Chapter 107.1 Married At Last
The northern conflict came to an unexpectedly swift end, but the retrial of Prince of Wu's case dragged on, delaying Lin Yan and Shen Shaoguang's wedding from its planned date in early summer all the way to mid-autumn.
Upon learning that his fourth son, Li Yù, had been captured, Prince of Zhao suffered a relapse of his asthma. Meanwhile, his imprisoned second son, Li Xi, seized military power with the help of old associates. However, the perpetually weak third son, supported by another faction of soldiers, turned against his brother, leading to a standoff between the two.
Unable to stand his ground against his brother, the third son completely defected, leading his men to “abandon their misguided ways and embrace a better path,” aligning himself with the imperial court...
The northern expedition army, alongside the Yanmen and Guannei Commanderies, besieged the city from three sides. After enduring a devastating defeat, Li Xi, the second son, retreated to Hengzhou, a city governed by the military commissioner of Vassal State Cheng. Through meticulous negotiations, the military commissioner of Cheng ultimately surrendered Li Xi along with his key advisors and senior military officers.
During the fifth lunar month, news of a great victory from the front lines was delivered to Chang'an by a swift courier. Various state officials allowed themselves relieved smiles, and even the Emperor exhaled a long-held breath. However, the citizens of Chang'an seemed largely unaffected, having long known that the renegade's ambitions would amount to nothing. What skill did a man plotting in the shadows possess?
When word spread that the army had entered the northern capital, it was said that Prince of Zhao’s corpse had already begun to rot, unburied and unattended. This once-powerful vassal lord, who had held the strategic northern capital for over a decade and commanded the armies of three prefectures, had risen to prominence during the late emperor’s reign with the help of certain Taoist figures, causing upheaval in the court. Yet, who could have foreseen that such a formidable individual would meet such a desolate end?
Shen Shaoguang, like many, was somewhat surprised by how swiftly the conflict had concluded, but on reflection, she realized that history was full of such wars—ones that started with great ferocity only to end abruptly. Swift endings were welcome; fewer soldiers lost their lives, officials like Chancellor Li would grow fewer gray hairs, and for people like herself, an earlier family memorial could be held.
Shen Shaoguang lit incense before the memorial tablets of her parents and brother, offering them a silent prayer. Justice, it seemed, had finally found its way, and now, your spirits could rest in peace.
However, the retrial of the Prince of Wu's case was progressing slowly. Although the Emperor had initially instructed the three departments to expedite the process—after all, no matter how tyrannical the late emperor had been, he was still the current emperor's father—it would have been ideal to conclude the case before the northern campaign was fully resolved. This way, they could restore reputations, offer the appropriate compensation and reassurances, and return properties and lands to the wronged families. By the time the victorious troops returned to the capital, this matter would have faded from prominence.
However, the Prince of Wu's case was the largest scandal of the late emperor's reign. It implicated too many individuals—those who had lost their official positions, those who had been demoted or exiled, and countless families that had been shattered. Such a sprawling case could not be neatly concluded in a short period.
Due to the retrial of Shen Qian’s case, and perhaps after hearing of Shen Shaoguang's role in uncovering crucial details, External Official Shen Pu from the branch office in Eastern Capital specially requested permission to travel to Chang’an to assist with the matter.
When Lin Yan mentioned that her father's younger brother, Shen Pu, had arrived in the capital, Shen Shaoguang made her way to the relay station’s lodging inn to pay her respects.
Shen Pu, appearing to be in his early thirties, possessed a refined demeanor, characterized by arched brows and striking eyes. It was said that he had passed the imperial examinations and achieved the status of jinshi at a remarkably young age; however, he now occupied the relatively modest position of a sixth-ranked External Official, assisting in the branch office in Eastern Capital—a role that, in truth, was more akin to retirement. Clad in a simple wide-sleeved robe and wooden clogs, he exuded an air of carefree ease. Shen Shaoguang couldn’t help but reflect that her uncle had truly mastered the art of living well through his government role.
For someone so detached and at peace, Shen Pu had rushed out to greet her with surprising urgency. It made Shen Shaoguang reconsider her previous pessimism upon leaving the palace—perhaps she had been too quick to judge.
