The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 028 First Meeting Part 1

A few days later, Tang Shen had Yao San call everyone over.

Everyone gathered in the house. It was a rare serious occasion. Accountant Lin, thinking Tang Shen was about to address the recent issue at Xixia Tower, said, “Little boss, though the Xixia Tower incident is a typical case, other restaurants in Gusu City have also shown some subtle movements towards us these days. However, our logistics business is doing well. We've been in Gusu City for over a year and have established ourselves so others will have a hard time intervening."

Tang Shen replied, "I'm not worried about that. Although Xixia Tower's business is good, it only deals in special cuisine and doesn't have much conflict of interest with other restaurants. As for the logistics business, it would take others at least another year or so to catch up. Today, I called everyone over to discuss something else."

Yao San asked, "Little boss, what is it? Please tell us."

"I've decided to go to Shengjing next month."

Everyone was shocked.

Tang Huang's eyes widened. "Brother, you're going to Shengjing? Why suddenly go there?"

Tang Shen didn't hide anything. "After sir left, I received a letter a few days ago. It turns out he found a new teacher for me. That person is in Shengjing and is named Fu Wei. I'm taking the imperial examination to become a juren in August and haven't registered yet. Whether I take it in the Jiangnan Academy or in Shengjing makes no difference. Since I'll have to go to Shengjing for the huishi exam next February if I pass, I've decided to go early and take the imperial examination directly in Shengjing."

Accountant Lin exclaimed, "Fu Wei? Do you mean the great scholar Fu Xiru?"

"Exactly."

Tang Huang asked, "Accountant Lin, you know him?"

Accountant Lin sighed, "More than just knowing him. I once told the little boss that over twenty years ago, the four great scholars of the world were Zhong xianggong, Liang xianggong, Fu xianggong, and Chen xianggong. Among them, Fu xianggong is the great scholar Fu Xiru. He was originally the Right Chancellor of the Palace Secretariat. A few years ago, due to his old age, wanted to retire to his hometown, but the emperor, valuing his talent, did not allow it and gave him a position overseeing the Hanlin Academy in name while actually spending his days gardening and bird-watching, living a leisurely life."

Yao San asked, "Being a high official allows you to garden and bird-watch every day?"

Accountant Lin replied, "With the emperor's favor, anything is possible."

Yao San remarked, "Hearing that makes me want to be an official."

Aunt Yao retorted, "But you have to pass the exams first!"

Accountant Lin continued, "It's really inconvenient for the little boss to go to Shengjing alone. Being so far away from home, who will take care of you?"

Tang Shen had already thought about this and said, "I'll arrange everything in Busy City and leave at the beginning of March. At that time, Brother Yao will go with me to Shengjing. Once I'm settled, he will return."

Yao San agreed, "Alright, I'll accompany the little boss."

Accountant Lin nodded, "That's acceptable. The little boss need not worry about Gusu City matters. With Yao San and me here, and with the Tang family in the west of the city, there won't be any issues."

Thus, Tang Shen's trip to Shengjing was decided.

Aunt Yao began preparing Tang Shen's travel clothes early, muttering, "Shengjing is much colder than Gusu. I heard it still snows in April," as she packed thick cotton-padded jackets into the suitcase. Yao San also busied himself, reviewing the Tang's Logistics and Xixia Tower's business once more. Tang Shen checked the accounts with Accountant Lin again and left some funds for emergencies.

Only Tang Huang was sullen these past two days.

Tang Shen's decision to go to Shengjing was too sudden, giving no one time to think it over.

At night, after dinner, Tang Huang was practicing calligraphy in her room, an assignment from Accountant Lin before he left. Tang Shen entered, watched for a while, and said, "You've started learning the Book of Poetry?"

The little girl pouted, lowered her head, and mumbled, "Yes," without looking at Tang Shen.

Tang Shen found it amusing. Although he was a man, he could easily understand Tang Huang's little girl thoughts.

Tang Shen said, "This calligraphy model is too good, not suitable for beginners. Before I leave, I'll copy a Book of Poetry for you. You can practice copying my calligraphy. When you come to Shengjing, I'll see how your handwriting has improved."

Originally unwilling to talk to him, Tang Huang looked up in surprise after a while. "I’m going to Shengjing?"

Tang Shen replied matter-of-factly, "Yes, you are going to Shengjing."

"I can go to Shengjing too?"

"Why wouldn't you go to Shengjing?"

