The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 070 Wang Zifeng's Gift Part 2
Tang Shen carefully observed his sister, and he roughly understood why she wasn’t easily found out as a girl when dressed in men's clothing. Tang Huang had endured hardships working in the rurals since she was young, her skin toughened by the sun and wind, unlike the delicate complexions of sheltered ladies. She also ate well from an early age, and neither Tang Shen nor Aunt Yao ever restricted her from eating, so she had a sturdy build, taller by half a head than most girls.
Such a girl, once dressed in men's clothing, was indeed difficult to identify as female.
Tang Shen asked, “So, tell me, why did you go to Ningzhou this time?”
Tang Huang immediately deflated, whispering, “It was my idea. Can't I even make a trip to Ningzhou…?”
Tang Shen stared at her steadily.
Tang Huang’s heart pounded. Just when she thought Tang Shen would scold her and forbid her from leaving the house again, Tang Shen unexpectedly laughed and said, “When did I say you couldn't go out? Just don’t go out alone, alright? Be extra careful when you're outside. Ningzhou is a place where Liao people gather. If something happens to you there, no one can save you.”
“I know, you're the best, Brother!”
Tang Shen talked with Accountant Lin for a while longer, then Accountant Lin left. After dinner, Tang Shen called Tang Huang to his study. By then, Tang Huang had changed back into women's clothing. She was handsome and refined in men's attire, but in women's clothes, she exuded a bold and spirited air. Tang Shen seriously looked at his sister, making Tang Huang feel uneasy under his gaze.
Tang Shen said, “Eldest Aunt mentioned to me before that you’re almost at the age of coming-of-age, and it’s time to consider marriage.”
Tang Huang: “…”
“What do you think?”
“I don’t want to get married yet!”
Tang Shen said, “Alright, then let’s leave it at that.”
Tang Huang had prepared a long speech, but upon hearing Tang Shen’s response, she was dumbfounded. “Brother, you're… allowing me not to get married?”
Tang Shen raised an eyebrow, “Didn’t you just say you don’t want to get married yet? Or are you planning to never marry at all?”
Tang Huang chuckled, “No, I just don’t want to get married now.”
“Do as you please. The Tang family can still afford to feed you.”
Tang Huang was startled. She gazed at Tang Shen and suddenly had a strange thought. If she told him right now that she never wanted to marry in this lifetime, perhaps Tang Shen would still agree. Though it went against traditional propriety, Tang Shen would never force her to do something she didn’t want to do.
She had no reason to think this, but she just did.
After a long pause, the fourteen-year-old girl said softly, “Brother, I heard Aunt Yao say she made pork trotter soup for you. Should I go bring it to you?”
Tang Shen looked at his sister in surprise.
When had she become so considerate?
Tang Shen replied, “Alright.”
Tang Huang happily ran out of the study.
In truth, even if Tang Huang hadn’t refused, Tang Shen hadn’t planned on marrying her off before she turned eighteen.
Fifteen years old was far too young to marry!
He couldn’t even imagine what a pregnant fifteen-year-old Tang Huang would look like. Such a young mother, whose body hadn’t fully developed, getting pregnant would lead to complications and be detrimental to her health. One of the reasons women in ancient times had such short life expectancies was marrying and bearing children too young!
If Tang Huang wanted to marry earlier, Tang Shen might have allowed it at sixteen. Sixteen was his bottom line.
In the Song Dynasty, it wasn’t unheard of to marry at eighteen, though not very common either. There might be some gossip, but only those who weren’t strong enough would be defeated by rumors. He believed he could protect his sister from marrying some stranger with an unknown background, preventing the tearful girl who had once offered all her dowry for his education from being married off casually.
In late February, Tang Yun sailed north along the Grand Canal and arrived in Shengjing.
Yao San picked him and brought him to Tanhua Residence.
Tang Shen first met Tang Yun in Gusu, in his simple, plain courtyard. Tang Yun had thrown a fit, smashing everything in the yard, and the two made a bet on whether Tang Shen could pass the tongshi the following year.
Now, four years had passed, and much had changed.
Tang Yun was now married and had grown a small mustache. He had finally passed the exam to become a xiucai last year but had failed the yuanshi, meaning he wasn’t yet eligible for the xiangshi. Seeing Tang Shen, Tang Yun couldn't help but show some timidity.
Tang Shen took note of Tang Yun’s unease. By now, he certainly wasn’t going to hold a grudge. If he fretted over such small matters, he’d be dead with rage every day as an official in the court.
Tang Shen took the initiative, “Eldest Cousin, how are things in Gusu and Jinling?”
Hearing Tang Shen address him as “eldest cousin,” Tang Yun relaxed a little. He said, “As you said, after the new year, my father and I went to Jinling to discuss business with the Zheng family. We’ve had dealings with them before, and they quickly agreed. However, transporting goods up the Grand Canal to Shengjing takes at least seven days, and the more goods we transport, the lower the cost. But, Tang Shen… are you sure we need that much cargo? Can it all be sold?”
Tang Shen replied, “Rest assured.”
Tang Yun stayed in Shengjing for two days before returning to Gusu.
