Painting Doctor Jinhua

Chapter 211: Choice, Poison

"There's nothing wrong with going to the frontier. As long as we can save our lives, it doesn't matter even if life is a little hard. Besides, we have money, people, and wisdom!"

Princess Liyang, who had always been quiet, actually replied with a smile and looked at Xiao Jinyu.

Gao Changgong was quite moved: "I think so too. Although the border is cold and harsh, it is far less dangerous than the intrigues and deceptions in the imperial court!"

If Zhao Yanshen and Zu Ting had not helped to speak up this time, who knows what kind of disaster A Yu would be facing. Moreover, as long as Gao Zhan stays in Yecheng for one more day, his desire for A Yu will not diminish.

As long as A Yu is by his side, he can feel at ease no matter where he goes!

Thinking of this, Gao Changgong also made up his mind!

……

At the time of You, Xiao Xian finally walked out of the imperial palace in Yenan City. Originally, Song Qindao, the Minister of Honglu Temple, arranged a higher-level embassy for him, but he only allowed Xiao Mohe and other members of the delegation to stay there, and he himself came to the Lanling Palace with several followers.

Seeing Xiao Xian again, Xiao Jinyu couldn't help being a little surprised. It was just as Shi Niang said, her uncle Xian seemed to have undergone a complete change. He was no longer as weak as the scholars of the Southern Dynasties. His appearance was still as handsome and clear, with a warm feeling like a spring breeze, but his figure was now extremely upright, strong and slender like a pine tree, with a jade hanging from his waist. He looked even more elegant and extraordinary in his white fox fur coat.

It's like a painting of a pine tree standing tall in the snow, so fresh and dazzling!

What a handsome young man! Xie Yuxuan couldn't help but sigh in her heart: So this is my sister's uncle in the Southern Dynasty, Xiao Xian, the youngest patriarch of the Lanling Xiao family. His handsome appearance and demeanor are not much inferior to that of Lanling King.

Seeing the two of them looking at each other, the others were even more stunned, and Xiao Ruoling felt a sense of honor.

"What? Am I right? Is Uncle Seven more handsome than before?"

"What nonsense are you talking about again!"

Xiao Xian said this with a hint of reprimand, and Xiao Ruoling smiled even more happily and proudly. It could be seen that Shi Niang had no rules in front of Xiao Xian and was very much favored by him.

"Prince, long time no see!"

Xiao Xian bowed to Gao Changgong and walked up to Xiao Jinyu. If she was not married, he would have embraced her in his arms.

"Ayu, your uncle is here to see you. How are you doing?"

He asked softly, his eyes filled with doting, shimmering with tenderness and longing.

Xiao Jinyu felt a warm wave rising in her heart, and her eyes instantly became moist.

"I'm fine, where's Uncle Xian?"

"I am fine too!"

Although everyone knows that whether in the Southern Chen or the Northern Qi, there were many turbulent times in the government, and both of them had paid a considerable price to be able to reach the current position safely, neither of them talked about the bitterness, but showed their best side to each other so that they could feel at ease!

Seeing that Xiao Jinyu didn't know what to say, Xiao Xian asked jokingly: "Aren't you going to treat me to a meal?"

"Oh yes, Xiu, prepare the meal! Today we will have a drink with Uncle Xian!"

……

Xiao Jinyu enjoyed the meal very much and was drinking and chatting with Xiao Xian the whole time.

Gao Changgong even felt that he had never been so relaxed and happy since she married him!

When Xiao Jinyu asked what Xiao Xian had said to His Majesty, Xiao Xian replied half-jokingly:

"As for me, I just explained the financial resources, human resources and the intertwined forces of my Lanling Xiao family, and then told your Majesty of Qi that you, Xiao Jinyu, are not a tool for the political marriage between my Xiao family and Qi, nor are you a lowly woman from the Southern Dynasty. You are the eldest daughter of my Xiao family, and also... another patriarch of my Xiao family. If you are in trouble, my Xiao family will protect you with all our strength!"

These words made even Xie Yuxuan and Princess Liyang, who were eating, put down their bowls and looked at Xiao Xian with tears in their eyes.

Xiao Jinyu was so moved that she laughed to tears.

"When did Uncle Xian become so boastful about himself?"

"Ayu, if it weren't for you, Uncle Xian might not be alive now! Everything in the Xiao family is created by you, so no matter what happens to you, never forget that the Xiao family will always be your backer. As long as you have something to ask for, we will come immediately, even if it means traveling thousands of miles!"

Xiao Jinyu nodded with tears in her eyes and said yes, which moved Gao Changgong deeply.

After the meal, Xiao Jinyu felt a little drunk and fell asleep in Gao Changgong's arms.

