The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 094 Pure Of Thought!
Tang Shen couldn't figure out what Wang Zhen had done to influence the emperor's decision.
Of course he didn't know that Wang Zhen had actually done nothing and was being wrongly suspected.
It turned out that Wang Zhen had simply mentioned the Silver Pull Division during a conversation with the emperor, and they had coincidentally discussed Tang Shen's upcoming inspection of the division. The topic had been brought up by the emperor himself, and Wang Zhen had naturally joined in the conversation.
As they talked, Wang Zhen had bowed and said, "Speaking of which, Tang daren's birthday is just two months away. It reminds me of my own coming-of-age ceremony nine years ago, when Your Majesty personally gifted me with a Qingdu jade inkstick. It's truly a treasure, with its clear and luminous jade luster and fragrant ink. I took it out of storage last year and polished it, and it still looks brand new."
Zhao Fu suddenly remembered, “It is time for Tang Shen's coming-of-age ceremony?”
Wang Zhen confirmed that it was indeed time for the ceremony.
The emperor was lost in thought for a moment, then said, "I had forgotten. Jing Ze is only 20 years old, but I always think of him as being the same age as Fei Ran."
As a result, the emperor issued an edict allowing Tang Shen to hold his coming-of-age ceremony in Shengjing.
The behind-the-scenes story of how this decision was made was recorded in the emperor's “Daily Records”, but Tang Shen was unaware of it.
After receiving the edict, Tang Shen was still in a daze, but he knew that he had to start preparing for the coming-of-age ceremony.
Yao San and Feng Bi immediately got to work, starting with a visit to the Astronomical Bureau to request an official to perform divination and select an auspicious date for the ceremony.
Ordinary people couldn't request the services of the Astronomical Bureau, but as a fourth-rank official, Tang Shen was entitled to their assistance. The officials at the bureau were very attentive to Tang Shen's needs.
According to rumors, the Director of the Astronomical Bureau, Li Xiaoren, had specifically instructed his subordinates to take care of Tang Shen's ceremony, saying, "During Tang daren's coming-of-age ceremony he will likely receive a gift from His Majesty, so we must not be negligent."
Tang Shen was highly valued by Zhao Fu and had been appointed to oversee the establishment of the Silver Pull Division in Youzhou before he had even reached the age of 20. His future prospects were bright, and his background was impressive. Despite his humble origins, with a prestigious teacher and a powerful senior brother, Tang Shen's future was already brightly lit. Naturally, Li Xiaoren was optimistic about Tang Shen, willing to give him face on account of Fu Wei and Wang Zhen.
The officials at the Astronomical Bureau personally selected an auspicious date for Tang Shen's coming-of-age ceremony, which happened to be March 6th, the day before his 20th birthday.
After the date was set, arrangements for the ceremony had to be made, including inviting guests and preparing the necessary attire and equipment.
Tang Shen then visited Wang Zhen and asked him to be his honored guest for the ceremony.
Wang Zhen replied, "You know that the honored guest must be a person of high moral character and integrity, or at least someone without any flaws."
Tang Shen was puzzled and asked, "Does Senior Brother have flaws?"
What? Wang Zifeng is so godly, what flaws could he possibly have? Is he too handsome? Too rich? His official position too high? Or perhaps too trusted by the emperor?
Wang Zhen pointed to himself and said, "Your senior brother, I am still unmarried."
Tang Shen, “...”
Only now he realized that Wang Zhen was still single, even at the age of 29. Although in the modern world, there are men who remain unmarried at the age of twenty-nine, they indeed can’t really be considered early married; and it was about time they started looking for a partner.
Tang Shen said, "I know you have high standards, Senior Brother.”
“You know?”
“Yes. How can ordinary people be worthy of Senior Brother. You once mentioned that the daughter of the Minister of Works, Yuan daren, was the best among the ladies of marriageable age in the capital. But I later heard some things that made me think she might also not be a good fit for Senior Brother either."
Tang Shen had heard that the daughter of Yuan daren loved playing a game called madiao. Just think, after dinner, his senior brother, with his refined and elegant demeanor, standing in the courtyard to paint. The night on the heavenly steps was cool as water, the perfect time to sit and watch the stars Vega and Altair as they crossed the sky. Wang Zifeng, dressed in white, looked as pure and ethereal as a celestial being, as if he could ascend to the heavens at any moment. However, the young lady Yuan suddenly called a few people to retreat to her room to play madiao. (TN: a late imperial Chinese trick-taking gambling card game.)
Tang Shen shook his head, waving away the image.
How could that young lady be worthy of his ethereal and god-like senior brother!
At that moment, Tang Shen didn't consider the fact that Wang Zhen was not only a talented artist and writer but also a skilled and ruthless official who would kill traitorous political opponents and eliminate rebels. That young lady simply liked to play cards, your Wang Zifeng will be killing people!
Anyway, she just wasn't worthy.
As for who was worthy of Wang Zhen, Tang Shen couldn't think of anyone, but he was certain it wasn't the daughter of the Minister of Works.
Wang Zhen couldn't help but laugh and said, "If Minister Yuan were to hear you say that, it would be a bloody storm."
Tang Shen fell silent for a moment before saying, "Senior Brother, although you are not married, you are my benefactor, and I would like to ask you to be my honored guest for the coming-of-age ceremony."