Tang Huang was overjoyed, but then she thought of something: "Brother, you said 'when I go to Shengjing'... Can't I go to Shengjing with you? When can I go then?"

"What would you do there now? It's an unfamiliar place, and I'm also going there to test the waters first. I also have to take the imperial examination. If you come along, what can you do? I'll have to take care of you."

"I can cook for you, wash your clothes!"

"A maid can do that too, and besides... Ah Huang, do you really believe you can cook and wash clothes for me?"

Tang Huang giggled: "I don't believe it either."

Knowing that Tang Shen wasn't really leaving her behind, Tang Huang felt much better. "Brother, you said you were going to take the huishi examination, to become a jinshi... You told me before that you didn't want to become a jinshi, only a juren."

Tang Shen raised his eyebrows: "I said that?"

"You did!"

"Well, if I said it, I did. Can't I change my mind?"

"..."

This is truly the worst, most rotten brother in the world!

Seeing the little girl ignoring him again, Tang Shen smiled and said, "Before Mr. Liang left, he gave me a courtesy name, Jing Ze."

Tang Huang knew this: "Ah, why mention this now?"

"Jing Ze, Jing Ze. So Ah Huang, I can't let him down."

Tang Huang was puzzled. After a while, she murmured, "Do you really have to go now? You can go after becoming a juren."

Tang Shen was silent for a moment, then patted her head: "I have too many important things to do to waste any time. Also, your brother has a selfish reason."

"What selfish reason?"

"I'll tell you when you get to Shengjing!"

Tang Huang: "..."

"Not telling and keeping me in suspense, Tang Shen, you wait, when I get to Shengjing, I'm definitely going to beat you up!"

"Hahaha."

After packing his luggage, Tang Shen went to the Tang Manor to inform Tang juren and Madam Tang about his trip to Shengjing.

Tang juren was surprised: "You want to study under Fu Xiru?"

Madam Tang said, "Why so sudden, without any time to prepare? What else do you need, tell us. Do you need to bring some servants and maids to Shengjing? How will you take care of yourself alone!"

Tang Shen answered one by one: "It's the teacher Mr. Liang chose for me before his passing. Don't worry, Eldest Aunt, I'm well prepared, and I won't be going alone, Yao San will be with me."

"Though Yao San is strong and sturdy, he is still a rough man. How about taking two maids from the Tang Manor?"

"No need."

After bidding farewell to Tang juren and Madam Tang, Tang Shen submitted a withdrawal letter to Ziyang Academy.

Dean Zheng was quite surprised to receive Tang Shen's withdrawal letter and asked, "You want to study at Jiangnan Academy?"

All the juren of Jiangnan could study at Jiangnan Academy once they pass the examination. Even though Tang Shen was currently studying at Ziyang Academy, his student status was registered at Jiangnan Academy, where he would take the xiangshi examination in August.

Tang Shen shook his head: "Dean, I want to take the exam in Shengjing."

Dean Zheng said, "Why go so far? Your student status is registered at Jiangnan Academy, it’s not easy to transfer. If you have no connections, it’s better not to go to Shengjing. You can only take the exam at Jiangnan Academy."

Tang Shen then explained about Mr. Liang finding a new teacher for him. Dean Zheng was silent for a long time and sighed, "Liang daren has really thought it through! As the Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, Fu daren can easily transfer your student status."

Dean Zheng approved Tang Shen's withdrawal letter, and Tang Shen packed his belongings in the classroom. As he was about to leave, he saw Sun Yue standing at the door, looking at him anxiously. "Tang Shen, I heard you quit school!"

Tang Shen: "..."

He smiled wryly: "Where did you hear that nonsense? When did I say I quit studying!"

Sun Yue rushed over: "Teacher Qian said so! You've withdrawn from school, you won't study at Ziyang Academy anymore."

"I am indeed not studying at Ziyang Academy, but I am going to study in Shengjing. Don't jump to conclusions."

"Ah, that's it..." After a while, Fatty Sun exclaimed in shock: "What, you're going to Shengjing?"

Tang Shen: "..."

Could your reaction be any slower!

As Tang Shen was leaving, Sun Yue felt sad and accompanied him to Xixia Tower for a farewell meal.

Tang Shen said helplessly: "If you’re giving me a farewell, why come to my restaurant for a free meal? This counts as seeing me off?"

Sun Yue put a slice of mutton into the pot, swirled it around, and ate it. Satisfied, he squinted his eyes and said, "Why not? Tang Shen, why are you in such a hurry to go to Shengjing? Is Fu Xiru really that great? You could go to him after becoming a juren, Fu Xiru won’t run away."

