227 · Bonus Chapter | Shen Xu and Shen Mao in Yongzhou
"Are you sure it will arrive today?"
"This man is the kind of person who kills without hesitation; we cannot be negligent."
At the end of March, local officials in Yongzhou received an urgent imperial edict and transfer order, which immediately put their relaxed nerves on high alert.
It would be fine to transfer a governor from the capital to govern Yongzhou.
Yongzhou has indeed been poorly governed in recent years, so the Emperor's anger is understandable. But why did His Majesty send this man here?!
With this guy coming, will they still have any good days left?
"Lord Qiu, I heard that when this gentleman went to Qingzhou, those who didn't come out of the city to greet him were all beheaded?"
Lord Qiu wiped the sweat from his brow and suddenly said, "Those who went to greet them, behead them too."
ah!
These words were met with a collective gasp, and everyone instinctively raised their sleeves to wipe their foreheads.
"This man killed over 120 officials in Qingzhou, and the Emperor didn't even utter a word of reprimand. Such imperial favor, sigh..."
Take care of yourself.
The days ahead are probably going to be tough.
"Isn't there a military supervisor?"
A military officer interjected.
The others nodded in agreement.
Yes.
There was also a military supervisor, which means that the emperor didn't truly trust Supervisor Shen.
Perhaps it was to consolidate control within the inner court, deliberately transferring people far away from the capital.
That must be it.
Otherwise, their lives would be very difficult. Speaking of military supervisors...
"Has Lord Qiu seen the military supervisor?"
They only saw the transfer order, and the name of the supervising officer was quite strange.
"Sinking Cat?"
Lord Qiu stroked his chin. He was from the capital and had been transferred to Yongzhou two years ago. He was more familiar with officials from the capital than others.
Even he had never heard of anyone named "Sinking Cat".
Could it be a typo in the Ministry of Personnel's transfer order?
"Sinking Cat? Sinking Cat?"
Someone burst out laughing: "Could it be a cat?"
This remark drew a burst of laughter.
Lord Qiu laughed and said, "Stop talking nonsense... Hu, wait a minute?!"
It seems that the man often has a cat by his side.
I heard that this cat is quite favored by the emperor and runs rampant in the palace.
No, no way!?
"They're here."
Someone suddenly whispered a reminder.
They quickly stood at attention, and soon, accompanied by the sound of horses' hooves, a group of people appeared on the horizon.
They straightened their clothes, lined up according to rank, and dared not utter a single word.
As the troops approached, they bowed deeply, their attitude extremely respectful.
"Your humble servant welcomes you..."
Before he could finish speaking, a cold, hard voice came from above: "The governor should go to Blackwater Fortress first. You may all leave."
Sheng Jiang sat on his black horse, looking down at them from above.
After saying that, he ignored them, pulled on the reins, turned around and left, leaving only the five hundred Imperial Guards who accompanied him to tidy up his master's residence.
Yongzhou is a dilapidated and remote place; I don't know if Master will be able to get used to living here.
Sheng Jiang didn't even glance at anyone, and he completely failed to notice the complex expressions on the faces of the officials when he mentioned "Blackwater Fortress." —Even if they had, he wouldn't have cared. Their master had come to reorganize Yongzhou; anyone who dared to harbor any ill intentions would be beheaded. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had executed officials before.
Seeing that Sheng Jiang had already ridden away alone, the officials looked at each other, their faces grim.
"Blackwater Fortress?"
Why did this gentleman suddenly become interested and go to Blackwater Fortress?
It's over!
The officials looked at each other.
"quick!"
In Yongzhou, who wouldn't know the name "Blackwater Fortress"?
After the massacre, Blackwater Fortress was shrouded in blood; just approaching it felt eerie and unsettling. Moreover, the city was smeared with blood—the blood of countless lives lost—as if etched into the city, impossible to erase.
Over time, Blackwater Fortress was abandoned.
Even now, it is just an abandoned city, with no human habitation for miles around. Even itinerant horse traders would rather sleep in the open than find a dilapidated house inside to rest for the night.
If that lord is dissatisfied with Blackwater Fortress, he will definitely take his anger out on them for not going to greet him, and they will all lose their heads!
They pulled horses and loaded carriages onto the horses, hurrying towards Blackwater Fortress.
Sandstorms raged.
Heishuibao City is located west of the Heihe River, built with its back to the river.
However, this Black River had already dried up during the previous dynasty.
Despite the clear blue sky, the weather suddenly darkened upon entering the territory of Blackwater Fortress.
It carried a chilling, bone-deep coldness.
"Meow!"
The cat, perched on the carriage window, gazed out with shining eyes, its golden eyes full of energy, showing no signs of fatigue from the long journey.
That's true.
This black lacquered carriage alone is large and spacious, and is extremely luxurious from the outside in. It also has the "spring" technology that Ji Nanke asked about for shock absorption, making it as comfortable as a small inn.
