Painting Doctor Jinhua

Chapter 203: Rebellion, arrest of Lu Lingxuan

Jizhou, the governor's office.

"Your Majesty wants to kill me?" Gao Guiyan looked at the urgent letter sent by the messenger with a gloomy and unbelievable face.

"Yes, I heard this with my own ears, the secret conversation between His Majesty and Minister Xie!"

"But I heard that Minister Xie went to Luoyang, and your Majesty also went there recently. Could it be that Minister He is also in Luoyang now? If it is a confidential conversation, how could Minister He hear it?"

The messenger broke out in a cold sweat under Gao Guiyan's gaze, and he forced a smile and said:

"No, that's not it. He Shizhong is still in Yecheng. It was mentioned by Minister Xie in a discussion with His Majesty before he went to Luoyang. He Shizhong happened to be by his side. He said that you, the Grand Tutor, have too much prestige. You have... killed Jinan King Gao Yin before. You have too many cliques under your command. You are arrogant and ignore Your Majesty. You are definitely a rebel!"

"So His Majesty thinks you are a hidden danger and must be eliminated..."

"Crack!"

Before the messenger could finish his words, the head fell to the ground. Gao Guiyan put away his sword and made a "pah" sound.

"You still want to instigate me to rebel, but..." His eyes flickered, and after a moment of silence, he added, "I heard that Xie Zhen played a great role in the victory of Mangshan this time!"

"It's not that Xie Zhen did a great deed. He just played a piece of music on the top of Jinyong City. It's said that it could destroy the morale of the enemy army. Those people are just bragging about it. It's not that magical. The real deed was done by Prince Lanling, Grand Commander Duan and General Hulu. General Hulu was nearly captured by Wang Xiong, the general of the Zhou Kingdom. Fortunately, Wang Xiong underestimated the enemy and was shot by General Hulu, and died!

In short, after the great victory in this battle, His Majesty was very happy and has appointed General Duan as Grand Chancellor, General Hulu as Grand Commandant, and Prince Lanling as Minister of the Chancellery. These three are now in great momentum, and I am afraid that..."

Gao Guiyan's face darkened again, and he sighed, "I once commanded a million troops, and I should have been a meritorious official of the Crown Prince Gao Yin. Unfortunately, I was excluded by Yang Dadu and others. Later, I supported the current emperor as the emperor, which should have been a meritorious service. However, I was slandered by villains like Gao Yuanhai and He Shikai again, and now I have been driven out of Yecheng by His Majesty. He Shikai has not been eliminated yet, and now there is another close official of the emperor, Xie Zhen..."

Having said that, he let out another long sigh.

"Your Majesty is in Luoyang now..."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, and the staff around him understood his thoughts and suggested:

"Provincial Governor, otherwise..."

"Lead the troops back to Yecheng, just in time to get rid of villains like He Shikai and Lu Lingxuan!"

……

After not staying in Luoyang for long, the generals returned to Jinyang. After all, Jinyang was half of the Great Qi, the place where the Gao family rose to power, and the lifeline. If Jinyang was lost, half of the Great Qi would be destroyed.

Emperor Gao Zhan also came to Jinyang for an inspection tour and met with his ministers in front of the Taiji Palace. However, this time, there was a beautiful woman in Gao Zhan's arms.

Gao Zhan openly held the beauty in his arms and went to court with all the ministers to discuss the rewards for the remaining soldiers!

"This is a great victory, and I am very pleased. With the exception of Prime Minister Duan, Grand Commandant Hulugu, and Lanling King Gao Changgong, the other meritorious soldiers will receive a 10% increase in rewards compared to previous years. For those killed or wounded in battle, 50 temples of good land, 20 pieces of silk, and two years of tax exemption!"

These words made the soldiers happy and excited, but the next words made everyone shocked again.

