The Immortal in the Painting.
It was the Painting Sage's exclusive divine ability.
According to the information provided by the system, Fan Li knew that this technique allowed the Painting Sage to store her cultivation within a painting, enabling her to appear as a mortal and undetectable. This explained how Xue Susu had managed to deceive Emperor Jiajing and become one of his imperial consorts.
As a man from the modern world, Fan Li understood the importance of adapting and applying knowledge.
If the "Immortal in the Painting" technique could store the Painting Sage's cultivation, could it also store other things?
Intangible entities similar to spiritual energy, such as… a person's soul?
Fan Li, looking at Chen Deyan mumbling incoherently on the bed, shared his thoughts with Yu Shenzi.
"That makes sense!" Yu Shenzi's eyes lit up.
Throughout history, physicians had always possessed a strong inclination towards research and experimentation. Just because something had never been seen before, didn't mean it couldn't exist.
A painting that devoured a person's soul?
Others might scoff at the idea, but Yu Shenzi immediately believed it. He walked towards the wall, carefully examining Xue Susu's self-portrait.
Fan Li noticed that as long as Yu Shenzi didn't touch the painting, Chen Deyan remained calm, his gaze fixed upon the beautiful woman in the painting, treating the two men as if they were invisible.
"Your Majesty, look!"
Yu Shenzi suddenly exclaimed, forgetting himself and directly addressing Fan Li as "Your Majesty."
Fan Li hastily corrected him and quickly approached.
"Ahem, Master Fan," Yu Shenzi said, "please look here."
He pointed at the painting.
Fan Li focused his gaze and noticed a faint, almost translucent figure beside Xue Susu in the painting.
It resembled a wisp of smoke, barely visible in the dim room. But upon closer inspection, he could clearly discern a man's silhouette.
"Is that Chen Deyan?!" Fan Li asked in astonishment.
Yu Shenzi nodded gravely.
For some reason, Chen Deyan's image had appeared within the painting. The blurry outline suggested that Chen Deyan was embracing Xue Susu. The man and the woman, their bodies intertwined, resembled a pair of lovebirds engaged in a secret tryst.
'Damn it…'
Fan Li couldn't help but curse inwardly. If he hadn't sold the painting to Chen Deyan, would he now be trapped within the painting as well?
But he was still uncertain.
Had Xue Susu intentionally painted Chen Deyan into the painting, or had a part of Chen Deyan's soul been absorbed into it?
"What should we do?" Fan Li asked.
Yu Shenzi stroked his beard thoughtfully, then said, "Actually, the principle of healing is quite simple. If a bone is broken, we mend it. If flesh is torn, we stitch it together. If a person is poisoned, we expel the poison from their body… We treat the illness according to its symptoms."
Knowing that Fan Li wasn't a physician, Yu Shenzi used simple analogies to explain his approach, even though some of his statements might be considered unorthodox.
Fan Li might not have understood medicine, but he was intelligent. He quickly grasped the old man's meaning.
"So, to cure Chen Deyan, we simply need to expel his image from the painting?"
"Precisely."
Yu Shenzi nodded firmly.
Fan Li trusted the Divine Physician's assessment. But the question was, how could they accomplish this?
Even Yu Shenzi shook his head.
"Forcefully removing Chen Deyan's image, or destroying the painting… These methods wouldn't solve the problem. In fact, they might cause even greater harm to Top Scholar Chen. The best solution is to find a way for Chen Deyan to 'leave' the painting… reasonably."
Fan Li pondered those words.
Reasonably?
How could they possibly achieve that?
In this world, there were countless things that could be done, but to do them "reasonably?" It was often impossible.
"Top Scholar Chen… Top Scholar Chen…" Fan Li mumbled the words to himself.
Suddenly, it hit him. He had been focusing on Chen Deyan's illness, but he had forgotten the man's status as the Top Scholar!
"I have an idea!"
Fan Li glanced around. As expected of the Top Scholar's bedchamber, writing implements were neatly arranged upon a desk.
"Divine Physician Yu, please restrain Top Scholar Chen for a while."
Fan Li immediately began grinding ink.
Yu Shenzi didn't hesitate. He retrieved a silver needle from his sleeve, flicked it with his finger, and the needle shot towards Chen Deyan's forehead, lodging itself between his eyebrows.
The already weakened Top Scholar froze. He was as still as a log.
Fan Li removed the painting from the wall and carefully spread it on the desk.
Chen Deyan, although unable to move, followed the painting with his eyes. Since the painting was still in the room, he remained relatively calm. His gaze was fixated on Xue Susu's image.
Yu Shenzi, curious about Fan Li's actions, approached and saw Fan Li painting on the scroll.