"stop."
Shen Xu's soft, feminine voice came from inside the carriage.
The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the city gate, with the four glass lanterns at the front and back swaying gently.
Shen Xu picked up the cat and stepped off the carriage using a footstool.
He stood in front of the city gate, raising his head and silently looking at the large characters "Blackwater Fortress".
It's been many years.
He no longer wanted to count how many years had passed.
Blackwater Fortress was just as I remembered, except that the city gate had faded and the surroundings were eerily quiet, giving it a desolate and uninhabited feel.
"Mmm?"
Seeing that he remained motionless for a long time, the tabby cat patted his cheek with its paw pads and then nudged his chin with its fluffy little head.
Its body temperature seemed to be the only warmth in this place.
Shen Xu took the first step forward.
He walked through the city gate.
A group of people surrounded him as they entered the abandoned city.
The stench of blood that filled the city had long since dissipated, but the blood-drawn runes on the city walls and house walls were still clearly visible.
Over the years, the blood turned dark red, spreading from the walls to the floor, leaving mottled marks everywhere.
It was shocking; one can easily imagine the horror of that time.
In such a city, these runes were drawn with the lives and blood of its inhabitants.
Shen Xu's face was gloomy, and his attendants dared not make a sound, even breathing softly. Only Shen Mao touched his cheek with her wet little nose.
Even after all these years.
Even though the city has changed drastically.
Even after entering the city, Shen Xu could still clearly picture everything that should have been around him.
He looked down at the cat and said, "This is a tofu pudding stand."
His older sister would always take him out to eat tofu pudding, and then he would be scolded by his mother for not being able to eat dinner. But as soon as they admitted their mistake and acted cute, his mother's face would no longer be stern, and she would smile beautifully.
"Xiangji Escort Agency".
The Yin family was just a small-to-medium-sized horse merchant family in Yongzhou, and they needed to hire escort agencies for their major business dealings.
Chief镖头 (head镖师) is my father's good friend...
Shen Xu glanced at the heads at the entrance of the escort agency, most of which were buried by sandstorms.
"Rouge Shop".
The owner is from Jiangnan, and my sister loves the rouge from her shop the most.
Shen Xu gripped the small jade pendant on his wrist tightly. The cool jade pendant pressed against the skin of his palm, and his fingers slowly caressed the runes on it.
"Silver Shop".
"Theatrical stage".
"Horse stable..."
Shen Xu once thought he loathed this city, but walking here, he realized that he had never forgotten it.
This place holds all his memories from his youth.
Everything had appeared in my midnight dreams.
The horse stable was the Yin family's horse stable, and beyond that...
Shen Xu walked into an alley, and a dilapidated courtyard with five sections came into view.
"I'm back."
Father, Mother.
Xian'er is back.
Shen Xu raised his hand, indicating that no one needed to follow.
He walked into the alley, pushed open the half-open gate of the mansion, and entered his childhood home.
Two years ago, my sister came back and collected all of our parents' scattered remains, burying them in the Yin family's ancestral graveyard.
He dared not come back.
It took him more than half an hour to walk from the front yard to the back yard, a small space.
"Meow?"
Shenmao's ears suddenly twitched, its Qilin tail flicked slightly, and it jumped out of his arms and ran ahead.
"Meow!"
She turned her head and urged him to catch up with her.
Shen Xu followed at a leisurely pace until they reached the northeast corner of the courtyard.
His steps suddenly stopped.
There is a dark room here.
Back then, their parents hid them, siblings and others, in a dark room, and then covered the door with their bodies and blood.
Today, pools of black blood remain around the dark room, and the surrounding flowers and plants have long since withered and decayed.
Shen Xu stood there, and after an unknown amount of time, he heard Shen Mao's excited meows.
*Smack*
The cat was in the corner, its body bent low, its two front paws trying to pry at something.
The stone made a slight knocking sound.
Shen Xu: "..."
Dig, dig, dig.
"Meow~"
Dig, dig, dig.
Shen Xu's eyes twitched, and the indescribable sorrow that had been settling in his heart gradually dissipated.
"Cat, come back."
The cat ignored him, happily scratching and scratching, its unicorn tail held high, swishing back and forth.
Shen Xu endured it for a long time before walking towards it.
"You're filthy."
Tabby cats are naturally beautiful and very resistant to dirt, but Shen Xu still couldn't stand it playing in the mud. Just as he was about to lift it up by the scruff of its neck, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he saw that the cat was standing on a silver hairpin under its paws.
A silver hairpin stained with blood.
Shen Xu's heart suddenly ached.
He picked up the silver hairpin with trembling hands, completely disregarding the dirt and bloodstains on it.
This is……
My mother's.
He and his sister bought it together with the New Year's money they had saved up on their mother's birthday.
