The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 068 The Wang Clan Of Langya In Wuyi Lane
Since you’ve already come, not entering through the door is not the act of a gentleman.
Feng Bi held Tang Shen’s name card and knocked on the grand gate of the Langya Wang family. The doorman took the card, deeply surprised, and carefully invited Tang Shen and his page boy inside, then went to notify the house steward. Not long after, the steward, dressed in a long robe, hurried over. He bowed deeply and asked, “May I ask if you are Tang Shen, Tang gongzi from Gusu Prefecture?”
Tang Shen replied, “I am.”
The steward asked, “Tang Shen, Tang daren of the Secretariat?”
Tang Shen confirmed, “Yes.”
The steward immediately said, “Please, this way.”
Tang Shen followed the steward and officially entered the Langya Wang family’s residence.
During the former dynasty, the Wang and Xie families were true noble houses, with grand estates known for their wealth and luxury. By the current dynasty, the Xie family had slightly declined and no longer shone as brilliantly. However, the Wang family had produced three prime ministers and more than twenty jinshi, becoming renowned throughout the empire. During the reign of Emperor Zhao Fu of the current dynasty, the Wang family reached an unprecedented peak, with two ministers simultaneously holding power.
The Langya estate was mostly made up of white walls and black-tiled roofs. A talented poet once visited the Langya Wang estate and composed a poem:
“Red springs return to the emerald cliffs, crimson steps appear between the green trees.”
As they entered the garden, they saw a deep grove of bamboo and endless green grass. Each time they passed through a moon gate, they could see the name of the gate written in green characters on black bricks. Some were called “Moon Seeking Gate,” “Dream Seclusion Residence,” and so on. Next to each name was the signature of the person who named it, and every one of them bore the surname Wang. From the former dynasty to the present, every famous figure of the Langya Wang family had left their inscription in this mansion.
Tang Shen walked the length of an incense stick and only caught a glimpse of the grandeur of the Langya Wang family. But without a doubt, if the imperial palace of the Song Dynasty represented the grand beauty of the north, then the Wang family’s mansion embodied the intricate depth of the southern Jiangnan gardens. With every step, the scenery changed, and each new view was a fresh sight.
Building such a mansion required not only centuries of heritage but also immense wealth.
Tang Shen now had a deeper understanding of just how wealthy Wang Zhen was.
It’s great to be rich!
Perhaps only a place like this could produce a person like Wang Zifeng.
After waiting in the flower hall for a while, the steward personally brought him hot tea and snacks. Before long, a handsome middle-aged man, dressed in black and wearing a Confucian hat, entered from outside. Upon seeing a stranger, Tang Shen was taken aback and quickly set down his teacup, rising to greet him.
The two exchanged greetings, and the middle-aged man said, “Today is the seventh day of the first month. The ladies of the family have gone to the Jiming Temple to burn incense and pray, and the younger members have accompanied them. Zi Feng, as the eldest gongzi, has gone with them and has not yet returned. Tang gongzi, why not have a meal and wait in the mansion for a while?”
Tang Shen hadn’t expected that his impromptu visit to the Langya Wang family would result in Wang Zhen not being home!
For a moment, Tang Shen didn’t know what to do. He looked at the man in front of him and said, “I apologize for the sudden visit. Since that’s the case, I shall take my leave.”
The middle-aged man smiled and said, “If you leave, when Zi Feng returns and hears about this, he will certainly blame me. Our Langya Wang family does not treat guests in such a way.”
Tang Shen looked at the middle-aged man in surprise. He had thought this man was an elder of Wang Zhen, but from his tone, it seemed he and Wang Zhen were quite close, without a strict distinction in seniority.
The middle-aged man seemed to pick up on Tang Shen’s confusion and explained, “My surname is Wang, and my given name is Hui. I’m the fourth in the family and Zi Feng’s fourth uncle. Since you and Zi Feng are fellow disciples, you may call me Fourth Uncle.”
Tang Shen found this a bit strange, but there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with it, so he complied, “Fourth Uncle.”
Wang Hui didn’t have much of a literary reputation in the Song Dynasty. Since childhood, he had no interest in studying but was quite passionate about commerce. Tang Shen did not know that most of the Wang family’s businesses were managed by this fourth Wang laoye. However, the majority of the Wang family’s wealth did not come from commerce but from the rent and taxes collected from tenant farmers on their lands. This ancient family had countless lands in Jinling Prefecture, and just the income from these lands could sustain the family’s wealth for centuries.
