She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Chapter 436 Painting

Zhao Yi looked at the "Early Spring Painting" on the wall. The towering peaks stood majestically, exuding a vast and magnificent aura.

At the foot of the mountain, there is a pavilion, and inside the pavilion is a fleeting figure.

Composed with just a few strokes.

This painting was already hanging on the wall when he moved into the mansion.

He did not know the origin of the painting.

Yan Er is a person close to the Imperial Tutor, so how could he lose his composure over something ordinary?

Zhao Yi slowly walked to Yan Er's side: "Do you know the origin of this painting?"

Yan Er suddenly woke up with a start and quickly apologized, "Your Highness, please forgive me."

Zhao Yi said gently, "What crime have you committed?"

Yan Er paused for a moment, then realized that Zhao Yi hadn't blamed him, and breathed a slight sigh of relief: "This humble servant has been to the place depicted in the painting before, and when I suddenly saw the familiar scenery, I was somewhat lost in thought."

As he spoke, Yan Er involuntarily looked at the landscape painting.

Years ago, the Imperial Tutor painted an identical "Early Spring" painting and casually placed it in a painting jar. Later, when Yan Yi was tidying up the painting jar, he couldn't find the painting and reported it to the Imperial Tutor.

The Imperial Tutor said emotionlessly, "It's just a painting. If it's gone, it's gone."

To everyone's surprise, the same painting was found in the Prince of Guangling's mansion.

Yan Er collected his thoughts: "This humble servant does not know the origin of this painting."

Zhao Yi could tell from Yan Er's subtle expression that he had not told the truth.

Silence fell over the room.

Yan Er hurriedly took out a jade token from his sleeve: "Your Highness, I am here on the orders of the Imperial Tutor to deliver this jade token to you."

Zhao Yi looked at the jade token in Yan Er's palm with surprise, and frowned slightly as if he had thought of something: "Does the Imperial Tutor have any instructions?"

Yan Er shook his head: "The Imperial Tutor only said that he would give this jade tablet to you."

Zhao Yi took the jade pendant and carefully examined the phoenix pattern on it. The character "Bai" was engraved underneath, making it obvious who the owner of the jade pendant was.

When he first arrived in Northern Qi to deal with the plague, the imperial tutor gave him a token that allowed him to mobilize the imperial tutor's connections.

When he went to Yongqing County to quell the rebellion again, the Imperial Tutor sent him a jade tablet belonging to the Empress. Without much thought, it was clear that this jade tablet could probably mobilize the Empress's power.

Zhao Yi realized a problem: now only he and the virtuous prince remained to compete for the throne. The Northern Qi emperor intended to support the virtuous prince and specially sent him to quell the rebellion.

Even if the rebellion is successfully quelled, it will be difficult to return to the capital smoothly.

If he cannot quell the rebellion, Yongqing County will be his final resting place.

The imperial tutor intended to support him to the throne, and to prevent the Northern Qi emperor from seeing through his scheme, he would certainly not mobilize his own forces.

The Empress's influence was different. After all, in the eyes of the Northern Qi Emperor, the Empress and the Prince of Qi had been framed by Consort Shu. It seemed reasonable that the Empress harbored resentment towards Consort Shu and would help him to make things difficult for her.

Seeing that Zhao Yi was lost in thought and had nothing to ask, Yan Er bowed and took his leave. Before leaving, he glanced at the portrait on the wall one last time before striding away.

After Zhao Yi and Yan Er left, he stared intently at the painting on the wall, his gaze falling on the signature at the end, the strokes of which were vigorous and seemed familiar.

"Knock Knock-"

There was a knock on the door, and Jiang Mu said from the doorway, "Your Highness, the time has come; you should depart."

As Zhao Yi carefully put away the jade pendant and stepped out of the study, a sudden realization struck him: whose handwriting was it? This brought forth other questions—why would the Imperial Tutor's painting appear in the Guangling Prince's residence?

Could it be that the painting was created by the Imperial Tutor and presented to the Emperor of Northern Qi? When the Emperor of Northern Qi bestowed the mansion upon him, he also gifted him many items, including this painting?

With that thought in mind, Zhao Yi put aside his thoughts, bid farewell to Shen Qingtan, and led his men out of the city.

-

At the same time, Eunuch Liu reported the results of the imperial physician's diagnosis to the Emperor of Northern Qi.

The Emperor of Northern Qi rubbed his temples, which felt like they were being pricked by needles, and gestured for Eunuch Liu to stand guard outside the palace. He then summoned the assassins and issued a secret order.

The assassins were ordered to leave the palace and take a shortcut to Yongqing County.