"Whether it is the peace talks with Zhou or the delivery of grain to Luoyang this time, Xie Qing has made an invaluable contribution. I want to appoint Xie Zhen as the right prime minister. In the future, I will also discuss the affairs of Jinyang with Xie Qing. What do you think?"

As soon as Gao Zhan finished speaking, several noble ministers were already extremely dissatisfied. The land of Jinyang was the territory of their Six Xianbei Garrisons, and they had Duan Shao leading them. When would it be the turn of a Han kid to get involved?

"Your Majesty, Xie Zhen is just a scholar from the Southern Dynasty. He is still young. How can he be the right prime minister?"

"A man of ambition has no age limit! Xie Qing is extremely talented and strategic, and has a lot of insights into how to govern the world. Although he is young, many of you may not be able to compare to him!"

The noble who was speaking was so angry that he was fuming and wanted to refute again, but Duan Shao replied: "In this case, we will obey your majesty's decree!"

The noble was about to say something else, but Gao Zhan interrupted him:

"Well, then... let's adjourn the court and go about our business!"

After he finished speaking, his hand had already reached into the clothes of the beauty in his arms, causing the woman to let out an uncontrollable moan.

His Highness and all the ministers blushed, felt angry, and ashamed, but they did not dare to step forward and give advice to this absurd emperor.

However, when Xiao Jinyu and Gao Changgong saw the woman's appearance, they were both surprised.

When her eyes met with the two of them, the beautiful woman Feng Lingyi revealed an ambiguous smile on her face.

After all the ministers left, Gao Zhan carried Feng Lingyi to his bedroom and couldn't wait to have sex with her.

……

"This girl is the one who asked you to teach her the battle song that day. Who would have thought that she learned this song just to attract your majesty's attention!"

Gao Changgong glanced in the direction of Gao Zhan's bedroom, where he could faintly hear the sounds of sheng and pipa, as well as the sweet laughter of women, and he immediately felt deeply worried.

With the king of Qi being like this, will Qi have any chance of revival in the future?

In particular, he let Ayu be the right prime minister, which was clearly to use "Xie Zhen" as a sharp weapon to resist the six Xianbei towns in Jinyang. This was not a good thing for Ayu. While resisting, he had to endure the counterattacks of these nobles. He made too many enemies and it was very dangerous!

Seeing that Gao Changgong was worried, Xiao Jinyu seemed to have guessed something and held his hand tightly. The two returned to Lanling King's mansion in Jinyang.

When Princess Liyang and Madam Wei saw Xiao Jinyu and Gao Changgong walking into the mansion side by side, they had been waiting in the mansion for a long time day and night and were overjoyed. They hurried forward, shook hands with Xiao Jinyu, and looked at her carefully.

"Young lady, you are not injured, are you? You look very energetic, so you are probably not injured. That's great. You left us in a hurry that day, and I thought..."

Madam Wei started to cry after she finished speaking, and Princess Liyang also seemed to wipe away her tears, then she looked at the two of them and smiled.

"And Prince, the news that you defeated tens of thousands of enemy troops with only 500 cavalrymen has also reached Jinyang. The princess is so worried. We just met and she is afraid that you will leave..."

"However, fortunately you are both fine, and you have both won a good reputation. Now the whole Jinyang has spread your deeds all over!"

Ah Xiu also ran out from the kitchen. Seeing Xiao Jinyu, she burst into tears for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

"I'm hungry. Why are we just standing here reminiscing about the past without eating?" Xie Yuxuan interjected inappropriately.

Ah Xiu then hurriedly said, "The meal is ready, Prince, Princess, Madam, and girls, you all go and eat!"

Everyone was eating when they heard a servant come to report that His Majesty had another urgent matter to discuss with him!

Xiao Jinyu and Gao Changgong hurried to the hall again, but saw that Gao Zhan had not even put on his clothes. He only had a robe hanging loosely on his body, revealing the scene inside, and even some traces of pleasure remained.

Gao Changgong immediately raised his sleeves to block Xiao Jinyu's view, and at the same time turned his back.