Xue Susu's self-portrait had ample blank space. Fan Li added details – a majestic palace, fit for an emperor, with blurry figures in the background, resembling eunuchs, maids, and guards.
Finally, he drew a man with a stern expression and a regal aura. Even though Yu Shenzi didn't recognize the man, he instantly knew his identity – the Emperor of the Great Ming, dressed in his dragon robes.
"Emperor Jiajing?" Yu Shenzi whispered.
Fan Li discreetly nodded.
The incense stick had burned down. The effects of the silver needle began to wane.
"I can't hold him much longer," Yu Shenzi warned. "We have to hang the painting back up. Otherwise, he'll go mad!"
"Done! Hang it up!"
Fan Li had added people, scenery, and a few lines of calligraphy, using the formal script common in the Great Ming court.
Yu Shenzi, astonished by the new details, hastily obeyed.
As the silver needle fell to the ground, a crisp sound echoed through the room!
"Susu… My Susu…"
Chen Deyan, now free, should have lashed out at the two men. But seeing the painting back on the wall, he lost himself once more, his gaze captivated by the image of Xue Susu.
"How dare you, Chen Deyan?! Before the Emperor, you dare behave so indecently?!"
Fan Li shouted.
Chen Deyan finally reacted. He noticed that the painting had changed. Xue Susu was now within the Great Ming imperial palace, standing close to Emperor Jiajing.
They weren't as intimate as Chen Deyan had been with Xue Susu in the original painting, but their proximity suggested an undeniable "official" status.
And then, he saw the calligraphy inscription:
"By imperial decree, Xue Susu, for her virtue, humility, filial piety, and gentleness, is hereby bestowed with the title of Consort Rou. May she serve the Emperor with utmost loyalty and devotion."
Chen Deyan read the inscription several times.
Fan Li said coldly, "Chen Deyan, how has the Emperor treated you?
He appointed you Top Scholar, sent you to the Hanlin Academy, and groomed you for a future as Grand Secretary.
You claim to be a scholar, a man of knowledge and virtue. Surely you understand propriety and shame?
Yet, you dare hang a portrait of Consort Rou in your bedchamber?
This is not only an insult to the imperial harem, but also a desecration of the Emperor!
Chen Deyan, do you admit your guilt?!"
Those words, harsh and accusatory, frightened the Top Scholar. He scrambled off the bed, dropping to his knees as if he had been miraculously cured. He kowtowed repeatedly before the image of Emperor Jiajing in the painting.
"I have sinned! I have sinned! I have sinned! I have sinned…"
The scholar who once possessed a wealth of knowledge, could now only utter those three words.
Fan Li observed him carefully. The more Chen Deyan kowtowed, the more energetic he became.
And the faint outline of Chen Deyan in the painting, it was gradually fading…
…
Great Ming imperial palace, Zhongcui Palace.
Crash!
A teacup fell to the ground and shattered into countless pieces.
"Someone has broken my Immortal in the Painting technique?" Xue Susu whispered in shock.
"What did you say?"
A woman with a gruesome scar on her face, her figure sturdy and imposing, dressed as a palace maid, asked.
She spoke to Xue Susu without a hint of deference. But Xue Susu didn't seem to mind.
She repeated her words, "Someone has broken my Immortal in the Painting technique."
"Who?!" the woman asked coldly.
Xue Susu smiled wryly.
"We're hiding within the imperial palace. It's not easy for us to gather information. Unless I witnessed it firsthand, how could I possibly know?"
The palace maid was none other than Ah Chang, the Archery Sage.
They looked at each other in silence.
Xue Susu thought of the man she had given the painting to, Fan Zhe, a mere manager of the Fan Clan Trading Company.
His status and cultivation weren't noteworthy. How could he possibly possess the means to break her technique?
And even though that painting had been a casual creation, she had still used her "Immortal in the Painting" technique.
Fan Zhe?
Could he possess a powerful treasure, or perhaps a hidden expert protecting him?
It seemed that Fan Zhe's identity wasn't as simple as it appeared.
Xue Susu suspected that he might be the leader of the Chu kingdom's spies within the Great Ming.
"Unfortunately, we were pressed for time. I had already arranged the date for the charity auction. We had to use that opportunity to enter the palace. If we had spent a few more days investigating Fan Zhe's background, it might have been beneficial for Elder Sister."
Xue Susu spoke to herself, but Ah Chang frowned.
"You always talk to yourself. You never discuss anything with me. Susu, do you look down on me?"
Xue Susu smiled wryly.
"Why would I look down on you? We're like sisters.
Each of us has our strengths. Espionage and intelligence gathering are my areas of expertise. Among all our sisters in the Pure Land, only Diao Chan and I were suited for such missions.
