The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 084 It's Your Junior Brother That's Being Messed With
Because he had an unmarried younger sister at home, Tang Shen had taken the time to learn about marriage customs of the era.
Emperor Zhao Fu of Kaiping had decreed: "Men at sixteen and women at fourteen are permitted to marry," meaning that boys could begin to get engaged or married at sixteen, and girls at fourteen. However, this didn’t mean that they must marry at those ages.
Tang Shen had previously considered keeping his sister unmarried until she was eighteen.
In fact, it wasn’t uncommon in ancient times for girls to marry at eighteen.
Eighteen wasn’t considered old for a bride, though most girls would have been engaged earlier, only marrying at eighteen.
Men, on the other hand, had even more freedom—they didn’t hold the coming-of-age ceremony until twenty, and there were many unmarried men at that age.
But regardless, Wang Zhen was now twenty-eight, and still unmarried...
In the past, when Tang Shen interacted with Wang Zhen, since Wang Zhen was so elegant and handsome, he’d never thought of his senior brother as old. Plus, coming from a modern perspective, twenty-eight was still in one’s prime. But now that he thought about it, many officials Wang Zhen's age already had children who were four or five years old—how was it that Wang Zhen didn’t even have a wife?
After pondering for a long time, Tang Shen suddenly blurted out in shock: "Could my senior brother be... impotent?"
Whoa, there was actually a possibility!
Tang Shen quickly shook his head, pushing this terrifying and bizarre thought out of his mind.
That kind of thinking was dangerous.
If Wang Zhen wasn’t impotent, and Tang Shen kept thinking that, only for Wang Zhen to find out, their senior-junior brotherhood might come to an end, and they could even become enemies. But if Wang Zhen was impotent, and Tang Shen somehow discovered it...
That would be even worse.
Tang Shen shuddered at the thought, mentally repeating to himself three times, "Whether Wang Zifeng marries or not has nothing to do with me," forcing himself to forget about it before he could find peace.
At the start of the twelfth lunar month, the Liao envoy arrived in Shengjing and settled at the official guesthouse for foreign emissaries.
That morning in court, the officials engaged in a lengthy discussion on how to receive the Liao envoy. The officials present in Zichen Hall for morning court were at least of the fourth rank. However, this time, those officials of the third rank or higher were strangely silent, while those of the fourth rank eagerly stepped forward to present their recommendations to the emperor.
The Ministry of Rites’ Director of the Department of Guests raised his jade tablet high and stepped forward: "The arrival of the Liao envoy is a significant diplomatic event between our two nations. Although the Liao army is now stationed fifty li outside Youzhou City, eyeing it with hostility, our Song Dynasty, as the nation of rituals and propriety to which all nations come in homage, cannot afford to be negligent in this matter. I implore Your Majesty to immediately select someone to receive the Liao envoy."
Another civil official then spoke in support: "Sun daren is correct. I also believe that the matter of receiving the Liao envoy is urgent. From what I understand, this Liao delegation includes thirty-two people, among them the Third Prince of Liao, Yelü Han, accompanied by the Han Office's Yelü Qin. According to diplomatic protocol, our Song Dynasty should also send a prince in response."
As soon as he finished speaking, the officials began recommending candidates.
Finally, Emperor Zhao Fu made the decision: "In that case, I shall assign this task to Meng qing. As for which prince shall represent us..." Zhao Fu paused in thought, then calmly said, "Let it be Zhao Shang."
Minister of Rites Meng Lang stepped forward: "I accept the order."
That very day, Meng Lang formed a reception delegation for the Liao envoy.
It was standard protocol for the Minister of Rites to be in charge of receiving foreign dignitaries. After accepting the task, Meng Lang gathered personnel from various departments. When Tang Shen was notified by a government worker that he had been assigned to this duty, he sighed and made some inquiries, discovering that an old acquaintance—Yu Chaosheng, Xu Bi's prized pupil—was also part of the delegation!
In this reception team, Meng Lang held the highest rank as the second-rank Minister of Rites. Below him was Yu Chaosheng, the third-rank Right Vice Minister of Personnel.
Meng Lang summoned Tang Shen to the main hall and, in front of Wang Zhen, said, "The Liao envoy has already arrived at the guesthouse this morning, but we won’t officially receive them until tomorrow. The Liao people are hot-tempered, prideful, and mostly a bunch of muscle-bound brutes. Their Third Prince, Yelü Han, is a renowned archer, known for using a fifty-stone bow to hunt deer in the royal grounds. However, the accompanying Han Office official, Yelü Qin, is a formidable individual. Do not underestimate him."
Upon hearing this, Tang Shen had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, Meng Lang continued, "For the next few days, Tang daren will be responsible for hosting them."
Tang Shen: "..."
Wang Zhen was quietly reading a memorial, but when he heard this, his lips twitched slightly, though he said nothing.
Meng Lang deliberately glanced at Wang Zhen before turning back to Tang Shen. "Of course, our Song Dynasty will host the Liao envoy, but we must not appear weak. By delaying their reception, we show them that the Song Dynasty does not fear war and that we will not let them intimidate us. Since that is the case, no official of the third rank or higher should meet with the Liao envoy. Tang daren, you are a pillar of the nation. Three years ago, I personally reviewed the essay you wrote for the huishi."
Tang Shen immediately bowed: "Meng xianggong’s guidance is a kindness I will never forget."
Meng Lang smiled. "There's no need for that. When I read your essay back then, I knew you were the only one for this task. Tang daren, I leave it all in your capable hands!"
Tang Shen was miserable inside but still outwardly accepted: "I accept the assignment."