Gao Zhan stood up lazily. There was a soldier shivering at the foot of the stairs. Behind him was Feng Lingyi, the woman who had been trampled into a pulp by him.

"Chang Gong, what are you doing? We are all men, why are you blocking him?"

"Your Majesty, please put on your clothes. This is against the rules!"

Gao Zhan then hastily tied his belt and said, "Alright, there are so many broken rules, turn around!"

"Your Majesty, what is the matter that has brought us here?"

Xiao Jinyu no longer dared to go forward to take a look. She just lowered her head and asked quickly.

Gao Zhan replied angrily, "The doctor ordered Lu Sili to report that Jizhou Governor Gao Guiyan has rebelled and is leading his troops to attack Yecheng. I want to send you to quell the rebellion!"

Xiao Jinyu and Gao Changgong's faces changed in shock.

Gao Zhan looked at Xiao Jinyu again and said, "I have given you an imperial decree before, saying that you can mobilize the troops in Jinyang, but I am afraid that those nobles will find it difficult to obey you. So let Lanling King assist you, and you two can go together to suppress the rebellion!"

"Yes!"

After Xiao Jinyu and Gao Changgong responded, they left the hall together.

Gao Zhan was a little surprised, so he embraced the woman who was still lying on the couch, and asked, "Why do you think Xie Qing doesn't dare to look at my body?"

"Your Majesty, I don't know! Maybe it's because Your Majesty is a dragon, so Minister Xie doesn't dare to offend His Majesty?"

"What about you? Do you dare to look?"

"A beautiful woman with a warm fragrance and soft body...it's really enchanting!"

Gao Zhan teased, lifted Feng Lingyi's chin, and bit her hard. Screams were heard again in the hall.

Several palace maids retreated quietly with red faces.

After Gao Changgong walked out of the hall, his face looked very ugly and he was in a very bad mood. Xiao Jinyu knew what he was struggling with and tried to comfort him, "Changgong, it's okay, don't worry too much!"

"Your Majesty's actions are becoming more and more absurd. I am really afraid of you... Ah Yu, retreat!"

His eyes were even filled with begging.

Xiao Jinyu hugged him tightly and whispered in his ear: "Okay, after we put down the rebellion this time and return to Yecheng to bring Lu Lingxuan to justice, I will resign from my post to Your Majesty!"

Only then did Gao Changgong smile slightly and feel relieved.

The two of them immediately went to find Duan Shao to discuss how to put down the rebellion. Duan Shao strongly supported this matter and immediately mobilized 5,000 soldiers and horses to give them to Gao Changgong, asking the two of them to put down the rebellion!

Before Gao Guiyan's rebel army set out from Jizhou, they encountered the Jinyang Guards sent by the imperial court to fight against them. The two armies fought a fierce battle, and eventually Jizhou City was broken, and Gao Guiyan escaped.

Gao Changgong and Xiao Jinyu chased him to Jiaojin and captured him, and then escorted him to Jinyang Prison.

Gao Zhan then asked Gao Guiyan: "Why do you want to rebel?"

Gao Guiyan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, when Emperor Xiao Zhao passed away, all the six armies with a million men were under my command, but I went to Yecheng to support Your Majesty. I didn't rebel at that time, so why would I have second thoughts now?

It is only because Your Majesty favors treacherous villains such as Gao Yuanhai, He Shikai, Bi Yiyun, Lu Lingxuan and Xie Zhen that the country is in ruins. I cannot bear to see our Great Qi destroyed in the hands of these villains, so I raised the flag to purge the emperor's side!"

"How did Xie Zhen offend you?" Gao Changgong couldn't help but ask.

Gao Guiyan laughed and said, "Didn't he advise Your Majesty that my achievements were greater than mine and that Your Majesty should banish me to Jizhou?"

Xiao Jinyu didn't say anything.

