"

"There are many learned imperial physicians in the palace. If I come to treat your majesty, wouldn't I be calling them all quacks?"

After Xiao Jinyu said this, she changed the subject again, "However, Queen, since you have summoned me to the palace, I have a request. I hope you will grant my request!"

"you say!"

"I want to see the late Empress, the Empress of Emperor Wen, Empress Wen!"

Empress Wen Shen Miaorong?

These words stunned Liu Jingyan, who was a man who never showed his joy or anger and was not content with not competing with others.

Although Liu Jingyan never got involved in state affairs or factional struggles, after Emperor Wen's death, there was a fierce struggle between Chen Xu and Empress Dowager Shen, who was in charge of the government at the time.

Shen Miaorong was afraid of Chen Xu's regency and monopolization of power, so she secretly sent eunuchs to lure Zhang Anguo, a native of Jian'an, to kill Chen Xu. However, Zhang Anguo failed and was killed by Chen Xu along with the eunuchs. The fight ended with Chen Xu's victory.

Later, in order to cover up the matter, Shen Miaorong even killed all the maids and eunuchs in her palace.

Although Chen Xu knew that Shen Miaorong was responsible for this, in order to demonstrate the king's benevolence, he pretended to be ignorant and only placed her under house arrest in the Wende Palace.

"You want to see Queen Wen? Is it because of your mother's incident?"

Xiao Jinyu did not deny it.

"Yes, Queen, if you let me see Queen Wen, I can ensure that your son Chen Shubao will have no worries about his position as Crown Prince!"

Liu Jingyan was stunned again!

"You are indeed a perfect queen. You do not get involved in politics, do not compete for favors, have no desires, and even help your husband to have many children. You have countless beauties in your harem, and many princes and princesses.

But do you really want nothing?

Over the years, you have only given birth to one prince for Your Majesty, but Crown Prince Chen Shubao is not Your Majesty's most beloved prince. He even knew that King Shixing Chen Shuling was behaving recklessly and had ambitions to covet the Eastern Palace, but he allowed him to do whatever he wanted and form cliques for personal gain.

And...King Shixing also assassinated the crown prince, didn't he?"

There was an expression of extreme disbelief in Liu Jingyan's eyes.

"The Queen is not completely ignorant of these matters. She is just pretending to be deaf and dumb."

"How do you know these things?" Liu Jingyan asked in shock.

"Your Majesty, I have seen the account book of Xinghua Yanyu Tower. The prince often went to Xinghua Yanyu Tower a year ago, but he stopped going there after that. Is it because of the assassination that he learned about the ambition of King Shixing and stopped associating with him?"

"You can infer these things just by looking at the account books?" Liu Jingyan asked again in surprise.

"Yes!"

"You are really smart, just like your biological mother..."

Speaking of his biological mother Xiao Luan, Liu Jingyan sighed again, and suddenly asked with a smile:

"You are so smart and can see through people's hearts. Do you know why His Majesty favors Chen Shuling, the King of Shixing?"

Xiao Jinyu looked at her and waited for her answer.

"In addition to the guilt he felt when he was held hostage in the Zhou Kingdom, there is another reason. His biological mother, Peng, is most like a person, a person he once killed but whom he will never forget..."

This sentence shocked Xiao Jinyu.

"Your Majesty believes that God is immortal. He has always believed that the person he loves the most will definitely reincarnate, but he doesn't know who she will be reincarnated as. So anyone who looks a little bit like that person, I will do as he wishes and keep him by his side."

Seeing Xiao Jinyu's expression of shock and inability to speak, Liu Jingyan smiled again,

"Do you find this ridiculous? Yes, I don't like to compete with others. My marriage with him is a political marriage. He respects me, so I will do as he wishes. Therefore, I don't care how many women he has!

But you are right about one thing, the only thing I care about is my son!"

"So, I agree to the request you just made to me!"

"Please also keep your promise as promised!"

After a pause, she continued,

"If there is anything I can help you with, you can find a way to send a message to me."

Xiao Jinyu interrupted with a smile:

"No need, the Queen should just remain a virtuous Queen who does not get involved in the court and party disputes and has no desires or demands. I will do the rest myself!"

"My request is just to see Queen Wen!"

……

The Wende Palace where Empress Wen lived was located on a rockery in the north of the Hualin Garden sleeping area. It has become an isolated palace. If Liu Jingyan had not been kind-hearted and had always sent people to take care of the late empress, this place would probably have been no different from a cold palace.

When Xiao Jinyu arrived at Wende Palace under the guidance of Liu Jingyan and his palace maids, Empress Wen, Shen Miaorong, was kneeling on a cushion and chanting Buddhist scriptures.

A palace maid brought a message that Queen Liu came to visit. Shen Miaorong was very surprised. She exerted a little force on her hands, and the Buddhist beads fell to the ground.

As if sensing something bad, she turned around and looked at Liu Jingyan who was entering Wende Palace and a woman behind her.

When Empress Wen first saw Xiao Jinyu disguised as Xiao Luan, a look of fear appeared on her face.

"Imperial sister-in-law, I'm here to see you. I've brought someone with me today. I haven't had a good chat with anyone for a long time, so you two can have a good chat today!"

After Liu Jingyan finished speaking, he looked at Xiao Jinyu again.

"If you have anything to say, just ask here. I'll be waiting outside!"

"Thank you, Queen!"

Liu Jingyan took the palace maids away, and only Xiao Jinyu and Shen Miaorong were left in the hall, staring at each other.

"You're still alive and back?" Shen Miaorong asked first, and looked at her again, then shook her head, "No, you're not her. Even if she's still alive, she can't be so young..."

"You...are you her daughter?"

Xiao Jinyu nodded.

"So, Madam, you know what happened to my mother, right?"

Shen Miaorong's face turned pale.

"You want to find out the truth about what happened to your mother from me?" She said, smiling, "Why do you think I will tell you?"

"Empress Shen, your situation is hopeless now. Your husband is dead and your son is gone. Although you are still alive, you are living in fear all day long. You never know when the current emperor will be unhappy and give you a cup of poisoned wine!"

"So what good does it do you to keep such a secret?"

"Then what benefit will it bring to me if I tell this secret?" Shen Miaorong asked back.

Xiao Jinyu just smiled.

"So the queen wants to negotiate terms with me!"

"Since you are favored by Queen Liu, it seems that you are of high status. If you want to know this secret, do you need to help me leave here?"

"But I think it's safest for Queen Shen to stay here."

Seeing Shen Miaorong's depressed and gloomy expression, Xiao Jinyu said again,

"At most I can guarantee your life!"

Shen Miaorong was overjoyed, but then she heard Xiao Jinyu ask solemnly:

"Madam, it was you who ordered people to give Han Zigao that aphrodisiac wine, right?"