The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 027 Wang Zhen, Wang Zifeng
The next day, Tang Shen and Xu Hui headed north to Shazhou County. After searching for a while, they found Zhao juren's house.
Xu Hui had the book in hand and was about to knock on the door when he heard crying sounds coming from inside. Tang Shen and Xu Hui looked at each other. Xu Hui knocked on the door, and a woman wearing white mourning clothes came to open the door. Seeing Tang Shen and Xu Hui outside the door, the woman looked confused. When she lowered her gaze, she found that Tang Shen and Xu Hui were both wearing white hemp, and that they were also mourning clothes.
The woman asked: "I wonder who the two gentlemen are here to see."
Tang Shen said: "We've come to find Zhao juren. Last year at this time, I came to Shazhou County with Mr. Liang Bowen, Liang daren, and borrowed a book from Zhao juren. It was this book."
Xu Hui presented the book with both hands.
Behind the woman, a middle-aged man walked up. Like the woman, his eyes were red and swollen from crying. He took the book and said to Tang Shen: "I remember. You are Liang daren's student. I heard that you scored a sanyuan last year. It's a pity that you came a little late. My father left a few days ago. Thank you for coming to return the book."
There was a coffin in the house. Just now, the man and woman were keeping vigil and mourning.
Tang Shen said: "Can we come in and offer incense to Zhao juren?"
"Please."
Tang Shen and Xu Hui entered the house, and each gave Zhao juren a stick of incense.
Xu Hui said: "How did Zhao juren leave?"
As soon as these words were uttered, both the man and the woman hid their faces in tears. The man said: "My father hanged himself four days ago! I have known for a long time that Liang daren is gone, Luo daren is also gone, and so many great scholars are gone. My father did not want to live twenty years ago. However, despite all precautions, my father secretly took the hemp rope and hanged himself that night!"
Tang Shen and Xu Hui were stunned on the spot.
After the man’s explanation, they realized that this Zhao juren was also considered a member of the Songqing Party!
Twenty-six years ago, the Songqing Party was not called the Songqing Party, it was not a faction, it was just a young society that was admired by scholars all over the world. Who didn’t want to join the Songqing Party and express his admiration to the great scholars in the world? Zhao juren had the good fortune to attend a Songqing literary gathering once, and it was also at that time that he met Liang daru.
After Zhong daru was imprisoned in the imperial prison, Zhao juren was obstructed in his official career and was framed many times. In the end, he ended up in this situation and had no choice but to return to his hometown to farm the fields to make a living.
Only then did Tang Shen understand why Zhao juren, a juren, had such a difficult family situation. The first time he saw Zhao juren, he felt strange at how poor he was. He didn't expect that the truth turned out to be like this.
"Everyone in the world knows that Zhong daru left, and the seven great scholars went with him. But no one in the world knows that my father also left with them!" The man was so distraught that he knocked the ground with his head, "Dad, you are so confused, how could you leave Hui Niang and me alone? This son has not taken care of and shown you filial piety!"
Tang Shen and Xu Hui were speechless as they left the Zhao family.
Xu Hui: "I don't know how many people in the world have quietly left this world in a place where no one knows. The integrity of the scholars, the passion in their hearts, worth praises and tears."
Tang Shen opened his mouth, but did not speak after all. He clenched his fist tightly.
Sir, you think it’s worth it, but is it really worth it?
The two of them were leaving Shazhou County by carriage, and Tang Shen saw Xiangshan Mt. from a distance. He still remembered how he and Liang Song came to Shazhou County a year ago, and the teacher and student went hiking together. Tang Shen: "Stop. Yu Zhi, I want to climb that mountain. Last year, sir and I came here and climbed that mountain together."
Xu Hui: "Okay, but I still have things to do and can't wait for you."
"It doesn't matter, I'll go back to Gusu by myself."
Xu Hui nodded.
Tang Shen got off the carriage and walked toward Xiangshan Mt. alone.
After crossing the Peach Blossom Stream and walking along the Incense Picking Path, Tang Shen climbed the rock steps and reached the top of the mountain. Standing on the top of the mountain, overlooking half of the scenery of Gusu. There was smoke from farmhouses in the distance, and nearby were the sea of pine trees and the waves of clouds passing by, as well as the sound of birds singing.
Tang Shen stood on the top of the mountain and stood there for a long time.
After a long time, he said loudly: "The mountains stand tall and the scenery stretches. Although I can't reach them, my heart longs for them!"
"The scenery, greatness." (TN: “jing”=scenery, bright)
"The principle, truth." (TN: “ze”=truth, reason)
"Sir, you know that I have always been cautious in my words and deeds, but I have also always been timid. Even if I talk about big ambitions, I never truly have big ambitions. I only care about the small family, not the big family."
"Jing Ze, Jing Ze!"
Tang Shen opened his mouth, but was speechless.
From the very beginning, Liang Song wanted to tell him that as a human being, walking between heaven and earth, he could only live in peace and happiness in this life, but no matter when…
Jing Ze, you must never forget what you once said, the rise and fall of the nation concerns everyone!
