On the fourth day after Shen Qian’s death, the Court of Judicial Review notified his family members to come and claim his remains.
At that time, no one yet knew that the Shen clan would ultimately be completely exterminated, nor did anyone know that this Lord Shen actually had no more “family members.”
The steward of the Shen mansion accompanied Shen Qian’s elder brother to the Court of Judicial Review, claimed his corpse, returned to discuss matters, and buried Shen Qian in the Shen family ancestral grounds, conducting the funeral according to family customs.
Three generations of the Shen clan had served as officials in court, with flourishing branches and leaves. Though Shen Qian was not from the direct lineage and had not inherited his ancestors’ noble title, this branch of his still had considerable standing in the Shen mansion. During his lifetime, Shen Qian had served as Minister of Rites, one of the Six Ministries—his official rank was by no means low. Therefore, regarding Shen Qian’s burial, no one in the Shen mansion dared show any negligence. All proper ceremonies were observed, all who should come did come, and since it was the funeral of a Minister of Rites, many colleagues also came to pay their respects.
However, though this Lord Shen had done well as an official, his life had been quite regrettable—he had lost his wife in his early years and his daughter in his later years. After death, he had no close relatives to see him off, only clan members to handle arrangements, which inevitably made those present sigh with emotion.
But when asked whether Lord Shen had left any descendants, the people of the Shen mansion kept their mouths tightly sealed.
The Shen mansion was not large, but it had all necessary facilities. Though it couldn’t be called a great household, it was still a scholarly family. On this day, having returned from burying Shen Qian, all members of the household, big and small, gathered in the front courtyard to discuss matters—mainly to deliberate how to handle the properties Shen Qian had left behind. By rights, Shen Qian’s official salary and savings should belong to his descendants, but now with Shen Xiling missing without a trace, they didn’t know what to do.
The current head of the Shen mansion was Shen Qian’s cousin Shen Hu, who held a low official position and was somewhat miserly by nature. Privately, he probably coveted Shen Qian’s salary and savings greatly. Besides Shen Hu, Shen Qian had two other cousins, Shen Lin and Shen Zan, who also held minor positions in court and could be considered good families.
Shen Hu sat in the main seat, with his wife Guo Shi beside him. Both sat upright and proper, quite dignified. Shen Qian’s two cousins Shen Lin and Shen Zan sat to the sides, also with their wives beside them. Besides these, the Shen mansion had some other Shen clan members—over ten men and women of various ages, all sitting and listening to Shen Hu speak.
Shen Hu cleared his throat and said: “Though Shen Qian was my cousin, his property cannot be left to waste. Everyone knows that before Shen Qian died, he said his daughter was already dead. Since he now has no descendants, his property should be incorporated into our Shen family’s clan assets.”
Guo Shi chimed in from the side: “Exactly so. Those farmlands, houses, and the salary silver he accumulated over the years—we can’t just leave them sitting there.”
Shen Hu nodded in agreement and continued: “Though Shen Qian’s dying words were that his daughter was dead, there’s no corpse as proof after all. If that Shen Xiling suddenly returns someday, it would be hard for us to explain. I’m thinking—why don’t we do this: let’s first organize Shen Qian’s inheritance clearly, so clan members can each get a share, rather than leaving it to go moldy. As for his daughter, if she’s still alive, when she returns, we can still leave her something.”
Upon hearing this, the clan members below all found it reasonable and nodded in agreement.
Shen Lin suddenly said: “Elder Brother speaks very reasonably, but… there are some rumors at court now, suggesting another explanation for Shen Qian’s death.”
Shen Hu frowned and asked: “What explanation?”
Shen Lin answered: “A few days ago I heard people say that Shen Qian didn’t die of illness in the Court of Judicial Review’s prison, but rather… he had committed a crime.”
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked, and Shen Hu was greatly alarmed, urgently asking: “What crime?”
Shen Lin said: “I don’t know the details, only heard it said… it was a great crime deserving clan extermination.”
Shen Hu and Guo Shi looked at each other, both pale as earth.
Clan extermination—what did that mean? Clan extermination meant complete family execution. If Shen Qian had truly committed a crime deserving clan extermination, then everyone in their Shen mansion…
Shen Hu immediately said loudly: “Impossible! Though Shen Qian was weak in character, he was always cautious. How could he possibly commit a crime deserving clan extermination! Where did you hear such rumors?”
Shen Lin glanced at everyone and said quietly: “I work at the Ministry of Revenue. A few days ago I heard colleagues chatting, saying that the Court of Judicial Review has begun inventorying Shen Qian’s family assets…”
“Inventorying family assets?” Shen Hu was even more alarmed. “Why inventory family assets?”
Shen Lin answered: “If he hadn’t committed a crime deserving property confiscation and clan extermination, why would the government need to inventory family assets?”
Shen Hu was so frightened he broke out in cold sweat. He turned to look at Shen Zan and asked: “Third Brother, have you heard anything about this?”
Shen Zan worked at the Ministry of Works, also as a minor official. Hearing this, he shook his head: “I’ve heard nothing, but… since Second Brother mentioned it, I recall something. A few days ago I wanted to visit some of Shen Qian’s former colleagues, but discovered they all seemed to be deliberately avoiding us.”