Wang Zhen agreed, and Tang Shen felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
After returning home, Tang Shen thought about his conversation with Wang Zhen earlier that day. He called for Aunt Yao and asked her some questions. After listening to her response, Tang Shen furrowed his brow.
In ancient times, marriage was different from modern times.
Although Wang Zhen was 29 years old, he still looked young and handsome, and his high social status and wealth made him a desirable husband for many women in Shengjing. If Wang Zhen were to marry the daughter of the Minister of Works, despite their current strained relationship, Yuan daren would likely not refuse.
However, if Wang Zhen continued to delay marriage, he might end up staying single for the rest of his life.
Tang Shen thought to himself, "Never mind, I'll just have to take care of him in his old age." He didn't consider that he was only nine years younger than Wang Zhen, and it was uncertain who would end up taking care of whom in the future. As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Tang Shen remembered the time he had met Wang Zhen in the garden of the Fu Residence after he had just become a tanhua. He had instinctively called Wang Zhen "dad."
“...”
He really became Wang Zifeng's son!
Tang Shen's coming-of-age ceremony was a relatively simple affair. Since his parents had passed away, and he didn't have any elderly relatives, nor was he from an old aristocratic family so the ceremony didn't involve many complicated rituals.
On the morning of March 6th, Tang Shen washed and dressed, and then arrived at the ancestral hall of the Fu Residence. The ceremony was being held there because Tang Shen's own Tanhua Manor didn't have a suitable venue.
Several officials who were friends with Tang Shen attended the ceremony to congratulate him. Due to Tang Shen's fourth-rank official status, representatives from the Astronomical Bureau and the Ministry of Rites also attended the ceremony. In total, there were seven or eight officials wearing formal attire, standing in two rows along the stone path leading to the ancestral hall.
At the end of the path, Fu Wei stood, with Wang Zhen by his side. The air was filled with the fragrance of incense from the bronze censers.
Tang Shen, wearing a heavy, formal black robe, had his hair tied up in a knot, and he knelt before Fu Wei. Fu Wei looked at Tang Shen with a mixture of emotions, nostalgia, and joy.
Fu Wei took a deep breath and began the ceremony. Wang Zhen presented a wooden tray, and Fu Wei took the first cap, made of black hemp cloth, and placed it on Tang Shen's head.
Fu Wei said, "I have a student, Tang Shen, who is now receiving his first cap. The Master said: 'When a ruler employs his officials, and the officials serve the ruler, how should this relationship be managed?'"
Tang Shen responded, "The ruler treats his officials with respect, and the officials serve the ruler with loyalty."
Fu Wei nodded, "Excellent."
The first cap was successfully placed, symbolizing that Tang Shen was now qualified to participate in government affairs and serve the country.
Next, Tang Shen changed into a plain white robe and returned to Fu Wei, who placed the second cap, made of white deer skin, on his head. This cap represented Tang Shen's eligibility to serve in the military and defend the country.
Finally, Tang Shen changed into a red robe and received the third cap, a red and black hat, from Fu Wei. This cap signified that Tang Shen had reached adulthood and could participate in sacrificial ceremonies.
The coming-of-age ceremony was complete, and Tang Shen stood up. Fu Wei smiled and said, "Normally, at this point, I would give you a courtesy name. However, you are not an ordinary person. You became a tanhua at the age of 16 and are now a fourth-rank official at the age of 20. You already have a courtesy name, Jing Ze. Today, I have nothing to give you, so I wrote a few characters for you instead."
Fu Wei finished speaking, and Wen Shu presented a scroll with three characters written on it.
On the snow-white rice paper, three large characters danced gracefully, their strokes pure and exquisite as they settled onto the paper:
"The Master said, The Book of Songs three hundred, in a single phrase it can be summarized: Pure of thought."
The three characters that Fu Wei bestowed to Tang Shen were exactly "pure of thought"!
Tang Shen was moved, and he received the scroll with both hands, saying, "I will remember your teachings, Sir."
Fu Wei stroked his beard and smiled.
The coming-of-age ceremony had come to an end, but Tang Shen still needed to host a banquet for his guests. Since most of his family members were in Gusu, only Tang Yun had traveled to Shengjing to attend the ceremony. As a result, the number of guests was relatively small, consisting mainly of officials from Shengjing.
Tang Shen busied himself, thanking his guests for their congratulations and gifts. Fu Wei and Wang Zhen sat at the main table, wearing formal attire.
As the sun began to set, lanterns were lit, and Fu Wei pointed to Tang Shen, who was busy attending to his guests. Fu Wei said, "Zi Feng, your junior brother has truly grown up. It's been five years, and five years have passed in the blink of an eye."
Wang Zhen took a sip of wine, but not too much. The aroma of the wine on him was not unpleasant, but rather had a sweet and fruity fragrance. He followed Fu Wei's gaze and looked at Tang Shen, who was wearing a dark red robe with his long hair tied up for the first time. A few strands of black hair fell on his forehead, and his eyes shone brightly, like stars in the night sky, especially against the dark-colored clothing.
Wang Zhen's eyes darkened slightly, and a hint of a smile played on his lips as he lowered his head to take a sip of wine.
Fu Wei asked, "What do you think of your junior brother?"
Wang Zhen's hand paused, holding the wine cup.
Fu Wei picked up his own wine cup and took a sip, savoring the taste with a look of satisfaction.
Fu Wei sighed, "Pure of thought indeed!"
Pure of thought.
A pure heart harbors no filth, welcomes no corruption, and sees no evil.