The Night Watcher of Great Jing - Chapter 64

After sharing the apple with Shen Yan, Zhao Li stood with him in the garden for a while without either of them saying a word. Only then did he lead her back to her rooms.

She assumed he had encountered some difficult problem and thought no more of it.

The next day, just as Shen Yan had predicted, an imperial decree arrived from the palace.

Shen Zhixing came to proclaim it.

Dressed in her fish-patterned uniform with black cloth still covering her eyes, Zhao Li knelt behind the incense table beside Shen Yan.

“Shen Yan of the Jingning Guard, receive the imperial decree.”

Shen Zhixing’s gaze swept over Zhao Li and Shen Yan.

“By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Shen Yan and Zhao Li of the Jingning Guard are hereby ordered to establish a new Night Watch Bureau beneath the Pacification Office’s Southern Third Division, to patrol the long night and deter all evils.”

The decree did not specify the exact duties of the Night Watch Bureau, but everyone present knew what it had been created to do.

Zhao Li knelt obediently. She did not possess the rebellious streak of those transmigrators who claimed they would kneel only to Heaven, Earth, and their parents.

The eunuch proclaiming the decree did not have the shrill voice they always had on television, either. His measured cadence was actually rather pleasant.

Even though Zhao Li tried to concentrate, the heap of classical phrasing in the decree still left her half dazed.

Taking advantage of the cloth over her eyes, she closed them and let her mind wander.

Only when her name was called did she jolt and hastily focus.

“A grave duty of the state must be entrusted to the worthy and capable. A-Li of the Zhao family has patrolled the night with solemn vigilance and struck fear into villains. By command of the Son of Heaven and in accordance with this decree, she is hereby promoted to Thousand-Household Commander of the Night Watch Bureau and charged with its leadership.”

“Zhao Li receives the decree.”

From above, Shen Zhixing watched Shen Yan reach out and help Zhao Li to her feet. A smile crept onto his face.

Shen Yan looked slightly uncomfortable under his uncle’s gaze, but he still took Zhao Li by the hand and guided her forward to accept the decree.

“A-Li, His Majesty also said that when you have time, you should visit the palace cattery and choose a cat.”

Shen Zhixing kindly placed the imperial decree in Zhao Li’s hands. By now, he was speaking entirely as an elder.

When he saw her confusion, he deliberately explained, “His Majesty loves cats. He had a cattery built in the palace to house prized breeds presented as tribute from every region. He gives them only to ministers close to him. His Majesty is very fond of you.”

Zhao Li had been wondering what sort of new social ritual this might be and what hidden scheme lay behind it. Only after Shen Zhixing’s explanation did understanding dawn.

“Thank His Majesty, and thank…”

She was still considering how to address him when Shen Yan said, “He is my uncle. You may call him Uncle as I do.”

Only then did Zhao Li understand why the man was so friendly, though she hesitated.

Would calling her superior’s uncle *Uncle* make her look too eager to curry favor?

But Shen Zhixing and Shen Yan had already exchanged a meaningful look.

“Hm?” Shen Zhixing gave a soft hum with his hands clasped behind his back. “Could it be that A-Li is unwilling?”

At that question, Zhao Li surrendered immediately.

“Uncle Shen!”

Countless people outside would kill for the chance to use that form of address. If she kept acting coy, she would only offend him.

Her thoughts were running wild, unaware that every turn of her mind was plain as day to a man like Shen Zhixing.

He chuckled. “Good girl, A-Li.”

With that, he pulled a luminous, water-clear jade pendant from his waist and had Shen Yan give it to her.

“A gift from Uncle.” Shen Yan held Zhao Li’s hand and placed the pendant in her palm. “Keep it.”

The jade felt smooth and richly lustrous beneath her fingers. Even without sight, she knew it had to be worth a fortune.

“Thank you, Uncle Shen.”

This time, her gratitude sounded considerably more heartfelt.

Shen Zhixing smiled. “Very well. You are injured, so rest properly. I must return and report to His Majesty.”

“A-Yan, remember to take A-Li to choose a cat another day.”

With that, he strode away.

“Take care, Uncle Shen.”

The promotion decree was clutched in Zhao Li’s left hand, Shen Zhixing’s jade pendant in her right. She beamed with delight.

Besides promising her a cat, the emperor had very sensibly rewarded her with fifty taels of gold.

At the current price of gold in Great Jing, that was worth roughly four hundred taels of silver.

Zhao Li intended to keep some on hand for daily expenses. The rest would be enough to rent a place of her own.

She could not go on living like a parasite, eating other people’s food and using other people’s things. It was no long-term solution.

That evening, when Shen Yan invited her to dinner again, Zhao Li told him what she planned.

For a long while, no answer came.

There was no one else around, so Zhao Li pulled the cloth from her eyes. After letting them adjust to the light, she saw Shen Yan’s dark expression in the candlelight.

“Is there something uncomfortable about your rooms? Or has someone said something to you?”

His face was as grim as deep water.

For some reason, Zhao Li instantly felt guilty.

Living here, she truly had everything brought to her hand and every meal placed before her. Across two lifetimes, she had never led such an idle existence.

Shen Yan even brought fresh novelties back from the palace for her—food, toys, useful objects, clothes, and jewelry.

He treated her better than her own father and brothers ever had.

She avoided his eyes without thinking. “No. Everything is wonderful. It’s just that I thought… it wasn’t right for me to keep living like this.”

Seeing her sit with her gaze lowered, refusing even to look at him, Shen Yan paused.

He restrained his expression, lifted his chopsticks, and placed some chilled five-pungent salad in her bowl.

“There is nothing wrong with it. No one will dare wag their tongue.”

She was not afraid of gossip.

Zhao Li stole a glance at his face and was about to say more when Shen Yan added a piece of braised pork knuckle to her bowl.

“Do not mention moving out again. Stay here and set your mind at ease.”

Zhao Li’s shoulders slumped.

Fine. It seemed her superior still did not trust her outside his sight.

And she had already severed her ties with the Zhao family.

Somewhat dejected, she lowered her head and shoveled rice into her mouth.

Shen Yan’s hand stiffened. Was she unhappy?

But allowing her to move out was impossible.

He gave a light cough. “Is the courtyard too cramped? Would you like me to have craftsmen expand it tomorrow?”

“They can rebuild it however you like.”

Zhao Li considered this.

That worked, too. If she could not live independently, at least she could score a custom-built place.

She raised her head. “Really?”

Seeing her brighten, Shen Yan relaxed. “Really. The buildings and furnishings will all follow your preferences.”

“Then… who’s paying?” Zhao Li was very concerned about that part.

Shen Yan arched a brow. Did that even need to be asked?

“It will come from my private purse.”

Zhao Li cheered at once. “Then I want a big kitchen.”

“Done.”

“And a pond!”

For koi and lotus flowers? Shen Yan nodded.

Then he heard Zhao Li add, “We can raise fish in it, so there’ll be fresh fish to eat every day.”

“And perhaps a study?” Zhao Li watched him carefully as she pushed her luck further. “With hydrangeas and roses planted all around it.”

When Shen Yan nodded again, she silently praised her boss’s generosity, then lowered her head to continue thinking.

The happier she became, the more ideas she had. At last, she ran to fetch brush and paper and began drawing them for him.

“The bedroom should be like this, facing south with its back to the north.”

Delighted at the prospect of getting her dream house for free, Zhao Li never noticed how attentively Shen Yan listened to every word of her rambling, or how his features softened in the warm golden candlelight.