Tang Shen had the northern business overseen by Shopkeeper Lu and Accountant Lin, while the southern business was entirely entrusted to the Tang family. Tang Shen went to his study, spread out a clean sheet of rice paper, took a deep breath, and wrote three large characters:
“Baibao Pavilion”.
After writing, he felt dissatisfied and crumpled the paper. He tried several more times.
After seven or eight attempts, he finally put down the brush, deciding to leave it for later.
The next day, just after the morning court session, Chief Eunuch Ji Fu suddenly called out to Tang Shen.
Tang Shen was startled but made an expression of surprised humility, bowing slightly and saying, “Ji gonggong.”
Ji Fu was merely a eunuch, while Tang Shen was a fourth-rank official. Tang Shen’s bow was not entirely appropriate according to etiquette, but Ji Fu took great pleasure in it. When Tang Shen had served as a chamberlain, he had always treated Ji Fu with respect, sending small gifts during the holidays. Now, even though Tang Shen had risen to the rank of fourth-rank official as an attendant secretary in Qinzheng Hall, he still treated Ji Fu the same way, causing the eunuch's wrinkles to deepen with a smile.
In a sharp, high-pitched voice, Ji Fu said, “Tang daren, His Majesty is waiting for you in Chuigong Hall. Please come with me.”
Tang Shen immediately followed Ji Fu to Chuigong Hall.
Inside, Emperor Zhao Fu was reading a memorial. When he saw Tang Shen, he set the document down and smiled, “Jing Ze, you're here.”
Tang Shen bowed in greeting. “Your Majesty.”
Tang Shen quietly glanced around. The chamberlain and junior chamberlains on both sides were unfamiliar faces, likely newly appointed by the emperor after Tang Shen's departure.
Zhao Fu looked at Tang Shen with a smile and said, "I haven't seen Jing Ze in a while. Why does it feel like you’re distant from me now?"
Tang Shen raised his head just the right amount, displaying a look of both emotion and gratitude.
Zhao Fu noticed Tang Shen’s subtle movements. He was aware that Tang Shen was deliberately flattering him, yet he enjoyed the feeling of being catered to. Moreover, Zhao Fu favored officials who were transparent in their intentions.
Zhao Fu said, "I’m getting old. Lately, while reviewing memorials in the Chuigong Hall, I find the light dim, not as bright as it used to be."
Tang Shen quickly replied, "Your Majesty's life is as long as the heavens."
"Jing Ze, I've been thinking, it seems the paper-covered windows don’t let in much light. I heard you’ve made something interesting." As he spoke, Zhao Fu looked at Ji Fu, who immediately understood and ordered a young eunuch to bring in a wooden tray made of huanghuali wood, holding something translucent and crystal clear.
The object was quite astonishing, and all the eunuchs and officials in the hall were taken aback.
Zhao Fu said, "Look up and take a good look."
Tang Shen lifted his head, and when his gaze met the small glass bottle filled with essential oil, he suddenly froze.
Seeing Tang Shen's startled expression, Zhao Fu said, "Does this look familiar? It's something of Zi Feng's. One day, I caught a glimpse of it peeking out of his sleeve, and I took it to play with. Clear glass like this is rare. Zi Feng said you made it. Is that true?"
Tang Shen’s mind raced with countless thoughts. He replied, "This official hails from the Tang family of Gusu Prefecture, which runs a business. This ceramic glaze, known as 'glass,' was created by a worker at the Tang family's workshop."
"It's a good thing, worthy of reward. It doesn’t seem to be made from the usual ceramic glaze stone?"
Tang Shen roughly explained the raw materials used to produce glass.
His heart pounded with fear, but Zhao Fu looked at him meaningfully, gently rubbing the small glass bottle.
"Replace all the paper windows in Chuigong Hall with this for me."
"Yes!"
Tang Shen left the hall drenched in cold sweat, his fingers trembling as he walked away. When he reached the palace path made of white jade, Tang Shen turned back, looking at the grand and majestic palace. His mouth opened slightly, and he realized he could no longer speak.
With a single word from Zhao Fu, the Tang family had become imperial merchants, and glass had become the Tang family’s exclusive product!
Tang Shen had no idea how Wang Zhen had managed it. What had he done in the past two months to make Zhao Fu trust Tang Shen so much, to the point of elevating the Tang family to imperial merchants and associating glass with their name?
For days, Tang Shen had been unable to sleep, even considering reducing the production of glass to make it rarer and more valuable.
But Wang Zhen had cleared every obstacle for him.
"Wang Zifeng…"
"Senior Brother."
Tang Shen softly murmured the name, his heart pounding violently within his chest.
That night, he carried a box of pastries to the Minister Residence.
Wang Zhen was playing the qin under the moonlight. To be precise, he was merely tuning it. He wore a long blue green robe, his hair tied up with a jade crown. Hearing footsteps, Wang Zhen looked up, as if he had already anticipated Tang Shen's arrival. He smiled lightly and said, "Little Junior Brother."
Tang Shen stepped into the pavilion by the pond, staring at Wang Zhen for a long time before saying, "It seems I received the New Year's gift Senior Brother prepared for me today."
Under the shimmering moonlight, the white-robed youth smiled brightly, and Wang Zhen slowly pursed his lips.