The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 111 You Really Disappoint Me
Tang Shen spoke with heartfelt sincerity, his expression earnest.
Wang Zhen gazed at him quietly, his eyes reflecting deep and complex emotions before he suddenly smiled.
Tang Shen’s heart stirred slightly, and he asked, “Senior Brother, why are you smiling?”
Wang Zhen replied, “So, in your heart, how much space does Su daren occupy?”
Tang Shen didn’t even need to think. “How much space? None at all!” There was no way Su Wenyun could hold any place in his heart—they weren’t even friends.
Wang Zhen sighed and said, “Then it seems I hold no place in your heart either.”
“Ah?”
Wang Zhen explained, “You said Su daren isn’t worth even one ten-thousandth of me in your heart, meaning I’m ten thousand times more important than him. But since Su daren is worth zero, multiplying that by ten thousand still makes zero, doesn’t it?”
Tang Shen: “...”
We get it—you’re good at math. Now, could you please stop talking?
It was already late, so Wang Zhen didn’t linger long. Tang Shen walked him to the door. As they bid each other farewell, Wang Zhen remarked, “Although it’s already June, the lands beyond the Great Wall never see spring, unlike Shengjing. Spring winds don’t pass through Yumen Pass. When you return to Shengjing in a few days, be sure to change your attire. Don’t dress the same as usual.”
Tang Shen froze in surprise. “Senior Brother?”
Wang Zhen simply smiled and said, “No need to see me off.”
Tang Shen stood at the door, watching Wang Zhen leave.
Once back inside, he frowned deeply, thinking for a long while before letting out a helpless sigh. “Clearly, he had something to say but refused to say it directly. Wang Zifeng—four years, and he still can’t just speak plainly!” Yet, Tang Shen understood that there were some matters Wang Zhen either couldn’t express openly or simply enjoyed teasing him about. Seeing Tang Shen’s bewildered expression probably gave Wang Zhen a sense of satisfaction.
Tang Shen couldn’t be entirely blamed for wanting to tease his senior brother back now and then. After all, “the one who flirts first is at fault.” It was always Wang Zifeng who started things, and Tang Shen only ever retaliated occasionally.
“Something has changed in Shengjing? What could be different?”
If he could vaguely infer the meaning behind Wang Zhen’s final words, the earlier evaluation of Su Wenyun left Tang Shen’s expression gradually turning cold. He recalled the information he had gathered over the past few years regarding the former crown prince, Zhong daru, the late emperor, and late empress—particularly that palace coup thirty-one years ago.
Su Wenyun was only twenty-six this year, so he couldn’t have been involved in the coup three decades ago. However, Wang Zhen had described Su Wenyun as ruthless and unscrupulous. If all the matters Zhao Fu wanted done but couldn’t handle personally were entrusted to Su Wenyun, then…
“Was his senior brother hinting at something? Thirty-one years ago had nothing to do with Su Wenyun, but what about five years ago, when Zhong Taisheng died in prison? Was Su Wenyun involved?”
Tang Shen closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. As soon as he did, he seemed to hear a faint, exasperated voice echo in his mind, teasing him with a laugh: “Begone, you!”
He was beginning to forget many of the things Liang Song had once told him, but one message remained clear: Liang Song had repeatedly urged him not to get involved in matters concerning the former crown prince. Liang Song only wished for Tang Shen to live a peaceful life as a wealthy landowner. Even if he himself sacrificed himself for his principles, he never wanted Tang Shen to get entangled in such dangerous affairs.
“But how could I possibly stay out of it?”
The more Tang Shen uncovered about that palace coup, the more fearful he became.
If Liang Song believed Zhong Taisheng had been wronged, then the former crown prince must have been wronged as well. But back then, the crown prince’s faction was at its peak. Zhao Fu alone couldn’t have orchestrated their downfall—there had to be another force at play.
What was the real truth?
It was like a den of dragons and tigers, yet Tang Shen had no choice but to venture in alone.
Meanwhile, back in his room, Wang Zhen didn’t go to bed immediately. He summoned Lin Xu from the Silver Pull Division. Lin Xu bowed respectfully, and Wang Zhen asked, “How many of the people who went to the Liao capital Shangjing in December last year are still there?”
Lin Xu gave a precise number.
Wang Zhen mused, “I never realized until now that the second prince of Liao, Yelü Shege, is a cut sleeve.”
