The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 056 This Is My Senior Brother
Tang Shen and Su Wenyun exited the palace gates and headed east towards the Hanlin Academy.
It was close to June, the weather was hot, and it was the afternoon—the hottest time of the day. As they left the palace, the sun blazed down unfiltered due to the lack of trees in front of the palace. By the time Tang Shen stepped out of the palace gates, he was already drenched in sweat. He walked silently ahead when a pleasant voice sounded beside him: "Isn't Tang daren hot?"
Tang Shen paused and looked up at Su Wenyun, asking, "Is Su daren feeling hot?"
"A bit."
"Then let's slow down."
Although they had left the palace, they were still within the outer perimeter of the Imperial City, only arriving at the locations of various governmental offices. There were not many commoners around; most of the people were officials moving between departments. Tang Shen was a fifth-rank chamberlain, while Su Wenyun was dressed in the robes of a fourth-rank official. When lower-ranking officials saw them, they had to stop and pay their respects before moving on.
With a smile in his voice, Su Wenyun said, "I've heard of Tang daren's name for a long time, but now that I've met you, it's true that seeing is believing."
Tang Shen looked at him, seeing only a smile on Su Wenyun's handsome face, without any particular meaning. This was a rare opportunity to interact with Su Wenyun, and Tang Shen's mind was racing. He also smiled and said, "I am truly anxious."
Su Wenyun responded, "Why?"
Tang Shen explained, "Su daren, as the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, oversees all the corrupt officials in the world. If I were on your mind...how could I not be deeply anxious?"
Su Wenyun was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. His features, already somewhat delicate, became even more radiant and charming when he smiled.
"Tang daren, you are indeed a witty man."
Knowing when to stop, Tang Shen smiled humbly and said no more.
Su Wenyun continued, "I've often heard your name associated with Fu daren and Wang daren. I understand that you are from Gusu?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Gusu is a wonderful place, full of talent. Many officials in the court hail from Gusu. Without going too far back, the current Governor of Gusu was the top scorer in the imperial examination of Kaiping Year Six and is a native of Gusu. As for the former governor, Liang Song daren, he was a renowned scholar of his generation."
Tang Shen felt a tightness in his chest as he nodded and said, "Is that so."
Su Wenyun smiled at Tang Shen and said, "Yes."
The two fell silent.
When they arrived at the Hanlin Academy, Tang Shen stated their purpose, and the officials at the Hanlin Academy immediately welcomed them inside.
The scholar on duty in the library today was someone Tang Shen was not familiar with. After escorting Su Wenyun in, Tang Shen said, "Su daren, since you have arrived at the Hanlin Academy, Xiao daren will assist you in finding the books. I still have other duties to attend to, so I will return to the palace."
Su Wenyun replied, "Since His Majesty has tasked you with assisting me, there is no need to be in such a hurry. Why not stay and help me find the books?"
Unable to refuse, Tang Shen followed Su Wenyun and Xiao daren into the library.
The Hanlin Academy held a collection of books from all over the world. Apart from the emperor's daily records, which had a special place for storage, every other book had a backup in the Hanlin Academy. Even the original copies of the official histories were often placed in the Hanlin Academy for safekeeping.
Su Wenyun was searching for books from three years ago.
He was looking for a wide range of books, including those on astronomy and geography, as well as records of officials' transfers from that year. When Xiao daren realized that Su Wenyun was seeking records of officials' transfers, alarm bells rang in his mind. Recalling what kind of formidable figure Su Wenyun was, he quickly said, "The records of local officials' transfers are managed by the Ministry of Personnel. Even the Hanlin Academy does not have complete records, and what we have is not comprehensive. If Su daren wishes to find them, it might be better to visit the Ministry of Personnel."
Su Wenyun responded, "It doesn't matter. His Majesty merely wants to review the events of that year, so it is of no consequence if the records are incomplete."
Su Wenyun searched for more than a dozen books, far exceeding Zhao Fu's instruction of "just one book." But no one dared to say he was wrong. Xiao daren specifically called for a seventh-rank junior official to help Su Wenyun move the books to the Court of Judicial Review.
At this point, Tang Shen was finally free to leave. Now that Su Wenyun was engrossed in a collection of poems by literati from Chuzhou three years ago, he no longer paid any attention to Tang Shen.
Tang Shen left the Hanlin Academy, looking up at the gradually setting sun. A cool breeze blew past, and he suddenly realized that he had broken out in a sweat.
Su Wenyun was looking for many books from three years ago.
Su Wenyun...was looking for books related to Gusu Prefecture from that year!
Standing at the gates of the Hanlin Academy, Tang Shen felt a chill in his heart and a dryness in his throat. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
That evening, Tang Shen brought a jug of wine to the Minister Residence.
Wang Zhen was painting in his study. When Tang Shen arrived, he skillfully picked up the inkstone and began grinding ink for him.
Tang Shen had done this many times before, so he was quite adept at it. Wang Zhen merely glanced up at him and said nothing. The pair—one painting, the other grinding ink—worked in silence. The only sound in the study was the occasional crackle of a burning candle. Wang Zhen finished his ink chrysanthemum painting and said to Tang Shen, "Little Junior Brother, why don't you add an inscription to this painting?"
