National Division

Chapter 74 Gao Yanfu: Hurry up and invite Mr. Shen... (Seeking monthly votes!)

Shen Residence
He loved looking at these so-called prestigious families, his face showing fear.

Shen Xian frowned and looked at Suo Yuanli.

Judging from his facial features, this person should be a non-Han Chinese.

Shen Lin, his expression indifferent, took a step forward: "I am in charge. Whom do you wish to summon?"

Suo Yuanli smiled and said, "The Shen Bin father and son in Guhe County may be harboring criminals wanted by the imperial court. Old Master Shen should be unaware of this, right?"

Shen Lin frowned, feeling annoyed by his rudeness.

He was a veteran official of three dynasties. This opportunist was just a foreign merchant before he rose to prominence. How dare he be so arrogant?
Shen Zhai quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Lord Suo, I am Shen Zhai, Imperial Censor. This matter was done by Shen Bin and his son. My father and I knew nothing about it in the capital. The son of the Shen family has just arrived at the mansion. We were just about to reprimand him and say that we were going to arrest him and send him to the Dali Temple when Lord Suo arrived."

Shen Xian: "..."

He underestimated the depths of his fourth uncle, Shen Zhai.

This eagerness to sever ties is disrespectful, lacks decorum, and is arguably unsuitable for high-level political life.

Shen Zheng stared blankly at Shen Zhai, and stammered, "Fourth brother."

Shen Lincang, already showing signs of anger, glared at Shen Zhai.

Shen Qian glared at him angrily and said, "You bastard, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Shen Zhai turned to look at Shen Xian and said in a deep voice, "Shen Xian, one should take responsibility for one's actions. Since you claim to uphold loyalty, integrity, propriety, and righteousness, then today you will fulfill your promise of loyalty, integrity, propriety, and righteousness!"

Han Yi, who was standing next to Shen Xian, was about to step forward and speak, but Shen Xian waved his hand to stop him.

Shen Xian, his face ashen, stepped forward, staring intently into Suo Yuanli's eyes, and demanded, "I am Shen Xian from Guhe County. What questions does this gentleman have for me?"

During the reign of Emperor Jing, the Court of Judicial Review was the judicial body that tried cases involving officials in the capital.

Suo Yuanli stepped forward, looked the young man up and down, and asked, "You... are you Shen Xian, the wanted criminal who harbored the traitor?"

Shen Xian smiled and asked, "This official keeps referring to himself as a criminal under imperial decree, but without trial or imperial approval, where does this designation of a criminal come from?"

Suo Yuanli said coldly, "If I say you are a wanted criminal, then you are a wanted criminal!"

Shen Xian paused slightly and asked, "Han Yi?"

Han Yi cupped his hands and said, "Scholar, please give your orders."

Because the title was ambiguous, others could not possibly associate it with a scholar from the Zhaowen Pavilion.

"Record this person's insubordinate words!" Shen Xian said.

Han Yi responded with a "Yes".

Upon hearing this, Suo Yuanli frowned and looked at Shen Xian with some suspicion, but then relaxed and scoffed, "Playing hard to get."

Suo Yuanli's scarred face twitched as he grinned maliciously, "Since you're from the Shen family of Guhe County who's hiding criminals, come with us!"

As he spoke, several jailers stepped forward and quickly pinned Shen Xian down.

Shen Qian gathered his inner energy in his fist, his face contorted with rage, and shouted, "What are you trying to do?"

Shen Zheng looked very anxious and advised, "Second brother, don't be rash."

Shen Lin frowned and said, "Suo Yuanli, what are you going to do?"

Han Yi was about to speak when Shen Xian stopped him with a look.

Suo Yuanli chuckled: "The Yu family's daughter bribed the Water Gate Guerrilla General, and the Empress Dowager is furious. She has already ordered the General of the Golden Guard to execute the Guerrilla General on duty that day and his personal guard captain. Do you intend to challenge the Empress Dowager's authority?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lin frowned, feeling greatly fearful.

Shen Zhai's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Father, this matter has reached the ears of the Emperor. The Empress is furious. This is no small matter. The Yu family girl is a wanted criminal."

Suo Yuanli smiled and said, "Censor Shen is indeed reasonable. He is worthy of serving under Master Lai in the Censorate."

Shen Zhai turned his face, cupped his hands and said, "Lord Suo, the Shen family of Guhe County has no connection with the Shen family of Lanxi in the capital. I request the Dali Temple to investigate thoroughly."

Suo Yuanli casually returned the bow: "Lord Shen, rest assured, our Dali Temple is a place that values ​​evidence. Lord Zhou will not wrong an innocent person, nor will he let a bad person go free."

He said coldly, "Let's go, take Young Master Shen to the Dali Temple for questioning."

Shen Lin's lips trembled slightly, his aged face ashen.

