The Night Watcher of Great Jing - Chapter 61

Lin Zhu stormed away from Lin Jiaoniang’s quarters and ran into Zhao Huai on the way out.

“Father-in-law.”

Zhao Huai wore ordinary clothes, and there was a faint smell of wine about him.

The Censorate had impeached him over Zhao Li’s severance from the family. Emperor Longqing had never liked the way the Zhao family had recently rushed about taking sides, either, so he had seized on the matter as an excuse to order Zhao Huai home for reflection.

Being told to reflect at home was a light punishment, but the imperial order had unquestionably confirmed a blemish on Zhao Huai’s character.

His official career would most likely go no further. If things went badly, even the future of his eldest son, Zhao Kaiyang, might be affected.

That was something Zhao Huai could not accept. Whether he schemed to marry Zhao Yaoguang into a powerful family or risked the taboo of openly choosing a political faction, had he not done it all to gain a path upward?

He had spent a long time brooding at home. When he heard Lin Zhu had come today, he hurried over to see him, hoping his venerable father-in-law, a Grand Secretary of the cabinet, might lend him a hand and win him some room to maneuver.

Lin Zhu was already in a foul mood. When he drew near and caught the faint scent of wine, he could not help giving a cold snort.

“Lord Zhao seems to be enjoying his leisure.”

Zhao Huai hastily clasped his hands and apologized. “Please stay, Father-in-law. Let the whole family share a simple meal.”

“Kaiyang has some lessons he wants to ask you about. And Yaoguang—she has just brewed a jar of peach blossom wine as a gift for her grandfather. It would be the perfect chance for the family to sit down together.”

When Zhao Huai mentioned Zhao Kaiyang, Lin Zhu had wanted to ask how well the young man was recovering. But then came Zhao Yaoguang and the words *the family*. The anger he had only just managed to suppress surged up again.

“I have no appetite.” Lin Zhu moved to leave, then remembered something. “Has A-Li’s name been entered into the clan register?”

Zhao Huai froze, unable to understand why his father-in-law had suddenly asked about Zhao Li. Then he thought of Zhao Li joining the Jingning Guard.

His father-in-law was stubbornly upright. Having a younger member of the family join the Jingning Guard must have infuriated him.

Thinking he understood, Zhao Huai hurriedly said, “No! We brought her home, but her name was never entered in the genealogy. We would never allow her to disgrace the family name.”

Lin Zhu took a deep breath before asking, “She was home for four months. Why did you not open the ancestral hall at New Year and enter her name?”

A placating smile appeared on Zhao Huai’s face. “Yaoguang had always been listed as the legitimate eldest daughter. That wretch refused to accept it and insisted that we strike Yaoguang’s name and replace it with hers.”

“Jiaoniang and I discussed it and decided to delay the matter, to teach her a lesson.”

Lin Zhu no longer had the strength even to rage. He stared at the man before him for a long while before finally sighing.

“Forget it. You simply were not blessed with such fortune.”

Chaos was coming. How could Zhao Li’s value possibly be compared to that of a sheltered girl like Zhao Yaoguang, whose only usefulness lay in a marriage alliance?

The Zhao family could have used her support to rise straight to the top.

“What?” Zhao Huai did not understand why his father-in-law was behaving this way.

Seeing the anger fade from Lin Zhu’s face, he thought he had guessed correctly. He was about to invite him to stay for dinner again when Lin Zhu said, “In that case, bring me A-Li’s household registration.”

“If the relationship is severed, then sever it completely. Fetch brush and paper. With me as witness, draw up a formal deed of severance, then sign it and affix your thumbprint.”

If the situation could not be repaired, he could at least give Zhao Li a final push forward. He would not allow these people another chance to tie her hands.

Once the kinship was severed in full, filial duty could no longer be used to control her.

It was the only thing he, an unworthy elder, could still do for her.

Zhao Huai had no idea what was in his mind. He merely assumed Lin Zhu wanted to expel Zhao Li from the family for good, and he had no reason to hesitate.

He invited Lin Zhu to sit in the front hall, ordered servants to fetch brush and paper, then swept his brush across the page and produced a lengthy document.

Lin Zhu took it with an expressionless face, read it once, and tore it apart.

“Write it again. Do not lay the cause or the blame at A-Li’s feet. You failed her as parents.”

Only then did Zhao Huai sense something was wrong, though he still could not tell what. But Lin Zhu’s face was so grim that he did not dare ask. Following his instructions, he wrote a new document.

After it had been signed and sealed, he handed both it and Zhao Li’s household registration papers to Lin Zhu.

Lin Zhu examined both with care before tucking them safely into his sleeve. “Now that the relationship is severed, she is no longer connected to you. Stop calling her a wretch at every turn.”

With that, Lin Zhu rose and left.

Zhao Huai remained where he was, completely unable to fathom what his father-in-law was thinking.

…

The next day, the deed of severance, Zhao Li’s household registration, and a jade bracelet of exceptional clarity were delivered together to the Pacification Office.

They came into Shen Yan’s hands.

He arched a brow, tucked the items into his robes, and made his way to the Pear Garden Courtyard.

Zhao Li’s sight would not return until that afternoon, so the strip of cloth still covered her eyes. With Matron Wan beside her, she sat in the courtyard eating snacks and drinking tea, the visiting cat nestled in her lap.

Matron Wan saw Shen Yan from a distance and was about to greet him when he waved a hand, signaling her to remain silent.

Understanding at once, Matron Wan retreated on quiet feet.

Zhao Li’s senses were not particularly sharp. She went on stroking the cat in her lap, utterly unaware that Shen Yan had approached.

He stood over her and watched. She was humming something under her breath, one hand scratching gently beneath the cat’s chin.

From where Shen Yan stood, all he could see was the soft crown of her head.

A breeze swept past. Zhao Li sniffed lightly, started, and raised her head.

“Lord Shen?”

What was her superior doing standing there without a sound? If the wind had not carried his scent toward her, she would never have noticed him.

“Mm.” Shen Yan lowered the hand he had raised. “The Lin residence sent over the formal deed severing your family ties, along with your household registration.”

Zhao Li froze, then brightened. A formal deed was far more reliable than a spoken agreement.

Her household registration, on the other hand, hardly mattered. She had already joined the Jingning Guard and was now, at any rate, a sixth-rank Hundred-Household Commander. She might even earn another promotion before long.

Household registration and taxation could no longer affect her.

Delighted, Zhao Li stretched out both hands, forgetting that she still could not see.

“Let me see, let me see.”

Shen Yan placed the items in her palms.

Along with the document, Zhao Li felt a cool jade bracelet. She caught it in the crook of her thumb and forefinger, puzzled.

“Your grandfather gave it to you,” Shen Yan said.

Zhao Li went still and hesitated.

Emotionally, she wanted to ask Shen Yan to send it back. She did not want anything from those people.

Rationally, however, the bracelet felt decidedly expensive.

After a brief struggle, Zhao Li held it out to Shen Yan.

“Could I trouble you to return it for me, Lord Shen?”

Then she heard Shen Yan give a soft laugh. “All right.”

“How are your eyes today?” he asked.

“Fine. The medicine will wear off tonight.”

Zhao Li carefully tucked the deed and her household registration close against her body. She was about to say something more when footsteps sounded in the distance.

A guard came to report. “Lord Shen, Hundred-Household Commander Zhao—the torture chamber at the Imperial Prison reports that one of the prisoners has talked.”