The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 089 You've Truly Grown Bold With Favoritism!
"Who said His Majesty scolded me so thoroughly? Wang Zifeng, were you eavesdropping from the rafters to hear it with your own ears?" General Li, initially embarrassed and annoyed, quickly recovered and declared confidently, "Do your words make it true? His Majesty summoned me to reward my great victory over the Liao army. What would you even understand?"
Wang Zhen approached, exchanging a glance with Tang Shen.
Tang Shen's look conveyed, Senior Brother, he insulted you earlier. I didn’t respond, so it’s none of my business.
Wang Zhen smiled. Tang Shen couldn’t decipher its meaning but figured that their close relationship meant Wang wouldn’t hold a grudge.
With a leisurely smile, Wang Zhen asked, "Since General Li claims His Majesty rewarded you, where is the reward?"
Li Jingde: "…"
You useless civil officials are all the same—no good apples among you!
Waving his hand forcefully, Li Jingde strode away. "I’m leaving; this is boring."
His dashing figure disappeared into the garden of Qinzheng Hall, but Tang Shen couldn’t help feeling that the general’s retreat seemed a bit hasty. Li Jingde could talk back to other civil officials, even daring to ambush and beat up Minister Meng Lang of the Ministry of Rites late at night. But when it came to Wang Zifeng, he didn’t dare. The Ministry of Revenue controlled the army's funds, and Li Jingde’s past attempts to oppose Wang Zifeng hadn’t ended well.
The wise recognize opportunities, and Li Jingde, being a man of his time, naturally knew when to yield.
Wang Zhen had merely been passing by. He hadn’t been following Tang Shen or Li Jingde but had overheard his name mentioned while walking through the garden, prompting him to stop and listen for a moment.
Looking at Tang Shen with a calm gaze and dignified demeanor, Wang Zhen asked, "How is Meng daren managing?"
He referred to Meng Lang's negotiations with the Liao delegation. Tang Shen replied, "Meng daren and Yu daren are working in harmony; things are going smoothly."
Wang Zhen nodded. "One must have a good New Year."
Tang Shen caught on. "Senior Brother, you mean…"
Wang Zhen smiled. "Little Junior Brother, will you come to the Minister Residence for drinks tonight?"
With Meng Lang hosting the Liao delegation, Tang Shen had been idle and was just thinking of strengthening ties with Wang Zhen. Hearing this, he promptly agreed, "Sure, I’ll trouble you again, Senior Brother."
That evening, as dusk fell early in Shengjing during the twelfth lunar month, government officials departed their offices with lanterns in hand. Tang Shen returned home, changed into casual clothes, and headed to the Minister Residence. The chef there had prepared a table of Jiangnan cuisine. Although Tang Shen hadn’t liked the mild flavors of Jiangnan dishes in his past life, he had no choice but to eat them when visiting Wang Zhen. Over time, thanks to the chef's exquisite skills, Tang Shen’s palate had gradually adjusted.
After dinner, Tang Shen anticipated his senior brother's cultured hobbies. Ancient recreational activities weren’t as limited as modern people might think but weren’t abundant either. Most people would go to bed early due to the expense of candles and oil lamps. For entertainment, some played games like hit-the-horse or card games, while others engaged in more refined pastimes like music, calligraphy, painting, or chess.
Wang Zhen excelled in all these refined arts. As his semi-student, Tang Shen had picked up bits of each skill under his influence.
The two went to the study, where an unfinished game of Go from two weeks ago awaited them.
Seeing the board, Tang Shen immediately felt overwhelmed. He surrendered on the spot. "Senior Brother, I’ve lost."
Wang Zhen was surprised. "The game isn’t over. Why say you’ve lost?"
"With your skill, it’s obvious I’ve lost. Let’s start a new game instead."
Wang Zhen sighed. "Little Junior Brother, you’re too self-deprecating." He began resetting the board. "Then let’s play a new round."
Tang Shen thought, why must you insist on crushing me completely? What kind of twisted pleasure is this?
In the past, whenever Tang Shen played chess with Wang Zhen, they always played as equals, a style known as opponent chess, where both players were of similar skill levels, and no handicap was given. But today, Tang Shen said, "Senior Brother, I’d like to play handicap chess. How about you give me a five-piece advantage?"
Handicap chess meant that the weaker player would play as Black and move first. Additionally, Tang Shen wanted Wang Zhen to give him a five-piece head start.
Wang Zhen was surprised and asked, "Why do you want to play handicap chess, little Junior Brother?"
Tang Shen replied, "…When it comes to chess, I’m no match for you, Senior Brother. We should have been playing handicap chess all along."
Wang Zhen said, "I don’t think so."
Tang Shen: "…"
"Senior Brother, I insist. Let me have a five-piece advantage."
Wang Zhen stared at Tang Shen for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's out of respect for you, little Junior Brother, that I believe we should continue to play as equals."
Tang Shen thought, I feel that you should respect me in other ways, like helping me get promoted. But for chess? Please spare me. However, he couldn’t voice that thought. Wang Zifeng’s casual words carried deeper meaning, and Tang Shen carefully weighed his response.
Wang Zifeng’s comment wasn’t just about the game but also their relationship and standings.
After some thought, the nineteen-year-old Tang Shen replied, "Senior Brother, I’m nine years younger than you and haven’t even come of age yet. Can’t you indulge me a little?" His words carried a hint of childish pleading, and he wasn’t wrong. At nineteen, Tang Shen was technically still a minor in this era.