You are the Archery Sage. Your skills with a bow and arrow are unparalleled in the world. Who can compare to you in this aspect?"
Hearing this, Ah Chang relaxed slightly.
"If there's ever a situation where you cannot intervene, leave it to me," she said. "The Great Ming might claim to be the strongest dynasty, but with my bow and arrow, even if a thousand enemies approach, they will all perish!"
She paused, then added, "Except for Emperor Jiajing. That day, I used all my strength, but I couldn't even touch him."
Xue Susu nodded and sighed. "In this world, perhaps only Elder Sister can truly fight against Emperor Jiajing."
She vividly remembered the assassination attempt at the Banquet of Benevolence. She knew Ah Chang's strength.
That arrow had been fired with all her might, but it hadn't even touched Emperor Jiajing's clothes.
The Vermilion Bird was a young divine beast. How could it be so powerful?
Their conversation returned to Fan Zhe.
"Forget it. He was just a pawn I casually placed. There's no need to dwell on it. What's a mere Fan Zhe? Even if he were Duke Jin of Great Chu, he would still be insignificant before Elder Sister."
Ah Chang dismissed Fan Zhe as well. Who was she, and what was her mission?
A manager of the Fan Clan Trading Company? He truly wasn't worthy of her attention.
As they were speaking, they suddenly stopped. Moments later, they heard hurried footsteps outside the palace.
"His Majesty has arrived! Please, Consort Rou, come out and welcome the Emperor!"
Xue Susu immediately rose to her feet, looking delightful and surprised. This was the perfect reaction for a newly favored concubine.
Ah Chang's imposing aura vanished, and she transformed into a simple, unassuming peasant woman.
They walked outside and saw Eunuch Chen Hong leading the way with a triumphant smile. Behind him, a procession of imperial guards and servants carried a palanquin. Emperor Jiajing sat within.
Chen Hong, seeing Xue Susu, secretly congratulated himself on his foresight.
The Emperor rarely visited the harem, and he had personally requested to see Consort Rou tonight? Surely this was a sign of her favor? With Consort Rou's rise, wouldn't his own status also soar?
"Your Majesty, we have arrived at the Zhongcui Palace," Chen Hong said softly, approaching the palanquin.
"Consort Rou has come out to welcome you. Although she hasn't been in the palace for long, she always keeps Your Majesty in her heart. This humble servant noticed that her face is flushed. Surely she is overjoyed by your arrival."
Sometimes, a few simple words could have an unexpected impact, especially in the imperial harem, where women constantly vied for the Emperor's attention.
How could one please a man? Especially an Emperor?
Material wealth was easily obtained, but true emotional fulfillment was rare. But at least they could satisfy his vanity.
Emperor Jiajing, hearing Chen Hong's words, smiled faintly.
"Tonight, I shall stay at the Zhongcui Palace. All others are dismissed. Chen Hong, you may stay and attend to us."
"Yes, Your Majesty! This servant obeys!"
Chen Hong was overjoyed.
Xue Susu, kneeling before the palanquin, felt a wave of mixed emotions.
The day had finally arrived. She, a Sage Ruler of the Pure Land, had abandoned her identity, infiltrating the Great Ming. Even as a courtesan, she had preserved her virginity.
But tonight, it would all be lost.
She unconsciously raised her head, staring boldly at the Emperor.
Would he be her man tonight?
All those charming and seductive techniques she had employed on the Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge, they were nothing more than a facade, a way to maintain her courtesan persona. They wouldn't work tonight.
She could only submit and try her best to please this man.
Only then could she become his favored consort, a woman who stood by his side at all times.
That was her mission.
Emperor Jiajing had isolated himself, both from his court and his harem, spending his days in seclusion, pursuing Daoist cultivation. But from tonight onward, Xue Susu wouldn't allow him to be alone. She would be by his side, wherever he went.
"Consort Rou!"
Chen Hong, seeing her staring at the Emperor so boldly, hastily whispered a reminder.
"Remember your place! No matter how favored you are, never forget the hierarchy between ruler and subject!"
Xue Susu snapped out of her daze. She adopted a demure demeanor. "Your Majesty, I have been longing for your presence day and night. I beg your forgiveness for my lapse in decorum. I am willing to accept any punishment."
Her cheeks were flushed, and her voice was sweet and alluring. Even Chen Hong, a eunuch, felt a stirring within him.
Emperor Jiajing, as expected, wasn't angry. He even chuckled. "You may rise. How could I possibly punish my beloved consort for gazing upon me with affection?"
Chen Hong was delighted!
Excellent!
Whether intentional or not, Consort Rou's technique was undeniably effective. No wonder she had earned the Emperor's favor!