Gao Changgong saw that she was sleeping like a cat with a smile on her lips, so he did not wake her up and carried her to the bed.

After covering her with the quilt, he kissed her forehead and went to the backyard to sober up in the fresh air. In fact, he was not a heavy drinker, because he had seen his uncle Emperor Wenxuan's frenzy after drinking, so he had quit drinking for many years and was very self-restrained in this regard.

But today, in order to accompany Xiao Xian and to relieve the uneasiness in his heart, he drank a little more.

The wintersweets in the courtyard were in full bloom, but withered in the wind. He was reminded of the time in the Southern Dynasty when the two of them chased Chen Shuling to Meilinggang. The plum blossoms there were as beautiful as a sea of ​​red. At that time, she was like the faintly fragrant winter plum blossoms, which made his heart beat fast.

"Prince, why haven't you fallen asleep yet?"

As he was thinking, he heard a gentle voice and turned to look at Xiao Xian who was walking towards him.

As a descendant of a noble family in the Southern Dynasties, he had the elegant demeanor of the famous scholars in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. He was handsome, gentle, knowledgeable and talented. He could truly be called a flawless person!

"Yes, thank you very much today for making Ah Yu feel happier than ever before!"

"What are you talking about, Prince? Has A-Yu never been this happy since she married you?"

Gao Changgong remained silent.

He replied, "Yes, I have never seen her. In fact, she has not had a good life since I brought her to Qi. She was hunted on the way here, and then after arriving in Yecheng, she almost lost her life at least three times in order to protect me from those villains in the court of Qi. Every time I think about it, I feel heartbroken and guilty.

Sometimes I can’t help but wonder, if I hadn’t brought her to Qi, would she have lived a better life?

After all, in the Southern Dynasty, we have you, Xiao Xian!

Xiao Xianshi gave me some unexpected surprises today!"

A trace of pain flashed across Xiao Xian's eyes, but he soon calmed down and smiled:

"This is her choice. Since she has chosen this path, she will never regret it. All I can do is to support her path. When she is tired, she has a place to rely on and miss, which is... her home!

And I will always be her family!"

At this point, Xiao Xian smiled again, looked at Gao Changgong and said: "In fact, the prince is also her family now, and is her closest family member in Qi!"

"The prince is so upset because he can't make a choice, right?"

Gao Changgong remained silent, but this sentence obviously touched his mind.

Xiao Xian added: "There is a saying: 'If you love too much, you will spend a lot; if you hoard too much, you will lose a lot; if you know how to be content, you will not be humiliated; if you know when to stop, you will not be in danger; this will allow you to live long. Although it teaches us not to pursue wealth and fame excessively, sometimes when you are in a position, you have to think more and worry more!

Thinking too much and worrying too much will lead to many dilemmas and trade-offs!

In fact, this is not surprising. Perhaps everyone will encounter this kind of choice in their life, but as long as you follow your heart, you will have no regrets! "

"How can I follow my heart?" Gao Changgong asked.

Xiao Xian smiled and said, "For example, if someone asked me to choose between loyalty to the emperor and my loved ones, I would choose my loved ones without hesitation, because... once you lose someone, they can never come back, and I have lost too much in my life!"

Gao Changgong's expression changed, and he said solemnly: "Thank you!"

……

The next day, Xiao Jinyu and Gao Changgong received an imperial edict, which roughly appointed Gao Changgong as the governor of Beishuozhou, commander-in-chief of the military forces of Beiyan, Beiwei, Beiheng and all the towns on the Great Wall east of the Yellow River. It also ordered them not to stay in Yecheng for long and to set out to take up the post immediately!

In fact, before this imperial edict was issued, Gao Zhan struggled for a long time. He was not willing to transfer Xiao Jinyu to another place, but just wanted to drive Gao Changgong away.

But He Shikai said: "We will just use this imperial decree to trick Lanling Wang's wife out of Yecheng first. Once they leave the Yecheng post station, we will have the Queen Mother issue an imperial decree to summon Lanling Wang back, and then let the Queen Mother take action!

Even if Xiao Jinyu is alert, as long as we send people to intercept her at the Yecheng Post Station and never let her enter Yecheng, and wait until Gao Changgong is completely dead and there is no hope of saving her, then Your Majesty can have her captured back, wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone?"

"Send someone to Yecheng Post Station to intercept? Who do you think is suitable to send?"

He Shikai immediately replied flatteringly: "Han Changluan, the commander of the imperial guards, is also a member of the crown prince's palace. Why not let him do this? What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Gao Zhan's expression changed, and he thought to himself: He can never kill Gao Changgong directly, but if someone else does it for him, it is also a solution!

