Chapter 592: A Debt of Gratitude Too Great to Repay

Chen Chen Guanlou went to the Mu family clinic to visit the ailing Shen Yi.

After not seeing him for many days, Shen Yi's complexion had clearly improved, though he was still weak — it was obvious he had been ill. Still, his condition was far better than that day in the Heavenly Prison. He no longer looked like someone fated to die young.

The moment Shen Shen Buzhi saw him, he bowed deeply, offering a grand salute.

Chen Chen Guanlou had helped father and son immensely, and was even the boy's life-saving benefactor. A bow was nothing; kowtowing would have been only fitting.

Chen Chen Guanlou stepped aside slightly, accepting only half the salute.

"Brother Shen, how have you been lately? Are you getting used to the lodging?"

"Many thanks for your concern, my lord. Father and son are doing well. This time, it was entirely thanks to you and Physician Mu that my boy was able to keep his life."

"It was nothing — don't mention it. As long as Shen Yi can recover from his illness, that's enough. I just can't bear to see a child suffer. I heard your ancestors had an old connection with the Xu family?"

Shen Shen Buzhi visibly froze, never expecting Warden Chen to be so blunt with his questions. He was used to the roundabout, mind-twisting way of speaking, and truly could not adapt to this man's direct, plain-spoken, come-right-out-with-it manner.

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "There was an old connection, yes. But our two families cut ties long ago."

Chen Chen Guanlou smiled warmly. "I heard about you and your son's situation from Old Mu. I suspect Xu Jinsong has no idea that you've come to the capital seeking medical treatment."

Shen Shen Buzhi's face was a picture of bewilderment, utterly at a loss.

"Wei Wei Laosan of the Xu family is locked up in the Heavenly Prison right now. If you're willing, I can lend you a hand."

For an instant, Shen Shen Buzhi was visibly tempted.

But in the next breath, he shook his head and said firmly, "Many thanks for your kindness, Warden Chen, but there's no need."

Chen Chen Guanlou, however, did not give up. "If the Shen family wants to obtain a pardon, the best way is to ask Xu Jinsong for help. Take advantage of the new emperor's accession to settle this matter. Once you have the pardon, the Shen clan's descendants — whether they pursue the civil service examinations or take the martial path and join the army — will have a future to hope for. Far better than now, when you have ambitions and talents but no way to use them."

Not everyone is like Zheng Zheng Daochong — trampled underfoot yet able to rise again, backed by the Azure Cloud Sect, gaining power in one stroke and turning the world upside down.

If the Shen family wanted to turn their fortunes around, they could not walk Zheng Zheng Daochong's path; they could only take Xu Jinsong's route. They would have to count on Xu Jinsong, out of regard for old ties, to petition for a pardon edict on the Shen's behalf.

Shen Shen Buzhi's face flushed red, then redder still — both stirred and embarrassed.

The Xu family's gatekeeper had driven him away. He had his pride; how could he bring himself to darken their door again?

But the future of the Shen clan's descendants… Having finally made it to the capital, he ought to try his best, to fight for it.

"Why does Warden Chen want to help our Shen family? Warden Chen must know that our ancestors committed an offense, and it's hard for us to turn things around. Everyone else avoids us like the plague — why are you reaching out to help of your own accord?"

Chen Chen Guanlou said, "I won't hide it from you, Brother Shen. I went to the Ministry of Justice and looked through the case files of the late Lord Shen. Mhm, I imagine it caused quite a stir back then."

Some of the wording in the case was very careful, especially very guarded. But it still allowed Chen Chen Guanlou to glimpse a bit of the inside story: the case of the late Lord Shen was not merely about the theft of military pay — that was only the surface reason. At its core, it seemed to also implicate members of the imperial clan, the Crown Prince of those days — that is, the present Your Majesty — and the various factions behind the Imperial Princes. In short, the inside story was very complicated.

Was the late Lord Shen innocent, then?

He certainly got what he deserved.