The silver hairpin was engraved with his and his sister's names, which they had carved themselves.
Yan and Xian.
The day after my mother's birthday, bandits entered Blackwater Fortress...
A metallic taste rose in Shen Xu's throat as he murmured to himself.
"It's really ugly."
The tabby cat stared wide-eyed at the silver hairpin, its golden eyes unblinking, and then sniffed it with its little black nose.
"Meow~"
Shen Xu held it in his palm for a while, then took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped away the mud and blood. He then wrapped it in a new handkerchief and put it in his pocket.
The cat tilted its head to look at him, happily rubbing against him here and there.
Shen Xu gazed at the direction of the dark room one last time, then strode out, his clothes fluttering in the wind, and never looked back.
"master."
Sheng Jiang stood in front of the house waiting for him.
He had been standing there for over an hour, and when he arrived, he heard that his master had already gone inside.
He was one of the very few of Shen Xu's subordinates who knew these secrets, and he waited anxiously, intending to risk his life to go in and check if his master didn't come out soon.
Shen Xu didn't even glance at him.
Sheng Jiang smiled broadly and skillfully handed over a white handkerchief.
"My lord, all the officials from Yongzhou have arrived."
Shen Xu slowly and methodically wiped his hands, from the back of his hands to his palms, and then to each finger.
Upon hearing this, he raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I relayed your message that they didn't need to wait, but they all came running over." Sheng Jiang snorted inwardly. These officials from Yongzhou were all show-offs. Even though their master said he wouldn't see them, they still rushed over. They were definitely here to flatter him, and he couldn't afford to lose.
Shen Xu casually tossed the white handkerchief back to Sheng Jiang and stepped out of the alley.
The officials from Yongzhou had only just arrived and hadn't even had a chance to catch their breath when they saw him come out. They immediately perked up and greeted him in unison: "Your humble servants greet Your Excellency the Governor."
Shen Xu raised his peach blossom eyes slightly, neither calling out nor uttering any grand opening remarks.
A faint smile played on his lips as he coldly observed everyone.
Ten breaths passed.
There was still no sound of "No need for formalities." The officials kept their backs bowed, their hands still in a bowing position, and all they could see were the black boots under the fiery red robes, with gold-embroidered foxes on the boots, dazzling in the sunlight.
etc.
Sunlight?
Blackwater Fortress has been shrouded in dark clouds for years; where has the sunlight come from?
A cold laugh came from above, making them shiver, as if a chill rose from their spines and spread to their limbs.
I'd heard long ago that this man was unpredictable and capricious.
Is he angry at them, or at Blackwater Fortress?
"Meow!"
This was followed by a cheerful meow.
There's a cat?
Lord Qiu's back was really sore from bending over. He quietly rubbed his old back and carefully lifted his eyelids.
Suddenly, his breath hitched, and he instinctively straightened up, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
This is……
"Master Qiu, Master Qiu..."
Are you out of your mind?
A colleague gently tugged at his sleeve.
Master Qiu: "..."
He swallowed hard, his voice hoarse, and said, "Look."
What are you looking at?
Want to see how they die?
His colleague cautiously raised his eyes, and then, just like Lord Qiu, slowly straightened his back, not daring to blink.
This is……
Suddenly, the sunlight pierced through the thick, persistent clouds above Blackwater Fortress.
Wherever the sunlight touched, the blood-red runes that covered the entire city were visibly fading in color.
The officials of Yongzhou all knew that over the years, regardless of wind and rain, these strange lines and patterns had never faded even a little bit.
Now, it's as if an invisible hand is gently stroking the sky above the entire city, dispelling the gloom and darkness that filled it.
The wronged souls, cursed and trapped in this place for so long, can finally re-enter the cycle of reincarnation.
Sunlight.
It's warm now.
Shen Xu tilted his head back slightly, feeling the warmth of the sunlight on his body.
The gloomy city was brightened; the lingering dark clouds disappeared, replaced by long-awaited sunshine, bright and radiant.
"Meow~"
The cat tilted its head back, its eyes wide with surprise at what it had seen, and meowed happily at the sky.
Shen Xu patted its little head.
The cat squinted its eyes contentedly, making gurgling sounds in its throat.
Before the officials could recover from the shock of this miraculous event, they suddenly found a cold, sharp gaze fixed on them, and they all shuddered again.
Lord Qiu led the way, his voice trembling:
"This humble official has met you..."
Before they could finish speaking, Shen Xu spoke up calmly.
"This is the military supervisor, Shen Mao."
They naturally changed their address: "Greetings, Supervising Officer Chen Mao..."
"Meow!"
Huh?
cat? !
The sunlight warmed the cat's fur, making it glossy and shiny as if it were glowing.
Shen Mao pressed her little face against Shen Xu's cheek.
He will always be the best friend in the world to him.
"Meow!"
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