"How can I let down Mr. Liang’s painstaking efforts!"

Sun Yue muttered, "I think you're just tired of Gusu and want to see the bustling Shengjing."

Tang Shen said nothing. He put a chopstick full of vegetables into the pot: "The food is ready, eat up!"

"Okay!"

Half a month later, after packing his belongings, Tang Shen boarded the boat to Shengjing with Yao San.

On the canal, with the sunset glowing in the sky, Tang Huang and Accountant Lin stood at the dock, waving goodbye to Tang Shen. After a quarter of an hour, the dock of Gusu City became a small black dot, and the crying girl on the dock could no longer be seen.

Tang Shen sighed, suppressing his reluctance.

After another quarter of an hour, Gusu City disappeared into the horizon. Suddenly, a melodious ringing of a bell broke through the spatial distance, echoing above the canal.

This was the evening bell of Hanshan Temple outside the city!

"The Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City, the bell sounds to the ships at midnight. So this is what it means!"

Tang Shen suddenly felt that he already missed home, even though he had just left for less than an hour.

Yes, having lived in this era for two years, Tang Shen had already considered this place his home. From the beginning, he was wrong. He was already a person of Gusu, a person of the Song Dynasty, a person of this era. He once only wanted to be a wealthy country squire, not seeking fame or fortune, only seeking comfort.

But was that really the limit of what he could achieve?

That wasn't the limit of what he could achieve. He was content with his current situation until the deaths of Mr. Liang, Grand Secretary Luo, and Zhao juren woke him up like a bolt from the blue, shaking him from the prosperous and wealthy Jiangnan water town.

Gusu was a rich place, where everyone had no worries, but the Song Dynasty wasn't, this era wasn't!

Along the way, Tang Shen observed the situation on both sides of the canal. Sometimes it was covered in snow, yet the porters still wore thin tunics, running between the docks to load and unload goods for these passing ships, earning one coin per trip. Sometimes the docks on both sides of the canal were so dilapidated that they couldn't dock, which was completely different from the grandeur and cleanliness of Gusu!

This was the Song Dynasty, this was the true face of this era.

Day by day, they got closer to Shengjing. Tang Shen sat in the cabin, writing characters. He wrote regular script, repeatedly writing the word "谋" (strategy). Yao San couldn't read, so Tang Shen would write fifty "谋" characters and then fifty "静" (tranquility) characters, asking him to throw them into the river or burn them.

"Little boss, what are you writing?"

"I'm writing my conflicting feelings!"

One "谋" (strategy) character was the way of being an official, the path he must take in the future.

And one "静" (tranquility) character was his last bit of peace at this moment.

From the moment he decided to go north to Shengjing and study under Fu Xiru, Tang Shen knew he had no way back.

He didn't plan to take a new teacher after becoming a juren, even though that was Mr. Liang's original plan, because from that moment he had truly decided to sever all ties with Mr. Liang!

How much dread and aversion the emperor had for the Songqing Party, Tang Shen saw clearly. He imprisoned Zhong Taisheng for twenty-six years before secretly executing him, not because of mercy, but because he knew Zhong Taisheng couldn't die without reason. Even if he wanted to kill, Zhong Taisheng had to die deservedly, leaving no loopholes, otherwise, the literati of the world would criticize him.

Mr. Liang was demoted to Gusu, Grand Secretary Luo was never trusted with any important official duties.

Since the emperor ascended the throne, not a single Songqing Party member entered the Palace Secretariat, which was his death sentence for the Songqing Party!

Tang Shen wanted to enter officialdom, to become an official, a powerful minister, so he had to sever all ties with the Songqing Party from the start. While he was still a xiucai it was fine, Mr. Liang was the governor of Gusu, so even if Tang Shen studied under him, it could be called an enlightening teacher-student relationship, and they were actually not that close.

Once he passed the examination to become a juren, if Tang Shen's nominal teacher remained Liang Song, it might arouse Zhao Fu's suspicion.

Tang Shen didn't dare to gamble on whether Zhao Fu was a distrustful and suspicious emperor or not. Therefore, he needed to become Fu Xiru's disciple before passing the examination. Only when he had uncovered the truth and could personally rewrite the history of these loyal ministers who had sacrificed themselves would he say to the world and to Liang Song, "This student has accomplished it."

This was his private ambition that he had never shared with anyone.

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The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 028 First Meeting Part 2

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The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 027 Wang Zhen, Wang Zifeng