The case was personally handled by the Empress Dowager, and the Court of Judicial Review already had leverage over it. How could he possibly obstruct it?
Shen Qian clenched his fists tightly, and a hint of despair appeared on his face as well.

He was just a lowly gatekeeper and halberd bearer; how could he dare to disobey the imperial court?
As they spoke, Suo Yuanli, accompanied by the executioners, escorted Shen Xian away from the ceremonial gate.

Han Yi was bewildered. He took a few steps forward and called out urgently, "Scholar." Shen Xian turned to look at Han Yi and said, "Go to the Duke of Xue's residence to report this."

However, he figured the imperial decree of reward from the palace should have arrived by now.

"It's no use asking anyone." Suo Yuanli sneered, mocking, "Daring to harbor a wanted criminal, you really have the guts of a leopard!"

As they spoke, the menacing-looking officials of the Dali Temple escorted Shen Xian to the Dali Temple.

The Shen family members stood frozen in place, as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

Shen Zhai said, “Father, the most urgent task is to sever ties between the Shen family of Lanxi and the Shen family of Anzhou. All of this was done by the Shen family of Anzhou on their own initiative and has nothing to do with our Shen family of Lanxi. Otherwise, if the Empress Dowager blames us and we are implicated, our Shen family of Lanxi will be in great trouble.”

Shen Lin closed his aged eyes, his heart filled with anxiety.

Or rather, they are considering how to deal with it.

……

……

Just as the two were arguing, a servant rushed into the room and said urgently, "Master, a large number of Imperial Guards have arrived outside."

"Why are there people again?" Shen Zheng frowned, his face showing even more worry.

Shen Zhai, Shen Qian, and the others were filled with doubt.

At that moment, on the stone steps outside the gate, Gao Yanfu, a senior eunuch serving the Empress, arrived at the residence accompanied by more than a dozen Imperial Guards.

The imperial edict, drafted by the Secretariat Drafters, has been reviewed by the Chancellery and is now freshly issued.

The Empress met with the King of Zhao and personally instructed Gao Yanfu to deliver the imperial decree. He first went to the inn but did not find anyone. Then he went to look for Xue Zhihua and finally learned that Shen Xian was from the Shen family in Lanxi.

Gao Yanfu, dressed in a black cloak and wearing a wingless crown with the character "山" (mountain) on his head, sat upright on his horse, looking at the plaque that read "Shen Residence".

He thought to himself, "This Shen family of Lanxi is really incredibly lucky. Their son has been favored by the Empress Dowager. He's probably going to rise to prominence soon."

He dismounted his horse, followed by a large entourage of guards.

Gao Yanfu bypassed the ceremonial gate with its vines hanging down, and soon arrived at the front hall.

Accompanied by Shen Zheng and Shen Zhai, Shen Lin had no choice but to come out to greet them again. Upon seeing the newcomer, he was taken aback: "Eunuch Gao."

Gao Yanfu smiled and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Shen."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lin's face remained clouded with worry as he said, "Eunuch Gao, what joy could this old man possibly have?"

Shen Zhai was also completely bewildered, filled with doubt.

Shen Zheng and Shen Qian exchanged bewildered glances.

A thoughtful look appeared in Shen Zhai's eyes, then he suddenly exclaimed with delight, "Could it be that Father has been promoted?"

Shen Zheng and Shen Qian: "..."

Gao Yanfu did not answer directly. He smiled, took the yellow scroll from the guard beside him, and said loudly, "Shen Xian, receive the decree."

"Shen Xian? Receive the imperial decree?"

"What...what's going on?"

The people in the hall looked at each other and began to whisper among themselves.

Shen Zhai was also stunned and stood there, not understanding what was going on. He thought to himself, "So the matter of hiding a wanted criminal has indeed alarmed the Empress."

A glint of wisdom appeared in Shen Lin's aged eyes, and a bold guess vaguely arose in his mind.

Gao Yanfu frowned, looked at the stunned crowd, and asked, "Mr. Shen is not here? Elder Shen, why don't you invite Mr. Shen over?"

Mr. Shen...

Shen Lin frowned, his doubts deepening, and he was beginning to grasp a clue.

Summoning his courage, Shen Zheng stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and asked, "Eunuch Gao, Shen Xian is my nephew. I wonder what he has done to warrant such a decree from the palace?"

"What offense has he committed?" Gao Yanfu frowned, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. He had no choice but to raise his voice and say, "Mr. Shen has been appointed by the Empress as a scholar of the Zhaowen Pavilion and the commander of the Zhuque Division. He is about to be put to great use. How can you all be negligent? Hurry up and go invite Mr. Shen!"

Shen Zheng: "..."

Shen Qian, Shen Lin, and Shen Zhai: "???"

(End of this chapter)