Lin Xu was startled. He instinctively glanced at Wang Zhen, knowing that rumors of Wang Zhen’s preference for men had circulated among officials. He couldn’t help but wonder if Wang Zhen was implying something.
“Minister, this is the first I’ve heard of it. Yelü Shege does have concubines in his household, so the matter is likely complicated.”
“A prince of a nation—even if he is a cut sleeve—should at least conceal it somewhat.” Wang Zhen pondered. “Yelü Shege seems rather interested in Qiao Jiu’s ‘son,’ doesn’t he?”
Lin Xu knew nothing about that.
Wang Zhen chuckled. “We’ll need to meet him anyway. Su daren must have taken precautions. Holding a Left Minister’s weakness may not be enough to secure absolute success. Send word to Su daren in Xijing Prefecture: inform him that Tang daren will return to Shengjing soon. Whether Qiao Jiu’s ‘son’ should show his face or suddenly die—it’s up to him to decide.”
Lin Xu asked, “How should the message be relaid?”
Wang Zhen pondered, “Repeat my words exactly.”
“Understood.”
It took three days for the message to reach Xijing.
By then, Qiao Jiu had gradually gained Xiao Zhen’s trust, and Lu Shen and the others had secured their footing in Xijing Prefecture. After hearing Wang Zhen’s words from the messenger, Su Wenyun’s face darkened. He sneered, “Tang Jingze is leaving, never to return, and Wang Zifeng expects me to clean up his junior brother’s mess? Why doesn’t he just dream a little bigger?”
The messenger merely repeated the original message and didn’t dare respond.
After cursing Wang Zhen for his wishful thinking and Tang Shen for his foolishness, Su Wenyun paused, then mused aloud, “It might not be entirely impossible. Hmph, Wang Zifeng, you’ve played your cards well. But have you considered that if I clean up after Tang Jingze, he’ll owe me a favor?”
Without delay, Su Wenyun summoned Qiao Jiu and instructed him to arrange a banquet through Xiao Zhen, inviting Yelü Qin and Yelü Shege.
In Youzhou City, Tang Shen’s mission had lasted over three months since he arrived in March. Zhao Fu had now sent Yu Chaosheng to take over, and after a few days of handing over duties, Tang Shen was ready to return to Shengjing.
Upon finishing the handover, Yu Chaosheng smiled and said, “Congratulations, Tang daren.”
Feigning surprise, Tang Shen asked, “Thank you, Yu daren, but I don’t understand—what are you congratulating me for?”
Yu Chaosheng stroked his short beard and smiled gently. “When you return to Shengjing, you’re bound to receive a great opportunity. Since I won’t be accompanying you, I thought I’d offer my congratulations in advance.”
Tang Shen responded with a look of pleasant surprise.
Later, when meeting privately with Wang Zhen, Tang Shen asked, “Senior Brother, did His Majesty send Yu Chaosheng because of me?”
Wang Zhen raised a brow. “Oh?”
Encouraged, Tang Shen continued, “During this mission to Liao, while I wouldn’t claim it was perfectly executed, I certainly didn’t make any mistakes. Now that Su daren has gone and almost completed the task, only a few of us know the full details. His Majesty cannot publicize the matter. If he intends to reward me, it’s difficult to do so openly. You once said that under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t be promoted to second rank within five years, at most to third rank. But now, it seems His Majesty intends to promote me.”
Wang Zhen smiled elegantly. “Rising four ranks in four years—His Majesty truly has keen eyes, and little Junior Brother is indeed a pillar of the state!”
Tang Shen deadpanned, “I’m being serious.”
Wang Zhen blinked, apparently not expecting Tang Shen to be so blunt. After regaining his composure, he whispered, “You’ve become more dependent on me.”
His voice was so low that only he could hear it. Tang Shen asked, “What did Senior Brother just say?”
“I said your guess is right.” Wang Zhen smiled.
Tang Shen had already suspected he might be promoted upon returning to Shengjing, and now that Wang Zhen had confirmed it, he felt both excited and conflicted. With a trace of guilt, he said, “But in order to promote me, His Majesty sent Yu Chaosheng to divide your power.”
If Tang Shen were promoted, he and Wang Zhen’s faction would naturally grow stronger. To maintain balance in the court, Zhao Fu had dispatched Yu Chaosheng. Since Yu Chaosheng was also involved in Silver Pull Division matters, Zhao Fu would likely reward him similarly upon his return. Moreover, while Tang Shen had come to Youzhou not explicitly for the Silver Pull Division, Yu Chaosheng had.
