The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 108 In This World, No One Is As Good As Senior Brother
Since Yelü Qin’s assassination, five days had passed.
Yelü Qin’s arrival at Xijing Prefecture had been sudden, and the attack on the night of his arrival left Tang Shen with little time to investigate the truth. However, as time went on, he gradually pieced things together:
“Xijing Prefecture is the stronghold of Southern officials. Yelü Shege, as the second prince of Liao, wouldn’t have come all this way without reason. The assassin was likely not sent by them—if that were the case, why would Yelü Qin stab himself? He could have simply let the assassin injure him. The assassin was real, but the secret letter may not have been. Yelü Qin being an innocent victim isn’t necessarily true either. This whole thing is likely a trap set up by Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin!”
As the saying goes, those in the game are confused, but onlookers see clearly.
Lu Shen had witnessed Yelü Qin stab himself, which allowed Tang Shen to discern part of the truth.
Tang Shen continued, “Yelü Shege came to Xijing Prefecture to lay this trap because most of the powerful officials here support him. In the Liao court, the Liao Emperor has long been indifferent to state affairs. Northern officials support the third prince, Yelü Han, while Southern officials back the second prince, Yelü Shege. This move by Yelü Shege is a classic case of ‘using the enemy’s scheme against them.’ By capturing the assassin, they could seize the opportunity to move against Yelü Han. Even the secret letter is likely a forgery. Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin have clearly gone to great lengths to deal with Yelü Han.”
Tang Shen’s analysis was logical and nearly flawless, matching Wang Zifeng’s own speculations.
In Liao, the one who most wanted to eliminate Yelü Shege was Yelü Han, and vice versa.
However, there was one point Tang Shen didn’t fully grasp, as he was still relatively new to Liao politics. Wang Zifeng added, “It wouldn’t require such an elaborate scheme to deal with just Yelü Han.”
Tang Shen looked up, puzzled. “What do you mean, Senior Brother?”
Wang Zifeng explained, “While most Southern officials support Yelü Shege, not all do. Yelü Han, on the other hand, has a powerful backer—Grand Preceptor Yelü Ding.” As if recalling something, Wang Zifeng sighed, “Yelü Ding is like a stabilizing force for the Liao court. Without him, the war between Song and Liao twenty-one years ago wouldn’t have dragged on for a full decade.”
Tang Shen quickly caught on. “So Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin’s scheme isn’t just targeting Yelü Han—they’re really after Grand Preceptor Yelü Ding.”
Wang Zifeng smiled. “Do you know why, out of the four princes, Yelü Ding supports the rather dim-witted Yelü Han instead of the more talented Yelü Shege or the other princes?”
Tang Shen paused, then reasoned, “Yelü Ding comes from a noble lineage, so he likely prefers Yelü Han, who also has a distinguished background.”
“That’s one reason.”
“There’s another?”
Wang Zifeng’s lips curved into a faint smile. “A fool is always easier to control than someone who isn’t.”
Tang Shen suddenly understood.
The Silver Pull Division had been established for two years, and Wang Zifeng’s knowledge of Liao politics far surpassed Tang Shen’s. Unlike the Song Dynasty, where Emperor Zhao Fu was a master of political maneuvering, the Liao Emperor had long withdrawn from governance due to injuries and illness sustained during his youth. In the Liao court, Yelü Ding wielded immense power, unlike the Song court where officials formed distinct factions. Zhao Fu’s skillful handling of imperial authority ensured that even though he was older than the Liao Emperor, no official dared to openly support any prince.
Whether it was Wang Zhen, Su Wenyun, or other royalists, even non-royalist ministers never voiced any opinions about appointing an heir. One Zhao Fu was worth more than countless aspiring princes.
If Tang Shen were to ask Wang Zhen whether he preferred Zhao Fu to die early and be succeeded by a prince, or for Zhao Fu to somehow succeed in cultivation and live a hundred more years, he would answer without hesitation: “All of the princes added together is not even comparable to one ten-thousandth of His Majesty.”
This was no sycophantic flattery but an honest statement.
And if Tang Shen was asked, he would only be able to sigh: “Every day Zhao Fu lives, peace between Song and Liao continues.”
That night, seeing that Tang Shen had recovered and his fever had subsided, Wang Zhen prepared to leave for the Silver Pull Division to handle official business.
Tang Shen tried to dissuade him. “It’s already late. Why not rest here at the Youzhou camp, Senior Brother?”
Wang Zhen asked, “Do you know why Yu Chaosheng came to Youzhou?”
Tang Shen, having received the imperial edict upon waking, answered, “His Majesty sent Yu daren to Youzhou to take over my duties in supervising the Silver Pull Division.”
Wang Zhen bluntly asked, “And have you been supervising it?”
Tang Shen: “…”
Wang Zhen sighed dramatically. “If I don’t return to the Division tonight to manage the backlog of affairs for you, who will cover for you tomorrow when Yu daren arrives?” With a mock sigh, Wang daren added, “I never thought I, Wang Zifeng, would one day bend the law for personal reasons.”
Wang Zhen’s earnest tone left Tang Shen momentarily speechless. Then he remembered—since when had Wang Zifeng ever been a law-abiding official? Even Li Jingde wouldn’t believe that!
Overcome with gratitude, Tang Shen felt an urge to sing “In This World, No One Is As Good As Senior Brother” for Wang Zhen. But recalling that the song was originally meant for mothers and Wang Zhen’s past comment about worrying like a mother, he shuddered and awkwardly said, “Senior Brother treats me so well that I feel grateful and… a bit awkward.”
Wang Zhen: “Awkward about what?”
Tang Shen didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said, “Let me sing a song for Senior Brother.”