Gao Zhan said, "This matter has nothing to do with Xie Qing. It was Gao Yuanhai, Bi Yiyun, Gao Qianhe, He Shikai and others who exposed your actions. You privately recruited soldiers and formed cliques. Don't you really have any thoughts of rebellion?"

"Hehe... Lu Lingxuan forced me to do this. Lu Lingxuan sent an envoy to tell me that Your Majesty wanted to kill me, so I did this to protect myself..."

"Lu Lingxuan again?"

"How could a woman like her have such ability? Could she instigate the governor of your state to rebel?"

Gao Zhan was immediately furious. He had heard the name Lu Lingxuan too many times in the past few days, and every time he heard it, it meant nothing good!

Without saying much to Gao Guiyan, Gao Zhan left the prison and ordered Gao Guiyan to be taken back to Yecheng and his entire family to be executed.

When the news reached the Lu Mansion in Yecheng, Mu Ti Po was so frightened that she was almost incontinent and kept begging Lu Lingxuan to escape before His Majesty returned to Yecheng.

But Lu Lingxuan became very calm and sneered, "Escape? I won't escape. I have paid a lot to get to this point today. If I can't leave a good reputation for generations, then leaving a bad reputation for generations is also good enough!"

"If you want to go, go ahead! We were mother and son, and I didn't teach you anything. I will just save your life in the end!"

As Lu Lingxuan spoke, she ordered Han Changluan to take Mu Tipo and flee quickly, while she stayed in the mansion, waiting for Gao Zhan's imperial edict to arrive.

Sure enough, within seven days, she received an imperial edict, but the person who delivered the edict was Li Mi.

In addition to Li Mi, Cui Heng and Zhaojun Prince Gao Rui also brought soldiers to surround Lu's mansion.

"Bo Ling Cui, Zhao Jun Li, and Bo Hai Gao, all three great families have sent out to arrest me. Your Majesty is really giving me face!"

Seeing that Lu Lingxuan was not afraid but laughed instead, Li Mi replied: "Lu Lingxuan, you have used the emperor's hand to do so many things to frame loyal people over the years. Now it is time for you to pay back!"

"Oh, I framed the loyal and good. When Emperor Wenxuan was alive, he killed countless ministers around him. Gao Zhan himself acted absurdly and was willing to trust us. If he didn't want to kill him, how could we influence the thoughts of the emperor just by our words?"

"Even you, who dares to say that there is no blood on their hands? Don't talk about how noble you are, and don't attribute all the mistakes to the so-called "villains". It's just a matter of success and failure. The dead can't speak, so it all depends on the living."

Li Mi sneered, "You are really good at speaking! What a pity, it is useless for you to say anything today. His Majesty does not want to see you again. Duan Siwen has confessed everything about you colluding with foreign enemies to kill loyal ministers. You will never have the chance to deceive the emperor and want His Majesty to pardon your sins with just a few words!"

"In addition, we have taken the letters of your secret communication with the enemy and the two witnesses to the Dali Temple. We will take you to confront them immediately!"

Lu Lingxuan's expression changed, and she asked hurriedly, "Has His Majesty not returned to Yecheng yet? If His Majesty has not returned, then you are falsely conveying the imperial edict?"

Li Mi took out the imperial edict in his hand and showed it to Lu Lingxuan.

This was indeed an imperial edict stamped with a seal and written by Gao Zhan himself. It contained only a few words, but it directed that Lu Lingxuan be arrested and imprisoned, and sent to the Dali Temple for trial and punishment according to her crimes!

"We can't fake the imperial edict. We are not as brave as you, Lord Lu. This is the imperial edict sent by His Majesty from Jinyang at full speed, ordering us to arrest you and put you in prison quickly to prevent you from escaping!"

"Then what about Xie Zhen? Or Xiao Jinyu and Lanling Wang? Let them come to see me, let them come to see me!"

"Go tell Princess Lanling Xiao Jinyu that as long as she comes to see me, I will tell her the cause of her mother's death!"