The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 025 Tang Shen, Tang Jingze Part 2

Tang Shen spent his second year in Gusu City reviewing manuscripts for the Xixia Cup Essay Competition.

During the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, lanterns were everywhere in Gusu City. At temple fairs and in rivers, there were exquisite lanterns everywhere. Tang Shen took Tang Huang to the temple fair to guess lantern riddles. The little girl had been studying for a year. Although Accountant Lin only taught some basic words, Tang Huang learned very quickly, and now she could guess correctly on a lot of these lantern riddles.

The Xixia Cup Essay Contest had ended, and the first place turned out to be a scholar from a poor family. He wrote a story about a scholar and a lady, and he was the only scholar from a poor family among the top five. Normally it stood to reason that with so many people writing about romances between a scholar and a lady that the people in Gusu would be tired of reading them and would rarely vote for such stories. However, even Tang Shen didn't expect that this scholar would actually write a story about a scumbag and a b*tch!

In a short story of only 5,000 words, this scholar described a handsome scholar who was extremely scumbag and a rich young lady who was extremely b*tchy. With dog blood and drama going hand in hand, it tormented the readers and made them scream with pleasure, and finally resulted in his votes taking him to the top.

Tang Shen bought a lantern, but before he gave over the money, he heard a passerby say: "That scholar Zhang just has a good-looking face. He was once a poor scholar. If Lin Xiaoxiao hadn't given him the money to go to the capital to take the exam, could he have become the zhuangyuan? But he actually looked down on and bullied Lin Xiaoxiao to that extent, is he still a human being!"

"Yes! In the end, Lin Xiaoxiao got an incurable disease. Seeing the scholar Zhang kneeling in front of her bed crying, this is my favorite ending."

Even though thousands of years have passed, readers’ tastes have never changed!

"That story about scholar Zhang and Lin Xiaoxiao is that good? I don't think so."

Hearing this, Tang Shen lowered his head and looked at Tang Huang in surprise: "Ah Huang, have you read that story?"

Tang Huang suddenly felt guilty, but then she said confidently: "Why, can't I read the articles published in books and newspapers?"

Tang Shen said nothing. He looked at the little girl meaningfully. Walking to a stall that made rabbit lanterns, Tang Shen carefully selected and picked out the most exquisite red-eared rabbit lantern. He paid the money and gave the lamp to Tang Huang. The little girl only thought it was a gift from her brother. This rabbit lantern was the most beautiful one in the whole stall.

Tang Shen suddenly said: "You will definitely not win the luminous cup, you are still too far off. This rabbit lantern is a consolation prize."

Tang Huang was stunned. She raised her head and looked at Tang Shen in a daze.

After a long while, she said: "Brother, how did you know that I also wrote a manuscript?"

Tang Shen laughed and flicked her forehead with his finger: "Can I not see that bad handwriting of yours and guess whose hand it is written from?"

"..."

"Tang Shen!!!"

"...Are you crying?"

"No wait, Tang Huang, why are you crying?"

Tang Shen suddenly panicked. He knelt down nervously and tried to coax her, but Tang Huang just ignored him. Not far away, Yao San and Aunt Yao smiled knowingly when they saw this scene. "I have never seen the little boss in such a panic. He really loves Ah Huang."

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, classes at Ziyang Academy resumed.

Early in the morning, Tang Shen got up. He did not go to the academy, but went to Liang Manor with a New Year's gift.

Two days ago, sir just came back from Jinling City, and Tang Shen didn't bother him. Yesterday was the Lantern Festival, and his teacher was busy with various affairs in Gusu City, so Tang Shen didn't come to visit. Today, he came to Liang Manor with some essential oils and soaps from Zhenbao Pavilion, as well as some pen and ink inkstones given by Madam Tang and said to be brought by someone all the way from Shengjing.

When Tang Shen arrived, Steward Liang was not there, but the doorman already knew him and let him in directly.

Liang Song was originally from Gusu. This garden manor was not the official residence where the governor of Gusu lived, but the old residence of the Liang family in Gusu. After entering the door, walking left and entering the archway, one would see a pond with blue waves. Nineteen camellia trees were planted beside the pond. Withered and broken lotus leafs floated on the pond. Fortunately, there was a heavy snowfall last night. The silver snow coated the square stones by the pool and covered the flowerless camellia branches, giving the beauty of the white snow as flowers.