But the case was already two or three decades past, and the late emperor was long dead and gone.

Shen Shen Buzhi said nothing, waiting to hear what came next.

Chen Chen Guanlou continued, "Actually, my real intention was to find something for the Xu family to do."

"Does Warden Chen have a grudge against the Xu family?"

"Not really. Before Wei Wei Laosan was thrown into the Heavenly Prison, I had never had any dealings with the Xu family."

"Then why?"

"I just find Wei Wei Laosan an eyesore."

At first, he had felt a kindred spirit in Wei Wei Laosan — the two of them were evenly matched in looks, and both were lechers. But as he came to know him better, he grew utterly contemptuous of Wei Wei Laosan's habit of taking without paying. Especially that mouth of his — even more venomous than his own.

Too much!

"Just for that?" Shen Shen Buzhi's face was full of astonishment; he simply could not understand.

"Of course not just for that. I have my own plans. Brother Shen, do you actually want the Shen family to obtain a pardon or not?"

"Naturally I do. But I don't want to owe the Xu family a favor, don't want to go through the Xu family's connections. No matter how fallen the Shen family is, we haven't sunk to the point of being shameless. To brazenly show up at their door — I'm afraid I cannot comply."

Scholars had this one bad trait — they cared too much about face, their pride was too strong.

People like that, once they entered officialdom, would suffer for it too.

"Fine then, not going through the Xu family is no big deal. I have another route that might be able to help you."

"Warden Chen's great kindness — I have no way to repay it." Shen Shen Buzhi rose at once to bow his thanks. "But you have already helped father and son so much; how would Shen dare shamelessly ask you to exert yourself further? Besides, our Shen family could never repay such an enormous debt of gratitude."

The kindness was too great to repay, so he refused.

Chen Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow — Shen Shen Buzhi had some backbone, it seemed. Looking at it this way, the Shen family's family traditions were not bad! With family traditions like these, the case of the late Lord Shen really did have a great deal more to it.

"How about this — I'll find a way to pass the news that you've come to the capital seeking medical treatment to Xu Jinsong. When the Xu family comes knocking, you help me slap the Xu family in the face — how about it?"

"And why is that?" Shen Shen Buzhi thought to himself: just how much must Warden Chen despise the Xu family, to go to such lengths making trouble for them?

Chen Chen Guanlou let out a sly chuckle. "Recently the Ministry of Justice is handling a big case, and I find Xu Jinsong something of an eyesore. It's just the usual officialdom business — don't ask about the specifics."

Shen Shen Buzhi, despite his puzzlement, agreed. "A trivial task — I will certainly see it done for Warden Chen." Slapping someone's face? He could do that.

Chen Chen Guanlou laughed. "Handle this matter well, and I'll look into your family's case for you. A pardon document — it's hard if you say it's hard, easy if you say it's easy. The key is finding the right person."

"No, no, no…" Shen Shen Buzhi hurriedly refused.

The kindness was too great — truly, he could not repay it.

In fact, the Shen family had already put down roots in Xizhou. Apart from the fact that their status barred them from the civil examinations and from joining the army to pursue an official career, the Shen family could teach, work as accountants, or serve as private secretaries — their lives were not luxurious but comfortable enough. Locally, they had also received the care and protection of local officials. Otherwise, how could he have smoothly brought his son all the way to the capital for treatment?

He figured: if he couldn't get the pardon, then at worst he'd accept his fate and put down permanent roots in Xizhou. With some maneuvering, he could have his descendants change their surname and identity, obtain commoner status, then sit for the examinations and pursue an official career. A roundabout rescue of the nation. Wait a few decades until everyone who knew the truth was dead, then change the surname back. Surely the ancestors would understand his difficulties.

Chen Chen Guanlou, seeing the other's firm refusal, did not press the matter.

Each person has their own fate!

Chen Chen Guanlou returned to the Heavenly Prison and went to see Wei Wei Laosan. "Do you know your family has some old relatives in Xizhou?"