In a few months, Yu Chaosheng would likely gain insight into the division’s internal affairs, and his mentor Xu Bi would learn of them too.
Tang Shen, rising to third rank at just twenty years old, had set in motion political undercurrents that could not be ignored.
Tang Shen felt guilty that his own matters had involved Wang Zhen, and that it had caused him to be constrained by Yu Chaosheng. Wang Zhen, however, said, “Even without you, His Majesty would have sent someone else. This matter was destined to happen. The Silver Pull Division has never been entirely under my control.”
Tang Shen responded, “But before Yu Chaosheng came, it wasn’t like this. The Silver Pull Division was yours.”
Wang Zhen’s lips moved slightly as he gazed deeply at Tang Shen, remaining silent for a long time. Tang Shen felt uneasy under his gaze and couldn’t help but ask softly, “Senior Brother?”
Wang Zhen’s voice suddenly became stern: “I’ve suddenly been wondering, in little Junior Brother's heart, what kind of person do you think I am?”
Tang Shen replied, “Huh?”
Wang Zhen didn’t respond. Tang Shen thought deeply for a moment, then gave his answer: “In my eyes, Senior Brother, you are wise and insightful, smooth yet not overly worldly, cautious but not overly rigid. As long as you’re around, I always feel at ease, no matter the difficulty. You’re nine years older than me, but in nine years, I will never be able to match up to you.”
Wang Zhen asked, “Then, why do you think I do the things I do?”
Tang Shen was completely confused and didn’t understand what Wang Zhen was trying to say.
Wang Zhen seemed somewhat disappointed, his gaze lingering on Tang Shen. After a long pause, he said, “You and I are kindred spirits. I see little Junior Brother as the person who understands me best, the one who knows my intentions most. I’ve waited alone for twenty-nine years, and finally, I found someone who truly understands me. Yet you’ve never once thought about why I went to Cizhou three years ago, why I took on the responsibilities of the Silver Pull Division last year. Even on that day in the Xuji Tower, when I said ‘comrades in the same school are called friends; those with the same aspirations are called companions’, what exactly was I trying to say?”
Tang Shen’s heart shook. Wang Zhen’s expression revealed a trace of disappointment, but what struck him more was the sense of hurt and loneliness that came through in his voice.
After saying this, Wang Zhen turned and left.
Tang Shen was deeply shaken. He grabbed Wang Zhen’s sleeve and called out, “Senior Brother, why do you serve as an official?”
Wang Zhen’s steps halted. He turned around and looked steadily at Tang Shen, his eyes filled with hope and expectation.
Tang Shen took a deep breath, looking at Wang Zhen seriously. He spoke each word deliberately: “I know, I’ve always known. Senior Brother, you serve as an official not for fame or fortune, not for overwhelming power. You are not a virtuous official in the traditional sense, nor do you rigidly follow the conventional methods and rules. But you are a true official. So, when I received the memorial regarding the emergence of new currency in Shu, the first person I thought of was you. Because I know, only you would not fear difficulties or obstacles, and would grasp that faint glimmer of light at the end of a dark and long road.”
Wang Zhen stood there, stunned.
Tang Shen tightened his grip on Wang Zhen’s sleeve, and after a long pause, Wang Zhen reached out and took Tang Shen’s hand. He gripped it tightly, pulling it away from his sleeve. But even after pulling it away, he didn’t release Tang Shen’s hand, instead holding it even more firmly.
The two stood silently, gazing at each other. In Tang Shen’s heart, it was as if an answer was about to emerge. He felt as though he understood something, yet at the same time, felt like he understood nothing.
At this moment, Wang Zhen chuckled softly, “I’m not a virtuous official?”
Tang Shen was taken aback.
Wang Zhen held Tang Shen’s hand with one hand, while his other hand gently rose, hovering near Tang Shen’s forehead. He lightly tapped his forehead. The gesture was incredibly gentle, without any hint of reprimand.
Wang Zhen said, “Little Junior Brother, are you complimenting me, or are you criticizing me?”
Tang Shen instinctively touched the spot on his forehead where Wang Zhen’s finger had tapped. Suddenly, he came to his senses. “Senior Brother, you’ve tricked me again!”