At the beginning, he used Gu Yanwu's words as a clever trick to become Liang Song's student. But he never followed the words himself. In this world, there were Liang Song and Luo Zhen, who had no choice but to die in order to correct an eternal infamy. There was also Zhao juren, who died quietly in an unknown place. His name would never be recorded in the history books, but he had no regrets!
Tang Shen quietly looked at the Gusu Prefecture at the bottom of the mountain, and said to himself: "Don't worry, the promise I made to you will definitely come true." After that, he turned around and went down the mountain, returning to Gusu City at nightfall.
When Tang Shen returned home, Tang Huang and Yao San were very anxious and wanted to go find him.
Seeing her brother coming back, Tang Huang ran over and grabbed his arm: “I was so anxious! Brother, where have you been? Xu daren said that you were hiking in Shazhou County and you would come back. It's so late now, and you finally came back."
Yao San: "Little boss, there is food left for you in the kitchen. I will heat it up for you right now."
Tang Shen: "Okay."
After eating, Yao San went to boil hot water for bathing, and Tang Huang went back to her room to practice writing. This was the homework left by Accountant Lin. Tang Shen had taken a bath and was thinking about how to realize his ambition to his teacher that "the rise and fall of the nation concerns everyone" when he heard someone knocking on the door. Tang Shen opened the door, and it was Xu Hui standing outside.
Xu Hui looked travel-worn and had already put on a heavy cotton-padded jacket, as if he was going on a long trip.
Tang Shen asked: "Is Yu Zhi going to leave Gusu City and take office?"
"Yes. There is something before I leave. I have thought about it and decided to tell you now."
Tang Shen: "Is it related to sir?"
Xu Hui: "Yes. Daren left me a letter before his death, which explained his posthumous affairs. My position as county magistrate was arranged for me in advance. It turns out that in the early morning of that day, the steward got the news, and after telling daren that Zhong daru died in prison, daren became determined to die. You came just in time, and he saw you for the last time and fulfilled his last wish, so he had no regrets when he left."
Tang Shen: “Did sir have anything to say to me?"
Xu Hui hesitated for a moment and took out a letter from his sleeve. "This letter should not have been given to you at this time. Daren said, I should give this letter to you after you become a juren. But I can't wait any longer. I am about to take office, and I don't know when I will see you again. If you fail this year, would I have to wait three years to give you the letter? If something happens in these three years, I can't guarantee it, so I can only disappoint daren's request and give it to you in advance."
Tang Shen took the letter with both hands.
Xu Hui: "I'm really ashamed, but I can only do this, and I have to rush to take office."
Tang Shen: "The mountains and rivers are high and the rivers are long. I don't know if I will see you again in this life. Be careful along the way."
"Thank you. No need to see me off."
Tang Shen returned to his room and put the letter on the table. This was what Liang Song left to him who had become a juren. At this moment, he was just a xiucai. Should he open this letter or not? Xu Yuzhi was unburdened after throwing the problem to him. Now it was his turn to have a headache.
Tang Shen thought about it and decided: “Open it!"
When he opened the letter, he found beautiful calligraphy written in small regular script on the snow-white rice paper.
"Jing Ze, when you read this letter, I should have been gone for half a year. You and I are teacher and student. Having left you first, I am remiss in my duty. Now that you have passed the examination, I cannot see it with my own eyes, and it is also a great regret in my life. I know that you just want to live a stable life, which is fine. After I leave, if the Tang family changes and they no longer take care of you, you can go to Shengjing to find a person.
This person's name is Fu Wei, with the courtesy name Xi Ru and the pen name of “Master of Insignificant Talent”. On that double ninth day, the painting we admired together was exactly his handiwork.
Fu Xiru has been friends with me for many years. If you trust this letter to him, he will take care of you for the rest of your life.”
"Sir!" Tang Shen's voice choked up when he saw this. He didn't expect that even if his teacher left, he would never forget him as a student and had arranged all the retreat routes for him!
However, there was a second piece of paper in this letter. Tang Shen pulled out the second piece of paper. When he saw the content clearly, his gaze became stern.
"If you intend to pursue an official career, as your teacher and a remnant of the Songqing Party, I will not be able to take care of you. As a student of Liang Bowen, you may attract fatal danger. If you decide to serve as an official, after you go to Shengjing, you will give Fu Xiru the silver leaf left in teacher's letter and respect him as your teacher. From then on you cannot mention my name again.
Don't be willful. Although Fu Xiru is not the head of the four Confucian scholars in the world, if you are his student, your future career will be bright.
However, you must remember that it is not a top priority to become Fu Xiru’s student. The reason why I ordered you to respect him as your teacher is because Fu Xiru has a student named Wang Zhen, whose courtesy name is Zi Feng. This person is the most proficient, competent and talented person at being an official I have seen in my more than 40 years of officialdom. He also has the Wang family of Langya as his backing. If you become Fu Xiru's student, you will be the junior brother of Wang Zifeng. This is the only way you can become connected with him.
Wang Zifeng is a person who is unfathomable and cannot be simply believed, but he can also be trusted a little.
If you can conspire with him as allies, your teacher I will be rest assured in heaven.
The rise and fall of the nation concerns everyone.
I hope that when you come to offer incense at my grave next year, you will bring the fruit juice you have brewed. It will be sour and sweet, and it can also bring back the taste of the living world.”