Seated in the guest hall of the lodging inn, Shen Pu studied her for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "The last time I saw you," he remarked, his voice tinged with nostalgia, "you were only this tall." He gestured beside the seat to show just how small she had been.
Shen Shaoguang smiled. "I truly have no memory of the time when we returned to Luoyang."
Shen Pu, speaking gently, corrected her, "It wasn’t your return to Luoyang. I had come to the capital for the preliminary round of imperial examinations and was staying with your father."
A brief silence settled between them. The weight of memories unspoken hung in the air, until Shen Pu, regaining his composure, smiled. "The little child who used to cling to me, crying, has now grown into a graceful young woman. As for Deputy Magistrate Lin, he seems like a man of fine character and appearance, but I hear his temperament tends toward the cold and distant."
Just then, Shen Pu’s wife entered the room, accompanied by a servant carrying tea and refreshments.
Shen Shaoguang stood to greet her, but her aunt affectionately took her hand and sat her down beside her. She feigned a glare at Shen Pu, lightly scolding, "You men always talk like this."
Shen Pu chuckled. "What's so unusual about that? Marriage is a serious matter, and it's best if the girls are willing. Today is A'Ji, and in the future, A'Jing will follow the same way."
Looking at her smiling younger cousin, barely as tall as the chair when sitting, yet, Shen Shaoguang couldn't help but marvel at her uncle’s foresight.
Soon after, their clan senior, Administrative Division Governor of Yingzhou, Shen Zhi arrived, bearing a completely different demeanor. He was a man of about fifty, with a pale complexion, a neatly trimmed beard, and eyes that carried an air of authority. In his presence, Shen Shaoguang instinctively adopted a more modest demeanor, embodying the shy decorum of a young lady from the inner chambers.
Shen Zhi began probing into her experiences in the Lateral Courts, then transitioned to questions about her life since leaving. His inquiries were thorough, allowing no opportunity for Shen Shaoguang to evade the topic. Unable to withhold anything, she reluctantly recounted her time in the nunnery, followed by her foray into running a street stall, and then her venture into opening a tavern.
Shen Zhi remained silent for a moment before speaking softly, "In the end, it was our failure, not taking proper care of you."
Shen Shaoguang could tell this senior had misunderstood the situation. She wanted to explain that her days of eating and drinking had been quite enjoyable, but it didn't seem appropriate at the moment, so she only responded with an awkward laugh.
As he thought about his upcoming responsibility to represent the family in arranging the marriage with the Lin Residence, Shen Zhi opened his mouth as if to say something but hesitated. After a brief pause, he finally said, "Deputy Magistrate Lin is of good character, though he can be rather cold and stern. You—" He stopped again, unsure of how to broach the subject with a young lady.
Shen Zhi, too, had a daughter, betrothed to the son of the Administrative Division Governor of Luzhou, Cui Yan. Yet, he hadn’t needed to be involved in those discussions. His wife had handled everything, and since both families were old acquaintances, his wife had already met the young man. But this time was different—Shen Zhi's wife couldn’t take part in the discussions. The ‘in-law’ involved had a unique standing, Deputy Magistrate Lin was soon to become the Magistrate of Chang'an, a honorable purple-robed, third-ranked official in the imperial hierarchy. Thus, Shen Zhi had no choice but to address the matter himself, even if it made him uncomfortable.
Yet both uncles quickly contradicted their earlier remarks.
Each time Deputy Magistrate Lin visited, his words were always respectful, and a smile never left his face. Even when his cheeks flushed from drinking, he never refused another cup, maintaining an earnest demeanor. Most tellingly, whenever his gaze happened to fall upon A'Ji, it softened with a tenderness akin to a gentle spring breeze...
When they were alone, Shen Shaoguang teased him, "You don’t seem this mild-mannered on most days. You certainly play the part well."
Lin Yan chuckled and admitted, "Being accepted as the 'Shen Residence’s son-in-law' is no small task."
It was more than just difficult—perhaps even an impossible feat. After all, there was the presence of Chancellor Li, who frequently invited him for drinks, and soon enough, the sharp-eyed Teacher Chu was expected to arrive in the capital...