Guo Shi urgently said from the side: “If Shen Qian really committed a crime deserving clan extermination, wouldn’t we be implicated?”
Shen Hu’s wife’s words reminded everyone. All in the hall were greatly shocked. Though the Shen mansion wasn’t Shen Qian’s direct lineage, they were still of the same clan. If Shen Qian had committed a crime deserving clan extermination, these clan members might not meet good ends either.
Shen Hu gritted his teeth and said: “Things have come to this point. Further worrying is useless. We’d better quickly think of countermeasures.”
Guo Shi urgently said: “What countermeasures could there be? In my opinion, we should quickly dispose of Shen Qian’s properties—transfer what can be transferred, hide what can be hidden, so we won’t have nothing when the court comes to confiscate everything.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Hu felt his wife spoke reasonably. These properties now belonged to them. If the court really came to confiscate property, perhaps this could leave their family a way out.
He asked Shen Lin again: “Second Brother, do you know when the court will issue the edict?”
Shen Lin shook his head: “How could I know such things? I only heard… preparations are already underway.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Hu immediately slammed the table and stood up: “If that’s the case, we can’t wait any longer! Starting today, we’ll transfer what properties of Shen Qian’s we can. First hide away the gold, silver, and valuables, then sell off everything else that can be sold, and hide the proceeds too. If any clan members have connections, they should also try to find ways to smooth things over.”
All the clan members agreed and immediately began taking action.
However, just as the Shen mansion began transferring family assets, the imperial edict from the palace arrived—Criminal minister Shen Qian had collaborated with enemies and betrayed the nation. According to law, his entire family should be executed and three generations of relatives exterminated. This was to be carried out immediately.
With the edict’s arrival, everyone in the Shen mansion was executed without exception.
Shen Hu’s family, along with brothers Shen Lin and Shen Zan, plus over ten other clan members in the Shen mansion, were all taken to the execution ground and beheaded for public display.
Before execution, Shen Hu thought of those family assets that hadn’t been transferred in time. His heart was full of unwillingness, but he could only blame himself for acting too slowly.
Until his death, he never understood how Shen Qian, such a weak and incompetent person, could have committed such a great crime as collaborating with enemies and betraying the nation.
That day, blood flowed like rivers in Jiankang City. The entire Shen clan was truly wiped out—not even chickens and dogs were spared.
The next day, another imperial edict came down—anyone related to the Shen clan by marriage would also be executed by association.
Thus, anyone who had marriage connections with the Shen family—whether women who had married into the Shen family, men who had married Shen family women, or their descendants—all had to be executed.
This caused a sensation throughout Jiankang City.
In over a hundred years since Great Liang’s founding, though there had been clan extermination punishments before, this was the first time like the Shen family’s—three generations completely destroyed with marriage relations executed by association.
All officials felt endangered, fearing they would be next.
Among the common people, the Shen family’s affairs became the sole topic of conversation over tea and meals.
Some said Shen Qian had secretly communicated with Northern Wei, planning inside-outside coordination. Some said Shen Qian had privately communicated with an enemy nation’s princess. Some said Shen Qian had leaked all national secrets to Northern Wei… In short, there were various theories, but no one knew the truth.
However, no matter what, from this point on, there was not a single living member of the Shen clan left in this world.
Shen Xiling knew nothing of all these external events.
After she collapsed while kneeling before Fenghe Garden’s gates, in her hazy consciousness she felt someone lift her up and seemed to hear some conversation, but she was truly too exhausted, her mind foggy, unable to hear clearly.
When she woke again, she was already lying in a warm room.
The room wasn’t large, but it was kept very clean. She lay on the bed covered with thick cotton quilts, with a brazier of charcoal beside the bed, making the room as warm as spring.
She propped herself up to sit, only then discovering a young woman of about twenty sitting beside the bed. She had delicate features and, seeing Shen Xiling awake, said gently: “You’re finally awake. I was worried you might never wake up.”
Shen Xiling looked around and asked in confusion: “Where is this…?”
The woman smiled: “This is Fenghe Garden. I’m called Yi Xiang, a maid serving Second Young Master.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Xiling immediately tried to get out of bed: “I… how could I be here? I must leave immediately.”
Yi Xiang quickly held her down: “Don’t move yet—your body hasn’t fully recovered. Young Master said you should rest here for these few days, and we’ll discuss other matters when you’re well.”
Shen Xiling was very uneasy: “But I… how could I stay in Young Master’s mansion?”
Yi Xiang said: “What’s so important about that? You’re just a little girl, and it’s not like Young Master’s mansion has no female family members. Besides, you’re so ill—we can’t just drive you out to die outside, can we?”
Shen Xiling stopped insisting and quietly lay back down.
Seeing her settle down, Yi Xiang said gently: “You rest and recover well. I’ll go cook some porridge for you.”
With that, she turned and left the room.
Shen Xiling lay alone on the bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze. She had come to Fenghe Garden to plead for mercy, but instead had been taken in. Her heart was full of complex emotions.
She didn’t know why Qi Ying had changed his mind, nor did she know how to repay this life-saving grace.
What she knew even less was that at this very moment, earth-shaking changes were occurring in the outside world, and her background was about to be exposed before everyone.