"Okay! I'll do as you say! But..."

Gao Zhan thought of Xiao Xian again. This young envoy from the Southern Dynasty seemed to be telling him in his words that Xiao Jinyu's importance to the Xiao family was far more than just a daughter married out for an alliance. She, Xiao Jinyu, could even represent the entire Lanling Xiao family.

This envoy from the Southern Dynasty looks as moist as jade and does not seem to be someone you would easily mess with!

"Your Majesty, the Southern Dynasty is only a small place. Even if there is a war, it is most likely that our Qi will win. Why is Your Majesty afraid of a Southern Dynasty envoy?"

"But he represents the State of Chen and is willing to exchange grain for Qi's horses. Qi is short of grain, so this alliance cannot go wrong!"

"Your Majesty, that doesn't matter. The head of the Xiao family is probably protecting Princess Lanling at most. How could he care about the life and death of Lanling King of Qi? Didn't he also say that if Qi doesn't tolerate her, he will take Xiao Jinyu back to Southern Chen?"

He Shikai was also eavesdropping on the negotiation between Gao Zhan and Xiao Xian, so he knew the general content of the negotiation.

"Yes, the only one he values ​​is his niece Xiao Jinyu. If I make Xiao Jinyu my imperial consort, it will be considered an alliance with the State of Chen!"

"Then let's do this. I'll go find the Queen Mother!"

Gao Zhan strode out of the palace after he finished speaking. He Shikai warned him again, "Your Majesty, don't tell the Queen Mother that this is a drug that can kill people!"

"I know!"

……

In the Chongde Hall of the Beigong Palace, Empress Dowager Lou was shocked when she saw the medicine on the table.

"What did you say? Do you have to plot against Chang Gong like this?"

Gao Zhan said, "Mother, we are not going to let him die, we are just going to make him lose his memory and forget about that woman. Besides, aren't you afraid that Chang Gong will be influenced by the person next to him?"

"He never dared to disobey his mother before, but now he can talk back to her for this woman. He is no longer the Gao Changgong who was loyal to the Gao family. Maybe he will rebel against us just because of a word from this woman!"

"You're talking nonsense! Chang Gong is not that kind of person. He won't do that. I have taught him how to protect the Gao family and how to be a loyal, benevolent and filial person since he was a child. He won't be influenced by a woman! Never!"

"If it was an ordinary woman, he would naturally not do that, but Xiao Jinyu is not ordinary!"

"Xiao Jinyu is not only extremely beautiful, she is also extremely intelligent. Even if she were to debate with the civil and military officials of the court, she would never admit defeat!"

"She is not only talented, but she also has the entire Lanling Xiao Clan behind her. Mother may not know that the Lanling Xiao Clan behind her is no longer the Lanling Xiao Clan that the emperor of the Chen Dynasty can slaughter at will!"

Having said this, Lou Zhaojun's expression changed drastically.

"This Han Chinese woman is so powerful. I really underestimated her before!"

"We really can't let Chang Gong be deceived by him again!"

……

After receiving the imperial edict, Xiao Jinyu and Gao Changgong did not stay any longer. They asked Ling Ye and A Xiu to pack up and set off from Yecheng. At the same time, Xiao Xian also resigned from Gao Zhan and returned to Southern Chen, and happened to travel with Xiao Jinyu.

This time when they went to the border, no one from Prince Lanling's mansion was left behind, and they all got on the carriage and went together.

As soon as she got on the carriage, Xiao Jinyu felt tired and sleepy. Gao Changgong asked her what was wrong, and she just smiled and said, "I'm just too tired and feel a little sleepy. It's nothing serious!"

Gao Changgong took her into his arms and let her lean on his shoulder.

"Then you go to sleep, and I'll wake you up when we get to the next station!"

"it is good!"

"In fact, although Shuozhou is far away, it should be quite fun. We can build our own mansion there and live a good life there!" Xie Yuxuan said very optimistically.

The group was talking and laughing. Not long after they walked out of the Yecheng Post Station, a group of knights came running over. The leader said they were carrying the Queen Mother's decree to Gao Changgong.

The content of the imperial edict could not be simpler, just one sentence: The Queen Mother could not bear to be separated from her grandson and wanted to see him again and have a meal with him.

When the imperial edict came, Xiao Jinyu was still sleeping. Gao Changgong did not wake her up, but took the edict and prepared to leave.

Princess Liyang was worried and wanted to stop it.

Gao Changgong comforted her, "Don't worry, mother. Grandmother won't harm me. She must have something to tell me. I'll be back soon!"

"Chang Gong, why don't you let your mother go with you? I haven't seen the Queen Mother for a long time!"