Wang Zhen looked at him, puzzled. Before he could ask, Tang Shen began to sing, “In this world, no one is as good as senior brother. Without a senior brother, I’d be like grass…”
Wang Zifeng, ever sharp, remained silent for a moment before saying, “I feel like that song isn’t supposed to go that way.”
Tang Shen: “It’s late. There are wolves outside the city. You’d better hurry back before it’s too dangerous.”
Wang Zhen suddenly chuckled involuntarily. He seemed about to say something but stopped himself, merely smiling as he boarded his carriage and left.
After Wang Zhen’s departure, Tang Shen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Left alone, he pondered, “What was Wang Zifeng about to say before he left?” Somehow, a phrase came to mind and he blurted out loud: “Growing bold with favoritism?!”
Half a year ago, Wang Zhen once said this word to Tang Shen, and now he recalled it again. Tang Shen was silent for a long time, muttering, "When did Wang Zifeng and I become like this?" He was acting completely different from the cautious attitude he had shown when they first met. He actually began to trust this person wholeheartedly.
Lost in thought, Tang Shen recalled their interactions over the past four years. Before he could make sense of it, a soldier entered to report that someone had come to visit him.
Surprised, Tang Shen said, “Let them in.”
Soon, a slender man in a black cloak entered the tent. Standing nearly six feet tall, he was entirely shrouded in the cloak, with only a pale, pointed chin visible beneath the hood. Once they were alone, the man removed his hood, revealing a pair of striking, alluring eyes. It was Su Wenyun. He scanned Tang Shen from head to toe and quipped with a smirk, “I heard you were gravely injured and unconscious. Even Wang daren took care of you for a whole day. I thought you were about to kick the bucket, so I came to bid you farewell. But it looks like you’re doing just fine.”
Tang Shen: “…”
Nothing good ever comes from a dog’s mouth.
Tang Shen didn’t bother arguing with him and said calmly, “Greetings to Su daren. Thank you for sending the secret message. Had I returned a day later, it would have been too late to prevent disaster.”
Hearing this, Su Wenyun’s expression turned serious. “I’ll head to Xijing Prefecture tonight. If I ride swiftly, I’ll reach it in two days.”
Tang Shen asked, “Has there been any word from Lu Shen about capturing the assassin?”
“Not yet.” Su Wenyun paused, then asked solemnly, “Did you make any preparations before leaving Xijing Prefecture?”
Although they often clashed over policies in the past, with each belonging to opposing factions, they set their differences aside and engaged in a focused discussion. Tang Shen said, “I made some arrangements. Allow me to explain…”
Su Wenyun remained in Tang Shen’s tent for an hour.
In the middle of the night, Su Wenyun donned his cloak, ready to depart for Xijing Prefecture. As he was leaving, he turned back and said, “Xijing Prefecture is in chaos. I’ll handle the cleanup. You should focus on recovering from your injuries.”
Tang Shen thought to himself: I never intended to interfere again. I’m just waiting for you to infiltrate the enemy camp and take care of Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin for me.
Outwardly, he said respectfully, “I’ll leave it to you, Su daren.”
Su Wenyun sneered at Tang Shen’s outwardly polite demeanor before turning and leaving.
After seeing off this troublesome figure, Tang Shen put out the lamp and went to sleep. Little did he know that shortly after Su Wenyun stepped out of the tent, he was ambushed and had a sack thrown over his head.
Panicking, Su Wenyun shouted for help, but no one responded. The attacker remained silent, and even punched him squarely.
After taking the hit, Su Wenyun calmed down, his expression darkening as he barked, “Li Jingde! Stop this!”
The assailant paused mid-motion.
Unbeknownst to Tang Shen, while he was away in Liao, Su Wenyun had often come to inspect the Youzhou military camp, making life difficult for the military officials. Although Su Wenyun’s rank as a third-rank Right Vice Minister of Works was technically lower than Li Jingde’s, he had been appointed as an imperial inspector overseeing military affairs, leaving Li Jingde with no choice but to obey him. Over time, the military officials in Youzhou grew increasingly resentful of Su Wenyun. Now that he had shown up alone in the middle of the night, how could he resist ambushing him?
Li Jingde, deliberately lowering his voice, growled, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not Li Jingde.”
“You coward! If you don’t stop, I’ll report you when I return to Shengjing and have you ruined!”
“Damn, why are you so vicious, you pale-faced sissy!”
Su Wenyun shot back angrily, “Dumbass! Try hitting me again!”
Li Jingde’s eye twitched, and after a moment’s hesitation, he pulled a token from his sleeve and threw it at Su Wenyun. “Fine! I’m done with you damn officials. Take this—it's the Western Expedition Marshal’s token. I only hit you once, so we’re even. Return the token when you’re back.”
With that, Li Jingde bolted, not daring to stay any longer.
Su Wenyun yanked the sack off his head, furious, and kicked a nearby tent in frustration.
The next morning, when Tang Shen heard about the incident, he remarked, “General Li acted with the best of intentions.”
Two days later, Tang Shen returned to Youzhou City and formally handed over his duties to Yu Chaosheng.
Meanwhile, Su Wenyun, disguised as a servant, quietly infiltrated Xijing Prefecture. After altering his appearance, he met with Qiao Jiu and Lu Shen.
Su Wenyun asked, “Have you caught the assassin?”
Lu Shen cupped his hands and replied, “We caught him this morning. He’s being held in the rear courtyard.”
Su Wenyun raised an eyebrow in surprise and smirked. “It seems I bring good fortune. I arrive, and you catch the assassin right away. Come, let’s go to the rear courtyard and choose a fitting method for him to die.”