For Wang Hui, doing business was merely a hobby.
After all, being a merchant, Wang Hui excelled in socializing. While hosting Tang Shen, Tang Shen never felt neglected; instead, he gradually warmed up to Wang Hui, who was witty and humorous, making Tang Shen develop a good impression of him.
Tang Shen had arrived at the Langya Wang family in the afternoon, and by dusk, a pitch-black horse sped back to the Wuyi Lane from Jiming Temple.
As soon as Tang Shen entered the mansion, Wang Hui quietly sent word to Jiming Temple to inform Wang Zhen. Fourth Uncle was quite astute—he knew that if Tang Shen came, Wang Zhen had to be informed. Wang Zifeng held a high position in court, greatly favored by the emperor. However, precisely because of the emperor’s favor and the fact that the court already had a Right Prime Minister, Wang Quan, in power, Wang Zhen refrained from forming any cliques.
Wang Zhen was part of the Wang faction but also maintained loyalty solely to the emperor, which was why Zhao Fu trusted him deeply. Wang Zhen had numerous friends in court, but his closest companion was Tang Jingze.
When Tang Shen arrived at the Langya Wang mansion, even the doorman recognized him, and the steward knew every detail about him. This was because Tang Jingze was one of Wang Zifeng’s rare friends, and the entire household was well-informed about him.
As nightfall approached, Tang Shen realized he would not be able to see Wang Zhen, so he prepared to leave.
Wang Hui stood up and said, “Jing Ze, why not wait a little longer?”
Just as Tang Shen was about to reply, a servant hurried in and said, “The eldest gongzi has returned.”
Wang Hui raised an eyebrow. “With so many carriages, how did he return so quickly?”
The servant replied, “The eldest gongzi returned alone on horseback. The ladies are still on their way and should arrive in about half an hour.”
At this, Tang Shen knew he couldn’t leave.
He followed Wang Hui out of the flower hall and towards the main hall of the front residence. As they walked, the sound of a long horse neigh caught everyone’s attention. Tang Shen felt something stir within him and turned into the flower corridor. There, he saw Wang Zhen, dressed in a black cloak and wearing a jade crown, pulling the reins as he sat astride his horse. He turned his head and locked eyes with Tang Shen from a distance.
The two gazed at each other from afar, both momentarily stunned.
Tang Shen was the first to react and stepped forward. Wang Zhen dismounted, stood firmly on the ground, and after looking at Tang Shen for a moment, smiled and said, “Little Junior Brother, you’ve lost weight again.”
Tang Shen paused.
Lost weight? He had been well-fed and well-rested during his recent return to Gusu Prefecture and even felt like he’d gained some weight!
Then Wang Zhen turned to the servants and said, “Tang gongzi likes shrimp. Prepare the shrimp that was delivered from the sea yesterday. If there are any river prawns, make Jinling phoenix-tail prawns.”
The servant nodded in agreement.
After giving his orders, Wang Zhen turned back to Tang Shen and said seriously, “You should eat more.”
Tang Shen: “…”
Well, now he had no choice but to stay for dinner.
Wang Hui watched the two and secretly laughed at Wang Zhen’s behavior. Noticing his stifled laughter, Wang Zhen glanced at him and greeted, “Fourth Uncle.” His voice was warm and clear, yet it made Wang Hui cough.
Wang Hui said, “We have both sea shrimp and river prawns at home. I didn’t know Jing Ze liked shrimp. Had I known, I would have ordered them prepared sooner.”
Wang Zhen asked, “Jing Ze?”
Wang Hui smiled helplessly. “Now that Zi Feng has returned, I’ll go handle some affairs. You two continue chatting.”
Wang Hui excused himself, leaving Wang Zhen to take Tang Shen to his own courtyard.
Wang Zhen’s courtyard was in the far west of the Wang estate, next to a secluded bamboo forest. In the spring and summer, this bamboo grove would surely be refreshing and delightful, bringing a sense of tranquility. But now, in the dead of winter, Tang Shen felt an inexplicable chill. He looked at Wang Zhen and said, “It’s rare to see Senior Brother wearing black.”
