After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 49

“High Ancestor met General Shen when they were both eight years old. At that time, High Ancestor was in a lowly position, beneath his older brothers. General Shen, with his loyal heart shining like snow, made his vow of loyalty with his death when they were twenty-eight. At that time, the seas were calm and the rivers clear; High Ancestor had already ascended to the throne, standing above ten thousand men,” the old man said slowly. “Ten years later, I entered the officialdom through the imperial examinations. After twenty-five years, I rose to a high position as a minister. Thirty years later, High Ancestor passed away, and the previous emperor ascended the throne. Another ten years later, the previous emperor also passed away, and the current emperor took the throne…”

The past was slowly revealed by him, filled with twists and turns, with thrilling events concealed within these brief words.

“My surname is Shen,” the old man said, holding up a black piece under the dim candlelight as he looked at Zhou Xun. His face was old, but his eyes were clear, like some kind of jade. “Guess, what is my background?”

Zhou Xun said slowly, “You chose this place to meet with me, so there must be a reason behind it. Master Shen and General Shen must have a connection.”

The old man remained silent.

“The general who proved his loyalty with his death also bears the surname Shen. Elder, you too have the surname Shen,” Zhou Xun said softly. “I dare to ask, are you a descendant of General Shen? If General Shen had descendants, they should be of your age now. Your entering the court must have some intention of seeking justice for General Shen…”

The old man grinned, showing his teeth. “General Shen had no descendants.”

“Then… are you a relative of General Shen’s family?”

“No.”

“Are you from a collateral branch of the Shen family? Or a relative by marriage?”

“None of these.”

“Then…”

Zhou Xun was taken aback.

Under the candlelight, he saw the old man slowly speak: “I am neither a descendant of General Shen, nor his relatives, nor connected by marriage. I am not a person of noble birth, nor do I have a distinguished background.”

Seeing Zhou Xun still stunned, the old man laughed. “My real name is Shen Xiaoliu. Xiaoliu is my given name. ‘Liu’ was the ranking given to me by the temple. During the famine in Yecheng that year, I was the sixth baby thrown in front of the temple by my parents on that day, so I was named Xiaoliu. My surname Shen is just because the old gatekeeper of the temple had the surname Shen. It has no connection to General Shen. At the age of six, General Shen took me in. I was responsible for cleaning the stables. This is the only connection I had with General Shen.”

Zhou Xun opened his mouth, finding that he was unable to speak. The old man continued: “However, you were right about one thing. The person who retrieved the documents from the box and sought justice for General Shen was indeed me. After General Shen’s death, I studied with an old scholar. I wasn’t more intelligent than many gifted youths, and I didn’t excel in my studies as effortlessly as those in legendary stories. I took many attempts before finally passing as the lowest in the third tier of the imperial examinations. I served as an official for over twenty years before I made a name for myself and sought justice for my benefactor. Seeking justice was not solely my effort. There was someone who helped me steal the case files — he was also someone who benefited from General Shen’s kindness. Before General Shen conquered the southern border, his father, like thousands of soldiers, was captured by the southern barbarians and was about to be buried alive in a mass grave. When General Shen entered the city, his father was just about to be pushed into the pit. However, he was not as perceptive as I was. At over forty, he was still a lowly gatekeeper. Yet, the key to the case was conveniently in his possession.”

“Pre… Predecessor…”

A strange and immense power shook Zhou Xun at this moment. This power did not come from a grand epic but from every ordinary wrinkle on the old man’s gray face.

“I made you guess my background intentionally,” the old man said with a grin, revealing a cunning light in his eyes. “Anyone here would not be able to guess my identity because my background is so plain and unremarkable. I am just the most peripheral, seemingly inconsequential part of this legendary story.”

—Yet, it was precisely such an inconspicuous ordinary person who, twenty-five years after General Shen’s brief but brilliant life, sought justice for him.

Not a descendant of the Shen family with deep blood vendettas, nor a legendary figure of exceptional talent—he said he took several attempts before barely passing the imperial examinations as the lowest in the third tier, and not a tale of revenge filled with swords and blood…

All this came from the most inconspicuous stable boy.

Zhou Xun found it hard to describe his current emotions. He vaguely felt that some part of his soul had been touched, a touch more profound than all the immense suffering he had experienced. A certain vague vision that had once lain dormant in his heart seemed to resonate at this moment.

“How?” the old man asked him, “After knowing my background, are you disappointed with this unlegendary, undramatic story?”

Zhou Xun remained silent for a long time before shaking his head.

“This is the best legendary story I have ever heard,” he said firmly. “The most touching… legend.”

All the wrinkles smiled at that moment.

“I spent decades, from a stable boy and a nearly failing scholar, to becoming a renowned Confucian scholar in the Jing Dynasty. In terms of talent and aptitude, I can’t compare with you in my youth,” the old man said slowly. “Now, are you willing to take me as your teacher?”

Zhou Xun stood up.

He lifted the corner of his robe and performed a respectful bow to his teacher, careful and meticulous, without omitting or misdoing any detail.

“Disciple Zhou Xun wishes to pay respects to Elder Shen Xiaoliu as his master!”