When Tang Shen crossed the pond and came to Liang Song's study, he almost slipped and fell. He raised his head and happened to see the steward coming out of the study. Tang Shen called him, and the steward looked at him blankly, as if he didn't know why he came here. When he saw the gift box in Tang Shen's hand, the steward bowed and said, "Young Tang gongzi, daren is inside. You are here suddenly, would you like me to let him know."

It was rude to come to the door without asking.

Tang Shen nodded, and the steward went in to inform, and soon let Tang Shen in.

It was cold before frost and cold after snow.

It was so cold outside that Tang Shen's hands turned purple. He entered the study, where a basin of silver charcoal was burning in the hollow heater in the center of the room. When Liang Song saw Tang Shen shivering from the cold, he laughed, handed him the portable heater in his hand, and said, "Isn't it time to go to the academy? Why are you here?"

Tang Shen took the heater and Liang Song waved him over to sit down, so he sat down obediently.

Liang Song poured him a cup of tea: "Drink the hot tea."

Tang Shen took a big sip and felt warm in his heart. He held the heater in his hands and felt warm too. He said aggrievedly: "I came to see you. Sir is the governor of Gusu Prefecture. You have to go to Jinling Prefecture to apply for office during the New Year and will not come back until the Lantern Festival. After you come back, you still have to take care of matters regarding the lantern temple fair in Gusu City. Aren't I just missing you? Well, I came as soon as sir is free, don’t you welcome me, sir?”

Liang Song looked at him intently and sighed: "You little boy, I heard others say that you are the majestic boss Tang of Zhenbao Pavilion and Xixia Tower. Bu why do you act like a rascal and pretend to be a child every time you come to my place?"

Tang Shen thought to himself: Because you like it!

Tang Shen: "I'm only fifteen, I'm just a child."

Liang Song nodded and said, "Yes, you are fifteen, the time to get married and have children."

Tang Shen: "..."

"Sir, you are bullying me!"

Liang Song laughed.

But after laughing, Liang Song said seriously: "You are fifteen, and you will also take the xiangshi examination this year. After passing the xiangshi, you will go to Shengjing next spring. You are fifteen, and you are a handsome young gentleman."

Tang Shen: “Handsome is true. As for a gentleman... I didn't say that I wanted to be a gentleman."

"Begone with you!"

“Ai!"

Liang Song: "Come back!"

Tang Shen came back again.

This time Liang Song's expression was much more serious, and Tang Shen gradually sat upright, not daring to be careless.

Liang Song: "You are already fifteen, and there is not much left that I can teach you as a teacher. I am just your guide when it comes to learning. How you go on to learn more is ultimately up to you. If you just want to be a juren, there is no need to study further. Two springs and winters have passed since we met in Zhao Family Village two years ago."

Tang Shen asked strangely: "Why did you suddenly bring this up, sir?"

"A leader who has no seriousness of purpose lacks dignity and a solid foundation for learning. I would like to give you a courtesy name." (TN: Analects of Confucius)

"Courtesy name?" Tang Shen was surprised.

In ancient times, men usually picked their courtesy names at the crowning ceremony at the age of twenty. Why did sir suddenly want to pick his courtesy name?

Liang Song glanced at him: "What are you thinking? You have been a rascal since you were a child. I give you a courtesy name to let you study hard and be a good person. Do you understand?"

Tang Shen: "..."

"I don't think I've been all that bad..."

"What are you mumbling about?"

Tang Shen: "No! Nothing!"

Upon choosing a courtesy name, Liang Song thought about it carefully and said, "Your name is Tang Shen, which means to be careful in your words and deeds, then how about you be called Jin Yan?"

"Tang Jinyan?" Tang Shen repeated it twice to himself, "I think it's good."

Liang Song snorted coldly: "I'm afraid you will think it's good no matter what I come up with."

Tang Shen chuckled.

Anyway, with Liang Song's knowledge and reputation, it was impossible to choose a random name for him, and it will definitely be a good name, so he didn't have to worry at all.

"Let us call you Jing Ze."

Tang Shen was stunned: "Jing Ze, what does it mean?"

Liang Song: "You have always been careful in your words and deeds and never made mistakes. I have never worried about you on this point. As for Jing Ze... you can go and ponder on your own."

Tang Shen was very aggrieved: "I have never seen anything like this. Picking a name but not saying the meaning. Why are you like this, sir!"

"You are not knowledgeable enough and cannot understand. And you blame me?"

"Sir, you are bullying me again!"

Liang Song laughed and scolded: “Begone you!"

Tang Shen snorted, turned and left. It was indeed time to go to the academy to attend classes.

When he walked to the door of the study room, Liang Song asked: "By the way, who is teaching at Ziyang Academy today."