Wang Zhen thought for a moment and said, "Little Junior Brother, are you not aware of the origin of the name 'Wuyi Lane'?"
Tang Shen replied, "Huh, is there a a special meaning to it?"
Wang Zhen explained, "Wuyi Lane is quite long, but it became famous because two prominent families, the Wang and Xie families, lived here." If someone else had said this, it might have sounded boastful, but hearing Wang Zhen say it made Tang Shen feel it was only natural. Today, everything he had seen and heard about the Langya Wang clan made him want to praise them—truly, the Wang family was a great aristocratic clan. It wasn’t just Wuyi Lane that became famous because of them; even the entire Jinling Prefecture had become more legendary due to the presence of the Wang family.
"This lane wasn't originally called Wuyi Lane. It got its name during the previous dynasty when noble sons from aristocratic families liked to wear 'wuyi'—black robes. The sons of the Wang and Xie families wore black robes daily and strolled through the lane, which is how it got the name 'Wuyi Lane.'" After a pause, Wang Zhen added, "Little Junior Brother, would you like to change into different robes?"
Tang Shen asked curiously, "I’m not from the Wang family, so do I also need to wear black?"
Wang Zhen replied in a drawn-out tone, "Then don’t bother changing."
Tang Shen was left completely bewildered.
However, by the evening, he suddenly understood what Wang Zifeng had meant.
In a room full of people dressed in black, he was the only one in white, standing out like a pheasant among a nest of phoenixes—utterly out of place!
Jiming Temple was located in the northeast of Jinling Prefecture. By nightfall, all the Wang family members who had gone to the temple to offer incense had returned. The customs of the current dynasty were relatively open, allowing men and women to dine in the same room. But since Tang Shen was a young man of marriageable age, a screen was placed to divide the dining area, with one table for the men and another for the young ladies and wives.
Wang Zhen had mentioned that he wasn’t strict about the rule of "no talking during meals and sleep," but the other members of the Wang family observed this custom. As they ate, no one spoke at the table.
After the women finished their meal and left, the screen was taken down, and everyone sat together drinking tea and discussing various matters.
Wang Zhen's father had passed away early, and his second uncle, Wang Quan, was in Shengjing this year and hadn’t returned home for the New Year. In the main hall, only three elders, Wang Zhen, the second gongzi of the Wang family named Wang Si, and Tang Shen were present.
Wang Hui asked, "Does this tea suit your taste, Jing Ze?"
Tang Shen set down his teacup and said, "It's excellent tea. Thank you, Fourth Uncle."
Upon hearing this, the third Wang laoye laughed, "Fourth Uncle?" He smiled and said, "We often have visitors to the house, but it’s rare to meet one of Zi Feng's friends. Jing Ze, I’ve heard you’re only eighteen this year—truly remarkable for someone so young."
"You flatter me, Third Uncle."
Not all members of the Wang family held official positions, and among those who did, only Wang Zhen’s rank was higher than Tang Shen’s.
The Wang family, though a renowned clan, did not carry themselves with arrogance. They engaged in a casual conversation with Tang Shen. Gradually, Tang Shen heard a faint rustling sound coming from outside. Curious, he glanced outside and, upon listening closely, heard a high childish voice say, "Do you think it’s him?"
"It’s very possible, so very possible."
"We’ve only ever seen this one after so many years—I think it is."
The voices inside the room abruptly fell silent. Wang Zhen continued sipping his tea, steam curling up from the cup, his expression unreadable. Wang Hui coughed awkwardly and said, "Whoever is outside, come in now!"
"Oh no, we’ve been discovered!"
In the next moment, four to five children burst into the room. The oldest was only about ten, and the youngest couldn’t have been more than six or seven. Each child was dressed in black robes, their heads adorned with jade crowns.
Upon seeing them, the second gongzi of the Wang family, Wang Si, felt faint and said to Tang Shen, "I apologize for the embarrassment. These are my younger cousins. They must have been curious about the guest, so they came to take a look." As he spoke, he glanced covertly at his eldest cousin.
Wang Zhen continued drinking tea, his expression unchanged.