The old man laughed heartily and then said, “After entering the court, I haven’t used the name Shen Xiaoliu for a long time. Being a high-ranking official, it would be quite inappropriate to be called Shen Xiaoliu. Later, I changed my name.”

Then, Zhou Xun heard a name that was extremely famous throughout the history of the Great Jing Dynasty.

“Shen Huanyu,” the old man said slowly, “derived from ‘I gave him a melon in return for a jade pendant.’”

……

The Emperor peered around the temple. It was summer, and there were many mosquitoes. Although he was dressed in plain clothes for a covert visit, he could not avoid the mosquitoes, so he kept stomping his feet in irritation.

The secret guards had long gone to gather information—just to find out whom Zhou Xun had met. The Emperor had specifically instructed not to spy on their conversation—this was Zhou Xun’s privacy, and being overly suspicious felt like the intrusive behavior of an overbearing girlfriend…

Thinking of this description, the Emperor shivered in the summer heat and felt a kind of straight man’s fear.

He was only worried that Zhou Xun might have met someone inappropriate or encountered trouble… Even the men from his university dormitory would send messages to worry about a roommate if he hadn’t returned before the door was locked! Therefore, the Emperor was particularly straightforward about his brotherly trust.

Seeing that the secret guard finally emerged from the darkness, the usually composed leader of the secret guards had a somewhat stiff expression. The Emperor, seeing his anxious look from afar, couldn’t help but rush forward: “Was anyone talking inside?”

The leader of the secret guards said dryly, “Young Master Zhou was inside, and he was playing chess with an old man…”

“An old man?” The Emperor sighed with relief, though he was unsure why he felt relieved. He hurriedly asked, “So… is this old man a martial arts expert?”

The leader of the secret guards was stunned by the question and replied, “This old man… should not have martial arts skills.”

The Emperor said, “Oh.”

The leader of the secret guards waited for further questioning: “But this old man is…”

The Emperor waved his hand, “Never mind, let’s go.”

The leader of the secret guards: ?!

The Emperor, you really are carefree. So, you came all the way here just to…

“Once I confirmed his safety, I felt at ease. As for whom he met and what he discussed, it’s his privacy.” The Emperor, as if reading his mind, said casually, “I do trust him, after all!”

“But… but the person in the temple…” The leader of the secret guards hesitated, “Is Lord Shen Huanyu from the previous dynasty’s prime minister?”

“Shen Huanyu?”

The Emperor was taken aback and quickly recalled the name.

Shen Huanyu… He was a senior official of two dynasties, a legendary figure!

Compared to those high-profile officials with great fame and glory, Shen Huanyu’s reputation was even greater. Known for his upright character, he was famous in the officialdom, and many censors still look up to him as a role model. As a young man, he was only a minor county official, but the people spontaneously formed a ten-mile-long street to send him off when he was promoted. Although he nearly failed the exams as a youth, he gradually became a great Confucian scholar as he grew older, serving as the left arm and right arm of the previous Emperor. Later, he retired honorably and returned to his hometown…

Even Zhou Cai’s master, a renowned scholar with a family background, would bow his head before him!

However, the Emperor remembered his name for an even more important reason.

—This man, not only a prominent Confucian scholar, was also the founder and former leader of the Black Garment Office!

The Black Garment Office was established after Shen Huanyu’s name was cleared. Before his name was cleared, despite General Shen having publicly cut open his chest to prove his innocence, his handwritten letter of betrayal remained irrefutable evidence on High Ancestor’s desk. After Shen Huanyu entered the court, he spent over twenty years clearing General Shen’s name. It is said that High Ancestor vomited blood upon seeing the truth-filled documents.

—Even though General Shen’s death was over twenty years ago, everyone thought High Ancestor, who had devoted himself to the country throughout his life and had only been a rare wise ruler except for the incident with the general in his youth, had long forgotten about General Shen after more than twenty years of storms.

After General Shen’s name was cleared, High Ancestor ordered Shen Huanyu to establish the Black Garment Office. Five years later, High Ancestor, who was still in good health, passed away. The previous Emperor ascended the throne, and the Black Garment Office’s influence reached its peak in the shadows. The Northern Wei and Great Liang were terrified of the Black Garment’s presence, and Great Liang even refrained from invading the borders of Great Jing for years. Five years after the previous Emperor took the throne, Shen Huanyu retired and returned to his hometown. After the previous Emperor’s death, the current Emperor’s fondness for pleasure led to a rapid decline of the Black Garment Office during his more than ten years of rule, until it became a defunct organization by the time it was handed over to the Emperor.

Of course, many speculated about Shen Huanyu’s background. It was rumored that he was a surviving member of the Shen family, but this was never confirmed.

But how did Zhou Xun end up involved with a former head of the secret police?!

The “Black Garment Office” (缁衣使) is a fictional or historical secretive organization mentioned in the text. It was established by Shen Huanyu after General Shen’s name was cleared. In the context of the story, it likely functions as a covert or secretive agency with a role in handling sensitive matters, such as investigating or dealing with political issues. The name “Black Garment” implies a secretive or undercover nature, reminiscent of espionage or intelligence organizations.