As he left the room, Tang Shen instinctively glanced back at Wang Zhen, who was wearing a deep red second-rank official's robe, with a white jade pendant at his waist. Though Wang Zhen hadn’t lifted his head, knowing Tang Shen was still in the room, he continued reading and casually remarked, "Meng daren, it seems, is quite idle."
Meng Lang chuckled, "Why does Wang daren say that?"
"Why don’t you come to my residence tonight for some wine? I have a fine brew from Pizhou, which I think will suit your taste."
Meng Lang thought to himself, I messed with your junior brother right in front of you, and now you’re inviting me for a drink? That’s surely a trap! No thanks!*
"I have other matters to attend to tonight, so I won’t trouble you at your residence."
Wang Zhen said no more. Tang Shen, as he was walking out, glanced at him. He knew Wang Zhen hadn’t been inviting Meng Lang, but him. So that night, Tang Shen went directly to Wang Zhen’s residence, where the steward had been waiting for him.
The steward led Tang Shen to the courtyard, where, despite the bitter cold, Wang Zifeng was sitting in the middle of the yard, wrapped in a thick cloak, brewing wine over a fire!
Tang Shen couldn’t help but laugh. "Senior Brother, it’s freezing outside—why are you making wine?"
Wang Zhen replied, "Didn’t I invite you for a drink tonight?"
Tang Shen thought: and I thought that was just a polite remark!
Wang Zhen had already prepared a pot of warm wine and personally poured a cup for Tang Shen. Wine in the ancient times was not very strong, so after drinking it, Tang Shen only felt a warmth spread through his limbs, filling him with a sense of comfort and relaxation.
Wang Zhen asked, "Is it good?"
Tang Shen praised, "Pizhou has always been known for its fine wine, and this truly lives up to its reputation."
Wang Zhen replied, "This wine is from Jinling."
"...Didn’t you say earlier it was from Pizhou?"
Wang Zhen casually said, "I was just brushing off Meng Lang."
Tang Shen: "..."
You can’t trust a single word from Wang Zifeng!
After drinking the wine, they went inside. Wang Zhen asked, "About today’s events—do you think Meng Lang assigned you this task to spite me, deliberately making you do this job?"
Tang Shen responded, "Of course not. Meng daren is not someone who acts out of personal grudges. Although he can be a bit off-kilter at times and has teased me many times..." Tang Shen paused as he realized that, actually, Meng Lang was someone who acted on whims! After clearing his throat, he continued, "But Meng daren chose me for a different reason."
"Oh?"
"First, Meng daren was right. If we’re going to stall the Liao delegation and give them a show of strength, the task has to be handled by a fourth-rank official, and only a fourth-rank official. A fourth-rank official isn’t high-ranking enough to lead negotiations, so the Liao people can’t do much about it; yet, a fourth-rank official also isn’t too low, so sending them won’t appear neglectful. Besides, I'm not the only fourth-rank official in the envoy team. I think Meng daren chose me because he also intends to borrow the influence of Senior Brother."
The steward brought the wine furnace from the courtyard into the room, and Wang Zhen poured more wine for Tang Shen.
Tang Shen watched the pure white foam on the wine slowly rise in the bowl. After a long pause, he asked, "If I encounter trouble, something I can’t resolve, will Senior Brother help me?"
Wang Zhen didn’t answer directly but instead asked Tang Shen, "What does little Junior Brother think?"
Tang Shen remained silent for a moment, then raised his head, looking earnestly at Wang Zhen, and said, "Yes."
Wang Zhen smiled lightly, "Then, I'll listen to you."
Handing this task to Tang Shen meant that Wang Zifeng was also involved!
Meng Lang couldn’t command Wang Zhen, but using this opportunity to have Wang Zhen work for him—why wouldn’t he want that?
Tang Shen sighed, "Meng daren is really cunning."
Wang Zhen raised the wine bowl, took a sip, and smiled slightly without responding to Tang Shen's remark.
Meng Lang, cunning?
Everyone said that among the ministers of the Six Ministries, Wang Zifeng was the one with the most devious mind.
Wang Zhen thought to himself: My little junior brother is clearly biased toward me. Meng daren, such a simple and kind-hearted person, whenever he tries to outsmart someone, he feels guilty about it. Yet my little junior brother thinks he’s the one who's cunning. Aiya, his heart is completely on my side.
Meng Lang had a well-calculated plan, hoping to get Wang Zifeng to work for him. But the next day, as soon as Tang Shen arrived at Qinzheng Hall, yet to even figure out how to receive the Liao envoy, he noticed a sneaky figure lurking outside the quarters of the fourth-rank officials. Tang Shen grew alarmed. This person was dressed as a eunuch, but he was tall and even had a beard—how could he be a eunuch? Could he be an assassin?
Tang Shen slowly retreated, intending to find the guards to capture this person. But unexpectedly, the man turned his head and spotted Tang Shen. He squinted at Tang Shen for a moment, muttering to himself, "Nineteen years old, handsome, wearing a fourth-rank official's uniform..." Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "It’s you!"
The man darted forward in an instant, trying to grab Tang Shen.
Startled, Tang Shen quickly tried to shout for help, but as soon as he got a word out, the man clamped his hand over his mouth. The man was tall, strong, and formidable. Even though Tang Shen wasn’t a child, he found himself completely unable to break free after being restrained, and could only be dragged away.
The bearded man pulled Tang Shen aside, covering his mouth. After ensuring no one was paying attention to them, he finally relaxed. He looked at Tang Shen's wide eyes and said exasperatedly, "Tang Shen, Tang daren?"
Tang Shen remained silent, his mind racing.
"Hey, are you still suspicious of me?"
Tang Shen: "..."
Who wouldn’t be suspicious of an assassin acting all sneaky?
Bearded man: "My name is Li Jingde, you should know me."