Shao Jun

"I have traveled a long time, followed many roads and suffered much grief to find him. To learn his secrets before our enemies find us."

- Shao Jun regarding her search for Ezio Auditore.

Shao Jun (1505 - unknown) was an Assassin of the Chinese chapter of the order. Born into royal captivity during China's Ming Dynasty, Shao Jun was one of the preferred concubines of the Emperor Zhongde, and accompanied him during most his travels.

After the Emperor's death, Shao Jun was rescued by the Assassins, and then made into one of them. After a few years, Shao Jun and her mentor made an attempt to rescue the other concubines that Jun was with during most his life, however they were killed by order of the new Emperor, Jiajing.

Under the Emperor's order, most of the members of her order perished. Those who survived went into hiding, while others fled west. Jun and her mentor fled farther than most, arriving at Italy to seek the help of the legendary mentor Ezio Auditore da Firenze.

Early life
Shao Jun was born into royal captivity during the era of the Ming Dynasty, under the lackluster rule of Emperor Zhongde. Zhongde, known for his childish disposition and lack of interest for the urgent matters of the country, preferred Shao Jun as one of his concubines, after Jun has reached her teens. Living a decade of her life under Zhongde, she was able to travel to various places and got to meet many foreigners.

However, after Zhongde's death in April of 1521, the royal ministers scrambled and argued over who was to be his rightful successor. It was during this chaotic state that Shao Jun came into contact with the Assassins, and was rescued along with several other concubines after they broke into the royal palace.

Loyal immediately to her rescuers, Shao Jun dedicated her first years of freedom serving the Brotherhood that saved her.

Decline of the Chinese Assassins
After some years since her rescue, Jun and her mentor decided to rescue the other concubines who grew up with Jun. Breaking in to the Imperial Palace, Jun discovered most of her friends tortured and killed through Ling Chi ("slow slicing" or death by a thousand cuts), by order of Zhongde's nephew and successor, Jiajing.

Jiajing, who possessed the worst traits of Zhongde yet harbored none of his best, sought out to destroy any opposition against his rule, most especially the Assassins. Under Jiajing's order, majority of the Assassins in China were killed, and those who survived either went into hiding or fled to the west.

Shao Jun, along with her mentor, fled west like the other Assassins. Though they fled farther than most of their brothers, as the two sought out the Italian Assassin Ezio Auditore for help, in hopes that he might now how to restore their order.

Time in Italy
By 1524, Shao Jun and her mentor were able to make it as far as Venice, though the Imperial Soldiers sent to deal with them managed to catch up. Fending them off, Shao Jun's mentor was killed in the conflict, though ensured that she would be able to escape. Continuing onward, Shao Jun was then able to reach Ezio Auditore's villa.

First meeting and conversing with Ezio's daughter Flavia, Shao Jun was first seen as a threat by Ezio. After seeing the Assassin insignia on her necklace, Ezio lets his guard down. Later that day, Ezio and his wife Sofia confronted Jun, who asked him for aid in restoring her order. Ezio, who has retired from his life as an Assassin, refused to aid her and asks her to leave. Sofia, seeing that Shao Jun has come a long way, asks her to stay for supper, and allows her to stay with them for a while. Shao Jun thanks her, and accepts her offer.

The next day, Shao Jun searches through Ezio's study and reads some of his writings. Ezio, who found her there without his knowledge, angrily tells her to leave. Afterwards, Shao Jun was told by Ezio to leave Italy entirely, stating that she's wasted her time. Jun, reciting a portion of Ezio's writing, states that all she wanted was to understand her order like he does. Ezio, stating why he's so reluctant to help, would then ask her to come with him to Florence while he runs some errands.

There, Shao Jun observed the crowd as Ezio attended to his errands. Afterwards, Ezio takes Jun to the Palazzo della Signoria, where half of his family were killed. There, he taught Ezio how the Assassins live their lives: through pain, in order to end the pain. After the lecture, Ezio and Jun prepare to leave Florence, though they were intercepted by one of the Imperial Guards who were after Jun. Dealing with guard, Ezio and Jun fled the city. On the way to Ezio's villa, Shao Jun explained her plight and who were those after her. Afterwards, Ezio tells Sofia to bring their children to Machiavelli's place while he and Jun stay to deal with the Imperial soldiers. That night, Ezio would lecture Jun on how he's defeated the Borgia through the means of fraternity and love, and how he reformed the brotherhood in both Rome and Constantinople. Afterwards, Shao Jun rests at the upper floor of the villa while Ezio stays in the living room.

Later that night, the villa was invaded by the Imperial soldiers, just as Ezio had predicted. With Shao Jun, the two fended off most of the soldiers, with Ezio saving Jun from cannon fire from one of the soldiers. Taking the fight outside, both Jun and Ezio worked together to deal with the last soldier. Eventually, the two were able to defeat the last soldier.

Departure
The day after, Shao Jun prepares to leave Italy. Ezio states that the trip back to China would be long, but Jun states that it will be worthwhile, with so much to see along the way. Thanking Ezio, Jun prepares to leave.

Ezio, before Jun left, gives her a small chest that contained something that can aid her, stating that she should only open it when she loses her way. As government guards arrive on horseback, Ezio bids that Shao Jun should leave before they arrive. Jun would then leave the vicinity, and prepare to head back to China.

Equipment
Shao Jun was equipped with a Chinese jian as primary weapons. She had no hidden blade, though she had three throwing needles tucked under bracers as secondary weapons. She also had a concealed knife under her right foot that she used in tandem with her acrobatic skills against enemies.

Trivia

 * In her database entry, it states that Shao Jun met Ezio in Florence. However, in Embers, Ezio's villa was located in Tuscany.
 * A replica of Shao Jun's necklace is being sold in Ubiworkshop's store, for 24.99 US Dollars.
 * Both Shao Jun and Flavia Auditore had the same voice actor.