Tang Shen turned around and said, "It seems to be Qian Sinian, Lecturer Qian."

Liang Song: "Lecturer Qian is good at "Spring and Autumn", you should listen carefully."

Tang Shen: "In the whole of Gusu City, the one who is best at "Spring and Autumn" is my teacher."

Liang Song laughed: "Flatterer!"

Tang Shen chuckled and thought: Don't you like me flattering you?

After drinking a cup of hot tea at Liang Manor and hugging the heater, Tang Shen no longer felt cold. Along the way, he kept thinking: "What does Jing Ze mean? Sir would never choose a name for me randomly. There must be a reason for him to choose this name. Jing Ze, Jing Ze... what does it mean?"

Arriving at Ziyang Academy, Sun Yue had taken out the “Gongyang Commentary" and was reading it over and over again.

Tang Shen came and sat down next to him: "They say to cram at the last minute, Fatty Sun, you are cramming very early, there are still eight months left."

Sun Yue said in annoyance: "I am not you, Tang sanyuan. If I want to pass the exam next year, I have to work hard. I finally know who the examiner is in advance, so of course I have to take the right medicine. In all likelihood, Grand Secretary Luo will come up with questions related to the "Gongyang Commentary"."

"Sun Yue, why are you still thinking about Grand Secretary Luo?"

Tang Shen and Sun Yue raised their heads together. The person speaking was a xiucai from a scholarly family. He turned around and sighed: "Last year we all said that this year's autumn examiner would be Grand Secretary Luo. It's true, it should be him. But Sun Yue, don't read "Gongyang Commentary" now. Grand Secretary Luo can no longer be our examiner."

Sun Yue: "What? Why not? They said it was him and now they say it isn't him. What do you mean?"

The xiucai said: "You don't know yet? Grand Secretary Luo committed suicide yesterday! I heard that he committed suicide in his study in the early hours of yesterday morning, and he was not discovered until midnight."

Sun Yue's eyes widened: "No way!"

Tang Shen: "Suicide? Why did Grand Secretary Luo kill himself?"

The xiucai sighed: "Why else? Late the night before yesterday, I heard that Zhong daru passed away in prison! Grand Secretary Luo was Zhong daru's student and his loyal supporter, but who would have thought that he would just follow him like this?”

Sun Yue threw "Gongyang Commentary" on the desk and said angrily: "I have been studying "Gongyang Commentary" for two months, and I have studied it like a champ. Now, all that effort is gone! Alas, Tang Shen, why am I so pitiful? Huh? Tang Shen, what's wrong with you? Why don't you speak? Tang Shen? Hey, Tang Shen!"

When Lecturer Qian entered the classroom, he happened to encounter Tang Shen rushing out of the door. He was hit hard by Tang Shen and the book in his hand fell to the floor.

Lecturer Qian said with an unhappy expression: "That's Tang Shen? Why, he doesn't want to go to class and just leaves in front of me?"

Sun Yue didn't know what was wrong with Tang Shen, and could only say good things for him: "Something happened at home suddenly."

Lecturer Qian snorted coldly and began to teach.

In the biting cold wind, Tang Shen in his thick cotton coat ran quickly. He left Ziyang Academy and headed east, following the footsteps he had just walked in the morning, and ran to Liang Manor. The doorman said that he would find the steward for him, but Tang Shen stared at him and without saying a word, pushed him away and ran in.

The doorman didn't know what was going on and hurried to find the steward.

Passing through the stone archway, along the snow pond corridor and pavilion, and walking another ten meters, he reached the study. The door was closed tightly, and just as Tang Shen was about to go forward, the steward rushed over: "Young Tang gongzi, what's going on?"

Tang Shen didn't reply to him. He strode to the study and pushed the door open.

The sun came out after the snow, and the sunlight reflected the snow and poured into the room. There was no light in the study, but it was brightly illuminated by the snow. A three-foot white silk ribbon hung from the beam, the silver charcoal in the charcoal basin was burning quietly, and the pen and inkstone given by Tang Shen was still placed on the table. Liang Song was wearing a long robe with wide sleeves today. The long sleeves hung down and swayed slightly, covering the inkstone given by Tang Shen.

The steward looked at the scene in front of him in horror. He stumbled and ran out the door: "Someone, someone come quickly!"

Tang Shen's hand touched the carved door of the study. He looked up at Liang Song and suddenly fell to the ground weakly.

In the charcoal basin, a piece of silver charcoal burned off, making a crackling sound, which was particularly audible in the quiet study.

The snow had stopped, but he was even colder.

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