Wang Zhen was momentarily stunned, then laughed. He stared blankly at Tang Shen. After a long while, he let out a slow sigh, his tone tinged with melancholy. "Jing Ze, you've truly..." His voice trailed off.
Tang Shen asked, "Truly what?"
Wang Zhen picked up the white stones. "Fine, let’s play a handicap game."
Tang Shen: "???" What did you stop yourself from saying?
Wang Zhen said no more, and Tang Shen didn’t press him. Judging by Wang Zhen’s attitude, it likely wasn’t something bad.
With a five-piece handicap, Tang Shen finally managed to put up a decent fight. He won the first round by three points but soon lost momentum. Wang Zhen dismantled three of his lines in quick succession, taking the lead.
Chess mirrors life.
Long ago, Tang Shen’s mentor, Liang Song, had told him this during his first serious game of Go. A person’s true character often reveals itself in their playstyle. For example, Liang Song’s moves were steady and conservative, while Fu Wei, whom Tang Shen had played once, was unpredictable and abandoned the game halfway, muttering, "Jing Ze, your chess is atrocious!"
But with Wang Zhen, Tang Shen could never grasp his personality. Sometimes steady as a mountain, other times daring and risky, Wang Zhen was like a tiger resting by a calm lake—noble and serene until awakened, roaring through the forest.
Just as his opponent was still reeling in shock, he calmly and effortlessly collected a group of white pieces. Turning to Tang Shen, he gave a gentle smile and said, "Little Junior Brother."
Moments later, Tang Shen realized he’d lost again.
"Senior Brother, your skill far surpasses mine." This was half flattery, half genuine admiration.
"And yet, little Junior Brother, you haven’t come of age yet. In nine years, I might not match you."
Tang Shen: "…"
Seriously? Wang Zifeng, why are you holding a grudge over that earlier comment?
This could not be brushed aside. Sensing Wang Zhen’s sensitivity over this topic, Tang Shen quickly said, "Senior Brother, I never said you were old."
"En?"
"You’re in your prime—graceful and distinguished." Tang Shen earnestly added, "In my eyes, you’re truly a god among men in the Song court and all its officials!"
Only twenty-eight, yet already a powerful minister of the nation—he'd undoubtedly be considered a promising young talent in later generations.
Tang Shen had once entertained a thought.
Tang Huang was now fifteen and at an age where marriage could be discussed. If one put aside Tang Huang's personal preferences and let Tang Shen choose, who would be the best match in the Song Dynasty?
From a political perspective, it wouldn’t be Su Wenyun, who was twenty-five this year, but Wang Zifeng, who was already twenty-eight!
If one could marry Wang Zifeng, the future would indeed be smooth and worry-free for a lifetime.
If not for the fact that he was a man, Tang Shen might have been tempted himself.
Wang Zifeng looked at Tang Shen from below his lashes, who returned his gaze with sincerity and a childlike expression. Wang Zifeng chuckled softly and set up another chessboard.
"Let's play another round."
Tang Shen silently accompanied his senior brother for another game.
"Life is like a game of chess." A refined voice broke the silence, and Tang Shen raised his head in surprise to look at Wang Zifeng. While placing a white piece on the board, Wang Zifeng, his eyes lowered to the chessboard, said, "A chess game is also like life, like the ever-changing world, like the rise and fall of politics. Little Junior Brother, what have you observed in your meetings with the Liao envoys?"
Tang Shen straightened his posture and replied, "The Liao is a nation built on horseback, where all are soldiers, with strong horses and mighty troops. Perhaps, as General Li said, ten or twenty years from now, the Song Dynasty might also be able to train such an iron cavalry. But as of now, the Liao already possesses such a formidable force. However, due to the Liao’s political system, their court is not as stable as ours."
"How so?"
"There is deep and irreconcilable conflict between their Southern and Northern officials."
Wang Zifeng placed a piece on the board, capturing three of Tang Shen's pieces. After collecting his captured pieces, he said, "You asked to play a handicap game, but little Junior Brother's skills are clearly improving."
Tang Shen pondered, is that a compliment?
He didn’t have long to mull it over before Wang Zifeng continued, "Southern officials are like you, playing a handicap game with black pieces. Northern officials are like me, holding most of the Liao’s territory with a vast and imposing presence."
Tang Shen was startled. "Senior Brother, you’ve known this for a long time?"
Wang Zifeng responded, "The Silver Pull Division isn’t there for nothing."
Tang Shen was shocked. "Besides matters related to 'paper money,' the division even secretly investigates Liao's internal politics?"
Wang Zifeng gave him an odd look. "Little Junior Brother, mind your words. When did I ever say that?"
Tang Shen immediately closed his mouth.
"The Liao Crown Prince and Second Prince are like you—born into low status, playing black pieces and taking every advantage they can. The Third Prince, Yelü Han, is like me—born into nobility, supported by the Grand Preceptor and many Liao officials, yet foolish and inept, playing white and squandering his advantages."
Tang Shen: "…"
Tang Shen: "Senior Brother, you just said the Silver Pull Bureau doesn’t investigate Liao politics."
Wang Zifeng: "Did I?"
Tang Shen replied earnestly, "You did."
Wang Zifeng gazed at Tang Shen with a faint frown.
In the past, Tang Shen might have backtracked, pretending he had misspoken. But this time, he held Wang Zifeng's gaze firmly, refusing to yield to his senior brother's intimidating presence.
After a moment, Wang Zifeng suddenly laughed. He reached out and lightly tapped Tang Shen’s head with his finger, laughing heartily. "You’ve truly grown bold with favoritism!"