Tang Shen was startled. "Me?"
Wang Zhen smiled and said, "Yes, go ahead."
Tang Shen, handed a brush, looked at Wang Qin's ink chrysanthemum painting and, after some thought, inscribed a line of poetry in the upper left corner.
"Plucking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I see the southern mountains at ease." Wang Zhen read aloud, then said, "Write your name as well."
Tang Shen added "Tang Jingze" beside the verse. Wang Zhen took the brush from him and wrote "Wang Zifeng" next to his name, then stamped it with his seal.
And so, the ink chrysanthemum painting was complete.
Seeing that Tang Shen had brought wine with him, Wang Zhen asked, "You came late today, little Junior Brother. I’ve already had my dinner; have you eaten?"
Tang Shen replied, "I have."
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhen looked at Tang Shen in slight surprise.
"Then let's save this wine for another time."
Wang Zhen did not ask why Tang Shen had come today, as if he had already accepted the explanation he often gave: "Little Junior Brother missed me." After finishing the ink chrysanthemum painting, Wang Zhen asked Tang Shen to grind ink for him again as he began to write. Under the candlelight, Wang Zifeng's serene, ethereal face resembled that of a celestial being. He wrote quietly, each stroke of his brush exuding a sense of effortless grace.
Tang Shen gazed at Wang Zhen, gradually becoming lost in thought. Little by little, his mind grew calm.
After completing his calligraphy, Wang Zhen asked, "Little Junior Brother, you were staring at me so intently. What did you see?"
Tang Shen replied, "I saw Senior Brother illuminated by candlelight."
Hearing this, Wang Zhen lifted his head and looked at Tang Shen.
Tang Shen said, "This time, the candlelight made you, my senior brother, clear and distinct. I see you fully; this is my senior brother."
Their eyes met, and Wang Zhen smiled. "Haven't I always been your senior brother?"
Satisfied, Tang Shen left the Minister Residence.
Wang Zifeng would protect him.
...Even if Su Wenyun or Zhao Fu truly discovered something, Wang Zifeng would definitely protect him!
For no particular reason, Tang Shen reached this conclusion. Out of his trust in Wang Zhen, he didn’t even consider how Wang Zhen could possibly protect him from an emperor if Zhao Fu really wanted to harm him.
However, in the days that followed, it seemed as if Tang Shen had been overthinking—worrying too much!
As June arrived, Zhao Fu's health improved, and he resumed attending court. On the third day of June, a local official from the south came to the capital to pay homage, bringing with him a pure white deer, which caused quite a stir in the court. Zhao Fu, whose health had just recovered, was so delighted upon seeing the deer that he immediately descended from the throne and approached the white deer to touch its small antlers.
“This... could this really be a white deer?”
The local official bowed and said excitedly, “Your Majesty, last month, a villager under my jurisdiction found this deer in the forest. There is an ancient saying: when a king's benevolence spreads far and wide, a white deer will appear! I dared not delay and brought this divine deer straight to you. Your Majesty, this is an auspicious omen!”
In the court, the officials exclaimed, “Your Majesty’s blessings extend to all living beings, and heaven has sent down this auspicious sign!”
After accepting the white deer, Zhao Fu’s mood greatly improved. The slight pallor on his face disappeared overnight. Feeling cheerful, he began generously rewarding those around him. Not only did the concubines in the harem receive gifts, but even the eunuchs who served him were also rewarded. Tang Shen and the two other junior chamberlains were also given rewards.
After the morning court session, Zhao Fu personally went to the animal enclosure to see the deer and said to Tang Shen, “Jing Ze, look at this deer, even its eyelashes are white.”
Zhao Fu’s attitude towards Tang Shen hadn’t changed at all.
On the other hand, Su Wenyun had not interacted with Tang Shen again.
It seemed that the task Zhao Fu had given Su Wenyun had nothing to do with Tang Shen; it was indeed just his imagination running wild.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Tang Shen began to reflect. To be honest, even if his relationship with Liang Song were to be exposed, it wouldn’t be a big deal. After all, Liang Song was just his enlightenment teacher, and he now studied under Fu Wei. Even if Zhao Fu found out that he had been Liang Song's student, the most likely outcome would be that Zhao Fu would distance himself from him, preventing him from any important official posts. But unless Zhao Fu was extraordinarily petty, he wouldn’t go out of his way to make things difficult for Tang Shen.
Moreover, after Liang Song’s death, Tang Shen had wasted no time in coming to Shengjing and apprenticing under Fu Wei, practically branding the words “I want to sever ties with Liang Song” on his forehead.
Unless Zhao Fu really had divine insight, he shouldn’t associate Tang Shen’s reason for coming to the capital to work with Liang Song and his associates.
This matter had kept Tang Shen on edge for half a month. Looking back now, the only benefit was that it brought him closer to Wang Zhen. For the first time, Tang Shen felt that he and Wang Zhen had laid everything out on the table and truly had a conversation.
In July, during his days off, Tang Shen took a few days’ leave and headed north to Ningzhou.
AN: Old Wang next door: Today, my little junior brother was rather sweet.