Seeing that they hadn’t been scolded, the children grew bolder. The youngest one widened his bright black eyes and stared intently at Tang Shen. Confused by the stare, Tang Shen was about to ask something when Wang Zhen gently set his teacup down and said, "You all went to Jiming Temple earlier today. Now that you’re not too tired, why not return to your rooms and redo the assignments left by your tutor?"
The children’s mouths fell open, clearly stricken with dismay. But a quick glance at their eldest cousin, who wore his usual smile, convinced them to swallow their complaints. Crestfallen, they left the room.
Wang Zhen sighed, "My younger cousins are mischievous. Forgive their behavior, Little Junior Brother."
Tang Shen replied, "No need, Senior Brother Zi Feng. You’re overthinking it."
Hearing this, the members of the Wang family exchanged glances. Wang Si also looked curiously at Tang Shen, as if trying to understand what kind of person could get along so well with Wang Zifeng and not be eaten alive by him.
After tea, Wang Zhen invited Tang Shen to stay overnight at the Wang residence, and Tang Shen did not decline.
As he left the main hall, Tang Shen casually glanced toward the back of the house. From within came a faint female voice, "Ah, do you think he’s realized we’re here?"
Tang Shen: "..."
The Langya Wang clan is too strange!
The thoughts of the wealthy are truly impossible to fathom!
Tang Shen retired to the courtyard that had been specially prepared for him by the Wang family. After washing up, he prepared to rest. The women and other family members lived separately in the back courtyard, while Tang Shen, along with Wang Zhen and the other unmarried sons of the Wang family, stayed in the front courtyard.
One couldn’t deny that the guest courtyard of the Wang family was exquisitely designed. With ponds and rockeries, every corner was a scenic view. After a long day of fleeing from Gusu to Jinling, Tang Shen was exhausted. He quickly fell asleep after closing his eyes.
But in the middle of the night, he suddenly awoke, drenched in sweat.
There was a strange sound outside—very faint, yet it seemed to pierce right into his soul.
Tang Shen opened the window to find the vast night sky and heavy snow falling silently, disappearing into the pond in the courtyard.
His heart clenched painfully as he recalled three years ago, on a similarly snowy night, when he had run through the snow, desperately trying to catch Liang Song. But Liang Song, with his back turned, had walked further and further away, leaving behind only his unwavering figure in the snow.
Tang Shen stood dazed at the window for a long time. When he lifted his hand to wipe his face, he realized it was covered in cold moisture.
He put on his robes and stepped outside, wandering the courtyard.
In the vast whiteness of the snow, Tang Shen held an umbrella and circled the pond. He walked into a grove of plum blossom trees and soon found himself lost. Realizing the trouble he was in, Tang Shen thought to himself that this was not good. In the middle of the night, he had no idea where to go, and he couldn’t possibly wait until morning to be found—he might freeze to death by then.
He regretted coming out for a stroll.
After walking for a while longer, a sigh suddenly sounded behind him, "Aren’t you cold?"
Startled, Tang Shen turned around, only to be met by Wang Zifeng’s face. Before he could react, a warm fox-fur cloak was draped over his shoulders. The familiar warmth and scent instantly drove away the cold from his limbs. Tang Shen stared blankly at Wang Zhen. He lifted his head and softly said, "Senior Brother…" His tone carried a hint of guilt, as if he knew he had made a mistake.
"You know you were wrong?"
Tang Shen rubbed his nose. Wandering around someone else's house in the middle of the night was indeed impolite.
"Why are you here, Senior Brother?"
"And why are you here?"
Tang Shen replied, "I couldn’t sleep."
Wang Zhen said, "Hmm, well, I couldn’t sleep either."
Tang Shen: "..."
You couldn’t trust a single word that came out of Wang Zifeng’s mouth!
Wang Zhen said, "This place is close to my courtyard. The snow is getting heavier. Let’s go to my place to take shelter from it."
It was only then that Tang Shen noticed that, after giving him the cloak, Wang Zhen’s hands had turned red from the cold. His lips moved slightly, but he didn’t know what to say. In the snowy moonlit night, Wang Zifeng stood there, dressed in black, appearing both handsome and somewhat coldly indifferent. However, he suddenly looked at him and softly said, “Little Junior Brother?”
“Alright.”
AN: That poem "written for the Wang family of Langya" was actually written for the Humble Administrator's Garden.